Valorie Kondos Field

TED Talk Tuesday #150: Why winning doesn’t always equal success

Watching TED Talks is a popular pastime at CN&CO. We visit TED.com regularly to clear our heads, have a laugh or get inspired. TED Talks open our minds, spark new ways of thinking and can lead to some very interesting conversations. Each week we pick a favourite and publish it on a Tuesday, because we like how “TED Talk Tuesday” sounds. It’s also a way that the CN&CO team play their part on spreading ideas and helping to make the world a better place. This week’s talk is posted by Carel. Here’s why he chose it:

I can barely believe that this is the 150th TED talk Tuesday blog on our CN&CO site. Since we publish one each week, that’s nearly three years of helping to spread great ideas to make the world a better place! I love the consistency and dedication of the CN&CO team to have kept this up and hope that more of my CN&CO friends will one day have the privilege to enjoy a TED conference. Not only are the talks magnificent, the people you meet and the “ad hoc” connections lead to many meaningful moments – and great friendships. I am deeply indebted to my mate Christo Crafford for “making” me go to my first TED event – TEDActive in Palm Springs many years ago. Attending TEDWomen at the same venue in December 2019 made me realise again how special the TED community is and how many phenomenal people there are in our world.

One such person is Valorie Kondos Field who knows a lot about winning. “As the longtime coach of the UCLA women’s gymnastics team, she won championship after championship and has been widely acclaimed for her leadership. In this inspiring, brutally honest and, at times, gut-wrenching talk, she shares the secret to her success. Hint: it has nothing to do with “winning.” I was blown away by this talk and it was one of my highlights in Palm Springs. Before Valorie came on stage, we watched this clip showcasing Katelyn Ohasi achieving a perfect score of 10. WOW!

Winning is a drug one of my mentors says. And the more you get of it, the more you want it. Very true. And Valorie, like this mentor, me and many others, admit that winning feels good. However, what we do to win – the how – and the why we win is worth exploring. At the start of the new year, I invite you to enjoy this talk and reflect on what you choose to win at. And how you go about that win. Have fun!

Carel is an investor in people and businesses, believing that 1+1 = (at least) 22. Working with a few basic concepts – best encapsulated in his believe that unless we are dead, anything is possible – Carel aims to build long-term sustainable value with like-minded individuals and companies, while having (a lot of!) fun.