Dare to Jump! | Susana Jimenez | TEDxFrutillar

Key Concepts

• Embracing Challenges: The central theme of overcoming fear and taking on daunting opportunities for personal growth and achievement.
• Collective Action vs. Individualism: The contrast between a society focused on individual pursuits and the necessity of collaboration for achieving significant societal goals.
• Public Policies: The speaker's chosen field for applying the principle of embracing challenges, aimed at addressing societal needs.
• Social Issues in Chile: Specific examples of critical problems in health, education, and housing within Chile that public policies aim to solve.
• Female Leadership: The underrepresentation of women in leadership roles and the importance of breaking these barriers.
• Self-Imposed Limitations: The idea that individuals often create their own boundaries, in addition to external ones, that hinder progress.
• Stepping Out of the Comfort Zone: The act of taking risks and venturing into unfamiliar territory for greater impact.

The Leap of Faith: Embracing Challenges for Transformative Experiences

The speaker begins by recounting a personal experience of bungee jumping in New Zealand. Despite initial terror and physical apprehension, the realization that no one had ever died during this activity gave her the courage to jump. This act of leaping into the unknown is presented as a metaphor for life's opportunities and challenges. The core message is that by embracing seemingly frightening situations, one can achieve spectacular, fulfilling experiences, transforming perceived limitations into accomplishments. This process, though daunting, can be approached with enthusiasm and leads to a sense of achievement and enjoyment.

The Power of Collective Action in Public Policies

The speaker contrasts the individualistic nature of modern society, exemplified by magazine covers celebrating "You" and "Me," with the essential need for collective action, particularly in the realm of public policies. She argues that the "whole is much more than the sum of its parts" and that ambitious goals, like those in public policy, require collaboration. This is illustrated by the African proverb: "If you go alone, you arrive quickly, but if you go accompanied, you arrive much further." Public policies are defined as having a "human face," seeking solutions for the diverse needs of people.

Critical Social Issues in Chile

To underscore the importance of public policies, the speaker provides stark statistics from Chile:

• Health: 2.5 million people are awaiting medical treatment or surgery, with 16,000 deaths occurring in the first half of the year due to delayed care.
• Education: 70% of adults consider themselves functionally illiterate, and 44% of the population lacks minimum mathematical and language competencies.
• Housing: 500,000 families lack adequate housing, living on the streets, in camps, or as dependents in others' homes.

These figures highlight the significant societal challenges that public policies aim to address.

The Imperative of Female Leadership

The speaker, who leads a professional association that had never had a female president in its 90-year history, emphasizes the critical need for increased female leadership in public policies. She asserts that talent is distributed homogeneously, yet women have historically been underrepresented in leadership roles. She cites historical examples of women who have broken barriers, such as Adriana Olguín (first minister in Chile, 1952), Michelle Bachelet (first female president), Rosana Costa (current president of the Central Bank), Rosa Devés (rector of the University of Chile), and Dorot Pérez (comptroller).

The speaker identifies as a feminist who believes in equal opportunities and meritocracy. She clarifies that these women achieved their positions through hard work and dedication, not simply because of their gender.

Overcoming Self-Imposed Limitations

A crucial point is made regarding the difference in how men and women approach challenges. Studies suggest that men tend to take on roles when they feel they meet 60% of the requirements, while women often wait until they feel 100% prepared. This indicates that many limitations are not external but are self-imposed due to cultural factors and a tendency to over-prepare. The speaker urges individuals to expand and break down these internal frontiers to achieve greater impact.

The Meaning of "Jumping" in Professional and Personal Life

The metaphor of "jumping" is further elaborated:

• Personal and Professional Self-Challenge: Taking on difficult tasks, as the speaker did when assuming the Ministry of Energy.
• Exiting the Comfort Zone: Engaging in activities that involve public exposure and may not always be comfortable.
• Paving the Way for Others: As exemplified by her presidency of the CPC, opening doors for future female leaders.
• Seeking Positive Impact: Aiming to create positive change for others and contribute to well-being, a core aspect of public policies and many other endeavors.
• Driving National and Global Change: The ambition to transform one's country and, potentially, the planet.

Expanding Boundaries and Maximizing Impact

The speaker concludes by illustrating that individuals often perceive narrow limits and a "ceiling" to their potential. However, by pushing slightly and motivating themselves, they can expand these boundaries for themselves and others, leading to a significantly larger space for action and a greater impact. The invitation is for everyone to identify their "jump" – whether in public policies or any other purpose – and to recognize their capacity to move from a limited state to one of expanded influence and achievement.