GROWTH | Harshil Prabhu | TEDxYouth@RJM

Key Concepts

• Growth (personal and societal)
• Player Growth
• Technical Growth
• Social Growth (Category 1 & 2)
• Beneficial Growth
• 3D=3G (Dedication, Desire, Discipline = Goal, Growth, Glory)
• Growth as a process (Gradual, Reliable, Orderly, Well-regulated, Transforming, High-achieving)

Defining Growth

The speaker opens by greeting the audience in four languages (English, Spanish, Portuguese, and French) to illustrate personal growth. He defines growth as a transformation from a past self to a present and future self. He emphasizes that growth is not merely physical (height or weight) but a personal realization.

Key Point: Only you can define your growth; external validation is insufficient.

Process for Identifying Growth:

1. Sit comfortably.
2. Close your eyes.
3. Visualize your past journey, including difficulties and achievements.
4. Compare your past self at the beginning of the journey to your present self at the end.
5. If satisfied, you have grown.

Types of Growth

The speaker outlines four types of growth:

1. Player Growth

• Achieved through sports or physical activities.
• Example: A student's improved dribbling skills in basketball or football from grade 6 to grade 12.
• Key Point: Observable improvement in skills related to a sport.

2. Technical Growth

• Related to computer skills and computing.
• Example: A student's increased typing speed, use of shortcuts, and ability to code complex programs from grade 6 to grade 12.
• Key Point: Advancement in computer-related abilities.

3. Social Growth

• Divided into two categories:
  • Category 1: Transformation of an introvert or ambivert into an extrovert.
    • Definitions:
      • Introvert: Hates socializing.
      • Extrovert: Loves socializing.
      • Ambivert: Lies between introvert and extrovert. Behaves like an introvert to the ones beyond their circle and behaves like an extrovert to the ones within their circle.
    • Example: An introvert becoming comfortable delivering a TED talk.
  • Category 2: Societal transformation due to one person's thought or innovation.
    • Examples:
      • Martin Cooper's invention of the mobile phone.
      • Thomas Edison's invention of the light bulb.
      • Email Bernier's invention of the microphone.
    • Key Point: Positive impact on society resulting from an individual's idea.

4. Beneficial Growth

• All growth should be beneficial, either to oneself or the environment.
• Example: A boy planting a sapling and inspiring others to plant more, leading to over 100 saplings being planted.
• Key Point: Growth that benefits living beings and the environment.

Stories Illustrating Growth

The speaker shares two stories to exemplify different types of growth:

Story 1: The Math Tutor

• A poor boy with a passion for math faces financial difficulties and his father's death.
• He starts a tutorial center to educate other poor students in math.
• Type of Growth: Beneficial Growth.
• Reasoning: He plants "achievers" and "brains" that contribute to a better future, similar to planting trees for a better environment.

Story 2: The Fruit Seller

• An illiterate fruit seller in a village is unable to understand a foreign tourist asking the price of his fruits in English.
• He dreams of building a school to educate villagers in English.
• He works hard, saves money, and eventually builds the school.
• Type of Growth: Category 2 Social Growth.
• Reasoning: His idea of educating others prevents them from suffering the same communication barrier he faced.

Real-World Examples:

• Anand Kumar: Started the Super 30 program to educate poor students in math. A movie was made based on his life.
• Harlal Hajaba: The fruit seller who built a school and received the Padma Shri award for his social service.

The 3D=3G Formula for Growth and Success

The speaker introduces a mnemonic formula for attaining growth and success:

3D = 3G

• 3D:
  • Dedication: Commitment to a goal.
  • Desire: Strong wish or longing.
  • Discipline: Controlled behavior or orderly conduct.
• 3G:
  • Goal: An aim or desired result.
  • Growth: The process of developing or improving.
  • Glory: High renown or honor.

Explanation:

• Desire alone is insufficient.
• Desire and dedication can lead to a goal and growth, but not glory.
• Desire, discipline, and dedication are required to achieve the goal, growth, and glory.

Examples:

• Cristiano Ronaldo (Football), Virat Kohli (Cricket), Manojkumar Sharma (IPS Officer): Real-life examples of individuals who proved the 3D=3G theorem.
• Karna (Mahabharata): Used as a case study to illustrate the importance of all three "D"s.
  • Case 1: Desire without dedication and discipline leads to nothing.
  • Case 2: Dedication without the right desire leads to growth but not glory.
  • Case 3: Desire and dedication without discipline lead to growth and goal but not glory.
  • Arjuna (Mahabharata): Karna's archival who had the desire, dedication and discipline to become the world's best archer.

Growth as a Process

The speaker emphasizes that growth is a process, not an instant achievement.

Growth = G.R.O.W.T.H.

• G: Gradual - Good things take time; it's slow and steady.
  • Example: Germination of a seed – it takes time for the soil to absorb nutrients and produce fruit.
• R: Reliable - Once you start growing, no one can stop you with utmost dedication.
• O & W: Orderly and Well-regulated - Steps cannot be skipped or repeated.
  • Example: You can't obtain a fruit without sowing and watering the seed.
• T: Transforming - Growth transforms you into a new person.
• H: High-achieving - Growth enables you to achieve high goals in life.

Key Point: Growth is a social need, bringing glory and success.

Conclusion

The speaker encourages the audience to view life as a book or a movie, where they are the author/director and can define their own growth. He shares his personal growth journey within TEDxYouth@RJM, from being a volunteer to becoming a speaker. He concludes by emphasizing that growth is always present, and encourages everyone to keep growing.