Measuring the invisible: The new way to define success | DUONG THUY NHI AU | TEDxDragon Bridge Youth

Summary of O Yuni's TED Talk

Key Concepts:

• Iceberg Analogy: Represents the focus on visible achievements (tip) versus unseen efforts (underneath).
• EFI Method (Efforts, Feedbacks, Improve): A system for tracking and improving performance.
• Three Extreme Method: A daily routine involving task setting, focused work, and reflection.
• Micro Goals: Small, consistent actions that build towards larger achievements.
• Data-Driven Growth: Using measurable data to track progress and understand oneself.
• Internal Comparison: Comparing oneself to their past self rather than others.

The Iceberg Analogy: Beyond the Tip

O Yuni opens by using the iceberg analogy to illustrate how society often focuses solely on visible achievements like grades, titles, and scores (the tip of the iceberg). She argues that the unseen efforts, failures, and quiet hours beneath the surface are equally important and often overlooked. The talk aims to delve into this "90% of the invisible part" and provide methods for measuring and valuing these efforts.

From "Gifted" to Fading: A Personal Story

Yuni shares her personal experience of transitioning from being a "promising kid" in middle school to feeling inadequate in a specialized high school surrounded by excellent students. She describes feeling lost and questioning her identity when her self-worth was solely based on achievements. This led her to chase validations through extracurricular activities and projects, but she still felt unfulfilled.

The Turning Point: Defining Goals

A pivotal moment occurred when a mentor advised her to focus on defining goals clearly and measurably rather than relying on aspirations alone. This realization prompted her to shift from chasing emotions and validations to building a system for self-improvement.

Quote: "Don't judge someone by the abilities that they claim to have but by how they exactly define their goals. The clearer more detailed more measurable the goal is the more it becomes a plan. And those who live by plans will always go further than those who lives by aspirations only."

The EFI Method: Efforts, Feedbacks, Improve

Yuni introduces her EFI method as a framework for tracking and improving performance:

1. Efforts (E): Instead of simply stating "I studied today," log the specific details:
   • How many times did you study?
   • How hard was the task? (Difficulty rating)
   • How focused were you?
2. Feedbacks (F): Replace guesswork with data and honest feedback:
   • Predict test scores or success rates.
   • Seek brutally honest comments from teachers or mentors.
3. Improve (I): After completing a task, reflect on what could be improved:
   • If you could do it again, what would you change?
   • Test the change and track the results.

Example: Applying EFI to a math test:

• E: 60 minutes spent, difficulty 4.5/5
• F: 85% score
• I: Focus more on geometry, practice 10 geometry problems per day.

Yuni emphasizes that this data-driven approach transforms data into growth.

Real-World Application: Big Companies

She draws a parallel to how major companies like Google and Tesla track employee performance (e.g., lines of code written, bugs fixed, response times) to predict company changes, reward employees fairly, and build effective teams. She poses the question: "Why not us?" suggesting that students can also measure their efforts and progress.

The Three Extreme Method: Daily Routine

Yuni introduces another method, the Three Extreme Method, as a simple yet powerful daily routine:

1. Three Morning Tasks: Spend three minutes each morning writing down three tasks that must be completed during the day.
2. Three Focus Hours: Block out distractions (especially social media) for three hours of focused work. She notes the concept of "brain robbed" due to social media exposure.
3. Three Reflections: At the end of the day, ask yourself three questions about the day's tasks:
   • Have I shown up?
   • What did I do well?

She emphasizes that these questions are tools for deeper self-understanding.

Micro Goals and Consistent Actions

Yuni stresses that success is not built on one big action but on consistent, patient, and deliberate small actions (micro goals). She acknowledges the appeal of "thinking big" (quoting Donald Trump), but emphasizes the importance of focusing on the next step and laying down tiny bricks day by day.

Measuring Beyond Comparison: Internal Growth

Yuni argues that not everything that can be measured is being measured correctly. She uses the example of a physical education class where students are scored solely on the number of laps run, ignoring individual differences in stamina, heart rate, and starting points.

She asserts that measuring should not be about comparing oneself to others but about comparing oneself to their past self.

Quote: "Not to ask am I as good as someone else. Instead asking am I better than the version of me yesterday."

Conclusion: Dreams and Data

Yuni concludes by stating that dreams are beautiful, but data is also beautiful. Combining the two allows individuals to stop drifting and start building. She emphasizes that she is not standing there as an excellent student but as someone who keeps walking even when things are difficult.

She believes that "good isn't enough" if the definition of good comes from others. What truly matters is knowing your limits, your growth, and your own values. She ends by stating that education is not about a race but about growth.