An Underdog's Secret to Success: Transform The Way You Live | Sandy Zimmerman | TEDxSpokane | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

Sandy shares her story of overcoming a difficult upbringing, pursuing her dreams, and achieving success in various areas of her life.

Key Insights

• 🥰 Overcoming adversity and creating a healthy environment for loved ones is a significant accomplishment.
• ✊ The power of believing in oneself and borrowing others' belief until self-belief is developed.
• 😃 Taking action and pursuing big dreams is essential, even when feeling unprepared or scared.
• 🗯️ Listening to the right voice and overcoming doubt is crucial for success.
• 🥺 Small steps and perseverance lead to significant achievements.
• 😃 Overcoming fear is a key factor in pursuing and achieving big goals.
• ❓ The importance of resilience and bouncing back from setbacks.

Transcript

[Applause] well if someone were to ask me Sandy what accomplishments in your life are you most proud of well that's an easy one it's not the full rides scholarship to play basketball at gona University it's not being inducted into the national teacher Hall of Fame it's not hitting historical buzzers on American Ninja Warrior or even the title of na... Read More

Questions & Answers

Q: What were some of the challenges Sandy faced in her upbringing?

Sandy endured various forms of abuse and neglect, while also witnessing family members struggle with mental health issues and substance abuse.

Q: How did Sandy's perspective change after her sensei told her she could go to the Olympics?

At first, she was embarrassed and didn't believe that someone like her could dream of going to the Olympics. However, over time, she started to shift her thoughts and dream big.

Q: What was Sandy's experience in her first American Ninja Warrior competition?

Sandy hesitated before going in, battling her fears of failure and what others would think of her. Eventually, she listened to her confident voice and mustered up the courage to compete.

Q: How did Sandy prove herself during a dead hang competition?

Despite never trying a dead hang before, Sandy lasted for an impressive nine minutes. She outlasted other participants and proved her strength and determination.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Sandy recounts her journey of changing her family tree and creating a healthy and loving environment for her children.

• She talks about how her perspective shifted when her sensei told her she could go to the Olympics, leading her to dream big and compete on American Ninja Warrior.

• Sandy emphasizes the importance of listening to the right voice, dreaming big, taking action, and overcoming fear and doubt to achieve success.