Brevity of words

हर पल में खुदको बेहतर

करने की कोशिश जारी है

अब शब्दावली बढ़ाने की

और शब्द कम करने की बारी है।

- Ayush Agarwal

04.10.2022

Thoughts on Maisie Williams Speech TEDx Manchester

Main Woh Nahi | मैं वो नहीं | Poem

KAHA GAYE VOH DIN | NOSTALGIC POEM

Childhood is the most enjoyable phase in our lives. Today, with so much of gadgets around us, kids too are affected. The play in their phones, video games, computers. Outdoor sports are rarely played so often as it were once. Letters have become irrelevant in these times when we are connected to each other at every moment, thanks to technology. In this development, we have left some things behind us. Here is a poem by Pulkit Vashishth which talks about the same. Do like and share the video. If you like this type of content, support the channel by subscribing to it. Thanks.

Thoughts on Speech of Maisie Williams at TEDx Talk, Manchester

Hello guys, today we are going to discuss the highlights of the speech given by Maisie Williams in the recent TEDx Talk at Manchester. It was approximately 16 minutes speech. Here, I have written the speech for you to read and my thoughts on the same. Share your thoughts in the comments. You may watch the same spoken by here by clicking on the link: https://youtu.be/TTYOpfGvlwc

“Hi, I am Maisie Williams. And I am kind of just waiting for someone to come on stage and tell me that there's been some sort of miscommunication. And that I should probably leave. No?

So, some of you may know me as an actress. Some of you may know me for my really average tweets. Oh yeah! And some of you may be finding out who I am for the first time right now. Hello!”

For those of who, who are from the last category, Margaret Constance Williams, known as Maisie Williams, is an English actress. She made her professional acting debut in 2011 as Arya Stark of Winterfell in the HBO world phenomenon Game of Thrones. She is an astounding actress and has also starred in other television shows, feature films, web-series and recently enough in plays. Her broad artistic life led her to co-found Daisie, a social media aimed at creative people. Let’s continue.

“Whether you knew me before or not, you're probably wondering what I'm gonna talk to you about today? And I would be lying if I said it didn't take me 1 or 2 sleepless nights trying to figure that out. At last, here I am.

Upon finding out the news that I would be giving a TED talk, I did what I think most people do and watched about 50 TED talks back-to-back and read ‘Talk like Ted’ by Carmine Gallo for some inspiration. Was I inspired? Yes and No. Did it make me want to go out and change the world? Hell yeah! Did it make me feel like a totally inadequate public speaker with absolutely no point to make who was definitely in need of a big Thesaurus if she wants to keep up? Indeed.

What can I possibly say that would have any impact! What point am I trying to make! And who the hell thought it was a good idea to give me a TED talk!”

That shows her humor as well as her consciousness. She wants to be useful. With her speech she wants to make an impact, any impact. That to me, is the most important feature of any speech. After going through the entire speech, one might feel that she has just promoted herself, her show and her app. However, the context of her entire speech is this. Moving on.

“So, here's the part where I tell you what I know.

I'm the youngest of four siblings. My parents divorced when I was four months old. I really was the icing on the cake of a terrible marriage. I have two step siblings who are younger than me and a half-brother who's older than all of us. I grew up in a three-bedroom council house with four of my six siblings just outside of Bristol.

I went to a very ordinary school. I got very ordinary grades. I wasn't quite good enough to get a gold star and I also wasn't quite bad enough to be kept after school. I walked that nice center line where if I kept my mouth shut in class then I could probably get away with not being spoken to you by teachers for weeks on end. Everything about me was pretty damn ordinary, except for how I felt on the inside. I had big dreams. Shock.”

Yes, again the jokes are good. But the message in the last line is notable. She explains how her life was ordinary yet inside she felt extra ordinary. Opportunities are important to explore the extra-ordinary. But unless one feels it from inside, the opportunities are invisible.

“From as young as I can remember, I have dreamed of becoming a professional dancer. There are certain memories from my childhood that I would really rather forget. But during those times of immense pain, I found myself instinctively walking over to my mother's CD player cranking up the volume to drown out the noise and letting my body move to the beat. It's hard to describe how it felt. I was harnessing emotions that I didn't even really know the names of yet. I was summoning all of this energy and feeling. It flew through my body and out of my fingertips. I was alone in my own head and I felt the most alive. I didn't really know much about the big wide world then. But I knew that this feeling was addictive and I was going to stop at nothing until I made it my profession.”

This para of her speech has a lot to offer. First, she talks about dreams at a young age. Now, though she has become an actress instead of a professional dancer, it signifies the importance to have dreams and goals. It takes you somewhere ahead of where you are today. Second, she talks about memories that she would rather forget. That should remind people that everyone has such memories. Brooding over them won’t get you anywhere. Third, is her conviction. Even in her pain, she had the conviction to drown herself in her passion.  

“At eight years old, I was enrolled in dance class. And by 10, I informed my mother that I didn't want to go to school anymore. I wanted to be like Billy Elliot and go to stage school. This was the first opportunity or challenge I was presented with.

Even as young as 10, I was willing to give up all of my friends and go away to board a private school. Away from my siblings, away from my mum. She would repeatedly ask me, “Are you sure? This is what you want?”

And to me, it was a no-brainer. I didn't just want this I needed it. My grubby knees and crooked teeth were not on the list of requirements for becoming a professional dancer. And when I look back now both myself and my mother looked severely out of place. But at the time, I was just too young and naive to feel inadequate. I didn't care. If Billy Elliot could do it, so could I.

Once my audition was done, I returned home. For two weeks of staring out the window, waiting for the postman, waiting for my ticket out of my sleepy village and into a world of jazz hands and dorm rooms. It was good news followed by bad news. I had got in but the fees to attend a school like this were not cheap. And despite my best efforts, I had not received any government funding. I auditioned again the following year. And this time I received 40% funding, but this was still just money that we didn't have, and it broke my heart.

I was good enough. I made the cut. But I wasn't going anywhere. It was a blessing in disguise. Although, if anyone would have said that to me back then, I probably would have given them the finger and told them to jog on. I wasn't willing to give up that easily.”

Here, she talks about her first opportunity and the failure. Do note here that at such tender age, she was willing to give up her regular life to attain her dream. She also talks about her flaws, yet she convinced herself to fulfill her dream. The story of her first opportunity culminates in a very important learning for life. At times, you may be good enough yet not make it. Make peace with it.

“So, at age 11, I was bursting with excitement when my dance teacher informed me of a talent show which boasted opportunities of making you a star. This was the second opportunity I was faced with.

I entered into singing, acting, dancing and modelling. The talent show consisted of workshops and seminars with specialists who would help train you up for your performance at the end of the week.

After meeting a woman could Louise Johnston in an improvisation acting workshop, she gave me the words ‘bowling ball’ and asked me to create a short scene inspired by these words. After making her laugh with a fictional story of how I threw a bowling ball at my brother and it bounced, she asked me to join her acting agency.

I didn't really know what this meant. I knew that I would do auditions for films and may be become an actor. But I still had big dreams of becoming a professional dancer. So, this woman was gonna have to work a lot harder than that, if she was gonna convince eleven-year-old me that I was gonna become an actress.

Was this gonna take time away from the 30 hours of dancing I was doing a week. And what if I didn't get the part. Was this gonna be too upsetting. And do actresses have teeth like mine. Because if they do, I'm yet to watch any of their movies.”

Make peace with a failure not with life. She failed. She pulled herself up and tried a different route. That’s important lesson. Another impressive feature that she has is making the most of it. As I noted earlier it is important to her to make an impact with her speech. Similarly, she made the most out of the acting workshop. She explains that she did not know what it meant to be an actress, something that she did not choose earlier. Note here that life shapes itself if you work hard enough. Then she makes a second remark about her teeth, that shows that she sure does not feel perfect, yet it does not stop her. She has embraced what she feels to be her imperfections.   

“After meeting Louise in the February of 2009 and trying but failing to land the part in the hit sequel Nanny McPhee to the Big Bang, my second audition was for a show called Game of Thrones. This was the third opportunity or challenge I was presented with.

I climbed the steps to the Methodist Church with my mother's hand in mine. I perched my tiny bottom in one of the seats outside the audition room. And listened to an annoying girl, with her even more annoying mother, tell me all about the number of auditions she had done prior to this one and also about her pet fish. My name was called. Then, I stepped inside.

I had a hard Bristolian accent and dark rings around my eyes that were so big they took up half my face. And a hole in the knee of my trousers which I tried to cover with my left hand as I was talking to the kind lady who taped my audition.

But, as soon as she pressed record, it all drifted away, much like when I was dancing in my mother's living room. I harnessed all of my insecurities and self-doubt and let it flow through the words that came out of my mouth. I was cheeky, I was loud, I was angry. And for this, I was perfect.

After getting the part and shooting the pilot episode, the show slowly grew to become one of the biggest shows in television history. To this day, we've smashed previous HBO viewing records. We've been nominated for over 130 Emmys, making us the most Emmy nominated show to ever exist. We've recently finished shooting our eighth and final season which is predicted to smash records that we've already broken. And nearly a decade to the day since my first audition, I'm still wondering when am I gonna get to be Billy Elliot. I joke. But in all seriousness, I have absolutely no plans of slowing down.”

Her third opportunity which made her a star. Apart from again making the most out of the moment at the audition even with her self-doubts, I want to highlight that she makes two important judgement. One is about the girl who tried to bring her confidence down and second about the lady who took her audition. Its important to know who is helping you achieve your dream and who is pulling you back. Then she briefs you about her show. To some, it may seem as bragging about your fame. But one should be proud of one’s achievements.

“Throughout my time in this industry, it has been a minefield, I have grown from a child into an adult and from four feet tall into a whopping five feet tall. I have constantly been trying to say the right thing accidentally saying the wrong thing. Trying not to swear too much. And trying to stop saying like like all of the time.

In February of 2017, a friend of mine, Dom and I were drinking beers in my kitchen and he confessed to me that there is a huge problem with the creative industries. I agreed. The series of events that had got me to that point were based mainly on luck and timing and were unable to be recreated. He suggested to me that we create a social media but just for artists. To be able to collaborate with one another and create a career. This was the fourth opportunity or challenge I was presented with.

Great! I thought. How the hell do we do that. And Daisy was born. Of course, everyone who I spoke to about my latest endeavor thought that I was mad. However, I know that this is something that I can help change.

This last year, in the industry, we've seen a huge shift with the me-too movement. The industry is built with gatekeepers, holding all of the power and selecting who they deem talented enough to advance to the next level. More often than not, it is easier to catch the attention of those people if you have graduated from an expensive school. But even then, I have so many friends who are fresh out of art school, having trained for years, and are still no closer to creating a career.

Now, I'm not claiming that with Daisy I can make everybody a star. But I do believe that the key to success within creative industries is collaborating. Actors are only as good as their writers. Musicians are only as strong as their producers. And designers need their teams.

To start the company, we self-funded. I had a pot of cash from Game of Thrones that I was free to invest wherever I liked. Dom had a series of businesses from the age of 16 which meant he was also left with a pot of cash. We threw our money together 50:50 and we built a team. Now Lady Gaga has repeatedly said that there could be a room of 100 people and 99 don't believe in you but it just takes that one person to believe in you and they can change your life. Well, now we had a team of six.

Over the next 16 months, we built our MVP. Now if you're wondering what MVP is, I only found out what it is about six months ago. And from what I can gather, it's a product which proves has a problem worth solving with the minimum team effort. So basically, from my point of view, you're marketing something which you know is gonna be good one day but is a little bit bad right now. And for us that was an iOS app.

The six of us made an office in Dom's garden and on the first of August 2018, we released our version one. We had over 30,000 downloads in the first 24 hours and over 30,000 comments asking when the Android version was going to be come. Despite our app being imperfect buggy and literally built by one man alone, this was exactly what we needed for people to invest. We learned a lot from our angry users and our scary investors. And over the last six months, we have grown our team to 16 people. From then till now, we've been building version 2 which we will be launching in April.

Within the industry, there is a common phrase which I think we're all pretty familiar with and that is “It's not what you know, it's who you know!”. And with Daisy, I hope to give that power back to the Creator. I want to encourage people to create a list of contacts that they will work with and support as they take their first steps into the fickle and often challenging creative world.”

There are two key takeaways from this part of the speech. One being considerate and giving back. Second, taking the risks. She got discovered and made it huge as an actress. At the age of around 20, being only 7 years old in the industry she has taken the risk of investing her money in something which would yield something for the industry.  

“I am of the generation who grew up with the Internet. I've never known anything else. We are connected, we are aware, and we are the future. I hope Daisy can breathe new life into the slightly dystopian ad-riddled health escapes that social media platforms have become. I hope to create a space where people can boast their art and creativity rather than what car they are driving and whether or not they bought it cash or on Finance.

In a world where literally anyone can be famous, I hope to inspire people to be talented instead. Talent will carry you so much further than your 15 minutes of fame. So why am I telling you all this? The very fact that I'm here, giving a TED talk right now, is so far from anything I thought that I was capable of. Even writing the bio for my speech, made me realize that in a decade everything in my life has changed.

I am an Emmy-nominated actress, an entrepreneur and an activist. Yet, I have no formal qualifications to my name. When I left school about seven years ago, I made it my mission to continue learning even though I never wanted to set foot in a classroom again. Who knows what's going to happen to my life in the next 10 years! I, surely, have no idea. I've never had an end goal. It's working out okay so far.

So, trust that you're good enough. If there's one thing that I've learned, is that there truly is a place for everyone. Ask questions and laugh in the face of people who say that they're stupid questions. Be open to learning and admitting when you don't know what the hell is going on. Refuse to hold yourself back and dare to dream big. Thank you for listening.”

She ended her speech with brilliant thoughts. Being of the generation which is always told to be stuck in the internet, she gives a positive outlook to the use of internet by stating we are connected and aware.

Then she drops her thought of the speech. “Inspire people to be talented rather than famous.” I want to write a lot about this single line, yet I would refrain myself to just saying that do your work with utmost devotion and work hard in everything you do. Try to learn and be good at everything you do.

Then she talks about the uncertainties in life and how having no end goals is good enough. Do not mistake this statement as not having dreams. Dream thousands of things. The achievement of your dream should not be the end goal though. Move to fulfilling another dream.

Last she talked about positivity. To me, positivity is the key to inner peace and happiness. Its not just a attitude, it’s a way of life.

I hope you like Maisie’s speech and my breakdown of it. Thanks.

Disclaimer : I do not have any ownership of the youtube video shared here. The speech is given by Maisie Williams. I have written it down for people to read. The thoughts presented here are my own and not a work of any other person. 

FOUNDATION STONE

Be it the Taj Mahal, the Burj Khalifa, the Sydney Opera House or any other wonderful creations. Whenever, you see a historical monument, an architectural marvel, what is the first thought that crosses your mind?

Beautiful creation! That’s it, we see carvings, the artistic finesse, colours of the monument, the fine work of paintings on the walls, the dome at the top, the gateways, the staircases, etc. We appreciate it, we speak about it. If we have a guide, he tells about the historic importance of the place, the time it took to build the whole structure, the resources, the cost. Rarely does our mind wonder about the foundation stones.

The world sees the beauty, sees only the top. We do not appreciate things which are not beautiful. Otherwise, when we would look at a monument and be appreciating the foundation, the solid truths behind the glory. We MUST.

We must appreciate things which we generally do not because they remind us of the harsh realities. It is the reality of life that things are not always beautiful. Truth is not always beautiful. Truth is harsh.

Naturally we would appreciate the brick that is placed on the brim for the purpose of attraction. But we must learn to appreciate those bricks too which are ten feet in the ground and has been supporting the building for long time. We must appreciate them as the reliability of the entire building depends on the strength of these bricks. Shake them, the entire structure will fall on the ground.

Wikipedia defines-

“The cornerstone is the first stone set in the construction of a masonry foundation, important since all other stones will be set in reference to this stone, thus determining the position of the entire structure.”

While laying done the foundations, these bricks are broken into appropriate sizes and laid down to sustain the weight of the entire building. These bricks get so damaged in the ground so that the world would get the building. These brick that are more compact than all the bricks above the ground and are the reason the structure is still standing tall. But these bricks see that the dynamics of the building are dependent on them, so offered themselves. They went several feet inside the ground so that the building could reach up to a hundred feet. These bricks that confessed to themselves so blind that all companions above would get clean air, keep getting sunlight. These bricks dissolved their existence so that the world can see a beautiful creation. Beautiful creation always seeks sacrifice.

It should be our nature as humans to pay attention to the bricks of foundation. Be it for a building or a society. Not only that, we should try to imbibe the characters of being the bricks of foundation for a better society.

In the society and the workplace, we must be like the foundation stones, keep the needs of the society or the workplace above our personal needs of glory. These will result in the creation of a beautiful society, a better society.

- Ayush Agarwal

METRIPPING : PRECOCIOUS & NIFTY

Yet, another travel management site OR a standout experience? You decide.

The digital age has offered us the most usable service in the form of planning our journeys. Be it vacations or professional trips, we don’t want our money to be wasted. Hence we make sure that the right amount is charged from us, yet we end up paying more due to our inability to make the most efficient plan.

Travel industry being one of the biggest digital industries has seen a number of players over the years each providing the same service in some form or another. Yet, only a few of these players have become household names due to their unique features. Among these, MeTripping could be termed as the alpha and the omega of innovative style of travel site.

How does MeTripping stand out?

Let’s go through the whole travelling experience.

Actually guiding in your destination selections – With unique features, such as Inspire Me, I have a Shortlist, etc. the site is actually guiding the user in making destination selections for holidays. In our hectic schedules, we get less time to learn about new places to visit and end up choosing amongst the few common places to spend the holidays. MeTripping takes care of this issue, in a way it educates us about places to be visited with the same budget, which we never realised were possible.

Takes care of your interest – Although it shows you numerous options, it does not ignore your interest, the unique and interactive search options keep your interests and budget intact while making suggestions.

Advisory like never before – MeTripping not only plans your travels, it also provides insights of the locations like food, transport facilities, etc.

Now with the knowledge of a number of destinations and having insights of the locations, we should be able to select a destination.

Planning the journey – Every traveller has the most obvious need, best possible alternative with an eye on the wallet. MeTripping is just the right place for an answer.  Within seconds, it brings out for you best options after scanning more than a thousand websites. You can imagine the amount of time needed to scan all these websites personally.

Stay as per your need - Don’t just travel cheap, stay cheap or at best hotels, at your choice of course. But who does not like options?

Okay, so now we know the destination and know what the cost of travelling to and from and stay at our destination is. But is it the right time to go? MeTripping tells you when the best time to visit your destination is. So make an informed decision and don’t ignore the expected weather condition displayed.

Looking at the innovative style here, I hope there is a lot more to be expected of travel management sites in the future.

DRESSENCE

DRESSENCE: FOR THE CORPORATE CASUAL

"Friday dressing has acquired a whole new meaning with a relaxed dress code increasing becoming part of the work culture. Corporate casual is now the new buzzword. We give you the lowdown on what’s hot and what’s not."

Whether you fall into the metro sexual male bracket or otherwise, a well-dressed man never fails to make an impression. The clothes you wear reflect your personality. Looking your best will only become a widely accepted form of dress.

Add spice to your weekend attire

Friday dressing is now a part of the work culture. Several organizations have altered their dress code keeping in mind the comfort of their employees. While the ‘business or corporate casual’ look ensures comfortable wear it need not be sloppy. Casual wear can be stylish and sporty without being flashy or boring. As many office-goers would admit, dressing down is a welcome change. All the same, it requires effort to go beyond the regular suit and tie outfit. Your attire must enhance the good aspects of your body. When you shop for casual clothing think of building the ideal mix-match wardrobe. The basic business casual can be a polo shirt worn with a khaki pant. And for a more polished casual look, just add a sports jacket. Of course, you must choose your body frame and height. And make it a point to first try the clothes you buy – and ensure that they fit well. Also, the colours are an important aspect. For instance wear red if you want to attract attention or make a bold fashion statement. Black is also a slimming agent. But don’t mismatch colours. If need be, get fashion tips from a stylist or a men’s magazine.

Also horizontal prints make you look heavier whereas vertical prints are perfect patterns for a little plump category. Either select colours that contrast—for instance, a red shirt with blue jeans or complimentary colours such as beige polo-neck with coffee-coloured chinos.

Up the style quotient

It goes without saying that your wardrobe must have several sport shirts and sweaters. Short-sleeved T-shirts are indispensable during summers. Again, check the neckline. There are turtlenecks, V-necks, crewnecks and polo necks to name a few. And during the cold season, a comfy turtleneck imparts a stylish, yet comfortable look. Also, turtlenecks look attractive as they accentuate your build. While fashion trend may keep changing, don’t renew your entire wardrobe just to keep abreast. What you can do is mix-and-match – a plaid jacket with a sweater underneath and a pair of beige pants.

A jacket is one of the most versatile items of a man’s wardrobe. More so when it comes to a leather jacket – you cannot possibly go wrong with that. And if you have a Harley Davidson to boot then you sure do live the good life! A leather jacket will last you for a long time and can be worn for casual and semi – formal occasions.

Although the real thing can be expensive, you can always buy imitation leather. Alternatively, you can just buy a casual jacket or a blazer in suede, denim or corduroy jackets in navy or earthy tones. Normally, jackets with zippers are more popular than buttons. Popular colors include black, charcoal gray and earth tones such as brown, beige, burgundy and khaki. In fact, a sports jacket can e paired with any regular t-shirt and it adds that touch of sportiness.

Pants redefined

Casual trousers look extremely stylish and come in various cuts, Styles and fabrics. You can choose from an entire array of options when it comes to informal gents’ trousers- from cotton cargo pants, chino-style trousers, track pants, 4 and 6 pocket pants (they vary in the number of pockets), corduroy pants and khakis. These pants impart a trendy look. And you can select from earthy shades, dark hues and tonal (blend) colours. And please, keep your track pants only four your Gym workouts or jogging sessions.

For casual pants, pants with wool gabardine and lycra look neat. Chinos are made by blending cotton and synthetic fiber and are perfect for urban male. Chinos in darker shades are right for this session. And so are cotton corduroy pants. Wrinkle resistant khakis, since many khakis look quite shabby even when they are slightly wrinkled. Try to avoid baggy jeans, faded jean sand jeans with holes in them, as they are totally unprofessional.

Jeans are ubiquitous in menswear and make a great fashion statement. Whether it’s a superstar, or corporate head honcho or a collegian, jeans have added a new dimension to casual wear. When it comes to jeans – you have it all from boot cut style, to baggy pants and washed-out jeans. When it comes to denims – you can explore several styles – from honey and shredded jeans to the vintage denim. Denim makes for a very flexible wardrobe. The most versatile of all are blue jeans that can be paired with all kinds of T-shirts and jackets.

Style guide

Of course, there are new styles every season. Select from the complete assortment to make your own fashion statement. Also see to it that your accessories and shoes match your casual look. Try not to wear diamond-studded rings or a gold watch with polo-neck! And do wear the right kind of shoes to compliment your overall appearance. Belts and socks should always compliment the outfit. Never wear both a belt and suspenders.

And yes, you also need to maintain you casual wear - - that included dry-cleaning, ironing and so on. You cannot afford to be left behind in this casual revolution, can you? So go on, take your picks of casual wear.

Experiments with these different trendy pants and flaunt your cool attitude.