This TED Talk features Cate Hall sharing her personal journey from drug addiction to becoming a successful CEO. She emphasizes the role of "personal agency," the ability to identify and act on available opportunities, in her recovery and subsequent achievements. Hall argues that while intelligence and hard work are important, agency, often fostered by desperation, is crucial for a fulfilling life. She offers practical advice on cultivating agency, including assuming everything is learnable, courting rejection to test assumptions, and actively seeking honest feedback. Her narrative highlights how overcoming adversity and embracing vulnerability led to unexpected freedom and happiness.
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