TEDxSinCity - Bryan Franklin - The Most Dangerous Question On Earth

[@amsalespush]

the usual way this question is asked is "what if MONEY did not matter?" Yet I just realized that I am not in it for the money, but for approval and admiration. So this way of asking is so much more powerful for me

[@humanyoda]

Some believe that it's not desires that cause suffering, but being attached to them. I agree with this.

[@Loddfafnisodr]

This type of knowledge is what results in most amazing discussions. Self-realization of ego is different from realizing it's materialistic wishes. Psychedelic plants and language helped us evolve consciousness, and then materialistic culture and ego. I'm not just the only guy who firmly believes this. I suggest checking out some of McKenna's work (many lectures here on KZbin and elsewhere, better than some of these pretentiously marketed TED 'conferences' and all of it's mainstream academia)

[@ruhtra619]

I wanted to turn this talk off several time because it was just so boring but I'm glad I stuck with it. That last question is fantastic. I wish he had started with this question and expanded on it for his talk.

[@TheCriminal2334]

I want to keep building, creating, and giving. I'll never be done. I don't want to be done. If I'm ever done, I'm dead.

[@davidlevine7164]

I think the entire talk boils down to this: If you forget about what anyone thinks, what do you really want to do that will be of service to others? Bryan is an entrepreneur and sales person and presents things through that lens.

[@kundanchhabra]

This is one of my favorite TED talks EVER! I especially like the section on "holding paradox". So important!

[@davidsirmons]

This is the most deeply insightful and correct presentation I've heard. I asked this very question of people years and years ago, and they gave me a blank stare. It is the means to discover what you would have a more fulfilling life with should you pursue it. For those able to see to the extent this presentation speaks of (it's a small number sadly) they have only agreement and thanks for it having been stated to clearly.

[@jamesmartin62]

davidsirmons I feel you Bro, I can't believe people have never asked themselves these questions. I think of questions like this all day and I pursue the truth, and I've found out all the significant answers and tons of not so significant answers and I'm at peace.

[@EvenStarLoveAnanda]

After I have realized everything and realized myself as everything, I want everyone to realize the same.

[@CarmelStSurin]

What do you want when you have everyTHING you want? Peace of mind, contentment, love.

[@Pennebakergame]

brought me tears!!!

[@samchaltain]

Great talk, Brian! Thank you for breaking it down so clearly and passionately.

[@ihartcreator]

This is amazing. It has resulted in the most profound conversations with every friend that has seen it. One friend stopped seeing his psychiatrist after beginning to answer this question. He realized living a lie was the source of all his problems. This really cuts to the core, past all the BS. I am still trying to answer the question and it isn't pretty. I imagine the world would be a much more amazing place if more people lived the answer to this question.

[@ufos22]

A conference with Chopra is a lot like listening to this guy. You went out to eat and when you left the restaurant you felt hungry. Then realizing that you never actually went to the restaurant at all !

[@Forandhex]

really a good one to watch n learn something.....

[@MrObveous777]

that is a very interesting insight. but we have to remember that the talk leading up to the question is about leadership and vision. a life with out any desire such as love,passion,vision is not empty but will not allow you to lead in a way that will make others want to follow you in a way that the speaker is talking about. a vision of the future might be an artificial desire but in order to lead in an effective way you need that desire to inspire others to follow..

[@AndreaLambert]

WOW! That's awesome! That really hones in right to the heart of it all.

[@ratiocinativeness]

In short: Being an effective leader is about appreciating and respecting differences, paradoxes, and contradictions and starting the behavioral pendulum of appreciation and respect. People won't follow you if they don't agree. They won't agree if they don't respect you. They won't respect you if you don't respect them and their differing ideas and attitudes. As a credible person, when you appreciate others, they respect you. When they respect you, they follow you. This is the law of attraction.

[@Ciotticalm]

You are a good speaker.....

[@TheRooster602]

Neko Vermillion, this is one of the best comments on KZbin: "What do you want" is difficult, but it's not as dangerous as wondering why you want it. You should develop this into your own TED talk.

[@Flyborg]

I feel that this should have been the entire talk. I'm not sure you'd be missing much by just watching this part.

[@LaursenDoll]

go on.. live your life sincerely!!!

[@McshanShow]

amazing one! want more videos like this.....

[@LatchGiz]

very good speech.....

[@CoachPaulJacks]

Made it 5 and a half minutes before I said to myself "WTF is this *%*$?" and started reading comments. Apparently the ending is good, at least according to the comments. I'll give it another shot.... 2nd TED talk today that this happened. Some are fantastic, and some leave you like "whaaaa?" Edit: started getting better around 8-9 minute mark, Edit 2: Dang, that was a pretty good ending. Makes you think. 1st-5th minutes D, 6th to 8th minutes -C, 8th-17th minutes B+, 18th minutes plus +A. I was wrong, Good TED talk...two thumbs up.

[@usghui]

Every answer I came up with, I realized it can be treated like the ones which you call 'artificial desires'. So I came to the conclusion that it's not the point in the wish - the point is in the absence of wish. That led me to Buddhas' teachings, which referes to wish as 'source of all suffering'. So, I quess we all just want to be happy and enyoj this journey and everything we do has a root in that wish...and to achieve that, we need to stop wishing, because that is a journey with no end.

[@VivaLaRevolucionViva]

A very powerful ending.

[@laughingfurry]

Thank you. I would, but I have been keeping an eye on media as of late. There's a very heavy shift in entertainment and society that I believe will have the most dramatic effect on our lives. More so than any of the changes in social media we have seen thus far. Some projects I've been wanting to pursue are on hold now because I don't know what will come once the changes occur.

[@LauryCute]

i was amazed asking this one to myself!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@gebomanz]

Really the most dangerous question on earth!

[@protoman6231]

coversations make good sense!!!

[@BAConsulting]

Gustafsson 1, 2, 3 - you asked, "So life is an illusion? What good does it give to you to think this way?" In Western society, we believe that there is an independent reality, regardless of your perspective (illusion), my perspective (illusion), or any leader's perspective (illusion). Words are not thought - words attempt to explain the thought. Words are only an attempt to portray the thought or the reality. Getting to the essence of your own and your follower's self-beliefs is leadership.

[@MrObveous777]

(how I interpreted it)..what is being said over all is you have everything you could possibly imagine(WHAT YOU THINK YOU WANT) then he says "what do you want now"(WHAT YOU REALLY WANT DEEP DOWN INSIDE) the first question is to eliminate artificial desires second question is to bring out what you truly want.. you have everything now what?love?passion?..then you should put all your life's dedication into that instead of trying to get all those other things you wanted in the first question..

[@laughingfurry]

Good point.

[@PlatzMarry]

bryan was really good at speech!!!

[@regalx1]

I think what he's trying to say is that he wants entrepreneurs to imagine their vision of the future where they achieved every single life goals have won everything they could have ever wanted. When he asks "what do you want now?" the answer is a paradox, because you already have everything. When you already have everything you want, the only thing left is give something back. His question is basically "what do you want to give back to the world?" It's dangerous because he gave back everythin

[@gregbraunlin4646]

I feel like he's a covert Guru who just zapped me with a lightning bolt of higher consciousness.

[@YukiSasuOohOoh]

''When you have everything you want, what do you want?'' ==> Speaker states that if this question doesn't freak you out, you aren't asking honestly. Well, if I have achieved inner peace(the ''all i want''), I want to continue existing with it. That is all. It doesn't freak me out.

[@fatninjacatmatt]

But what do you REALLY want?

[@jamesmartin62]

綺麗な夢見な You would be very UNHAPPY existing forever on planet earth if you achieved all your desires including inner peace, but you wouldn't have any motivation to do anything if you accomplished it all. Keep searching for the REAL answer.

[@YukiSasuOohOoh]

I would like world peace, but I don't think that's going to be possible.

[@jamesmartin62]

綺麗な夢見な Not on this earth, But In Nirvana will be.

[@Aokicute]

superb video!!!

[@Maloof30]

bryan was amazing!!

[@beresford295]

good speech! informative!

[@Benitogayr]

great video.....

[@shaleto]

Great talk, wonderful speaker and what a question :D

[@jollyKrogman]

really nice one....

[@misermia6205]

nice to see such video.... :)

[@laughingfurry]

In a way, that is true. Though, wanting something to feel something does answer the question of why. However, it does ask the question of "why achieve that feeling through that means?" Maybe I'm over-analyzing this now.

[@TheRooster602]

If tens of thousands of hands touched my pillow, washing is inadequate; I'm buying another pillow.

[@Lindenbergy]

Good 1...

[@Douchebagus]

In order to understand what he was saying, you must have had thoughts similar to his in the past. What he meant was that a good leader would be able to see value in 2 conflicting view points where neither view point has a "greater" truth. Do not get caught up preserving bullshit decisions you've made in the past, see the benefits of the others side that could be you.

[@petestrat07]

I had had everything, which to me is freedom and happiness, I'd just want to do my best to improve the ride.

[@VagAndrik]

what if the answer is nothing?

[@Loddfafnisodr]

Some of these plants can definitely help us evolve. Cannabis alone. I will do just that. Get stoned as often as I need to and "share" these moments, to help collect useful data. Of course I also Intend to live happily, to earn some money, to meet people who always disagree and still bond with them, because what else could I be doing to survive for the next 10 years?

[@burgesheaven]

good point of question that no one has correct answer!

[@SlamaQueen]

I love this question when asked to others but not to me... ;)

[@Loddfafnisodr]

I want to explore this life. The knowledge I had gained will direct me to the most interesting area of life - the conscious self-realization of mind. I will further explore my understanding of (my) conscious mind, of the planet and the beings in this Universe (Earth?) , of language and evolution. Science is a method, not an interest to me (except for the "facts" that it helped discover, of course). I will live in harmony and coordination with plants, the only strategy that has helped us evolve.

[@Tubatubtub]

The presentation was rocky at best but the question was truely hard hitting.

[@BAConsulting]

"you can't always get what you want...but if you try, some times, you get what you need." Mick Jagger What you need is an illusion, what you want is an illusion, what is truth is an illusion. What illusions are you trying to rationalize? What illusions are your leaders trying to rationalize?

[@laughingfurry]

Interesting. Although, that's not all that dangerous a question for someone like me. I already know what I want. Hell, I sacrificed a project I felt was unnecessary to pursue what I want. However, I often question why I want what I want. In my opinion, the question of why you want it is a more dangerous and more difficult question. "What do you want" is difficult, but it's not as dangerous as wondering why you want it.

[@Royallzane]

being haunted by this question since years!!!

[@CpFiskeN1]

17:56 for the Question !! Great video tho :)

[@88_TROUBLE_88]

Thanks

[@88_TROUBLE_88]

Thanks!

[@crate2819]

What if I didn't have anything to prove and all the validation I ever wanted....what would I do? Live in a run down trailer in a warmer climate with only the basic necessities, ride a motorcycle, sleep in everyday, sail, and work only when I needed extra cash to travel or otherwise I would have saved enough to live off interest. It's not some save the world shit but it's what I truly want.

[@Vanleuvenjames]

. . .Of course a dangerous question! i never got an answer to this. . .

[@viktormaximiliandistaturus7660]

The question is quite odd to me: The only moment i can imagine this, is when i'am alreay dead. Because I can't imagine any possible time in my life, when i don't have anything to lose. Eeven after i have lost all of my dreams, there is still something to lose becuase always something to gain. The part with nothing to hide or to prove is easier for me to relate. Anyone ideas how to interpret?

[@luelauj375]

I'm with you on this one. I still don't get how "what do you want" is the most dangerous question on earth. =[]

[@viktormaximiliandistaturus7660]

High intransparency, Low quality TED talk it seems.

[@ColinProcter]

Viktor Maximilian Distaturus Freiherr High intransparency??? I think you mean high opacity.

[@BrinerCrawl]

Awesome...:)

[@dennisr.levesque2320]

I just don't see the danger in that question. In fact, it's probably the safest question to ask. I guess it's only dangerous to those who've never been honest with themselves. It must be the honesty that they're afraid of.

[@schmiigle]

i agree with this

[@ColinProcter]

Clearly, I am too shallow for this talk. I don't get it. So here I am, having overcome all the obstacles that prevent me from being my true self and now I have to give an answer to the question "what do you want?" Surely, if I've reached that state, by definition I no longer want. What makes us who we are is all the talents we develop to compensate for our perceived inadequacies. Have I missed something here???

[@dizzeredde6304]

I want it all to last forever after achieving it.

[@stevenvankoutrik5643]

sounds interesting

[@jamesmartin62]

DIZZE REDD E This world we live in is a TEST, that is all I will lead on to you! Figure it out! If you had it all you would be VERY VERY UNHAPPY.

[@jamesmartin62]

***** Okay. Well what I'm saying that this life is a test run by a higher power in a different realm. This test is to separate Evil people from the righteous and this time we have right now is our window of opportunity to bury the evil within us and become righteous in the eyes of this higher power so that we will be able to live forever in Nirvana. The alternative is that we go to a dark place with evil and torment FOREVER. and I'd rather go to Nirvana so I strive for it.

[@JediEmil]

When you've proven yourself completely and you've got nothing to lose, I guess when you've won, and there's nothing more left to do to realise yourself further, what would you do then? I would build a better future, I guess perhaps that's how it's supposed to be understood? I don't know either lol.

[@ihelpmusicians]

Yes. That's the fucking question. What's your answer?

[@Dibiaseroll]

really a good one...:)

[@Blakerblake7]

being haunted by this question since years...

[@CuffieKell]

the question in every ones mind....

[@actsrv9]

holding paradoxes is easy - keep the context in mind in both paradoxical cases - thus you get the general case. = elementary for mathematicians.

[@Bordnerkennel]

the question in every ones mind.....

[@robertantwi]

I feel sorry for some of you that didn't get Bryans message. Here's a simplification of it: "STOP LIVING FOR PEOPLE THAT WON'T OR WOULDN'T BE AROUND YOUR DEATH BED AS THEY LAID YOU TO REST - IF THEY KNEW WHAT YOU BROUGHT TO THIS WORLD BEFORE YOU DEMIZED." Once you can do that, ask your self what you want and then take your first step forward and keep going in your new life. If you have not already found your passion in what you are living for, this is probably why you didn't get his message.

[@EvenStarLoveAnanda]

You've got it man. Nothing and Everything is the same.

[@adielwilson8749]

I read the question in the comments and read the question and it still threw me off

[@CamilaPradaTV]

The answer is: nothing. Just to keep living.

[@NathanClevenger1337]

I'm not sure how to feel about that because I know I'm not going out of my way to hide anything. So am I just living a lie because I don't feel anything from that statement?

[@ebkillert65]

At least business owners aren't lying to the public in their desires. Charities, for the most part, use donations to fund the charity itself--not to do the work the charity wants done. That's why the most successful charities are ones that take in actual things and not money. So, at least business owners that are helping the world are doing it in a more honest way with the world and not in a way that falsely represents their goals.

[@sumgai4936]

I enjoy most TED talks and find them enlightening, but this one lacked any real oomph.

[@XforkbenderX]

The answer is bacon.

[@andy4an]

Tons of good info, but the structure of this talk is terrible. Very hard to follow because he meanders from point to point without a strong enough theme to keep it tied together. This is not only a bad style for TED, it is even a bad style for telling stories. It is challenging to see how the first 92% of the talk leads into the eponymous question, which he finally gets to at 18:00

[@nwkegannw]

Completely intentional... the point of the first 18 minutes was to prime you for the question so that it would more impactful.

[@andy4an]

nwkegannw Then it fails at that. structure-less speaking leaves you confused, not curious. And 18 minutes is quite a time commitment for the average youtuber. It seems more likely that people will start and give up on the talk than actually build curiosity about someone who just won't get to the point. The idea of leaving the bomb for the end is viable, but not like this.

[@viktormaximiliandistaturus7660]

weesh ful i couldn't see or feel a split second that there is no structure. the first thing he does is explain the red line of his speech, he said it's for entrepreneurs, 3 points to prepare the question. all done. I don't know what you expected to see.

[@MartialArtsDKdotcom]

weesh ful : I'm almost completely with you on one. Thanks for pointing me to where the howdy that question was :D

[@zl13hallyuforever9]

Hmmm... Never looked at it that way. It makes so much sense tho...

[@afroradiohead]

I want to be wealthy enough to do whatever I want whenever I feel like it. Yeah... i think im working towards that

[@stevenvankoutrik5643]

money can be the root of all good

[@afroradiohead]

That comment I wrote was so long ago. Truth be told, nowadays I'm aiming for wealth to experiement with the idea of "if other's had all the living nessecities for a whole year paid for, what would they aim for". Only way to test it is unfortunately is by having enough money to by the resources for this... which is my goal.

[@afroradiohead]

***** Thanks. I imagine being able to try it in the next 4-5 years, so I'm looking forward to looking back at this convo.

[@smittyzx]

Maybe he was incorrectly phrasing it as a paradox. I think a better term would be "middle ground" where it takes the best of both worlds. Something like that.

[@MrObveous777]

well it could be a number of things he doesn't trouble shoot this problem in the video so idk but..try and really deeply imagine the scenario like to the core of your being.. not just take it in passively. that's the only thing I could really think of...it also could be that all you really want in life is are possesions or rich relationships/love ..in my last comment I did say love but thats not what he is trying to bring about. he is trying to bring out an entrepreneurial vision

[@Aceionz]

4:04 I can't help but notice his middle finger sticking up. Emblems can betray an otherwise good speaker.

[@TheRooster602]

This talk could be so much better. He needs to get a transcript of this talk and go over it with a really good editor. The first 90% is gibberish. The last 10% is brilliant.

[@MultiWallet]

Watch till the end

[@GottfriedLeibnizYT]

Hmm that actually seems rather paradoxical not "freak you out". I mean "everything you want you get", so what's the point of asking" what do I want ?" beyond that?

[@Cr7pt0r]

Thumbs up if you jumped to the end to find out what is the question.

[@Aceionz]

12:38 Ok somebody has to tell this guy that he's actually giving the finger to the audience constantly...

[@licshot9591]

It's not about poor or rich. I don't think you want to go to jail for a threat bro.

[@SchrantzSony]

Its still unanswered question for me.....

[@razvandobai2264]

I actually want nothing at all. This is so weird cuz all the things I superficially want are just to prove stuff but deep inside I want nothing. Its pointless

[@BenitoVez]

does anyone knows the perfect answer.???

[@shaquilhansford8273]

I really hate when people get up on stage and feel they have to spend 10 minutes talking about how wonderfully caring and giving "entrepreneurs" are. Yes, they're such wonderful people. Those losers out there starting charity organizations, bringing water and food to rural communities, and helping people get off their drug addictions are cool, but entrepreneurs are on another level. They make photo sharing apps with twitter integration for God's sake! What's more caring than that?

[@RsEnight]

Looking at the avatars/names of the commenters from 4 months ago +, freaks me out...

[@Marseebros]

Spoiler: The most dangerous Question you can ask: What do you want?