Luck | Paul Salem | TEDxProvidence

Paul Salem talks about the one thing that got him where he is today, an experiment in positive thinking his father tricked him into believing as a child. The idea he was the luckiest person alive, and to this day, Paul believes it to be true - and in this talk he gives some examples why that is. Paul Salem is a co-founder and senior managing director of Providence Equity Partners. Mr. Salem received a Master of Business Administration from Harvard Business School and a Bachelor of Arts from Brown University. Mr. Salem is chairman of the board of Year Up, a national non-profit focusing on closing the opportunity divide for urban young adults and a board member of Edesia Global Nutrition, a non-profit focusing on feeding severe acute malnourished children. Mr. Salem also serves on the advisory board for the Brown Institute of Brain Science (B.I.B.S). This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx

[@davidzenful]

Respect to your dad what a great man .Fantastic talk greatly appreciated,thank you .

[@joycefastino9932]

A fine example of the power of positive thinking/living. I read Norman's book too. Great talk, Paul! Very engaging and inspirational.

[@0122SM]

Paul is a Super Person! In italian we say he's like a piece of bread.. meaning we can't live without him

[@pele220]

He had such a great life . i wish someone told me i could be all i want to be and that im lucky ... maybe life would have been different but i'll try from now on

[@djamelaryan6456]

it s never late because the past don t matter from now

[@tammygauthreaux-benham1628]

You read my mind I thought how lucky he was that his Dad fed him such positive affirmations every day instead of being told the things thaf mine told me that I'd never amount to anything not everyday but enough for those words to be Repeated in my head for close to 40 years now Even though I thought I'll show them and I surprised them with a few accomplishments but I haven't been consistent with it but I know I have it in me and it will happen and soon I've been working on positive affirmations. I read more than once recently and it makes sense to me, Success Doesn't have to be when we're making a lot of money it's when you are doing what you love to do, you're doing it well,and you are content And I M determined that I will find my version of success if it's the last thing I do

[@Hiprich]

I love these positive stories. So uplifting

[@melissas7821]

I'm lucky too. The more I recognize and appreciate it the more it is. My dad told me that I was The Best (amongst other remarks which were not growth inducing at ALL) and believed it. Still do. Dad's should always be aware of their comments as they can make or break it for a kid.

[@sampsontendaimutsago1935]

So true

[@mohamednmirich7750]

Very inspiring thank you for sharing!

[@jaclynmamer]

Love this!

[@noraidasabre8467]

Wow....he is such a positive powerful man ❤

[@Camsisko1]

Wow, that's a great story. Based on all his philanthropy work, it seems much more than just one life was saved because of that last second flight change. A life like this is a great example of when hard work and persistence meets opportunity. Paul's life is an excellent example of how never giving up, trying a lot of different things, giving, asking, and meeting a lot of different people all manifest into luck.

[@RealSaudiExplorer]

I am lucky too. I make decisions that at first seems bad, but turn out to be good.

[@sizwemilesmasondo7571]

Great story indeed.Felt inspired 😀

[@hiphopbta]

Amazing!!!

[@paulsalem585]

Paola Reyes thanks Paola, Paul

[@jenniferruiz2762]

I really needed this. I always felt I had the worst luck ever. It was so bad I just got used to it and laugh . I'm trying this now and it's going to work. Goodbye bad luck

[@paulsalem585]

Jennifer Ruiz glad it helped, stay lucky

[@eagleeye5520]

Wish you good luck

[@mauriceortiz5622]

coincidence or luck? Jennifer, from LB? my cuz, maybe? lol love it, interesting !!!

[@acajudi100]

Highly Blessed. 💕😊❤️🇺🇸💯

[@erumpervez4454]

I am sure one can easily make a movie on your life, I forgot everything else, just visualising a loving mum, optimistic dad, a concerned brother,a nice house with a boat, you sure are lucky.

[@kentkasica7207]

I know Paul personally. He truly believes in his deepest bones that he was born under a lucky star. He has been fabulously successful. He is a really good guy also. Don't discount what he is saying.

[@tonychow8120]

all that you said cannot deny the truth that the speech sucks

[@makabaoadnakabskas552]

Kent Kasica false

[@abhinavsaxena9970]

Imagining the odds of me being under 500 rare viewers who reached here in 3 years, with me having no intention of going through this LUCK topic (rather i was on psychology) I'm starting to believe that I'm lucky!

[@Fahim_Lalani]

He’s right. I use this affirmation: I am lucky 🍀 in order to create my best luck

[@nadsum]

I also have a comb which my mom gave me several years ago which I still use every day. Well it's gonna be my lucky comb from now on.

[@elly929]

I was combing my hair when he show us his bink comb and mine is brown , I will keep it until I die.

[@NocturnalRS]

@ 5:00 story gets crazy!

[@egoph9871]

To believe in luck is the same as believe in unluck! A life of luck can bee, but not for them who thinks they are born under a lucky star. For a long time they maybe seems to be right, but then something often happens. An attitude of allways having luck makes You do not prepare enough for difficult moments.

[@eagleeye5520]

Indeed , but I think if you did your best and worked hard then maybe a little bit of luck will help

[@mediacenterman8583]

6:52 Whenever I hear this fallacy, I feel depressed. Some things are simply not possible.

[@raduilisescu936]

That’s very true and more than that, it is very easy to believe in luck and be positive when you are born in the right conditions. I mean how can you not be succesfull when you are like this guy, right? From what I heard he had nothing major to complain about from the very beggining. He grew up in a positive loving family that supported him, he practiced sports, he afforded higher education I mean you cannot not be succesful. And on the other side you have a situation of a man who crashes his car, breaks his arm and you expect him to say “what a wonderful day, I hope everything will be incredibly good from now on” that’s just impossible.

[@egooi2012]

From now onwards I will say and think I am the luckiest person alive.. It jive with the law of attraction anyway... Gotta stop thinking negative despite being in unlucky situation now

[@Dimas5]

How was the comb lucky? I don’t get the significance of it.

[@rob1444]

That combs battered, bit like my luck😎

[@owlnyc666]

The guy who got his seat instead was unlucky. All the people on Flight 103 did not have "good luck". What if anything did they do to "deserve" their luck. 🤔

[@whynot4828]

I don't get the point of the pink comb. How is it lucky

[@ryanlee3273]

I feel that the pink comb symbolises a habit that you do daily. It could be brushing your teeth or having a shower. While you are at it remind yourself that YOU ARE LUCKY!

[@fatimasc100]

The pink comb is a reminder how lucky he is and appreciates his luck every time he combs his hair.

[@mogbaba]

And I am the living evidence of an unlucky man. In fact it confirms your theory, because I never had great ambitions. I ran a small business and my wife asked me about my plans for future and I told her, only a roof on our heads, a piece of bread and some cheese on the table, that's it, I don't need more. You guess right, it doesn't sound a business man, After some years, even I had developed the company, someone pushed me out of my location and I lost everything, even the cash I got for the location, year 2008, I put all the money in some funds according to advice from my bank and next year, half it was gone.

[@owlnyc666]

Sometimes I feel lucky and sometimes I feel unlucky. I think the people on Flight 103 did not feel they had good luck. 🤔😏😉

[@jimjackson4256]

What was so random about an act of violence?

[@facelesspodcaster5594]

if he went to brown university he was more than just lucky.

[@steviepan1]

Whatever, like I needed to hear how great his freakin life is..

[@disco4535]

"Started with $171 Million. Today we manage about $52 Billion...." W.....T....F..... If they could spare literally just %0.00003, I would be set forever. I don't think I even have $171. Crazy how good some people have it

[@lorenzomatthew158]

you missed the whole point of the video =/

[@abhinavsaxena9970]

I just have one comment rights now for myself that I've alot of luck, if not, millions now.

[@frankmerlino7534]

"Whatsoever a man or woman Truly Believes in their heart....So Shall It Be!" ~ Jesus

[@noraidasabre8467]

Poso