Can you control your own luck? | Richie Etwaru | TEDxMorristown

Richie Etwaru peels back the age old enigma of luck. What it really is, what it's not, and how it is within your own power to control. Richie uses his own story of rising from underprivileged roots in Guyana, to his multiple successes (and failures), and what he's learned along the way. Can we truly control our own luck?
An agent of value, Richie is an infector of thought for which there is no cure. His career has been defined by cognitive jujitsu that places people and companies in powerful positions that drive creativity and success.
Rising from simple roots in Guyana, he has become a Chief Digital Officer, COO for technology at a large financial services company, a divisional CIO & CTO at a large investment bank, a co-founder of startups, a head of innovation of a billion dollar software company, an author, and sits on multiple start-up advisory boards.
Richie's own life story and challenges provide him a unique "rags to riches" view of how "luck" works, what it is, what it's not, and how it can be harnessed to your own benefit.
This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at ted.com/tedx

[@bmxhawaii]

This is one of the best videos i have ever seen. Recommended and rewatched it many many times.

[@VinylBill1]

it took me about a couple hours to finish this video in order for me to listen to every detail and it was worth it, Thank you for sharing

[@designer-garb572]

Personally I think he has missed the point, effort and good decisions equal reward, good luck is when you reach your goal without effort, when you were a child your parents sold you a dream, you had the confidence and thanks to your parents and the books you had the brains too, your parents set you on this path and good luck to you. but my point is that it is not luck that your experiencing it is your destiny, what has changed is that you are learning by your mistakes. this was good exposure. confident talk even though I disagree.

[@siriguna]

Very well said ....

[@reziabegum9923]

Correct

[@simsammalinao1823]

Excellent! The first good lesson I had in 65 years. Much thnaks Ritchie Etwaru.

[@Iceport]

Even if you get heads 50 times in a row, the 51st flip is still a 50/50? This dude understands the theory of probability on paper very well. In reality, however, I would totally bet that the 51st flip would still be a head because there gotta be something wrong with that coin.

[@patmarco2251]

Actually I would bet that the 51st would be tail because of "law" of averages which is this case is 50/50 so ad infinitum it would have to balance out at 50/50 (if you understand what I worth here, you can win at roulette)

[@blurie1]

Richie - Well done and well articulated! It has been too long - thanks for reaching out and sharing! - Brian

[@CrashEtwaru]

+Brian R Lurie thanks Brian, it sure has been a long time! Hope all is well, and Happy holidays, -r

[@jeolivas01]

This is my life that you just described. I would always be in this search of risk even if i had things inline. It made sense what you just said. Thank you

[@mudit5151]

This might be one of the top talks I've seen..

[@JeffPittman]

So simple, yet so effective. Will be using your risk matrix in my own decision making. Thx Richie

[@amarreezlan7131]

Xde sape tanya

[@SunshineSally2]

Brilliant Ted Talk Richie Etwaru. Loved the way you talked about how you came from a humble background, but education brought opportunities and the role of luck in people's success. Your formula "Good luck = risk taken (low probability of success) + effort put in (hard work)" and the estimate that 80% of luck can be controlled, was very insightful. It made me think of how there is no free lunch. Or as we say in investing: "if it's too good to be true, it probably is." I know many people who enjoy pursuing the "easy money," but they can not sustain it long term. Whilst hard work and altruistic endeavors, bring a long term competitive edge. People underestimate the importance of goodwill in our success. Glad we connected Richie, I always learn a lot from you.

[@CrashEtwaru]

+Sally Jasmin Sarma thank you for the comment, appreciate your viewing and sharing!

[@KiaTheDMVBison]

Richie Etwaru I got the right side of your equation. It was very hard to follow you on the left side, however. The main thing I got is if no one benefits from it except yourself it is not good. I wish you gave more insight on it. Are you saying High Risk + No Effort = High Probability of Bad Luck? When you don’t think deeply about what you are about to do (how it effects others) you are likely to make a big mistake?

[@kalavathi7406]

There is profound insight into the statements he's making, which is not easy to understand initially but if you let it sink in and think it thru it can make a difference to your life especially if you are the type who trip over urself jus before the finish line and wonder want went wrong when every thing seemed right. Thanks Richie. Dont know u personally but I am taking back something for myself from your experience and sharing

[@Hiprich]

This is one intelligent man my God. Amazing analysis of luck. Love it. God bless this man 🙏🏿

[@getuliobarnasque9117]

Extraordinary insights, thank you for sharing with us. You deserve your luck.

[@lahm.verlassener]

You uttered a sheer meaninglessness.

[@thinkandcreate7975]

Well done Mr.Richie. My family and I live in the USA, but we came from Guyana.

[@davidpetersonharvey]

Beautiful!

[@devipersaud7364]

Great video! Proud listener!❤❤❤

[@chairde]

This is insightful. Thank you so much.

[@mediacenterman8583]

Born to teachers in an English speaking country with no civil war, reasonable climate and access to education. This man was very lucky before he could even speak. He is also quite handsome.

[@oeu3669]

mediacenter man exactly. Super lucky

[@aabbccdd279]

excellent thanks

[@sanjeevpandiya981]

He deserves a Nobel Prize for this, it’s one of the most insightful lectures I’ve seen.

[@teamtivaNCIS174]

Great Awesome Sauce Richie! Congratulations!

[@CrashEtwaru]

+Olivia Salama Thank you!

[@juangallego8132]

Awesome Sauce. Great work Richie!

[@CrashEtwaru]

+Juan Gallego Thank you!

[@JakeRichardsong]

Thank you.

[@stephanierenae2911]

Good-for-you

[@Amanstrings]

wonderful update

[@SalomDunyoIT]

good talk! just find where you are and point to your destination.

[@gaberoyalll]

Hmm this is the Only video I ever saw about luck . Very good stuff

[@JaiSingh-wm5wg]

🙏🙏 Thank you Thank you Thank you so much 🙏🙏😄

[@alabamajenny8751]

Outstanding

[@HeavyK.]

A lot of people addicted to risk, ruin other people's lives.

[@vinnygordon3833]

I am, very very,very, lucky. Out of 3,000000 sperms, I was the one that made it.

[@vuaeco]

I think you miscounted your comrades. There are at least 200 million sperms you have to beat. So you are a lot more lucky than you think.

[@sholtomacpherson1501]

A great story, Richie. I related 100% - addicted to risk and convinced of invincibility. I had never thought of it in that way before. Pity it was only 18 minutes. I would have loved to hear how you applied the kill switch, or taught yourself to watch for symptoms of invincibility. And how does life feel now that you're not invincible (i.e. vulnerable, I guess)?

[@CrashEtwaru]

+Sholto Macpherson thanks mate, lets connect soon. Missed you at CCE in 2015!

[@FABIOLINDOCC]

This was brilliant. Eye opener. Thank u so much

[@gianniboler]

"You know what your problem is.." haha Good job Richie! Great video!

[@CrashEtwaru]

+Gianni Boler thank you!

[@shawnwiora3218]

Solid perspective... from an innovative leader! Congrats Richie!

[@CrashEtwaru]

+Shawn Wiora Thanks mate. Hope to see you soon!

[@jt_rooster3228]

Yes you can, as long as you no longer have a broke mindset

[@justaye2730]

The master of all it seems

[@DanielSandersFourSales]

Very well done! Congrats

[@CrashEtwaru]

+Daniel Sanders Thank you sir! & Happy holidays.

[@mystiquemage8814]

i see similarities of wolf of wall street when he talked about his experience and invincibility

[@foreveryoung2671]

Thank you so much! Hope you always be luck 😘 Amazing analyze 👍

[@Anon13100]

Basically, arrogance, closed-mind, and selfishness, lead to bad luck; and humility, open-mind, and empathy lead to good luck. Yes, we can control our own luck. When we cannot, it might be destiny.

[@KINGRAJSinghz]

BRAVO Richie!! You gave the perfect amount of vulnerability and life experience while standing in your power and delivering a quality tool we can all learn from. WOW! Thank you sir!

[@CrashEtwaru]

+KING RAJ Singh Thank you sir!

[@mediacenterman8583]

Born to teachers in an English speaking country with no civil war, reasonable climate and access to education. This man was very lucky before he could even speak. He is also quite handsome.

[@unzahid]

powerful.

[@teemac5246]

14:20 is what you are looking for.

[@weldinggirl]

Tee Mac thank you

[@amarreezlan7131]

Okay bro

[@MsAwatts]

Very good!

[@CrashEtwaru]

+Gus Fafalios Thank you!

[@jamesgillespie746]

Great talk Richie!

[@CrashEtwaru]

+James Gillespie Thank you!

[@BestYouTubeVids123]

@@CrashEtwaru 👍💯

[@jimtwisted1984]

A man would be unstoppable who has luck on his side.

[@lahm.verlassener]

YES ,YOU ARE TRULY RIGHT !!!

[@vxbala]

Excellent synopsis about both aspects of luck! In fact, I liked very much your analysis of risk and benefit. Very well done!

[@CrashEtwaru]

+V Bala Thank you!

[@janakjodhan7982]

Etwaru's 17 minutes is , really, good investment.

[@brettconv83]

I’m realizing as I get older , almost 37 years old that to succeed you just need to take chances and put yourself out there. Network and communicate, speak your truth and if you put your heart into what you want. You just might get there.

[@elitepremium2981]

Wow thanks for stopping me in my tracks.

[@rosiezazzara7503]

So we must ask ourselves who benefits when on slope to catch ourselves Can I get a confirmation or will the mind stay unbalanced cs. the mind thoughts can keep chattering to you who cares right ? Can you do another talk and elaborate on kill switch?

[@AhmedMohamed-sw2br]

good

[@LP-MeAndMyShadow]

and My Shadow In a nutshell, make your dichotomy good (learnig) and better (apply what you learn).

[@timtam7626]

This talk is fitting for a certain personality only. Narcissistic types. Not all people can relate as certain bad luck is not necessarily due to arrogance and feelings of invincibility.

[@lahm.verlassener]

You are thoroughly right. I am wrecked,shattered by unspeakably awfully bad luck and I was always and still am utterly shy and and never ever a boastful knave ..

[@carissadaniels9785]

i am form Georgetown Guyana

[@LoloLolo-vv2pv]

Amazing 😍 😍

[@alsingh3631]

As a Guyanese I kinda understand what he is saying

[@oceanbluelady7760]

I think this answer is... "THINK" before you do it!

[@randcapparel]

Love your intro, every word spoken was Awesome Sauce, keep that beautiful relationship going with your Xgirlfriend.You are a Lucky Man.

[@sabrinaa7679]

Guyanese 👋👋

[@jamesmwu7749]

Gho,gho,ghooo

[@jackdaniels7299]

Lucky

[@rcdny]

you did so well in school. where did you go?

[@caseyhoboken]

Great job Richie!! The odds of you being here are 1:1

[@CrashEtwaru]

+Glenn Coogan Thank you!

[@BestYouTubeVids123]

@@CrashEtwaru 💯😎🔥

[@MrToolibill]

There is no such thing as luck. We have a connection with other dimensions that are present at all times. The amount that you are able to comprehend is up to your belief system and how you are able to find acceptable truth to become more.

[@lahm.verlassener]

And as you speak so insightfully about this ...at the next moment , a drunken knave with a heaviest track on the road crushes in your car and kill you as if you were a helpess chicken ....Never ever think small of stregth of the sheer luck in human life...Sadly such boastfully wise blokes like you never learn until truly awful luck hits them in the worst way...

[@johncasoni4379]

Where was this?

[@metaphyziks7579]

Understanding what’s in your control and what isn’t is the difficult part. I’d like to think we’re in control but are we really?

[@nicolasrodolpherobertcolemonts]

He’s funny

[@oeu3669]

I basically listened to a guy talk about bash Guyana, casual racism with poking fun of a south Asian accent , talk about himself and his arrogance and his f ups and how he’s trying to deal with it. 😑 I can’t believe I survived up to 15:51 😑 what in the heck?? how this ever made the cut will always astound me...

[@pleonardking8107]

OE U Wow, you are one sad far left loonie!

[@oeu3669]

Pleonard King oh hey there BOT!! - Quiet day??? here are some codes to keep you busy - printf("Size of int = %ld bytes ", sizeof(a)); printf("Size of long int = %ld bytes ", sizeof(b)); printf("Size of long long int = %ld bytes ", sizeof(c)); printf("Size of double = %ld bytes ", sizeof(e)); printf("Size of long double = %ld bytes ", sizeof(f));

[@DIYSolarandWind]

Just stay busy all the time, read, and some traveling

[@nowucme4149]

only I saw he's still unaware of he's "risk addiction" when he said. When you run a red light... like its totally normal

[@imanjkenpoaviationexpressions]

I enjoyed your talk but I felt that on Bad Luck the risks are high even though the effort is low. Running a stop light=high risk for an accident. 2. Bill Clinton ruining his married and getting impeached. 3. Martha Stewart =going to jail. 4. Tiger Woods,=losing his endorsements and marriage.

[@chandimarajapaksha547]

there is a message in his talk that no one seems to understand

[@lorenasdiscoveries]

Which would be?

[@lesamponsah8970]

Are you going to keep us in suspense?

[@ericscaillet2232]

If the message is too hidden it's not worth it in the context that it's in.

[@KiaTheDMVBison]

prime lasitha I agree. I think it could’ve been presented more clearly.

[@fadidabban]

Was'nt it luck in the first place that made you think the way you do ?

[@candacydelph3763]

i love the phrase ( do u know what ur problem is lol )

[@Christian_Prepper]

14:38 *Well lay it on me, dude. I've been waiting for over 14 minutes for your 2 minutes solution.*

[@5pecular]

The chance is 1:1

[@dailyrealityreprogram]

I am risk addict

[@advertise3606YT]

3's Luck: It may be this (1) Or may be this (2) But IT IS THIS (3)

[@jessicakelley0]

God damn it, I don’t understand!

[@carissadaniels9785]

Guyana people turn up

[@xarikalu8351]

+carissa daniels I think this idiot needs to explain he's from rural Guyana.

[@lynann1581]

@@xarikalu8351 he is a liar, they used a tractor and trailer to move stuff back then and there was the Tata bus.

[@lahm.verlassener]

This man utters such untruths!!! Shame on him !!!

[@peterbartley9155]

Luck is not a force or anything other than how you judge things that happen

[@mjsmcd]

guyana just got lucky Tremendous amount of oil found there by exxon will be rich country soon

[@dantehernandezchavez9289]

I wasn't supposed to be born because my had issues having baby's , but I did, April 17 .99 at 3- am... I just don't understand luck., Sometimes I think it's just karma, been honest and respectful, the universe and the. Most important... Numbers... I'm bilingual Spanish and English, My name Salvador Paricutín "Paricutín" means "" crossing over there" ( and it's also the name of a volcano) in Purépecha,.. luck exist and it's part of you're life harvest... From being honest, respectful and have honer tho keep up with this three. (I live in Michoacán state of México) a dangerus place,. With lovely people and a constant cartel war... (Be Honest, Be Respectful and be brave holding up those two... Luck is 100% secure

[@user-nk4ed6tq4k]

I’m thinking the opposite is true the more ur deceiving people the more mean you are the more luck in your side ,nobody likes honest ppl

[@nyahanidread4887]

Blessed love y u have to talk about yuh Country in that negative manner?it produced u , now I will never no wat u could of offered d I , I iam Rastafari from Trinidad and Tobago, wat about all dem younger ones u left behind, i will save this on second thought cause u r from d Caribbean I will listen to u one day blessings to d youth

[@oeu3669]

Nya Hanidread that’s what I felt too. He spoke so badly about Guyana. Not good

[@lynann1581]

@@oeu3669 He is a liar, I am in such shock. He went to one of the best schools back then... ingrate hmm.

[@jogb9515]

Interesting part starts at 8:43, everything before that is an unnecessary humblebrag.

[@resnonverba3351]

If you could control luck, everybody would win. That is impossible. Therefore you cannot control luck

[@lahm.verlassener]

Yes ,you are fully right.

[@NovaUtopia]

13:26

[@alabamajenny8751]

Nova Utopia yes! That is IT!

[@wardhiigleywardhiigley3229]

We are not 12 years olds.

[@xarikalu8351]

What you should clarify, is that you are speaking about YOUR experience growing up in RURAL Guyana. Do not bundle the entire country into your experience. You have a belief that everyone from Guyana grew up moving their home using a cart and donkey. Perhaps you should let the people know that you grew up in RURAL Guyana. You may also discover that many people who grew up in rural America, share a similar story. There are many other parts of Guyana that you clearly have not had the opportunity to visit. I'm not talking about present day Guyana either. I'm speaking of the Guyana from the 80's when you were there. Stop portraying Guyana as you say "a pothole on a planet". Let me tell you about another Guyana that other Guyanese have experienced. In Georgetown Guyana in the 1980's (and still today), there are country clubs, restaurants, night spots, hotels and private schools that GUYANESE citizens attended....with shoes on their feet. (That's another one you like to throw out there - shoe-less Etwaru). A far cry from the images you beamed up there on the big screen. I get it...you're trying to demonstrate how far you have come from the one room hut you grew up in; but stop putting down our country as some third world slum. Write about/talk about/ glorify - the Richie Etwaru experience growing up in rural Guyana. Some of us have opportunities here in our homeland and do not have a yearning to leave.

[@oeu3669]

Xari Kalu EXACTLY!!!!!! I don’t even have to have gone to Guyana to realise this! It was so rude and such an awful way to start!!!! And then he has the flag around his arm??? No offence to him but perhaps he should blame his parents for how he came up and not Guyana?!!! 😑😑😑

[@ericscaillet2232]

In short, the more you practice the luckier you will be.

[@ratanaun2960]

Luck is relative. Lucky is just a pleasant event that people embrace. Luck has nothing to do with being successful and it has everything to do with being successful.

[@VikasR]

You know what your problem is.... you’re still overconfident wasting people’s time on Ted talk. It’s just some over confident talk no solution, formula or answers here.

[@mirjacobs]

The insight that low risk is a component of arrogance actually is a rare observation ..... oh I see: your anonymous comment here is super low risk, right?

[@MsCoolGemini]

There are always haters in the crowd, where is your Ted talk?

[@ratanaun2960]

@ Moksha, you see thru this guy. The talk is nonsense.

[@MakinItHappenn]

It's only nonsense because you cannot apply any of it to your own self. You need a formula, because you have not partaken in enough risk throughout your narrow minded life.

[@trickboyinmourning]

Yeah only got through 13 minutes and am not going to risk all 17 minutes. Is this Morristown Tennessee?

[@NatAlie-em8km]

There's really not a cohesive explanation to his theory here... Couldn't explained better.

[@dakotamurray554]

it's was just hard work there was no luck involved in my eyes

[@joahchewbhaka5679]

that's kinda subjective, but ok

[@TYOmusic]

Life is subjective

[@juliantreidiii]

@@TYOmusic No it is not.

[@TYOmusic]

@@juliantreidiii well since life is subjective you are right from your perspective :) but keep in mind that you don't believe in things because they're true but because you believe in it its true for you

[@peterm2763]

Have to disagree. Here are the facts. Each of the following can be a infinite or negative number. Luck x any other factor = reward/quality of life. Your welcome

[@Eilzii]

im a potato

[@freeman6147]

Fourteen minutes in and still waiting for this person to get to the point. I know is he "got good grades" and enjoys risk but can't manage it.

[@bjcolwell217]

Too bad he did not dive deeper into probability. He got me with the coin toss example. And is it luck or probability that brings me to this video? I notice that all the comments are either four years ago or super recent. What has YT pushing this into people's "suggested videos" list? Smart self-promotion to tell people to post his talk to 5 people's walls btw. Didn't work with me, but not mad at him for trying.

[@kolyiken]

zzz...