Shadowing Practice: The Fleeting Euphoria of Success | Debbie Millman | TED - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

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For the last 20 years, I've interviewed hundreds of people about their motivation to create,
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For the last 20 years, I've interviewed hundreds of people about their motivation to create,
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their ambition, and what it feels like to be whole and at home in the world on my podcast, Design Matters.
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In one episode several years ago, I interviewed a famous painter about a recent exhibition,
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a show that had taken years to create.
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Given the magnitude of the accomplishment, I asked her how long the feeling of pride lasted after opening night.
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She looked at me, she smiled sheepishly, and stated, about 11 minutes.
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I thought she was joking, But she wasn't.
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Since that interview, I've come to realize she's not the only one whose achievements feel ephemeral and fleeting.
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Not by a long shot.
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Over the past four years, in addition to my interviews, I've conducted my own version of a Proustian questionnaire for print magazine.
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Hundreds of creative people have answered the same 10 questions about their life and their work.
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Given the response I had with the famous painter, I included this question.
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How long does the feeling of pride and joy at accomplishing something last for you?
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As I collected my responses to the questionnaire and reviewed all of my transcripts of my interviews and conversations,
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I saw how up close for so many people,
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the pride and joy of accomplishment dissipates almost as quickly as it manifests.
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I heard it in the words of a poet who shared
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that the high of publishing a book lasted until she sent in her final manuscript.
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I heard it in the voice of a designer who admitted he felt restless the very night of an awards ceremony.
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And I heard it in the plaintiff confession of a musician who told me,
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the only time I feel at peace is when I'm in the studio,
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not on stage, not after, only while I'm making.
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Another confession.
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I've felt this way my whole life.
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After publishing a book, after mounting an exhibition, after a TED Talk, after what should feel like I've reached the pinnacle,
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moments I've dreamed of for decades, the joy evaporates within days,
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sometimes hours, and once terrifyingly within minutes.
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And then, for so many people, what happens next?
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The quest to create, to make something bigger, more ambitious, or more challenging begins again.
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I found this all utterly confounding and I became consumed with the question of why.
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Why does the feeling of creative achievement slip away almost as soon as we grasp it?
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Why are we in such a rush to want something more.
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Is it ego, ambition, addiction to attainment?
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We're living in a culture now obsessed with achievement, and we measure that success with metrics,
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likes, views, followers, awards, trophies, sales, and we celebrate the hustle.
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We glorify the grind, and we equate visibility with value.
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Now, after 20 years of interviewing more than 1,000 people, I've come to believe that something else is at play.
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When I look at the creative people I admire most, I see people answering a calling.
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A calling that says create, shape, build, imagine, express.
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Not necessarily to be seen, but to be.
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What if the actual reward is not accomplishment, but the act of creating?
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Think about it.
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The finished products and trappings of creative accomplishment are often seen as the goal.
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And if we haven't yet reached mastery, we're told we have to fake it until we make it.
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Pretend.
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But I don't think people should have to fake anything.
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Instead, I'd rather make it until I make it.
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You see, I believe that the act of making is like oxygen.
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When the making stops, it becomes hard to breathe.
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Now, I admit, I still struggle with this.
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I crave recognition.
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I still measure myself by external markers of success.
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And I'm still racing towards multiple finish lines.
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But I'm learning, albeit slowly, that these moments will never, ever be enough.
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They can't be because in the end, they represent a certain scarcity, while making is the actual abundance.
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Several years ago, I interviewed David Lee Roth, the swashbuckling former frontman of the rock group Van Halen.
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I first became a fan of the band in the mid-1980s after the release of their five-time platinum album 1984.
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The record sold over 12 million copies, produced four singles, peaked at number two on the Billboard charts,
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charts and was only held back from the number one position by Michael Jackson's thriller.
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I interviewed David Lee in 2019
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and asked him what it felt like to reach the peak of the tallest mountain in his storied career.
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He paused and was reflective as he recalled the and what he said next really surprised me.
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He told me, you have to be really careful when you reach that peak,
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as it's always cold, you're often alone, and there's only one direction to go.
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And it occurred to me right then and there that I didn't want to peak until the day before I die.
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I'd die.
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And I wanted to take my time slowly walking up that mountain,
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making new things all along the way.
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So the next time you finish anything, a book, a poem, a song, a painting, try not to despair.
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That fleeting feeling of accomplishment isn't a flaw.
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It's part of the creative condition.
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Instead, heed the calling, continue to make things,
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and maybe, just maybe, take your time becoming the creative being that you want to be.
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Thank you.

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Why Practice Speaking with This Video?

Debbie Millman's TED talk, "The Fleeting Euphoria of Success," offers an insightful exploration of creativity and achievement. By practicing your speaking skills using this video, you engage with profound themes that can enhance your language abilities. The context of the talk allows learners to understand emotional nuances and articulate thoughts on ambition and creation, which are vital for effective communication. Utilizing the shadowing technique, where you imitate the speaker, helps in improving pronunciation, intonation, and rhythm. This immersive method encourages learners to not just listen but to embody the speech patterns and expressions of a proficient speaker.

Grammar & Expressions in Context

This talk is rich with valuable English structures that can enrich your own speaking repertoire:

  • Direct Speech: Millman uses direct quotes from her interviews, such as, “About 11 minutes,” which emphasizes emotion and immediacy. Practice incorporating similar quotations into your conversations.
  • Conditional Forms: Expressions like “What if the actual reward is not accomplishment but the act of creating?” encourage learners to explore hypothetical situations, enhancing their ability to discuss possibilities.
  • Present Simple for General Truths: Phrases like “the hustle glorifies” show how to express commonly accepted ideas. Mastering this structure will improve clarity in your arguments.
  • Transitional Phrases: Millman effectively uses transitions such as “Now I admit” to express personal reflections. This technique makes speech smoother and more relatable.

Common Pronunciation Traps

When practicing speech with this video, pay close attention to certain pronunciations that can be tricky:

  • Ephemeral: The emphasis on different syllables can alter comprehension. Make sure to practice this word to convey its fleeting nature effectively.
  • Ambition: This word can often be pronounced too hurriedly. Focus on elongating the vowel sounds to ensure clarity.
  • Accomplishment: Learners might stumble with the multiple syllables in this term. Repeated practice using the shadow speak method will help in mastering its rhythm.
  • Fleeting: The subtleties in pronunciation here can be lost if rushed. Emphasize the 'flee' part, linking it to the meaning of temporary or brief.

By leveraging the content and language structures from Millman's talk, you can effectively use shadowing sites to boost your speaking confidence and clarity. Remember, creating your sentences with these expressions will allow you to articulate your thoughts more naturally in conversations.

What is the Shadowing Technique?

Shadowing is a science-backed language learning technique originally developed for professional interpreter training and popularized by polyglot Dr. Alexander Arguelles. The method is simple but powerful: you listen to native English audio and immediately repeat it out loud — like a shadow following the speaker with just a 1–2 second delay. Unlike passive listening or grammar drills, shadowing forces your brain and mouth muscles to simultaneously process and reproduce real speech patterns. Research shows it significantly improves pronunciation accuracy, intonation, rhythm, connected speech, listening comprehension, and speaking fluency — making it one of the most effective methods for IELTS Speaking preparation and real-world English communication.

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