Key Moments
İnsanı yaşadan nədir? | Haji Gafarov | TEDxUNEC
TEDKey Moments
A physical spinal anomaly, extremely rare at 1 in 2 billion, is not what kept the speaker alive; instead, it was his unwavering determination and altruistic goals to benefit others.
Key Insights
The speaker was born with Klippel-Feil syndrome, a rare spinal anomaly affecting 1 in 2 billion people, necessitating an 8-hour complex surgery.
Despite initial rejections and systemic barriers like 'who you know' (qara gurultu), the speaker secured an internship at Asan xidmət by persistently applying three times.
He initiated a successful event aiming to foster a sense of resilience in young people, reaching over 1500 individuals.
The speaker provided 10GB of free monthly internet to tens of thousands of students through a project at the Education Development Fund.
He was selected as one of 110 students out of over 2000 applicants for a prestigious scholarship program, also achieving a 100% scholarship and a top digital marketing certificate.
The speaker emphasizes that true sustenance comes not from individual achievement but from altruistic goals and supportive relationships with family, friends, and colleagues.
A rare spinal condition as a catalyst for resilience
The speaker, Haji Gafarov, opens by acknowledging the weight of speaking at TEDx, especially after preceding speakers with decades of experience. He introduces the central question: 'What keeps a person alive?' To address this, he shares his personal journey, starting with a brief, perhaps facetious, self-praise of his younger, academically inclined self and a less academically inclined, yet still determined, version. The narrative takes a serious turn when he reveals he was born with a condition called Klippel-Feil syndrome, an extremely rare spinal abnormality affecting 1 in 2 billion people. This condition led to significant spinal problems that necessitated a life-threatening, 8-hour surgery. Despite the low prevalence of the condition, approximately two billion people worldwide, he highlights that at the time, medical capabilities and understanding were insufficient, leading to a prolonged and difficult diagnostic process. The successful surgery, which involved removing a vertebra, and the subsequent recovery, profoundly shaped his perspective on inner strength and perseverance, suggesting that his survival was not just a medical success but a testament to his inherent resilience.
Overcoming systemic barriers to gain initial experience
Gafarov recounts his university days, where he was a good student but often felt the sting of systemic barriers, commonly referred to as 'qara gurultu' (black noise or established networks), where connections and insider knowledge seemed paramount for advancement. He experienced this firsthand when a professor recommended him for a position, but a promised follow-up call never materialized after 14 days. Frustrated, he and his peers even shared their grievances on social media, highlighting the paradox of needing experience to get a job but needing a job to get experience. Undeterred, he applied to Asan xidmət (a public service center) three times. Initially rejected due to scheduling conflicts, his persistence finally paid off on the third attempt. There, he not only served citizens effectively, even becoming a team leader, but also discovered opportunities for personal development and began organizing training events, realizing that even seemingly inaccessible platforms like TEDx were within reach. This experience at Asan xidmət was instrumental in his growth, providing him with practical skills and a mindset that challenged the notion of insurmountable obstacles.
From a failed event to a groundbreaking initiative
Driven by a desire to impart the resilience he had cultivated, Gafarov conceived an event. He invited influential business figures, including the person he hoped would provide him with a career-changing 'return call,' not just as guests but as speakers. His aim was to project an image of having already achieved a level of success that warranted inviting them. However, the event failed. This setback plunged him into a deep depression, leading him to question his path for the first time in years. A supportive friend reached out, and this connection ultimately led to a job offer from the very person he had hoped would offer him a 'return call.' His corporate journey began as an intern, progressing through various roles such as marketing manager, sales, business development specialist, and even product owner for a startup. He emphasizes building strong teams with like-minded individuals, leading to the growth of a startup that gained global recognition. This success, however, didn't diminish his initial aspiration to organize impactful events. Recognizing that a focus on entrepreneurship might not resonate with all youth, he pivoted to a more current topic: social media. He rallied a core group of friends, sequentially persuading them to join his vision, which eventually grew into a team of 50 people actively contributing to the project. This collective effort resulted in an event that positively impacted over 1500 young individuals, measurably shifting their social media habits towards greater productivity and benefit.
Making a tangible impact through accessible resources
Gafarov's commitment to benefiting young people continued in his professional life. While working at a previous company where he had taken on diverse responsibilities, he was approached with an offer to join the Education Development Fund. The role involved managing a project that provided students with 5GB of free internet data monthly—a resource he found incredibly appealing for its potential to help youth. As a project development specialist, he was instrumental in providing tens of thousands of students with this free internet access. He proudly cites this as one of his most significant achievements. In parallel, he assembled a team of around 60 students within the organization, mentoring them and guiding their career paths, with some progressing to notable positions in various fields. This experience underscored his belief in empowering the next generation through practical support and opportunities.
Academic and international achievements forged through persistence
Despite his demanding early career, Gafarov was also a dedicated student. During his third year of university, a friend encouraged him to apply for the 'Ela Təqaüd' scholarship program. Facing a tight deadline, he had only 34 minutes to prepare for an interview, conducted from a chaotic roadside location due to his work schedule. Undeterred, he participated, and his resilience in the face of adverse conditions was key to his selection. He subsequently received a 100% scholarship for a technical program, earning a top-tier digital marketing certificate. Furthermore, he was accepted into the Erasmus Plus program, which funded study opportunities abroad. He participated in a project in Germany, where he met diverse individuals from six different countries, and later in another project in Georgia. He humorously recounts a brief thought of seeking asylum with a fellow participant in Germany and a visit to a casino during the Georgia trip, which he posted to his close friends on Instagram, maintaining the facade of academic pursuits for his family.
The true drivers of life: determination and altruism
Returning to his central question, Gafarov clarifies that his physical spinal anomaly was not the defining factor of his survival. Instead, he identifies unwavering determination ('əzmkarlıq') and higher, altruistic goals as the true sustainers of life. He points to historical figures like Da Vinci, Ataturk, and Einstein, arguing that their primary motivation was not personal enrichment but a desire to benefit society and improve the world. Gafarov posits that achieving such lofty goals requires not only determination but also 'good intentions'—meaning not infringing on others' rights and genuinely contributing to society. He cites a teacher's words: 'If you don't have a goal worth living for, you must have a goal worth dying for.' These individuals embodied this principle. He extends this idea to the importance of community, stating that his own achievements were not solo endeavors but were facilitated by the unwavering support of his family—parents, siblings—and his close friends, colleagues, and mentors who consistently offered encouragement and believed in his vision, even when faced with setbacks. He concludes by wishing the audience success in finding their own sources of inspiration and sustenance.
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The main theme of Haji Gafarov's TEDx talk is to explore what truly sustains a person in life, drawing from his personal experiences with a rare medical condition and his journey of resilience and growth.
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