1
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(Mumbling) Hi, everyone.

2
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My name is Walker Steck,
and I would just like to talk to you guys

3
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about the connection
between first impression and ...

4
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(Normal talking) No, I'm just kidding.
That would be terrible.

5
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Hi, everyone!

6
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As I said up here rather quietly,
my name is Walker Steck,

7
00:00:35,460 --> 00:00:37,939
and I'd like to talk to you guys
about the connection

8
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between first impression
and future relationship.

9
00:00:40,242 --> 00:00:43,668
Now, as I just stood up here,
rather, or - oh my gosh, sorry.

10
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As I stood up here, holding on
to my index cards for dear life,

11
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you all did a little something
called making a first impression.

12
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And it's not your fault.

13
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We all - oh my, I didn't get the clicker.

14
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Sorry, guys.

15
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Thank you.

16
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Okay, so as humans,
we form 10 to 20 images

17
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of what we think
a person's personality is like

18
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based on 15 seconds of conversation.

19
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Now, let's do the math.

20
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Of these 10 to 20 images -

21
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let's say we meet two new people a day
for seven days a week;

22
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that's about 200 new images
that we have created of people

23
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just based on 200 seconds of conversation.

24
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Now, another fun fact:

25
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85% of these images
are going to be just dead wrong,

26
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not even in the same ballpark
of what the person's personality is like,

27
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and only 15% are going to be remotely true
of how they act around people.

28
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Now, let me tell you

29
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about a little personal narrative
I [read], ironically titled

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"Making a First Impression,"
by Maggie Scarf.

31
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In the article, Scarf talks
about meeting a guy at a bar.

32
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The two get to talking.
Things are going great.

33
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A little laughter,
give-take conversation,

34
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everything you look for
in a good first impression.

35
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But she slips up.

36
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One bad reaction to a joke.
She didn't laugh.

37
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And in one or two seconds
of awkward silence,

38
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the two have shut down any chance
of any sort of connection in the future.

39
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Now, I know what you're all thinking.

40
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"Why do I need to hear the story
about the girl who doesn't get the guy?"

41
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And you don't.

42
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I'm not here to tell you
about everyone's sad story,

43
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because I can't - there's too many.

44
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I am standing here in front of you
today on this TEDx stage

45
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to make you aware

46
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of how seriously we all take
these infamous first impressions.

47
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Now, after all these numbers and stories,

48
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some of you still might not be 100% sure
about what it is I'm trying to say.

49
00:02:28,326 --> 00:02:29,462
So let me tell you.

50
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I'm just asking you to consider my points.

51
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The next time you meet someone, 
ask a few more questions,

52
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stay interested in their answers,

53
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just keep the conversation
alive long enough

54
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so that you're actually able
to form an accurate image

55
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of what the person is like.

56
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If you jump to conclusions too quickly,

57
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you may never know
what the relationship could be like.

58
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When I was in eighth grade,

59
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my discovery teacher,
Ms. Magia, once told me,

60
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"Walker, you miss 100%
of the shots you don't take."

61
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Now, I found this quote
to be rather relevant to the situation,

62
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so I took a little spin on it myself:

63
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"You end every friendship
you don't start."

64
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Good, yeah? Good, yeah?

65
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Whatever.

66
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The point is that you could be talking
to your soulmate, long-term best friend,

67
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maybe even husband or wife in the future,

68
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and it can all be thrown away

69
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if you jump to conclusions
about their personality too soon.

70
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So, just do me a favor.

71
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Next time you meet someone,
try all these things:

72
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the intriguing conversation,

73
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the time extension
on the first conversation,

74
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because I promise you one day
you'll look back and just think,

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"Oh, man, that kid was right.
I wish there was some way to thank him."

76
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"Thewalk101@gmail.com"

77
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if you truly just can't wait
to thank me for my genius advice.

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(Laughter)

79
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No, only a joke.

80
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But, in all seriousness,

81
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you will be thankful that you spent
15 extra seconds of your life

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talking to someone who you could spend
the next 15 years of your life with.

83
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Thank you.

84
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(Applause)

85
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(Cheers)