Do you have Chemical X? | Wesley Chan | TEDxUTP
## Speaker Context
* Role/Profession: Trainer, speaker, and author.
* Framing: The talk is structured around the speaker's personal journey of self-discovery and career fulfillment, drawing comparisons to superheroes and the concept of "Chemical X."
## People
* John: English teacher who left UTP in 2011, featured in a story about "The Law of Attraction."
* Chancellor Hall attendees: People present during the passing out ceremony where the speaker first saw the "Transer award."
* Guest: Woman featured at an orphanage home in Clan Kaa, who was seen as a "superhero" by the speaker.
* Old version of the speaker: The speaker encountered an older version of himself at home; he was observed being questioned by his father about his job offer.
* Dad: The speaker's father, questioned the speaker about rejecting job offers to pursue speaking.
* Actress: Young, pretty, short, fair girl in her 20s, who told the speaker that with her voice, she can heal people's hearts.
* Artist: Person who told the speaker a story about flying balloons.
## Organizations
* University Technology (UTB): Institution attended by the speaker.
## Places
* Chancellor Hall: Location where the speaker saw the "Transer award" in 2008.
* Orphanage home: Location where the speaker visited the "superhero" woman in Clan Kaa.
* LSA: Location where the speaker met the actress.
* Clan Kaa: Location of the orphanage home visit.
## Tools, Tech & Products
* Vision board: Orange colored board where the speaker pasted pictures of his dreams.
* Transer award: Award seen at Chancellor Hall.
## Concepts & Definitions
* Chemical X: An ingredient (like in the Powerpuff Girls) representing passion or the catalyst for change.
* Superpower: Abilities used to fight crime or achieve fulfillment.
* Meaning behind career: The purpose or underlying reason for one's professional life.
* Vision: A world in one's mind that one imagines so real.
* Chemical Act: The state or realization of one's true calling or passion.
## Numbers & Data
* 7: Age when the speaker remembers watching the Powerpuff Girls every Sunday morning.
* 2008: Year the speaker saw the Chancellor Hall ceremony.
* 4 years: Duration the speaker waited until he could attend the institution after seeing the picture.
* 17: Number of girls the "superhero" woman helped.
* 30,000: Number of students the speaker has spoken to across schools, universities, and colleges in Malaysia.
* 20 minutes: Duration of one dialysis treatment session.
* 20s: Age range of the actress met by the speaker.
* February 2013: Date when the speaker experienced the incident at his home regarding career rejection.
* 1:00 in the morning: Time when the speaker returned home after a tiring day of training.
* 9:00 in the morning on a Wednesday morning: Time the speaker was driving when his father cried.
* 2009: Year English teaching was mentioned regarding Mr John.
* 40: Size of the room where the presentation took place.
## Claims & Theses
* The Powerpuff Girls were created using "Sugar, Spice and Everything Nice" ingredients plus "Chemical X."
* The speaker remembers asking family, teachers, and lecturers about "Chemical X" and receiving "I don't know."
* The speaker saw a "Transer award" at Chancellor Hall in 2008, leading him to think "I'll be there" in 4 years.
* The speaker encountered a woman at an orphanage in Clan Kaa who was "a superhero to me."
* All successful people interviewed gave the answer: "I don't know, I just know what I do."
* Successful people don't like what they do, but they love what they do.
* If you have "Chemical X," it moves you to break fear, breaks obstacles, and moves you to learn what you do.
* The speaker believes the meaning behind one's career can be found.
* The speaker was told by the actress that with her voice, she can heal people's hearts.
* The artist told a story about flying balloons representing letting yourself free.
* The speaker's biggest meaning in his career is when he meets people, especially small kids, and they tell him, "Wesley you changed my life."
* There are two kinds of people regarding talent: those who do not realize their talent and those who discover their talent but don't step up.
* The speaker's biggest meaning in his career is when he can be the person who says, "You can do it too."
* With "Chemical X," people are original, authentic, and true to their own values.
* The speaker was questioned about life milestones (marriage, girlfriend, job) by relatives during Chinese New Year in February 2013.
* The speaker faced a moment where he had two options: "to leave other people's tree" or "to leave your."
* The angel inside whispered beside the speaker to pursue his dreams.
* The speaker's father said, "I will always be proud of you."
* The speaker learned that "when you do the best God will handle the rest."
* The speaker asserts that one needs a "vision" in addition to being original.
* The speaker states that the person can "see clearly on anyone else."
* The speaker suggests that the moment "you find the perfect fit," your heart will tell you it's a perfect fit.
* Finding your passion is the day you become the owner of your life.
* The speaker advises that having a passion is normal and that if something impacts you, "it's you."
* The day you find "Chemical Act" is the day you will transform.
* The two most important days in life are "the day you are born and the day you know why."
## Mechanisms & Processes
* **Chemical X Effect:** It moves a person to break fear, break obstacles, and learn what they do.
* **Career Meaning Discovery:** Interviewing successful people and realizing they give the same answer ("I don't know, I just know what I do"), leading to the hypothesis that a deeper meaning exists.
* **Balloon Metaphor:** Two balloons flying represent letting yourself free, but sometimes one has clouds, implying imperfection or condition.
* **Finding the Perfect Fit (Dressing Metaphor):** Trying clothes until the heart identifies the perfect fit, rather than stopping at what is merely "good enough."
* **Initiation of Passion:** The process starts from inspiration, which is then traced back to childhood moments (like the "Chemical X" experience).
## Timeline & Events
* Childhood: Speaker remembers being young and admiring superheroes.
* Every single Sunday morning: When the speaker remembers watching Powerpuff Girls.
* 2008: Year the speaker saw the Chancellor Hall ceremony.
* After 4 years (from 2008): When the speaker visited the location, showing his sustained goal.
* Months after the 2008 event: The speaker visited an orphanage home in Clan Kaa.
* February 2013: During the Chinese New Year period, the speaker was questioned by family.
* Before the talk: The speaker developed the "vision board" in his room, which is orange.
* Present: The speaker giving the talk about finding one's passion.
## Examples & Cases
* Powerpuff Girls: Characters created from "Sugar, Spice and Everything Nice" plus "Chemical X."
* Childhood Memory (Powerpuff Girls): Speaker remembering watching the show every Sunday morning at 10:00 AM and asking his mom, "Mommy can you tell me what Chemical X?"
* Engineering School Encounter: Speaker asking lecturers at UTB, "Can you tell me what Chemical X?" and receiving "No idea."
* Chancellor Hall Ceremony: Seeing the "Transer award" and making a resolution to be there in 4 years.
* Orphanage Visit: Encountering a lady in her 50s with a bright smile who treated dialysis patients, whom the speaker called a "superhero."
* Meeting the Actress: Conversation in LSA where the actress stated her voice can heal people's hearts.
* Balloon Story: An artist telling a story about two flying balloons representing freedom.
* Lilleham (Implied Location): Where the speaker met the actress.
* Domestic Confrontation: Encountering his older self and father who questioned his rejection of being an engineer for speaking.
* Driving Incident: The speaker's father crying while driving to school, followed by the father's reassurance.
* John's Presentation: Mr John presenting on "The Law of Attraction" at a class of 40 students at UTP, where the speaker was the final speaker.
## Trade-offs & Alternatives
* **Initial Career Path vs. Current Path:** Choosing to be a speaker/change people's lives rather than accepting the "best engineering student in UTP" offer.
* **Fear vs. Dreams:** The internal struggle between the "demon" urging him to be an engineer and the "Angel" whispering about his dreams.
* **The Minimum vs. The Perfect Fit:** The analogy of choosing clothes, where settling for "good enough" is contrasted with finding the "perfect fit."
## Counterarguments & Caveats
* The initial inability to answer "What is Chemical X?" from his mother, teachers, or lecturers.
* The initial lack of understanding when asking successful people, as they only responded with "I don't know."
* The warning that people who discover their talent might not "step up."
* The caveat that the best answer to "Why do you love me?" is simply "I don't know, I just love you."
## Methodology
* Interviewing: Asking successful achievers across Malaysia what made them successful.
* Observation/Experience: Personal recounting of visits, ceremonies, and conversations.
* Reflection: Self-analysis of memories (e.g., linking the 2008 award to future achievement).
## References Cited
* The Powerpuff Girls: The source material for the "Chemical X" analogy.
* Martin Luther King: Quoted for the phrase, "I see a world I have a dream."
* Book reference: The advice, "When you do the best God will handle the rest."
## Conclusions & Recommendations
* When you have "Chemical X," it moves you to break fear, break obstacles, and move you to learn what you do.
* The speaker's biggest meaning in his career is becoming the person who can tell others, "You can do it too."
* People who have found their "Chemical Act" should "just do it."
* For those who have not found their passion, they should "look for the next dress."
* The speaker advises: "The day you find Chemical Act is the day you will transform."
* The advice on life: Focus on finding your "why" as much as the day you are born.
## Implications & Consequences
* If one ignores finding their passion, one remains stuck in a state of not knowing one's purpose.
* Recognizing one's "Chemical Act" leads to transformation.
## Open Questions
* What is the exact "Chemical X"?
* How do others map their "Chemical Act" if they are currently unsure?
## Verbatim Moments
* "Sugar, Spice and Everything Nice."
* "Chemical X."
* "I don't know, I just know what I do."
* "Transer award."
* "I don't know, I just love you."
* "I see a world I have a dream."
* "My biggest meaning in my career is when I meet people like you..."
* "You can do it too."
* "I don't care if you're from Malaysia other world different color."
* "The day you find Chemical Act is the day you will transform."
* "The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you know why."