My year of saying yes to everything | Shonda Rhimes

When she speaks you can hear all her characters speaking.

You can see the quality of her writing in the way that she speaks. Incredibly talented.

its like people aren't used to seeing successful women like her talk about it. unless you totally missed to point, you'd realize this is poetry and you are lucky to hear her insight.

Why do I hear Cyrus, Olivia, Poppa Pope, Meredith, Huck, McDreamy, Cristina, Voila, Wess LOL She is all her characters literally. #blackgirlmagic

Listening to this woman is incredible. It's pure poetry. And for those accusing her of arrogance; don't mistake passion and confidence for bragging. It's not a crime to describe how you feel when you're a success.

Wow! She speaks with the same speech patterns as Olivia Pope!

She wasn't trying to "flaunt". She was making points. 1st point being that she's not just a writer who sits at home and dreams (to explain why she can't always play with her children). 2nd point being that she is no longer the hum of a titan but the hum of love. Her list of achievements from her resume is the biggest part of herself that solidifies her and yet melts away from her at the end of the speech. She repeats so that you can see how its significance changes. You can feel how much that means to her initially and then it doesn't.. it's almost like music. Crescendo and decrescendo, crescendo and decrescendo... it's very honest. I found her speech to be very poetic. I think it's one of those speeches that you can't quite appreciate to its full potential if you don't listen intuitively, with your heart and ears open.

Reading her book right now, I recommend it to anyone. This woman is amazing, a true role model for all women. What a queen!

She speaks so well. She's a true poet. Her words grasps your attention and demands you to listen. Damn, Shonda.

her speech is very rhetorically effective. anaphora, symbolism, poetic prose... brilliant

Her book made me change my life. I left my soul crushing job. I said yes to looking, yes to interviews, yes to a better self.'more money more opportunities and better life and better relationships yall say yes!

More parents need to say 'yes to play' and put down their phones. Great talk, well written! Inspiring lady!!

I feel like 99% of the comments on here are from people who have no idea what it's like to be addicted to flow state (aka., the 'hum' she's referring to), or what creative block is like when you're passionate about something, or how personal well-being is connected to gaining a sense of achievement (and how lack of achievement stemming from high expectations can lead to depression). She's not being narcissistic for pointing out her successes, because she's also pointing out her flaws, which is the whole reason she's making the talk in the first place - she's making a point about a type of mindset you can fall into as a workaholic - a mindset that is actually pretty common.

Officially my fav ted talk of all time. So relevant. What do you do when the spark just is no longer there?!

Seriously, this speech is one of the most memorable I have heard !

Had EXACTLY the same experience!!!! Divorced from my former wife. Good, quality time spent with my children became a mess of trying to fit them in to my crazy work schedule. One day as i'm preparing for work. My younger son asked "Dad, why do you keep looking at your watch?" The answer was that i had to make sure they got home before i had to go to work. But i decided to talk to him about it as it was obvious he was disappointed. WOW! Did I learn a thing or two!! Took me a month. To re-organize what was my work life. But i have three fantastic kids and i've been able to watch and guide them through to their mid-twenties And i may not make the money i used to, i may not have the 'buzz' i used to have, working. But i don't regret a second of it!

Olivia Pope must truly be a piece of her. The talking style, intonations are uncanny. Kerry Washington must've studied Ms. Shonda quite a bit

Man, she sounds so much like Maggie from Greys. Her characters are so clearly an extension of her brain because she speaks just like them, but her voice sounds soooo much like Maggie

"just love...thats all it is" !! Her speaking is poetic...a truly creative mind. Great delivery too

Her speech catered to the audience present. TED conferences consists of people who are themselves influential and interesting. Her audience may be workaholics themselves . Driven by said 'hum' she describes. She is reminding them of the need to be present , in the now, and enjoy life.