How I Turned Uncertainty Into Opportunity: Binais Begović (Transcript)

Read the full transcript of author Binais Begović’s talk titled “How I Turned Uncertainty Into Opportunity” at TEDxCoral Springs 2024 conference.

Listen to the audio version here:

TRANSCRIPT:

The Mystery of Life

Have you guys ever wondered how much we actually know about life? We don’t know how we got here, what consciousness truly is, or what happens after we die. It’s like life is this huge, uncertain mystery that we’re all trying to figure out and control. But what if life isn’t about finding all the answers, but learning to live with the questions?

What if the true meaning of life is in embracing the uncertainty of those questions rather than avoiding them? Think about this: if you could see your future laid out perfectly in front of you, would you really want to know? Or is it the mystery that makes life worth living? Would you be excited to wake up every morning if you knew exactly how your day would unfold?

We spend so much of our lives trying to avoid uncertainty, and yet it’s the one thing that can truly transform us. I have faced war, displacement, and starting over in two foreign lands, all without knowing what would come next. And through it all, I’ve learned that uncertainty is one of the most powerful forces in life. Every great story starts with a moment of uncertainty, a step into the unknown.

Today, I want to share why I’ve come to love uncertainty and how it can be a powerful force for good in our lives.

Confronting Uncertainty

My first real confrontation with uncertainty came in the summer of 1991. I was nine years old, living in Montenegro, which at the time was part of Yugoslavia. My early life was simple. It was peaceful and full of the kind of certainty that only a small village on a farm could provide.

I was carefree, playing with my younger brother and our farm animals.

I remember lying in the grass, staring up at the airplanes, wondering what it would feel like to fly, where all of those people were going, and what their lives were like. My world was small, but my imagination was huge. Little did I know that life was about to give me more than I could have ever imagined.

One day, everything changed as an ugly civil war erupted. Our world shifted from security to chaos and uncertainty almost overnight. The adults that I looked to for reassurance were just as lost and scared as I was. Their ability to protect us had been stripped away. I was lonely, anxious, and terrified.

I looked up at the sky again, but this time, instead of airplanes, I saw fighter jets. My world had become a place of chaos, uncertainty, and change. I felt I had nothing. Yet looking back, I realized that this feeling of nothingness was actually everything.

Had I not been forced into this chaos and uncertainty, I wouldn’t be who I am today. Without the despair, I might never have left a small village in Montenegro. I wouldn’t be standing on this stage today manifesting my purpose. I wouldn’t have my incredible family. And I would not have developed qualities such as courage, resilience, and adaptability. Uncertainty and change are not our enemies. They are our friends, if approached the right way.

The Ugly Reality of Civil War

I’m not sure how much you know about civil wars. Let me tell you, they’re ugly. Let’s pray and hope it never happens here in this country. Neighbors turn against each other over differences in religion, politics, or simply because of deep-seated hate. It’s a state of total anarchy. There is no safe space, no way out, no certainty, and no sense of control.

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My family and I moved to a safer town, but the uncertainty followed us. I found my sense of strength and control in school and becoming a national champion in judo. But as another conflict loomed in the region, we made a bold decision to leave the country for good.

A New Beginning in Sweden

At 16, we moved to Sweden. In this new world, I faced the unknown, without language, without resources, and with uncertainty. But I embraced the challenge. I learned Swedish, earned a scholarship, and continued with judo practice.

But life threw another curveball. Our political asylum was rejected, and once again, the rug was pulled out from under us, leaving us with nothing but uncertainty. At 18, I fought the immigration system and won, securing permanent residency. At 22, I won my first bodybuilding competition and started my first company.

I was driven by a desire to turn uncertainty into opportunity, but I wasn’t done. I was hungry for new challenges. At 24, I moved to Los Angeles, California, to pursue bodybuilding, fitness modeling, and new business opportunities. I won a contest and graced the cover of Iron Man magazine, my first of many, before later actually purchasing, developing, and selling the very same magazine.

My journey was filled with triumphs and setbacks, but each step into the unknown led me to more growth, more resilience, and new opportunities.

Understanding Uncertainty

So what is uncertainty? What is its essence, the nature of it? We all try to control aspects of our lives, to create a sense of control in an inherently chaotic world. For us humans, death is the ultimate uncertainty. It’s a topic many prefer to avoid. Instead, we strive to leave a mark through our work, our offspring, our legacy, or joining spiritual and religious belief systems that offer comfort and explanations for what lies beyond.

But life can be compared to carving our names in melting ice. No matter how carefully we carve, the ice inevitably melts, and the name fades away. This metaphor captures the essence of our human existence. Life is fleeting, and nothing is guaranteed to last forever.

Studies show that when faced with uncertainty, people often choose to stick with the status quo, even if change might lead to better outcomes. The unknown is a huge source of anxiety and worry for many, like moving to a new town, getting a new job, starting a new school, starting a family, having kids, financial crises, global conflicts, pandemics. Uncertainty triggers a survival response. It leads our minds to imagine worst-case scenarios.

But what if, instead of fearing this impermanence, we embraced it instead? What if we saw uncertainty not as a threat to our efforts, but as an invitation to live fully in the moment, to carve our names in the ice, not for the sake of permanence, but for the joy of the act itself? By embracing uncertainty, we find the freedom to live purposefully, to create, and to discover who we truly are.

Embracing Uncertainty as Opportunity

Reflecting on my life, I’ve come to realize that every moment of uncertainty has been an opportunity, a blessing in disguise. From moving to Sweden, to becoming a professional athlete, starting a new life in the US, starting multiple companies, getting married, becoming a parent, each time I faced the unknown, not with fear, but with courage and with trust that it would lead to something better, and it did.

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My daughter is 12, and last year she started middle school, and it was really scary and terrifying for her. Everything was new, and change and uncertainty was painful, but she grew stronger, more resilient and confident. This year she started seventh grade, and I asked her if she would prefer to go back to the fifth grade. She said, “No way. I love where I am.”

Change is hard, but rarely do I meet anyone who wishes to return once new territory is charted.

The Role of Certainty

So what about certainty? Do we even need it? I’m going to get a little bit personal and romantic now. At 26 (and I’m 42 now, by the way, for those of you wondering), only two years after moving to LA, I met the love of my life and the woman who would help me really find my understanding of uncertainty.

It wasn’t just love at first sight. It felt destined, like a divine connection. On the outside, we seemed like an improbable match. Different culture, religion, race, educational backgrounds, even an age gap. On paper, nothing about us should have worked, yet our love felt flawless. It was perfect. We were engaged within six months, married within a year, and still going strong after 14 years.

Standing at the altar, I felt a fear I had not felt before. I didn’t run away. It wasn’t the fear of the unknown. I was good at that. It was a fear of letting this incredible woman down. It was the biggest commitment I was about to make. And the things I was going to say, the promises, it wasn’t just words. For me, it meant something. It was sacred.

Anyway, standing there, I looked at her and I saw no fear in her eyes, only calm uncertainty. And I asked her later, “How did you remain so calm?” And she said, “I have faith in us. Our love is the one thing I know is real.” And that hit me. Here was a woman, a surgeon, Ivy League graduate, who made all of her decisions based on fact and evidence. But in this life-changing moment, she wasn’t relying on data or science, but on faith, on her gut, her intuition, this deep, absolute knowing without really knowing.

And this was the type of certainty I’ve been searching for in my life. And in life’s grand uncertainty, we all need something to anchor us. For me, it’s my love and my purpose. For you, it might be something else. Maybe it’s your values. Maybe it’s your love. Maybe it’s your purpose. Maybe your higher power. But whatever it is, as long as you have that one element of certainty in your life, you’ve got nothing to fear, nothing to worry.

Uncertainty and Success

So what about uncertainty and success? I’m going to talk to you about that, the fun part. The key to success isn’t just hard work, grit, or talent. It’s how we respond to uncertainty and how we build resilience through challenges. As Jensen Huang, CEO of NVIDIA, said, “Unfortunately, resilience matters in success. I don’t know how to teach it to you, except for I hope suffering happens to you.”

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This captures the essence of what’s important in success: resilience, challenges, courage, and uncertainty. Let’s reflect on this for a little bit. None of us would be here today without the founding fathers taking the bold risk to go against a tyrannical government. Had their coup failed, they would have been hanged as traitors. Instead, they became founding fathers of this country and heroes.

Great innovations like airplanes, the internet, smartphones, open heart surgeries came from those who embraced uncertainty and who took risks that others would shy away from. And when it comes to success, there is a moment in every challenge where you don’t know if you will succeed or fail, and that’s what defines you.

Inviting Uncertainty into Our Lives

So how can we invite more uncertainty and this hidden opportunity in disguise into our lives? To embrace uncertainty, we must build resilience. Think of it like training a muscle. You start small and you gradually expose yourself to more. It’s all about balance and not about recklessness.

Like a beginner surfer, you start with smaller waves, not 30-foot monsters. But you don’t hope fear holds you back. You understand the risks, you know your limits, and you take action anyway. And each time you face the unknown, you ask yourself, “What’s possible here? What can I learn? How can I grow from this?”

When worry and anxiety creep in, you focus on what you can control. Your actions, your responses, and your attitude. And instead of fixating on worst-case scenarios, visualize the positive outcomes.

On the practical side, start small. Make random, low-stakes decisions. Like choosing a restaurant without reading Yelp or Google reviews. Watching a movie without watching a trailer. Change up your routine. Take a different route to work. Try a new workout. Rearrange your space. These small shifts help you adapt.

And finally, push yourself into new experiences. Try something that really scares you. And learn something that is really hard to learn. Each deliberate step strengthens your ability to manage uncertainty and builds resilience.

Final Thoughts

What lies ahead is not set in stone, and that’s the beauty of it. You have the power to write your story one uncertain step at a time. So the next time you find yourself standing at the edge of the unknown, don’t step back. Take a deep breath. Take that leap. And trust that the wings you need will appear.

And let’s not strive for control. Let’s strive for courage. Because in the end, it’s not the certainty of our path, but the strength of our heart that leads us home. Trust the journey. Trust yourself.

Thank you all for listening. It’s been an honor. Thank you.