5 tips to discover your full potential | TJ Kostecky | TEDxBard College
In his TEDx talk “Building Bridges by Living Daily with Your Eyes and Heart Open,” educator and soccer coach TJ Kostecky blends personal stories, soccer wisdom, and life philosophy to teach the power of perception, empathy, and intentional action. With lessons drawn from Leo Messi, Brooklyn bodegas, and the Bard Prison Initiative, TJ invites us to widen our lens, believe in others (and ourselves), and create ripple effects of kindness and connection. TJ Kostecky is the lead innovator of Vision Training, a leadership development program that empowers individuals to discover their full potential and form meaningful connections through subtle shifts in perspective. His academic career spans three decades and six universities and has seen him in diverse roles, such as a coach, athletic director, professor, and entrepreneur, each contributing to his unique perspective on leadership. TJ published his self-help book Eyes Up! in 2024. Good Housekeeping released their list of the 26 Best Self-Help books that work, and Eyes UP! was #5. He is currently the Head Men’s Soccer Coach and Co-founder of the Bard Leadership program at Bard College. In 2020, he was inducted into the Ukrainian Sports Hall of Fame. TJ resides in Tivoli, NY, where he enjoys longboarding through the village streets, hiking the Catskill Mountains, and engaging everyone he meets in conversation. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
More from TED
- 15:20How Motherhood Broke Me | Nishma Karim | TEDxMissionThey say motherhood is the most beautiful chapter of a woman’s life, but for me, it broke me wide open. I found myself drowning in postpartum depression, feeling ugly, unworthy, and painfully lost… but what I didn’t know then was that in breaking, I was being invited to rise. Nishma Karim is an international bestselling author, holistic nutritionist, certified personal trainer, dynamic podcaster, and the proud CEO of Be Light to Raise Light, a global platform dedicated to uplifting and amplifying the voices of mothers. Through her books, stage talks, and global collaborations, she co-authors transformative stories with moms around the world, empowering them to rise, share their light, and inspire others to become the best version of themselves. Her work is rooted in connection, healing, and the belief that when one mother rises, we all rise. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
- 12:43The Identity That Saved Me Was Killing Me | Joel Yi | TEDxMissionAs a former U.S. Army officer turned entrepreneur, whose journey through emotional collapse, silent success, and soul-deep healing led him to a powerful revelation about true resilience. In this talk, Joel shares the story of how the identity he built to survive nearly destroyed him, and how choosing to come home to himself changed everything. Joel Yi is a high-performance sales strategist and a Forbes Council and Entrepreneur-recognized expert in scaling elite sales organizations. Since 2018, he has generated over $200 million in revenue for his clients and led teams of 100+ sales professionals. But Joel’s journey goes far beyond metrics, it’s a story rooted in grit, reinvention, and purpose. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
