Life's a landscape, not a ladder | Kedarswamy Ravangave | TEDxKharadi Salon
We often think of success as a ladder—one rung at a time. Promotions, titles, achievements. But ladders only go one way: up. And when life becomes one-dimensional, driven only by external performance, we quietly starve parts of ourselves—our health, our relationships, our curiosity, our sense of meaning.In this talk, Kedarswamy Ravangave shares his journey across boardrooms, mountain summits, and Ironman finish lines to uncover a different way of living and leading. He introduces the Compounding Identity Model a framework built not on hacks or shortcuts, but on intentional deposits across four dimensions of life: professional, physical, emotional, and spiritual.Through stories of endurance, failure, and reflection, he shows how identity, like wealth, compounds over time. Small, consistent rituals whether a 5AM run, a moment of silence, or a meaningful conversation create resilience and wholeness.This isn’t about quitting your job or chasing extreme goals. It’s about asking: What if success wasn’t just about rising higher, but becoming fuller?A call to move beyond metrics and embrace meaning, this talk invites us to stop climbing and start cultivating. Kedarswamy Ravangave, one of the youngest Heads of Marketing at Amazon India, reached the pinnacle of his career only to discover a deep sense of emptiness—prompting a transformative journey inward. His TEDx talk, “Redefining Success: A Life Beyond Limits,” introduces the idea of “Compounding Identity,” where consistent, intentional acts across emotional, physical, professional, and spiritual dimensions create a more meaningful life. From leading brand transformations at Marico and Kotak Mahindra Bank to launching a startup, running marathons and Ironman triathlons, summiting Himalayan peaks, and embracing daily self-reflection rituals, Kedar has turned brand-building strategies inward to reshape his own identity. He believes success isn’t about titles or outcomes but about designing who you become. Today, as a CXO, mentor, and endurance athlete, he helps people and organizations spread ideas that matter—anchored in clarity, courage, and contribution. 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
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