"It all started one day on a plane, on my way to TED, seven years ago

And in the seat next to me was a high school student, a teenager, and she came from a really poor family.

 And she wanted to make something of her life, and she asked me a simple little question.

 She said, "What leads to success?" And I felt really badly, because I couldn't give her a good answer.

 So I get off the plane, and I come to TED. And I think, jeez, I'm in the middle of a room of successful people!

So why don't I ask them what helped them succeed, and pass it on to kids?

 So here we are, seven years, 500 interviews later, and I'm gonna tell you what really leads to success..."

 Richard St.John

Passion

"I'm driven by my passion."

~ Freeman Thomas, automobile and industrial designer

Work

"It's all hard work. Nothing comes easily. But I have a lot of fun."

~ Rupert Murdoch, chief executive officer of News Corporation

 Good

"To be successful put your nose down in something and get damn good at it."

~ Alex Garden, game developer

 Focus

"I think it all has to do with focusing yourself on one thing"

~ Norman Jewison, filmmaker

Push

"Push yourself. Physically, mentally, you've gotta push, push, push."

~ David Gallo, marine scientis

Serve

"It was a privilege to serve as a doctor."

~ Sherwin Nuland, professor of surgey, Yale

 Ideas

"I had an idea — founding the first micro-computer software company."

~ Bill Gates, author and chairman of Microsoft

 Persist

"Persistence is the number one reason for our success."

~ Joe Kraus, founder of Excite