[rank_math_breadcrumb]

Shashi Naidoo

About

George Saunders is a New York Times bestselling American writer of short stories, essays, novellas and children’s books. In 2000, The New Yorker named him one of the “Best Writers Under 40.” He writes regularly for The New Yorker and Harper’s, as well as Esquire, GQ, and The New York Times Magazine.

My Definition Of Success | For me, real success would mean becoming more clear and loving in all things – more generous and less anxious.  I also want these qualities to show up in my writing – to make my stories more big-hearted and spacious.

I Am Driven By | I think it’s just a very natural feeling that life is beautiful and very interesting.  I wake up in the morning feeling that way and eager to get to work, and sort of pay tribute to that feeling of love for life.

A Key Talent | One thing you can learn by working on writing is to be in touch with your own reactions to your work, and trust those reactions.  This lesson can move out into your life as well.  You can learn to watch your own mind as you move through the world, and trust your reaction, and adjust your actions accordingly.  The only thing that stops progress is our (very natural) tendency to deny or suppress our reactions to things.  As long as we listen to those feelings, things are always workable.

Principles I Live By | Try to really believe, with all your heart, that other people are as real and valid as you are.  They want the same things, love the same things, fear the same things, even if they seem not to. You might not always be right about them, but it’s a good place to start.

How I Use My Mind | I believe strongly in meditation – in our ability to observe our own minds and thus learn who and what we really are.  I also believe in trying to suspend judgment as long as possible.  I love this quite, from the movie “Philadelphia Story”:  “The time to make up your mind about people is never.”

Performing At My Peak | Well, I think it’s important to understand that you won’t always perform at your peak.  If you are doing something worthwhile, you will encounter all sorts of peaks and valleys.  So I think the trick is to keep your sense of humor so you can ride through the bad times.  I guess this amounts to a kind of slow patience: you are interested in the task and are willing to take it just as it is – if it turns out to be harder than you thought, well, good – that means it is even more worthy than you first thought (i.e., it is a worthy opponent).

My Future Dreams And Ambitions | I’d like to write a really beautiful book.  I mean a REALLY beautiful book.

The Meaning Of Life | To grow in love.  That’s it.  We exist in a state in which we have access to infinite love and luminosity but our habits and obstructions keep us feeling only a tiny portion of it.  So I believe this life is a mad dash to open ourselves up to that light within us.

I Am Inspire d By | I am inspired by the writers Chekhov, Tobias Wolff, Tolstoy, Toni Morrison, Nikolai Gogol.  Also by Bill Clinton, the Dalai Lama, and by my wife and children.

The Legacy I Would Like To Leave | I’d like to be known as a kind person who felt a lot of love for life, and conveyed this in the way I lived and related to other people.

Interview Questions

[everest_form id="26923"]

View further interviews.

The Legacy Project

Andy Fenner is the co founder of Frankie Fenner Meat Merchants which is responsible for starting a conversation that can now be heard at butchers, restaurants and dinner tables across the country. The meat merchants are getting in touch with the origins of our food, asking questions about the farmers and the animals, and eating […]

The Legacy Project

Jon Mooallem is a a contributing writer at New York Times Magazine and writer at large for Pop-Up Magazine. Jon is also the author of American Hippopotamus and Wild Ones. Jon Mooallem Definition Of Success | I used to conflate success with impressing people and accumulating little tokens of prestige. Now, I see success in […]

The Legacy Project

José Manuel Ramos-Horta GCL AC is the United Nations’ special Representative and Head of the United Nations Integrated Peacebuilding Office in Guinea-Bissau (UNIOGBIS). He was the President of East Timor from 2007 to 2012, the second since independence from Indonesia, and is a co-recipient of the 1996 Nobel Peace Prize. He began his career in […]

The Legacy Project

John Smit TLP was one of Rugby’s most successful players of all time. He was the captain of the South African Rugby team (with an astonishing 111 caps), leading the Springboks to World Cup glory in 2007 and was inducted into the IRB Hall of Fame in 2011. He is currently the CEO of Sharks […]

  • South Africa
  • Keynote Speaker
The Legacy Project

Carina Schmid Legacy Project is the co-founder and CEO of The Global Experience, a non-profit organization and international youth media network dedicated to increase the intercultural dialogue. Since being in high school Carina enjoyed exploring different fields of work, including media production, marketing and journalism. A trip to Namibia eventually changed her life and made […]

  • United States
  • Business
The Legacy Project

Schuyler Vorster, founder and director of the IC | IC, says that the global increase in the demand for shared office spaces has much to do with the coworking business model which is based on the importance of community, innovation, and providing ways for businesses to run leaner. What is Schuyler Vorster, LIFE-MISSION in one […]

The Legacy Project

Christo Wiese is Chairman and largest shareholder of Steinhoff International Holdings – to whom he sold Pepkor, non-executive chairman of Invicta Holdings Limited and the controlling shareholder of Shoprite Holdings Limited, Africa’s largest retailer. His business accolades and achievements are just way too many to mention and he is without doubt one of the most […]

The Legacy Project

John Baldoni is an internationally recognized leadership educator, executive coach and speaks throughout North America and Europe. John is the author of more than a dozen books, including MOXIE: The Secret to Bold and Gutsy Leadership, Lead with Purpose, Lead Your Boss, and The Leader’s Pocket Guide. John’s books have been translated into 10 languages. […]

Disclaimer
The profiles and images embedded on these pages are from various interviews conducted by The Legacy Project.

These remain the property of its owner and are not affiliated with or endorsed by WeSpeak Global.

Our Mission

We are your partner creating memorable and engaging experiences that go beyond the event itself.

© All rights reserved 2025. Created using VOXEL THEME