In a talk packed with wry wisdom, pop culture queen Bevy Smith shares hard-earned lessons about authenticity, confidence, mature success and why, if you put in the work, “life gets greater later.”
If you love watching TED Talks like this one, become a TED Member to support our mission of spreading ideas:
Follow TED!
Twitter:
Instagram:
Facebook:
LinkedIn:
TikTok:
The TED Talks channel features talks, performances and original series from the world’s leading thinkers and doers. Subscribe to our channel for videos on Technology, Entertainment and Design — plus science, business, global issues, the arts and more. Visit to get our entire library of TED Talks, transcripts, translations, personalized talk recommendations and more.
Watch more:
TED’s videos may be used for non-commercial purposes under a Creative Commons License, Attribution–Non Commercial–No Derivatives (or the CC BY – NC – ND 4.0 International) and in accordance with our TED Talks Usage Policy (). For more information on using TED for commercial purposes (e.g. employee learning, in a film or online course), please submit a Media Request at
Ligia Sommers
May 20, 2022 at 4:30 pm
Amazing!!!! Loved it 🙏🏻💝✨
Hasan Mahmud
May 20, 2022 at 5:03 pm
Women☕
B Z
May 20, 2022 at 5:04 pm
A talk for the womens
Training by Timberlake
May 20, 2022 at 5:59 pm
Inspirational for me!! Not talking about the fears of a career transition made me feel alone. Amazing to hear this and not feel like I’m the only one. I’ll also absorb the confidence as I strive to be greater later.
SE
May 20, 2022 at 6:29 pm
This message was inspiring. Thank you, Bevy, for being You.
tabularasa
May 20, 2022 at 6:42 pm
Where’s the supposed “how to”? Where’s the substance? This talk offered nothing but a woman who desperately needs approval from her peers, fixated on physical appearance. So many references to beauty and glamor and aging and judging others on social media… Usually the people who loudly exclaim they have “nothing to prove” are the ones who care the most about their public perception. It’s sad how transparent she is, but she doesn’t see it herself. Waste of 15 minutes
Native_NC_Sharon
May 20, 2022 at 6:52 pm
👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️AWESOME message!!!
NIL
May 20, 2022 at 6:56 pm
So, where is the “I” located you are going on about? Not a clue, obviously. Crap swagger nothing.
Blair Marie
May 20, 2022 at 6:58 pm
I am 37 and finally realizing that I have to invest in my self and mental health or else it will be my Demise. I have made drastic changes and by sticking to them and not feeling guilty I am definitely looking and feeling better.
Carlos Oruna
May 20, 2022 at 7:14 pm
Umm. Character is formed in hard times. Our parents with what they saw or heard , and more importantly did.. my dad was born in spain in 25. Imagine that youth in 36 . You would be able to sell 30 lbs of beans for an acre of land. Pushing your limits forms ya.
MIRIAM ABISOLA
May 20, 2022 at 7:23 pm
Amazing speech, well delivered wow. ❤️
ᵖⁱⁿⁿᵉᵈ: 𝐓𝐄𝐃
May 21, 2022 at 12:07 am
Thank you. For 🅑🅣🅒/🅔🅣🅗 𝚒𝚗𝚟𝚎𝚜𝚝𝚖𝚎𝚗𝚝 𝚒𝚍𝚎𝚊𝚜
ᴍᴇssᴀɢᴇ/ᴡᴀ
±𝟏𝟒𝟎𝟗𝟒𝟐𝟐𝟓𝟖𝟏𝟗
ʟᴇᴛ ʜɪᴍ ᴋɴᴏᴡ ɪ ʀᴇғᴇʀʀᴇᴅ ʏᴏᴜ.
Tracy Corson
May 20, 2022 at 7:29 pm
People will be kicking themselves in few weeks if they miss the opportunity to buy and invest in Crypto as it’s retracing….BE WISE
David Usai
May 20, 2022 at 10:14 pm
I got Williams info how good is he ?
André Nobre
May 20, 2022 at 10:14 pm
I’ve worked with 4 traders in the past but none of them is as efficient as he is , he’s a genius when it comes to trading strategies !
Jamie C. Carl
May 20, 2022 at 10:15 pm
I’m from Los Angeles, I and two other of my friends tried his strategies immediately we testified his performing wonders.
Freddie Gibbs
May 20, 2022 at 10:16 pm
Don’t sleep on it…this is a time to invest I recently just bought another property valued at over $10m. I wish I knew the right investment firm to invest with earlier, better late than never thought.
cristina roverso
May 20, 2022 at 7:51 pm
In the most perfect timing, this came to me. I am certainly at a point in my life where I’m choosing me. I’m rediscovering what I love and advocating for myself and making choices without regret. It’s liberating and as always a journey of unknowns but I am certain that I will live my life and not be miserable!
MANDY
May 20, 2022 at 7:55 pm
She’s a natural. This was a great Ted Talk. Truly worth every minute.
Captain_Context
May 20, 2022 at 8:04 pm
I remember when TED used to be about the absolute top intellectual stuff. What is this… “My mama told me”
pierm9
May 20, 2022 at 8:04 pm
Thank you Bevy!! You are powerful in your authenticity!!
Olidoxson
May 20, 2022 at 8:25 pm
WTF Ted?
Miss Dappertje
May 20, 2022 at 8:43 pm
thank you bevy !!
ᵖⁱⁿⁿᵉᵈ: 𝐓𝐄𝐃
May 20, 2022 at 11:55 pm
Thank you. For 🅑🅣🅒/🅔🅣🅗 𝚒𝚗𝚟𝚎𝚜𝚝𝚖𝚎𝚗𝚝 𝚒𝚍𝚎𝚊𝚜
ᴍᴇssᴀɢᴇ/ᴡᴀ
±𝟏𝟒𝟎𝟗𝟒𝟐𝟐𝟓𝟖𝟏𝟗
ʟᴇᴛ ʜɪᴍ ᴋɴᴏᴡ ɪ ʀᴇғᴇʀʀᴇᴅ ʏᴏᴜ
Antonella Calderone
May 20, 2022 at 11:16 pm
She was such an inspiration and so charismatic, I loved it.
Cass :P
May 21, 2022 at 12:48 am
One of my favorite talks for sure. Bevy just keeping it real!
Malcolm Samuel
May 21, 2022 at 1:05 am
So real! More TED’s like this!
Gbemi Owode
May 21, 2022 at 1:13 am
This is amazing!! “Their wins have nothing to do with my worthiness, to thine own self be true! Nobody can be you but you, so you might as well show up, and show out!”
Lisa Love Ministry
May 21, 2022 at 1:15 am
The more we focus on ourselves the more narssistic we become.
Luke 10:27
“ He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’ and ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”
Officially Live
May 21, 2022 at 3:37 am
YASS BEVY!! 🙌🏾💙
J
May 21, 2022 at 4:32 am
Thank you Little Brown Bev ❤️🔥❤️🔥
Vivek astronaut {Nasa}
May 21, 2022 at 5:46 am
I am late bloomer a,m 55 walked the walk now coming to this and you know but I could blow which leads me that most people now sometimes a,m shall be scientists and astronaut nasa 🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲
Melina Marques
May 21, 2022 at 7:04 am
Her energy is awesome and wise words 🤩
PeacheeMi
May 21, 2022 at 7:05 am
I love the message Bevy!
Irini Koussi
May 21, 2022 at 7:19 am
Thank you 👏👏👏👏👏👏
𝘾𝙖𝙣𝙣𝙮开
May 21, 2022 at 10:08 am
“If you dream regardless of age, you will continue to be young.”
Shaul
May 21, 2022 at 12:12 pm
What a woman, wow! Pleasure to watch and listen to.
corner kim
May 21, 2022 at 12:55 pm
Wonderful talk!!
I was listening on Podcasts and have to come see her personally. 🫡
Pam W.
May 21, 2022 at 1:00 pm
The hardest critic is one’s self. Thanks for sharing how to do the work to let one’s authentic self shine!! 👍🏽❤🔥
Lyric Genius
May 21, 2022 at 1:20 pm
NY STAND UP! LOVED THIS!
Michael O' Neill
May 21, 2022 at 1:39 pm
Wise, honest, and humble. Great talk 🙂
Felicity Fellows
May 21, 2022 at 2:43 pm
Bevy and her talk embody grace, power and humility. Will listen over and over, everytime I need a pick me up, to laugh, and to remind me who I am. Thank you for sharing your wisdom and little brown Bevy with the world
Tamika Newton
May 21, 2022 at 3:14 pm
I’m in a transitional point in life at 50 as I discover what I’m most passionate about…what’s next for me. Bevy’s talk was inspiring and right on time. Cheers to “It gets greater later”!
Theo Perry
May 21, 2022 at 4:09 pm
So GOOD!
L. Scott
May 21, 2022 at 9:46 pm
“It Gets Greater Later.”
Bevy you are the Greatest!!! Congratulations!!! 💜💜
Positive Nature Community
May 21, 2022 at 9:50 pm
11:52 great talk, great questions
Who am I at my core?
How am I being perceived?
How would I like to be perceived?
No one star
May 21, 2022 at 10:01 pm
1. Have enough connections to get TED talk.
2. Be rich, popular, and influential.
3. Prosper.
Everyone else without coin, connections, communities, clout, and computer code are kinda cocked, though.
🐲✨🐲✨🐲✨
Pam J
May 21, 2022 at 10:14 pm
I have no idea why she considers herself a late bloomer. She was super successful, she was just tired of her career. She’s fun, but after watching her I have no idea how to “discover my authentic self”.
Alfi
May 22, 2022 at 1:39 pm
I agree with the second sentence. Her story is interesting, but the only thing I took away from it is that it is possible to reimagine your life at any age, not how to that.
The Gutsy Latina
May 21, 2022 at 11:17 pm
Bravo, Bevy, Bravo! So good! And the key is doing the work so that it can get greater later 🖤
nancy Dickson
May 21, 2022 at 11:22 pm
*I REALLY LOVE AND ALL YOUR VIDEOS💖,I WISH TO BE LIKE YOU SOMEDAY*
James Candason
May 21, 2022 at 11:44 pm
Thanks for the recommendation I’ve been trading by
myself for long and I’ve been making a lot of losses, l’Il
surely give her a try right away.
James
May 21, 2022 at 11:49 pm
The greatest regret is not trying and failing but it is not to trying at allFunny enough people aspire to emulate great investors and entrepreneurs, of our time but they only see their wins
and achievements and they careless about their
challenges and failures during multiple trials and the
lesson it teaches
question ade
May 22, 2022 at 2:27 am
Please look at me 🙈🙈
Edidiong Eton
May 22, 2022 at 3:54 am
I’m glad I took out time to view this, very great
Michelle Johnson
May 22, 2022 at 4:00 am
Helpful in identifying the missing piece(s) to start to “excavate” your authentic self – Also can’t wait til her mom does a TED talk ❤️
Fractal Infinity
May 22, 2022 at 4:48 am
What an inspiring story for the people like me! It’s never too late to change your path and find another way to your personal self-satisfying success! Thank you, Bevy!
Murphy Zhang
May 22, 2022 at 12:36 pm
let me think the book” the law of the attraction”. This is a good lecture !
Tanyoka W
May 22, 2022 at 1:26 pm
Just what your soul needs (at any age)! Amazing Ted Talk! 💜
Meekseek
May 22, 2022 at 2:14 pm
Go watch Chiron Last.
Paola Parker
May 22, 2022 at 5:00 pm
Love
Holiday
May 22, 2022 at 5:01 pm
Amazing talk
Theo Vard
May 22, 2022 at 7:06 pm
A black woman wearing a wig talking about finding your authentic self. Top quality satire.
Timi Hobbs
May 22, 2022 at 7:10 pm
Wonder Woman. Thanks for the Ted talk, you are inspiring.
the1atcpc
May 22, 2022 at 7:15 pm
“It gets greater later!” – Bevy Smith
Toni
May 22, 2022 at 11:59 pm
Sorry, I’m seventy and I’ll age gracefully.
Lillian Grace
May 23, 2022 at 12:23 am
Thank you for being you for me love love love you BEVY
Stephanie O
May 23, 2022 at 3:12 am
I felt the pangs of my mid-life crisis and this is just what I needed ❤️❤️❤️
Nicole Phipps
May 23, 2022 at 3:33 am
👏👏👏👏 Bravo Bevy!!!! 🌹💐
Tony
May 23, 2022 at 7:33 am
I find it a bit conflicting to hear her say “life gets greater later”, because she was very focused on living in the moment (as we should), however those two things doesn’t correlate, you can’t be present if you’re focused on the future, even if that future is going to be good. Consider being a child the night before christmas, how will you get your sleep?
Rita Danilova
May 23, 2022 at 6:11 pm
inspiring
Orville Henry
May 23, 2022 at 8:30 pm
That’s our Auntie right there. Always delivers greatness.
Emily Bruso
May 23, 2022 at 10:25 pm
I’m going to try the “take a note, give a note” strategy today. Thanks, Bevy!
lizzipooh4
May 24, 2022 at 2:30 am
Loved this talk. She is a force of nature. Love her
Lynda Gibson
May 24, 2022 at 3:06 am
I, I, I, I. Obsessed with self.
Jessica R
May 24, 2022 at 5:51 pm
Love her!
Totallysam's Channel
May 24, 2022 at 6:13 pm
🔥🔥🔥🔥💖
Natalie Roberts
May 24, 2022 at 11:35 pm
Beautiful words to live by!
Angela Bilyeu
May 25, 2022 at 1:17 am
Congratulations. You did that! You go girl!
You made me smile, giggle, and laugh. Thank you.
Luis41
May 25, 2022 at 1:29 am
Great Talk ☺🇩🇴