What does it take to survive, even thrive, when you're a complete amateur?
Five TED speakers share stories of plunging - or being plunged - into new situations and emerging as experts.
Author and journalist A.J. Jacobs has made a career of being an amateur. He talks about the year he spent living biblically - following the rules in the Bible as literally as possible.
Taylor Wilson is a self-taught nuclear physicist who sees every obstacle as a challenge. He describes how -- at age 14 -- he built a working nuclear fusion reactor in his garage.
Actor and writer Julia Sweeney says parenting always makes her feel like an amateur -- but especially when her 8-year-old started asking some smart questions about animal reproduction.
After setting a new personal goal, often your first instinct is to tell someone. But entrepreneur Derek Sivers says you're better off keeping it to yourself.
Nancy Frates recounts how her love for her son Pete plunged her into leading a worldwide awareness campaign.
