# The GAP is the Gift | Deana Jean | TEDxElmPark

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQixX9XvCBA
Recap page: https://rapidrecap.app/video/LQixX9XvCBA
Generated: 2025-11-14T18:32:38.648+00:00

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## Quick Overview

The main takeaway is that the "gap" an entrepreneur faces—the space between what they have and what they want—is actually a gift that provides perspective, allies, and the necessary grit for success, contrary to viewing it as a terrifying void.

**Key Points:**
- The speaker received a breast cancer diagnosis on March 23, 2016, at 11:13 AM, while she was 34, pregnant, and leading a tech sales team, which initially felt terrifying.
- The gap faced by entrepreneurs, which is the difference between their current state and their goals, is actually a gift, not just a story.
- Research from the Kauffman Foundation shows that 70% of startups fail, and those who succeed long-term are those who lean into their gaps, not those who avoid failure.
- The first gift from the gap is grit, which is the ability to keep going when things are tough.
- The second gift from the gap is allies; entrepreneurs with strong support systems are 4.5 times more likely to lead high-performing teams.
- The third gift from the gap is perspective, as it forces one to see what they don't have and what they do have, leading to better decision-making.

![Screenshot at 00:00: Speaker Deana Jean takes the stage at a TEDxElmPark event to deliver her talk on reframing challenges in entrepreneurship.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/LQixX9XvCBA/00-00-00.png)

**Context:** The speaker, Deana Jean, shares a deeply personal story stemming from receiving a breast cancer diagnosis in 2016 while navigating a busy life as a pregnant entrepreneur and sales leader. She reframes the concept of the "gap"—the distance between current reality and desired success—from a source of fear into a crucial mechanism for developing grit, building alliances, and gaining necessary perspective for long-term entrepreneurial success.

## Detailed Analysis

Deana Jean recounts the shocking moment of her breast cancer diagnosis on March 23, 2016, at 11:13 AM, which occurred while she was pregnant, raising two boys, owning a home, and running a franchise. This diagnosis created a profound "gap" between her chaotic life and what she thought she should have, which she initially found terrifying. She emphasizes that this gap is not a negative void but a gift. The first gift the gap provides is grit, forcing individuals to do the right thing every day instead of waiting for perfection. The second gift is allies; she notes that entrepreneurs who lean into their gaps and connect with support systems are 4.5 times more likely to lead high-performing teams. The third gift is perspective, which helps entrepreneurs realize that what they lack is less important than what they possess. Citing research from the Kauffman Foundation, she points out that 70% of startups fail, and the successful ones are those who embrace the gap, viewing failure not as final but as fuel for growth and a necessary part of the journey. Ultimately, she concludes that the gap is the gift that shapes us the most, fostering grit, allies, and perspective.

### The Diagnosis and Initial Fear

- Speaker received breast cancer diagnosis on March 23, 2016, at 11:13 AM while pregnant and leading a business
- The initial feeling was terror and a sense of chaos.

### Reframing the Gap

- The gap between what one has and what one wants is not a negative void but a gift that forces focus on what is truly important.

### Gift 1

- Grit: The gap forces one to stop waiting for perfection and start doing the right thing daily, developing resilience.

### Gift 2

- Allies: Entrepreneurs who lean into their gaps are more likely to engage their networks; research shows allies make high-performing teams 4.5 times more likely.

### Gift 3

- Perspective: The gap shifts focus from what is missing to what is already present, leading to better decision-making and growth.

### Conclusion on Failure

- Failure is part of the gap; successful entrepreneurs embrace it as fuel rather than avoiding it because of a product being bad or a strategy being flawed.

![Screenshot at 00:00: Speaker Deana Jean begins her TEDx talk on stage at TEDxElmPark, with the event branding visible on the screen.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/LQixX9XvCBA/00-00-00.png)
![Screenshot at 00:15: Speaker gestures while talking about moments in time that make one stand still, setting up the core theme of the gap.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/LQixX9XvCBA/00-00-15.png)
![Screenshot at 00:54: Speaker visually emphasizes her point by counting off with her fingers, referring to the two key moments she will discuss.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/LQixX9XvCBA/00-00-54.png)
![Screenshot at 01:36: Speaker gestures emphatically while asking the audience to imagine a scenario related to facing challenges.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/LQixX9XvCBA/00-01-36.png)
![Screenshot at 02:29: Speaker recounts her personal story, noting she had two small boys and her husband was an active-duty military service member when she was diagnosed.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/LQixX9XvCBA/00-02-29.png)
![Screenshot at 03:48: Speaker contrasts her situation with Mark Zuckerberg building Facebook while she was in college, highlighting the different paths to success.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/LQixX9XvCBA/00-03-48.png)
![Screenshot at 05:53: Speaker discusses the many days during her cancer journey when she could not see a path forward, emphasizing the feeling of being lost.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/LQixX9XvCBA/00-05-53.png)
![Screenshot at 07:16: Speaker transitions to discussing the importance of allies, noting that entrepreneurs with support systems are 4.5 times more likely to lead high-performing teams.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/LQixX9XvCBA/00-07-16.png)
![Screenshot at 08:38: Speaker discusses the research showing that 70% of startups fail, challenging the common narrative that failure is solely due to a bad product.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/LQixX9XvCBA/00-08-38.png)
![Screenshot at 10:33: Speaker concludes by stating that the gap is truly the gift, encouraging the audience to embrace it rather than avoid it.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/LQixX9XvCBA/00-10-33.png)