Courage, Consistency, and the Power of Accepting "no" | Parastoo Nabati | TEDxAlef Salon

Quick Overview

Parastoo Nabati, an Iranian who moved abroad, recounts her journey of struggling to pursue fashion journalism despite societal pressures against it, eventually finding courage through external encouragement and realizing that fashion is a serious art form, leading her to continue writing and ultimately finding success by sharing her work internationally.

Key Points: Nabati, an Iranian national, spent 25 years in Iran before moving abroad, during which time fashion was considered a forbidden job. She pursued writing, basketball, and poetry, but her father discouraged her from fashion, suggesting she pursue medicine or engineering instead. A mentor from New York Times encouraged her to pursue fashion journalism after she sent him samples of her writing and photos. Nabati realized that fashion is a serious art form and that she did not need to fear judgment when pursuing it. She started publishing her work in two small publications and later in international publications like Vogue. She emphasizes that the struggle to accept one's path or the fear of failure (not wanting to be a 'middle-list' person) is common, but persistence pays off. Her success includes having her work published in international fashion magazines and participating in international events like the one in Paris.

Context: The speaker, Parastoo Nabati, shares a personal narrative about overcoming societal and familial pressures in Iran to pursue her passion for fashion journalism. She details the initial resistance she faced, especially from her father who preferred more conventional careers like medicine or engineering, and how a crucial email from an editor at The New York Times validated her path, encouraging her to persist despite her fears of mediocrity or judgment.

Detailed Analysis

Parastoo Nabati, an Iranian woman, recounts that for 25 years in Iran, fashion was viewed as a forbidden occupation, forcing her to pursue other interests like basketball, poetry, and studying mathematics. Despite her interests, her father pushed her toward engineering or medicine. Her turning point came when she sent writing samples and photos to an editor at The New York Times, who encouraged her to pursue fashion journalism. This validation helped her realize fashion is a serious art form, not something to be ashamed of. She started publishing in two small publications and later in international magazines like Vogue. She specifically mentions receiving an email from a New York Times editor who praised her work, giving her the courage to continue. She shares that she faced internal struggles, feeling the need to be exceptional rather than 'middle-list,' and worried about whether her work would be published internationally. She ultimately found success, publishing in international magazines and participating in global events, proving that persistence in pursuing one's passion, even when facing external resistance or internal fear, is worthwhile.