In his inspiring TEDx talk titled “How to Survive Chaos,” Andrew Lu explores the transformative power of building amidst uncertainty. Drawing from personal experiences, Lu reflects on the relentless chaos in today’s world—marked by pandemics, wars, and rapid technological changes. He masterfully illustrates how moments of disarray can spark creativity and growth, using anecdotes from his career as a young musician and a product owner.
Lu recounts facing challenges in both the orchestra and corporate settings, where feelings of isolation and pressure threatened to overwhelm him. However, he realized that true belonging stems from aligning with a shared purpose rather than seeking approval. He emphasizes the importance of community and collaboration, introducing the Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) framework as a tool for overcoming obstacles.
By encouraging his audience to focus on their strengths and relationships instead of their fears, Lu emphasizes that building—whether through connections, shared visions, or communities—serves as an antidote to chaos. His message is clear: when we choose to build, we not only navigate chaos, but also create lasting impact.
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Author Video Description
In a world defined by chaos — from pandemics and wars to personal failures and change — what do we do when everything feels uncertain? In his personal and inspiring TEDx talk, Andrew explores how building — not just things, but purpose, relationships, and communities — helps us not only survive chaos but thrive in it. Driven by community, and empowered by resilience—Andrew Lu is a product manager, violinist, and changemaker whose journey spans continents, cultures, and careers. From performing with an international orchestra as a teenager to launching TEDx at his university during the height of a global pandemic, Andrew has always chosen to build when the world breaks down.
Now spreading his roots in the heart of Europe, Andrew uses his unique background to transform uncertainty into opportunity—whether it’s navigating corporate culture shocks, uniting people through shared purpose, or pioneering initiatives that outlive their founders. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
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TEDx is an international community that organizes TED-style events anywhere and everywhere — celebrating locally-driven ideas and elevating them to a global stage. TEDx events are produced independently of TED conferences, each event curates speakers on their own, but based on TED’s format and rules.
Video “How to Survive Chaos | We. Build. | Andrew Lu | TEDxKULeuvenBrussels” was uploaded on 10/13/2025 to Youtube Channel TEDx Talks