The Biggest Lie You Believe: I Don't Need Any Help | Eric McDermott | TEDxVUAmsterdam

In his talk, Eric challenges one of the most common modern beliefs: the idea that we do not need help. Starting from a simple comment left on his social media, he shows how everyday life depends on invisible systems, shared knowledge, and the contributions of countless other people. What looks like independence, he argues, is often built on unseen interdependence.

He then reframes familiar ideas such as money, work, leadership, and education through a different lens. In his view, money is stored help, jobs are exchanges of help, and careers grow as our ability to offer meaningful help grows. This shift opens a broader way of thinking about value, learning, and contribution in a fast-changing world.

Eric’s talk is ultimately a call to rethink how we relate to one another. Rather than celebrating isolation, he invites the audience to recognize that stronger families, organizations, and societies are built through mutual support, shared responsibility, and a deeper respect for the help we receive and the help we offer.

By day, Eric is an equity partner at a financial services firm with more than 60,000 clients. He holds multiple advanced and accredited financial designations, including Certified Financial Planner®. Beyond finance, Eric was named national Best Business Influencer of the Year for his social media channels.



Having built an audience of more than half a million followers, his live keynotes and workshops educate through a distinctive style of visual storytelling. Eric is also a three-time best-selling author, including USA Today and Amazon best-seller lists, and has published numerous Forbes articles. 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