Name: What happens when you lose everything
Uploaded: 2008-07-09T01:00:00Z
Duration: 3 min 47 s
Description: Nine days before TED2008, filmmaker David Hoffman lost almost everything he owned in a fire that destroyed his home, office and 30 years of passionate collecting. He looks back at a life that's been wiped clean in an instant -- and looks forward.

David Hoffman: What happens when you lose everything

What happens when you lose everything

Nine days before TED2008, filmmaker David Hoffman lost almost everything he owned in a fire that destroyed his home, office and 30 years of passionate collecting. He looks back at a life that's been wiped clean in an instant -- and looks forward.

After a fire destroyed decades of work and treasured collections in just 20 minutes, one man faced the question of whether he was defined by his possessions. Instead of succumbing to loss, he embraced the challenge to create something meaningful from the ashes. Salvaging fragments and burnt memories, he began a new project focused on the beauty found in broken pieces. His story reveals how devastation can spark renewal and deeper appreciation for the present and future.