I’m talking to you from the summit yes the very top of a mountain called labu
the very top of a mountain called labu
the very top of a mountain called labu Chi I 6119 meters it’s a big mountain
Chi I 6119 meters it’s a big mountain
Chi I 6119 meters it’s a big mountain and I am naked huh oh but why would I
and I am naked huh oh but why would I
and I am naked huh oh but why would I climb a mountain that no one’s ever
climb a mountain that no one’s ever
climb a mountain that no one’s ever heard of quite simply because behind me
heard of quite simply because behind me
heard of quite simply because behind me you get the best views of Mount Everest
you get the best views of Mount Everest
you get the best views of Mount Everest best views better than anywhere else on
best views better than anywhere else on
best views better than anywhere else on the planet over there Mount Everest oh
the planet over there Mount Everest oh
the planet over there Mount Everest oh so there I was on top of a 20,000 foot
so there I was on top of a 20,000 foot
so there I was on top of a 20,000 foot mountain a couple of years ago the funny
mountain a couple of years ago the funny
mountain a couple of years ago the funny thing is I’m not a mountaineer I’m a guy
thing is I’m not a mountaineer I’m a guy
thing is I’m not a mountaineer I’m a guy that wanted to climb a mountain before I
that wanted to climb a mountain before I
that wanted to climb a mountain before I set off on that expedition I didn’t have
set off on that expedition I didn’t have
set off on that expedition I didn’t have even the minimum mountaineering
even the minimum mountaineering
even the minimum mountaineering experience to even be allowed on the
experience to even be allowed on the
experience to even be allowed on the trip and I was about two stone
trip and I was about two stone
trip and I was about two stone overweight but it’s amazing what happens
overweight but it’s amazing what happens
overweight but it’s amazing what happens when you set your mind to something
when you set your mind to something
when you set your mind to something because within three months I’ve been
because within three months I’ve been
because within three months I’ve been and got all the training I needed up in
and got all the training I needed up in
and got all the training I needed up in Scotland in winter winter mountaineering
Scotland in winter winter mountaineering
Scotland in winter winter mountaineering skills that means rock climbing with
skills that means rock climbing with
skills that means rock climbing with ropes ice axe crampons in women cold
ropes ice axe crampons in women cold
ropes ice axe crampons in women cold weather so I’d got that and I’d set
weather so I’d got that and I’d set
weather so I’d got that and I’d set myself a fitness regime which I hoped
myself a fitness regime which I hoped
myself a fitness regime which I hoped was going to be good enough that
was going to be good enough that
was going to be good enough that consisted of walking into work every day
consisted of walking into work every day
consisted of walking into work every day and going up and down the multi-storey
and going up and down the multi-storey
and going up and down the multi-storey car park a few times each day anyway
car park a few times each day anyway
car park a few times each day anyway three months later I was getting off the
three months later I was getting off the
three months later I was getting off the plane in Katmandu now it took 10 days
plane in Katmandu now it took 10 days
plane in Katmandu now it took 10 days hiking just to get to the mountain it
hiking just to get to the mountain it
hiking just to get to the mountain it took 10 days just to get there and two
took 10 days just to get there and two
took 10 days just to get there and two days to climb the mountain
days to climb the mountain
days to climb the mountain took two days to climb the mountain and
took two days to climb the mountain and
took two days to climb the mountain and I want to tell you about just one moment
I want to tell you about just one moment
I want to tell you about just one moment of that climb because I was about 20,000
of that climb because I was about 20,000
of that climb because I was about 20,000 feet high the air was thin I could
feet high the air was thin I could
feet high the air was thin I could hardly breathe I took a rest I took a
hardly breathe I took a rest I took a
hardly breathe I took a rest I took a rest and I looked out across the valley
rest and I looked out across the valley
rest and I looked out across the valley and I saw that there was nothing between
and I saw that there was nothing between
and I saw that there was nothing between me and Mount Everest you saw up there
me and Mount Everest you saw up there
me and Mount Everest you saw up there sort of there was nothing between me and
sort of there was nothing between me and
sort of there was nothing between me and Mount Everest and as I looked across it
Mount Everest and as I looked across it
Mount Everest and as I looked across it dawned on me that I was no longer
dawned on me that I was no longer
dawned on me that I was no longer looking up I was actually looking at
looking up I was actually looking at
looking up I was actually looking at cross because when you’re walking
cross because when you’re walking
cross because when you’re walking towards Mount Everest you can see it for
towards Mount Everest you can see it for
towards Mount Everest you can see it for days way up in the in the distance but
days way up in the in the distance but
days way up in the in the distance but as you get closer it gets higher and
as you get closer it gets higher and
as you get closer it gets higher and higher and when you get closer you can
higher and when you get closer you can
higher and when you get closer you can hardly even see it because it’s right up
hardly even see it because it’s right up
hardly even see it because it’s right up there but here I am on the other side of
there but here I am on the other side of
there but here I am on the other side of the valley just looking across and as I
the valley just looking across and as I
the valley just looking across and as I stood there I watched the sunrise I
stood there I watched the sunrise I
stood there I watched the sunrise I watched the Sun rise up behind Mount
watched the Sun rise up behind Mount
watched the Sun rise up behind Mount Everest now that moment will stay with
Everest now that moment will stay with
Everest now that moment will stay with me forever funny thing is I’ve always
me forever funny thing is I’ve always
me forever funny thing is I’ve always been interested in the world what’s
been interested in the world what’s
been interested in the world what’s going on around the world and I think it
going on around the world and I think it
going on around the world and I think it stems from programs like the world about
stems from programs like the world about
stems from programs like the world about us did anyone see that as a child all
us did anyone see that as a child all
us did anyone see that as a child all those years ago that world about us
those years ago that world about us
those years ago that world about us would show his animals from around the
would show his animals from around the
would show his animals from around the world that the jungles the deserts the
world that the jungles the deserts the
world that the jungles the deserts the mountains from far-flung places and what
mountains from far-flung places and what
mountains from far-flung places and what about the underwater sea world of
about the underwater sea world of
about the underwater sea world of Jacques Cousteau yet get lots of nods
Jacques Cousteau yet get lots of nods
Jacques Cousteau yet get lots of nods there I dreamed of working with Jack
there I dreamed of working with Jack
there I dreamed of working with Jack Cousteau on that boat they called the
Cousteau on that boat they called the
Cousteau on that boat they called the Calypso as I dreamed of that is it okay
Calypso as I dreamed of that is it okay
Calypso as I dreamed of that is it okay if I share with you some of my just
if I share with you some of my just
if I share with you some of my just little stories of a few of my adventures
little stories of a few of my adventures
little stories of a few of my adventures that’s okay yeah thank you that was a
that’s okay yeah thank you that was a
that’s okay yeah thank you that was a little bit delayed there and so um yeah
little bit delayed there and so um yeah
little bit delayed there and so um yeah the first time I cross the Sahara Desert
the first time I cross the Sahara Desert
the first time I cross the Sahara Desert as a young man we took the tannersville
as a young man we took the tannersville
as a young man we took the tannersville true true which is an ancient route
true true which is an ancient route
true true which is an ancient route across the Sahara Desert to Timbuktu and
across the Sahara Desert to Timbuktu and
across the Sahara Desert to Timbuktu and then down into Africa further on on that
then down into Africa further on on that
then down into Africa further on on that same trip I once hitchhiked across the
same trip I once hitchhiked across the
same trip I once hitchhiked across the Kalahari Desert I hitchhiked across the
Kalahari Desert I hitchhiked across the
Kalahari Desert I hitchhiked across the Kalahari Desert from vindel to the
Kalahari Desert from vindel to the
Kalahari Desert from vindel to the Okavango at one point I was three days
Okavango at one point I was three days
Okavango at one point I was three days waiting for the first vehicle to come
waiting for the first vehicle to come
waiting for the first vehicle to come through and you might ask why on earth
through and you might ask why on earth
through and you might ask why on earth would you want to hitchhike across the
would you want to hitchhike across the
would you want to hitchhike across the Kalahari Desert you idiot were the
Kalahari Desert you idiot were the
Kalahari Desert you idiot were the sentiments of my father but I knew where
sentiments of my father but I knew where
sentiments of my father but I knew where there were tracks I knew where I was
there were tracks I knew where I was
there were tracks I knew where I was going and I knew that I could get to the
going and I knew that I could get to the
going and I knew that I could get to the Okavango if I just had the time now the
Okavango if I just had the time now the
Okavango if I just had the time now the Okavango is this huge water area in the
Okavango is this huge water area in the
Okavango is this huge water area in the center of the desert it’s a swampland
center of the desert it’s a swampland
center of the desert it’s a swampland come marshland and most rivers most
come marshland and most rivers most
come marshland and most rivers most rivers flow into the sea in fact almost
rivers flow into the sea in fact almost
rivers flow into the sea in fact almost every River in the world flows into an
every River in the world flows into an
every River in the world flows into an ocean or into a sea but this one flows
ocean or into a sea but this one flows
ocean or into a sea but this one flows in to the center of a desert and
in to the center of a desert and
in to the center of a desert and sometimes even now as an adult I have to
sometimes even now as an adult I have to
sometimes even now as an adult I have to pinch myself and think did that really
pinch myself and think did that really
pinch myself and think did that really happen because there i was at 23 years
happen because there i was at 23 years
happen because there i was at 23 years old in the middle of Africa in the
old in the middle of Africa in the
old in the middle of Africa in the middle of the Okavango in a wooden
middle of the Okavango in a wooden
middle of the Okavango in a wooden dugout canoe exploring to my heart’s
dugout canoe exploring to my heart’s
dugout canoe exploring to my heart’s content I think how did that really
content I think how did that really
content I think how did that really happen and there was some time around
happen and there was some time around
happen and there was some time around about that time I reckoned I hadn’t
about that time I reckoned I hadn’t
about that time I reckoned I hadn’t slept in a bed for more than four months
slept in a bed for more than four months
slept in a bed for more than four months such was my desire to see the world I
such was my desire to see the world I
such was my desire to see the world I remember climbing a volcano a 10,000
remember climbing a volcano a 10,000
remember climbing a volcano a 10,000 foot volcano just to look inside that
foot volcano just to look inside that
foot volcano just to look inside that molten lava and I went in search of
molten lava and I went in search of
molten lava and I went in search of those mountain gorillas that David
those mountain gorillas that David
those mountain gorillas that David Attenborough showed us did he know and
Attenborough showed us did he know and
Attenborough showed us did he know and see those I went in search but I didn’t
see those I went in search but I didn’t
see those I went in search but I didn’t have David Attenborough with me and I
have David Attenborough with me and I
have David Attenborough with me and I didn’t have a film crew fact I went on
didn’t have a film crew fact I went on
didn’t have a film crew fact I went on my own and I went on the bus and I went
my own and I went on the bus and I went
my own and I went on the bus and I went on the bus as far as the bus would go in
on the bus as far as the bus would go in
on the bus as far as the bus would go in then I walked to the mountains till I
then I walked to the mountains till I
then I walked to the mountains till I found the village with a
found the village with a
found the village with a I’d called Zachariah who took me 45 days
I’d called Zachariah who took me 45 days
I’d called Zachariah who took me 45 days into these mountains in search of these
into these mountains in search of these
into these mountains in search of these gorillas and for four days we couldn’t
gorillas and for four days we couldn’t
gorillas and for four days we couldn’t see them for four days we climbed up and
see them for four days we climbed up and
see them for four days we climbed up and down some of the steepest terrain I’ve
down some of the steepest terrain I’ve
down some of the steepest terrain I’ve ever been in and for four days we hacked
ever been in and for four days we hacked
ever been in and for four days we hacked through some of the sickest jungle I’ve
through some of the sickest jungle I’ve
through some of the sickest jungle I’ve ever seen but for four days we never saw
ever seen but for four days we never saw
ever seen but for four days we never saw them but on the fifth day hey we found
them but on the fifth day hey we found
them but on the fifth day hey we found gorilla poo yes we found gorilla
gorilla poo yes we found gorilla
gorilla poo yes we found gorilla and we saw where they slept last night
and we saw where they slept last night
and we saw where they slept last night and that’s as close as I came to seeing
and that’s as close as I came to seeing
and that’s as close as I came to seeing the gorillas but it didn’t matter
the gorillas but it didn’t matter
the gorillas but it didn’t matter because I’d found myself in one of the
because I’d found myself in one of the
because I’d found myself in one of the most beautiful and spectacular places in
most beautiful and spectacular places in
most beautiful and spectacular places in the world and I was having the time of
the world and I was having the time of
the world and I was having the time of my life from there I followed the River
my life from there I followed the River
my life from there I followed the River Nile from start to finish I was a
Nile from start to finish I was a
Nile from start to finish I was a journey of three months and that was a
journey of three months and that was a
journey of three months and that was a journey if you know that area you know
journey if you know that area you know
journey if you know that area you know that is a journey and of course in Egypt
that is a journey and of course in Egypt
that is a journey and of course in Egypt I was able to explore the Valley of the
I was able to explore the Valley of the
I was able to explore the Valley of the Kings the Karnak temple and the Pyramids
Kings the Karnak temple and the Pyramids
Kings the Karnak temple and the Pyramids at Giza didn’t just see the pyramids of
at Giza didn’t just see the pyramids of
at Giza didn’t just see the pyramids of giza able to go inside them and sit in
giza able to go inside them and sit in
giza able to go inside them and sit in that chamber inside the Great Pyramid at
that chamber inside the Great Pyramid at
that chamber inside the Great Pyramid at Giza and for those of you who are
Giza and for those of you who are
Giza and for those of you who are wondering what on earth is he talking
wondering what on earth is he talking
wondering what on earth is he talking about where is this going just bear with
about where is this going just bear with
about where is this going just bear with me one moment because I never did get to
work with Jacques Cousteau on his boat
work with Jacques Cousteau on his boat the Calypso but I did go on a beautiful
the Calypso but I did go on a beautiful
the Calypso but I did go on a beautiful yacht in some beautiful tropical waters
yacht in some beautiful tropical waters
yacht in some beautiful tropical waters it was a sailing boat and the the sale
it was a sailing boat and the the sale
it was a sailing boat and the the sale was full of wind we were going good
was full of wind we were going good
was full of wind we were going good speed and we had dolphins all around us
speed and we had dolphins all around us
speed and we had dolphins all around us dolphins all around they were at the
dolphins all around they were at the
dolphins all around they were at the front the side and at the back and it
front the side and at the back and it
front the side and at the back and it was just glorious and it was at that
was just glorious and it was at that
was just glorious and it was at that point I thought I would take this rope
point I thought I would take this rope
point I thought I would take this rope that we had on the boat about a 25-foot
that we had on the boat about a 25-foot
that we had on the boat about a 25-foot rope on the boat and making sure that
rope on the boat and making sure that
rope on the boat and making sure that one end was fashioned to the boat the
one end was fashioned to the boat the
one end was fashioned to the boat the other end tied around my arm held onto
other end tied around my arm held onto
other end tied around my arm held onto it tight like that and jumped off the
it tight like that and jumped off the
it tight like that and jumped off the back of the boat with a big splash
back of the boat with a big splash
back of the boat with a big splash I landed in the water so now I’m being
I landed in the water so now I’m being
I landed in the water so now I’m being dragged behind the boat a great speed
dragged behind the boat a great speed
dragged behind the boat a great speed like this but with the dolphins all
like this but with the dolphins all
like this but with the dolphins all around me it was wonderful it was a
around me it was wonderful it was a
around me it was wonderful it was a wonderful moment I say moment because
wonderful moment I say moment because
wonderful moment I say moment because after about 30 seconds they all swam
after about 30 seconds they all swam
after about 30 seconds they all swam away they all swam away but those 30
away they all swam away but those 30
away they all swam away but those 30 seconds have lasted a lifetime now there
seconds have lasted a lifetime now there
seconds have lasted a lifetime now there is a point what I’m going to talk about
is a point what I’m going to talk about
is a point what I’m going to talk about because I want to share something with
because I want to share something with
because I want to share something with you I want to share something that is
you I want to share something that is
you I want to share something that is hugely embarrassing I want to share
hugely embarrassing I want to share
hugely embarrassing I want to share something that I had kept a secret for
something that I had kept a secret for
something that I had kept a secret for most of my life from most of the world
most of my life from most of the world
most of my life from most of the world because by the age of 25 I had already
because by the age of 25 I had already
because by the age of 25 I had already set up my first business growing orchids
set up my first business growing orchids
set up my first business growing orchids on a tropical island I’d already visited
on a tropical island I’d already visited
on a tropical island I’d already visited more than 40 countries by the age of 30
more than 40 countries by the age of 30
more than 40 countries by the age of 30 it was more like 60 countries but by the
it was more like 60 countries but by the
it was more like 60 countries but by the age of 30 I still couldn’t read or write
age of 30 I still couldn’t read or write
age of 30 I still couldn’t read or write I couldn’t write a letter I couldn’t
I couldn’t write a letter I couldn’t
I couldn’t write a letter I couldn’t even write a postcard and I’d like to
even write a postcard and I’d like to
even write a postcard and I’d like to ask all of you hear that managed to
ask all of you hear that managed to
ask all of you hear that managed to learn to read and write like most people
learn to read and write like most people
learn to read and write like most people as a child how would your life be
as a child how would your life be
as a child how would your life be different i’d like you to contemplate
different i’d like you to contemplate
different i’d like you to contemplate how would your life be different if you
how would your life be different if you
how would your life be different if you didn’t learn to read and write as a
didn’t learn to read and write as a
didn’t learn to read and write as a child how would your life be different
child how would your life be different
child how would your life be different if a book was as interesting as a brick
if a book was as interesting as a brick
if a book was as interesting as a brick how would your life be different if
how would your life be different if
how would your life be different if you’d never passed a single exam in your
you’d never passed a single exam in your
you’d never passed a single exam in your life except for art how would your life
life except for art how would your life
life except for art how would your life be different if you couldn’t fill out a
be different if you couldn’t fill out a
be different if you couldn’t fill out a bank form to open a bank account let
bank form to open a bank account let
bank form to open a bank account let alone a job application and there will
alone a job application and there will
alone a job application and there will be people in this room who have
be people in this room who have
be people in this room who have difficulty reading and writing
statistically there will be and they
statistically there will be and they will probably be keeping this a secret
will probably be keeping this a secret
will probably be keeping this a secret for most of the world
for most of the world
for most of the world because it’s embarrassing you feel
because it’s embarrassing you feel
because it’s embarrassing you feel ashamed my message to you is do not give
ashamed my message to you is do not give
ashamed my message to you is do not give up keep at it just because you’re
up keep at it just because you’re
up keep at it just because you’re dyslexic doesn’t mean you should stop
dyslexic doesn’t mean you should stop
dyslexic doesn’t mean you should stop trying it took me 35 to 40 years to
trying it took me 35 to 40 years to
trying it took me 35 to 40 years to learn to read and write and I’m not
learn to read and write and I’m not
learn to read and write and I’m not William Shakespeare how but it took me
William Shakespeare how but it took me
William Shakespeare how but it took me 35 to 40 years and my message to you is
35 to 40 years and my message to you is
35 to 40 years and my message to you is don’t give up it’s worth it I remember
don’t give up it’s worth it I remember
don’t give up it’s worth it I remember as an adult trying to read some novels
as an adult trying to read some novels
as an adult trying to read some novels and it would take me something like two
and it would take me something like two
and it would take me something like two hours to read a page something like four
hours to read a page something like four
hours to read a page something like four to five months to read a book but of
to five months to read a book but of
to five months to read a book but of course of course I didn’t finish a book
course of course I didn’t finish a book
course of course I didn’t finish a book for ages because I’m a patient guy I’m
for ages because I’m a patient guy I’m
for ages because I’m a patient guy I’m not that patient you know I tried loads
not that patient you know I tried loads
not that patient you know I tried loads of books and I’d get about that far
of books and I’d get about that far
of books and I’d get about that far through before I managed to read a book
through before I managed to read a book
through before I managed to read a book in its entirety and then I did a Robert
in its entirety and then I did a Robert
in its entirety and then I did a Robert Ludman novel thank you Robert for
Ludman novel thank you Robert for
Ludman novel thank you Robert for creating such wonderful script that kept
creating such wonderful script that kept
creating such wonderful script that kept my attention that kept me interested in
my attention that kept me interested in
my attention that kept me interested in intrigue to be able to finish but I have
intrigue to be able to finish but I have
intrigue to be able to finish but I have to tell you that finishing that book
to tell you that finishing that book
to tell you that finishing that book completing that book was probably a
completing that book was probably a
completing that book was probably a bigger challenge than it was climbing
bigger challenge than it was climbing
bigger challenge than it was climbing that six thousand meter mountain and I
that six thousand meter mountain and I
that six thousand meter mountain and I was being interviewed recently and the
was being interviewed recently and the
was being interviewed recently and the interviewer asked me how has your
interviewer asked me how has your
interviewer asked me how has your dyslexia held you back and all my life I
dyslexia held you back and all my life I
dyslexia held you back and all my life I thought that my dyslexia had held me
thought that my dyslexia had held me
thought that my dyslexia had held me back all my life but as I contemplated
back all my life but as I contemplated
back all my life but as I contemplated it and I thought about it before I
it and I thought about it before I
it and I thought about it before I answered and I thought well I’ve got a
answered and I thought well I’ve got a
answered and I thought well I’ve got a beautiful wife I’ve got a wonderful
beautiful wife I’ve got a wonderful
beautiful wife I’ve got a wonderful family to businesses I coach royalty I
family to businesses I coach royalty I
family to businesses I coach royalty I coach politicians in the houses of
coach politicians in the houses of
coach politicians in the houses of parliament I coach CEOs
parliament I coach CEOs
parliament I coach CEOs I’ve come to think I’ve had all those
I’ve come to think I’ve had all those
I’ve come to think I’ve had all those experiences and I’ve come to realize
experiences and I’ve come to realize
experiences and I’ve come to realize that my dyslexia far from holding me
that my dyslexia far from holding me
that my dyslexia far from holding me back has actually set me free thank
”
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