today I want to tell you three things about me the first is a confession and
about me the first is a confession and
about me the first is a confession and that is that I am a dreamer and a little
that is that I am a dreamer and a little
that is that I am a dreamer and a little bit of a naive one I’ll go to bed at
bit of a naive one I’ll go to bed at
bit of a naive one I’ll go to bed at night after watching the 10 o’clock news
night after watching the 10 o’clock news
night after watching the 10 o’clock news and I will lie awake dreaming of being
and I will lie awake dreaming of being
and I will lie awake dreaming of being the person who will bring nations out of
the person who will bring nations out of
the person who will bring nations out of poverty who will end slavery and stop
poverty who will end slavery and stop
poverty who will end slavery and stop global warming all in one stroke
global warming all in one stroke
global warming all in one stroke I’m currently trained to be a doctor and
I’m currently trained to be a doctor and
I’m currently trained to be a doctor and I’ll drive home from the hospital some
I’ll drive home from the hospital some
I’ll drive home from the hospital some evenings dreaming of being the person
evenings dreaming of being the person
evenings dreaming of being the person who will find that big breakthrough or
who will find that big breakthrough or
who will find that big breakthrough or the next cure a look around our city and
the next cure a look around our city and
the next cure a look around our city and I dream of bringing about social change
I dream of bringing about social change
I dream of bringing about social change and ending inequalities and as I scan
and ending inequalities and as I scan
and ending inequalities and as I scan around the room today I suspect that I
around the room today I suspect that I
around the room today I suspect that I am not the only one with dreams we all
am not the only one with dreams we all
am not the only one with dreams we all have them and do you know what the most
have them and do you know what the most
have them and do you know what the most amazing thing about a dream is its that
amazing thing about a dream is its that
amazing thing about a dream is its that occasionally just occasionally a dream
occasionally just occasionally a dream
occasionally just occasionally a dream will turn itself into an idea and this
will turn itself into an idea and this
will turn itself into an idea and this is where I need to tell you the second
is where I need to tell you the second
is where I need to tell you the second thing about me this is also a bit of a
thing about me this is also a bit of a
thing about me this is also a bit of a confession it’s a confession that I
confession it’s a confession that I
confession it’s a confession that I don’t really know anything about
don’t really know anything about
don’t really know anything about anything a few years ago I was sat
anything a few years ago I was sat
anything a few years ago I was sat having a conversation over a cup of tea
having a conversation over a cup of tea
having a conversation over a cup of tea about a book my friend Rachel had read
about a book my friend Rachel had read
about a book my friend Rachel had read and this boot was about maternal health
and this boot was about maternal health
and this boot was about maternal health and somewhere from this conversation
and somewhere from this conversation
and somewhere from this conversation came the idea for a charity scheme where
came the idea for a charity scheme where
came the idea for a charity scheme where we would support women in developing
we would support women in developing
we would support women in developing countries by twinning them with women
countries by twinning them with women
countries by twinning them with women here in the UK who would cover their
here in the UK who would cover their
here in the UK who would cover their health care costs now I hope you agree
health care costs now I hope you agree
health care costs now I hope you agree this seemed like a great idea but there
this seemed like a great idea but there
this seemed like a great idea but there was one problem I knew absolutely
was one problem I knew absolutely
was one problem I knew absolutely nothing about charities I knew even less
nothing about charities I knew even less
nothing about charities I knew even less about developing countries and I had
about developing countries and I had
about developing countries and I had only just started medical school so I
only just started medical school so I
only just started medical school so I didn’t really know anything about
didn’t really know anything about
didn’t really know anything about maternal health either despite that the
maternal health either despite that the
maternal health either despite that the next day we thought it was a good idea
next day we thought it was a good idea
next day we thought it was a good idea to send off some emails and nine months
to send off some emails and nine months
to send off some emails and nine months later and I do appreciate the irony
later and I do appreciate the irony
later and I do appreciate the irony nine months later pregnancy twinning was
nine months later pregnancy twinning was
nine months later pregnancy twinning was born we work with local partner
born we work with local partner
born we work with local partner organizations in Malawi Uganda and
organizations in Malawi Uganda and
organizations in Malawi Uganda and Sierra Leone and together with our
Sierra Leone and together with our
Sierra Leone and together with our partners we have changed the lies for
partners we have changed the lies for
partners we have changed the lies for over one and a half thousand women
over one and a half thousand women
over one and a half thousand women around a similar time to this had become
around a similar time to this had become
around a similar time to this had become very aware that lots of young people
very aware that lots of young people
very aware that lots of young people with cancer are diagnosed quite late
with cancer are diagnosed quite late
with cancer are diagnosed quite late there is lots of reasons for this but in
there is lots of reasons for this but in
there is lots of reasons for this but in part it is because at that age cancer
part it is because at that age cancer
part it is because at that age cancer just isn’t on people’s radars it
just isn’t on people’s radars it
just isn’t on people’s radars it certainly wasn’t on mine and so I
certainly wasn’t on mine and so I
certainly wasn’t on mine and so I gathered together a few friends in a pub
gathered together a few friends in a pub
gathered together a few friends in a pub to see what we could do about it and
to see what we could do about it and
to see what we could do about it and despite my aversion to felines we
despite my aversion to felines we
despite my aversion to felines we decided to call it cats and that was
decided to call it cats and that was
decided to call it cats and that was simply because it made a nice acronym
simply because it made a nice acronym
simply because it made a nice acronym cats stands for the cancer awareness in
cats stands for the cancer awareness in
cats stands for the cancer awareness in teenagers and young people society two
teenagers and young people society two
teenagers and young people society two years on from that meeting in a pub we
years on from that meeting in a pub we
years on from that meeting in a pub we have a national charity based in
have a national charity based in
have a national charity based in Manchester Cambridge London Liverpool
Manchester Cambridge London Liverpool
Manchester Cambridge London Liverpool with more cities on the way we’re making
with more cities on the way we’re making
with more cities on the way we’re making sure that every young person knows the
sure that every young person knows the
sure that every young person knows the common signs and symptoms of cancer and
common signs and symptoms of cancer and
common signs and symptoms of cancer and when to go and get checked out by their
when to go and get checked out by their
when to go and get checked out by their GP when I started those two projects I
GP when I started those two projects I
GP when I started those two projects I was a young naive 20 year old kid who
was a young naive 20 year old kid who
was a young naive 20 year old kid who didn’t really know anything about
didn’t really know anything about
didn’t really know anything about anything but you know what I’m now a 23
anything but you know what I’m now a 23
anything but you know what I’m now a 23 year old kids and I still don’t really
year old kids and I still don’t really
year old kids and I still don’t really know anything about anything you see
know anything about anything you see
know anything about anything you see what they and a few other different
what they and a few other different
what they and a few other different startup projects taught me was that you
startup projects taught me was that you
startup projects taught me was that you don’t always need to be an expert I
don’t always need to be an expert I
don’t always need to be an expert I wouldn’t do if you are familiar with
wouldn’t do if you are familiar with
wouldn’t do if you are familiar with something called the game show host
something called the game show host
something called the game show host problem you are on a game show and
problem you are on a game show and
problem you are on a game show and you’re faced with three doors behind one
you’re faced with three doors behind one
you’re faced with three doors behind one of the doors there is a car behind the
of the doors there is a car behind the
of the doors there is a car behind the other two lies a goat now it goes
other two lies a goat now it goes
other two lies a goat now it goes without saying you want to win the car
without saying you want to win the car
without saying you want to win the car and you’ve got a one in three chance of
and you’ve got a one in three chance of
and you’ve got a one in three chance of doing so let’s say you select door one
doing so let’s say you select door one
doing so let’s say you select door one now the game show host who knows what is
now the game show host who knows what is
now the game show host who knows what is behind each of the doors then opens for
behind each of the doors then opens for
behind each of the doors then opens for you door 3 and shows you a goat he then
you door 3 and shows you a goat he then
you door 3 and shows you a goat he then asks if you’d like to stick with your
asks if you’d like to stick with your
asks if you’d like to stick with your original choice or whether you would
original choice or whether you would
original choice or whether you would like to switch to door 2 and now you’ve
like to switch to door 2 and now you’ve
like to switch to door 2 and now you’ve got a problem you’ve got a decision to
got a problem you’ve got a decision to
got a problem you’ve got a decision to make to maximise your chair
make to maximise your chair
make to maximise your chair of winning this car do you stick or do
of winning this car do you stick or do
of winning this car do you stick or do you switch usually this problem is used
you switch usually this problem is used
you switch usually this problem is used to illustrate a concept in mathematics
to illustrate a concept in mathematics
to illustrate a concept in mathematics called variable change but what I ask is
called variable change but what I ask is
called variable change but what I ask is that you consider it as a metaphor let’s
that you consider it as a metaphor let’s
that you consider it as a metaphor let’s say that it is a project your
say that it is a project your
say that it is a project your organization is working on the door
organization is working on the door
organization is working on the door represents an opportunity that you could
represents an opportunity that you could
represents an opportunity that you could take a conversation you could seek out a
take a conversation you could seek out a
take a conversation you could seek out a meeting you could arrange something that
meeting you could arrange something that
meeting you could arrange something that you could ask for the car is your prize
you could ask for the car is your prize
you could ask for the car is your prize so that represents a breakthrough on
so that represents a breakthrough on
so that represents a breakthrough on your project maybe that’s a new customer
your project maybe that’s a new customer
your project maybe that’s a new customer or a contact that is key to getting you
or a contact that is key to getting you
or a contact that is key to getting you off the ground
off the ground
off the ground finally the goat that’s just a dead end
finally the goat that’s just a dead end
finally the goat that’s just a dead end that is you going nowhere now the world
that is you going nowhere now the world
that is you going nowhere now the world tells us we need expertise that we
tells us we need expertise that we
tells us we need expertise that we should hire consultants and write
should hire consultants and write
should hire consultants and write reports on the different options and
reports on the different options and
reports on the different options and then use expertise to select a door in
then use expertise to select a door in
then use expertise to select a door in this problem a statistician would say it
this problem a statistician would say it
this problem a statistician would say it is best to switch and go for door two to
is best to switch and go for door two to
is best to switch and go for door two to account for variable change these
account for variable change these
account for variable change these changing circumstances and for reasons I
changing circumstances and for reasons I
changing circumstances and for reasons I don’t quite understand mathematically
don’t quite understand mathematically
don’t quite understand mathematically door two is your best chance but it
door two is your best chance but it
door two is your best chance but it still comes down to chance and
still comes down to chance and
still comes down to chance and personally I have never been a fan of
personally I have never been a fan of
personally I have never been a fan of leaving things to chance now this is
leaving things to chance now this is
leaving things to chance now this is where we need to leave the game show
where we need to leave the game show
where we need to leave the game show host analogy behind because it gives us
host analogy behind because it gives us
host analogy behind because it gives us the flexibility to cheat just a little
the flexibility to cheat just a little
the flexibility to cheat just a little bit you see the only way you can
bit you see the only way you can
bit you see the only way you can guarantee winning the car getting your
guarantee winning the car getting your
guarantee winning the car getting your prize getting that key contact or a
prize getting that key contact or a
prize getting that key contact or a platform to promote your startup the
platform to promote your startup the
platform to promote your startup the only way you can guarantee it is if you
only way you can guarantee it is if you
only way you can guarantee it is if you open every single door when I’m
open every single door when I’m
open every single door when I’m recruiting people to work with
recruiting people to work with
recruiting people to work with I always value attitude over experience
I always value attitude over experience
I always value attitude over experience every single time you might ask why
every single time you might ask why
every single time you might ask why knowledge and expertise they can be tall
knowledge and expertise they can be tall
knowledge and expertise they can be tall you can learn them you can pick them off
you can learn them you can pick them off
you can learn them you can pick them off over time passion and drive and
over time passion and drive and
over time passion and drive and dedication and persistence they can’t as
dedication and persistence they can’t as
dedication and persistence they can’t as easily be taught if they can be taught
easily be taught if they can be taught
easily be taught if they can be taught at all expertise will only
at all expertise will only
at all expertise will only you so far passion dedication and
you so far passion dedication and
you so far passion dedication and persistence they have no limits the only
persistence they have no limits the only
persistence they have no limits the only way you can guarantee winning your car
way you can guarantee winning your car
way you can guarantee winning your car getting your prizes if you and your team
getting your prizes if you and your team
getting your prizes if you and your team rip open every single door and that
rip open every single door and that
rip open every single door and that means you’re gonna need to talk you’re
means you’re gonna need to talk you’re
means you’re gonna need to talk you’re gonna need to talk to anyone and
gonna need to talk to anyone and
gonna need to talk to anyone and everyone that you meet about your idea
everyone that you meet about your idea
everyone that you meet about your idea you’re gonna need to send as many emails
you’re gonna need to send as many emails
you’re gonna need to send as many emails as you can think to send as many
as you can think to send as many
as you can think to send as many facebook posts as you can post take as
facebook posts as you can post take as
facebook posts as you can post take as many opportunities to ask for something
many opportunities to ask for something
many opportunities to ask for something if they are there take every opportunity
if they are there take every opportunity
if they are there take every opportunity because every conversation that you have
because every conversation that you have
because every conversation that you have every email that you send is opening for
every email that you send is opening for
every email that you send is opening for you a new door and you know you will go
you a new door and you know you will go
you a new door and you know you will go out and you’ll do it and your push as
out and you’ll do it and your push as
out and you’ll do it and your push as hard as you can into every conversation
hard as you can into every conversation
hard as you can into every conversation that you have and most of the time
that you have and most of the time
that you have and most of the time people will smile and they’ll nod and
people will smile and they’ll nod and
people will smile and they’ll nod and nothing more will come of it
nothing more will come of it
nothing more will come of it but every now and then you will have a
but every now and then you will have a
but every now and then you will have a conversation that goes that little bit
conversation that goes that little bit
conversation that goes that little bit further when I first started cats I
further when I first started cats I
further when I first started cats I would subconsciously bring it into every
would subconsciously bring it into every
would subconsciously bring it into every conversation that I had and my friends
conversation that I had and my friends
conversation that I had and my friends and those around me got very bored of
and those around me got very bored of
and those around me got very bored of this very quickly they were quite sick
this very quickly they were quite sick
this very quickly they were quite sick of me mentioning it and I would notice
of me mentioning it and I would notice
of me mentioning it and I would notice when I talk to new people and I’d meet
when I talk to new people and I’d meet
when I talk to new people and I’d meet new people the second I would bring the
new people the second I would bring the
new people the second I would bring the word cats into the conversation I would
word cats into the conversation I would
word cats into the conversation I would hear the groans of my friends around me
hear the groans of my friends around me
hear the groans of my friends around me because they’d heard the same thing a
because they’d heard the same thing a
because they’d heard the same thing a thousand times before but the longer
thousand times before but the longer
thousand times before but the longer that I just went along with this the
that I just went along with this the
that I just went along with this the more I started to have conversations
more I started to have conversations
more I started to have conversations which would go that bit further sure
which would go that bit further sure
which would go that bit further sure most of the time people would smile and
most of the time people would smile and
most of the time people would smile and they’d nod but then they’d kind of
they’d nod but then they’d kind of
they’d nod but then they’d kind of politely changed the conversation but
politely changed the conversation but
politely changed the conversation but every now and then I would have a
every now and then I would have a
every now and then I would have a conversation where someone would offer
conversation where someone would offer
conversation where someone would offer as a service offer as some free
as a service offer as some free
as a service offer as some free advertising maybe even offers some money
advertising maybe even offers some money
advertising maybe even offers some money and if any of you have been involved in
and if any of you have been involved in
and if any of you have been involved in the charity startup world you will know
the charity startup world you will know
the charity startup world you will know until you are established money is very
until you are established money is very
until you are established money is very hard to come by
hard to come by
hard to come by as a young naive 20 year old kid who
as a young naive 20 year old kid who
as a young naive 20 year old kid who didn’t really know anything about
didn’t really know anything about
didn’t really know anything about anything I quickly learned that the more
anything I quickly learned that the more
anything I quickly learned that the more things I
things I
things I asked for the more conversations I had
asked for the more conversations I had
asked for the more conversations I had the more that I got whether it was
the more that I got whether it was
the more that I got whether it was someone offering to do with some free
someone offering to do with some free
someone offering to do with some free design work so on offering promotion on
design work so on offering promotion on
design work so on offering promotion on their radio show or someone who knew
their radio show or someone who knew
their radio show or someone who knew someone who would donate money the more
someone who would donate money the more
someone who would donate money the more conversations I had the more that we got
conversations I had the more that we got
conversations I had the more that we got if you look at some of the biggest NGOs
if you look at some of the biggest NGOs
if you look at some of the biggest NGOs or businesses that are around today
or businesses that are around today
or businesses that are around today they’ve not been started by experts
they’ve not been started by experts
they’ve not been started by experts they’ve been started by dreamers and the
they’ve been started by dreamers and the
they’ve been started by dreamers and the two are very different and this is where
two are very different and this is where
two are very different and this is where my golden rule came from through working
my golden rule came from through working
my golden rule came from through working on a few different projects through
on a few different projects through
on a few different projects through getting them off the ground reading
getting them off the ground reading
getting them off the ground reading stories of others who’d done the same
stories of others who’d done the same
stories of others who’d done the same and looking at the greatest social
and looking at the greatest social
and looking at the greatest social entrepreneurs I discovered this one very
entrepreneurs I discovered this one very
entrepreneurs I discovered this one very simple rule you don’t need to be an
simple rule you don’t need to be an
simple rule you don’t need to be an expert just be a door knocker that means
expert just be a door knocker that means
expert just be a door knocker that means take every opportunity to speak and
take every opportunity to speak and
take every opportunity to speak and share and write on blog and meet with
share and write on blog and meet with
share and write on blog and meet with and discuss and advertise and promote
and discuss and advertise and promote
and discuss and advertise and promote every opportunity no matter how big or
every opportunity no matter how big or
every opportunity no matter how big or small the figure that I work on is
small the figure that I work on is
small the figure that I work on is ninety nine to one for every hundred
ninety nine to one for every hundred
ninety nine to one for every hundred conversations you have about your idea
conversations you have about your idea
conversations you have about your idea every hundred emails you send looking
every hundred emails you send looking
every hundred emails you send looking for that break 99 of them will
for that break 99 of them will
for that break 99 of them will chromophores goats and dead ends but as
chromophores goats and dead ends but as
chromophores goats and dead ends but as Churchill once said success is going
Churchill once said success is going
Churchill once said success is going from one failure to another with no loss
from one failure to another with no loss
from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm you see you may knock on a
of enthusiasm you see you may knock on a
of enthusiasm you see you may knock on a hundred doors and you may get 99 goats
hundred doors and you may get 99 goats
hundred doors and you may get 99 goats and 99 dead ends and that will be
and 99 dead ends and that will be
and 99 dead ends and that will be frustrating trust me I have been there
frustrating trust me I have been there
frustrating trust me I have been there it is very hard but you will also get
it is very hard but you will also get
it is very hard but you will also get that one conversation that one meeting
that one conversation that one meeting
that one conversation that one meeting that leads to where you need to be and
that leads to where you need to be and
that leads to where you need to be and trust me you will never know you will
trust me you will never know you will
trust me you will never know you will never know whether the one in a hundred
never know whether the one in a hundred
never know whether the one in a hundred will be your brother’s wife’s cousin
will be your brother’s wife’s cousin
will be your brother’s wife’s cousin that you meet by chance at a wedding or
that you meet by chance at a wedding or
that you meet by chance at a wedding or the CEO who you’ve already sent four
the CEO who you’ve already sent four
the CEO who you’ve already sent four emails to with no response you will
emails to with no response you will
emails to with no response you will never know the ones the whole cars
never know the ones the whole cars
never know the ones the whole cars behind their conversations are
behind their conversations are
behind their conversations are opposed to goats and your only option is
opposed to goats and your only option is
opposed to goats and your only option is to speak to every single one passion
to speak to every single one passion
to speak to every single one passion dedication and persistence they have no
dedication and persistence they have no
dedication and persistence they have no limits I said that I would tell you
limits I said that I would tell you
limits I said that I would tell you three things about me but I only
three things about me but I only
three things about me but I only actually told you two I told you that I
actually told you two I told you that I
actually told you two I told you that I was a dreamer I dream of being able to
was a dreamer I dream of being able to
was a dreamer I dream of being able to make a difference and I also told you
make a difference and I also told you
make a difference and I also told you I’m not an expert I’ve made more than my
I’m not an expert I’ve made more than my
I’m not an expert I’ve made more than my fair share of mistakes but the third
fair share of mistakes but the third
fair share of mistakes but the third thing that I didn’t tell you was that I
thing that I didn’t tell you was that I
thing that I didn’t tell you was that I get scared scared of falling flat on my
get scared scared of falling flat on my
get scared scared of falling flat on my face scared of telling people about my
face scared of telling people about my
face scared of telling people about my ideas and then being humiliated as they
ideas and then being humiliated as they
ideas and then being humiliated as they go nowhere scared of running an event
go nowhere scared of running an event
go nowhere scared of running an event that no one will come to you scared that
that no one will come to you scared that
that no one will come to you scared that my ideas or maybe even I won’t make a
my ideas or maybe even I won’t make a
my ideas or maybe even I won’t make a difference and again as I scan the room
difference and again as I scan the room
difference and again as I scan the room I suspect I am not alone not alone in
I suspect I am not alone not alone in
I suspect I am not alone not alone in having dreams not alone in wanting to
having dreams not alone in wanting to
having dreams not alone in wanting to see them happen but also not alone of
see them happen but also not alone of
see them happen but also not alone of being scared of falling flat on my face
being scared of falling flat on my face
being scared of falling flat on my face I think what we need to decide today is
I think what we need to decide today is
I think what we need to decide today is whether our dreams are more important
whether our dreams are more important
whether our dreams are more important than our fears entrepreneurial Sharad
than our fears entrepreneurial Sharad
than our fears entrepreneurial Sharad Sagar once said some people believe in
Sagar once said some people believe in
Sagar once said some people believe in telling stories
telling stories
telling stories some people believe in doing the things
some people believe in doing the things
some people believe in doing the things about which stories will be told in
about which stories will be told in
about which stories will be told in times to come some people believe in
times to come some people believe in
times to come some people believe in telling stories
telling stories
telling stories some people believe in doing the things
some people believe in doing the things
some people believe in doing the things about which stories will be told in
about which stories will be told in
about which stories will be told in times to come which are you and if you
times to come which are you and if you
times to come which are you and if you are the latter let me assure you you do
are the latter let me assure you you do
are the latter let me assure you you do not need to be an expert if you want to
not need to be an expert if you want to
not need to be an expert if you want to kick-start your dreams the single most
kick-start your dreams the single most
kick-start your dreams the single most important thing is to share your idea
important thing is to share your idea
important thing is to share your idea speak to anyone and everyone that you
speak to anyone and everyone that you
speak to anyone and everyone that you can
can
can as many emails as you can if an
as many emails as you can if an
as many emails as you can if an opportunity is there to ask for
opportunity is there to ask for
opportunity is there to ask for something asked for it you may get two
something asked for it you may get two
something asked for it you may get two goats before you get your car or you may
goats before you get your car or you may
goats before you get your car or you may get 99 goats before you get your car but
get 99 goats before you get your car but
get 99 goats before you get your car but it does not matter if you fall flat on
it does not matter if you fall flat on
it does not matter if you fall flat on your face
your face
your face 99 times knocking on 99 doors because
99 times knocking on 99 doors because
99 times knocking on 99 doors because you will just need one passion
you will just need one passion
you will just need one passion dedication and persistence
dedication and persistence
dedication and persistence they have no limits thank you
they have no limits thank you
they have no limits thank you [Applause]
”
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