[Applause] ever since I was a kid I knew exactly
ever since I was a kid I knew exactly
ever since I was a kid I knew exactly what it is I wanted to do not exactly
what it is I wanted to do not exactly
what it is I wanted to do not exactly what job I wanted to do but what it is I
what job I wanted to do but what it is I
what job I wanted to do but what it is I wanted to do I wanted to find someway
wanted to do I wanted to find someway
wanted to do I wanted to find someway somehow that I would get to make a
somehow that I would get to make a
somehow that I would get to make a change get to make a difference in the
change get to make a difference in the
change get to make a difference in the world because the people that I looked
world because the people that I looked
world because the people that I looked up to did that and that’s what I wanted
up to did that and that’s what I wanted
up to did that and that’s what I wanted to do and as I’m standing here today I
to do and as I’m standing here today I
to do and as I’m standing here today I can tell you I really feel like I do
can tell you I really feel like I do
can tell you I really feel like I do that on the daily basis I feel like I’m
that on the daily basis I feel like I’m
that on the daily basis I feel like I’m making a change in the communities I
making a change in the communities I
making a change in the communities I work with and it’s thanks to Paris
work with and it’s thanks to Paris
work with and it’s thanks to Paris Hilton and it’s not because she taught
Hilton and it’s not because she taught
Hilton and it’s not because she taught me how to be a hotel heiress which is
me how to be a hotel heiress which is
me how to be a hotel heiress which is something I would still love to do if
something I would still love to do if
something I would still love to do if anyone’s adopting but it’s because she
anyone’s adopting but it’s because she
anyone’s adopting but it’s because she helped me realize that if I want to
helped me realize that if I want to
helped me realize that if I want to pursue my dream and I want to make a
pursue my dream and I want to make a
pursue my dream and I want to make a change in the world that change doesn’t
change in the world that change doesn’t
change in the world that change doesn’t come easy and I had to be willing to
come easy and I had to be willing to
come easy and I had to be willing to make a sacrifice I had to be willing to
make a sacrifice I had to be willing to
make a sacrifice I had to be willing to sacrifice a lot you see I knew that I
sacrifice a lot you see I knew that I
sacrifice a lot you see I knew that I was going to do something to make a
was going to do something to make a
was going to do something to make a change in the world but I didn’t know
change in the world but I didn’t know
change in the world but I didn’t know how I was gonna do I didn’t know what
how I was gonna do I didn’t know what
how I was gonna do I didn’t know what the vehicle was so as a kid I thought
the vehicle was so as a kid I thought
the vehicle was so as a kid I thought I’m gonna become a Teenage Mutant Ninja
I’m gonna become a Teenage Mutant Ninja
I’m gonna become a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle because those guys are awesome
Turtle because those guys are awesome
Turtle because those guys are awesome and they definitely make a difference in
and they definitely make a difference in
and they definitely make a difference in the community some logistical issues
the community some logistical issues
the community some logistical issues didn’t totally work out so I thought
didn’t totally work out so I thought
didn’t totally work out so I thought maybe I’ll become a firefighter an
maybe I’ll become a firefighter an
maybe I’ll become a firefighter an astronaut a cop I I kept going through
astronaut a cop I I kept going through
astronaut a cop I I kept going through and then one day it hit me see every day
and then one day it hit me see every day
and then one day it hit me see every day after school I would come home and I sit
after school I would come home and I sit
after school I would come home and I sit down I’d do my homework and I’d watched
down I’d do my homework and I’d watched
down I’d do my homework and I’d watched the Nightly News with Tom Brokaw with my
the Nightly News with Tom Brokaw with my
the Nightly News with Tom Brokaw with my mom and for those of you who are too
mom and for those of you who are too
mom and for those of you who are too young to know who Tom Brokaw is Tom is
young to know who Tom Brokaw is Tom is
young to know who Tom Brokaw is Tom is uh tom was more than a news anchor
uh tom was more than a news anchor
uh tom was more than a news anchor really he he really helped craft the
really he he really helped craft the
really he he really helped craft the conversation that we had it dinner
conversation that we had it dinner
conversation that we had it dinner tables around the country every single
tables around the country every single
tables around the country every single night he gave a voice to the voiceless
night he gave a voice to the voiceless
night he gave a voice to the voiceless he would tell the most important stories
he would tell the most important stories
he would tell the most important stories of the day and through his work he was
of the day and through his work he was
of the day and through his work he was more than an anchor he was helping to
more than an anchor he was helping to
more than an anchor he was helping to change our communities our country
change our communities our country
change our communities our country that’s what I wanted to do I wanted to
that’s what I wanted to do I wanted to
that’s what I wanted to do I wanted to become a news anchor I wanted to be the
become a news anchor I wanted to be the
become a news anchor I wanted to be the next Tom Brokaw so I went to college to
next Tom Brokaw so I went to college to
next Tom Brokaw so I went to college to get into
get into
get into lism and between my sophomore and my
lism and between my sophomore and my
lism and between my sophomore and my junior year of college I took not one
junior year of college I took not one
junior year of college I took not one but two college internships in that
but two college internships in that
but two college internships in that summer now I couldn’t afford not to work
summer now I couldn’t afford not to work
summer now I couldn’t afford not to work so I actually had to take out student
so I actually had to take out student
so I actually had to take out student loans and go into debt in order to do
loans and go into debt in order to do
loans and go into debt in order to do these two internships working for news
these two internships working for news
these two internships working for news stations and I worked hard I worked as
stations and I worked hard I worked as
stations and I worked hard I worked as hard if not harder than anyone else and
hard if not harder than anyone else and
hard if not harder than anyone else and in fact at the end of that summer one of
in fact at the end of that summer one of
in fact at the end of that summer one of my news directors came up to me and said
my news directors came up to me and said
my news directors came up to me and said Adam you graduated in college at the end
Adam you graduated in college at the end
Adam you graduated in college at the end of the year and I said yeah yeah of
of the year and I said yeah yeah of
of the year and I said yeah yeah of course I am now I was going into my
course I am now I was going into my
course I am now I was going into my junior year of college not my senior
junior year of college not my senior
junior year of college not my senior year but I wasn’t gonna tell him that
year but I wasn’t gonna tell him that
year but I wasn’t gonna tell him that so like ya know I’m definitely
so like ya know I’m definitely
so like ya know I’m definitely definitely graduating college he’s like
definitely graduating college he’s like
definitely graduating college he’s like that’s great because we have a job
that’s great because we have a job
that’s great because we have a job opening at the beginning of next year
opening at the beginning of next year
opening at the beginning of next year and I think he’d be great for it to be a
and I think he’d be great for it to be a
and I think he’d be great for it to be a reporter I was like awesome I’m in so I
reporter I was like awesome I’m in so I
reporter I was like awesome I’m in so I went back to school and took two years
went back to school and took two years
went back to school and took two years worth of classes in my last year of
worth of classes in my last year of
worth of classes in my last year of school just so I could graduate and get
school just so I could graduate and get
school just so I could graduate and get this job and it worked out I did I got
this job and it worked out I did I got
this job and it worked out I did I got the job it was awesome most
the job it was awesome most
the job it was awesome most twenty-years-old working for a network
twenty-years-old working for a network
twenty-years-old working for a network television station from there I got a
television station from there I got a
television station from there I got a job in Florida as a reporter and a news
job in Florida as a reporter and a news
job in Florida as a reporter and a news anchor and then I got to come back to
anchor and then I got to come back to
anchor and then I got to come back to California my career was really taken
California my career was really taken
California my career was really taken off it was going extremely well better
off it was going extremely well better
off it was going extremely well better than I could have imagined but it wasn’t
than I could have imagined but it wasn’t
than I could have imagined but it wasn’t giving me that sense of completeness I
giving me that sense of completeness I
giving me that sense of completeness I wasn’t doing what I thought I wanted to
wasn’t doing what I thought I wanted to
wasn’t doing what I thought I wanted to do and I couldn’t quite figure it out
do and I couldn’t quite figure it out
do and I couldn’t quite figure it out until one day one day I was covering a
until one day one day I was covering a
until one day one day I was covering a murder and dead body there’s a murderer
murder and dead body there’s a murderer
murder and dead body there’s a murderer on the loose lead story at the six
on the loose lead story at the six
on the loose lead story at the six o’clock news we’re live there’s a
o’clock news we’re live there’s a
o’clock news we’re live there’s a murderer on the loose in our community
murderer on the loose in our community
murderer on the loose in our community it’s kind of a big deal somebody just
it’s kind of a big deal somebody just
it’s kind of a big deal somebody just killed someone they’re out in the
killed someone they’re out in the
killed someone they’re out in the community supposed to be the lead story
community supposed to be the lead story
community supposed to be the lead story at the 11 o’clock news cuz again this
at the 11 o’clock news cuz again this
at the 11 o’clock news cuz again this murderer is still out in our community
murderer is still out in our community
murderer is still out in our community but I get a call from my my producers as
but I get a call from my my producers as
but I get a call from my my producers as Adam I said yeah he says hey you’re not
Adam I said yeah he says hey you’re not
Adam I said yeah he says hey you’re not gonna be the lead story at 11 o’clock we
gonna be the lead story at 11 o’clock we
gonna be the lead story at 11 o’clock we have a live shot we have to take from
have a live shot we have to take from
have a live shot we have to take from Los Angeles Paris Hilton is getting
Los Angeles Paris Hilton is getting
Los Angeles Paris Hilton is getting released early from jail for her DUI and
released early from jail for her DUI and
released early from jail for her DUI and we got to go to LA what it hit me yeah I
we got to go to LA what it hit me yeah I
we got to go to LA what it hit me yeah I was doing the job I wanted to do but I
was doing the job I wanted to do but I
was doing the job I wanted to do but I wasn’t doing what I wanted to do I
wasn’t doing what I wanted to do I
wasn’t doing what I wanted to do I wasn’t making the change in the world I
wasn’t making the change in the world I
wasn’t making the change in the world I wanted to make and so at 23 years old I
wanted to make and so at 23 years old I
wanted to make and so at 23 years old I gave up for me what was everything
gave up for me what was everything
gave up for me what was everything I knew right then that I had to quit
I knew right then that I had to quit
I knew right then that I had to quit doing what I was doing if I wanted to
doing what I was doing if I wanted to
doing what I was doing if I wanted to make a change so I went in I put in my
make a change so I went in I put in my
make a change so I went in I put in my notice I moved back in with my mom and I
notice I moved back in with my mom and I
notice I moved back in with my mom and I regrouped and I said I still want to
regrouped and I said I still want to
regrouped and I said I still want to tell the right stories I still want to
tell the right stories I still want to
tell the right stories I still want to do something to make a difference so I
do something to make a difference so I
do something to make a difference so I came up with an idea for a documentary
came up with an idea for a documentary
came up with an idea for a documentary film and I actually was able to get
film and I actually was able to get
film and I actually was able to get major corporate sponsorship to do it and
major corporate sponsorship to do it and
major corporate sponsorship to do it and for six weeks I traveled the country
for six weeks I traveled the country
for six weeks I traveled the country with a cameraman we didn’t have a map we
with a cameraman we didn’t have a map we
with a cameraman we didn’t have a map we just were traveling and what we wanted
just were traveling and what we wanted
just were traveling and what we wanted to do was find a real American story see
to do was find a real American story see
to do was find a real American story see in 2007 much like in 2017 we were being
in 2007 much like in 2017 we were being
in 2007 much like in 2017 we were being told by the media on how divided this
told by the media on how divided this
told by the media on how divided this country was the left and the right but
country was the left and the right but
country was the left and the right but we weren’t being told were the story’s
we weren’t being told were the story’s
we weren’t being told were the story’s not about what divided us but what
not about what divided us but what
not about what divided us but what United us and I wanted to tell that
United us and I wanted to tell that
United us and I wanted to tell that story and so traveled the whole country
story and so traveled the whole country
story and so traveled the whole country and I spoke to everyone from a mom who
and I spoke to everyone from a mom who
and I spoke to everyone from a mom who worked at Walmart in Twin Falls Idaho to
worked at Walmart in Twin Falls Idaho to
worked at Walmart in Twin Falls Idaho to Curt Schilling who is the starting
Curt Schilling who is the starting
Curt Schilling who is the starting pitcher for the Boston Red Sox I spoke
pitcher for the Boston Red Sox I spoke
pitcher for the Boston Red Sox I spoke to people of every different race
to people of every different race
to people of every different race ethnicity political background because
ethnicity political background because
ethnicity political background because what I could find was that there was a
what I could find was that there was a
what I could find was that there was a story that actually United us not
story that actually United us not
story that actually United us not divided us and that’s what I wanted to
divided us and that’s what I wanted to
divided us and that’s what I wanted to do and it was there the first time that
do and it was there the first time that
do and it was there the first time that I started to feel like I am making my
I started to feel like I am making my
I started to feel like I am making my difference I’m heading down my pathway
difference I’m heading down my pathway
difference I’m heading down my pathway after I did the film I started my own
after I did the film I started my own
after I did the film I started my own company doing some video and tech work
company doing some video and tech work
company doing some video and tech work and well that doesn’t seem like it
and well that doesn’t seem like it
and well that doesn’t seem like it helped me down my pathway it ended up
helped me down my pathway it ended up
helped me down my pathway it ended up being a perfect transition down the
being a perfect transition down the
being a perfect transition down the pathway because it gave me an
pathway because it gave me an
pathway because it gave me an entrepreneurial experience and this
entrepreneurial experience and this
entrepreneurial experience and this entrepreneurial experience worked out
entrepreneurial experience worked out
entrepreneurial experience worked out really well for me and what I did next
really well for me and what I did next
really well for me and what I did next what I did next was moved to Las Vegas
what I did next was moved to Las Vegas
what I did next was moved to Las Vegas during the middle of the recession which
during the middle of the recession which
during the middle of the recession which is a great idea and everyone should do
is a great idea and everyone should do
is a great idea and everyone should do it but move to Las Vegas and started
it but move to Las Vegas and started
it but move to Las Vegas and started working for the Las Vegas Chamber of
working for the Las Vegas Chamber of
working for the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce and I actually got to create a
Commerce and I actually got to create a
Commerce and I actually got to create a brand new job there was called the
brand new job there was called the
brand new job there was called the Director of entrepreneurship because in
Director of entrepreneurship because in
Director of entrepreneurship because in the middle of the recession Las Vegas
the middle of the recession Las Vegas
the middle of the recession Las Vegas like Reno like Nevada like much of the
like Reno like Nevada like much of the
like Reno like Nevada like much of the country was looking for ways to
country was looking for ways to
country was looking for ways to diversify looking for ways to grow and
diversify looking for ways to grow and
diversify looking for ways to grow and there was a vision that we could work
there was a vision that we could work
there was a vision that we could work and help incubate startups and help
and help incubate startups and help
and help incubate startups and help bring together people and change our
bring together people and change our
bring together people and change our community what a perfect job
community what a perfect job
community what a perfect job and the timing couldn’t have been better
and the timing couldn’t have been better
and the timing couldn’t have been better because right after I started Tony Hsieh
because right after I started Tony Hsieh
because right after I started Tony Hsieh had just announced his 350 million
had just announced his 350 million
had just announced his 350 million dollar investment into downtown Las
dollar investment into downtown Las
dollar investment into downtown Las Vegas to invest in the startups to
Vegas to invest in the startups to
Vegas to invest in the startups to invest into the community and across
invest into the community and across
invest into the community and across town there was another guy named Rob Roy
town there was another guy named Rob Roy
town there was another guy named Rob Roy and Robbie
and Robbie
and Robbie it is his brilliant technology futurist
it is his brilliant technology futurist
it is his brilliant technology futurist who sees the world differently and he in
who sees the world differently and he in
who sees the world differently and he in Las Vegas built the largest technology
Las Vegas built the largest technology
Las Vegas built the largest technology ecosystem in the world and the same
ecosystem in the world and the same
ecosystem in the world and the same ideas and ingenuity and futurism that
ideas and ingenuity and futurism that
ideas and ingenuity and futurism that helped drive him to do that drove him to
helped drive him to do that drove him to
helped drive him to do that drove him to help think differently about our
help think differently about our
help think differently about our community and he built this place called
community and he built this place called
community and he built this place called the Innovation Center a place where
the Innovation Center a place where
the Innovation Center a place where startups and nonprofits and community
startups and nonprofits and community
startups and nonprofits and community organizers could get together and they
organizers could get together and they
organizers could get together and they could work on helping to move our
could work on helping to move our
could work on helping to move our community forward and because I was
community forward and because I was
community forward and because I was working at a nonprofit that was working
working at a nonprofit that was working
working at a nonprofit that was working on this I got to work out of that office
on this I got to work out of that office
on this I got to work out of that office and through that I got to be part of
and through that I got to be part of
and through that I got to be part of this ecosystem and helping connect these
this ecosystem and helping connect these
this ecosystem and helping connect these startups to some key government players
startups to some key government players
startups to some key government players and key stakeholders so they could grow
and key stakeholders so they could grow
and key stakeholders so they could grow so they can employ more people help
so they can employ more people help
so they can employ more people help bring new companies into our community
bring new companies into our community
bring new companies into our community so they could take advantage of all that
so they could take advantage of all that
so they could take advantage of all that was good with what was happening in Las
was good with what was happening in Las
was good with what was happening in Las Vegas with what was happening in Nevada
Vegas with what was happening in Nevada
Vegas with what was happening in Nevada part of my job also included putting on
part of my job also included putting on
part of my job also included putting on events and one of the events I put on
events and one of the events I put on
events and one of the events I put on was called Startup Weekend and it’s an
was called Startup Weekend and it’s an
was called Startup Weekend and it’s an incredible event people from around the
incredible event people from around the
incredible event people from around the community come in with an idea on a
community come in with an idea on a
community come in with an idea on a Friday night and leave with a business
Friday night and leave with a business
Friday night and leave with a business on a Sunday just a whirlwind of an event
on a Sunday just a whirlwind of an event
on a Sunday just a whirlwind of an event and I got to facilitate those events at
and I got to facilitate those events at
and I got to facilitate those events at the end of one of those events on a
the end of one of those events on a
the end of one of those events on a Sunday night I’m completely exhausted 54
Sunday night I’m completely exhausted 54
Sunday night I’m completely exhausted 54 hours of basically non-stop working on
hours of basically non-stop working on
hours of basically non-stop working on keeping this event going Rob actually
keeping this event going Rob actually
keeping this event going Rob actually was in the audience and was sitting in
was in the audience and was sitting in
was in the audience and was sitting in the back and he came up to me he says
the back and he came up to me he says
the back and he came up to me he says kind of jokingly do you work for me yet
kind of jokingly do you work for me yet
kind of jokingly do you work for me yet and I said no but but I’d love to you
and I said no but but I’d love to you
and I said no but but I’d love to you see what’s interesting about Switch is
see what’s interesting about Switch is
see what’s interesting about Switch is is it the logo for our companies the
is it the logo for our companies the
is it the logo for our companies the caramel wheel you put good energy in the
caramel wheel you put good energy in the
caramel wheel you put good energy in the world and good energy comes back and so
world and good energy comes back and so
world and good energy comes back and so I couldn’t have thought of a better fit
I couldn’t have thought of a better fit
I couldn’t have thought of a better fit for me somebody who wanted to do
for me somebody who wanted to do
for me somebody who wanted to do something that would be able to change
something that would be able to change
something that would be able to change the world to align with a company that
the world to align with a company that
the world to align with a company that actually had that vision and what was so
actually had that vision and what was so
actually had that vision and what was so neat about it is the first job I got to
neat about it is the first job I got to
neat about it is the first job I got to do there at switch was actually to help
do there at switch was actually to help
do there at switch was actually to help run the Innovation Centers from there
run the Innovation Centers from there
run the Innovation Centers from there and
and
and driven by this philosophy of doing the
driven by this philosophy of doing the
driven by this philosophy of doing the right thing and trying to make the
right thing and trying to make the
right thing and trying to make the change that I’ve been yearning to do
change that I’ve been yearning to do
change that I’ve been yearning to do since I was a kid I’ve got to do so many
since I was a kid I’ve got to do so many
since I was a kid I’ve got to do so many incredible things I got to work in
incredible things I got to work in
incredible things I got to work in communities literally around the world
communities literally around the world
communities literally around the world and put billions of dollars of economic
and put billions of dollars of economic
and put billions of dollars of economic investment create thousands of jobs I’ve
investment create thousands of jobs I’ve
investment create thousands of jobs I’ve got to work on sustainability
got to work on sustainability
got to work on sustainability initiatives that are now being
initiatives that are now being
initiatives that are now being recognized globally in fact just this
recognized globally in fact just this
recognized globally in fact just this year
year
year Greenpeace rated Internet companies from
Greenpeace rated Internet companies from
Greenpeace rated Internet companies from around the world on their sustainability
around the world on their sustainability
around the world on their sustainability initiatives and you know the only
initiatives and you know the only
initiatives and you know the only company in the world to get all A’s and
company in the world to get all A’s and
company in the world to get all A’s and a hundred percent switch and I get
a hundred percent switch and I get
a hundred percent switch and I get thanked
my pathway to making a change was far
my pathway to making a change was far from linear but the only way that I
from linear but the only way that I
from linear but the only way that I ended up here was because I was willing
ended up here was because I was willing
ended up here was because I was willing to give up I was willing to make a
to give up I was willing to make a
to give up I was willing to make a sacrifice I was willing to give up what
sacrifice I was willing to give up what
sacrifice I was willing to give up what was for me everything and what I hope
was for me everything and what I hope
was for me everything and what I hope that for those of you who want to make a
that for those of you who want to make a
that for those of you who want to make a change in the world and who want to make
change in the world and who want to make
change in the world and who want to make a difference in your community the you
a difference in your community the you
a difference in your community the you to realized you have to make some
to realized you have to make some
to realized you have to make some sacrifice it doesn’t need to be as great
sacrifice it doesn’t need to be as great
sacrifice it doesn’t need to be as great as giving up your job and moving back in
as giving up your job and moving back in
as giving up your job and moving back in with your parents and I don’t recommend
with your parents and I don’t recommend
with your parents and I don’t recommend that but you have to make some sacrifice
that but you have to make some sacrifice
that but you have to make some sacrifice because that’s the responsibility we all
because that’s the responsibility we all
because that’s the responsibility we all have to make a change to make a
have to make a change to make a
have to make a change to make a difference in the world and I hope that
difference in the world and I hope that
difference in the world and I hope that one day you do that and then you can
one day you do that and then you can
one day you do that and then you can join me on the stage and saying thank
join me on the stage and saying thank
join me on the stage and saying thank you Paris Hilton
you Paris Hilton
you Paris Hilton thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
”
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