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The power of a Carlos moment | Jaap Bressers | TEDxSittardGeleen


today I would like to share my biggest

today I would like to share my biggest discovery in life and that is the power

discovery in life and that is the power

discovery in life and that is the power of a Carlos moment and as you will soon

of a Carlos moment and as you will soon

of a Carlos moment and as you will soon realize I like to do things differently

realize I like to do things differently

realize I like to do things differently even today my talk I have never done it

even today my talk I have never done it

even today my talk I have never done it in this order or way before yeah so for

in this order or way before yeah so for

in this order or way before yeah so for today let’s start with yeah are there

today let’s start with yeah are there

today let’s start with yeah are there any questions and thank you for

any questions and thank you for

any questions and thank you for listening now let’s kick it off with a

listening now let’s kick it off with a

listening now let’s kick it off with a question for you what’s the difference

question for you what’s the difference

question for you what’s the difference these are our highway signs and the

these are our highway signs and the

these are our highway signs and the Netherlands and Belgium oh and I live in

Netherlands and Belgium oh and I live in

Netherlands and Belgium oh and I live in best I moved there a year ago I moved to

best I moved there a year ago I moved to

best I moved there a year ago I moved to best and I must say since then my

best and I must say since then my

best and I must say since then my international career really took off

yeah if you type in Google best public

yeah if you type in Google best public speaker

last year also wrote a book that is sold

last year also wrote a book that is sold in my hometown say bestseller

well the difference the difference is

well the difference the difference is 44% less traffic jams 44% less traffic

44% less traffic jams 44% less traffic

44% less traffic jams 44% less traffic the old and a new highway signs through

the old and a new highway signs through

the old and a new highway signs through the arrows down 67 years ago when

the arrows down 67 years ago when

the arrows down 67 years ago when aiwei’s were first introduced in the

aiwei’s were first introduced in the

aiwei’s were first introduced in the Netherlands we more or less place them

Netherlands we more or less place them

Netherlands we more or less place them above our highways in this manner it

above our highways in this manner it

above our highways in this manner it worked until one university student

asked why just a simple why and he must

asked why just a simple why and he must have thought Who am I to change

have thought Who am I to change

have thought Who am I to change something this big Who am I to change

something this big Who am I to change

something this big Who am I to change something that we’ve been doing the same

something that we’ve been doing the same

something that we’ve been doing the same way for so many years but he persevered

way for so many years but he persevered

way for so many years but he persevered he tested it and near a highway near

he tested it and near a highway near

he tested it and near a highway near Antwerp Belgium he measured the biggest

Antwerp Belgium he measured the biggest

Antwerp Belgium he measured the biggest difference 44 percent less traffic jams

difference 44 percent less traffic jams

difference 44 percent less traffic jams and that made me wonder if something so

and that made me wonder if something so

and that made me wonder if something so small can have such a big effect what if

small can have such a big effect what if

small can have such a big effect what if we in our lives make a small change

we in our lives make a small change

we in our lives make a small change maybe even choose to make a small change

maybe even choose to make a small change

maybe even choose to make a small change because my life has always always been

because my life has always always been

because my life has always always been busy there was always the next big thing

busy there was always the next big thing

busy there was always the next big thing waiting out there before me and it’s

waiting out there before me and it’s

waiting out there before me and it’s always been this way always if I go back

always been this way always if I go back

always been this way always if I go back it started early on I was good with

it started early on I was good with

it started early on I was good with numbers so I went to the University

numbers so I went to the University

numbers so I went to the University study international business and if you

study international business and if you

study international business and if you want to accomplish something in life

want to accomplish something in life

want to accomplish something in life you have to work hard it doesn’t come

you have to work hard it doesn’t come

you have to work hard it doesn’t come for free you have to work hard so next

for free you have to work hard so next

for free you have to work hard so next to my university studies I had three

to my university studies I had three

to my university studies I had three part-time jobs good for another 30 hours

part-time jobs good for another 30 hours

part-time jobs good for another 30 hours a week of a student association that was

a week of a student association that was

a week of a student association that was assistant to a Dutch parliament member I

assistant to a Dutch parliament member I

assistant to a Dutch parliament member I every year I went abroad for two months

every year I went abroad for two months

every year I went abroad for two months for some international experience and I

for some international experience and I

for some international experience and I don’t know if you can recognize this

don’t know if you can recognize this

don’t know if you can recognize this feeling but for me it felt like a God on

feeling but for me it felt like a God on

feeling but for me it felt like a God on a train I got on a train that started to

a train I got on a train that started to

a train I got on a train that started to race into the future and all of a sudden

race into the future and all of a sudden

race into the future and all of a sudden I was only racing racing Racing racing

the next station it’s not that

the next station it’s not that interesting nine ten stations into the

interesting nine ten stations into the

interesting nine ten stations into the future there it would be okay and there

future there it would be okay and there

future there it would be okay and there I could reap the fruits or the benefits

I could reap the fruits or the benefits

I could reap the fruits or the benefits of all my hard labor and hard work

of all my hard labor and hard work

of all my hard labor and hard work remains the hard work remained for the

remains the hard work remained for the

remains the hard work remained for the moment that I could enjoy more for me

moment that I could enjoy more for me

moment that I could enjoy more for me felt like ever out of reach the thing I

felt like ever out of reach the thing I

felt like ever out of reach the thing I miss most was just look outside the

miss most was just look outside the

miss most was just look outside the window look out the window and see and

window look out the window and see and

window look out the window and see and enjoy all those small beautiful moments

enjoy all those small beautiful moments

enjoy all those small beautiful moments that passed me by on a daily basis I

that passed me by on a daily basis I

that passed me by on a daily basis I didn’t see them anymore because my focus

didn’t see them anymore because my focus

didn’t see them anymore because my focus was there

I still know the day July 20th and was

I still know the day July 20th and was in holidays albufeira Portugal beautiful

in holidays albufeira Portugal beautiful

in holidays albufeira Portugal beautiful sunny day I walked into the cooler

sunny day I walked into the cooler

sunny day I walked into the cooler seawater and I just passed that ooh

seawater and I just passed that ooh

seawater and I just passed that ooh moment for men okay for the women too

moment for men okay for the women too

moment for men okay for the women too haha only you get it twice and I was

haha only you get it twice and I was

haha only you get it twice and I was standing in waist-high water and a big

standing in waist-high water and a big

standing in waist-high water and a big wave approached and it felt like that

wave approached and it felt like that

wave approached and it felt like that was my wave enthusiastically I dive into

was my wave enthusiastically I dive into

was my wave enthusiastically I dive into that wave I dive too steeply I hit my

that wave I dive too steeply I hit my

that wave I dive too steeply I hit my head against the ocean floor

head against the ocean floor

head against the ocean floor I hear crack I break my neck can’t move

I hear crack I break my neck can’t move

I hear crack I break my neck can’t move a single muscle in my entire body

a single muscle in my entire body

a single muscle in my entire body anymore I was floating with my face down

anymore I was floating with my face down

anymore I was floating with my face down into the water I could only wait there

into the water I could only wait there

into the water I could only wait there were thousands of people around me and

were thousands of people around me and

were thousands of people around me and still I was alone

and then when water entered my lungs and

and then when water entered my lungs and I had to say my goodbyes a second Whig

I had to say my goodbyes a second Whig

I had to say my goodbyes a second Whig wave approached that flipped me over

wave approached that flipped me over

wave approached that flipped me over onto my back and I could breathe again I

onto my back and I could breathe again I

onto my back and I could breathe again I got a second chance and then everything

got a second chance and then everything

got a second chance and then everything went really really quickly I wake up in

went really really quickly I wake up in

went really really quickly I wake up in a room I do not recognize I wake up in a

a room I do not recognize I wake up in a

a room I do not recognize I wake up in a body I don’t recognize in blind panic I

body I don’t recognize in blind panic I

body I don’t recognize in blind panic I scream out and nobody comes why not they

scream out and nobody comes why not they

scream out and nobody comes why not they were used to it

Portugal d’Ivoire quite a lot of diving

Portugal d’Ivoire quite a lot of diving accidents there and a diving victim is

accidents there and a diving victim is

accidents there and a diving victim is in panic and if you scream long and hard

in panic and if you scream long and hard

in panic and if you scream long and hard enough eventually someone comes I can

enough eventually someone comes I can

enough eventually someone comes I can hear footsteps entering the room

hear footsteps entering the room

hear footsteps entering the room and in the corner of my eye I can see

and in the corner of my eye I can see

and in the corner of my eye I can see someone neatly checking all the monitors

someone neatly checking all the monitors

someone neatly checking all the monitors beside me she turn around and also left

beside me she turn around and also left

beside me she turn around and also left the room

the room

the room and then there was Carlos Carlos the

and then there was Carlos Carlos the

and then there was Carlos Carlos the nurse you see in the picture behind me

nurse you see in the picture behind me

nurse you see in the picture behind me and this man changed my life he placed

and this man changed my life he placed

and this man changed my life he placed his hand on my shoulder on a part that I

his hand on my shoulder on a part that I

his hand on my shoulder on a part that I still had feeling and said it’s okay

that was everything that was needed just

that was everything that was needed just a warm hand on the shoulder it’s okay

a warm hand on the shoulder it’s okay

a warm hand on the shoulder it’s okay and it made me wonder if something so

and it made me wonder if something so

and it made me wonder if something so small can have such a big effect then we

small can have such a big effect then we

small can have such a big effect then we must all be capable of making a

must all be capable of making a

must all be capable of making a difference well what do you think that

difference well what do you think that

difference well what do you think that Carlos said when I told him what he

Carlos said when I told him what he

Carlos said when I told him what he meant to me ma it was just my job

meant to me ma it was just my job

meant to me ma it was just my job plus normal you would have done the same

plus normal you would have done the same

plus normal you would have done the same for me for something so small but later

for me for something so small but later

for me for something so small but later he also felt joy he felt realized by

he also felt joy he felt realized by

he also felt joy he felt realized by doing something small maybe even

doing something small maybe even

doing something small maybe even something that he considered part of his

something that he considered part of his

something that he considered part of his job he could add a lot of value to the

job he could add a lot of value to the

job he could add a lot of value to the life of someone else and I dare to ask

life of someone else and I dare to ask

life of someone else and I dare to ask the question how do you react how do you

the question how do you react how do you

the question how do you react how do you react when someone takes the time and

react when someone takes the time and

react when someone takes the time and the effort to thank you do you let it in

the effort to thank you do you let it in

the effort to thank you do you let it in would you push it away because the

would you push it away because the

would you push it away because the nerves who checked all the monitors just

nerves who checked all the monitors just

nerves who checked all the monitors just did a job and technically everything was

did a job and technically everything was

did a job and technically everything was perfect

perfect

perfect all the procedures all the protocols

all the procedures all the protocols

all the procedures all the protocols even the legal stuff everything was

even the legal stuff everything was

even the legal stuff everything was covered making a difference

covered making a difference

covered making a difference happens after the basics happens but

happens after the basics happens but

happens after the basics happens but what you do after you covered the

what you do after you covered the

what you do after you covered the technical stuff and for me it’s not the

technical stuff and for me it’s not the

technical stuff and for me it’s not the challenge to work even harder but maybe

challenge to work even harder but maybe

challenge to work even harder but maybe our biggest challenge is to take a step

our biggest challenge is to take a step

our biggest challenge is to take a step back which is quite difficult take a

back which is quite difficult take a

back which is quite difficult take a step back and do all the things that you

step back and do all the things that you

step back and do all the things that you already do which is so so many things

already do which is so so many things

already do which is so so many things and do that with a little bit more care

and now with everything I do I ask

and now with everything I do I ask myself the question so I just want to do

myself the question so I just want to do

myself the question so I just want to do a job which is sometimes fine or you can

a job which is sometimes fine or you can

a job which is sometimes fine or you can avoid a simple way make a difference by

avoid a simple way make a difference by

avoid a simple way make a difference by a simple way do something special and

a simple way do something special and

a simple way do something special and last year I had the presentation of my

last year I had the presentation of my

last year I had the presentation of my new book and believe me a book

new book and believe me a book

new book and believe me a book presentation the launch of a new book

presentation the launch of a new book

presentation the launch of a new book isn’t the most inspiring event of the

isn’t the most inspiring event of the

isn’t the most inspiring event of the year but I felt like this deserved

year but I felt like this deserved

year but I felt like this deserved something more so for the first time in

something more so for the first time in

something more so for the first time in 10 years

10 years

10 years I called to Portugal

I called to Portugal

I called to Portugal I called Carlos now asked him if he was

I called Carlos now asked him if he was

I called Carlos now asked him if he was willing to come to the Netherlands

half an hour later he had already booked

half an hour later he had already booked his flight and he was so nervous he

his flight and he was so nervous he

his flight and he was so nervous he worked on this beach for five months and

worked on this beach for five months and

worked on this beach for five months and he came up on stage and he he was

he came up on stage and he he was

he came up on stage and he he was shivering and I hello I’m Carlos from

shivering and I hello I’m Carlos from

shivering and I hello I’m Carlos from the book so I rolled up to him place my

the book so I rolled up to him place my

the book so I rolled up to him place my hand on his shoulder it’s okay and the

hand on his shoulder it’s okay and the

hand on his shoulder it’s okay and the connection that the two of us have is so

connection that the two of us have is so

connection that the two of us have is so dear to me maybe even the connection

dear to me maybe even the connection

dear to me maybe even the connection that we dare to have this picture was

that we dare to have this picture was

that we dare to have this picture was taken when he had to leave again and I

taken when he had to leave again and I

taken when he had to leave again and I will never forget what he told me in

will never forget what he told me in

will never forget what he told me in this moment yeah you always say that I

this moment yeah you always say that I

this moment yeah you always say that I changed your life you have to know that

changed your life you have to know that

changed your life you have to know that you change mine as well if you do

you change mine as well if you do

you change mine as well if you do something special for someone else not

something special for someone else not

something special for someone else not by working harder but maybe by working

by working harder but maybe by working

by working harder but maybe by working with a little bit more care it all comes

with a little bit more care it all comes

with a little bit more care it all comes back to you too

a Carlos moment goes both ways my only

a Carlos moment goes both ways my only wish for you is go and find your own

wish for you is go and find your own

wish for you is go and find your own Carlos moments let them in enjoy them

Carlos moments let them in enjoy them

Carlos moments let them in enjoy them share them celebrate them because

share them celebrate them because

share them celebrate them because they’re out there waiting just for you

thank you very much

thank you very much [Applause]

”

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