[Music] hey good evening everybody first of all
hey good evening everybody first of all
hey good evening everybody first of all I want to set your expectations my
I want to set your expectations my
I want to set your expectations my speech is not gonna be nearly as much
speech is not gonna be nearly as much
speech is not gonna be nearly as much fun as Pierce’s because I’m gonna talk
fun as Pierce’s because I’m gonna talk
fun as Pierce’s because I’m gonna talk about failure and daring to fail and
about failure and daring to fail and
about failure and daring to fail and what I mean by that is that I dare you
what I mean by that is that I dare you
what I mean by that is that I dare you to strive for goals that are so high
to strive for goals that are so high
to strive for goals that are so high they seem out of reach that you don’t
they seem out of reach that you don’t
they seem out of reach that you don’t think that you’re gonna be able to make
think that you’re gonna be able to make
think that you’re gonna be able to make it because any high achievement comes
it because any high achievement comes
it because any high achievement comes with failure if you’re not failing
with failure if you’re not failing
with failure if you’re not failing you’re not trying you’re not striving
you’re not trying you’re not striving
you’re not trying you’re not striving high enough and when you fail taking the
high enough and when you fail taking the
high enough and when you fail taking the time to really digest dissect why you
time to really digest dissect why you
time to really digest dissect why you failed to learn the lessons from it
failed to learn the lessons from it
failed to learn the lessons from it turns failure into a valuable and
turns failure into a valuable and
turns failure into a valuable and powerful tool for self development and
powerful tool for self development and
powerful tool for self development and when failure can help make you better
when failure can help make you better
when failure can help make you better it’s not nearly as scary so let me
it’s not nearly as scary so let me
it’s not nearly as scary so let me introduce myself the pictures that you
introduce myself the pictures that you
introduce myself the pictures that you saw on the last slide was me three
saw on the last slide was me three
saw on the last slide was me three months ago I in August of this year I
months ago I in August of this year I
months ago I in August of this year I finished almost 10 years with the US
finished almost 10 years with the US
finished almost 10 years with the US Army unless sunday would have been my
Army unless sunday would have been my
Army unless sunday would have been my ten year anniversary so over that time I
ten year anniversary so over that time I
ten year anniversary so over that time I was a combat medic I was an intelligence
was a combat medic I was an intelligence
was a combat medic I was an intelligence officer I saw the beautiful countries of
officer I saw the beautiful countries of
officer I saw the beautiful countries of Iraq and Afghanistan amongst mothers and
Iraq and Afghanistan amongst mothers and
Iraq and Afghanistan amongst mothers and I got to do all the cool stuff you
I got to do all the cool stuff you
I got to do all the cool stuff you associate with the army I jumped out of
associate with the army I jumped out of
associate with the army I jumped out of helicopters I drove tanks shotguns I
helicopters I drove tanks shotguns I
helicopters I drove tanks shotguns I worked on injured patients but I also
worked on injured patients but I also
worked on injured patients but I also got to do a little bit more I know one
got to do a little bit more I know one
got to do a little bit more I know one time I almost crashed a tank into a
time I almost crashed a tank into a
time I almost crashed a tank into a helicopter while the helicopter was
helicopter while the helicopter was
helicopter while the helicopter was flying and if you buy me a beer I’ll
flying and if you buy me a beer I’ll
flying and if you buy me a beer I’ll tell you that story but I got to do a
tell you that story but I got to do a
tell you that story but I got to do a little bit more I spent a few years
little bit more I spent a few years
little bit more I spent a few years working inside of the American
working inside of the American
working inside of the American intelligence community I have done work
intelligence community I have done work
intelligence community I have done work at the CIA the NSA the FBI pretty much
at the CIA the NSA the FBI pretty much
at the CIA the NSA the FBI pretty much all the places that you’ve seen in
all the places that you’ve seen in
all the places that you’ve seen in movies I worked with an incredible group
movies I worked with an incredible group
movies I worked with an incredible group of people on amazing projects we did a
of people on amazing projects we did a
of people on amazing projects we did a lot of great things it saved a lot of
lot of great things it saved a lot of
lot of great things it saved a lot of good people’s lives I also did some
good people’s lives I also did some
good people’s lives I also did some things that took out some really bad
things that took out some really bad
things that took out some really bad guys it was really rewarding work but
guys it was really rewarding work but
guys it was really rewarding work but why am I telling you this
why am I telling you this
why am I telling you this they agreed to do the stock so I could
they agreed to do the stock so I could
they agreed to do the stock so I could stand up here and tell you that I have a
stand up here and tell you that I have a
stand up here and tell you that I have a cool resume no
cool resume no
cool resume no what you don’t see if you look through
what you don’t see if you look through
what you don’t see if you look through my LinkedIn or my resume is the painful
my LinkedIn or my resume is the painful
my LinkedIn or my resume is the painful failures the crushing self-doubt and the
failures the crushing self-doubt and the
failures the crushing self-doubt and the days that I just wanted to quit that
days that I just wanted to quit that
days that I just wanted to quit that went along with all that success so let
went along with all that success so let
went along with all that success so let me tell you a few stories so five or six
me tell you a few stories so five or six
me tell you a few stories so five or six years ago I was in Iraq and I was the
years ago I was in Iraq and I was the
years ago I was in Iraq and I was the senior intelligence officer for a combat
senior intelligence officer for a combat
senior intelligence officer for a combat unit it was an infantry unit if that
unit it was an infantry unit if that
unit it was an infantry unit if that means that I think do you guess so at
means that I think do you guess so at
means that I think do you guess so at the time we’re pulling out the awards
the time we’re pulling out the awards
the time we’re pulling out the awards just about done we’re trying to get
just about done we’re trying to get
just about done we’re trying to get everything out of the country all the
everything out of the country all the
everything out of the country all the people and all the equipment and this
people and all the equipment and this
people and all the equipment and this was a pretty dangerous time because with
was a pretty dangerous time because with
was a pretty dangerous time because with that drawdown meant fewer resources for
that drawdown meant fewer resources for
that drawdown meant fewer resources for security fewer resources for
security fewer resources for
security fewer resources for intelligence and just fewer resources
intelligence and just fewer resources
intelligence and just fewer resources for everything so my job was to study
for everything so my job was to study
for everything so my job was to study the study identify predict and prevent
the study identify predict and prevent
the study identify predict and prevent attacks that was my job figure out where
attacks that was my job figure out where
attacks that was my job figure out where the attacks are coming from stop them
the attacks are coming from stop them
the attacks are coming from stop them before they happen
before they happen
before they happen so I spent long long nights looking at
so I spent long long nights looking at
so I spent long long nights looking at maps reports every piece of data it was
maps reports every piece of data it was
maps reports every piece of data it was possibly available and after a period of
possibly available and after a period of
possibly available and after a period of initial success a bomb went off hit a
initial success a bomb went off hit a
initial success a bomb went off hit a vehicle now the vehicle did what it was
vehicle now the vehicle did what it was
vehicle now the vehicle did what it was supposed to do but the guy that was on
supposed to do but the guy that was on
supposed to do but the guy that was on the top Manning the machine gun got
the top Manning the machine gun got
the top Manning the machine gun got pretty badly hurt
pretty badly hurt
pretty badly hurt and I took this very very personally cuz
and I took this very very personally cuz
and I took this very very personally cuz that was my job my job was to be there
that was my job my job was to be there
that was my job my job was to be there to find these things to stop them from
to find these things to stop them from
to find these things to stop them from happening and I had failed I wasn’t
happening and I had failed I wasn’t
happening and I had failed I wasn’t smart enough I’d been out I’ve been
smart enough I’d been out I’ve been
smart enough I’d been out I’ve been beaten and somebody else paid for my
beaten and somebody else paid for my
beaten and somebody else paid for my mistake that was tough another example
mistake that was tough another example
mistake that was tough another example last year early part of 2015 I tried out
last year early part of 2015 I tried out
last year early part of 2015 I tried out for the US Army it’s called the Special
for the US Army it’s called the Special
for the US Army it’s called the Special Forces Green Beret if you’ve ever heard
Forces Green Beret if you’ve ever heard
Forces Green Beret if you’ve ever heard that term it’s the Army’s most elite
that term it’s the Army’s most elite
that term it’s the Army’s most elite organization I prepared for this for
organization I prepared for this for
organization I prepared for this for months
months
months countless hours in the gym countless
countless hours in the gym countless
countless hours in the gym countless miles Ronnie and spending weekends
miles Ronnie and spending weekends
miles Ronnie and spending weekends walking through the woods with a pack
walking through the woods with a pack
walking through the woods with a pack with 30 kilos or kilograms or more on my
with 30 kilos or kilograms or more on my
with 30 kilos or kilograms or more on my back studying everything I needed to to
back studying everything I needed to to
back studying everything I needed to to prepare for this so I get there and one
prepare for this so I get there and one
prepare for this so I get there and one of the events is I’ve got to do some
of the events is I’ve got to do some
of the events is I’ve got to do some pull-ups and I’ve got a climbing rope
pull-ups and I’ve got a climbing rope
pull-ups and I’ve got a climbing rope and then it was a really really tall
and then it was a really really tall
and then it was a really really tall rope and all fairness so I get up there
rope and all fairness so I get up there
rope and all fairness so I get up there on spar and I pull with all my might and
on spar and I pull with all my might and
on spar and I pull with all my might and I hear a sound that sounds like a shirt
I hear a sound that sounds like a shirt
I hear a sound that sounds like a shirt tearing
tearing
tearing and then a second later I feel the
and then a second later I feel the
and then a second later I feel the shooting pain my arm just went dead i
shooting pain my arm just went dead i
shooting pain my arm just went dead i torn a lot of the ligaments in my left
torn a lot of the ligaments in my left
torn a lot of the ligaments in my left arm and that was a hard day because i’d
arm and that was a hard day because i’d
arm and that was a hard day because i’d spent eight years of my career working
spent eight years of my career working
spent eight years of my career working towards the skull i’d spent months and
towards the skull i’d spent months and
towards the skull i’d spent months and months and months preparing and some of
months and months preparing and some of
months and months preparing and some of the most painful ways for this i talked
the most painful ways for this i talked
the most painful ways for this i talked it through with my family this was gonna
it through with my family this was gonna
it through with my family this was gonna be my life but it was gone in that
be my life but it was gone in that
be my life but it was gone in that moment I had failed I wasn’t strong
moment I had failed I wasn’t strong
moment I had failed I wasn’t strong enough I wasn’t good enough I couldn’t
enough I wasn’t good enough I couldn’t
enough I wasn’t good enough I couldn’t do it so I’ve got lots of these stories
do it so I’ve got lots of these stories
do it so I’ve got lots of these stories I could go on forever about times that I
I could go on forever about times that I
I could go on forever about times that I screwed up but what I want to tell you
screwed up but what I want to tell you
screwed up but what I want to tell you is that I learned along the way that if
is that I learned along the way that if
is that I learned along the way that if I could face these things head-on and I
I could face these things head-on and I
I could face these things head-on and I could really really go back and figure
could really really go back and figure
could really really go back and figure out what exactly I had done wrong I
out what exactly I had done wrong I
out what exactly I had done wrong I could be even better than when I started
could be even better than when I started
could be even better than when I started so this sucks to do this is horrible for
so this sucks to do this is horrible for
so this sucks to do this is horrible for us to really look at ourselves and say I
us to really look at ourselves and say I
us to really look at ourselves and say I was overconfident I didn’t know enough I
was overconfident I didn’t know enough I
was overconfident I didn’t know enough I underestimated the other guy to really
underestimated the other guy to really
underestimated the other guy to really really admit to our failures we always
really admit to our failures we always
really admit to our failures we always want to say I failed that test because
want to say I failed that test because
want to say I failed that test because this question teacher didn’t teach to me
this question teacher didn’t teach to me
this question teacher didn’t teach to me or I didn’t get the job because the
or I didn’t get the job because the
or I didn’t get the job because the interviewer didn’t like me because he
interviewer didn’t like me because he
interviewer didn’t like me because he didn’t like my tie or something like
didn’t like my tie or something like
didn’t like my tie or something like that this is a painful thing to do I
that this is a painful thing to do I
that this is a painful thing to do I don’t really like standing up on stage
don’t really like standing up on stage
don’t really like standing up on stage telling you guys about you know the low
telling you guys about you know the low
telling you guys about you know the low points in my life but it’s important so
points in my life but it’s important so
points in my life but it’s important so what does this look like in practice
what does this look like in practice
what does this look like in practice so go back 2,000 miles few years back to
so go back 2,000 miles few years back to
so go back 2,000 miles few years back to Iraq started going through the
Iraq started going through the
Iraq started going through the information again reanalyzing and really
information again reanalyzing and really
information again reanalyzing and really working it through and what I found out
working it through and what I found out
working it through and what I found out what I saw is that I was so focused on
what I saw is that I was so focused on
what I saw is that I was so focused on the past the historical reference that I
the past the historical reference that I
the past the historical reference that I didn’t spend enough time thinking about
didn’t spend enough time thinking about
didn’t spend enough time thinking about how those threats could evolve how they
how those threats could evolve how they
how those threats could evolve how they could change I didn’t spend enough time
could change I didn’t spend enough time
could change I didn’t spend enough time thinking about what was possible when I
thinking about what was possible when I
thinking about what was possible when I got hurt last year that was a little bit
got hurt last year that was a little bit
got hurt last year that was a little bit different I couldn’t go back and fix it
different I couldn’t go back and fix it
different I couldn’t go back and fix it because I was getting a little bit older
because I was getting a little bit older
because I was getting a little bit older I was getting a little bit too high in
I was getting a little bit too high in
I was getting a little bit too high in rank those uh
rank those uh
rank those uh I couldn’t ever try again for that
I couldn’t ever try again for that
I couldn’t ever try again for that program but I knew it wasn’t gonna be
program but I knew it wasn’t gonna be
program but I knew it wasn’t gonna be the last thing I wanted to do and it
the last thing I wanted to do and it
the last thing I wanted to do and it wasn’t gonna last time I tried out so I
wasn’t gonna last time I tried out so I
wasn’t gonna last time I tried out so I still had to learn and two important
still had to learn and two important
still had to learn and two important things came up one is that I spent so
things came up one is that I spent so
things came up one is that I spent so much time training what I was good at I
much time training what I was good at I
much time training what I was good at I can run the long distance so I would go
can run the long distance so I would go
can run the long distance so I would go running because I felt successful I can
running because I felt successful I can
running because I felt successful I can walk a long time with a lot of weight on
walk a long time with a lot of weight on
walk a long time with a lot of weight on my back so I would do that because I
my back so I would do that because I
my back so I would do that because I felt
felt
felt successful but I didn’t spend nearly as
successful but I didn’t spend nearly as
successful but I didn’t spend nearly as much time training where I wasn’t
much time training where I wasn’t
much time training where I wasn’t successful because it hurts because it’s
successful because it hurts because it’s
successful because it hurts because it’s painful and then also at the very last
painful and then also at the very last
painful and then also at the very last moments and getting nervous for this
moments and getting nervous for this
moments and getting nervous for this evaluation someone gave me a
evaluation someone gave me a
evaluation someone gave me a recommendation that about if I hold my
recommendation that about if I hold my
recommendation that about if I hold my arms further apart rather than close as
arms further apart rather than close as
arms further apart rather than close as I had been training it might make it
I had been training it might make it
I had been training it might make it easier when I panicked and I took that
easier when I panicked and I took that
easier when I panicked and I took that advice for reasons I still don’t fully
advice for reasons I still don’t fully
advice for reasons I still don’t fully understand and I think that contributed
understand and I think that contributed
understand and I think that contributed so I’ve got three great lessons first of
so I’ve got three great lessons first of
so I’ve got three great lessons first of all don’t focus on what has been only
all don’t focus on what has been only
all don’t focus on what has been only has been focused on what can be – I got
has been focused on what can be – I got
has been focused on what can be – I got to train my weaknesses as well as
to train my weaknesses as well as
to train my weaknesses as well as training my strengths that’s where I
training my strengths that’s where I
training my strengths that’s where I need the most work and three when the
need the most work and three when the
need the most work and three when the deadline comes near I’ve got to trust
deadline comes near I’ve got to trust
deadline comes near I’ve got to trust myself
myself
myself I gotta trust my planning and I have to
I gotta trust my planning and I have to
I gotta trust my planning and I have to trust the things I’ve done those lessons
trust the things I’ve done those lessons
trust the things I’ve done those lessons and others have been so valuable in my
and others have been so valuable in my
and others have been so valuable in my time of the military my time here at ABS
time of the military my time here at ABS
time of the military my time here at ABS and they will continue to be into the
and they will continue to be into the
and they will continue to be into the future so failure can be a powerful tool
future so failure can be a powerful tool
future so failure can be a powerful tool and it can be not so scary when you
and it can be not so scary when you
and it can be not so scary when you learn how to when you learn how to deal
learn how to when you learn how to deal
learn how to when you learn how to deal with it so I’ll give you a finish with a
with it so I’ll give you a finish with a
with it so I’ll give you a finish with a quote by the American President Teddy
quote by the American President Teddy
quote by the American President Teddy Roosevelt it means it means a lot to me
Roosevelt it means it means a lot to me
Roosevelt it means it means a lot to me because it’s about being involved he
because it’s about being involved he
because it’s about being involved he said it’s not the critic who counts it’s
said it’s not the critic who counts it’s
said it’s not the critic who counts it’s not the man who points out how the
not the man who points out how the
not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles but the credit goes
strong man stumbles but the credit goes
strong man stumbles but the credit goes to the man who’s actually in the arena
to the man who’s actually in the arena
to the man who’s actually in the arena whose face is marred by sweat and dust
whose face is marred by sweat and dust
whose face is marred by sweat and dust and blood who airs and comes up short
and blood who airs and comes up short
and blood who airs and comes up short again and again because there is no
again and again because there is no
again and again because there is no effort without error and shortcoming who
effort without error and shortcoming who
effort without error and shortcoming who at the very best smells a triumph of
at the very best smells a triumph of
at the very best smells a triumph of high achievement and who at the worst if
high achievement and who at the worst if
high achievement and who at the worst if he fails they’ll while daring greatly so
he fails they’ll while daring greatly so
he fails they’ll while daring greatly so that he will his place will never be
that he will his place will never be
that he will his place will never be with the cold and timid souls but no
with the cold and timid souls but no
with the cold and timid souls but no neither triumph nor defeat and you know
neither triumph nor defeat and you know
neither triumph nor defeat and you know I moved three months ago I moved to
I moved three months ago I moved to
I moved three months ago I moved to Germany country right never been I don’t
Germany country right never been I don’t
Germany country right never been I don’t speak the language to get an MBA study
speak the language to get an MBA study
speak the language to get an MBA study business something I know nothing about
business something I know nothing about
business something I know nothing about I have no experience in because I want
I have no experience in because I want
I have no experience in because I want to trace my dreams here and I may very
to trace my dreams here and I may very
to trace my dreams here and I may very well fail at it but I’m not afraid of it
well fail at it but I’m not afraid of it
well fail at it but I’m not afraid of it thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
”
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