the tiniest little thing can change the course of your day which can change the
course of your day which can change the
course of your day which can change the course of your year which can change who
course of your year which can change who
course of your year which can change who you are you know who said that Taylor
you are you know who said that Taylor
you are you know who said that Taylor Swift I bet you that that was the first
Swift I bet you that that was the first
Swift I bet you that that was the first time anyone has ever used a taylor swift
time anyone has ever used a taylor swift
time anyone has ever used a taylor swift code to start off a TEDx talk so
code to start off a TEDx talk so
code to start off a TEDx talk so congrats TEDx Farmington High School we
congrats TEDx Farmington High School we
congrats TEDx Farmington High School we have just made TEDx history easy as that
have just made TEDx history easy as that
have just made TEDx history easy as that in all seriousness though think about
in all seriousness though think about
in all seriousness though think about that quote it’s kind of absurd right
that quote it’s kind of absurd right
that quote it’s kind of absurd right nowadays humans are expected to live
nowadays humans are expected to live
nowadays humans are expected to live longer than ever eighty years right and
longer than ever eighty years right and
longer than ever eighty years right and to think that one instance in one day
to think that one instance in one day
to think that one instance in one day could change a year which could change
could change a year which could change
could change a year which could change your life that’s kind of absurd right
your life that’s kind of absurd right
your life that’s kind of absurd right one out of 80 but what I’ve realized is
one out of 80 but what I’ve realized is
one out of 80 but what I’ve realized is it’s true not just because it’s from
it’s true not just because it’s from
it’s true not just because it’s from Taylor’s shift but because I’ve learned
Taylor’s shift but because I’ve learned
Taylor’s shift but because I’ve learned it to be true two years ago I did
it to be true two years ago I did
it to be true two years ago I did possibly the most ridiculous and unheard
possibly the most ridiculous and unheard
possibly the most ridiculous and unheard of thing a ninth grader could do i
of thing a ninth grader could do i
of thing a ninth grader could do i started at I company I started going
started at I company I started going
started at I company I started going around school selling ties with slogans
around school selling ties with slogans
around school selling ties with slogans like chick magnet or a baller or lacks
like chick magnet or a baller or lacks
like chick magnet or a baller or lacks bro and ever since then my whole life
bro and ever since then my whole life
bro and ever since then my whole life has changed and that was two years ago I
has changed and that was two years ago I
has changed and that was two years ago I decided to take a leap of faith and so
decided to take a leap of faith and so
decided to take a leap of faith and so here I am today two years later still
here I am today two years later still
here I am today two years later still profitable and still having a lot of fun
profitable and still having a lot of fun
profitable and still having a lot of fun it’s a lot of work I’m not going to
it’s a lot of work I’m not going to
it’s a lot of work I’m not going to sugarcoat it I have to talk with
sugarcoat it I have to talk with
sugarcoat it I have to talk with manufacturers retailers people all
manufacturers retailers people all
manufacturers retailers people all across the world to help me make this
across the world to help me make this
across the world to help me make this company a successful company and what
company a successful company and what
company a successful company and what I’ve realized is that I still love doing
I’ve realized is that I still love doing
I’ve realized is that I still love doing it that no matter how much work or how
it that no matter how much work or how
it that no matter how much work or how many late nights I have to spend on it I
many late nights I have to spend on it I
many late nights I have to spend on it I would wake up and do it all over again
would wake up and do it all over again
would wake up and do it all over again the next day and through these
the next day and through these
the next day and through these experiences I learned three main lessons
experiences I learned three main lessons
experiences I learned three main lessons three major keys as DJ Khaled would say
three major keys as DJ Khaled would say
three major keys as DJ Khaled would say to the path of succeeding and not just
to the path of succeeding and not just
to the path of succeeding and not just building a tie company that sells
building a tie company that sells
building a tie company that sells novelty neckwear but in challenging the
novelty neckwear but in challenging the
novelty neckwear but in challenging the norm no one likes to challenge the norm
norm no one likes to challenge the norm
norm no one likes to challenge the norm and people especially don’t like people
and people especially don’t like people
and people especially don’t like people who challenged the norm if that makes
who challenged the norm if that makes
who challenged the norm if that makes sense challenge in the norm is hard it’s
sense challenge in the norm is hard it’s
sense challenge in the norm is hard it’s it’s the modern equivalent of being a
it’s the modern equivalent of being a
it’s the modern equivalent of being a hipster right but with these three major
hipster right but with these three major
hipster right but with these three major keys
keys
keys I really hope that when you leave this
I really hope that when you leave this
I really hope that when you leave this auditorium you can go out and challenged
auditorium you can go out and challenged
auditorium you can go out and challenged the norm regardless of your age first
the norm regardless of your age first
the norm regardless of your age first you don’t have to wait my whole life I
you don’t have to wait my whole life I
you don’t have to wait my whole life I thought that I would have to wait until
thought that I would have to wait until
thought that I would have to wait until I was something to start doing what I
I was something to start doing what I
I was something to start doing what I wanted to do I would tell myself you
wanted to do I would tell myself you
wanted to do I would tell myself you know what I’ll wait until I have a high
know what I’ll wait until I have a high
know what I’ll wait until I have a high school degree or wait until after
school degree or wait until after
school degree or wait until after college I’ll wait until I’m 10 years
college I’ll wait until I’m 10 years
college I’ll wait until I’m 10 years older right but what I soon realized was
older right but what I soon realized was
older right but what I soon realized was when I took that leap of faith I didn’t
when I took that leap of faith I didn’t
when I took that leap of faith I didn’t have to wait anymore I didn’t have to
have to wait anymore I didn’t have to
have to wait anymore I didn’t have to wait for someone else to give me the
wait for someone else to give me the
wait for someone else to give me the green light I didn’t have to wait for a
green light I didn’t have to wait for a
green light I didn’t have to wait for a parent a teacher a mentor to say go
parent a teacher a mentor to say go
parent a teacher a mentor to say go ahead trace and do it I could just do it
ahead trace and do it I could just do it
ahead trace and do it I could just do it myself no matter how old I was and this
myself no matter how old I was and this
myself no matter how old I was and this means to me that the future is as far or
means to me that the future is as far or
means to me that the future is as far or as close as you want it to be the future
as close as you want it to be the future
as close as you want it to be the future can be in a decade or the future can be
can be in a decade or the future can be
can be in a decade or the future can be next year next month tomorrow in an hour
next year next month tomorrow in an hour
next year next month tomorrow in an hour the future is as close as we want it to
the future is as close as we want it to
the future is as close as we want it to be and so there should be nothing
be and so there should be nothing
be and so there should be nothing holding us back like our age from doing
holding us back like our age from doing
holding us back like our age from doing what we want to do and following our
what we want to do and following our
what we want to do and following our passions second as kids we’re going to
passions second as kids we’re going to
passions second as kids we’re going to experience a lot of obstacles and people
experience a lot of obstacles and people
experience a lot of obstacles and people who stand in our way simply because of
who stand in our way simply because of
who stand in our way simply because of our age simply because we can’t vote
our age simply because we can’t vote
our age simply because we can’t vote simply because we can’t drive simply
simply because we can’t drive simply
simply because we can’t drive simply because we still order off the kids menu
because we still order off the kids menu
because we still order off the kids menu now it doesn’t really matter how old you
now it doesn’t really matter how old you
now it doesn’t really matter how old you are nowadays these this whole world we
are nowadays these this whole world we
are nowadays these this whole world we have it at our fingertips right how many
have it at our fingertips right how many
have it at our fingertips right how many of you guys have a cell phone right
of you guys have a cell phone right
of you guys have a cell phone right everyone has a cell phone right nowadays
everyone has a cell phone right nowadays
everyone has a cell phone right nowadays and we have the whole world at our
and we have the whole world at our
and we have the whole world at our fingertips where we can create a
fingertips where we can create a
fingertips where we can create a movement tomorrow we can start a company
movement tomorrow we can start a company
movement tomorrow we can start a company tomorrow we can do everything that we
tomorrow we can do everything that we
tomorrow we can do everything that we want to do tomorrow if we wanted and by
want to do tomorrow if we wanted and by
want to do tomorrow if we wanted and by overcoming these obstacles that many
overcoming these obstacles that many
overcoming these obstacles that many people face a long time ago we are
people face a long time ago we are
people face a long time ago we are empowered to change the world because we
empowered to change the world because we
empowered to change the world because we have this amazing network at our
have this amazing network at our
have this amazing network at our fingertips we can reach out to anyone
fingertips we can reach out to anyone
fingertips we can reach out to anyone and everyone from across the world to
and everyone from across the world to
and everyone from across the world to help us overcome our obstacles I know I
help us overcome our obstacles I know I
help us overcome our obstacles I know I had to do that two years ago because two
had to do that two years ago because two
had to do that two years ago because two years ago I had no idea what I was doing
years ago I had no idea what I was doing
years ago I had no idea what I was doing I was just going around having fun
I was just going around having fun
I was just going around having fun selling funny ties right but what I soon
selling funny ties right but what I soon
selling funny ties right but what I soon realized was I needed to have a business
realized was I needed to have a business
realized was I needed to have a business plan I need
plan I need
plan I need to file for taxes i had to you know
to file for taxes i had to you know
to file for taxes i had to you know start a company really incorporated and
start a company really incorporated and
start a company really incorporated and so i had to reach out to anyone who
so i had to reach out to anyone who
so i had to reach out to anyone who would listen to me anyone who is willing
would listen to me anyone who is willing
would listen to me anyone who is willing to help me and what I realized was that
to help me and what I realized was that
to help me and what I realized was that people want to invest in us in kids just
people want to invest in us in kids just
people want to invest in us in kids just this week I flew in from Los Angeles
this week I flew in from Los Angeles
this week I flew in from Los Angeles right on Thursday landed from Los
right on Thursday landed from Los
right on Thursday landed from Los Angeles where I was pitching to
Angeles where I was pitching to
Angeles where I was pitching to investors five investors and two of them
investors five investors and two of them
investors five investors and two of them were willing to invest in me and what
were willing to invest in me and what
were willing to invest in me and what they both told me was that they weren’t
they both told me was that they weren’t
they both told me was that they weren’t investing in just the ties they weren’t
investing in just the ties they weren’t
investing in just the ties they weren’t just investing in the company they were
just investing in the company they were
just investing in the company they were investing in me because when they invest
investing in me because when they invest
investing in me because when they invest in kids when they invest in us they’re
in kids when they invest in us they’re
in kids when they invest in us they’re investing for the future and people want
investing for the future and people want
investing for the future and people want to do it they want to invest in the
to do it they want to invest in the
to do it they want to invest in the future leaders of the country which we
future leaders of the country which we
future leaders of the country which we are and this means that out there there
are and this means that out there there
are and this means that out there there are hundreds if not thousands of people
are hundreds if not thousands of people
are hundreds if not thousands of people willing to help you you just have to
willing to help you you just have to
willing to help you you just have to find them and ask and I really encourage
find them and ask and I really encourage
find them and ask and I really encourage you don’t be afraid to ask them for help
you don’t be afraid to ask them for help
you don’t be afraid to ask them for help for mentorship for resources be is the
for mentorship for resources be is the
for mentorship for resources be is the worst thing that they can say is no I’ve
worst thing that they can say is no I’ve
worst thing that they can say is no I’ve had a lot of people say no to me whether
had a lot of people say no to me whether
had a lot of people say no to me whether I’m trying to sell them at I whether i’m
I’m trying to sell them at I whether i’m
I’m trying to sell them at I whether i’m trying to sell in their store or trying
trying to sell in their store or trying
trying to sell in their store or trying to partner with them for long-term
to partner with them for long-term
to partner with them for long-term growth a lot of people have said no and
growth a lot of people have said no and
growth a lot of people have said no and what I’ve realized is that those haters
what I’ve realized is that those haters
what I’ve realized is that those haters are gonna hate hate hate and we’re just
are gonna hate hate hate and we’re just
are gonna hate hate hate and we’re just going to shake it off shake it off and
going to shake it off shake it off and
going to shake it off shake it off and another Taylor served reference right
another Taylor served reference right
another Taylor served reference right there because I really do enjoy your
there because I really do enjoy your
there because I really do enjoy your music but really these people who are
music but really these people who are
music but really these people who are going to tell you know find other people
going to tell you know find other people
going to tell you know find other people who are willing to help you because one
who are willing to help you because one
who are willing to help you because one note isn’t the end of the world and
note isn’t the end of the world and
note isn’t the end of the world and that’s a segue into my next point that
that’s a segue into my next point that
that’s a segue into my next point that as kids we have this freedom we have
as kids we have this freedom we have
as kids we have this freedom we have this power to be able to fail failure is
this power to be able to fail failure is
this power to be able to fail failure is great failure is okay in fact I love
great failure is okay in fact I love
great failure is okay in fact I love failure because when I fail I can grow
failure because when I fail I can grow
failure because when I fail I can grow from it I can learn as a person right
from it I can learn as a person right
from it I can learn as a person right and that’s an opportunity that kids
and that’s an opportunity that kids
and that’s an opportunity that kids that’s a freedom kids have because we’re
that’s a freedom kids have because we’re
that’s a freedom kids have because we’re young people discriminate against our
young people discriminate against our
young people discriminate against our age and say that you know that’s the
age and say that you know that’s the
age and say that you know that’s the reason that’s going to hold us back but
reason that’s going to hold us back but
reason that’s going to hold us back but I say that’s an opportunity right there
I say that’s an opportunity right there
I say that’s an opportunity right there we can fail now because it’s not the end
we can fail now because it’s not the end
we can fail now because it’s not the end of our it’s not the end of the world
of our it’s not the end of the world
of our it’s not the end of the world because we can learn from it and keep on
because we can learn from it and keep on
because we can learn from it and keep on growing because we have a nice bright
growing because we have a nice bright
growing because we have a nice bright future ahead of us and
future ahead of us and
future ahead of us and I guess what i mean by having a nice
I guess what i mean by having a nice
I guess what i mean by having a nice bright future that means challenging the
bright future that means challenging the
bright future that means challenging the norm but more importantly that means
norm but more importantly that means
norm but more importantly that means following your passions that means going
following your passions that means going
following your passions that means going out there and doing something that’s
out there and doing something that’s
out there and doing something that’s going to bring value to your life and to
going to bring value to your life and to
going to bring value to your life and to people around you that’s going to be
people around you that’s going to be
people around you that’s going to be something that excites you every morning
something that excites you every morning
something that excites you every morning that even if it’s a monday i hate
that even if it’s a monday i hate
that even if it’s a monday i hate mondays right but if it’s going to
mondays right but if it’s going to
mondays right but if it’s going to excite you and get you up on monday
excite you and get you up on monday
excite you and get you up on monday morning and excited and eager to go to
morning and excited and eager to go to
morning and excited and eager to go to work on that passion that’s what you’re
work on that passion that’s what you’re
work on that passion that’s what you’re going to be able to do we all have
going to be able to do we all have
going to be able to do we all have passions right whether it’s learning
passions right whether it’s learning
passions right whether it’s learning sports music art taylor swift it really
sports music art taylor swift it really
sports music art taylor swift it really doesn’t matter what you’re passionate
doesn’t matter what you’re passionate
doesn’t matter what you’re passionate about but that you can go out and do it
about but that you can go out and do it
about but that you can go out and do it and through this journey I’ve started to
and through this journey I’ve started to
and through this journey I’ve started to write not like write an essay because
write not like write an essay because
write not like write an essay because I’m really bad at writing as my English
I’m really bad at writing as my English
I’m really bad at writing as my English teacher can tell you but I really
teacher can tell you but I really
teacher can tell you but I really started to write my story after I took
started to write my story after I took
started to write my story after I took that leap of faith I started writing a
that leap of faith I started writing a
that leap of faith I started writing a story my story and what I’ve learned is
story my story and what I’ve learned is
story my story and what I’ve learned is that we are our own writers you and only
that we are our own writers you and only
that we are our own writers you and only you write the story that you want to
you write the story that you want to
you write the story that you want to read because of novelty because of
read because of novelty because of
read because of novelty because of having started to write my story I’ve
having started to write my story I’ve
having started to write my story I’ve learned so much and I’ve kept growing my
learned so much and I’ve kept growing my
learned so much and I’ve kept growing my passions after i started novel tie my
passions after i started novel tie my
passions after i started novel tie my best friend and i decided to launch a ty
best friend and i decided to launch a ty
best friend and i decided to launch a ty cobb sorry an education company called
cobb sorry an education company called
cobb sorry an education company called spell for success design to help kids
spell for success design to help kids
spell for success design to help kids study and after i started that we
study and after i started that we
study and after i started that we decided to sell our company to a
decided to sell our company to a
decided to sell our company to a million-dollar education company in
million-dollar education company in
million-dollar education company in chicago for months it took to sign those
chicago for months it took to sign those
chicago for months it took to sign those contracts when I first reached out they
contracts when I first reached out they
contracts when I first reached out they said that we were ridiculous that we
said that we were ridiculous that we
said that we were ridiculous that we were a joke no way you guys are 16 you
were a joke no way you guys are 16 you
were a joke no way you guys are 16 you can’t have anything worth buying we
can’t have anything worth buying we
can’t have anything worth buying we proved them wrong we shook it off and we
proved them wrong we shook it off and we
proved them wrong we shook it off and we kept on going and four months later we
kept on going and four months later we
kept on going and four months later we had sold that company because of novelty
had sold that company because of novelty
had sold that company because of novelty I’ve gone the very great opportunity to
I’ve gone the very great opportunity to
I’ve gone the very great opportunity to serve on nonprofits and organizations
serve on nonprofits and organizations
serve on nonprofits and organizations that matter to me things that I know
that matter to me things that I know
that matter to me things that I know will make an impact and things that I’m
will make an impact and things that I’m
will make an impact and things that I’m passionate about organizations like the
passionate about organizations like the
passionate about organizations like the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and
National Campaign to Prevent Teen and
National Campaign to Prevent Teen and unplanned pregnancy or the harvard
unplanned pregnancy or the harvard
unplanned pregnancy or the harvard graduate school of education or kid
graduate school of education or kid
graduate school of education or kid backer enterprises a non-profit designed
backer enterprises a non-profit designed
backer enterprises a non-profit designed to help low-income entrepreneurs succeed
to help low-income entrepreneurs succeed
to help low-income entrepreneurs succeed in their small businesses now you might
in their small businesses now you might
in their small businesses now you might say to yourself okay trace cool
say to yourself okay trace cool
say to yourself okay trace cool these three lessons great have them
these three lessons great have them
these three lessons great have them written down what do I do now right I
written down what do I do now right I
written down what do I do now right I don’t want to start at a company totally
don’t want to start at a company totally
don’t want to start at a company totally fine in fact less competition for
fine in fact less competition for
fine in fact less competition for novelty what I want you to do with these
novelty what I want you to do with these
novelty what I want you to do with these three lessons is not just go out there
three lessons is not just go out there
three lessons is not just go out there and start selling ties like I did I want
and start selling ties like I did I want
and start selling ties like I did I want you to go out there and challenged the
you to go out there and challenged the
you to go out there and challenged the norm because I know all of you can do it
norm because I know all of you can do it
norm because I know all of you can do it now there were dozens of haters as
now there were dozens of haters as
now there were dozens of haters as Taylor Swift would call them who told me
Taylor Swift would call them who told me
Taylor Swift would call them who told me that starting a company at a young age
that starting a company at a young age
that starting a company at a young age was ridiculous that I should just focus
was ridiculous that I should just focus
was ridiculous that I should just focus on school you know focus on the text
on school you know focus on the text
on school you know focus on the text books don’t focus on selling ties or
books don’t focus on selling ties or
books don’t focus on selling ties or traveling around the country meeting
traveling around the country meeting
traveling around the country meeting young entrepreneurs it’s worthless but
young entrepreneurs it’s worthless but
young entrepreneurs it’s worthless but now two years later I look back as Chris
now two years later I look back as Chris
now two years later I look back as Chris Brown would say look at me now whether
Brown would say look at me now whether
Brown would say look at me now whether you want to learn about everything in
you want to learn about everything in
you want to learn about everything in anything whether you want to sell ties
anything whether you want to sell ties
anything whether you want to sell ties whether you want to start a company or
whether you want to start a company or
whether you want to start a company or you just want to make the world a better
you just want to make the world a better
you just want to make the world a better place I highly encourage you use these
place I highly encourage you use these
place I highly encourage you use these lessons in your life so I’ve gotten the
lessons in your life so I’ve gotten the
lessons in your life so I’ve gotten the great opportunity to share the tiniest
great opportunity to share the tiniest
great opportunity to share the tiniest thing that changed my day my year and
thing that changed my day my year and
thing that changed my day my year and who I am and I really hope that you can
who I am and I really hope that you can
who I am and I really hope that you can find yours thank you so much
”
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