I have molded my life around the fact that work is the best way to move people
that work is the best way to move people
that work is the best way to move people out of poverty and that work is at the
out of poverty and that work is at the
out of poverty and that work is at the core of human dignity but it’s not all
core of human dignity but it’s not all
core of human dignity but it’s not all that there is for me it was it was tough
that there is for me it was it was tough
that there is for me it was it was tough as a as a child there was always kind of
as a as a child there was always kind of
as a as a child there was always kind of an outcast we never had enough money to
an outcast we never had enough money to
an outcast we never had enough money to shop at normal I would cobble together
shop at normal I would cobble together
shop at normal I would cobble together different jobs I did in fact clean
different jobs I did in fact clean
different jobs I did in fact clean toilets for our campus we call it dorm
toilets for our campus we call it dorm
toilets for our campus we call it dorm crew but it’s like a janitorial service
crew but it’s like a janitorial service
crew but it’s like a janitorial service run by students people who have endured
run by students people who have endured
run by students people who have endured hardship in some way can build grit and
hardship in some way can build grit and
hardship in some way can build grit and resilience from it when you’re poor you
resilience from it when you’re poor you
resilience from it when you’re poor you depend on each other you depend on your
depend on each other you depend on your
depend on each other you depend on your relationship with your neighbor and your
relationship with your neighbor and your
relationship with your neighbor and your family because if you don’t have that
family because if you don’t have that
family because if you don’t have that you have nothing the only real power we
you have nothing the only real power we
you have nothing the only real power we have in the world is choosing our
have in the world is choosing our
have in the world is choosing our response we can’t choose what happens to
response we can’t choose what happens to
response we can’t choose what happens to us we can get stuck into situations
us we can get stuck into situations
us we can get stuck into situations where we are abused where we are not
where we are abused where we are not
where we are abused where we are not treated fairly where any number of bad
treated fairly where any number of bad
treated fairly where any number of bad things can happen and so the only choice
things can happen and so the only choice
things can happen and so the only choice we can make is how to respond and I find
we can make is how to respond and I find
we can make is how to respond and I find that that knowledge gives me so much
that that knowledge gives me so much
that that knowledge gives me so much freedom because if something bad is
freedom because if something bad is
freedom because if something bad is happening to me that I can say is beyond
happening to me that I can say is beyond
happening to me that I can say is beyond my control I can say well at least you
my control I can say well at least you
my control I can say well at least you know I have the power in my response to
know I have the power in my response to
know I have the power in my response to show the world what kind of person I am
show the world what kind of person I am
show the world what kind of person I am and I can’t tell you the number of
and I can’t tell you the number of
and I can’t tell you the number of really interesting examples of
really interesting examples of
really interesting examples of post-traumatic growth that we’re now
post-traumatic growth that we’re now
post-traumatic growth that we’re now cataloguing people who’ve lost
cataloguing people who’ve lost
cataloguing people who’ve lost everything people who’ve had their kids
everything people who’ve had their kids
everything people who’ve had their kids murdered in front of them people who had
murdered in front of them people who had
murdered in front of them people who had just everyman manner of hardship who are
just everyman manner of hardship who are
just everyman manner of hardship who are able to choose their response and rather
able to choose their response and rather
able to choose their response and rather than shutting down and you know getting
than shutting down and you know getting
than shutting down and you know getting more and more depressed which is
more and more depressed which is
more and more depressed which is something that you have to get through
something that you have to get through
something that you have to get through but the the choice to take that painful
but the the choice to take that painful
but the the choice to take that painful experience and mold it into something
experience and mold it into something
experience and mold it into something positive for the world is I think the
positive for the world is I think the
positive for the world is I think the deepest kind of healing we can have as
deepest kind of healing we can have as
deepest kind of healing we can have as humans and for me I think part of what
humans and for me I think part of what
humans and for me I think part of what got me through those tough times
got me through those tough times
got me through those tough times eventually as I matured was the
eventually as I matured was the
eventually as I matured was the knowledge that I had transform that into
knowledge that I had transform that into
knowledge that I had transform that into something good for the world
something good for the world
something good for the world I did struggle with with pretty severe
I did struggle with with pretty severe
I did struggle with with pretty severe depression in my 20s I had a year in
depression in my 20s I had a year in
depression in my 20s I had a year in college when both my aunt and one of my
college when both my aunt and one of my
college when both my aunt and one of my best friends committed suicide and that
best friends committed suicide and that
best friends committed suicide and that came at the same time right yeah it was
came at the same time right yeah it was
came at the same time right yeah it was my roommate she was my block mate we
my roommate she was my block mate we
my roommate she was my block mate we were in the same like rooming group and
were in the same like rooming group and
were in the same like rooming group and we had very similar backgrounds and very
we had very similar backgrounds and very
we had very similar backgrounds and very similar relationships with our parents
similar relationships with our parents
similar relationships with our parents and so and both my aunt and this young
and so and both my aunt and this young
and so and both my aunt and this young woman were incredibly beautiful
woman were incredibly beautiful
woman were incredibly beautiful incredibly bright like the least you
incredibly bright like the least you
incredibly bright like the least you know you would imagine the least likely
know you would imagine the least likely
know you would imagine the least likely to take their own lives and so it was
to take their own lives and so it was
to take their own lives and so it was such a such a huge burden to carry that
such a such a huge burden to carry that
such a such a huge burden to carry that and at the time you know therapy and
and at the time you know therapy and
and at the time you know therapy and counseling wasn’t as known maybe as it
counseling wasn’t as known maybe as it
counseling wasn’t as known maybe as it is now and there weren’t very many
is now and there weren’t very many
is now and there weren’t very many resources so I didn’t seek that out and
resources so I didn’t seek that out and
resources so I didn’t seek that out and at the same time that that was going on
at the same time that that was going on
at the same time that that was going on I was undergoing tremendous financial
I was undergoing tremendous financial
I was undergoing tremendous financial pressure my parents had gotten a divorce
pressure my parents had gotten a divorce
pressure my parents had gotten a divorce and couldn’t pay for school at all so I
and couldn’t pay for school at all so I
and couldn’t pay for school at all so I was I was working three jobs and always
was I was working three jobs and always
was I was working three jobs and always trying to hustle to make ends meet with
trying to hustle to make ends meet with
trying to hustle to make ends meet with a full course load and then maybe to add
a full course load and then maybe to add
a full course load and then maybe to add to that I would go and spend time in
to that I would go and spend time in
to that I would go and spend time in Africa so I did research in Rwanda
Africa so I did research in Rwanda
Africa so I did research in Rwanda literally working on this project with
literally working on this project with
literally working on this project with victims of the genocide who’d had you
victims of the genocide who’d had you
victims of the genocide who’d had you know I’d go there and interview people
know I’d go there and interview people
know I’d go there and interview people with like machete wounds on their head
with like machete wounds on their head
with like machete wounds on their head from this horrific genocide talking
from this horrific genocide talking
from this horrific genocide talking about having seen their children
about having seen their children
about having seen their children murdered in front of them and so I
murdered in front of them and so I
murdered in front of them and so I didn’t even understand the concept of
didn’t even understand the concept of
didn’t even understand the concept of PTSD and you know how if you’re exposed
PTSD and you know how if you’re exposed
PTSD and you know how if you’re exposed to people who’ve undergone serious
to people who’ve undergone serious
to people who’ve undergone serious trauma you yourself can take that on so
trauma you yourself can take that on so
trauma you yourself can take that on so it was just a hot mess actually after
it was just a hot mess actually after
it was just a hot mess actually after these few years and then and then I
these few years and then and then I
these few years and then and then I graduated and I moved to New York City I
graduated and I moved to New York City I
graduated and I moved to New York City I took a management consulting job just to
took a management consulting job just to
took a management consulting job just to be able to pay the bills and hopefully
be able to pay the bills and hopefully
be able to pay the bills and hopefully learn about business I knew I wanted to
learn about business I knew I wanted to
learn about business I knew I wanted to create a business that would help people
create a business that would help people
create a business that would help people and ideally a business that would hire
and ideally a business that would hire
and ideally a business that would hire poor people and move them out of poverty
poor people and move them out of poverty
poor people and move them out of poverty but it was tough times I was alone often
but it was tough times I was alone often
but it was tough times I was alone often as a consultant getting up at 4:00 in
as a consultant getting up at 4:00 in
as a consultant getting up at 4:00 in the morning on a Monday to fly to some
the morning on a Monday to fly to some
the morning on a Monday to fly to some random city and spent most of my time
random city and spent most of my time
random city and spent most of my time alone in hotel rooms so it kind of all
alone in hotel rooms so it kind of all
alone in hotel rooms so it kind of all added up and at one point just exploded
added up and at one point just exploded
added up and at one point just exploded and I went through some very dark times
and I went through some very dark times
and I went through some very dark times anyone who’s been through depression
anyone who’s been through depression
anyone who’s been through depression knows what I mean
knows what I mean
knows what I mean and I guess what got me out of it was I
and I guess what got me out of it was I
and I guess what got me out of it was I feel very blessed to have found a career
feel very blessed to have found a career
feel very blessed to have found a career that nourishes me spiritually I feel
that nourishes me spiritually I feel
that nourishes me spiritually I feel like when your core spirits
like when your core spirits
like when your core spirits all values or your morality are aligned
all values or your morality are aligned
all values or your morality are aligned with what you spend the majority of your
with what you spend the majority of your
with what you spend the majority of your time doing it creates this this I don’t
time doing it creates this this I don’t
time doing it creates this this I don’t know this unity in your soul and I feel
know this unity in your soul and I feel
know this unity in your soul and I feel like having that has been such a
like having that has been such a
like having that has been such a cornerstone of my life it’s what I often
cornerstone of my life it’s what I often
cornerstone of my life it’s what I often go back to when I’m really struggling or
go back to when I’m really struggling or
go back to when I’m really struggling or when I’m feeling depressed I will
when I’m feeling depressed I will
when I’m feeling depressed I will literally like go back and read I have a
literally like go back and read I have a
literally like go back and read I have a file in my Gmail of inspirational
file in my Gmail of inspirational
file in my Gmail of inspirational stories from our workers stories that
stories from our workers stories that
stories from our workers stories that people will send me about their own
people will send me about their own
people will send me about their own transformation or stories that managers
transformation or stories that managers
transformation or stories that managers of our centers will send me and I
of our centers will send me and I
of our centers will send me and I whenever I’m feeling depressed I’ll go
whenever I’m feeling depressed I’ll go
whenever I’m feeling depressed I’ll go back and read those just to ground me I
back and read those just to ground me I
back and read those just to ground me I also think that connecting with other
also think that connecting with other
also think that connecting with other people who are suffering there’s all
people who are suffering there’s all
people who are suffering there’s all this research that empathizing with
this research that empathizing with
this research that empathizing with someone else who maybe has it even worse
someone else who maybe has it even worse
someone else who maybe has it even worse than you can relieve your own burden and
than you can relieve your own burden and
than you can relieve your own burden and so as much as possible when I was in
so as much as possible when I was in
so as much as possible when I was in those states I would try to immerse
those states I would try to immerse
those states I would try to immerse myself in issues around global poverty
myself in issues around global poverty
myself in issues around global poverty or understand what life was like for
or understand what life was like for
or understand what life was like for someone who had it even worse you know
someone who had it even worse you know
someone who had it even worse you know who might be struggling with depression
who might be struggling with depression
who might be struggling with depression but living on $2 a day and also
but living on $2 a day and also
but living on $2 a day and also struggling with HIV or some other
struggling with HIV or some other
struggling with HIV or some other problem and that would help bring me out
problem and that would help bring me out
problem and that would help bring me out of it let’s remind ourselves that some
of it let’s remind ourselves that some
of it let’s remind ourselves that some of the most famous and prominent social
of the most famous and prominent social
of the most famous and prominent social leaders were not flawless MLK was a
leaders were not flawless MLK was a
leaders were not flawless MLK was a known you know cheater he cheated on his
known you know cheater he cheated on his
known you know cheater he cheated on his wife regularly unfortunately Gandhi it’s
wife regularly unfortunately Gandhi it’s
wife regularly unfortunately Gandhi it’s well known in India was really really
well known in India was really really
well known in India was really really cool to his wife there’s even a play
cool to his wife there’s even a play
cool to his wife there’s even a play that I watched about it which was kind
that I watched about it which was kind
that I watched about it which was kind of shocking and I guess the the moral of
of shocking and I guess the the moral of
of shocking and I guess the the moral of the story is that no one is a saint you
the story is that no one is a saint you
the story is that no one is a saint you know even when they’re canonized they do
know even when they’re canonized they do
know even when they’re canonized they do there’s a there’s a whole book that
there’s a there’s a whole book that
there’s a there’s a whole book that criticizes Mother Teresa’s work and I’m
criticizes Mother Teresa’s work and I’m
criticizes Mother Teresa’s work and I’m not saying this to take down our heroes
not saying this to take down our heroes
not saying this to take down our heroes I think that what all three of those
I think that what all three of those
I think that what all three of those folks have done is truly heroic and
folks have done is truly heroic and
folks have done is truly heroic and great and should be celebrated I see
great and should be celebrated I see
great and should be celebrated I see this because it’s important that we
this because it’s important that we
this because it’s important that we don’t absolve ourselves of a moral duty
don’t absolve ourselves of a moral duty
don’t absolve ourselves of a moral duty to act we all have that duty to act you
to act we all have that duty to act you
to act we all have that duty to act you don’t have to be flawless these people
don’t have to be flawless these people
don’t have to be flawless these people are not you know genetically different
are not you know genetically different
are not you know genetically different and I think that’s another problem with
and I think that’s another problem with
and I think that’s another problem with this pedestal issue is that when we put
this pedestal issue is that when we put
this pedestal issue is that when we put people on pedestals we then start
people on pedestals we then start
people on pedestals we then start nitpicking and saying oh well if he or
nitpicking and saying oh well if he or
nitpicking and saying oh well if he or she wears a nice dress and she can’t
she wears a nice dress and she can’t
she wears a nice dress and she can’t possibly care about poverty because
possibly care about poverty because
possibly care about poverty because she’s too consumed with her own
she’s too consumed with her own
she’s too consumed with her own appearance or in MLK’s case you know he
appearance or in MLK’s case you know he
appearance or in MLK’s case you know he was many people tried to take him down
was many people tried to take him down
was many people tried to take him down because he had such great I think a
because he had such great I think a
because he had such great I think a great sense of style
great sense of style
great sense of style those two things are not incompatible
those two things are not incompatible
those two things are not incompatible you can have you can have an interest in
you can have you can have an interest in
you can have you can have an interest in fashion and a desire to make aesthetic
fashion and a desire to make aesthetic
fashion and a desire to make aesthetic choices that fit your taste and at the
choices that fit your taste and at the
choices that fit your taste and at the same time find poverty to be morally
same time find poverty to be morally
same time find poverty to be morally objectionable and want to do something
objectionable and want to do something
objectionable and want to do something about it people who do work and service
about it people who do work and service
about it people who do work and service of humanity do not need to be Saints we
of humanity do not need to be Saints we
of humanity do not need to be Saints we do not need to put them on pedestals
do not need to put them on pedestals
do not need to put them on pedestals they don’t have to you know take vows of
they don’t have to you know take vows of
they don’t have to you know take vows of poverty I think when we when we say that
poverty I think when we when we say that
poverty I think when we when we say that and do that it makes ordinary people
and do that it makes ordinary people
and do that it makes ordinary people feel like they could never enter this
feel like they could never enter this
feel like they could never enter this field and that’s part of the problem
field and that’s part of the problem
field and that’s part of the problem when you’re poor you depend on each
when you’re poor you depend on each
when you’re poor you depend on each other you depend on your relationship
other you depend on your relationship
other you depend on your relationship with your neighbor and your family
with your neighbor and your family
with your neighbor and your family because if you don’t have that you have
because if you don’t have that you have
because if you don’t have that you have nothing and when an accident happens you
nothing and when an accident happens you
nothing and when an accident happens you know there’s this social capital that
know there’s this social capital that
know there’s this social capital that helps people get through that and so so
helps people get through that and so so
helps people get through that and so so it’s tough because on the one hand I
it’s tough because on the one hand I
it’s tough because on the one hand I think a lot of the traditional values or
think a lot of the traditional values or
think a lot of the traditional values or a lot of the values that I see in poor
a lot of the values that I see in poor
a lot of the values that I see in poor communities are values that we want to
communities are values that we want to
communities are values that we want to perpetuate and and that are important
perpetuate and and that are important
perpetuate and and that are important and on the flip side there are things
and on the flip side there are things
and on the flip side there are things like really you know avoidable suffering
like really you know avoidable suffering
like really you know avoidable suffering in health care for example and I
in health care for example and I
in health care for example and I remember talking to a doctor in Kampala
remember talking to a doctor in Kampala
remember talking to a doctor in Kampala who would tell me that he would watch
who would tell me that he would watch
who would tell me that he would watch people routinely die in his hospital
people routinely die in his hospital
people routinely die in his hospital because the hospital didn’t have enough
because the hospital didn’t have enough
because the hospital didn’t have enough sutures so people would come in from
sutures so people would come in from
sutures so people would come in from like an accident on the street and they
like an accident on the street and they
like an accident on the street and they would literally die from hemorrhage
would literally die from hemorrhage
would literally die from hemorrhage because the hospital did not have
because the hospital did not have
because the hospital did not have stitches so that’s the kind of thing
stitches so that’s the kind of thing
stitches so that’s the kind of thing that just should never happen in 2017
that just should never happen in 2017
that just should never happen in 2017 not on our watch right I also think that
not on our watch right I also think that
not on our watch right I also think that we’re learning more and more that more
we’re learning more and more that more
we’re learning more and more that more money after a certain level does not
money after a certain level does not
money after a certain level does not equate to more happiness or a more
equate to more happiness or a more
equate to more happiness or a more fulfilled life talent is equally
fulfilled life talent is equally
fulfilled life talent is equally distributed and opportunity is not and
distributed and opportunity is not and
distributed and opportunity is not and we live in a world where we’re more than
we live in a world where we’re more than
we live in a world where we’re more than 2 billion people live on less than $3 a
2 billion people live on less than $3 a
2 billion people live on less than $3 a day and that number is adjusted for
day and that number is adjusted for
day and that number is adjusted for purchasing power so that’s what three
purchasing power so that’s what three
purchasing power so that’s what three dollars buy you in a u.s. city in modern
dollars buy you in a u.s. city in modern
dollars buy you in a u.s. city in modern times so just imagine what that means I
times so just imagine what that means I
times so just imagine what that means I mean it means that you were living in a
mean it means that you were living in a
mean it means that you were living in a constant state of scarcity we now know
constant state of scarcity we now know
constant state of scarcity we now know there’s a very interesting book out
there’s a very interesting book out
there’s a very interesting book out called scarcity which talks about how
called scarcity which talks about how
called scarcity which talks about how scarcity reshapes your brain they took
scarcity reshapes your brain they took
scarcity reshapes your brain they took fortune
fortune
fortune like I think fortune 500 CEOs and had a
like I think fortune 500 CEOs and had a
like I think fortune 500 CEOs and had a um volunteer for a study where they were
um volunteer for a study where they were
um volunteer for a study where they were basically voluntarily starved for a week
basically voluntarily starved for a week
basically voluntarily starved for a week and these guys stopped being able to
and these guys stopped being able to
and these guys stopped being able to make good long-term decisions
make good long-term decisions
make good long-term decisions universally because your brain chemistry
universally because your brain chemistry
universally because your brain chemistry is focused on finding food it’s focused
is focused on finding food it’s focused
is focused on finding food it’s focused on whatever is scarce and so when people
on whatever is scarce and so when people
on whatever is scarce and so when people are living in a constant state of
are living in a constant state of
are living in a constant state of scarcity they cannot possibly make you
scarcity they cannot possibly make you
scarcity they cannot possibly make you know what we would think of as good
know what we would think of as good
know what we would think of as good decisions they are locked into a state
decisions they are locked into a state
decisions they are locked into a state of suffering and and not achieving their
of suffering and and not achieving their
of suffering and and not achieving their full human potential that is just tragic
full human potential that is just tragic
full human potential that is just tragic and it’s tragic not just at the
and it’s tragic not just at the
and it’s tragic not just at the individual level it’s tragic in the
individual level it’s tragic in the
individual level it’s tragic in the sense of this is the greatest natural
sense of this is the greatest natural
sense of this is the greatest natural resource we have in the world more
resource we have in the world more
resource we have in the world more important than going to Mars more
important than going to Mars more
important than going to Mars more important than finding the next oil
important than finding the next oil
important than finding the next oil reserve or the next diamond mine is
reserve or the next diamond mine is
reserve or the next diamond mine is figuring out how we can mine the talent
figuring out how we can mine the talent
figuring out how we can mine the talent of the bottom billions of people who’ve
of the bottom billions of people who’ve
of the bottom billions of people who’ve been left to fester and I think it’s a
been left to fester and I think it’s a
been left to fester and I think it’s a tremendous loss to the world and so for
tremendous loss to the world and so for
tremendous loss to the world and so for me I think it’s so exciting to be able
me I think it’s so exciting to be able
me I think it’s so exciting to be able to go to places like Nairobi or Uganda
to go to places like Nairobi or Uganda
to go to places like Nairobi or Uganda and see people shine see people who
and see people shine see people who
and see people shine see people who could easily be astrophysicists if they
could easily be astrophysicists if they
could easily be astrophysicists if they had only had the opportunity and
had only had the opportunity and
had only had the opportunity and hopefully get them on the path where
hopefully get them on the path where
hopefully get them on the path where they can achieve more of their human
they can achieve more of their human
they can achieve more of their human potential and it is the most personally
potential and it is the most personally
potential and it is the most personally satisfying job I could ever imagine
satisfying job I could ever imagine
satisfying job I could ever imagine having and I think as a society when we
having and I think as a society when we
having and I think as a society when we do this we you know we feel more
do this we you know we feel more
do this we you know we feel more satisfied collectively as well one of
satisfied collectively as well one of
satisfied collectively as well one of the ways that you can push yourself to
the ways that you can push yourself to
the ways that you can push yourself to get beyond your comfort zone
get beyond your comfort zone
get beyond your comfort zone I think is to read about failure and try
I think is to read about failure and try
I think is to read about failure and try to immerse yourself in more case studies
to immerse yourself in more case studies
to immerse yourself in more case studies that show you how failure can profoundly
that show you how failure can profoundly
that show you how failure can profoundly shape you and it’s hard I mean in the
shape you and it’s hard I mean in the
shape you and it’s hard I mean in the early days of a start-up I think
early days of a start-up I think
early days of a start-up I think rejection is inevitable so there’s an
rejection is inevitable so there’s an
rejection is inevitable so there’s an element of just getting back up again
element of just getting back up again
element of just getting back up again when you’ve been punched so many times
when you’ve been punched so many times
when you’ve been punched so many times that you feel like you can’t and and I
that you feel like you can’t and and I
that you feel like you can’t and and I don’t know what it is in us that is that
don’t know what it is in us that is that
don’t know what it is in us that is that that creates that sort of tipping point
that creates that sort of tipping point
that creates that sort of tipping point when you decide to get up again
when you decide to get up again
when you decide to get up again but it’s among all the entrepreneurs I
but it’s among all the entrepreneurs I
but it’s among all the entrepreneurs I know who are successful that is the
know who are successful that is the
know who are successful that is the single biggest factor it’s not not
single biggest factor it’s not not
single biggest factor it’s not not quitting
[Music]
[Music] you
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