I am 10 years old I’m in fifth grade at Valley woods elementary school near
Valley woods elementary school near
Valley woods elementary school near Bingham Farms Michigan my class is a
Bingham Farms Michigan my class is a
Bingham Farms Michigan my class is a combination it’s a combination of 5th
combination it’s a combination of 5th
combination it’s a combination of 5th and 6th graders and our teacher is mr.
and 6th graders and our teacher is mr.
and 6th graders and our teacher is mr. Hayes one day mr. Hayes gives us two
Hayes one day mr. Hayes gives us two
Hayes one day mr. Hayes gives us two assignments the first was a science
assignments the first was a science
assignments the first was a science project and the second and English paper
project and the second and English paper
project and the second and English paper I don’t want to do one project for
I don’t want to do one project for
I don’t want to do one project for English and another for science I have
English and another for science I have
English and another for science I have another idea
another idea
another idea what if I combine them what if I wrote a
what if I combine them what if I wrote a
what if I combine them what if I wrote a play about the Scopes trial where the
play about the Scopes trial where the
play about the Scopes trial where the theory of evolution put forth by Charles
theory of evolution put forth by Charles
theory of evolution put forth by Charles Darwin was challenged I asked mr. Hayes
Darwin was challenged I asked mr. Hayes
Darwin was challenged I asked mr. Hayes and he said yes and I proceeded to write
and he said yes and I proceeded to write
and he said yes and I proceeded to write the play I recruited students from all
the play I recruited students from all
the play I recruited students from all other classes and grades they were in
other classes and grades they were in
other classes and grades they were in the play they made the scenery they
the play they made the scenery they
the play they made the scenery they helped me make the costumes and even
helped me make the costumes and even
helped me make the costumes and even sell refreshments and tickets and I cast
sell refreshments and tickets and I cast
sell refreshments and tickets and I cast myself the reporter because I had a hard
myself the reporter because I had a hard
myself the reporter because I had a hard time memorizing my lines and so I could
time memorizing my lines and so I could
time memorizing my lines and so I could use the reporters notebook as my
use the reporters notebook as my
use the reporters notebook as my prompter so when this play was done it
prompter so when this play was done it
prompter so when this play was done it was a revelation was recognized for
was a revelation was recognized for
was a revelation was recognized for putting all my abilities to work in one
putting all my abilities to work in one
putting all my abilities to work in one arena in one creative project of my own
arena in one creative project of my own
arena in one creative project of my own design I had the opportunity to be an
design I had the opportunity to be an
design I had the opportunity to be an artist to be a storyteller a producer
artist to be a storyteller a producer
artist to be a storyteller a producer and to bring together a wide range of
and to bring together a wide range of
and to bring together a wide range of people in a creative project of my own
people in a creative project of my own
people in a creative project of my own design it was a high point and mr. Hayes
design it was a high point and mr. Hayes
design it was a high point and mr. Hayes had recognized that and encouraged me
had recognized that and encouraged me
had recognized that and encouraged me and really it was one of the high points
and really it was one of the high points
and really it was one of the high points of my childhood I never fit in a box I
of my childhood I never fit in a box I
of my childhood I never fit in a box I was always asked when I was growing up
was always asked when I was growing up
was always asked when I was growing up what did I want to be what did I want to
what did I want to be what did I want to
what did I want to be what did I want to be when I grew up and I never had just
be when I grew up and I never had just
be when I grew up and I never had just one answer I pretty much knew what I
one answer I pretty much knew what I
one answer I pretty much knew what I didn’t want to be and it was a short
didn’t want to be and it was a short
didn’t want to be and it was a short list I did not want to be
list I did not want to be
list I did not want to be a lawyer I didn’t want to be a garbage
a lawyer I didn’t want to be a garbage
a lawyer I didn’t want to be a garbage collector and I didn’t want to be a
collector and I didn’t want to be a
collector and I didn’t want to be a truck driver and pretty much everything
truck driver and pretty much everything
truck driver and pretty much everything else was a possibility so meanwhile I
else was a possibility so meanwhile I
else was a possibility so meanwhile I was surrounded particularly in my family
was surrounded particularly in my family
was surrounded particularly in my family by people who had picked very much
by people who had picked very much
by people who had picked very much something that was a thing that you
something that was a thing that you
something that was a thing that you could be my father was a lawyer and he
could be my father was a lawyer and he
could be my father was a lawyer and he knew he wanted to be that from a very
knew he wanted to be that from a very
knew he wanted to be that from a very young age my sister who was older also
young age my sister who was older also
young age my sister who was older also decided to be a lawyer and always seemed
decided to be a lawyer and always seemed
decided to be a lawyer and always seemed to have her next step clearly before her
to have her next step clearly before her
to have her next step clearly before her I envied that and somehow I thought that
I envied that and somehow I thought that
I envied that and somehow I thought that I I wasn’t I wasn’t up to things because
I I wasn’t I wasn’t up to things because
I I wasn’t I wasn’t up to things because I didn’t fit into a box because I didn’t
I didn’t fit into a box because I didn’t
I didn’t fit into a box because I didn’t want to be just one thing it did not
want to be just one thing it did not
want to be just one thing it did not feel good in fact it felt like it was
feel good in fact it felt like it was
feel good in fact it felt like it was not on a path to success and I kept
not on a path to success and I kept
not on a path to success and I kept thinking I would wake up one day and be
thinking I would wake up one day and be
thinking I would wake up one day and be somebody who could fit in a box that had
somebody who could fit in a box that had
somebody who could fit in a box that had a label already we’ve all seen forms
a label already we’ve all seen forms
a label already we’ve all seen forms forms that face us down with a lot of
forms that face us down with a lot of
forms that face us down with a lot of boxes to check gender age ethnicity
boxes to check gender age ethnicity
boxes to check gender age ethnicity nationality zip code I could handle that
nationality zip code I could handle that
nationality zip code I could handle that and occupation or profession and it’s
and occupation or profession and it’s
and occupation or profession and it’s that last one that still makes me
that last one that still makes me
that last one that still makes me shudder but for some people for some of
shudder but for some people for some of
shudder but for some people for some of you it might be one of the other boxes
you it might be one of the other boxes
you it might be one of the other boxes where you don’t fit into something
where you don’t fit into something
where you don’t fit into something that’s pre labeled and prefabricated so
that’s pre labeled and prefabricated so
that’s pre labeled and prefabricated so we can all know what it feels like to be
we can all know what it feels like to be
we can all know what it feels like to be an other to be somebody that can’t check
an other to be somebody that can’t check
an other to be somebody that can’t check a box other than other so I check other
a box other than other so I check other
a box other than other so I check other and I haven’t felt great about checking
and I haven’t felt great about checking
and I haven’t felt great about checking other for much of my life but finally I
other for much of my life but finally I
other for much of my life but finally I realized that that was misguided
realized that that was misguided
realized that that was misguided that’s a waste of time to feel that way
that’s a waste of time to feel that way
that’s a waste of time to feel that way that in fact being an other is one of
that in fact being an other is one of
that in fact being an other is one of the best things that you can be when I
the best things that you can be when I
the best things that you can be when I got to college at Brown I pretty much
got to college at Brown I pretty much
got to college at Brown I pretty much took the classes that were interesting
took the classes that were interesting
took the classes that were interesting to me I wanted to explore and I took art
to me I wanted to explore and I took art
to me I wanted to explore and I took art and linguistics and English I took
and linguistics and English I took
and linguistics and English I took biology and
biology and
biology and rushon and philosophy but when it came
rushon and philosophy but when it came
rushon and philosophy but when it came time to declare a major I essentially
time to declare a major I essentially
time to declare a major I essentially looked back at what I’d taken and it
looked back at what I’d taken and it
looked back at what I’d taken and it added up to something that was called
added up to something that was called
added up to something that was called semiotic s– now I’ll bet very few of
semiotic s– now I’ll bet very few of
semiotic s– now I’ll bet very few of you have heard of that I certainly
you have heard of that I certainly
you have heard of that I certainly hadn’t it means the study of signs and
hadn’t it means the study of signs and
hadn’t it means the study of signs and symbols and at the time it felt like a
symbols and at the time it felt like a
symbols and at the time it felt like a really weird default and didn’t feel
really weird default and didn’t feel
really weird default and didn’t feel very good but in retrospect I looked
very good but in retrospect I looked
very good but in retrospect I looked back and realized that it actually did
back and realized that it actually did
back and realized that it actually did fit that I throughout my life have
fit that I throughout my life have
fit that I throughout my life have combined the visual and the verbal words
combined the visual and the verbal words
combined the visual and the verbal words and images so it made sense but at the
and images so it made sense but at the
and images so it made sense but at the time it really felt like it again was
time it really felt like it again was
time it really felt like it again was another so I finally realized that in my
another so I finally realized that in my
another so I finally realized that in my life
life
life it is actually my other hood it is
it is actually my other hood it is
it is actually my other hood it is actually all the ways that I am
actually all the ways that I am
actually all the ways that I am multifaceted and bring things together
multifaceted and bring things together
multifaceted and bring things together that makes me bring value to the
that makes me bring value to the
that makes me bring value to the situations that I have pursued in my
situations that I have pursued in my
situations that I have pursued in my life that it isn’t something to feel bad
life that it isn’t something to feel bad
life that it isn’t something to feel bad about it’s something to accept I don’t
about it’s something to accept I don’t
about it’s something to accept I don’t fit in another box and I would be more
fit in another box and I would be more
fit in another box and I would be more uncomfortable in another box than in the
uncomfortable in another box than in the
uncomfortable in another box than in the other box so I finally gave myself
other box so I finally gave myself
other box so I finally gave myself permission I don’t think it was my
permission I don’t think it was my
permission I don’t think it was my family or really most people in the
family or really most people in the
family or really most people in the world that we’re telling me it was bad
world that we’re telling me it was bad
world that we’re telling me it was bad it just was harder it wasn’t clear it
it just was harder it wasn’t clear it
it just was harder it wasn’t clear it wasn’t often when you’re doing things
wasn’t often when you’re doing things
wasn’t often when you’re doing things first there isn’t a box for it but later
first there isn’t a box for it but later
first there isn’t a box for it but later there might be I’ve been a lot of things
there might be I’ve been a lot of things
there might be I’ve been a lot of things played a lot of roles operated in many
played a lot of roles operated in many
played a lot of roles operated in many different worlds in my life I’ve been a
different worlds in my life I’ve been a
different worlds in my life I’ve been a river guide a revenue generator a civic
river guide a revenue generator a civic
river guide a revenue generator a civic leader I’ve been a an artist and a human
leader I’ve been a an artist and a human
leader I’ve been a an artist and a human I’m a relative and a friend and I’ve
I’m a relative and a friend and I’ve
I’m a relative and a friend and I’ve been all of the above and this is a
been all of the above and this is a
been all of the above and this is a partial list so it’s really through my
partial list so it’s really through my
partial list so it’s really through my other hood toolbox that I have navigated
other hood toolbox that I have navigated
other hood toolbox that I have navigated my way through these different worlds
my way through these different worlds
my way through these different worlds and this is a lot in in hindsight
and this is a lot in in hindsight
and this is a lot in in hindsight reflecting on the fact that it’s not a
reflecting on the fact that it’s not a
reflecting on the fact that it’s not a particular
particular
particular expertise that I bring to a situation
expertise that I bring to a situation
expertise that I bring to a situation but often it’s a way of seeing things
but often it’s a way of seeing things
but often it’s a way of seeing things sometimes those are character traits
sometimes those are character traits
sometimes those are character traits that are very natural to me almost like
that are very natural to me almost like
that are very natural to me almost like breathing and others are things where
breathing and others are things where
breathing and others are things where it’s a skill that I’ve developed and
it’s a skill that I’ve developed and
it’s a skill that I’ve developed and honed over time many of them are not
honed over time many of them are not
honed over time many of them are not things that I have necessarily noticed
things that I have necessarily noticed
things that I have necessarily noticed myself sometimes because it comes so
myself sometimes because it comes so
myself sometimes because it comes so naturally that I don’t see it as
naturally that I don’t see it as
naturally that I don’t see it as anything special so other people can
anything special so other people can
anything special so other people can often be the a mirror for you and help
often be the a mirror for you and help
often be the a mirror for you and help you see what your special skills are and
you see what your special skills are and
you see what your special skills are and how they might be valuable scene 1 its
how they might be valuable scene 1 its
how they might be valuable scene 1 its 1993 I work at the Palo Alto weekly I
1993 I work at the Palo Alto weekly I
1993 I work at the Palo Alto weekly I get a call from a guy in a garage a Palo
get a call from a guy in a garage a Palo
get a call from a guy in a garage a Palo Alto garage and he asked would you like
Alto garage and he asked would you like
Alto garage and he asked would you like to put all the contents of the Palo Alto
to put all the contents of the Palo Alto
to put all the contents of the Palo Alto weekly on the World Wide Web and I
weekly on the World Wide Web and I
weekly on the World Wide Web and I paused meanwhile this is 1993 the
paused meanwhile this is 1993 the
paused meanwhile this is 1993 the Internet and the web are in their
Internet and the web are in their
Internet and the web are in their absolute infancy so a lot of people
absolute infancy so a lot of people
absolute infancy so a lot of people might not have taken that call or
might not have taken that call or
might not have taken that call or certainly stayed on the phone with him
certainly stayed on the phone with him
certainly stayed on the phone with him and found out what he had in mind and
and found out what he had in mind and
and found out what he had in mind and how that might work and whether it was
how that might work and whether it was
how that might work and whether it was really feasible so the other hoods skill
really feasible so the other hoods skill
really feasible so the other hoods skill or tool that I tapped into in that
or tool that I tapped into in that
or tool that I tapped into in that situation was being curious I decided
situation was being curious I decided
situation was being curious I decided that I would stay on the phone I would
that I would stay on the phone I would
that I would stay on the phone I would try to learn what he had in mind and how
try to learn what he had in mind and how
try to learn what he had in mind and how it might work and I ultimately used
it might work and I ultimately used
it might work and I ultimately used another other hood tool and said yes and
another other hood tool and said yes and
another other hood tool and said yes and that yes that small yes led to early in
that yes that small yes led to early in
that yes that small yes led to early in 1994 the Palo Alto weekly being the
1994 the Palo Alto weekly being the
1994 the Palo Alto weekly being the first newspaper in the world to be on
first newspaper in the world to be on
first newspaper in the world to be on the world wide web and later fast
the world wide web and later fast
the world wide web and later fast forward to 2008 Palo Alto online is used
forward to 2008 Palo Alto online is used
forward to 2008 Palo Alto online is used all over the world and is part of daily
all over the world and is part of daily
all over the world and is part of daily life not just here in Palo Alto and
life not just here in Palo Alto and
life not just here in Palo Alto and Silicon Valley but again all over the
Silicon Valley but again all over the
Silicon Valley but again all over the world so it was a small yes that led to
world so it was a small yes that led to
world so it was a small yes that led to that change in the world and again I
that change in the world and again I
that change in the world and again I didn’t do any of this alone but I did
didn’t do any of this alone but I did
didn’t do any of this alone but I did say yes and I was curing
say yes and I was curing
say yes and I was curing enough to answer that call scene two
enough to answer that call scene two
enough to answer that call scene two going carbon-free my whole life I have
going carbon-free my whole life I have
going carbon-free my whole life I have been somebody who’s loved spending time
been somebody who’s loved spending time
been somebody who’s loved spending time outdoors and throughout my daily life
outdoors and throughout my daily life
outdoors and throughout my daily life have tried to find ways to steward our
have tried to find ways to steward our
have tried to find ways to steward our planet and it’s taken different forms
planet and it’s taken different forms
planet and it’s taken different forms and it’s very much used a variety of
and it’s very much used a variety of
and it’s very much used a variety of other hood tools one of those tools is
other hood tools one of those tools is
other hood tools one of those tools is being open to everyone and by that I
being open to everyone and by that I
being open to everyone and by that I mean at a school where our kids were
mean at a school where our kids were
mean at a school where our kids were when there was no recycling program in
when there was no recycling program in
when there was no recycling program in the school it was really tuning in to
the school it was really tuning in to
the school it was really tuning in to the kids and the students who were
the kids and the students who were
the kids and the students who were bringing lunches that had lots of
bringing lunches that had lots of
bringing lunches that had lots of garbage and there was no recycling
garbage and there was no recycling
garbage and there was no recycling talking to them to figure out how we
talking to them to figure out how we
talking to them to figure out how we might make a change and later on working
might make a change and later on working
might make a change and later on working with the mayor or the janitor and a
with the mayor or the janitor and a
with the mayor or the janitor and a commercial building or clean tech
commercial building or clean tech
commercial building or clean tech professionals or the utilities staff it
professionals or the utilities staff it
professionals or the utilities staff it was talking to all those kinds of people
was talking to all those kinds of people
was talking to all those kinds of people to figure out how we might make a change
to figure out how we might make a change
to figure out how we might make a change and really take Palo Alto to where we
and really take Palo Alto to where we
and really take Palo Alto to where we wanted to go which is to be carbon free
wanted to go which is to be carbon free
wanted to go which is to be carbon free and once you’ve talked to lots of
and once you’ve talked to lots of
and once you’ve talked to lots of different people and figured out what
different people and figured out what
different people and figured out what the solutions might be another tools
the solutions might be another tools
the solutions might be another tools really being the human glue and if you
really being the human glue and if you
really being the human glue and if you think about glue sometimes it’s
think about glue sometimes it’s
think about glue sometimes it’s invisible it literally when it dries you
invisible it literally when it dries you
invisible it literally when it dries you can’t see it but without it all those
can’t see it but without it all those
can’t see it but without it all those parts all those people all those
parts all those people all those
parts all those people all those resources and assets would not be
resources and assets would not be
resources and assets would not be brought together to want to achieve one
brought together to want to achieve one
brought together to want to achieve one vision or one goal so it’s it’s one of
vision or one goal so it’s it’s one of
vision or one goal so it’s it’s one of those skills that can without it you
those skills that can without it you
those skills that can without it you notice it’s not there but when it’s
notice it’s not there but when it’s
notice it’s not there but when it’s there you might not see it scene 3
there you might not see it scene 3
there you might not see it scene 3 scaling social impact I work with an
scaling social impact I work with an
scaling social impact I work with an organization called sv2 Silicon Valley
organization called sv2 Silicon Valley
organization called sv2 Silicon Valley social venture fund and what we do is
social venture fund and what we do is
social venture fund and what we do is essentially try to take ourselves from
essentially try to take ourselves from
essentially try to take ourselves from the land of problems to a better world
the land of problems to a better world
the land of problems to a better world and we do that by bringing together
and we do that by bringing together
and we do that by bringing together individuals who want to learn to become
individuals who want to learn to become
individuals who want to learn to become more effective givers and then invest
more effective givers and then invest
more effective givers and then invest their reefs
their reefs
their reefs sources financial and talents and time
sources financial and talents and time
sources financial and talents and time and networks to invest in innovative
and networks to invest in innovative
and networks to invest in innovative nonprofits and promising social ventures
nonprofits and promising social ventures
nonprofits and promising social ventures that are for profits and to do that
that are for profits and to do that
that are for profits and to do that really it’s it’s a another other hood
really it’s it’s a another other hood
really it’s it’s a another other hood skill of connecting the dots those dots
skill of connecting the dots those dots
skill of connecting the dots those dots might be people they might be ideas they
might be people they might be ideas they
might be people they might be ideas they might be organizations and they might be
might be organizations and they might be
might be organizations and they might be broader than that it might be connecting
broader than that it might be connecting
broader than that it might be connecting the dot with a big idea but to do that
the dot with a big idea but to do that
the dot with a big idea but to do that you really need to sort of notice and
you really need to sort of notice and
you really need to sort of notice and see what’s possible and be a finder I
see what’s possible and be a finder I
see what’s possible and be a finder I find often that I can spot a person who
find often that I can spot a person who
find often that I can spot a person who might not seem like a likely person to
might not seem like a likely person to
might not seem like a likely person to join an organization like sv2 and find
join an organization like sv2 and find
join an organization like sv2 and find them in an unlikely spot or identify an
them in an unlikely spot or identify an
them in an unlikely spot or identify an organization that might be a good fit or
organization that might be a good fit or
organization that might be a good fit or some other way of connecting all the
some other way of connecting all the
some other way of connecting all the resources all the parts seen for again
resources all the parts seen for again
resources all the parts seen for again throughout my life I have been an artist
throughout my life I have been an artist
throughout my life I have been an artist and a curator of conversations these
and a curator of conversations these
and a curator of conversations these conversations involve taking creative
conversations involve taking creative
conversations involve taking creative risks which is another other hood tool
risks which is another other hood tool
risks which is another other hood tool and they’ve played out these these
and they’ve played out these these
and they’ve played out these these creative both conversations and
creative both conversations and
creative both conversations and creations have found their way into the
creations have found their way into the
creations have found their way into the world in a variety of ways one way is
world in a variety of ways one way is
world in a variety of ways one way is through first-person which is an
through first-person which is an
through first-person which is an interview series that I’ve done that I
interview series that I’ve done that I
interview series that I’ve done that I still do where I talk with innovators
still do where I talk with innovators
still do where I talk with innovators and leaders in Silicon Valley and when I
and leaders in Silicon Valley and when I
and leaders in Silicon Valley and when I reflect on what those people have in
reflect on what those people have in
reflect on what those people have in common they are all other people there
common they are all other people there
common they are all other people there are people who have combined their
are people who have combined their
are people who have combined their interests and their skills in ways that
interests and their skills in ways that
interests and their skills in ways that are often very much ahead of their time
are often very much ahead of their time
are often very much ahead of their time they are trailblazing and by drawing
they are trailblazing and by drawing
they are trailblazing and by drawing that out sometimes I find they even see
that out sometimes I find they even see
that out sometimes I find they even see things in themselves that they hadn’t
things in themselves that they hadn’t
things in themselves that they hadn’t seen they make connections about how
seen they make connections about how
seen they make connections about how they’ve taken a turn to the right or the
they’ve taken a turn to the right or the
they’ve taken a turn to the right or the left and another example is during the
left and another example is during the
left and another example is during the election season I was doing some drawing
election season I was doing some drawing
election season I was doing some drawing and found myself providing an
and found myself providing an
and found myself providing an illustration for a greeting card that
illustration for a greeting card that
illustration for a greeting card that landed in all the Walmarts and all the
landed in all the Walmarts and all the
landed in all the Walmarts and all the targets
targets
targets of the u.s. in the election section so
of the u.s. in the election section so
of the u.s. in the election section so you never know where your work can land
you never know where your work can land
you never know where your work can land I also started taking a creative risk a
I also started taking a creative risk a
I also started taking a creative risk a Illustrated blog called actually in
Illustrated blog called actually in
Illustrated blog called actually in Silicon Valley sharing some perspectives
Silicon Valley sharing some perspectives
Silicon Valley sharing some perspectives that are not kind of the stereotypical
that are not kind of the stereotypical
that are not kind of the stereotypical view of Silicon Valley and finally
view of Silicon Valley and finally
view of Silicon Valley and finally leadership Palo Alto is really a
leadership Palo Alto is really a
leadership Palo Alto is really a leadership development program for civic
leadership development program for civic
leadership development program for civic leaders which brings two other people
leaders which brings two other people
leaders which brings two other people from again very different sectors and
from again very different sectors and
from again very different sectors and interests and helps them find a way to
interests and helps them find a way to
interests and helps them find a way to become civically involved all of these
become civically involved all of these
become civically involved all of these things involve taking creative risks and
things involve taking creative risks and
things involve taking creative risks and believing in the magic that can happen
believing in the magic that can happen
believing in the magic that can happen when there is collaboration and hope and
when there is collaboration and hope and
when there is collaboration and hope and just again trying something in a new way
just again trying something in a new way
just again trying something in a new way different perspectives are central to
different perspectives are central to
different perspectives are central to all of these roles one is the hoc view
all of these roles one is the hoc view
all of these roles one is the hoc view the 30,000 foot I know they actually
the 30,000 foot I know they actually
the 30,000 foot I know they actually don’t fly that high but 30,000 feet up
don’t fly that high but 30,000 feet up
don’t fly that high but 30,000 feet up you see the systems perspective you see
you see the systems perspective you see
you see the systems perspective you see kind of the overview how things all fit
kind of the overview how things all fit
kind of the overview how things all fit together and back down on the ground the
together and back down on the ground the
together and back down on the ground the one fit view or the chiken view people
one fit view or the chiken view people
one fit view or the chiken view people are figuring out how things actually
are figuring out how things actually
are figuring out how things actually work they’re operational they’re making
work they’re operational they’re making
work they’re operational they’re making things happen they’re building something
things happen they’re building something
things happen they’re building something and in between is the hummingbird view
and in between is the hummingbird view
and in between is the hummingbird view which is where I’ve spent most of my
which is where I’ve spent most of my
which is where I’ve spent most of my time
time
time I have been a hawk and I have been a
I have been a hawk and I have been a
I have been a hawk and I have been a chicken but it’s the hummingbird that
chicken but it’s the hummingbird that
chicken but it’s the hummingbird that really is my other hood tool here where
really is my other hood tool here where
really is my other hood tool here where it’s it’s traveling between elevations
it’s it’s traveling between elevations
it’s it’s traveling between elevations and then again around different
and then again around different
and then again around different stakeholders and perspectives so these
stakeholders and perspectives so these
stakeholders and perspectives so these are my other hood tools these are even
are my other hood tools these are even
are my other hood tools these are even just some of mine
just some of mine
just some of mine humors another one and I urge you to
humors another one and I urge you to
humors another one and I urge you to think about what are your tools whether
think about what are your tools whether
think about what are your tools whether you’re an other person or somebody that
you’re an other person or somebody that
you’re an other person or somebody that fits more neatly into a pre labelled box
fits more neatly into a pre labelled box
fits more neatly into a pre labelled box we all have a tool kit and it’s really
we all have a tool kit and it’s really
we all have a tool kit and it’s really as Margaret Mead said we’re always
as Margaret Mead said we’re always
as Margaret Mead said we’re always remember that you are unique just like
remember that you are unique just like
remember that you are unique just like everyone else so it’s it’s a wonderful
everyone else so it’s it’s a wonderful
everyone else so it’s it’s a wonderful opportunity to think about these traits
opportunity to think about these traits
opportunity to think about these traits as opposed to being
as opposed to being
as opposed to being the best violinist or the best soccer
the best violinist or the best soccer
the best violinist or the best soccer player all of which is great but the way
player all of which is great but the way
player all of which is great but the way that you can bring it together as more
that you can bring it together as more
that you can bring it together as more than the sum of your parts we need us
than the sum of your parts we need us
than the sum of your parts we need us all we need the people who have spent
all we need the people who have spent
all we need the people who have spent decades trying to understand bees or to
decades trying to understand bees or to
decades trying to understand bees or to find a cure for cancer we need people
find a cure for cancer we need people
find a cure for cancer we need people who are a combination who are others we
who are a combination who are others we
who are a combination who are others we need all of us to address the kinds of
need all of us to address the kinds of
need all of us to address the kinds of challenges that we’re facing whether its
challenges that we’re facing whether its
challenges that we’re facing whether its climate change or violence or poverty in
climate change or violence or poverty in
climate change or violence or poverty in our world in our communities but we are
our world in our communities but we are
our world in our communities but we are going to get there because we all bring
going to get there because we all bring
going to get there because we all bring our whole selves whether we fit into one
our whole selves whether we fit into one
our whole selves whether we fit into one neat box or not and my father the lawyer
neat box or not and my father the lawyer
neat box or not and my father the lawyer was not just a lawyer he was a civic
was not just a lawyer he was a civic
was not just a lawyer he was a civic leader my sister the lawyer was not just
leader my sister the lawyer was not just
leader my sister the lawyer was not just a lawyer she was also a talented weaver
a lawyer she was also a talented weaver
a lawyer she was also a talented weaver among many other things so we’re all a
among many other things so we’re all a
among many other things so we’re all a combination so I invite us to celebrate
combination so I invite us to celebrate
combination so I invite us to celebrate that and to bring it all to the to to
that and to bring it all to the to to
that and to bring it all to the to to the world and to your work and to your
the world and to your work and to your
the world and to your work and to your life and and know that you don’t have to
life and and know that you don’t have to
life and and know that you don’t have to fit into one neat box I recently went to
fit into one neat box I recently went to
fit into one neat box I recently went to a social impact film festival and when I
a social impact film festival and when I
a social impact film festival and when I entered I went to the table where you
entered I went to the table where you
entered I went to the table where you got your nametag and my nametag was
got your nametag and my nametag was
got your nametag and my nametag was there and so were a number of colored
there and so were a number of colored
there and so were a number of colored post-its the post-its were labeled with
post-its the post-its were labeled with
post-its the post-its were labeled with different options of who you could be
different options of who you could be
different options of who you could be who what your role was once again it was
who what your role was once again it was
who what your role was once again it was categorizing and social entrepreneur
categorizing and social entrepreneur
categorizing and social entrepreneur media storyteller investor and then
media storyteller investor and then
media storyteller investor and then there was other and I decided a little
there was other and I decided a little
there was other and I decided a little bit sheepishly
bit sheepishly
bit sheepishly but honestly to put all of them on my
but honestly to put all of them on my
but honestly to put all of them on my nametag and I went off and walked around
nametag and I went off and walked around
nametag and I went off and walked around and lo and behold there were quite a
and lo and behold there were quite a
and lo and behold there were quite a number of people that had either all the
number of people that had either all the
number of people that had either all the colors of post-its or most of them on
colors of post-its or most of them on
colors of post-its or most of them on their nametag and I realized that I had
their nametag and I realized that I had
their nametag and I realized that I had found other others and it felt great
found other others and it felt great
found other others and it felt great thank you for listening and thank you
thank you for listening and thank you
thank you for listening and thank you for looking
”
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