[Applause] hello everybody it’s an honor to be here
hello everybody it’s an honor to be here
hello everybody it’s an honor to be here my name is roux and some of you might
my name is roux and some of you might
my name is roux and some of you might have seen me on MasterChef please don’t
have seen me on MasterChef please don’t
have seen me on MasterChef please don’t make me cook dessert so I forgot my
make me cook dessert so I forgot my
make me cook dessert so I forgot my speech so I’m most likely the least
speech so I’m most likely the least
speech so I’m most likely the least qualified speaker who ever appeared on
qualified speaker who ever appeared on
qualified speaker who ever appeared on TEDx I’m not a scientist I don’t have
TEDx I’m not a scientist I don’t have
TEDx I’m not a scientist I don’t have any research studies to share with you
any research studies to share with you
any research studies to share with you just my personal experience I have been
just my personal experience I have been
just my personal experience I have been a very lucky person I have made some
a very lucky person I have made some
a very lucky person I have made some decisions that profoundly changed my
decisions that profoundly changed my
decisions that profoundly changed my life I didn’t realize that until much
life I didn’t realize that until much
life I didn’t realize that until much much later I want to tell you a story of
much later I want to tell you a story of
much later I want to tell you a story of my life and how by making some random
my life and how by making some random
my life and how by making some random chick choices that was seemingly absurd
chick choices that was seemingly absurd
chick choices that was seemingly absurd at the time I managed to enjoy it
at the time I managed to enjoy it
at the time I managed to enjoy it without dying even once I’m not even
without dying even once I’m not even
without dying even once I’m not even kidding I almost died when I was a 6
kidding I almost died when I was a 6
kidding I almost died when I was a 6 years old living in bore gasps and I
years old living in bore gasps and I
years old living in bore gasps and I thought it was a good idea to break into
thought it was a good idea to break into
thought it was a good idea to break into a water park to climb up a waterslide
a water park to climb up a waterslide
a water park to climb up a waterslide and to accidentally fall into the pool
and to accidentally fall into the pool
and to accidentally fall into the pool the poo is very deep and I didn’t know
the poo is very deep and I didn’t know
the poo is very deep and I didn’t know how to swim
how to swim
how to swim they weren’t anybody around to help
they weren’t anybody around to help
they weren’t anybody around to help either so my survival instincts kick in
either so my survival instincts kick in
either so my survival instincts kick in and I end up walking under the water
and I end up walking under the water
and I end up walking under the water until reach the shallow end of the pool
until reach the shallow end of the pool
until reach the shallow end of the pool and to be honest it was the longest
and to be honest it was the longest
and to be honest it was the longest journey in my life it was a very very
journey in my life it was a very very
journey in my life it was a very very scary experience but I never learned my
scary experience but I never learned my
scary experience but I never learned my lessons but let me start from the
lessons but let me start from the
lessons but let me start from the beginning
beginning
beginning I was born in Vietnam and mostly lived
I was born in Vietnam and mostly lived
I was born in Vietnam and mostly lived there for the first 13 years of my life
there for the first 13 years of my life
there for the first 13 years of my life my parents traveled back and forth
my parents traveled back and forth
my parents traveled back and forth between Vietnam and Bulgaria for many
between Vietnam and Bulgaria for many
between Vietnam and Bulgaria for many many years until we finally settled down
many years until we finally settled down
many years until we finally settled down in Sofia I was a seventh grader who
in Sofia I was a seventh grader who
in Sofia I was a seventh grader who didn’t speak almost any Bulgarian and I
didn’t speak almost any Bulgarian and I
didn’t speak almost any Bulgarian and I still remember the first phrase that my
still remember the first phrase that my
still remember the first phrase that my dad told me I’ll sneak evolve or ski
dad told me I’ll sneak evolve or ski
dad told me I’ll sneak evolve or ski which means I don’t speak Bulgarian he
which means I don’t speak Bulgarian he
which means I don’t speak Bulgarian he used to be the first thing I tell all
used to be the first thing I tell all
used to be the first thing I tell all the kids in my neighborhood so I started
the kids in my neighborhood so I started
the kids in my neighborhood so I started in a public school almost immediately
in a public school almost immediately
in a public school almost immediately and as most of you from Bulgarian
and as most of you from Bulgarian
and as most of you from Bulgarian seven grade is the most important year
seven grade is the most important year
seven grade is the most important year of your life that’s when you take the
of your life that’s when you take the
of your life that’s when you take the high school exams and if you have low
high school exams and if you have low
high school exams and if you have low grades and you fail your exams pretty
grades and you fail your exams pretty
grades and you fail your exams pretty much your life is ruined
much your life is ruined
much your life is ruined right some of you have gone through that
right some of you have gone through that
right some of you have gone through that recently well I did I fail my exams my
recently well I did I fail my exams my
recently well I did I fail my exams my began was terrible so I end up staying
began was terrible so I end up staying
began was terrible so I end up staying until eighth grade and you know what
until eighth grade and you know what
until eighth grade and you know what people say about kids who go to high
people say about kids who go to high
people say about kids who go to high school after eighth grades basically you
school after eighth grades basically you
school after eighth grades basically you have failure and your life is doomed I
had the best high school experience ever
had the best high school experience ever I met the best I had the best classmates
I met the best I had the best classmates
I met the best I had the best classmates maybe I didn’t get the best education
maybe I didn’t get the best education
maybe I didn’t get the best education out there but I got some amazing life
out there but I got some amazing life
out there but I got some amazing life lessons and a unique bunch of friends we
lessons and a unique bunch of friends we
lessons and a unique bunch of friends we still hang out every month four years
still hang out every month four years
still hang out every month four years later I have to decide if I want to stay
later I have to decide if I want to stay
later I have to decide if I want to stay in Bulgaria to study and to be close to
in Bulgaria to study and to be close to
in Bulgaria to study and to be close to my parents or to go to the United States
my parents or to go to the United States
my parents or to go to the United States it was a super easy decision for me I
it was a super easy decision for me I
it was a super easy decision for me I was burning from the desire to live
was burning from the desire to live
was burning from the desire to live alone who doesn’t right at that stage to
alone who doesn’t right at that stage to
alone who doesn’t right at that stage to be free to be free for your parents
be free to be free for your parents
be free to be free for your parents tyranny so I didn’t even think of it
tyranny so I didn’t even think of it
tyranny so I didn’t even think of it twice here I come the United States of
twice here I come the United States of
twice here I come the United States of America so yes now I have to make
America so yes now I have to make
America so yes now I have to make another important decision what should i
another important decision what should i
another important decision what should i major in I always like drawing and Fine
major in I always like drawing and Fine
major in I always like drawing and Fine Arts but my parents are a different
Arts but my parents are a different
Arts but my parents are a different vision for my life like most other Asian
vision for my life like most other Asian
vision for my life like most other Asian parents if you know what I mean
parents if you know what I mean
parents if you know what I mean I understand I cannot really blame them
I understand I cannot really blame them
I understand I cannot really blame them my parents live – a war so they know
my parents live – a war so they know
my parents live – a war so they know what it takes to survive in this world
what it takes to survive in this world
what it takes to survive in this world during the Vietnam War my grandparents
during the Vietnam War my grandparents
during the Vietnam War my grandparents have to separate their children and send
have to separate their children and send
have to separate their children and send them to live at different places in the
them to live at different places in the
them to live at different places in the country so if one place get bombed not
country so if one place get bombed not
country so if one place get bombed not all the children died so just think
all the children died so just think
all the children died so just think about that for a moment the choices the
about that for a moment the choices the
about that for a moment the choices the people had to make then so when my
people had to make then so when my
people had to make then so when my parents send me to the US they send me
parents send me to the US they send me
parents send me to the US they send me with specific instructions you have to
with specific instructions you have to
with specific instructions you have to major in something particle which
major in something particle which
major in something particle which translates to Business Administration
yeah
yeah engineering or computer science so I did
engineering or computer science so I did
engineering or computer science so I did I chose computer science I thought since
I chose computer science I thought since
I chose computer science I thought since I like chatting and writing both are
I like chatting and writing both are
I like chatting and writing both are both script to troll people IRC if you
both script to troll people IRC if you
both script to troll people IRC if you guys know what it is it’s a Facebook of
guys know what it is it’s a Facebook of
guys know what it is it’s a Facebook of the nineties some of you may be too
the nineties some of you may be too
the nineties some of you may be too young to remember that would become a
young to remember that would become a
young to remember that would become a good computer scientist well I was very
good computer scientist well I was very
good computer scientist well I was very very wrong about that it was a
very wrong about that it was a
very wrong about that it was a terrifying moment for me what was I
terrifying moment for me what was I
terrifying moment for me what was I going to do I have no clue what I’m good
going to do I have no clue what I’m good
going to do I have no clue what I’m good at and I hated my major so like most
at and I hated my major so like most
at and I hated my major so like most young adult who are lost I decided to
young adult who are lost I decided to
young adult who are lost I decided to change my majors I change it three times
change my majors I change it three times
change my majors I change it three times I start with computer science change it
I start with computer science change it
I start with computer science change it to finance only to quickly realize that
to finance only to quickly realize that
to finance only to quickly realize that I suck at it and there’s no way to make
I suck at it and there’s no way to make
I suck at it and there’s no way to make a living out of it so I taught cool
a living out of it so I taught cool
a living out of it so I taught cool maybe my pants were right all along
maybe my pants were right all along
maybe my pants were right all along maybe I should go with business instead
maybe I should go with business instead
maybe I should go with business instead right well I hated it I only took a
right well I hated it I only took a
right well I hated it I only took a couple trance-like yeah it’s not for me
couple trance-like yeah it’s not for me
couple trance-like yeah it’s not for me so then at the end of my second year I
so then at the end of my second year I
so then at the end of my second year I was completely lost
was completely lost
was completely lost what am I supposed to do now I haven’t
what am I supposed to do now I haven’t
what am I supposed to do now I haven’t still no clue what I’m good at and this
still no clue what I’m good at and this
still no clue what I’m good at and this coming the moment I have to make
coming the moment I have to make
coming the moment I have to make basically make a choice so I decided to
basically make a choice so I decided to
basically make a choice so I decided to transfer to another university in
transfer to another university in
transfer to another university in another state I applied to a few
another state I applied to a few
another state I applied to a few universities to major change in from
universities to major change in from
universities to major change in from architecture to fashion design yeah all
architecture to fashion design yeah all
architecture to fashion design yeah all random stuff and end up enrolling in a
random stuff and end up enrolling in a
random stuff and end up enrolling in a journalism degree at the University of
journalism degree at the University of
journalism degree at the University of North Carolina and you know why I chose
North Carolina and you know why I chose
North Carolina and you know why I chose it really didn’t think too much about it
it really didn’t think too much about it
it really didn’t think too much about it I chose it mainly because my girlfriend
I chose it mainly because my girlfriend
I chose it mainly because my girlfriend was close talking about making lifelong
was close talking about making lifelong
was close talking about making lifelong choices based on emotion rather than
choices based on emotion rather than
choices based on emotion rather than logic so moving to North Carolina was
logic so moving to North Carolina was
logic so moving to North Carolina was one of one of the the smartest decision
one of one of the the smartest decision
one of one of the the smartest decision I have made in my entire life
I have made in my entire life
I have made in my entire life because I make that decision I end up
because I make that decision I end up
because I make that decision I end up meeting two of the most significant
meeting two of the most significant
meeting two of the most significant people in my life I met my wife who is
people in my life I met my wife who is
people in my life I met my wife who is bogan and who has a student back then
bogan and who has a student back then
bogan and who has a student back then but I also met an amazing professors who
but I also met an amazing professors who
but I also met an amazing professors who is a Fulbright Scholar and a nation
is a Fulbright Scholar and a nation
is a Fulbright Scholar and a nation Geographic photographer he became my
Geographic photographer he became my
Geographic photographer he became my mentors and also helped me to stay
mentors and also helped me to stay
mentors and also helped me to stay focused so I can I I can actually
focused so I can I I can actually
focused so I can I I can actually graduate with something so I end up
graduate with something so I end up
graduate with something so I end up gathering with a digital media and photo
gathering with a digital media and photo
gathering with a digital media and photo Jerusem degree he also helped me land my
Jerusem degree he also helped me land my
Jerusem degree he also helped me land my first job at the New York Times covering
first job at the New York Times covering
first job at the New York Times covering business and politics and that was my
business and politics and that was my
business and politics and that was my second lucky break
second lucky break
second lucky break there I met my second mentor who was my
there I met my second mentor who was my
there I met my second mentor who was my boss the design director of nine
boss the design director of nine
boss the design director of nine young times he really taught me the
young times he really taught me the
young times he really taught me the value of self-criticism and him and
value of self-criticism and him and
value of self-criticism and him and self-improvement he also pushed me to my
self-improvement he also pushed me to my
self-improvement he also pushed me to my limits with him and will I really learn
limits with him and will I really learn
limits with him and will I really learn what a good and a well done job looks
what a good and a well done job looks
what a good and a well done job looks like most people would be happy just to
like most people would be happy just to
like most people would be happy just to be there working with the best people in
be there working with the best people in
be there working with the best people in the industry but life had a different
the industry but life had a different
the industry but life had a different plan for me so in less than two years I
plan for me so in less than two years I
plan for me so in less than two years I decided to move again
decided to move again
decided to move again so I quit my job and moved to Seattle so
so I quit my job and moved to Seattle so
so I quit my job and moved to Seattle so that could be with my new girlfriend who
that could be with my new girlfriend who
that could be with my new girlfriend who eventually became my wife so second time
eventually became my wife so second time
eventually became my wife so second time in my life I make a choice based on
in my life I make a choice based on
in my life I make a choice based on emotion rather than logic fast-forward
emotion rather than logic fast-forward
emotion rather than logic fast-forward two companies a wedding and a birth of
two companies a wedding and a birth of
two companies a wedding and a birth of our first child I join a technology
our first child I join a technology
our first child I join a technology startup back then my son was still an
startup back then my son was still an
startup back then my son was still an infant so before I turned 30 I have
infant so before I turned 30 I have
infant so before I turned 30 I have accomplished pretty much I have
accomplished pretty much I have
accomplished pretty much I have everything I’ve ever wanted in life I
everything I’ve ever wanted in life I
everything I’ve ever wanted in life I had become a design director I was
had become a design director I was
had become a design director I was making a really good salary I have
making a really good salary I have
making a really good salary I have achieved the American dream
achieved the American dream
achieved the American dream had a house a family and a dog I was not
had a house a family and a dog I was not
had a house a family and a dog I was not happy there was something missing I was
happy there was something missing I was
happy there was something missing I was working crazy hours I was under constant
working crazy hours I was under constant
working crazy hours I was under constant stress at one point I went to a severe
stress at one point I went to a severe
stress at one point I went to a severe depression had some problem with
depression had some problem with
depression had some problem with substance abuse and that impact my
substance abuse and that impact my
substance abuse and that impact my family you know was the worst of it is
family you know was the worst of it is
family you know was the worst of it is that you didn’t have enough time to
that you didn’t have enough time to
that you didn’t have enough time to spend with your family so what’s the
spend with your family so what’s the
spend with your family so what’s the point of making all this money when you
point of making all this money when you
point of making all this money when you really cannot spend it to have fun with
really cannot spend it to have fun with
really cannot spend it to have fun with the people that you love he was the same
the people that you love he was the same
the people that you love he was the same for my wife she was on a fast track to
for my wife she was on a fast track to
for my wife she was on a fast track to become manager at Microsoft but she had
become manager at Microsoft but she had
become manager at Microsoft but she had to work until the day that she gave
to work until the day that she gave
to work until the day that she gave birth until the day that she gave birth
birth until the day that she gave birth
birth until the day that she gave birth and had to go back to work when I said
and had to go back to work when I said
and had to go back to work when I said was only four months old
so that’s what God is thinking nothing
so that’s what God is thinking nothing in this life is eternal when the moment
in this life is eternal when the moment
in this life is eternal when the moment when all the people that you love are
when all the people that you love are
when all the people that you love are gone how much are you willing to give up
gone how much are you willing to give up
gone how much are you willing to give up just to spend one more day with them the
just to spend one more day with them the
just to spend one more day with them the answer was simple for me over it so we
answer was simple for me over it so we
answer was simple for me over it so we decide to move back home
decide to move back home
decide to move back home whatever quit our jobs and sold
whatever quit our jobs and sold
whatever quit our jobs and sold everything we owned and one beautiful
everything we owned and one beautiful
everything we owned and one beautiful November day we bought a plane and
November day we bought a plane and
November day we bought a plane and Mumbai to Bulgaria it was the hardest
Mumbai to Bulgaria it was the hardest
Mumbai to Bulgaria it was the hardest decision I’ve ever made in my entire
decision I’ve ever made in my entire
decision I’ve ever made in my entire life
life
life I’m no longer responsible myself I’m
I’m no longer responsible myself I’m
I’m no longer responsible myself I’m responsible for my family and my son’s
responsible for my family and my son’s
responsible for my family and my son’s future and we had no clue without
future and we had no clue without
future and we had no clue without pointing what we are going to do to
pointing what we are going to do to
pointing what we are going to do to survive here much while everybody was
survive here much while everybody was
survive here much while everybody was telling us we are crazy three years have
telling us we are crazy three years have
telling us we are crazy three years have passed since that they move and I have
passed since that they move and I have
passed since that they move and I have never been happier I finally have time
never been happier I finally have time
never been happier I finally have time now to pursue my interest to travel take
now to pursue my interest to travel take
now to pursue my interest to travel take photos of strangers start start with my
photos of strangers start start with my
photos of strangers start start with my wife even though it felt very quickly
wife even though it felt very quickly
wife even though it felt very quickly participated MasterChef start our own
participated MasterChef start our own
participated MasterChef start our own restaurant and most recently join a
restaurant and most recently join a
restaurant and most recently join a fast-growing technology stuff in the UK
fast-growing technology stuff in the UK
fast-growing technology stuff in the UK working from home now I get a chance to
working from home now I get a chance to
working from home now I get a chance to look at amazing and ambitious people
look at amazing and ambitious people
look at amazing and ambitious people close our families and we understand
close our families and we understand
close our families and we understand what it takes
what it takes
what it takes I never regret the moment I never regret
I never regret the moment I never regret
I never regret the moment I never regret a decision to go back here but don’t get
a decision to go back here but don’t get
a decision to go back here but don’t get me wrong I never I don’t regret a single
me wrong I never I don’t regret a single
me wrong I never I don’t regret a single second spending the United States either
second spending the United States either
second spending the United States either it really made me who I am and gave me
it really made me who I am and gave me
it really made me who I am and gave me the foundation the skills and the
the foundation the skills and the
the foundation the skills and the resources to do what I do now throughout
resources to do what I do now throughout
resources to do what I do now throughout my ever-changing life the only constant
my ever-changing life the only constant
my ever-changing life the only constant has been my family my friends who are
has been my family my friends who are
has been my family my friends who are always there to support me even when
always there to support me even when
always there to support me even when they don’t understand why I do what I do
they don’t understand why I do what I do
they don’t understand why I do what I do who are always there for me even when I
who are always there for me even when I
who are always there for me even when I fell and I really want to give up and if
fell and I really want to give up and if
fell and I really want to give up and if you think about it
you think about it
you think about it most of my lucky breaks was to surround
most of my lucky breaks was to surround
most of my lucky breaks was to surround myself with the right people my mentors
myself with the right people my mentors
myself with the right people my mentors my family and my friends if you ever
my family and my friends if you ever
my family and my friends if you ever find yourself in the place that nobody
find yourself in the place that nobody
find yourself in the place that nobody challenges you inspires you or support
challenges you inspires you or support
challenges you inspires you or support you then you’re most likely in the wrong
you then you’re most likely in the wrong
you then you’re most likely in the wrong place now you’re wondering why I’m
place now you’re wondering why I’m
place now you’re wondering why I’m telling you all this stuff why nobody
telling you all this stuff why nobody
telling you all this stuff why nobody care about my life as I mentioned before
care about my life as I mentioned before
care about my life as I mentioned before I’m not really qualified to give this
I’m not really qualified to give this
I’m not really qualified to give this speech I haven’t done anything remotely
speech I haven’t done anything remotely
speech I haven’t done anything remotely helpful
helpful
helpful I have always been lucky and that’s
I have always been lucky and that’s
I have always been lucky and that’s right now that’s what I’m basing my life
right now that’s what I’m basing my life
right now that’s what I’m basing my life on now that I look back at all those
on now that I look back at all those
on now that I look back at all those moments and all the decisions there’s
moments and all the decisions there’s
moments and all the decisions there’s only one thing only one thing that
only one thing only one thing that
only one thing only one thing that unified all this mess is my life and it
unified all this mess is my life and it
unified all this mess is my life and it wasn’t about making the right choices it
wasn’t about making the right choices it
wasn’t about making the right choices it wasn’t about being dedicated or being
wasn’t about being dedicated or being
wasn’t about being dedicated or being prepared it has even less to do with
prepared it has even less to do with
prepared it has even less to do with being it it has even less to do with
being it it has even less to do with
being it it has even less to do with being intelligent it’s all about making
being intelligent it’s all about making
being intelligent it’s all about making a jump into the uncertainty it’s about
a jump into the uncertainty it’s about
a jump into the uncertainty it’s about just doing it and learn for your
just doing it and learn for your
just doing it and learn for your mistakes
mistakes
mistakes it’s about surrounding yourself with the
it’s about surrounding yourself with the
it’s about surrounding yourself with the people who are always there for you and
people who are always there for you and
people who are always there for you and support you no matter what
support you no matter what
support you no matter what I always try to remember this one quote
I always try to remember this one quote
I always try to remember this one quote from Winston Churchill success is not
from Winston Churchill success is not
from Winston Churchill success is not final failure is never fatal it is the
final failure is never fatal it is the
final failure is never fatal it is the courage to continue that counts so
courage to continue that counts so
courage to continue that counts so there’ll be moments in your life when
there’ll be moments in your life when
there’ll be moments in your life when you fall really hard when you are lost
you fall really hard when you are lost
you fall really hard when you are lost and you really really really want to
and you really really really want to
and you really really really want to give up those are the moments that will
give up those are the moments that will
give up those are the moments that will pass and you become better and stronger
pass and you become better and stronger
pass and you become better and stronger and wiser don’t fear the uncertainty
and wiser don’t fear the uncertainty
and wiser don’t fear the uncertainty embrace it thank you very much
”
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