you [Music]
well first of all it’s really great to
well first of all it’s really great to be back here at hired in high school the
be back here at hired in high school the
be back here at hired in high school the finest school in the nation go Rams yeah
finest school in the nation go Rams yeah
finest school in the nation go Rams yeah I I was really an interesting student
I I was really an interesting student
I I was really an interesting student here you could speak to some teachers
here you could speak to some teachers
here you could speak to some teachers like Miss sure beer miss Galvin about my
like Miss sure beer miss Galvin about my
like Miss sure beer miss Galvin about my skills in the physics and math which
skills in the physics and math which
skills in the physics and math which respectively were let’s say great if I
respectively were let’s say great if I
respectively were let’s say great if I was being extremely sarcastic or or mr.
was being extremely sarcastic or or mr.
was being extremely sarcastic or or mr. Rapaport about how I spoke a lot
Rapaport about how I spoke a lot
Rapaport about how I spoke a lot whenever I wasn’t supposed to be
whenever I wasn’t supposed to be
whenever I wasn’t supposed to be speaking or maybe mr. O’Brien about my
speaking or maybe mr. O’Brien about my
speaking or maybe mr. O’Brien about my being IB exam score scores which made
being IB exam score scores which made
being IB exam score scores which made the top 90% possible so I really come
the top 90% possible so I really come
the top 90% possible so I really come here today with very little academic
here today with very little academic
here today with very little academic achievement and but want to speak about
achievement and but want to speak about
achievement and but want to speak about how I learned you learn a lot in school
how I learned you learn a lot in school
how I learned you learn a lot in school it’s foundational it’s very very
it’s foundational it’s very very
it’s foundational it’s very very important to your future as the other
important to your future as the other
important to your future as the other speakers have pointed out going to class
speakers have pointed out going to class
speakers have pointed out going to class there is simply no substitute for it but
there is simply no substitute for it but
there is simply no substitute for it but I would argue that by just doing that
I would argue that by just doing that
I would argue that by just doing that you’re leaving a chunk of your potential
you’re leaving a chunk of your potential
you’re leaving a chunk of your potential on the table that if you do simply only
on the table that if you do simply only
on the table that if you do simply only what is prescribed to you you miss out
what is prescribed to you you miss out
what is prescribed to you you miss out on what is potentially optimized for you
on what is potentially optimized for you
on what is potentially optimized for you and I think there’s an opportunity to
and I think there’s an opportunity to
and I think there’s an opportunity to bridge the gap between the generalized
bridge the gap between the generalized
bridge the gap between the generalized education that you receive and the
education that you receive and the
education that you receive and the optimal person you want to be so I’ve
optimal person you want to be so I’ve
optimal person you want to be so I’ve come up with a catchy phrase too so that
come up with a catchy phrase too so that
come up with a catchy phrase too so that maybe you remember something from my
maybe you remember something from my
maybe you remember something from my talk today and this is it stop learning
talk today and this is it stop learning
talk today and this is it stop learning start building what does that actually
start building what does that actually
start building what does that actually mean so building your education I put up
mean so building your education I put up
mean so building your education I put up a nice definition there but basically
a nice definition there but basically
a nice definition there but basically it’s an inventive creative critical way
it’s an inventive creative critical way
it’s an inventive creative critical way to position yourself differently to
to position yourself differently to
to position yourself differently to think really uniquely about who you are
think really uniquely about who you are
think really uniquely about who you are and what you can learn that’s different
and what you can learn that’s different
and what you can learn that’s different from everybody else and how you can use
from everybody else and how you can use
from everybody else and how you can use your time effectively in order to do
your time effectively in order to do
your time effectively in order to do that it’s about building your unique
that it’s about building your unique
that it’s about building your unique competitive advantage what really makes
competitive advantage what really makes
competitive advantage what really makes you who you are to your future employers
you who you are to your future employers
you who you are to your future employers or maybe investors or just other people
or maybe investors or just other people
or maybe investors or just other people and I want to argue and I’ll explain
and I want to argue and I’ll explain
and I want to argue and I’ll explain this in a minute that you should build
this in a minute that you should build
this in a minute that you should build your knowledge base like you build a
your knowledge base like you build a
your knowledge base like you build a business so I’ve kind of highlighted the
business so I’ve kind of highlighted the
business so I’ve kind of highlighted the outline the education ecosystem as it is
outline the education ecosystem as it is
outline the education ecosystem as it is today I think there are kind of the
today I think there are kind of the
today I think there are kind of the conventional options universities school
conventional options universities school
conventional options universities school maybe even some online courses these
maybe even some online courses these
maybe even some online courses these wide widely adopted that’s adopted
wide widely adopted that’s adopted
wide widely adopted that’s adopted options that kind of take you along a
options that kind of take you along a
options that kind of take you along a path that have clear outcomes and clear
path that have clear outcomes and clear
path that have clear outcomes and clear results but are also proven methods
results but are also proven methods
results but are also proven methods there are some of these new methods
there are some of these new methods
there are some of these new methods coding academies international learning
coding academies international learning
coding academies international learning these are marketed methods they support
these are marketed methods they support
these are marketed methods they support the gap between the degree you’re
the gap between the degree you’re
the gap between the degree you’re receiving from a traditional institution
receiving from a traditional institution
receiving from a traditional institution and some of the skills you need to learn
and some of the skills you need to learn
and some of the skills you need to learn there are entrepreneurs out there
there are entrepreneurs out there
there are entrepreneurs out there starting new for-profit businesses that
starting new for-profit businesses that
starting new for-profit businesses that teach things every day I’m actually the
teach things every day I’m actually the
teach things every day I’m actually the co-founder of a non profit business
co-founder of a non profit business
co-founder of a non profit business called top tech that does something
called top tech that does something
called top tech that does something similar to this but then there are these
similar to this but then there are these
similar to this but then there are these designer methods that I want to speak
designer methods that I want to speak
designer methods that I want to speak about today and this is when you play
about today and this is when you play
about today and this is when you play the entrepreneur when you decide what
the entrepreneur when you decide what
the entrepreneur when you decide what you want to learn and when you create
you want to learn and when you create
you want to learn and when you create the opportunity and think really
the opportunity and think really
the opportunity and think really critically about how to use your spare
critically about how to use your spare
critically about how to use your spare time so a few examples of this this is a
time so a few examples of this this is a
time so a few examples of this this is a picture of Moscow Russia
picture of Moscow Russia
picture of Moscow Russia it’s the reason I put it up there is
it’s the reason I put it up there is
it’s the reason I put it up there is because my friend who is really into
because my friend who is really into
because my friend who is really into film decided that instead of taking a
film decided that instead of taking a
film decided that instead of taking a Russian film class a Russian cinema
Russian film class a Russian cinema
Russian film class a Russian cinema class he was going to actually spend the
class he was going to actually spend the
class he was going to actually spend the two weeks he had after college before he
two weeks he had after college before he
two weeks he had after college before he started his internship going to Russia
started his internship going to Russia
started his internship going to Russia and interviewing any filmmaker any movie
and interviewing any filmmaker any movie
and interviewing any filmmaker any movie producer who would speak to him and he
producer who would speak to him and he
producer who would speak to him and he says this was one of the most pivotal
says this was one of the most pivotal
says this was one of the most pivotal things he’s ever done at the time
things he’s ever done at the time
things he’s ever done at the time interestingly enough the Russian ruble
interestingly enough the Russian ruble
interestingly enough the Russian ruble was so weak that he got a flight for
was so weak that he got a flight for
was so weak that he got a flight for like $300 round-trip to Russia which was
like $300 round-trip to Russia which was
like $300 round-trip to Russia which was really incredible and so he learned
really incredible and so he learned
really incredible and so he learned something that he could otherwise pay
something that he could otherwise pay
something that he could otherwise pay five thousand dollars in college tuition
five thousand dollars in college tuition
five thousand dollars in college tuition for and kind of not take a lot away from
for and kind of not take a lot away from
for and kind of not take a lot away from by actually going to location and
by actually going to location and
by actually going to location and creating his own opportunity another
creating his own opportunity another
creating his own opportunity another example is a friend
example is a friend
example is a friend have who just graduated with a finance
have who just graduated with a finance
have who just graduated with a finance degree and wanted to really learn
degree and wanted to really learn
degree and wanted to really learn something so he started with a group of
something so he started with a group of
something so he started with a group of his friends and he said hey guys let’s
his friends and he said hey guys let’s
his friends and he said hey guys let’s learn how to code and let’s do it
learn how to code and let’s do it
learn how to code and let’s do it together
together
together and let’s spend the next three weeks
and let’s spend the next three weeks
and let’s spend the next three weeks that we all have free doing this and
that we all have free doing this and
that we all have free doing this and maybe have some fun in the meantime I
maybe have some fun in the meantime I
maybe have some fun in the meantime I don’t want to crush all fun as it exists
don’t want to crush all fun as it exists
don’t want to crush all fun as it exists and yet another example I’ve heard of is
and yet another example I’ve heard of is
and yet another example I’ve heard of is a student who believed that community
a student who believed that community
a student who believed that community building is really important and that
building is really important and that
building is really important and that you can learn a lot from building a
you can learn a lot from building a
you can learn a lot from building a great community but he also wanted to
great community but he also wanted to
great community but he also wanted to hike Mount Everest so we took five of
hike Mount Everest so we took five of
hike Mount Everest so we took five of his friends who are interested in
his friends who are interested in
his friends who are interested in building businesses in entrepreneurship
building businesses in entrepreneurship
building businesses in entrepreneurship and said hey let’s go up to Mount
and said hey let’s go up to Mount
and said hey let’s go up to Mount Everest let’s spend a week excuse me
Everest let’s spend a week excuse me
Everest let’s spend a week excuse me Mount Kilimanjaro that’s not Everest and
Mount Kilimanjaro that’s not Everest and
Mount Kilimanjaro that’s not Everest and spend a week doing this and learn a lot
spend a week doing this and learn a lot
spend a week doing this and learn a lot from each other in the process through
from each other in the process through
from each other in the process through our conversations and see one of the
our conversations and see one of the
our conversations and see one of the most magnificent things in the world so
most magnificent things in the world so
most magnificent things in the world so some strategies that I that I recommend
some strategies that I that I recommend
some strategies that I that I recommend for this kind of thing that I’ve seen
for this kind of thing that I’ve seen
for this kind of thing that I’ve seen kind of work exceptional can I learn
kind of work exceptional can I learn
kind of work exceptional can I learn something that no one else is learning
something that no one else is learning
something that no one else is learning or that few people around me are
or that few people around me are
or that few people around me are learning across this flurry can I melt
learning across this flurry can I melt
learning across this flurry can I melt two subjects together and this is really
two subjects together and this is really
two subjects together and this is really kind of desired by employers and
kind of desired by employers and
kind of desired by employers and positions you well for for certain
positions you well for for certain
positions you well for for certain opportunities today can I take two
opportunities today can I take two
opportunities today can I take two subjects I’m really interested in
subjects I’m really interested in
subjects I’m really interested in passionate about put them together and
passionate about put them together and
passionate about put them together and make something larger than the sum of
make something larger than the sum of
make something larger than the sum of its parts or betting on the future do I
its parts or betting on the future do I
its parts or betting on the future do I think something is going to be really
think something is going to be really
think something is going to be really big one day and maybe I should spend my
big one day and maybe I should spend my
big one day and maybe I should spend my time focused learning on it right now
time focused learning on it right now
time focused learning on it right now and from any opportunity I think you can
and from any opportunity I think you can
and from any opportunity I think you can find wins from renting an apartment to
find wins from renting an apartment to
find wins from renting an apartment to to anything you do on a daily basis you
to anything you do on a daily basis you
to anything you do on a daily basis you can try to learn from if you think about
can try to learn from if you think about
can try to learn from if you think about it if you spend some time some time
it if you spend some time some time
it if you spend some time some time thinking about it so that brings me to
thinking about it so that brings me to
thinking about it so that brings me to this point so the Google other tech
this point so the Google other tech
this point so the Google other tech companies we hear about them everyday
companies we hear about them everyday
companies we hear about them everyday often implement this concept of 20% time
often implement this concept of 20% time
often implement this concept of 20% time whereas you spend 20% of any given
whereas you spend 20% of any given
whereas you spend 20% of any given workweek working on something that’s not
workweek working on something that’s not
workweek working on something that’s not directly related to the objectives and
directly related to the objectives and
directly related to the objectives and key results of your role and my question
key results of your role and my question
key results of your role and my question is why not apply this to our education
is why not apply this to our education
is why not apply this to our education why not be the entrepreneurs at least
why not be the entrepreneurs at least
why not be the entrepreneurs at least 20% of the time thinking really
20% of the time thinking really
20% of the time thinking really critically about where our gaps are
critically about where our gaps are
critically about where our gaps are between where we want to be and what
between where we want to be and what
between where we want to be and what we’re currently learning in college I’d
we’re currently learning in college I’d
we’re currently learning in college I’d actually now that I graduated I can say
actually now that I graduated I can say
actually now that I graduated I can say this I would spend every other week
this I would spend every other week
this I would spend every other week totally not focusing on classes and just
totally not focusing on classes and just
totally not focusing on classes and just thinking about all the other initiatives
thinking about all the other initiatives
thinking about all the other initiatives I was taking on some things I was doing
I was taking on some things I was doing
I was taking on some things I was doing at the time I was I started a couple of
at the time I was I started a couple of
at the time I was I started a couple of startups I built a couple of nonprofit
startups I built a couple of nonprofit
startups I built a couple of nonprofit organizations
organizations
organizations I spent time researching in India and I
I spent time researching in India and I
I spent time researching in India and I really felt import felt that it was
really felt import felt that it was
really felt import felt that it was important to spend time either week over
important to spend time either week over
important to spend time either week over week or during my breaks doing something
week or during my breaks doing something
week or during my breaks doing something that was going to teach me something
that was going to teach me something
that was going to teach me something outside of the classroom so we all face
outside of the classroom so we all face
outside of the classroom so we all face these barriers and sometimes they’re
these barriers and sometimes they’re
these barriers and sometimes they’re actually useful but I’ll go through some
actually useful but I’ll go through some
actually useful but I’ll go through some of them I can’t learn how to code I
of them I can’t learn how to code I
of them I can’t learn how to code I can’t learn how to become a movie
can’t learn how to become a movie
can’t learn how to become a movie producer I don’t have time and time is a
producer I don’t have time and time is a
producer I don’t have time and time is a premium so I sometimes that one makes
premium so I sometimes that one makes
premium so I sometimes that one makes sense my college doesn’t offer this
sense my college doesn’t offer this
sense my college doesn’t offer this class the professor sucks I’m not on the
class the professor sucks I’m not on the
class the professor sucks I’m not on the pre-med track I’m more of a insert the
pre-med track I’m more of a insert the
pre-med track I’m more of a insert the word here person these are all excuses
word here person these are all excuses
word here person these are all excuses we use to keep us focused to keep us
we use to keep us focused to keep us
we use to keep us focused to keep us focused on what we are doing day to day
focused on what we are doing day to day
focused on what we are doing day to day but sometimes it makes sense to break
but sometimes it makes sense to break
but sometimes it makes sense to break that focus sometimes it makes sense to
that focus sometimes it makes sense to
that focus sometimes it makes sense to think critically about what you what you
think critically about what you what you
think critically about what you what you want to achieve outside of your
want to achieve outside of your
want to achieve outside of your designated path and some good signs that
designated path and some good signs that
designated path and some good signs that you were perhaps breaking that focus is
you were perhaps breaking that focus is
you were perhaps breaking that focus is being uncomfortable being different and
being uncomfortable being different and
being uncomfortable being different and feeling a lot of FOMO you guys probably
feeling a lot of FOMO you guys probably
feeling a lot of FOMO you guys probably know what that is so this is the best
know what that is so this is the best
know what that is so this is the best picture I royalty-free picture I could
picture I royalty-free picture I could
picture I royalty-free picture I could find of the 2008 financial crisis and
find of the 2008 financial crisis and
find of the 2008 financial crisis and the reason why I wanted to discuss this
the reason why I wanted to discuss this
the reason why I wanted to discuss this today is because I think that our
today is because I think that our
today is because I think that our agility and how quickly we can
agility and how quickly we can
agility and how quickly we can reposition ourselves and learn new
reposition ourselves and learn new
reposition ourselves and learn new skills is directly related to some
skills is directly related to some
skills is directly related to some broader economic issues just this
broader economic issues just this
broader economic issues just this morning I was being told that a new jobs
morning I was being told that a new jobs
morning I was being told that a new jobs report came out and the u.s. many years
report came out and the u.s. many years
report came out and the u.s. many years after the recession of 2008 still has
after the recession of 2008 still has
after the recession of 2008 still has lackluster job growth still
lackluster job growth still
lackluster job growth still people who lost their jobs in 2008
people who lost their jobs in 2008
people who lost their jobs in 2008 millions of them some of them still have
millions of them some of them still have
millions of them some of them still have not been able to rejoin the workforce
not been able to rejoin the workforce
not been able to rejoin the workforce and some of this is due to the fact that
and some of this is due to the fact that
and some of this is due to the fact that once you leave the workforce you lose
once you leave the workforce you lose
once you leave the workforce you lose some of the relevancy in your skills in
some of the relevancy in your skills in
some of the relevancy in your skills in your knowledge base and it just becomes
your knowledge base and it just becomes
your knowledge base and it just becomes even harder to re-enter so as a society
even harder to re-enter so as a society
even harder to re-enter so as a society we need to be more entrepreneurial in
we need to be more entrepreneurial in
we need to be more entrepreneurial in our learning it could bring us a lot of
our learning it could bring us a lot of
our learning it could bring us a lot of economic gains it could offer us a means
economic gains it could offer us a means
economic gains it could offer us a means of security when things aren’t as good
of security when things aren’t as good
of security when things aren’t as good and this picture is also royalty-free
and this picture is also royalty-free
and this picture is also royalty-free nice market place I don’t know where in
nice market place I don’t know where in
nice market place I don’t know where in the world but I wanted to point out that
the world but I wanted to point out that
the world but I wanted to point out that there are many infinite amount of
there are many infinite amount of
there are many infinite amount of available options out there and you
available options out there and you
available options out there and you really have to go and seek out these
really have to go and seek out these
really have to go and seek out these options but I want to ask the question
options but I want to ask the question
options but I want to ask the question what if our universities were more like
what if our universities were more like
what if our universities were more like marketplaces
marketplaces
marketplaces what if our universities instead of this
what if our universities instead of this
what if our universities instead of this kind of vertically integrated model
kind of vertically integrated model
kind of vertically integrated model where you have the professors who teach
where you have the professors who teach
where you have the professors who teach the classes all under one roof embrace
the classes all under one roof embrace
the classes all under one roof embrace some of these entrepreneurial ideas
some of these entrepreneurial ideas
some of these entrepreneurial ideas coming in what if they permitted some
coming in what if they permitted some
coming in what if they permitted some you to use your credits to take to go to
you to use your credits to take to go to
you to use your credits to take to go to a coding Academy or to create your own
a coding Academy or to create your own
a coding Academy or to create your own experience and some have gone in this
experience and some have gone in this
experience and some have gone in this way but really thinking critically about
way but really thinking critically about
way but really thinking critically about each and every credit hour that you’re
each and every credit hour that you’re
each and every credit hour that you’re paying for unfortunately new models take
paying for unfortunately new models take
paying for unfortunately new models take time our system is not going to change
time our system is not going to change
time our system is not going to change overnight and that applies to big
overnight and that applies to big
overnight and that applies to big institutions too to just the way our
institutions too to just the way our
institutions too to just the way our culture works but luckily changing your
culture works but luckily changing your
culture works but luckily changing your perspective doesn’t and you can change
perspective doesn’t and you can change
perspective doesn’t and you can change that today thank
”
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