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I am Dying and so are You | Ash Sobhe | TEDxCPP


before we begin I would like for you to

before we begin I would like for you to take a moment take a really deep breath

take a moment take a really deep breath

take a moment take a really deep breath pause for a second and I want you to

pause for a second and I want you to

pause for a second and I want you to release as you’re doing this I want your

release as you’re doing this I want your

release as you’re doing this I want your I want you to let your mind wander

I want you to let your mind wander

I want you to let your mind wander imagine if I told you you have one year

imagine if I told you you have one year

imagine if I told you you have one year to live at the end then the end of this

to live at the end then the end of this

to live at the end then the end of this year you’re going to die let me give you

year you’re going to die let me give you

year you’re going to die let me give you a moment think about what you will not

a moment think about what you will not

a moment think about what you will not accomplish what would you like to do in

accomplish what would you like to do in

accomplish what would you like to do in the year that you have left as you still

the year that you have left as you still

the year that you have left as you still continue your Brit breathing I want you

continue your Brit breathing I want you

continue your Brit breathing I want you to now imagine if I told you you only

to now imagine if I told you you only

to now imagine if I told you you only have a month to live what are you going

have a month to live what are you going

have a month to live what are you going to get rid of what are you going to try

to get rid of what are you going to try

to get rid of what are you going to try to accomplish why you have this week now

to accomplish why you have this week now

to accomplish why you have this week now what if you only had one minute how

what if you only had one minute how

what if you only had one minute how would that change after you get over the

would that change after you get over the

would that change after you get over the craziness of oh my god there’s so much I

craziness of oh my god there’s so much I

craziness of oh my god there’s so much I can I should do I I really need to do so

can I should do I I really need to do so

can I should do I I really need to do so many things just because I did taught me

many things just because I did taught me

many things just because I did taught me I need to be successful they told me I

I need to be successful they told me I

I need to be successful they told me I need to go to school they told me I need

need to go to school they told me I need

need to go to school they told me I need to get a job and they also told me I

to get a job and they also told me I

to get a job and they also told me I need to do this this this this this and

need to do this this this this this and

need to do this this this this this and I have no time to do any of it all but

I have no time to do any of it all but

I have no time to do any of it all but once you get over that you realize not a

once you get over that you realize not a

once you get over that you realize not a whole lot of it really matters does it

whole lot of it really matters does it

whole lot of it really matters does it sometimes we get caught in the drama of

sometimes we get caught in the drama of

sometimes we get caught in the drama of a create a game that we create for

a create a game that we create for

a create a game that we create for ourselves and we forget what we do it

ourselves and we forget what we do it

ourselves and we forget what we do it for I won’t tell you my life story

for I won’t tell you my life story

for I won’t tell you my life story because I think you guys have heard at

because I think you guys have heard at

because I think you guys have heard at all I’m the general typical person that

all I’m the general typical person that

all I’m the general typical person that was really really broke and I was so so

was really really broke and I was so so

was really really broke and I was so so so down and I became so successful right

so down and I became so successful right

so down and I became so successful right just like most other people that get an

just like most other people that get an

just like most other people that get an opportunity to speak because that’s the

opportunity to speak because that’s the

opportunity to speak because that’s the story that resonates with all of us but

story that resonates with all of us but

story that resonates with all of us but what I want to talk about with you guys

what I want to talk about with you guys

what I want to talk about with you guys is don’t make the same mistakes I did

is don’t make the same mistakes I did

is don’t make the same mistakes I did because the moment I was down when I

because the moment I was down when I

because the moment I was down when I really wanted to make it I started

really wanted to make it I started

really wanted to make it I started listening to everybody around me and I

listening to everybody around me and I

listening to everybody around me and I wanted to become successful I read every

wanted to become successful I read every

wanted to become successful I read every book you can’t imagine I washed every

book you can’t imagine I washed every

book you can’t imagine I washed every TED talk evening I watched every single

TED talk evening I watched every single

TED talk evening I watched every single entrepreneur that you think would be out

entrepreneur that you think would be out

entrepreneur that you think would be out there that has made it I studied all of

there that has made it I studied all of

there that has made it I studied all of it

it

it and it became good at it I wanted to

and it became good at it I wanted to

and it became good at it I wanted to make 3040 thousand dollars a year just

make 3040 thousand dollars a year just

make 3040 thousand dollars a year just to be happy and in 2008 I was able to

to be happy and in 2008 I was able to

to be happy and in 2008 I was able to accomplish that but once I got there

accomplish that but once I got there

accomplish that but once I got there then they told me economies crashed what

then they told me economies crashed what

then they told me economies crashed what am I supposed to do now I worked so hard

am I supposed to do now I worked so hard

am I supposed to do now I worked so hard to learn all this stuff and now you’re

to learn all this stuff and now you’re

to learn all this stuff and now you’re telling me economy’s crashed and people

telling me economy’s crashed and people

telling me economy’s crashed and people are not buying everybody’s worried about

are not buying everybody’s worried about

are not buying everybody’s worried about their finances so what am I supposed to

their finances so what am I supposed to

their finances so what am I supposed to do I became more and more aggressive I

do I became more and more aggressive I

do I became more and more aggressive I started learning more I started reading

started learning more I started reading

started learning more I started reading more I started coming up with other

more I started coming up with other

more I started coming up with other strategies that would help me gain

strategies that would help me gain

strategies that would help me gain personally and that’s what I focused on

personally and that’s what I focused on

personally and that’s what I focused on once I focused on that between 2008 and

once I focused on that between 2008 and

once I focused on that between 2008 and 2009 we doubled our revenue between 2008

2009 we doubled our revenue between 2008

2009 we doubled our revenue between 2008 9 and in 2010 we doubled our revenue

9 and in 2010 we doubled our revenue

9 and in 2010 we doubled our revenue again the crazy thing about that is that

again the crazy thing about that is that

again the crazy thing about that is that we doubled our own revenue in four five

we doubled our own revenue in four five

we doubled our own revenue in four five consecutive years you would think after

consecutive years you would think after

consecutive years you would think after all I’ve gone through that would be my

all I’ve gone through that would be my

all I’ve gone through that would be my happiness right and the reason why I got

happiness right and the reason why I got

happiness right and the reason why I got into business in the first place is

into business in the first place is

into business in the first place is because I thought I’m so broke and I’m

because I thought I’m so broke and I’m

because I thought I’m so broke and I’m so down and I’m not worthy of a damn

so down and I’m not worthy of a damn

so down and I’m not worthy of a damn thing if I don’t achieve success

thing if I don’t achieve success

thing if I don’t achieve success I’ve not accomplished anything because

I’ve not accomplished anything because

I’ve not accomplished anything because that’s what everybody around me was

that’s what everybody around me was

that’s what everybody around me was telling me right so once I became so

telling me right so once I became so

telling me right so once I became so wealthy and so successful way beyond my

wealthy and so successful way beyond my

wealthy and so successful way beyond my wildest dreams I started buying toys

wildest dreams I started buying toys

wildest dreams I started buying toys because I needed to fill that void that

because I needed to fill that void that

because I needed to fill that void that was inside me right yet a car because I

was inside me right yet a car because I

was inside me right yet a car because I didn’t have a car yet a car that

didn’t have a car yet a car that

didn’t have a car yet a car that actually has AC then get a better car

actually has AC then get a better car

actually has AC then get a better car then get a better car right so so has a

then get a better car right so so has a

then get a better car right so so has a Lamborghini why can I it’s also just got

Lamborghini why can I it’s also just got

Lamborghini why can I it’s also just got a house why can I write so move from

a house why can I write so move from

a house why can I write so move from this apartment to the other apartment

this apartment to the other apartment

this apartment to the other apartment move closer to the beach get a bigger

move closer to the beach get a bigger

move closer to the beach get a bigger house move up into high-rises and so on

house move up into high-rises and so on

house move up into high-rises and so on and so forth and that was basically the

and so forth and that was basically the

and so forth and that was basically the whole game I felt so empty the day I

whole game I felt so empty the day I

whole game I felt so empty the day I woke up and I said to my wife Christie

woke up and I said to my wife Christie

woke up and I said to my wife Christie nothing in my eye

nothing in my eye

nothing in my eye I can’t really see like what I can’t

I can’t really see like what I can’t

I can’t really see like what I can’t really see from my right eye anything

really see from my right eye anything

really see from my right eye anything they’re like no I don’t think so

they’re like no I don’t think so

they’re like no I don’t think so I was so stupid I did not even go to a

I was so stupid I did not even go to a

I was so stupid I did not even go to a doctor that moment

doctor that moment

doctor that moment because I had a business to run I was so

because I had a business to run I was so

because I had a business to run I was so busy in this game that I created for

busy in this game that I created for

busy in this game that I created for myself that nothing else really mattered

myself that nothing else really mattered

myself that nothing else really mattered I was blinded to everything else I went

I was blinded to everything else I went

I was blinded to everything else I went to a business meeting as who cares about

to a business meeting as who cares about

to a business meeting as who cares about UI right I mean you would do the same

UI right I mean you would do the same

UI right I mean you would do the same thing huh so I won’t bore you with the

thing huh so I won’t bore you with the

thing huh so I won’t bore you with the details of it because it was such a

details of it because it was such a

details of it because it was such a scary process for me in that 11 months

scary process for me in that 11 months

scary process for me in that 11 months that I saw 23 different surgeons and

that I saw 23 different surgeons and

that I saw 23 different surgeons and that was in 2014 even till this day I

that was in 2014 even till this day I

that was in 2014 even till this day I don’t have a diagnosis all I know and

don’t have a diagnosis all I know and

don’t have a diagnosis all I know and all the doctors know is that there are

all the doctors know is that there are

all the doctors know is that there are three lesions meaning spots on my brain

three lesions meaning spots on my brain

three lesions meaning spots on my brain and they don’t know how much longer I

and they don’t know how much longer I

and they don’t know how much longer I have I was stuck in an MRI machine for

have I was stuck in an MRI machine for

have I was stuck in an MRI machine for an hour and a half at some point at

an hour and a half at some point at

an hour and a half at some point at cedars-sinai and I was just thinking to

cedars-sinai and I was just thinking to

cedars-sinai and I was just thinking to myself so now what the surgeon I was

myself so now what the surgeon I was

myself so now what the surgeon I was just talking to just look me in the eye

just talking to just look me in the eye

just talking to just look me in the eye said ash I honestly don’t know you might

said ash I honestly don’t know you might

said ash I honestly don’t know you might have six months to live or you might be

have six months to live or you might be

have six months to live or you might be okay for another sixty years that woke

okay for another sixty years that woke

okay for another sixty years that woke me up I don’t really hear much after six

me up I don’t really hear much after six

me up I don’t really hear much after six months because this little game that I

months because this little game that I

months because this little game that I was so caught in didn’t really matter

was so caught in didn’t really matter

was so caught in didn’t really matter anymore because I couldn’t even play the

anymore because I couldn’t even play the

anymore because I couldn’t even play the big game of a life let alone worry about

big game of a life let alone worry about

big game of a life let alone worry about this little gamer that it made for

this little gamer that it made for

this little gamer that it made for myself hundreds of millions of dollars

myself hundreds of millions of dollars

myself hundreds of millions of dollars worth of sales of products that had done

worth of sales of products that had done

worth of sales of products that had done meant nothing all the friends fans

meant nothing all the friends fans

meant nothing all the friends fans followers y’all on Instagram right means

followers y’all on Instagram right means

followers y’all on Instagram right means nothing it didn’t mean anything to me at

nothing it didn’t mean anything to me at

nothing it didn’t mean anything to me at the time because I started reviewing

the time because I started reviewing

the time because I started reviewing what I had done in my life I know what I

what I had done in my life I know what I

what I had done in my life I know what I want to tell you is that we don’t talk

want to tell you is that we don’t talk

want to tell you is that we don’t talk about death much why is that why don’t

about death much why is that why don’t

about death much why is that why don’t we talk about death it’s like we’re on a

we talk about death it’s like we’re on a

we talk about death it’s like we’re on a vacation here on this earth right and at

vacation here on this earth right and at

vacation here on this earth right and at some point I’m gonna have to leave if

some point I’m gonna have to leave if

some point I’m gonna have to leave if I’m gonna have to leave shouldn’t I

I’m gonna have to leave shouldn’t I

I’m gonna have to leave shouldn’t I start actually planning for some of this

start actually planning for some of this

start actually planning for some of this stuff if you’re on a vacation don’t you

stuff if you’re on a vacation don’t you

stuff if you’re on a vacation don’t you want to get a few things done see a few

want to get a few things done see a few

want to get a few things done see a few sights

sights

sights a few places and I had not done that I

a few places and I had not done that I

a few places and I had not done that I didn’t feel like the world was going to

didn’t feel like the world was going to

didn’t feel like the world was going to be a better place because I was here and

be a better place because I was here and

be a better place because I was here and that was my biggest grief that’s why I

that was my biggest grief that’s why I

that was my biggest grief that’s why I was not ready to let go because I just

was not ready to let go because I just

was not ready to let go because I just couldn’t and I want to tell you

couldn’t and I want to tell you

couldn’t and I want to tell you something today

something today

something today that hopefully if you take nothing else

that hopefully if you take nothing else

that hopefully if you take nothing else from my talk you always remember this in

from my talk you always remember this in

from my talk you always remember this in life sometimes you get caught in

life sometimes you get caught in

life sometimes you get caught in something it might be a breakup it might

something it might be a breakup it might

something it might be a breakup it might be a death it might be a contract that’s

be a death it might be a contract that’s

be a death it might be a contract that’s not working out it could be your friend

not working out it could be your friend

not working out it could be your friend it could be your wife girlfriend husband

it could be your wife girlfriend husband

it could be your wife girlfriend husband your car just broke down you just got

your car just broke down you just got

your car just broke down you just got fired I want you to remember this book I

fired I want you to remember this book I

fired I want you to remember this book I want you to remember this only and

want you to remember this only and

want you to remember this only and remember I told you when you get caught

remember I told you when you get caught

remember I told you when you get caught in that snap yourself out of it and

in that snap yourself out of it and

in that snap yourself out of it and remember it’s just the thing there’s a

remember it’s just the thing there’s a

remember it’s just the thing there’s a whole life happening here and the one

whole life happening here and the one

whole life happening here and the one thing that you’re caught in is just the

thing that you’re caught in is just the

thing that you’re caught in is just the thing if you don’t worry about that and

thing if you don’t worry about that and

thing if you don’t worry about that and realize there are so many other things

realize there are so many other things

realize there are so many other things that may be more important to you

that may be more important to you

that may be more important to you once you’re facing the raw true death

once you’re facing the raw true death

once you’re facing the raw true death not going to mean much there are so many

not going to mean much there are so many

not going to mean much there are so many students I talk to these days and most

students I talk to these days and most

students I talk to these days and most of them say hi I don’t know what I want

of them say hi I don’t know what I want

of them say hi I don’t know what I want to do I really don’t I have no idea what

to do I really don’t I have no idea what

to do I really don’t I have no idea what I’m going to do after I graduate I don’t

I’m going to do after I graduate I don’t

I’m going to do after I graduate I don’t know what I want to study in college and

know what I want to study in college and

know what I want to study in college and that’s because we’re all confused I was

that’s because we’re all confused I was

that’s because we’re all confused I was the one that listen to everything you

the one that listen to everything you

the one that listen to everything you were being told right now every single

were being told right now every single

were being told right now every single thing that they’re telling you should do

thing that they’re telling you should do

thing that they’re telling you should do I I did it all and I was very successful

I I did it all and I was very successful

I I did it all and I was very successful at it everything you’re about to do I

at it everything you’re about to do I

at it everything you’re about to do I already did and I got to that level and

already did and I got to that level and

already did and I got to that level and once I got there and I got the news that

once I got there and I got the news that

once I got there and I got the news that I’m dying it didn’t matter because my

I’m dying it didn’t matter because my

I’m dying it didn’t matter because my mission is to leave this earth a better

mission is to leave this earth a better

mission is to leave this earth a better place than when I found it and what I

place than when I found it and what I

place than when I found it and what I want to leave you with make this talk

want to leave you with make this talk

want to leave you with make this talk short because your time is the most

short because your time is the most

short because your time is the most valuable asset you will ever have

valuable asset you will ever have

valuable asset you will ever have to pick that up if you want to but if

to pick that up if you want to but if

to pick that up if you want to but if you don’t leave this earth in the way

you don’t leave this earth in the way

you don’t leave this earth in the way that you want it to then it won’t matter

that you want it to then it won’t matter

that you want it to then it won’t matter there are so many people telling us so

there are so many people telling us so

there are so many people telling us so many amazing amazing things listen to

many amazing amazing things listen to

many amazing amazing things listen to yourself

yourself

yourself don’t listen to me either I don’t want

don’t listen to me either I don’t want

don’t listen to me either I don’t want you guys to follow me on Instagram I

you guys to follow me on Instagram I

you guys to follow me on Instagram I don’t want you two guys to come back and

don’t want you two guys to come back and

don’t want you two guys to come back and say hey ash what about that talk

say hey ash what about that talk

say hey ash what about that talk everything I’m telling you if it

everything I’m telling you if it

everything I’m telling you if it resonates with you is because it’s not

resonates with you is because it’s not

resonates with you is because it’s not mine

mine

mine it’s yours and I want you to find the

it’s yours and I want you to find the

it’s yours and I want you to find the light that’s in you I love you all from

light that’s in you I love you all from

light that’s in you I love you all from the bottom of my heart and I want you to

the bottom of my heart and I want you to

the bottom of my heart and I want you to be happy

be happy

be happy go out there do what you want to do and

go out there do what you want to do and

go out there do what you want to do and remember you can never do anything

remember you can never do anything

remember you can never do anything that’s wrong I stress your way

that’s wrong I stress your way

that’s wrong I stress your way [Applause]

”

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