I don’t if I need it okay so I was a little late arriving today
little late arriving today
little late arriving today and I had a quick looking through the
and I had a quick looking through the
and I had a quick looking through the door and the event had started and as
door and the event had started and as
door and the event had started and as reminded that they play I was in not so
reminded that they play I was in not so
reminded that they play I was in not so long ago marks in Soho and I was playing
long ago marks in Soho and I was playing
long ago marks in Soho and I was playing Karl Marx and at the start of the play
Karl Marx and at the start of the play
Karl Marx and at the start of the play Marx walks onto the stage and he’s a
Marx walks onto the stage and he’s a
Marx walks onto the stage and he’s a little bit uncertain a little bit
little bit uncertain a little bit
little bit uncertain a little bit diffident but as the lights go up he
diffident but as the lights go up he
diffident but as the lights go up he looks out and says thank God an audience
looks out and says thank God an audience
looks out and says thank God an audience and that’s how I feel today thank you
and that’s how I feel today thank you
and that’s how I feel today thank you very much for coming thank you for your
very much for coming thank you for your
very much for coming thank you for your time
time
time thank you for your patience thank you
thank you for your patience thank you
thank you for your patience thank you for listening I hope you’ve learned
for listening I hope you’ve learned
for listening I hope you’ve learned something or encounter some ideas that
something or encounter some ideas that
something or encounter some ideas that you might not have encountered before
now um you might have realized that I’m
now um you might have realized that I’m not exactly a local boy and no I’m not
not exactly a local boy and no I’m not
not exactly a local boy and no I’m not Australian
he never ceases to amaze me I’ve been
he never ceases to amaze me I’ve been living in Maryland or Maryland as I used
living in Maryland or Maryland as I used
living in Maryland or Maryland as I used to call it for nearly 16 years and I’ll
to call it for nearly 16 years and I’ll
to call it for nearly 16 years and I’ll go into a supermarket and the young
go into a supermarket and the young
go into a supermarket and the young woman behind the checkout will go oh I
woman behind the checkout will go oh I
woman behind the checkout will go oh I love your accent what part of Australia
love your accent what part of Australia
love your accent what part of Australia are you from at which point I go very
are you from at which point I go very
are you from at which point I go very BBC and say actually I’m from England
BBC and say actually I’m from England
BBC and say actually I’m from England and can you tell me where the tomatoes
and can you tell me where the tomatoes
and can you tell me where the tomatoes are contrast that with how an australian
are contrast that with how an australian
are contrast that with how an australian would respond if you confused him with
would respond if you confused him with
would respond if you confused him with an englishman now listen here might do I
an englishman now listen here might do I
an englishman now listen here might do I look like a stuck-up pommy bastard so
look like a stuck-up pommy bastard so
look like a stuck-up pommy bastard so moved across the Atlantic 16 years ago
moved across the Atlantic 16 years ago
moved across the Atlantic 16 years ago pretty radical change right for me and
pretty radical change right for me and
pretty radical change right for me and my family but I think about change a lot
my family but I think about change a lot
my family but I think about change a lot I always have done it’s an important
I always have done it’s an important
I always have done it’s an important topic so I’d like to thank the
topic so I’d like to thank the
topic so I’d like to thank the organizers of today’s event for giving
organizers of today’s event for giving
organizers of today’s event for giving me the opportunity to talk about it Luke
me the opportunity to talk about it Luke
me the opportunity to talk about it Luke in particular who’s looking very pale
in particular who’s looking very pale
in particular who’s looking very pale over there because none of what I’m
over there because none of what I’m
over there because none of what I’m saying right now was in the transcripts
saying right now was in the transcripts
saying right now was in the transcripts I gave him when he asked for today’s
I gave him when he asked for today’s
I gave him when he asked for today’s speech relax feel the force Luke I had
speech relax feel the force Luke I had
speech relax feel the force Luke I had to say that pretty big topic change
to say that pretty big topic change
to say that pretty big topic change doesn’t get much bigger than survival of
doesn’t get much bigger than survival of
doesn’t get much bigger than survival of the human race does it two and a half
the human race does it two and a half
the human race does it two and a half thousand years ago the Greek philosopher
thousand years ago the Greek philosopher
thousand years ago the Greek philosopher Heraclitus famously said change is the
Heraclitus famously said change is the
Heraclitus famously said change is the only constant and this is the man who
only constant and this is the man who
only constant and this is the man who came up with the idea that we cannot
came up with the idea that we cannot
came up with the idea that we cannot walk into the same river twice because
walk into the same river twice because
walk into the same river twice because the water flows on by right and the
the water flows on by right and the
the water flows on by right and the person walking into the river will have
person walking into the river will have
person walking into the river will have changed too with time everything is
changed too with time everything is
changed too with time everything is changing we’re sitting here in a room in
changing we’re sitting here in a room in
changing we’re sitting here in a room in Stevenson University Owings Mills
Stevenson University Owings Mills
Stevenson University Owings Mills Maryland in the United States of America
Maryland in the United States of America
Maryland in the United States of America on a planet which is rotating at a
on a planet which is rotating at a
on a planet which is rotating at a thousand miles an hour and it’s orbiting
thousand miles an hour and it’s orbiting
thousand miles an hour and it’s orbiting a star which we call the Sun at 70,000
a star which we call the Sun at 70,000
a star which we call the Sun at 70,000 miles an hour and the Sun and all the
miles an hour and the Sun and all the
miles an hour and the Sun and all the planets in the solar system are
planets in the solar system are
planets in the solar system are themselves whizzing around the galactic
themselves whizzing around the galactic
themselves whizzing around the galactic core of 450,000 miles per hour
core of 450,000 miles per hour
core of 450,000 miles per hour everything’s moving even the molecules
everything’s moving even the molecules
everything’s moving even the molecules of the chairs you’re sitting on are
of the chairs you’re sitting on are
of the chairs you’re sitting on are vibrating right now exchanging electrons
vibrating right now exchanging electrons
vibrating right now exchanging electrons between the atoms and so on so that’s
between the atoms and so on so that’s
between the atoms and so on so that’s what it is that you can feel
fortunately there are a couple of things
fortunately there are a couple of things we can count on
we can count on
we can count on I like dichotomies you know those
I like dichotomies you know those
I like dichotomies you know those stories about there are two kinds of
stories about there are two kinds of
stories about there are two kinds of people in the world those who can finish
people in the world those who can finish
people in the world those who can finish their sentences and or there are three
their sentences and or there are three
their sentences and or there are three kinds of people in the world those who
kinds of people in the world those who
kinds of people in the world those who can count and those who can’t or ten
can count and those who can’t or ten
can count and those who can’t or ten kinds of people in the world those who
kinds of people in the world those who
kinds of people in the world those who can count in binary and those who can’t
can count in binary and those who can’t
can count in binary and those who can’t think about it actually my favorite one
think about it actually my favorite one
think about it actually my favorite one is there are two kinds of people in the
is there are two kinds of people in the
is there are two kinds of people in the world those who divide the world into
world those who divide the world into
world those who divide the world into two kinds of people and those who don’t
so I’m going to divide change into two
so I’m going to divide change into two kinds of change external change in the
kinds of change external change in the
kinds of change external change in the world around us and internal change in
world around us and internal change in
world around us and internal change in ourselves and I’m going to try and link
ourselves and I’m going to try and link
ourselves and I’m going to try and link these two kinds of change the internal
these two kinds of change the internal
these two kinds of change the internal and the external to Stephen Covey’s idea
and the external to Stephen Covey’s idea
and the external to Stephen Covey’s idea of the circle of concern in the circle
of the circle of concern in the circle
of the circle of concern in the circle of influence the idea is right that the
of influence the idea is right that the
of influence the idea is right that the circle of concern is where we can spend
circle of concern is where we can spend
circle of concern is where we can spend a lot of our mental energy and our
a lot of our mental energy and our
a lot of our mental energy and our emotional energy in worrying about
emotional energy in worrying about
emotional energy in worrying about things big important things things that
things big important things things that
things big important things things that nevertheless we have very little
nevertheless we have very little
nevertheless we have very little opportunity to change world peace
opportunity to change world peace
opportunity to change world peace poverty famine Wars refugees who will
poverty famine Wars refugees who will
poverty famine Wars refugees who will win the world series these can all take
win the world series these can all take
win the world series these can all take up our time and energy and yet we have
up our time and energy and yet we have
up our time and energy and yet we have very little influence upon them
these are just like external changes in
these are just like external changes in the world around us the weather changes
the world around us the weather changes
the world around us the weather changes I don’t know whether you notice but it
I don’t know whether you notice but it
I don’t know whether you notice but it was throwing it down with rain a few
was throwing it down with rain a few
was throwing it down with rain a few minutes ago now then you can do about it
it’s beyond our power right now to
it’s beyond our power right now to reverse the ice has already melted it’s
reverse the ice has already melted it’s
reverse the ice has already melted it’s already gone and in our lifetimes we’re
already gone and in our lifetimes we’re
already gone and in our lifetimes we’re not going to see it come back don’t
not going to see it come back don’t
not going to see it come back don’t misunderstand me I’m not suggesting I’m
misunderstand me I’m not suggesting I’m
misunderstand me I’m not suggesting I’m not advocating passive acceptance of the
not advocating passive acceptance of the
not advocating passive acceptance of the way things are on the contrary we should
way things are on the contrary we should
way things are on the contrary we should all do what we can do as individuals
all do what we can do as individuals
all do what we can do as individuals it’s important to reuse to repurpose to
it’s important to reuse to repurpose to
it’s important to reuse to repurpose to recycle to consume less not more to
recycle to consume less not more to
recycle to consume less not more to reduce our carbon footprints but the
reduce our carbon footprints but the
reduce our carbon footprints but the idea that any one of us as an individual
idea that any one of us as an individual
idea that any one of us as an individual can change the forces of nature that are
can change the forces of nature that are
can change the forces of nature that are put in motion by the changes in our
put in motion by the changes in our
put in motion by the changes in our atmosphere we can’t as individuals of
atmosphere we can’t as individuals of
atmosphere we can’t as individuals of course when it rains we can carry an
course when it rains we can carry an
course when it rains we can carry an umbrella we can put on a raincoat if the
umbrella we can put on a raincoat if the
umbrella we can put on a raincoat if the sun’s out we can put on sunscreen and
sun’s out we can put on sunscreen and
sun’s out we can put on sunscreen and don’t forget of course that there are
don’t forget of course that there are
don’t forget of course that there are other ways looking at the weather look
other ways looking at the weather look
other ways looking at the weather look at the rain and think about going
at the rain and think about going
at the rain and think about going dancing in it getting soaked when it’s
dancing in it getting soaked when it’s
dancing in it getting soaked when it’s windy standing on a high place and
windy standing on a high place and
windy standing on a high place and feeling the power of the wind blow winds
feeling the power of the wind blow winds
feeling the power of the wind blow winds and crack your cheeks to quote
and crack your cheeks to quote
and crack your cheeks to quote Shakespeare
and of course there are political
and of course there are political changes right we’ve seen some of those
changes right we’ve seen some of those
changes right we’ve seen some of those recently political change I have noticed
recently political change I have noticed
recently political change I have noticed however that Washington DC seems to be
however that Washington DC seems to be
however that Washington DC seems to be the one place on the planet where
the one place on the planet where
the one place on the planet where nothing really changes so like the
nothing really changes so like the
nothing really changes so like the circle of concern external change is
circle of concern external change is
circle of concern external change is beyond the power the power of an
beyond the power the power of an
beyond the power the power of an individual to control we can no more
individual to control we can no more
individual to control we can no more change these things than king can you
change these things than king can you
change these things than king can you could hold back the tides closer to home
could hold back the tides closer to home
could hold back the tides closer to home of course there are things that we do
of course there are things that we do
of course there are things that we do feel we have some power to control some
feel we have some power to control some
feel we have some power to control some power over some power to change like our
power over some power to change like our
power over some power to change like our our careers yes where to work and what
our careers yes where to work and what
our careers yes where to work and what job to do what person we’re going to
job to do what person we’re going to
job to do what person we’re going to fall in love with and spend the rest of
fall in love with and spend the rest of
fall in love with and spend the rest of our lives with maybe not a there may be
our lives with maybe not a there may be
our lives with maybe not a there may be people out there who can control those
people out there who can control those
people out there who can control those changes but I never met one certainly
changes but I never met one certainly
changes but I never met one certainly not me those famous philosophers Michael
not me those famous philosophers Michael
not me those famous philosophers Michael Jagger you see I graduated many many
Jagger you see I graduated many many
Jagger you see I graduated many many years ago the last century from
years ago the last century from
years ago the last century from Cambridge University with a double
Cambridge University with a double
Cambridge University with a double master’s in modern medieval and oriental
master’s in modern medieval and oriental
master’s in modern medieval and oriental languages because I wanted to be James
languages because I wanted to be James
languages because I wanted to be James Bond well without the guns you get the
Bond well without the guns you get the
Bond well without the guns you get the idea but Margaret Thatcher was prime
idea but Margaret Thatcher was prime
idea but Margaret Thatcher was prime minister at the time and I decided I
minister at the time and I decided I
minister at the time and I decided I wasn’t going to work for a Conservative
wasn’t going to work for a Conservative
wasn’t going to work for a Conservative government so then I wanted to be an
government so then I wanted to be an
government so then I wanted to be an actor but I couldn’t get any work and I
actor but I couldn’t get any work and I
actor but I couldn’t get any work and I was poor so I took a job with a games
was poor so I took a job with a games
was poor so I took a job with a games company just temporary just until I got
company just temporary just until I got
company just temporary just until I got my real career off the ground fast
my real career off the ground fast
my real career off the ground fast forward 15 years
forward 15 years
forward 15 years and I get the opportunity to come and
and I get the opportunity to come and
and I get the opportunity to come and work in the United States just for a
work in the United States just for a
work in the United States just for a couple of years just for a temporary C
couple of years just for a temporary C
couple of years just for a temporary C convent and the temporary C conmen
convent and the temporary C conmen
convent and the temporary C conmen becomes a permanent position and then I
becomes a permanent position and then I
becomes a permanent position and then I was made redundant they let me go I
was made redundant they let me go I
was made redundant they let me go I can’t say that without thinking of the
can’t say that without thinking of the
can’t say that without thinking of the face of Gandalf as he falls from the
face of Gandalf as he falls from the
face of Gandalf as he falls from the bridge of Qasr doom they let me go and
bridge of Qasr doom they let me go and
bridge of Qasr doom they let me go and that believe me that was a big change
that believe me that was a big change
that believe me that was a big change that was a dramatic change that was a
that was a dramatic change that was a
that was a dramatic change that was a change that frightened me I’d worked for
change that frightened me I’d worked for
change that frightened me I’d worked for this organization for nearly 20 years I
this organization for nearly 20 years I
this organization for nearly 20 years I didn’t know what else I was going to do
didn’t know what else I was going to do
didn’t know what else I was going to do and I’m in a foreign country now so I
and I’m in a foreign country now so I
and I’m in a foreign country now so I decided I was going to turn to personal
decided I was going to turn to personal
decided I was going to turn to personal development and I was going to become a
development and I was going to become a
development and I was going to become a consultant you know what they say about
consultant you know what they say about
consultant you know what they say about consultants right people who borrow you
consultants right people who borrow you
consultants right people who borrow you a watch and then charge you for telling
a watch and then charge you for telling
a watch and then charge you for telling you what time it is
you what time it is
you what time it is I turned to personal development and I
I turned to personal development and I
I turned to personal development and I tried to put this guy’s words into
tried to put this guy’s words into
tried to put this guy’s words into action I mean don’t get me wrong I think
action I mean don’t get me wrong I think
action I mean don’t get me wrong I think there’s a lot of truth in those words he
there’s a lot of truth in those words he
there’s a lot of truth in those words he said that you are if you think about it
said that you are if you think about it
said that you are if you think about it the average of the five people you spend
the average of the five people you spend
the average of the five people you spend most of your time with the trouble was
most of your time with the trouble was
most of your time with the trouble was the five people I wanted to spend my
the five people I wanted to spend my
the five people I wanted to spend my time with thought I was a stalker and
time with thought I was a stalker and
time with thought I was a stalker and took out restraining orders I’m making
took out restraining orders I’m making
took out restraining orders I’m making that up
that up
that up okay but the real problem was that my
okay but the real problem was that my
okay but the real problem was that my circle of influence was very small it
circle of influence was very small it
circle of influence was very small it had shrunk to next to nothing because it
had shrunk to next to nothing because it
had shrunk to next to nothing because it was all connected with my employment and
was all connected with my employment and
was all connected with my employment and when I lost my job I lost my circle of
when I lost my job I lost my circle of
when I lost my job I lost my circle of influence and I had no idea how to make
influence and I had no idea how to make
influence and I had no idea how to make it grow I had to change
he’s right isn’t he your personalities
he’s right isn’t he your personalities not going to change dramatically from
not going to change dramatically from
not going to change dramatically from how you are now to how you’ll be when
how you are now to how you’ll be when
how you are now to how you’ll be when you’re in your 80s I think I’ll be a bit
you’re in your 80s I think I’ll be a bit
you’re in your 80s I think I’ll be a bit grumpy err but that’s about it
grumpy err but that’s about it
grumpy err but that’s about it subject apart from a serious emotional
subject apart from a serious emotional
subject apart from a serious emotional or physical trauma my personality will
or physical trauma my personality will
or physical trauma my personality will be what it is today my body will get
be what it is today my body will get
be what it is today my body will get older and decay even more and I’ll
older and decay even more and I’ll
older and decay even more and I’ll probably get fatter and grayer but
probably get fatter and grayer but
probably get fatter and grayer but essentially Who I am I cannot change we
essentially Who I am I cannot change we
essentially Who I am I cannot change we can’t change our personality I mean it’s
can’t change our personality I mean it’s
can’t change our personality I mean it’s hard enough just changing our bodies
hard enough just changing our bodies
hard enough just changing our bodies losing weight getting fit giving up
losing weight getting fit giving up
losing weight getting fit giving up smoking I’ve tried all those things
smoking I’ve tried all those things
smoking I’ve tried all those things managed to give up smoking stop laws
please don’t make it sound rehearsed New
please don’t make it sound rehearsed New Year’s resolutions I became depressed
Year’s resolutions I became depressed
Year’s resolutions I became depressed clinically depressed I was prescribed
clinically depressed I was prescribed
clinically depressed I was prescribed antidepressants and I started going to
antidepressants and I started going to
antidepressants and I started going to therapy and the guy was going to therapy
therapy and the guy was going to therapy
therapy and the guy was going to therapy with suggested I go to a 12-step group
with suggested I go to a 12-step group
with suggested I go to a 12-step group where I came across the addicts prayer
grant me the serenity to accept the
grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change the courage to
things I cannot change the courage to
things I cannot change the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom
change the things I can and the wisdom
change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference and so that’s
to know the difference and so that’s
to know the difference and so that’s what I’ve been trying to do ever since
what I’ve been trying to do ever since
what I’ve been trying to do ever since that first encounter with this thing
that first encounter with this thing
that first encounter with this thing I’ve been trying to develop my serenity
I’ve been trying to develop my serenity
I’ve been trying to develop my serenity I meditate I try and practice
I meditate I try and practice
I meditate I try and practice mindfulness and I remind myself on a
mindfulness and I remind myself on a
mindfulness and I remind myself on a daily basis of the need to practice
daily basis of the need to practice
daily basis of the need to practice courage baby steps
I get courage from the inspiring stories
I get courage from the inspiring stories of the people around me and most
of the people around me and most
of the people around me and most recently from the words of Theodore
recently from the words of Theodore
recently from the words of Theodore Roosevelt which inspired brené Brown
Roosevelt which inspired brené Brown
Roosevelt which inspired brené Brown who you may know from TED talks to write
who you may know from TED talks to write
who you may know from TED talks to write a book called bearing greatly and if I
a book called bearing greatly and if I
a book called bearing greatly and if I can remember the speech goes it’s not
can remember the speech goes it’s not
can remember the speech goes it’s not the critics who count those who point
the critics who count those who point
the critics who count those who point out where the strong stumble or the
out where the strong stumble or the
out where the strong stumble or the doers of Deeds could have done them
doers of Deeds could have done them
doers of Deeds could have done them better no no the credit belongs to those
better no no the credit belongs to those
better no no the credit belongs to those actually in the arena whose face is are
actually in the arena whose face is are
actually in the arena whose face is are marred with dust and blood and sweat who
marred with dust and blood and sweat who
marred with dust and blood and sweat who strive valiantly who err because there
strive valiantly who err because there
strive valiantly who err because there is no effort without error but who don’t
is no effort without error but who don’t
is no effort without error but who don’t look it up now
but who do actually strive to do the
but who do actually strive to do the deeds who know great enthusiasms and
deeds who know great enthusiasms and
deeds who know great enthusiasms and great devotions and who in the end at
great devotions and who in the end at
great devotions and who in the end at the best finally know the triumph of
the best finally know the triumph of
the best finally know the triumph of high achievement or who at the worst if
high achievement or who at the worst if
high achievement or who at the worst if they fail at least know that they failed
they fail at least know that they failed
they fail at least know that they failed while daring greatly and so their places
while daring greatly and so their places
while daring greatly and so their places will never be beside those timid cold
will never be beside those timid cold
will never be beside those timid cold souls who will know neither triumph nor
souls who will know neither triumph nor
souls who will know neither triumph nor defeat
defeat
defeat thank you very much
thank you very much
thank you very much [Applause]
”
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