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The Power of a Wish: Dreaming Big, One Hat at a Time | Jay Corwin | TEDxUCO


everyone close your eyes for just a

everyone close your eyes for just a second if you will I need you to think

second if you will I need you to think

second if you will I need you to think back to your 6th birthday party they

back to your 6th birthday party they

back to your 6th birthday party they just put the cake in front of you the

just put the cake in front of you the

just put the cake in front of you the candle is lit it’s your chance you get

candle is lit it’s your chance you get

candle is lit it’s your chance you get to make the wish you take a did big deep

to make the wish you take a did big deep

to make the wish you take a did big deep breath and blow out the candle everyone

breath and blow out the candle everyone

breath and blow out the candle everyone open your eyes for just a moment on the

open your eyes for just a moment on the

open your eyes for just a moment on the count of three I want everyone to shout

count of three I want everyone to shout

count of three I want everyone to shout out what your wish was for your six year

out what your wish was for your six year

out what your wish was for your six year old self now I’m serious this is on tape

old self now I’m serious this is on tape

old self now I’m serious this is on tape and if you don’t shout it out this is

and if you don’t shout it out this is

and if you don’t shout it out this is going to be a really awkward moment in

going to be a really awkward moment in

going to be a really awkward moment in the speech one two three

the speech one two three

the speech one two three I caught the dinosaur there at the end

I caught the dinosaur there at the end

I caught the dinosaur there at the end some may have wanted to play for the

some may have wanted to play for the

some may have wanted to play for the Dallas Cowboys or be a firefighter or a

Dallas Cowboys or be a firefighter or a

Dallas Cowboys or be a firefighter or a flight attendant or get a pony or a

flight attendant or get a pony or a

flight attendant or get a pony or a unicorn or that brand new bike whatever

unicorn or that brand new bike whatever

unicorn or that brand new bike whatever it was we all held on to that little

it was we all held on to that little

it was we all held on to that little morsel of hope that possibility that

morsel of hope that possibility that

morsel of hope that possibility that maybe just maybe that wish is about to

maybe just maybe that wish is about to

maybe just maybe that wish is about to come true one of my favorite speakers on

come true one of my favorite speakers on

come true one of my favorite speakers on this topic is Randy posh many of you

this topic is Randy posh many of you

this topic is Randy posh many of you know Randy for the last lecture at

know Randy for the last lecture at

know Randy for the last lecture at carnegie mellon university that he gave

carnegie mellon university that he gave

carnegie mellon university that he gave now last lectures at carnegie mellon

now last lectures at carnegie mellon

now last lectures at carnegie mellon were not rare what was we’re rare about

were not rare what was we’re rare about

were not rare what was we’re rare about this and sense is that when he gave the

this and sense is that when he gave the

this and sense is that when he gave the lecture about a month or two before he

lecture about a month or two before he

lecture about a month or two before he had been diagnosed with the rare form of

had been diagnosed with the rare form of

had been diagnosed with the rare form of pancreatic cancer that was terminal in

pancreatic cancer that was terminal in

pancreatic cancer that was terminal in fact this was truly one of his last

fact this was truly one of his last

fact this was truly one of his last lectures so when he got out there to

lectures so when he got out there to

lectures so when he got out there to talk about pursuing childhood dreams he

talk about pursuing childhood dreams he

talk about pursuing childhood dreams he asked the question are you a Tigger

asked the question are you a Tigger

asked the question are you a Tigger or are you an e or a Tigger is just so

or are you an e or a Tigger is just so

or are you an e or a Tigger is just so happy all the time bounces around

happy all the time bounces around

happy all the time bounces around couldn’t wait to pursue everything with

couldn’t wait to pursue everything with

couldn’t wait to pursue everything with full gusto always happy always exciting

full gusto always happy always exciting

full gusto always happy always exciting always the smile brought to the stage

always the smile brought to the stage

always the smile brought to the stage versus poor E or E or just had that

versus poor E or E or just had that

versus poor E or E or just had that great cloud above his head

great cloud above his head

great cloud above his head and seem so sad all the time

and seem so sad all the time

and seem so sad all the time see posh went on to say what were his

see posh went on to say what were his

see posh went on to say what were his two childhood dreams

two childhood dreams

two childhood dreams number one he wanted to play in the NFL

number one he wanted to play in the NFL

number one he wanted to play in the NFL he played some little league football

he played some little league football

he played some little league football but he didn’t have the talent

but he didn’t have the talent

but he didn’t have the talent he didn’t achieve that dream but he went

he didn’t achieve that dream but he went

he didn’t achieve that dream but he went full speed after the second one he

full speed after the second one he

full speed after the second one he wasn’t going to let that hold him back

wasn’t going to let that hold him back

wasn’t going to let that hold him back his second dream he wanted to be a

his second dream he wanted to be a

his second dream he wanted to be a Disney Imagineer see when he was eight

Disney Imagineer see when he was eight

Disney Imagineer see when he was eight years old he went to Disneyland and he

years old he went to Disneyland and he

years old he went to Disneyland and he looked around and saw all the amazing

looked around and saw all the amazing

looked around and saw all the amazing rides all the amazing activities and

rides all the amazing activities and

rides all the amazing activities and thought this is what I want to be a part

thought this is what I want to be a part

thought this is what I want to be a part of he just couldn’t wait and so he

of he just couldn’t wait and so he

of he just couldn’t wait and so he applied to Disney to be an Imagineer and

applied to Disney to be an Imagineer and

applied to Disney to be an Imagineer and guess what he got denied he kept that

guess what he got denied he kept that

guess what he got denied he kept that letter he applied again and he got

letter he applied again and he got

letter he applied again and he got denied he kept that letter and all this

denied he kept that letter and all this

denied he kept that letter and all this time he decided I’m going to continue

time he decided I’m going to continue

time he decided I’m going to continue following my passion as a junior faculty

following my passion as a junior faculty

following my passion as a junior faculty member at Carnegie Mellon University he

member at Carnegie Mellon University he

member at Carnegie Mellon University he became really really good at virtual

became really really good at virtual

became really really good at virtual reality machines so good that Disney

reality machines so good that Disney

reality machines so good that Disney caught word of it they called they asked

caught word of it they called they asked

caught word of it they called they asked him to come down and he helped create

him to come down and he helped create

him to come down and he helped create the magic carpets of Aladdin in Florida

the magic carpets of Aladdin in Florida

the magic carpets of Aladdin in Florida his second wish did come true so my

his second wish did come true so my

his second wish did come true so my question is what’s your wish

question is what’s your wish

question is what’s your wish what’s not that six-year-old wish that

what’s not that six-year-old wish that

what’s not that six-year-old wish that you shout it out a little while ago but

you shout it out a little while ago but

you shout it out a little while ago but what’s your dream that right now if you

what’s your dream that right now if you

what’s your dream that right now if you could just check it off the list while

could just check it off the list while

could just check it off the list while you’re there you accomplished exactly

you’re there you accomplished exactly

you’re there you accomplished exactly what you hope to do let me tell you

what you hope to do let me tell you

what you hope to do let me tell you about my wishes number one I wanted to

about my wishes number one I wanted to

about my wishes number one I wanted to be a t-ball coach I didn’t want to be a

be a t-ball coach I didn’t want to be a

be a t-ball coach I didn’t want to be a baseball coach I wanted to talk to young

baseball coach I wanted to talk to young

baseball coach I wanted to talk to young kids about the sport that I loved

kids about the sport that I loved

kids about the sport that I loved I’ve now coached my son and my daughter

I’ve now coached my son and my daughter

I’ve now coached my son and my daughter in t-ball and getting ready for a new

in t-ball and getting ready for a new

in t-ball and getting ready for a new season it’s so awesome to talk to them

season it’s so awesome to talk to them

season it’s so awesome to talk to them about which first-base do you run to

about which first-base do you run to

about which first-base do you run to because sometimes third base looks just

because sometimes third base looks just

because sometimes third base looks just like first which butterfly can I chase

like first which butterfly can I chase

like first which butterfly can I chase and not chase what dirt am I allowed to

and not chase what dirt am I allowed to

and not chase what dirt am I allowed to throw and what do I get in trouble for I

throw and what do I get in trouble for I

throw and what do I get in trouble for I love t-ball it opens the door to a sport

love t-ball it opens the door to a sport

love t-ball it opens the door to a sport that I love the second one though ii

that I love the second one though ii

that I love the second one though ii wish that i have

wish that i have

wish that i have I’m on my way I’m not quite there yet in

I’m on my way I’m not quite there yet in

I’m on my way I’m not quite there yet in fact many of you will make fun of me I

fact many of you will make fun of me I

fact many of you will make fun of me I want to be a clown

want to be a clown

want to be a clown not just sitting clown I want to be

not just sitting clown I want to be

not just sitting clown I want to be Ronald McDonald see there’s something

Ronald McDonald see there’s something

Ronald McDonald see there’s something special about Ronald yeah I already have

special about Ronald yeah I already have

special about Ronald yeah I already have the shoe that’s a good start

the shoe that’s a good start

the shoe that’s a good start there’s something special about Ronald

there’s something special about Ronald

there’s something special about Ronald part of his job is that he has to go to

part of his job is that he has to go to

part of his job is that he has to go to hospitals to bring a smile to young kids

hospitals to bring a smile to young kids

hospitals to bring a smile to young kids faces that’s a pretty cool gig don’t you

faces that’s a pretty cool gig don’t you

faces that’s a pretty cool gig don’t you think his job is to bring us well he’s

think his job is to bring us well he’s

think his job is to bring us well he’s not scary clown he’s happy Ronald we buy

not scary clown he’s happy Ronald we buy

not scary clown he’s happy Ronald we buy fries from him so I thought about what

fries from him so I thought about what

fries from him so I thought about what do I need to do to help fulfill my goal

do I need to do to help fulfill my goal

do I need to do to help fulfill my goal what are those short-term goals to help

what are those short-term goals to help

what are those short-term goals to help me get to this long-term goal

me get to this long-term goal

me get to this long-term goal I learned to juggle I wasn’t quite bold

I learned to juggle I wasn’t quite bold

I learned to juggle I wasn’t quite bold enough to do it here today I can do

enough to do it here today I can do

enough to do it here today I can do three I can’t quite do four or five I’m

three I can’t quite do four or five I’m

three I can’t quite do four or five I’m working on it though but the second

working on it though but the second

working on it though but the second thing I did is I wanted to know how do I

thing I did is I wanted to know how do I

thing I did is I wanted to know how do I get to a hospital to make children smile

get to a hospital to make children smile

get to a hospital to make children smile so I became a wish trainer with

so I became a wish trainer with

so I became a wish trainer with make-a-wish I’ve done this now for about

make-a-wish I’ve done this now for about

make-a-wish I’ve done this now for about eight years in fact this last summer I

eight years in fact this last summer I

eight years in fact this last summer I got to be a part of the National

got to be a part of the National

got to be a part of the National make-a-wish campaign to help bring more

make-a-wish campaign to help bring more

make-a-wish campaign to help bring more acknowledgement to the amazing programs

acknowledgement to the amazing programs

acknowledgement to the amazing programs that they offer all right sometimes I’ve

that they offer all right sometimes I’ve

that they offer all right sometimes I’ve sat down and thought if laughter is the

sat down and thought if laughter is the

sat down and thought if laughter is the best medicine is make-a-wish the world’s

best medicine is make-a-wish the world’s

best medicine is make-a-wish the world’s best doctor redo my car makeover my

best doctor redo my car makeover my

best doctor redo my car makeover my living room can I really meet my

living room can I really meet my

living room can I really meet my favorite princess I want to swim with

favorite princess I want to swim with

favorite princess I want to swim with dolphins I want to meet my favorite

dolphins I want to meet my favorite

dolphins I want to meet my favorite musician I want to help other kids going

musician I want to help other kids going

musician I want to help other kids going through what I just did all of these are

through what I just did all of these are

through what I just did all of these are wishes I’ve worked alongside my wife

wishes I’ve worked alongside my wife

wishes I’ve worked alongside my wife with all of them have brought laughter

with all of them have brought laughter

with all of them have brought laughter all of them have brought a new energy to

all of them have brought a new energy to

all of them have brought a new energy to an old battle I believe in the power of

an old battle I believe in the power of

an old battle I believe in the power of laughter I believe in the power of a

laughter I believe in the power of a

laughter I believe in the power of a wish think about it

89% of doctors nurses and health

89% of doctors nurses and health professional survey said the wish

professional survey said the wish

professional survey said the wish experience can actually change the

experience can actually change the

experience can actually change the physical health of the child going

physical health of the child going

physical health of the child going through the life-threatening illness

through the life-threatening illness

through the life-threatening illness physical not their emotional health it

physical not their emotional health it

physical not their emotional health it could actually make them get better why

could actually make them get better why

could actually make them get better why wouldn’t you want to be a part of it did

wouldn’t you want to be a part of it did

wouldn’t you want to be a part of it did you know in this this past year every 30

you know in this this past year every 30

you know in this this past year every 30 minutes of wish was granted in the

minutes of wish was granted in the

minutes of wish was granted in the United States in 2015 they granted 14800

United States in 2015 they granted 14800

United States in 2015 they granted 14800 wishes 96 percent of parents who had the

wishes 96 percent of parents who had the

wishes 96 percent of parents who had the wish granted said that wish experience

wish granted said that wish experience

wish granted said that wish experience actually brought their family closer

actually brought their family closer

actually brought their family closer together Wow you just can’t beat such an

together Wow you just can’t beat such an

together Wow you just can’t beat such an experience like that

experience like that

experience like that I do want to talk about one of my

I do want to talk about one of my

I do want to talk about one of my favorite wishes this is Alyssa

favorite wishes this is Alyssa

favorite wishes this is Alyssa she was 10 years old when we met her and

she was 10 years old when we met her and

she was 10 years old when we met her and she said I don’t want to go somewhere I

she said I don’t want to go somewhere I

she said I don’t want to go somewhere I don’t want to do something I’ll tell you

don’t want to do something I’ll tell you

don’t want to do something I’ll tell you what I want to do I was diagnosed with

what I want to do I was diagnosed with

what I want to do I was diagnosed with an illness that had to be treated in

an illness that had to be treated in

an illness that had to be treated in California and she’s from Oklahoma she

California and she’s from Oklahoma she

California and she’s from Oklahoma she said I didn’t know what to pack in my

said I didn’t know what to pack in my

said I didn’t know what to pack in my bag for three weeks so she said I want

bag for three weeks so she said I want

bag for three weeks so she said I want to build a website in my voice because I

to build a website in my voice because I

to build a website in my voice because I didn’t understand what doctors were

didn’t understand what doctors were

didn’t understand what doctors were telling me I want to be able to tell

telling me I want to be able to tell

telling me I want to be able to tell kids what to pack in their bags and what

kids what to pack in their bags and what

kids what to pack in their bags and what treats to bring in that bag to share

treats to bring in that bag to share

treats to bring in that bag to share some smiles with some other kids on

some smiles with some other kids on

some smiles with some other kids on their haul it was amazing

their haul it was amazing

their haul it was amazing Alyssa wish dorg oh yeah and on the side

Alyssa wish dorg oh yeah and on the side

Alyssa wish dorg oh yeah and on the side she went ahead and raised she wanted to

she went ahead and raised she wanted to

she went ahead and raised she wanted to raise some money for the local

raise some money for the local

raise some money for the local Children’s Hospital Foundation so in

Children’s Hospital Foundation so in

Children’s Hospital Foundation so in three months she raised $10,000 not too

three months she raised $10,000 not too

three months she raised $10,000 not too bad for a ten-year-old the number one

bad for a ten-year-old the number one

bad for a ten-year-old the number one wish for make-a-wish is Disney about 50%

wish for make-a-wish is Disney about 50%

wish for make-a-wish is Disney about 50% of all Disney wishes above all

of all Disney wishes above all

of all Disney wishes above all make-a-wish wishes are for Disney they

make-a-wish wishes are for Disney they

make-a-wish wishes are for Disney they are so good at granting wishes that they

are so good at granting wishes that they

are so good at granting wishes that they created a program called the year of a

created a program called the year of a

created a program called the year of a million dreams back in 2006 what’s

million dreams back in 2006 what’s

million dreams back in 2006 what’s fascinating about it is their program

fascinating about it is their program

fascinating about it is their program went from oh six to December 2008 figure

went from oh six to December 2008 figure

went from oh six to December 2008 figure 26 months for a year of a million dreams

26 months for a year of a million dreams

26 months for a year of a million dreams it was that good so one thing that they

it was that good so one thing that they

it was that good so one thing that they did is they empowered their cast members

did is they empowered their cast members

did is they empowered their cast members or their staff to say whatever it takes

or their staff to say whatever it takes

or their staff to say whatever it takes see if you can make a guest

see if you can make a guest

see if you can make a guest their day something special can you make

their day something special can you make

their day something special can you make their wish come true before they even

their wish come true before they even

their wish come true before they even know to ask it imagine walking onto Main

know to ask it imagine walking onto Main

know to ask it imagine walking onto Main Main Street USA and you’re dubbed the

Main Street USA and you’re dubbed the

Main Street USA and you’re dubbed the mayor that’s pretty cool

mayor that’s pretty cool

mayor that’s pretty cool imagine getting to stay the night and

imagine getting to stay the night and

imagine getting to stay the night and Cinderella’s castle people actually got

Cinderella’s castle people actually got

Cinderella’s castle people actually got to do that imagine when they walk up to

to do that imagine when they walk up to

to do that imagine when they walk up to you and say hey you see that long line

you and say hey you see that long line

you and say hey you see that long line over there I can take you to the front

over there I can take you to the front

over there I can take you to the front that means something at Disney World if

that means something at Disney World if

that means something at Disney World if you’ve ever been there those wishes cost

you’ve ever been there those wishes cost

you’ve ever been there those wishes cost Disney not a single dime but it has

Disney not a single dime but it has

Disney not a single dime but it has people like me standing up here telling

people like me standing up here telling

people like me standing up here telling you all about it because it’s amazing

you all about it because it’s amazing

you all about it because it’s amazing it’s a ball about the power of a wish

it’s a ball about the power of a wish

it’s a ball about the power of a wish posh said the key question to keep

posh said the key question to keep

posh said the key question to keep asking are you spending your time on the

asking are you spending your time on the

asking are you spending your time on the right things because time is all you

right things because time is all you

right things because time is all you have he asked are you a Tigger

have he asked are you a Tigger

have he asked are you a Tigger or are you an Eeyore I’m not quite

or are you an Eeyore I’m not quite

or are you an Eeyore I’m not quite Ronald McDonald yet but I sure am

Ronald McDonald yet but I sure am

Ronald McDonald yet but I sure am working towards it so my challenge for

working towards it so my challenge for

working towards it so my challenge for you number one how can you help make

you number one how can you help make

you number one how can you help make someone else’s wish come true and number

someone else’s wish come true and number

someone else’s wish come true and number two are you a Tigger or are you any or

two are you a Tigger or are you any or

two are you a Tigger or are you any or thank you

thank you

thank you [Applause]

”

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