when I was younger I did what I think a lot of people do I look to my heroes to
lot of people do I look to my heroes to
lot of people do I look to my heroes to define who I was going to be or at least
define who I was going to be or at least
define who I was going to be or at least who I was going to tell others I was
who I was going to tell others I was
who I was going to tell others I was going to be and when I was sixteen I
going to be and when I was sixteen I
going to be and when I was sixteen I want it to be a 60s rock star I remember
want it to be a 60s rock star I remember
want it to be a 60s rock star I remember one day I went to a thrift store and I
one day I went to a thrift store and I
one day I went to a thrift store and I got a Nehru jacket think the album cover
got a Nehru jacket think the album cover
got a Nehru jacket think the album cover of Sargent peppers only my jacket was
of Sargent peppers only my jacket was
of Sargent peppers only my jacket was Paisley and it swirled with pink and
Paisley and it swirled with pink and
Paisley and it swirled with pink and gold and purple and black it was
gold and purple and black it was
gold and purple and black it was incredible just like any teenager I
incredible just like any teenager I
incredible just like any teenager I couldn’t wait to wear my new jacket I
couldn’t wait to wear my new jacket I
couldn’t wait to wear my new jacket I remember was right around Easter and I
remember was right around Easter and I
remember was right around Easter and I decided to debut my new look
decided to debut my new look
decided to debut my new look at an Easter egg hunt that I was going
at an Easter egg hunt that I was going
at an Easter egg hunt that I was going to with my little brother
to with my little brother
to with my little brother I stood by the sidelines filled with
I stood by the sidelines filled with
I stood by the sidelines filled with pride just knowing that everyone would
pride just knowing that everyone would
pride just knowing that everyone would know that I was a 16 year old rock god
know that I was a 16 year old rock god
know that I was a 16 year old rock god and just like my heroes I would change
and just like my heroes I would change
and just like my heroes I would change the world
the world
the world I remember just standing there taking it
I remember just standing there taking it
I remember just standing there taking it all in
all in
all in when a woman walked up to me put her arm
when a woman walked up to me put her arm
when a woman walked up to me put her arm around and said I’m so proud of you
around and said I’m so proud of you
around and said I’m so proud of you you dressed like an Easter Egg for the
you dressed like an Easter Egg for the
you dressed like an Easter Egg for the little kids you’re such a good boy it
little kids you’re such a good boy it
little kids you’re such a good boy it was a really tough moment for my teenage
was a really tough moment for my teenage
was a really tough moment for my teenage pride but at the same time it was an
pride but at the same time it was an
pride but at the same time it was an incredible moment in my life because it
incredible moment in my life because it
incredible moment in my life because it was the first time I began to think
was the first time I began to think
was the first time I began to think about context culture and a shared
about context culture and a shared
about context culture and a shared vision context was the first thing that
vision context was the first thing that
vision context was the first thing that I learned for my Easter egg jacket
I learned for my Easter egg jacket
I learned for my Easter egg jacket moment the idea that things have to be
moment the idea that things have to be
moment the idea that things have to be relevant in order to be believable
relevant in order to be believable
relevant in order to be believable I hadn’t created any relevance for my
I hadn’t created any relevance for my
I hadn’t created any relevance for my jacket I hadn’t written songs that would
jacket I hadn’t written songs that would
jacket I hadn’t written songs that would change a generation I hadn’t played
change a generation I hadn’t played
change a generation I hadn’t played amazing guitar I’d simply purchased
amazing guitar I’d simply purchased
amazing guitar I’d simply purchased something and put it on this idea really
something and put it on this idea really
something and put it on this idea really when I
when I
when I decided to move across the United States
decided to move across the United States
decided to move across the United States after 15 years of working in creative
after 15 years of working in creative
after 15 years of working in creative agencies in Portland Oregon my wife and
agencies in Portland Oregon my wife and
agencies in Portland Oregon my wife and I packed up a truck and DRI drove to
I packed up a truck and DRI drove to
I packed up a truck and DRI drove to Central Florida along the way we stopped
Central Florida along the way we stopped
Central Florida along the way we stopped in a number of cities and in each city I
in a number of cities and in each city I
in a number of cities and in each city I heard a very similar statement our
heard a very similar statement our
heard a very similar statement our community is growing we’re gonna be the
community is growing we’re gonna be the
community is growing we’re gonna be the next somewhere else and not only were
next somewhere else and not only were
next somewhere else and not only were they planning on being somewhere else
they planning on being somewhere else
they planning on being somewhere else but the value of that other place were
but the value of that other place were
but the value of that other place were the things in it the buildings the
the things in it the buildings the
the things in it the buildings the social activities sustainability
social activities sustainability
social activities sustainability initiatives walkability the idea that
initiatives walkability the idea that
initiatives walkability the idea that these solutions were not being designed
these solutions were not being designed
these solutions were not being designed for the people who lived in the
for the people who lived in the
for the people who lived in the community but for other people in other
community but for other people in other
community but for other people in other places at other times
places at other times
places at other times amazed me as a designer when I arrived
amazed me as a designer when I arrived
amazed me as a designer when I arrived in my new home on the Space Coast in
in my new home on the Space Coast in
in my new home on the Space Coast in Florida about an hour east of Orlando I
Florida about an hour east of Orlando I
Florida about an hour east of Orlando I began to hear the same kinds of stories
began to hear the same kinds of stories
began to hear the same kinds of stories you’re so lucky to be here it’s the
you’re so lucky to be here it’s the
you’re so lucky to be here it’s the perfect time our community is growing
perfect time our community is growing
perfect time our community is growing and we’re going to be the next somewhere
and we’re going to be the next somewhere
and we’re going to be the next somewhere else
else
else I also heard about initiatives to build
I also heard about initiatives to build
I also heard about initiatives to build new things in the area Innovation
new things in the area Innovation
new things in the area Innovation Centers maker spaces even better bars
Centers maker spaces even better bars
Centers maker spaces even better bars the difference between the stories that
the difference between the stories that
the difference between the stories that I heard on the Space Coast and all the
I heard on the Space Coast and all the
I heard on the Space Coast and all the other cities were only that I had time
other cities were only that I had time
other cities were only that I had time to ask for context I began to learn that
to ask for context I began to learn that
to ask for context I began to learn that fifteen point five percent of the people
fifteen point five percent of the people
fifteen point five percent of the people on the Space Coast work in the high-tech
on the Space Coast work in the high-tech
on the Space Coast work in the high-tech industry that makes it the fifth largest
industry that makes it the fifth largest
industry that makes it the fifth largest tech Center in the United States a fact
tech Center in the United States a fact
tech Center in the United States a fact that not many people know even on the
that not many people know even on the
that not many people know even on the Space Coast I also learned that people
Space Coast I also learned that people
Space Coast I also learned that people in this community have invented and
in this community have invented and
in this community have invented and created and built amazing things
created and built amazing things
created and built amazing things rockets that took a man to the moon and
rockets that took a man to the moon and
rockets that took a man to the moon and back all the way to critical components
back all the way to critical components
back all the way to critical components on smartphones that we use every day but
on smartphones that we use every day but
on smartphones that we use every day but the area also has a challenge in some
the area also has a challenge in some
the area also has a challenge in some companies as much as 70% of new
companies as much as 70% of new
companies as much as 70% of new employees leave within the first three
employees leave within the first three
employees leave within the first three years and that fact costs the community
years and that fact costs the community
years and that fact costs the community tens of millions of dollars every year
tens of millions of dollars every year
tens of millions of dollars every year not just for the companies who are
not just for the companies who are
not just for the companies who are bringing in new employees and training
bringing in new employees and training
bringing in new employees and training them but for the government and
them but for the government and
them but for the government and community itself as they try to build
community itself as they try to build
community itself as they try to build new initiatives in order to retain
new initiatives in order to retain
new initiatives in order to retain people and make the area more desirable
people and make the area more desirable
people and make the area more desirable as a designer I believe that we need to
as a designer I believe that we need to
as a designer I believe that we need to understand these journeys and so I began
understand these journeys and so I began
understand these journeys and so I began to ask people what their experience was
to ask people what their experience was
to ask people what their experience was like coming to the Space Coast and one
like coming to the Space Coast and one
like coming to the Space Coast and one story was incredibly meaningful to me it
story was incredibly meaningful to me it
story was incredibly meaningful to me it was the story of my friend Pawan Pawan
was the story of my friend Pawan Pawan
was the story of my friend Pawan Pawan Xindian he’s an engineer and an
Xindian he’s an engineer and an
Xindian he’s an engineer and an innovator and Pawan dreamed of coming to
innovator and Pawan dreamed of coming to
innovator and Pawan dreamed of coming to the United States
the United States
the United States one day he receives a job offer and he
one day he receives a job offer and he
one day he receives a job offer and he gets that opportunity I asked Paul want
gets that opportunity I asked Paul want
gets that opportunity I asked Paul want to walk me through his experience and
to walk me through his experience and
to walk me through his experience and what he told me was that he began by
what he told me was that he began by
what he told me was that he began by researching his new home and what he
researching his new home and what he
researching his new home and what he found was that there were articles about
found was that there were articles about
found was that there were articles about the history of the space program there
the history of the space program there
the history of the space program there were stories about tourist attractions
were stories about tourist attractions
were stories about tourist attractions and beaches but what was missing were
and beaches but what was missing were
and beaches but what was missing were the actual stories of the people who
the actual stories of the people who
the actual stories of the people who lived in that community their hopes
lived in that community their hopes
lived in that community their hopes their dreams their aspirations as a
their dreams their aspirations as a
their dreams their aspirations as a community and really for Pawan what was
community and really for Pawan what was
community and really for Pawan what was missing was how he fit into his new home
Pawan began his journey with a flight
Pawan began his journey with a flight halfway across the world and when he
halfway across the world and when he
halfway across the world and when he arrives in Orlando International Airport
arrives in Orlando International Airport
arrives in Orlando International Airport he walks off the jet way and it hits him
he walks off the jet way and it hits him
he walks off the jet way and it hits him he’s alone he’s just another face in the
he’s alone he’s just another face in the
he’s alone he’s just another face in the crowd he makes its way through the busy
crowd he makes its way through the busy
crowd he makes its way through the busy building and gets to a cab to begin the
building and gets to a cab to begin the
building and gets to a cab to begin the trip to the hotel and pawan told me that
trip to the hotel and pawan told me that
trip to the hotel and pawan told me that in that moment his anxiety was at an
in that moment his anxiety was at an
in that moment his anxiety was at an all-time high who was he going to meet
all-time high who was he going to meet
all-time high who was he going to meet what would the community be like how
what would the community be like how
what would the community be like how would he contribute would he fit in he
would he contribute would he fit in he
would he contribute would he fit in he arrives at his hotel room puts down his
arrives at his hotel room puts down his
arrives at his hotel room puts down his bag and begins to watch TV I can only
bag and begins to watch TV I can only
bag and begins to watch TV I can only imagine that this was a hard night for
imagine that this was a hard night for
imagine that this was a hard night for Pawan Pawan eventually starts his new
Pawan Pawan eventually starts his new
Pawan Pawan eventually starts his new job he meets new people and everything’s
job he meets new people and everything’s
job he meets new people and everything’s pretty good but he doesn’t feel like he
pretty good but he doesn’t feel like he
pretty good but he doesn’t feel like he belongs to this community he doesn’t
belongs to this community he doesn’t
belongs to this community he doesn’t feel any sense of home Pawan begins to
feel any sense of home Pawan begins to
feel any sense of home Pawan begins to explore other places in the country that
explore other places in the country that
explore other places in the country that he might be a better fit and just by
he might be a better fit and just by
he might be a better fit and just by chance during the same time he finds a
chance during the same time he finds a
chance during the same time he finds a startup incubator called groundswell and
startup incubator called groundswell and
startup incubator called groundswell and in groundswell he finds a community of
in groundswell he finds a community of
in groundswell he finds a community of people dedicated to growing new
people dedicated to growing new
people dedicated to growing new businesses they’re interested in finding
businesses they’re interested in finding
businesses they’re interested in finding innovative ways to work and new
innovative ways to work and new
innovative ways to work and new solutions to problems
solutions to problems
solutions to problems Pollan finds a home and he attributes
Pollan finds a home and he attributes
Pollan finds a home and he attributes this home with a sense of belonging and
this home with a sense of belonging and
this home with a sense of belonging and retaining him within the community which
retaining him within the community which
retaining him within the community which brings me to the second point I learned
brings me to the second point I learned
brings me to the second point I learned during my Easter a jacket moment a
during my Easter a jacket moment a
during my Easter a jacket moment a shared vision when people believe they
shared vision when people believe they
shared vision when people believe they can contribute and so I began to ask
can contribute and so I began to ask
can contribute and so I began to ask Pollan what a vision of the future would
Pollan what a vision of the future would
Pollan what a vision of the future would look like how that experience could be
look like how that experience could be
look like how that experience could be different for other people coming to the
different for other people coming to the
different for other people coming to the Space Coast and in just a couple of
Space Coast and in just a couple of
Space Coast and in just a couple of hours
hours
hours Pawan and I co-created a vision of what
Pawan and I co-created a vision of what
Pawan and I co-created a vision of what could be we began to ask questions like
could be we began to ask questions like
could be we began to ask questions like what if what if when Pawan had started
what if what if when Pawan had started
what if what if when Pawan had started to research his new home
to research his new home
to research his new home instead of just seeing the beaches and
instead of just seeing the beaches and
instead of just seeing the beaches and tourists attractions he saw stories
tourists attractions he saw stories
tourists attractions he saw stories unmoderated of the challenges and the
unmoderated of the challenges and the
unmoderated of the challenges and the triumphs of the people who live in his
triumphs of the people who live in his
triumphs of the people who live in his community
community
community what if Pawan could start to picture
what if Pawan could start to picture
what if Pawan could start to picture what it would be like to live in that
what it would be like to live in that
what it would be like to live in that community and how he might contribute to
community and how he might contribute to
community and how he might contribute to it what if when Pawan had arrived at the
it what if when Pawan had arrived at the
it what if when Pawan had arrived at the airport there was a sign that said the
airport there was a sign that said the
airport there was a sign that said the Space Coast welcomes all innovators and
Space Coast welcomes all innovators and
Space Coast welcomes all innovators and showed a powerful picture of disruptors
showed a powerful picture of disruptors
showed a powerful picture of disruptors of the past and innovators of the
of the past and innovators of the
of the past and innovators of the present what if when Pawan had gotten
present what if when Pawan had gotten
present what if when Pawan had gotten into the cab he had seen a display that
into the cab he had seen a display that
into the cab he had seen a display that said the Space Coast is the fifth
said the Space Coast is the fifth
said the Space Coast is the fifth largest tech Center in the United States
largest tech Center in the United States
largest tech Center in the United States and we invite you to become part of our
and we invite you to become part of our
and we invite you to become part of our innovative future what if when Pawan had
innovative future what if when Pawan had
innovative future what if when Pawan had gotten to his hotel room he had had a
gotten to his hotel room he had had a
gotten to his hotel room he had had a personalized invitation from his new
personalized invitation from his new
personalized invitation from his new employer to participate in community
employer to participate in community
employer to participate in community activities not just work-related but art
activities not just work-related but art
activities not just work-related but art and sports and culture and innovation
and sports and culture and innovation
and sports and culture and innovation I believe that Pawan would have been
I believe that Pawan would have been
I believe that Pawan would have been able to plug into the community much
able to plug into the community much
able to plug into the community much sooner begin to contribute much sooner
sooner begin to contribute much sooner
sooner begin to contribute much sooner which brings me to the last point that I
which brings me to the last point that I
which brings me to the last point that I learned during my easter-egg jacket
learned during my easter-egg jacket
learned during my easter-egg jacket moment context an understanding of what
moment context an understanding of what
moment context an understanding of what people’s real needs are plus a shared
people’s real needs are plus a shared
people’s real needs are plus a shared vision co-created by many different
vision co-created by many different
vision co-created by many different groups creates a culture and those
groups creates a culture and those
groups creates a culture and those cultures are able to adapt and change
cultures are able to adapt and change
cultures are able to adapt and change and react to the world around us in much
and react to the world around us in much
and react to the world around us in much greater speed than any one group or one
greater speed than any one group or one
greater speed than any one group or one person can so what does this all mean
person can so what does this all mean
person can so what does this all mean it’s simple things are great
it’s simple things are great
it’s simple things are great my neighbor jacket was incredible but
my neighbor jacket was incredible but
my neighbor jacket was incredible but things are just containers for our
things are just containers for our
things are just containers for our culture once we have context and a
culture once we have context and a
culture once we have context and a shared vision
shared vision
shared vision we can fill our containers with cultures
we can fill our containers with cultures
we can fill our containers with cultures that can change adapt and continue to
that can change adapt and continue to
that can change adapt and continue to meet the needs of our communities in
meet the needs of our communities in
meet the needs of our communities in better and better ways so as designers
better and better ways so as designers
better and better ways so as designers of our community I hope we will all ask
of our community I hope we will all ask
of our community I hope we will all ask questions co-create shared visions of
questions co-create shared visions of
questions co-create shared visions of the future with diverse groups and begin
the future with diverse groups and begin
the future with diverse groups and begin to build containers that hold our
to build containers that hold our
to build containers that hold our culture and better meet the needs of our
culture and better meet the needs of our
culture and better meet the needs of our community thank you
community thank you
community thank you [Applause]
”
Be First to Comment