so I want to start off with sharing a story it’s about a couple who grew up in
story it’s about a couple who grew up in
story it’s about a couple who grew up in Vietnam the man’s name is bond he was a
Vietnam the man’s name is bond he was a
Vietnam the man’s name is bond he was a country boy who grew up in a big family
country boy who grew up in a big family
country boy who grew up in a big family the woman’s name was Kim she grew up in
the woman’s name was Kim she grew up in
the woman’s name was Kim she grew up in the city and the heart of Saigon city
the city and the heart of Saigon city
the city and the heart of Saigon city boy or a city girl meets the country boy
boy or a city girl meets the country boy
boy or a city girl meets the country boy and they fall in love and they would
and they fall in love and they would
and they fall in love and they would eventually get married fall in love and
eventually get married fall in love and
eventually get married fall in love and have children but their youth their
have children but their youth their
have children but their youth their stories unique in the sense that their
stories unique in the sense that their
stories unique in the sense that their country was in a state of war the north
country was in a state of war the north
country was in a state of war the north and south were divided bond later joined
and south were divided bond later joined
and south were divided bond later joined the Navy and he would fight with the US
the Navy and he would fight with the US
the Navy and he would fight with the US troops and as we know how the Vietnam
troops and as we know how the Vietnam
troops and as we know how the Vietnam War ended they lost the day the war
War ended they lost the day the war
War ended they lost the day the war ended bond was captured into a labor
ended bond was captured into a labor
ended bond was captured into a labor camp by the Communists there he would
camp by the Communists there he would
camp by the Communists there he would wear Maine for three years and the day
wear Maine for three years and the day
wear Maine for three years and the day he was released he fled with his wife
he was released he fled with his wife
he was released he fled with his wife Kim his daughter tram on a fishing boat
Kim his daughter tram on a fishing boat
Kim his daughter tram on a fishing boat from Vietnam to Malaysia with many other
from Vietnam to Malaysia with many other
from Vietnam to Malaysia with many other families they would take shelter and
families they would take shelter and
families they would take shelter and refuge there and there they would wait
refuge there and there they would wait
refuge there and there they would wait patiently for eight months until they
patiently for eight months until they
patiently for eight months until they got the good news from two families in
got the good news from two families in
got the good news from two families in Rochester New York that they would
Rochester New York that they would
Rochester New York that they would sponsor them and help them start their
sponsor them and help them start their
sponsor them and help them start their lives all over again I’m proud to say
lives all over again I’m proud to say
lives all over again I’m proud to say that this couple are my parents they
that this couple are my parents they
that this couple are my parents they have a courageous journey of inspiration
have a courageous journey of inspiration
have a courageous journey of inspiration they started their lives all over again
they started their lives all over again
they started their lives all over again and left with nothing but the clothes
and left with nothing but the clothes
and left with nothing but the clothes that they had on their back they embrace
that they had on their back they embrace
that they had on their back they embrace a new culture a new language a new life
a new culture a new language a new life
a new culture a new language a new life for their family and so they instilled
for their family and so they instilled
for their family and so they instilled in me this grit and this ambition in
in me this grit and this ambition in
in me this grit and this ambition in this tenacity to always dream big to
this tenacity to always dream big to
this tenacity to always dream big to always trust in every experience no
always trust in every experience no
always trust in every experience no matter how scary the circumstances are
matter how scary the circumstances are
matter how scary the circumstances are and to always lead with your heart
and to always lead with your heart
and to always lead with your heart because that’s what matters most and so
because that’s what matters most and so
because that’s what matters most and so through their inspiration it filled me
through their inspiration it filled me
through their inspiration it filled me to start a passion project here in
to start a passion project here in
to start a passion project here in Rochester called sriracha says a food
Rochester called sriracha says a food
Rochester called sriracha says a food and drink blog that would help others
and drink blog that would help others
and drink blog that would help others fall in love with the city and would
fall in love with the city and would
fall in love with the city and would highlight others and shine a positive
highlight others and shine a positive
highlight others and shine a positive light in Rochester and so thus began my
light in Rochester and so thus began my
light in Rochester and so thus began my creative journey but I want to sit on
creative journey but I want to sit on
creative journey but I want to sit on that word creative for a second what
that word creative for a second what
that word creative for a second what does it really mean to be creative
does it really mean to be creative
does it really mean to be creative I always thought of being creative in
I always thought of being creative in
I always thought of being creative in the more traditional sense tied to
the more traditional sense tied to
the more traditional sense tied to theater type music type of the arts and
theater type music type of the arts and
theater type music type of the arts and yeah growing up I played a small role
yeah growing up I played a small role
yeah growing up I played a small role on the fourth grade production of Beauty
on the fourth grade production of Beauty
on the fourth grade production of Beauty and the Beast I still know all the words
and the Beast I still know all the words
and the Beast I still know all the words and I played the trumpet all throughout
and I played the trumpet all throughout
and I played the trumpet all throughout middle school which I actually found in
middle school which I actually found in
middle school which I actually found in my parents basement last Christmas let’s
my parents basement last Christmas let’s
my parents basement last Christmas let’s just say they were not impressed
just say they were not impressed
just say they were not impressed so it’s they’ve to say that I’m pretty
so it’s they’ve to say that I’m pretty
so it’s they’ve to say that I’m pretty sure I didn’t excel in either of those
sure I didn’t excel in either of those
sure I didn’t excel in either of those areas and with the blog it was the first
areas and with the blog it was the first
areas and with the blog it was the first time in my life where I actually started
time in my life where I actually started
time in my life where I actually started to explore that word creativity but with
to explore that word creativity but with
to explore that word creativity but with that creative process as I embarked on
that creative process as I embarked on
that creative process as I embarked on it
it
it I started experienced the highs and the
I started experienced the highs and the
I started experienced the highs and the lows of it not only having the struggle
lows of it not only having the struggle
lows of it not only having the struggle to identify with that word creative but
to identify with that word creative but
to identify with that word creative but also the journey itself and to be
also the journey itself and to be
also the journey itself and to be truthful the struggle is real my friends
truthful the struggle is real my friends
truthful the struggle is real my friends so it’s real in the sense that if we
so it’s real in the sense that if we
so it’s real in the sense that if we think about the world that we live in
think about the world that we live in
think about the world that we live in today it’s a very noisy cluttered
today it’s a very noisy cluttered
today it’s a very noisy cluttered saturated world with so many different
saturated world with so many different
saturated world with so many different mediums you’ve got social media you’ve
mediums you’ve got social media you’ve
mediums you’ve got social media you’ve got new brands new businesses new
got new brands new businesses new
got new brands new businesses new websites and blogs starting new every
websites and blogs starting new every
websites and blogs starting new every single day and one of my biggest fears
single day and one of my biggest fears
single day and one of my biggest fears when I started this blog is how am I
when I started this blog is how am I
when I started this blog is how am I going to stand out
going to stand out
going to stand out who is going to listen to me and how are
who is going to listen to me and how are
who is going to listen to me and how are they going to hear me I’m just this
they going to hear me I’m just this
they going to hear me I’m just this little Vietnamese girl posting pictures
little Vietnamese girl posting pictures
little Vietnamese girl posting pictures of food hoping that people like it and
of food hoping that people like it and
of food hoping that people like it and so I was worried that I wasn’t going to
so I was worried that I wasn’t going to
so I was worried that I wasn’t going to measure up that my work wasn’t going to
measure up that my work wasn’t going to
measure up that my work wasn’t going to be good enough compared to others and I
be good enough compared to others and I
be good enough compared to others and I started feeling this fear in my head and
started feeling this fear in my head and
started feeling this fear in my head and this inner self critic asking myself am
this inner self critic asking myself am
this inner self critic asking myself am I really gonna be good enough and that
I really gonna be good enough and that
I really gonna be good enough and that fear only intensified when I thought
fear only intensified when I thought
fear only intensified when I thought about the highlight reel the highlight
about the highlight reel the highlight
about the highlight reel the highlight reel for those of you who know social
reel for those of you who know social
reel for those of you who know social media it happens all the time
media it happens all the time
media it happens all the time you think of social media and you think
you think of social media and you think
you think of social media and you think of the snippets of everyone’s life that
of the snippets of everyone’s life that
of the snippets of everyone’s life that they share the most positive aspects
they share the most positive aspects
they share the most positive aspects when it’s the dead of winter there are
when it’s the dead of winter there are
when it’s the dead of winter there are this luxurious trip to the Cayman
this luxurious trip to the Cayman
this luxurious trip to the Cayman Islands or they just got that big
Islands or they just got that big
Islands or they just got that big promotion when you just lost your job
promotion when you just lost your job
promotion when you just lost your job and so it can be difficult and you start
and so it can be difficult and you start
and so it can be difficult and you start to feel inadequate and discouraged in
to feel inadequate and discouraged in
to feel inadequate and discouraged in your process because you start to
your process because you start to
your process because you start to compare your path with others and so I
compare your path with others and so I
compare your path with others and so I fell victim to this highlight reel and
fell victim to this highlight reel and
fell victim to this highlight reel and started comparing myself to others and
started comparing myself to others and
started comparing myself to others and feeling like seeing their business bloom
feeling like seeing their business bloom
feeling like seeing their business bloom and why am I feeling so left behind but
and why am I feeling so left behind but
and why am I feeling so left behind but that highlight reel can be deceptive it
that highlight reel can be deceptive it
that highlight reel can be deceptive it only shows the finished product the
only shows the finished product the
only shows the finished product the masterpiece so you see this press
masterpiece so you see this press
masterpiece so you see this press today what you don’t see is the behind
today what you don’t see is the behind
today what you don’t see is the behind the scenes where I’m changing the font
the scenes where I’m changing the font
the scenes where I’m changing the font 50 million times so that you guys will
50 million times so that you guys will
50 million times so that you guys will like it or that I’m doing the ugly cry
like it or that I’m doing the ugly cry
like it or that I’m doing the ugly cry in the bathroom when I’m in a creative
in the bathroom when I’m in a creative
in the bathroom when I’m in a creative funk and I’m feeling uninspired you
funk and I’m feeling uninspired you
funk and I’m feeling uninspired you don’t see the unglamorous behind the
don’t see the unglamorous behind the
don’t see the unglamorous behind the scenes and you don’t see the
scenes and you don’t see the
scenes and you don’t see the battleground in my head where I’m
battleground in my head where I’m
battleground in my head where I’m feeling like I’m not gonna be good
feeling like I’m not gonna be good
feeling like I’m not gonna be good enough to share with the world so I want
enough to share with the world so I want
enough to share with the world so I want to share with you guys four ways that
to share with you guys four ways that
to share with you guys four ways that I’ve been able to overcome that feeling
I’ve been able to overcome that feeling
I’ve been able to overcome that feeling of not being good enough the first one
of not being good enough the first one
of not being good enough the first one is stop comparing yourself to the hustle
is stop comparing yourself to the hustle
is stop comparing yourself to the hustle reel or to the highlight reel so as I
reel or to the highlight reel so as I
reel or to the highlight reel so as I said before when you compare your behind
said before when you compare your behind
said before when you compare your behind the scenes to the highlight reel you’re
the scenes to the highlight reel you’re
the scenes to the highlight reel you’re basically comparing the worst of you to
basically comparing the worst of you to
basically comparing the worst of you to the best of everyone else so what did I
the best of everyone else so what did I
the best of everyone else so what did I do
do
do I disconnected I’d go for a hike and I
I disconnected I’d go for a hike and I
I disconnected I’d go for a hike and I meditate with myself and remember so
meditate with myself and remember so
meditate with myself and remember so just take pictures for fun to feel alive
just take pictures for fun to feel alive
just take pictures for fun to feel alive in that moment and to remember that my
in that moment and to remember that my
in that moment and to remember that my path doesn’t have to be the same as
path doesn’t have to be the same as
path doesn’t have to be the same as everyone else’s number two is focus on
everyone else’s number two is focus on
everyone else’s number two is focus on what matters focus on what makes you
what matters focus on what makes you
what matters focus on what makes you excited why did you start this project
excited why did you start this project
excited why did you start this project in the first place I started to think
in the first place I started to think
in the first place I started to think about different sources of information
about different sources of information
about different sources of information or inspiration and think about ways to
or inspiration and think about ways to
or inspiration and think about ways to get excited again and so that it
get excited again and so that it
get excited again and so that it wouldn’t be so distracted by what
wouldn’t be so distracted by what
wouldn’t be so distracted by what everyone else was doing
everyone else was doing
everyone else was doing number three is fine your creative
number three is fine your creative
number three is fine your creative circle so I learned the hard way I
circle so I learned the hard way I
circle so I learned the hard way I bottled up a lot of feelings inside and
bottled up a lot of feelings inside and
bottled up a lot of feelings inside and I started to talk to other people I
I started to talk to other people I
I started to talk to other people I started to understand they’re doing the
started to understand they’re doing the
started to understand they’re doing the ugly cry too and so I didn’t feel so
ugly cry too and so I didn’t feel so
ugly cry too and so I didn’t feel so much alone and we could share our
much alone and we could share our
much alone and we could share our vulnerabilities we could share our ideas
vulnerabilities we could share our ideas
vulnerabilities we could share our ideas and we could really learn from each
and we could really learn from each
and we could really learn from each other and leverage off this inspiration
other and leverage off this inspiration
other and leverage off this inspiration and the support system and number four
and the support system and number four
and the support system and number four is my favorite it’s on your voice and I
is my favorite it’s on your voice and I
is my favorite it’s on your voice and I think your story your voice is the most
think your story your voice is the most
think your story your voice is the most powerful weapon that you have in this
powerful weapon that you have in this
powerful weapon that you have in this world it’s gonna be the key to how
world it’s gonna be the key to how
world it’s gonna be the key to how you’re gonna break through this noisy
you’re gonna break through this noisy
you’re gonna break through this noisy differentiate a cluttered world and so
differentiate a cluttered world and so
differentiate a cluttered world and so that was the key for me to always stay
that was the key for me to always stay
that was the key for me to always stay true to who I am
true to who I am
true to who I am so these ways have helped me
so these ways have helped me
so these ways have helped me tremendously I think about the person
tremendously I think about the person
tremendously I think about the person who I was two years ago – the person
who I was two years ago – the person
who I was two years ago – the person that I am today
that I am today
that I am today and I’m a much more self-aware confident
and I’m a much more self-aware confident
and I’m a much more self-aware confident and stronger version of myself I think
and stronger version of myself I think
and stronger version of myself I think about that word creative and while I may
about that word creative and while I may
about that word creative and while I may not be the leading lady and Beauty and
not be the leading lady and Beauty and
not be the leading lady and Beauty and the Beast
the Beast
the Beast or I might not be a professional trumpet
or I might not be a professional trumpet
or I might not be a professional trumpet player I’m many different things and
player I’m many different things and
player I’m many different things and creative can take on many different
creative can take on many different
creative can take on many different meetings
meetings
meetings it can mean I’m an optimist I’m an
it can mean I’m an optimist I’m an
it can mean I’m an optimist I’m an encourage or a dreamer a foodie a
encourage or a dreamer a foodie a
encourage or a dreamer a foodie a blogger and even creative but the most
blogger and even creative but the most
blogger and even creative but the most important description that I want to
important description that I want to
important description that I want to leave you guys with today is that I’m
leave you guys with today is that I’m
leave you guys with today is that I’m enough that today standing right here I
enough that today standing right here I
enough that today standing right here I don’t need to feel like I’m on the same
don’t need to feel like I’m on the same
don’t need to feel like I’m on the same path as everyone else that I don’t need
path as everyone else that I don’t need
path as everyone else that I don’t need a standing ovation from you guys
a standing ovation from you guys
a standing ovation from you guys although a few claps would be
although a few claps would be
although a few claps would be appreciated I don’t need a million likes
appreciated I don’t need a million likes
appreciated I don’t need a million likes on Instagram to feel validated I just
on Instagram to feel validated I just
on Instagram to feel validated I just need to know that the moment that I have
need to know that the moment that I have
need to know that the moment that I have right now that I’m content in it and
right now that I’m content in it and
right now that I’m content in it and what I need to know is that I’m going to
what I need to know is that I’m going to
what I need to know is that I’m going to dream big I’m gonna trust in every
dream big I’m gonna trust in every
dream big I’m gonna trust in every experience I’m always going to lead with
experience I’m always going to lead with
experience I’m always going to lead with my heart and being right here right now
my heart and being right here right now
my heart and being right here right now I know that it’s exactly where I’m
I know that it’s exactly where I’m
I know that it’s exactly where I’m supposed to be and that’s enough for me
supposed to be and that’s enough for me
supposed to be and that’s enough for me thank you guys so much
thank you guys so much
thank you guys so much [Applause]
”
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