yes right stay with me yes yes is where the fun is yes is where
yes yes is where the fun is yes is where
yes yes is where the fun is yes is where the adventure is yes is where the story
the adventure is yes is where the story
the adventure is yes is where the story is if you say no the story ends okay I
is if you say no the story ends okay I
is if you say no the story ends okay I didn’t always look like this that was me
didn’t always look like this that was me
didn’t always look like this that was me back in 1895 maybe 1995 I was fresh out
back in 1895 maybe 1995 I was fresh out
back in 1895 maybe 1995 I was fresh out of business school working at the
of business school working at the
of business school working at the Vanderbilt plans in Nashville and for
Vanderbilt plans in Nashville and for
Vanderbilt plans in Nashville and for most of my adult life I was that guy the
most of my adult life I was that guy the
most of my adult life I was that guy the suit-wearing guy then I went to this
suit-wearing guy then I went to this
suit-wearing guy then I went to this thing called Burning Man yeah so in 2010
thing called Burning Man yeah so in 2010
thing called Burning Man yeah so in 2010 I had been with my dad watched him die
I had been with my dad watched him die
I had been with my dad watched him die from cancer and I said you know there’s
from cancer and I said you know there’s
from cancer and I said you know there’s I’m ready to say yes to life life is
I’m ready to say yes to life life is
I’m ready to say yes to life life is happening right now right here don’t
happening right now right here don’t
happening right now right here don’t miss it you know what if we all gave
miss it you know what if we all gave
miss it you know what if we all gave ourselves the opportunity the permission
ourselves the opportunity the permission
ourselves the opportunity the permission the self space to say yes right just say
the self space to say yes right just say
the self space to say yes right just say yes I went to Burning Man for well you
yes I went to Burning Man for well you
yes I went to Burning Man for well you know people go to Burning Man for lots
know people go to Burning Man for lots
know people go to Burning Man for lots of reasons they go for the music they go
of reasons they go for the music they go
of reasons they go for the music they go for the art just I went to disconnect I
for the art just I went to disconnect I
for the art just I went to disconnect I needed to unplug I was a really crazy
needed to unplug I was a really crazy
needed to unplug I was a really crazy time of my life busy hectic and I wanted
time of my life busy hectic and I wanted
time of my life busy hectic and I wanted to just unplug do you nothing what I
to just unplug do you nothing what I
to just unplug do you nothing what I found by going out there is I met people
found by going out there is I met people
found by going out there is I met people who are living in heart space just full
who are living in heart space just full
who are living in heart space just full open just boom being able to let go of
open just boom being able to let go of
open just boom being able to let go of expectations prejudices biases old tapes
expectations prejudices biases old tapes
expectations prejudices biases old tapes running in their head and what I found
running in their head and what I found
running in their head and what I found by disconnecting is I meet some of the
by disconnecting is I meet some of the
by disconnecting is I meet some of the best connections ever what if we gave
best connections ever what if we gave
best connections ever what if we gave ourselves that permission to really see
ourselves that permission to really see
ourselves that permission to really see each other to really listen to feel the
each other to really listen to feel the
each other to really listen to feel the stories well that’s really what’s at the
stories well that’s really what’s at the
stories well that’s really what’s at the heart of what’s become the pink socks
heart of what’s become the pink socks
heart of what’s become the pink socks movement
this is my friend dick he gave me this
this is my friend dick he gave me this belt buckle pink socks look what happens
belt buckle pink socks look what happens
belt buckle pink socks look what happens at Burning Man there’s a lot of burners
at Burning Man there’s a lot of burners
at Burning Man there’s a lot of burners in the room oh not gonna have to tell
in the room oh not gonna have to tell
in the room oh not gonna have to tell you all about Burning Man but the city
you all about Burning Man but the city
you all about Burning Man but the city operates on ten principles the most
operates on ten principles the most
operates on ten principles the most important one that I came away with is
important one that I came away with is
important one that I came away with is gifting right you know the other ones
gifting right you know the other ones
gifting right you know the other ones radical self-expression write our
radical self-expression write our
radical self-expression write our conclusion Leave No Trace
conclusion Leave No Trace
conclusion Leave No Trace decommodification which means there’s no
decommodification which means there’s no
decommodification which means there’s no branding no logos no corporate
branding no logos no corporate
branding no logos no corporate sponsorships when I came away of was
sponsorships when I came away of was
sponsorships when I came away of was gifting was the one that was most
gifting was the one that was most
gifting was the one that was most important and gifting at Burning Man as
important and gifting at Burning Man as
important and gifting at Burning Man as I loved you know it doesn’t require any
I loved you know it doesn’t require any
I loved you know it doesn’t require any reciprocity there’s no quid pro quo
reciprocity there’s no quid pro quo
reciprocity there’s no quid pro quo someone just gives you a gift it could
someone just gives you a gift it could
someone just gives you a gift it could be a bracelet it could be a cold PBR
be a bracelet it could be a cold PBR
be a bracelet it could be a cold PBR could be a back rub it could be some
could be a back rub it could be some
could be a back rub it could be some bacon your gift is simply accepting
bacon your gift is simply accepting
bacon your gift is simply accepting their gift sitting in that moment and
their gift sitting in that moment and
their gift sitting in that moment and saying yes to accepting their gift and
saying yes to accepting their gift and
saying yes to accepting their gift and that’s really at the heart of the pink
that’s really at the heart of the pink
that’s really at the heart of the pink socks movement it’s all about a gift all
socks movement it’s all about a gift all
socks movement it’s all about a gift all right how it started was a little were
right how it started was a little were
right how it started was a little were two years ago I was I live in Portland
two years ago I was I live in Portland
two years ago I was I live in Portland well over two years ago I was down here
well over two years ago I was down here
well over two years ago I was down here trying to raise money for a start-up I
trying to raise money for a start-up I
trying to raise money for a start-up I was involved in and staying at this
was involved in and staying at this
was involved in and staying at this hotel over off the Tenderloin because it
hotel over off the Tenderloin because it
hotel over off the Tenderloin because it didn’t have a lot of money so that we’re
didn’t have a lot of money so that we’re
didn’t have a lot of money so that we’re gonna startup budget so Stan Lane and
gonna startup budget so Stan Lane and
gonna startup budget so Stan Lane and mean and I wasn’t wearing pink socks at
mean and I wasn’t wearing pink socks at
mean and I wasn’t wearing pink socks at that moment I was wearing these really
that moment I was wearing these really
that moment I was wearing these really cool funky robot heart monkey socks and
cool funky robot heart monkey socks and
cool funky robot heart monkey socks and my friend and I were sitting out by the
my friend and I were sitting out by the
my friend and I were sitting out by the pool one morning having coffee and we
pool one morning having coffee and we
pool one morning having coffee and we met this older couple from Israel and
met this older couple from Israel and
met this older couple from Israel and this guy’s named a slo-mo and he had
this guy’s named a slo-mo and he had
this guy’s named a slo-mo and he had this the most awesome infectious smile
this the most awesome infectious smile
this the most awesome infectious smile ever and he was really grooving on my
ever and he was really grooving on my
ever and he was really grooving on my socks and I said mmm you know I’ve got
socks and I said mmm you know I’ve got
socks and I said mmm you know I’ve got some of those back in the room some
some of those back in the room some
some of those back in the room some brand new ones I think I’ll just go up
brand new ones I think I’ll just go up
brand new ones I think I’ll just go up to my room and grab them came back so um
to my room and grab them came back so um
to my room and grab them came back so um when his wife or sitting there I said
when his wife or sitting there I said
when his wife or sitting there I said she might like to give you these and in
she might like to give you these and in
she might like to give you these and in that moment that instant when I saw his
that moment that instant when I saw his
that moment that instant when I saw his smile it reminded me of what gifting was
smile it reminded me of what gifting was
smile it reminded me of what gifting was like at Burning Man and I said well what
like at Burning Man and I said well what
like at Burning Man and I said well what if
if
if I could do this at scale what if I could
I could do this at scale what if I could
I could do this at scale what if I could keep gifting if a simple pair of socks
keep gifting if a simple pair of socks
keep gifting if a simple pair of socks could cause such a great moment between
could cause such a great moment between
could cause such a great moment between two people just something so simple
two people just something so simple
two people just something so simple could I create that and scale it up so I
could I create that and scale it up so I
could I create that and scale it up so I went to this conference in Chicago a
went to this conference in Chicago a
went to this conference in Chicago a bunch of healthcare executives you know
bunch of healthcare executives you know
bunch of healthcare executives you know 42,000 people in suits and I decided I
42,000 people in suits and I decided I
42,000 people in suits and I decided I would pick the the socks that I thought
would pick the the socks that I thought
would pick the the socks that I thought were the coolest and the funnest no once
were the coolest and the funnest no once
were the coolest and the funnest no once I got the most comments on my every time
I got the most comments on my every time
I got the most comments on my every time I wore them and there were these pink
I wore them and there were these pink
I wore them and there were these pink socks with the mustaches and so we went
socks with the mustaches and so we went
socks with the mustaches and so we went and started giving away socks and you
and started giving away socks and you
and started giving away socks and you know people would come up and they’d say
know people would come up and they’d say
know people would come up and they’d say hey what’s your story and I say hey I’m
hey what’s your story and I say hey I’m
hey what’s your story and I say hey I’m Nick what’s your name and we’d talk and
Nick what’s your name and we’d talk and
Nick what’s your name and we’d talk and then I would say you know I’ve got
then I would say you know I’ve got
then I would say you know I’ve got something in my bag for you I had
something in my bag for you I had
something in my bag for you I had reached I’ve given a pair of these pink
reached I’ve given a pair of these pink
reached I’ve given a pair of these pink socks didn’t give up business cards just
socks didn’t give up business cards just
socks didn’t give up business cards just just gave out socks and we started using
just gave out socks and we started using
just gave out socks and we started using this hashtag pink socks at that
this hashtag pink socks at that
this hashtag pink socks at that conference and it kind of took over the
conference and it kind of took over the
conference and it kind of took over the conference it went viral and people were
conference it went viral and people were
conference it went viral and people were like okay what is the pink socks what is
like okay what is the pink socks what is
like okay what is the pink socks what is this thing you know we kept going to
this thing you know we kept going to
this thing you know we kept going to conferences and doing this for like a
conferences and doing this for like a
conferences and doing this for like a year just give them away socks and after
year just give them away socks and after
year just give them away socks and after about a year it was like okay that’s fun
about a year it was like okay that’s fun
about a year it was like okay that’s fun but remember like Elvis you know I was
but remember like Elvis you know I was
but remember like Elvis you know I was there’s young Elvis and there’s fat old
there’s young Elvis and there’s fat old
there’s young Elvis and there’s fat old of us I was ready for the Sox to die as
of us I was ready for the Sox to die as
of us I was ready for the Sox to die as young Elvis I just be done with it but
young Elvis I just be done with it but
young Elvis I just be done with it but then I got this message somebody in me
then I got this message somebody in me
then I got this message somebody in me on Twitter and said hey did did you send
on Twitter and said hey did did you send
on Twitter and said hey did did you send some socks over to Europe I like what
some socks over to Europe I like what
some socks over to Europe I like what and like yeah there’s go look at this
and like yeah there’s go look at this
and like yeah there’s go look at this there’s a group in the Netherlands that
there’s a group in the Netherlands that
there’s a group in the Netherlands that is giving away socks pink socks to help
is giving away socks pink socks to help
is giving away socks pink socks to help drive awareness for what they’re doing
drive awareness for what they’re doing
drive awareness for what they’re doing with Alzheimer and dementia care I was
with Alzheimer and dementia care I was
with Alzheimer and dementia care I was like what
like what
like what and then about the time I said what
and then about the time I said what
and then about the time I said what there was a group in Wales that popped
there was a group in Wales that popped
there was a group in Wales that popped up on Twitter that was giving away pink
up on Twitter that was giving away pink
up on Twitter that was giving away pink socks to help drive awareness for ataxia
socks to help drive awareness for ataxia
socks to help drive awareness for ataxia which is a rare disease it’s at that
which is a rare disease it’s at that
which is a rare disease it’s at that moment we said okay the things going
moment we said okay the things going
moment we said okay the things going organic you know where people are
organic you know where people are
organic you know where people are gifting pink socks on their own at will
gifting pink socks on their own at will
gifting pink socks on their own at will and now over a little over two years
and now over a little over two years
and now over a little over two years later that’s really grown
later that’s really grown
later that’s really grown I mean people give socks away for all
I mean people give socks away for all
I mean people give socks away for all kinds of things they give them away at
kinds of things they give them away at
kinds of things they give them away at med schools they given away at hospitals
med schools they given away at hospitals
med schools they given away at hospitals they give them away just for fun there’s
they give them away just for fun there’s
they give them away just for fun there’s a man that you may gave socks to Deepak
a man that you may gave socks to Deepak
a man that you may gave socks to Deepak Chopra there’s the Minister of Health
Chopra there’s the Minister of Health
Chopra there’s the Minister of Health from the Netherlands I mean it it’s
from the Netherlands I mean it it’s
from the Netherlands I mean it it’s there’s a group in North Carolina that’s
there’s a group in North Carolina that’s
there’s a group in North Carolina that’s using it to help promote the work
using it to help promote the work
using it to help promote the work they’re doing with feed feeding hungry
they’re doing with feed feeding hungry
they’re doing with feed feeding hungry children in Chapel Hill North Carolina
children in Chapel Hill North Carolina
children in Chapel Hill North Carolina there’s a group in India that’s using it
there’s a group in India that’s using it
there’s a group in India that’s using it to help drive awareness for the work
to help drive awareness for the work
to help drive awareness for the work they’re doing for breast cancer
they’re doing for breast cancer
they’re doing for breast cancer screening for women in India my favorite
screening for women in India my favorite
screening for women in India my favorite is this astronaut he’s has pink socks
is this astronaut he’s has pink socks
is this astronaut he’s has pink socks Captain John McBride
Captain John McBride
Captain John McBride he was the captain pilot of the space
he was the captain pilot of the space
he was the captain pilot of the space shuttle Atlantis on two missions he
shuttle Atlantis on two missions he
shuttle Atlantis on two missions he actually deployed the Hubble telescope
actually deployed the Hubble telescope
actually deployed the Hubble telescope on that mission big socks yeah and so
on that mission big socks yeah and so
on that mission big socks yeah and so this conversation has started and it’s
this conversation has started and it’s
this conversation has started and it’s still going on it’s all over the world
still going on it’s all over the world
still going on it’s all over the world and so I wake up every morning and look
and so I wake up every morning and look
and so I wake up every morning and look at the hash tag and you can see where
at the hash tag and you can see where
at the hash tag and you can see where people are giving socks away just for
people are giving socks away just for
people are giving socks away just for fun right it doesn’t really have to be
fun right it doesn’t really have to be
fun right it doesn’t really have to be that difficult
that difficult
that difficult if you just think about all the good
if you just think about all the good
if you just think about all the good that’s in the world and focus on that
that’s in the world and focus on that
that’s in the world and focus on that yeah in health care where there’s a lot
yeah in health care where there’s a lot
yeah in health care where there’s a lot of talk about empathy what is empathy
of talk about empathy what is empathy
of talk about empathy what is empathy really it’s stopping your mind it’s
really it’s stopping your mind it’s
really it’s stopping your mind it’s really seeing someone it’s allowing
really seeing someone it’s allowing
really seeing someone it’s allowing yourself to be seen it’s listening to
yourself to be seen it’s listening to
yourself to be seen it’s listening to their story
their story
their story it’s feeling their story
we’re gonna do something everybody stand
we’re gonna do something everybody stand up let’s try a little
yeah yeah okay so here’s what I want you
yeah yeah okay so here’s what I want you to do we’re gonna just follow my
to do we’re gonna just follow my
to do we’re gonna just follow my directions and don’t say anything right
directions and don’t say anything right
directions and don’t say anything right now
now
now but what I want you to do is I want you
but what I want you to do is I want you
but what I want you to do is I want you to face the person next to you hopefully
to face the person next to you hopefully
to face the person next to you hopefully it’s somebody you didn’t come with if if
it’s somebody you didn’t come with if if
it’s somebody you didn’t come with if if you did come with them that’s fine but
you did come with them that’s fine but
you did come with them that’s fine but try to try to look at a stranger maybe
try to try to look at a stranger maybe
try to try to look at a stranger maybe that person’s behind you in front of you
that person’s behind you in front of you
that person’s behind you in front of you okay so so so let’s listen listen let’s
okay so so so let’s listen listen let’s
okay so so so let’s listen listen let’s be silent now what I want you to do is
be silent now what I want you to do is
be silent now what I want you to do is just look at each other yeah so I want
just look at each other yeah so I want
just look at each other yeah so I want you to be silent I want you to look at
you to be silent I want you to look at
you to be silent I want you to look at each other in the eye and you just get a
each other in the eye and you just get a
each other in the eye and you just get a little closer you know this though where
little closer you know this though where
little closer you know this though where we’re gonna be any HR violations here
we’re gonna be any HR violations here
we’re gonna be any HR violations here just I want you I want you to look at
just I want you I want you to look at
just I want you I want you to look at each other with intent with intent and
each other with intent with intent and
each other with intent with intent and when I tell you to say these words I
when I tell you to say these words I
when I tell you to say these words I want you to say the words I’m about to
want you to say the words I’m about to
want you to say the words I’m about to tell you look at the other person in the
tell you look at the other person in the
tell you look at the other person in the eyes and say these words okay Shh
eyes and say these words okay Shh
eyes and say these words okay Shh ready I see you
yeah congratulations Yeah right
yeah congratulations Yeah right hugs yeah all right yeah yeah okay
hugs yeah all right yeah yeah okay
hugs yeah all right yeah yeah okay you’ve just you’ve just listened you’ve
you’ve just you’ve just listened you’ve
you’ve just you’ve just listened you’ve just heard and felt what some people
just heard and felt what some people
just heard and felt what some people will go through this whole time this
will go through this whole time this
will go through this whole time this whole dimension their whole life never
whole dimension their whole life never
whole dimension their whole life never having someone say that to them never
having someone say that to them never
having someone say that to them never feeling that never being seen yeah
feeling that never being seen yeah
feeling that never being seen yeah can we keep doing that so for the pink
can we keep doing that so for the pink
can we keep doing that so for the pink socks tribe it’s the pink socks you know
socks tribe it’s the pink socks you know
socks tribe it’s the pink socks you know we’ve we’ve chosen this to be the thing
we’ve we’ve chosen this to be the thing
we’ve we’ve chosen this to be the thing that we engage people with maybe for you
that we engage people with maybe for you
that we engage people with maybe for you it’s a fun hat it’s a flower it’s a fun
it’s a fun hat it’s a flower it’s a fun
it’s a fun hat it’s a flower it’s a fun button it’s something what causes people
button it’s something what causes people
button it’s something what causes people to engage what connects you there are
to engage what connects you there are
to engage what connects you there are people here that have pink socks there’s
people here that have pink socks there’s
people here that have pink socks there’s people here that want to give you socks
people here that want to give you socks
people here that want to give you socks if you want some so during the break go
if you want some so during the break go
if you want some so during the break go find the people to have the pink socks
find the people to have the pink socks
find the people to have the pink socks have that connection they want to give
have that connection they want to give
have that connection they want to give them to you when you wear your pink
them to you when you wear your pink
them to you when you wear your pink socks or whatever your pink socks thing
socks or whatever your pink socks thing
socks or whatever your pink socks thing is right every time you wear them you’re
is right every time you wear them you’re
is right every time you wear them you’re gonna make people smile
and someone’s going to comment on your
and someone’s going to comment on your socks and they’re gonna say hey I like
socks and they’re gonna say hey I like
socks and they’re gonna say hey I like those socks that’s the universe tapping
those socks that’s the universe tapping
those socks that’s the universe tapping you on the shoulder providing an
you on the shoulder providing an
you on the shoulder providing an opportunity for you to connect with
opportunity for you to connect with
opportunity for you to connect with someone that day that had you not been
someone that day that had you not been
someone that day that had you not been wearing the pink socks the two of you
wearing the pink socks the two of you
wearing the pink socks the two of you would have missed each other stop what
would have missed each other stop what
would have missed each other stop what you’re doing get off your phone
you’re doing get off your phone
you’re doing get off your phone stay on the bark for another stop get
stay on the bark for another stop get
stay on the bark for another stop get off your bike stay on the train and say
off your bike stay on the train and say
off your bike stay on the train and say hey I’m Nick what’s your name it’s good
hey I’m Nick what’s your name it’s good
hey I’m Nick what’s your name it’s good to meet you it’s good to see you there
to meet you it’s good to see you there
to meet you it’s good to see you there are stories waiting to be told stories
are stories waiting to be told stories
are stories waiting to be told stories waiting to be heard hear them don’t miss
waiting to be heard hear them don’t miss
waiting to be heard hear them don’t miss all of those
”
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