hi so I’ve just stepped onto the Ted stage with some random objects but
stage with some random objects but
stage with some random objects but hopefully that will become clear later
hopefully that will become clear later
hopefully that will become clear later on I grew up in Cumbria it’s a beautiful
on I grew up in Cumbria it’s a beautiful
on I grew up in Cumbria it’s a beautiful place we haven’t gone at the Lake
place we haven’t gone at the Lake
place we haven’t gone at the Lake District and we want to call it
District and we want to call it
District and we want to call it beautiful
beautiful
beautiful it’s called Cumbria and when I was
it’s called Cumbria and when I was
it’s called Cumbria and when I was little we used to go on long cold rainy
little we used to go on long cold rainy
little we used to go on long cold rainy walks because when you’re seven walks
walks because when you’re seven walks
walks because when you’re seven walks are always long and cold and rainy and
are always long and cold and rainy and
are always long and cold and rainy and every time we got to a bridge
every time we got to a bridge
every time we got to a bridge my dad would sing a song I’m a troll
my dad would sing a song I’m a troll
my dad would sing a song I’m a troll Roley oh and I’ll eat you for bicep ooh
Roley oh and I’ll eat you for bicep ooh
Roley oh and I’ll eat you for bicep ooh and you’ve got to imagine my dad’s voice
and you’ve got to imagine my dad’s voice
and you’ve got to imagine my dad’s voice is this big low boomy voice and so I
is this big low boomy voice and so I
is this big low boomy voice and so I knew aged seven there was a troll under
knew aged seven there was a troll under
knew aged seven there was a troll under every bridge and these are the bridges
every bridge and these are the bridges
every bridge and these are the bridges that I want to talk to you about today
that I want to talk to you about today
that I want to talk to you about today high bridges where you’re scared to look
high bridges where you’re scared to look
high bridges where you’re scared to look down the bridge is covered in mist with
down the bridge is covered in mist with
down the bridge is covered in mist with half the planks missing that when you
half the planks missing that when you
half the planks missing that when you step on them they swing from side to
step on them they swing from side to
step on them they swing from side to side so to cross the bridge you’ve got
side so to cross the bridge you’ve got
side so to cross the bridge you’ve got to know what’s on the other side you’ve
to know what’s on the other side you’ve
to know what’s on the other side you’ve got to want to be there and you’ve got
got to want to be there and you’ve got
got to want to be there and you’ve got to need what it is that’s there on the
to need what it is that’s there on the
to need what it is that’s there on the other side otherwise don’t bother put a
other side otherwise don’t bother put a
other side otherwise don’t bother put a kettle on cup of tea like it’s on
kettle on cup of tea like it’s on
kettle on cup of tea like it’s on vinegar crisps but a Netflix but if that
vinegar crisps but a Netflix but if that
vinegar crisps but a Netflix but if that sounds like the perfect metaphor for
sounds like the perfect metaphor for
sounds like the perfect metaphor for whatever it is that you feel you can’t
whatever it is that you feel you can’t
whatever it is that you feel you can’t achieve right now I am here to tell you
achieve right now I am here to tell you
achieve right now I am here to tell you you can cross that bridge and you can
you can cross that bridge and you can
you can cross that bridge and you can avoid being eaten by trolls at the same
avoid being eaten by trolls at the same
avoid being eaten by trolls at the same time so this is a tuning fork
I’m Sonny was head stage of the tuning
I’m Sonny was head stage of the tuning fork as a professional singer and as a
fork as a professional singer and as a
fork as a professional singer and as a member of the Chamber Choir when I was
member of the Chamber Choir when I was
member of the Chamber Choir when I was at Oxford University I got to travel the
at Oxford University I got to travel the
at Oxford University I got to travel the world to sing and we were going through
world to sing and we were going through
world to sing and we were going through customs in China and the security guard
customs in China and the security guard
customs in China and the security guard was searching our bags and he pulled out
was searching our bags and he pulled out
was searching our bags and he pulled out one of these and looked like he’d found
one of these and looked like he’d found
one of these and looked like he’d found an offensive weapon there’s a really
an offensive weapon there’s a really
an offensive weapon there’s a really easy way to defuse this situation right
easy way to defuse this situation right
easy way to defuse this situation right to demonstrate the troll that was there
to demonstrate the troll that was there
to demonstrate the troll that was there that day was the feeling that we weren’t
that day was the feeling that we weren’t
that day was the feeling that we weren’t going to be understood there was a huge
going to be understood there was a huge
going to be understood there was a huge chasm between our culture’s and our
chasm between our culture’s and our
chasm between our culture’s and our language so it’s not just customs you go
language so it’s not just customs you go
language so it’s not just customs you go around the world with your music and the
around the world with your music and the
around the world with your music and the troll follows you wherever I’ve been
troll follows you wherever I’ve been
troll follows you wherever I’ve been Israel Russia Mexico the troll was there
Israel Russia Mexico the troll was there
Israel Russia Mexico the troll was there saying are you going to be accepted and
saying are you going to be accepted and
saying are you going to be accepted and you’re gonna be understood but when you
you’re gonna be understood but when you
you’re gonna be understood but when you sing with other people something
sing with other people something
sing with other people something brilliant happens your voices form this
brilliant happens your voices form this
brilliant happens your voices form this structure just your voices and then in
structure just your voices and then in
structure just your voices and then in cultures where you can barely order a
cultures where you can barely order a
cultures where you can barely order a cup of coffee you can explain things to
cup of coffee you can explain things to
cup of coffee you can explain things to people
people
people hope depression love or grief your
hope depression love or grief your
hope depression love or grief your skills are more powerful than you think
skills are more powerful than you think
skills are more powerful than you think the things that you know how to do and
the things that you know how to do and
the things that you know how to do and the things that you’ve learned how to do
the things that you’ve learned how to do
the things that you’ve learned how to do you can elbow the culture gap troll out
you can elbow the culture gap troll out
you can elbow the culture gap troll out of the way you’ll cross that bridge this
of the way you’ll cross that bridge this
of the way you’ll cross that bridge this is a bit by row this is my best friend I
is a bit by row this is my best friend I
is a bit by row this is my best friend I like this little more than I like a lot
like this little more than I like a lot
like this little more than I like a lot of people that’s my colleague and in my
of people that’s my colleague and in my
of people that’s my colleague and in my current job for the Environment Agency
current job for the Environment Agency
current job for the Environment Agency and I use this a lot the other things
and I use this a lot the other things
and I use this a lot the other things that I need to do my job an open mind
that I need to do my job an open mind
that I need to do my job an open mind and it helps to have a sense of humor in
and it helps to have a sense of humor in
and it helps to have a sense of humor in my job I listen to people’s problems
my job I listen to people’s problems
my job I listen to people’s problems help them find solutions and I match
help them find solutions and I match
help them find solutions and I match those solutions with the people who are
those solutions with the people who are
those solutions with the people who are best place to make it happen
best place to make it happen
best place to make it happen a bit like a wireless router or this
a bit like a wireless router or this
a bit like a wireless router or this jumbled information comes in
jumbled information comes in
jumbled information comes in and then helpful friendly solutions come
and then helpful friendly solutions come
and then helpful friendly solutions come out the other side but to do the most
out the other side but to do the most
out the other side but to do the most effective job you just need to do less
effective job you just need to do less
effective job you just need to do less with what you’ve got if you need to
with what you’ve got if you need to
with what you’ve got if you need to write something down you don’t spend two
write something down you don’t spend two
write something down you don’t spend two weeks planning a trip to Paper Chase you
weeks planning a trip to Paper Chase you
weeks planning a trip to Paper Chase you grab what’s to hand and you get to your
grab what’s to hand and you get to your
grab what’s to hand and you get to your outcome use your skills and your
outcome use your skills and your
outcome use your skills and your resources to just do the things that
resources to just do the things that
resources to just do the things that need to be done and the same goes for
need to be done and the same goes for
need to be done and the same goes for those who’s managing teams people are
those who’s managing teams people are
those who’s managing teams people are our most valuable resource they have
our most valuable resource they have
our most valuable resource they have experience they have skills they have
experience they have skills they have
experience they have skills they have enthusiasm and who is the right person
enthusiasm and who is the right person
enthusiasm and who is the right person to do the job he’ll just do the work and
to do the job he’ll just do the work and
to do the job he’ll just do the work and get to that outcome
get to that outcome
get to that outcome who is your BIC pyro trust that you have
who is your BIC pyro trust that you have
who is your BIC pyro trust that you have the resources you need the people you
the resources you need the people you
the resources you need the people you need the people you the pens in the
need the people you the pens in the
need the people you the pens in the post-it notes but you need the people
when the troll inside or outside of you
when the troll inside or outside of you tells you that you haven’t got the
tells you that you haven’t got the
tells you that you haven’t got the resources you need just be resourceful
resources you need just be resourceful
resources you need just be resourceful get the trial out of the way you might
get the trial out of the way you might
get the trial out of the way you might be wondering what this big white oily
be wondering what this big white oily
be wondering what this big white oily thing is and this is a clippie bike shoe
thing is and this is a clippie bike shoe
thing is and this is a clippie bike shoe and experts will tell you this makes you
and experts will tell you this makes you
and experts will tell you this makes you cycle faster I’d like to tell you that
cycle faster I’d like to tell you that
cycle faster I’d like to tell you that this straps you to your bike so that
this straps you to your bike so that
this straps you to your bike so that when you’re going down quite a steep
when you’re going down quite a steep
when you’re going down quite a steep hill you can’t get out of it but this
hill you can’t get out of it but this
hill you can’t get out of it but this shoe also quite cheese that he
shoe also quite cheese that he
shoe also quite cheese that he represents how I overcame the biggest
represents how I overcame the biggest
represents how I overcame the biggest troll which was my lack of self belief
troll which was my lack of self belief
troll which was my lack of self belief and in July I found myself on the start
and in July I found myself on the start
and in July I found myself on the start line of a Half Ironman Triathlon you
line of a Half Ironman Triathlon you
line of a Half Ironman Triathlon you might let’s call it a half iron person
might let’s call it a half iron person
might let’s call it a half iron person triathlon given where we are today at
triathlon given where we are today at
triathlon given where we are today at school I wasn’t the sporty type I was
school I wasn’t the sporty type I was
school I wasn’t the sporty type I was one of the musical ones I was the one
one of the musical ones I was the one
one of the musical ones I was the one who came forth us in cross country and
who came forth us in cross country and
who came forth us in cross country and got told off by my cross-country teacher
got told off by my cross-country teacher
got told off by my cross-country teacher for being sick on a path and not in a
for being sick on a path and not in a
for being sick on a path and not in a bush
bush
bush I’m sure a lot was can relate to that um
but you know luckily with adulthood
but you know luckily with adulthood comes a little bit of perspective the
comes a little bit of perspective the
comes a little bit of perspective the troll that was there at school that just
troll that was there at school that just
troll that was there at school that just jumped up gameofthrones giant-sized
jumped up gameofthrones giant-sized
jumped up gameofthrones giant-sized really hairy and said here’s a free pass
really hairy and said here’s a free pass
really hairy and said here’s a free pass be a musician
be a musician
be a musician don’t be fit and healthy it was kind of
don’t be fit and healthy it was kind of
don’t be fit and healthy it was kind of there all the way through to when I left
there all the way through to when I left
there all the way through to when I left University
University
University so with adulthood I got a little bit a
so with adulthood I got a little bit a
so with adulthood I got a little bit a little bit wiser and very slowly and
little bit wiser and very slowly and
little bit wiser and very slowly and painfully I started talking it’s really
painfully I started talking it’s really
painfully I started talking it’s really slow and painful I’m sure lots of us
slow and painful I’m sure lots of us
slow and painful I’m sure lots of us here have done that and yeah it does it
here have done that and yeah it does it
here have done that and yeah it does it does feel out of everybody and but I did
does feel out of everybody and but I did
does feel out of everybody and but I did that and gradually I edged the troll out
that and gradually I edged the troll out
that and gradually I edged the troll out around a 5k race run a 10k race half
around a 5k race run a 10k race half
around a 5k race run a 10k race half marathon I even did a beginners
marathon I even did a beginners
marathon I even did a beginners triathlon for charity but for my time as
triathlon for charity but for my time as
triathlon for charity but for my time as a singer I knew that evidence enough it
a singer I knew that evidence enough it
a singer I knew that evidence enough it wouldn’t get me past that bit where I
wouldn’t get me past that bit where I
wouldn’t get me past that bit where I felt like I was about to fail it needed
felt like I was about to fail it needed
felt like I was about to fail it needed something else
something else
something else it needed gumption so I entered this
it needed gumption so I entered this
it needed gumption so I entered this half iron distance triathlon immediately
half iron distance triathlon immediately
half iron distance triathlon immediately the troll jumped out from behind its
the troll jumped out from behind its
the troll jumped out from behind its bridge kind of bush stage right and said
bridge kind of bush stage right and said
bridge kind of bush stage right and said you shouldn’t do that you can’t do that
you shouldn’t do that you can’t do that
you shouldn’t do that you can’t do that you’ve got no right to be triathlon yeah
you’ve got no right to be triathlon yeah
you’ve got no right to be triathlon yeah so my big pyro had a new list of things
so my big pyro had a new list of things
so my big pyro had a new list of things to write down a list of things that
to write down a list of things that
to write down a list of things that someone knew some are hard I went back
someone knew some are hard I went back
someone knew some are hard I went back to the swimming pool and I really so on
to the swimming pool and I really so on
to the swimming pool and I really so on buddies I’d got when I was 10 I also
buddies I’d got when I was 10 I also
buddies I’d got when I was 10 I also spawn outside for the first time in wet
spawn outside for the first time in wet
spawn outside for the first time in wet suits in Salford keys 14 degrees cold
suits in Salford keys 14 degrees cold
suits in Salford keys 14 degrees cold water Oakland I also learned to ride a
water Oakland I also learned to ride a
water Oakland I also learned to ride a bike with curry handlebars with some of
bike with curry handlebars with some of
bike with curry handlebars with some of these shoes and and I bought that bike
these shoes and and I bought that bike
these shoes and and I bought that bike secondhand through a boss and he my fun
secondhand through a boss and he my fun
secondhand through a boss and he my fun boss who was
boss who was
boss who was understanding and gave me a little
understanding and gave me a little
understanding and gave me a little lesson in our work parking garage to try
lesson in our work parking garage to try
lesson in our work parking garage to try out and he got to watch me twice Topol
out and he got to watch me twice Topol
out and he got to watch me twice Topol Bridget Jones style like a swan onto the
Bridget Jones style like a swan onto the
Bridget Jones style like a swan onto the hard concrete floor good I also learned
hard concrete floor good I also learned
hard concrete floor good I also learned that when you have your little pieces of
that when you have your little pieces of
that when you have your little pieces of Malta loaf in the bag on your bike
Malta loaf in the bag on your bike
Malta loaf in the bag on your bike if you don’t zip it up properly they
if you don’t zip it up properly they
if you don’t zip it up properly they fall out and Motlow falling off the bike
fall out and Motlow falling off the bike
fall out and Motlow falling off the bike it’s blinking onto the road sounds like
it’s blinking onto the road sounds like
it’s blinking onto the road sounds like bits of your bike falling off I spent a
bits of your bike falling off I spent a
bits of your bike falling off I spent a whole giraffe long race in the warm-up
whole giraffe long race in the warm-up
whole giraffe long race in the warm-up for my triathlon petrified then my gears
for my triathlon petrified then my gears
for my triathlon petrified then my gears are about to shieff off my bike can I
are about to shieff off my bike can I
are about to shieff off my bike can I squeeze me left grazed and stranded and
squeeze me left grazed and stranded and
squeeze me left grazed and stranded and I just ended up with a bit that’s not
I just ended up with a bit that’s not
I just ended up with a bit that’s not life that’s really sad I also joined a
life that’s really sad I also joined a
life that’s really sad I also joined a CrossFit gym I wanted to get stronger I
CrossFit gym I wanted to get stronger I
CrossFit gym I wanted to get stronger I didn’t just get stronger and like there
didn’t just get stronger and like there
didn’t just get stronger and like there I found a community of people who were
I found a community of people who were
I found a community of people who were told you can do it with the body you’ve
told you can do it with the body you’ve
told you can do it with the body you’ve got and that culture is like bug spray
got and that culture is like bug spray
got and that culture is like bug spray for trolls so although there were dark
for trolls so although there were dark
for trolls so although there were dark moments and there were dark moments
moments and there were dark moments
moments and there were dark moments there were times when I look back over
there were times when I look back over
there were times when I look back over my shoulder and I saw how far I had come
my shoulder and I saw how far I had come
my shoulder and I saw how far I had come already so July came and in one weekend
already so July came and in one weekend
already so July came and in one weekend I went to my friend’s wedding in
I went to my friend’s wedding in
I went to my friend’s wedding in Liverpool and I did the triathlon in
Liverpool and I did the triathlon in
Liverpool and I did the triathlon in Norfolk not a bridge that it seemed
Norfolk not a bridge that it seemed
Norfolk not a bridge that it seemed possible to cross the time but we ate
possible to cross the time but we ate
possible to cross the time but we ate the elephant one slice at a time as the
the elephant one slice at a time as the
the elephant one slice at a time as the saying goes and on the day itself I had
saying goes and on the day itself I had
saying goes and on the day itself I had a flat tire before the race started and
a flat tire before the race started and
a flat tire before the race started and I had my first ever open water swimming
I had my first ever open water swimming
I had my first ever open water swimming induced panic attack but I did it and
induced panic attack but I did it and
induced panic attack but I did it and although I was challenged again and
although I was challenged again and
although I was challenged again and again I wet up went at it I tried and I
again I wet up went at it I tried and I
again I wet up went at it I tried and I failed I went at it with gumption the
failed I went at it with gumption the
failed I went at it with gumption the trolls were always there inside and out
trolls were always there inside and out
trolls were always there inside and out but the more little things I did the
but the more little things I did the
but the more little things I did the smaller they got the quieter they got I
smaller they got the quieter they got I
smaller they got the quieter they got I just had to try so which trolls have
just had to try so which trolls have
just had to try so which trolls have told you that you have not got the
told you that you have not got the
told you that you have not got the skills the resources or the gumption to
skills the resources or the gumption to
skills the resources or the gumption to cross whichever Bridget brood
cross whichever Bridget brood
cross whichever Bridget brood it is you want to cross you have the
it is you want to cross you have the
it is you want to cross you have the skills you have the resources and you
skills you have the resources and you
skills you have the resources and you have the gumption you will cross the
have the gumption you will cross the
have the gumption you will cross the bridge thank you
bridge thank you
bridge thank you [Applause]
”
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