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The Power of an Entrepreneur with Purpose | Logan Elliott | TEDxRuakura


I’m going to take you on a journey it

I’m going to take you on a journey it was midnight and I was standing on a

was midnight and I was standing on a

was midnight and I was standing on a Mediterranean rooftop the waves were

Mediterranean rooftop the waves were

Mediterranean rooftop the waves were crashing loudly on the beach in front of

crashing loudly on the beach in front of

crashing loudly on the beach in front of me in the distance a storm cloud was

me in the distance a storm cloud was

me in the distance a storm cloud was lighting up the sky above me shooting

lighting up the sky above me shooting

lighting up the sky above me shooting stars were darting across the night and

stars were darting across the night and

stars were darting across the night and since then silhouetted behind me the

since then silhouetted behind me the

since then silhouetted behind me the volcano was erupting now I was

volcano was erupting now I was

volcano was erupting now I was surrounded by inspiring entrepreneurs

surrounded by inspiring entrepreneurs

surrounded by inspiring entrepreneurs who were talking about their ideas their

who were talking about their ideas their

who were talking about their ideas their businesses the future they were sharing

businesses the future they were sharing

businesses the future they were sharing moments and friendships and I thought to

moments and friendships and I thought to

moments and friendships and I thought to myself how on earth did I get here

myself how on earth did I get here

myself how on earth did I get here this scene I’ve just described to you

this scene I’ve just described to you

this scene I’ve just described to you happened only three months ago on the

happened only three months ago on the

happened only three months ago on the beautiful volcanic island of Stromboli

beautiful volcanic island of Stromboli

beautiful volcanic island of Stromboli in Italy I’d visited Stromboli over the

in Italy I’d visited Stromboli over the

in Italy I’d visited Stromboli over the years for Pfister del Falco

years for Pfister del Falco

years for Pfister del Falco the international fire dancing festival

the international fire dancing festival

the international fire dancing festival and this time

and this time

and this time with the help of the Pfister team I’d

with the help of the Pfister team I’d

with the help of the Pfister team I’d brought together a bunch of

brought together a bunch of

brought together a bunch of entrepreneurs for something a bit

entrepreneurs for something a bit

entrepreneurs for something a bit different

different

different 15 entrepreneurs had come to the island

15 entrepreneurs had come to the island

15 entrepreneurs had come to the island for the inaugural entrepreneurs volcano

for the inaugural entrepreneurs volcano

for the inaugural entrepreneurs volcano retreat the entrepreneurs are a mixture

retreat the entrepreneurs are a mixture

retreat the entrepreneurs are a mixture of digital nomads solopreneurs and

of digital nomads solopreneurs and

of digital nomads solopreneurs and changemakers and running this was

changemakers and running this was

changemakers and running this was blurring the lines of work and play

blurring the lines of work and play

blurring the lines of work and play which to me is the ultimate definition

which to me is the ultimate definition

which to me is the ultimate definition of success now over the last 10 years

of success now over the last 10 years

of success now over the last 10 years I’ve been on an adventure that led me to

I’ve been on an adventure that led me to

I’ve been on an adventure that led me to this volcano

this volcano

this volcano I started off studying biotechnology at

I started off studying biotechnology at

I started off studying biotechnology at the University of Otago as I was

the University of Otago as I was

the University of Otago as I was passionate about the real-world

passionate about the real-world

passionate about the real-world applications of science I had amazing

applications of science I had amazing

applications of science I had amazing hobbies and still walking in fire

hobbies and still walking in fire

hobbies and still walking in fire performance and I had jobs and Events

performance and I had jobs and Events

performance and I had jobs and Events Management

Management

Management I loved bringing people together to

I loved bringing people together to

I loved bringing people together to share moments

share moments

share moments an inspiration whether it was

an inspiration whether it was

an inspiration whether it was volunteering or festivals or retreats or

volunteering or festivals or retreats or

volunteering or festivals or retreats or business performing or ideas and towards

business performing or ideas and towards

business performing or ideas and towards the end of my science degree I wanted to

the end of my science degree I wanted to

the end of my science degree I wanted to learn more about business and I noticed

learn more about business and I noticed

learn more about business and I noticed that the the people I found really

that the the people I found really

that the the people I found really interesting around university they were

interesting around university they were

interesting around university they were these entrepreneurs and at that stage I

these entrepreneurs and at that stage I

these entrepreneurs and at that stage I didn’t even know what entrepreneurship

didn’t even know what entrepreneurship

didn’t even know what entrepreneurship was but I also found out there was this

was but I also found out there was this

was but I also found out there was this master’s of entrepreneurship at the

master’s of entrepreneurship at the

master’s of entrepreneurship at the University so I went and studied it for

University so I went and studied it for

University so I went and studied it for two years and it was a whirlwind of

two years and it was a whirlwind of

two years and it was a whirlwind of ideas to change the world of meeting

ideas to change the world of meeting

ideas to change the world of meeting interesting people of overdosing on

interesting people of overdosing on

interesting people of overdosing on adrenaline and caffeine it was epic and

adrenaline and caffeine it was epic and

adrenaline and caffeine it was epic and my journey into this crazy world of

my journey into this crazy world of

my journey into this crazy world of entrepreneurship had just begun during

entrepreneurship had just begun during

entrepreneurship had just begun during my Master’s I co-founded highly flamable

my Master’s I co-founded highly flamable

my Master’s I co-founded highly flamable entertainment which essentially was a

entertainment which essentially was a

entertainment which essentially was a combination of my passions and events

combination of my passions and events

combination of my passions and events management business and for bringing

management business and for bringing

management business and for bringing people together to challenge themselves

people together to challenge themselves

people together to challenge themselves and challenge the world we live in to

and challenge the world we live in to

and challenge the world we live in to break norms through providing crazy

break norms through providing crazy

break norms through providing crazy creative entertainment highly flamable

creative entertainment highly flamable

creative entertainment highly flamable entertainment is now 7 years old and we

entertainment is now 7 years old and we

entertainment is now 7 years old and we have a team of a hundred amazing people

have a team of a hundred amazing people

have a team of a hundred amazing people New Zealand wired our crazy characters

New Zealand wired our crazy characters

New Zealand wired our crazy characters include fire dancers stilt walkers glow

include fire dancers stilt walkers glow

include fire dancers stilt walkers glow performers jugglers pyrotechnics and of

performers jugglers pyrotechnics and of

performers jugglers pyrotechnics and of course the incredible Mara man human

course the incredible Mara man human

course the incredible Mara man human disco ball so a few years ago about

disco ball so a few years ago about

disco ball so a few years ago about three years ago things took a turn I was

three years ago things took a turn I was

three years ago things took a turn I was getting bored

getting bored

getting bored we had taken highly flammable New

we had taken highly flammable New

we had taken highly flammable New Zealand Wyatt and I was ready for a new

Zealand Wyatt and I was ready for a new

Zealand Wyatt and I was ready for a new challenge so I did some travel and

challenge so I did some travel and

challenge so I did some travel and initially I thought about launching

initially I thought about launching

initially I thought about launching highly flammable overseas but then I

highly flammable overseas but then I

highly flammable overseas but then I came across this world of digital nomads

came across this world of digital nomads

came across this world of digital nomads now digital nomads are people they can

now digital nomads are people they can

now digital nomads are people they can work remotely often just using their

work remotely often just using their

work remotely often just using their left

left

left some of them have really flexible jobs

some of them have really flexible jobs

some of them have really flexible jobs whereas others have their own online

whereas others have their own online

whereas others have their own online businesses so I started learning about

businesses so I started learning about

businesses so I started learning about this new way of working and living I was

this new way of working and living I was

this new way of working and living I was learning about lifestyle

learning about lifestyle

learning about lifestyle entrepreneurship and remote working

entrepreneurship and remote working

entrepreneurship and remote working I read the 4-hour workweek which is an

I read the 4-hour workweek which is an

I read the 4-hour workweek which is an amazing book for these ideals read four

amazing book for these ideals read four

amazing book for these ideals read four hour workweek really inspired the next

hour workweek really inspired the next

hour workweek really inspired the next part of my journey so I started to

part of my journey so I started to

part of my journey so I started to manage highly flamable more remotely I

manage highly flamable more remotely I

manage highly flamable more remotely I started to create some online courses

started to create some online courses

started to create some online courses and I expanded on my entrepreneurship

and I expanded on my entrepreneurship

and I expanded on my entrepreneurship teaching work and of course I was

teaching work and of course I was

teaching work and of course I was getting to travel all over the world and

getting to travel all over the world and

getting to travel all over the world and it was amazing

it was amazing

it was amazing papa was in Iceland Burning Man festival

papa was in Iceland Burning Man festival

papa was in Iceland Burning Man festival Nevada getting to meet Richard Branson I

Nevada getting to meet Richard Branson I

Nevada getting to meet Richard Branson I even got to go hiking in the mountains

even got to go hiking in the mountains

even got to go hiking in the mountains of Kyrgyzstan then two years ago I got

of Kyrgyzstan then two years ago I got

of Kyrgyzstan then two years ago I got to do a piece on sixty minutes with

to do a piece on sixty minutes with

to do a piece on sixty minutes with calculon we got to paint this world of

calculon we got to paint this world of

calculon we got to paint this world of the digital nomads we got to have our

the digital nomads we got to have our

the digital nomads we got to have our cake and eat it too

cake and eat it too

cake and eat it too travel the world while running our

travel the world while running our

travel the world while running our businesses remotely skipping the 9 to 5

businesses remotely skipping the 9 to 5

businesses remotely skipping the 9 to 5 grind people online and friends and

grind people online and friends and

grind people online and friends and family they were so Wow

family they were so Wow

family they were so Wow congratulations Logan you’re so

congratulations Logan you’re so

congratulations Logan you’re so successful you’re doing all these

successful you’re doing all these

successful you’re doing all these amazing things I mean imagine if you’re

amazing things I mean imagine if you’re

amazing things I mean imagine if you’re in my shoes right you would have been

in my shoes right you would have been

in my shoes right you would have been having a great time too but it sort of

having a great time too but it sort of

having a great time too but it sort of reached a point where I was hitting this

reached a point where I was hitting this

reached a point where I was hitting this wall I mean it was fun but we was the

wall I mean it was fun but we was the

wall I mean it was fun but we was the future in it where was the passion in

future in it where was the passion in

future in it where was the passion in the purpose and the meaning in the past

the purpose and the meaning in the past

the purpose and the meaning in the past where I was blurring those lines of work

where I was blurring those lines of work

where I was blurring those lines of work and play now was kind of just working

and play now was kind of just working

and play now was kind of just working and then playing it all started to seem

and then playing it all started to seem

and then playing it all started to seem a little bit self-centered and

a little bit self-centered and

a little bit self-centered and hedonistic and I started to feel

hedonistic and I started to feel

hedonistic and I started to feel isolated

isolated

isolated I was also disconnected from their

I was also disconnected from their

I was also disconnected from their amazing highly flamable team and

amazing highly flamable team and

amazing highly flamable team and community that I’d built I was lacking

community that I’d built I was lacking

community that I’d built I was lacking those epic conversations that I used to

those epic conversations that I used to

those epic conversations that I used to have I met some cool people on my

have I met some cool people on my

have I met some cool people on my adventures but most of them

adventures but most of them

adventures but most of them didn’t seem they’re interested in their

didn’t seem they’re interested in their

didn’t seem they’re interested in their businesses they wanted to talk about the

businesses they wanted to talk about the

businesses they wanted to talk about the latest surf trip to Bali but the

latest surf trip to Bali but the

latest surf trip to Bali but the business was some boring blog or some

business was some boring blog or some

business was some boring blog or some internet marketing thing that kind of

internet marketing thing that kind of

internet marketing thing that kind of sounded like a scam so I started some

sounded like a scam so I started some

sounded like a scam so I started some self-reflection I started to really

self-reflection I started to really

self-reflection I started to really think about what it is I want to do and

think about what it is I want to do and

think about what it is I want to do and for the world and I started searching

for the world and I started searching

for the world and I started searching for other like-minded passionate people

for other like-minded passionate people

for other like-minded passionate people and communities and I found that these

and communities and I found that these

and communities and I found that these communities do exist communities like D

communities do exist communities like D

communities do exist communities like D in X a digital nomad community based out

in X a digital nomad community based out

in X a digital nomad community based out of Berlin I also started attending

of Berlin I also started attending

of Berlin I also started attending retreats like fellow Kiwi nationally

retreats like fellow Kiwi nationally

retreats like fellow Kiwi nationally Sissons freedom retreat and Bali then of

Sissons freedom retreat and Bali then of

Sissons freedom retreat and Bali then of course I started running my own retreats

course I started running my own retreats

course I started running my own retreats to the volcano retreats the other thing

to the volcano retreats the other thing

to the volcano retreats the other thing I did was I reconnected with my highly

I did was I reconnected with my highly

I did was I reconnected with my highly flamable team and community and I saw

flamable team and community and I saw

flamable team and community and I saw more of the purpose and the passion

more of the purpose and the passion

more of the purpose and the passion behind highly flamable as well see it’s

behind highly flamable as well see it’s

behind highly flamable as well see it’s not just about the flesh he mirrored

not just about the flesh he mirrored

not just about the flesh he mirrored suits the flames or the stilts it’s

suits the flames or the stilts it’s

suits the flames or the stilts it’s about this amazing community of people

about this amazing community of people

about this amazing community of people that challenge themselves build personal

that challenge themselves build personal

that challenge themselves build personal confidence and professional development

confidence and professional development

confidence and professional development in a supportive environment and I saw

in a supportive environment and I saw

in a supportive environment and I saw that to really blur those lines of work

that to really blur those lines of work

that to really blur those lines of work and play there were three key things

and play there were three key things

and play there were three key things that I needed to refocus on passion and

that I needed to refocus on passion and

that I needed to refocus on passion and fun for what I was doing meaningful work

fun for what I was doing meaningful work

fun for what I was doing meaningful work that really matters and that amazing

that really matters and that amazing

that really matters and that amazing supportive community around me so let’s

supportive community around me so let’s

supportive community around me so let’s think about this a little bit more

think about this a little bit more

think about this a little bit more deeply business is hard right like it’s

deeply business is hard right like it’s

deeply business is hard right like it’s really really hard it’s those things

really really hard it’s those things

really really hard it’s those things that those online Entre Nous memes often

that those online Entre Nous memes often

that those online Entre Nous memes often forget the late nights the lack of

forget the late nights the lack of

forget the late nights the lack of direction the painful lessons the

direction the painful lessons the

direction the painful lessons the challenging employees the tough clients

challenging employees the tough clients

challenging employees the tough clients sometimes getting burned sometimes

sometimes getting burned sometimes

sometimes getting burned sometimes literally maybe some of those things are

literally maybe some of those things are

literally maybe some of those things are the reasons why you haven’t started a

the reasons why you haven’t started a

the reasons why you haven’t started a business

business

business it or maybe you see this world of

it or maybe you see this world of

it or maybe you see this world of entrepreneurship as a little bit

entrepreneurship as a little bit

entrepreneurship as a little bit self-centered then there’s all of this

self-centered then there’s all of this

self-centered then there’s all of this kind of marketing a dreamy

kind of marketing a dreamy

kind of marketing a dreamy scammy sounding stuff is it even real

scammy sounding stuff is it even real

scammy sounding stuff is it even real would you leave your stable reliable

would you leave your stable reliable

would you leave your stable reliable full-time job for that see the thing is

full-time job for that see the thing is

full-time job for that see the thing is when you build a business based on

when you build a business based on

when you build a business based on passion and meaning with that surround

passion and meaning with that surround

passion and meaning with that surround surrounded by that amazing community it

surrounded by that amazing community it

surrounded by that amazing community it actually builds more robust business it

actually builds more robust business it

actually builds more robust business it builds a business that you’re gonna

builds a business that you’re gonna

builds a business that you’re gonna stick around for a business that you’ll

stick around for a business that you’ll

stick around for a business that you’ll leave your day job for and when those

leave your day job for and when those

leave your day job for and when those challenges come you’re gonna break right

challenges come you’re gonna break right

challenges come you’re gonna break right through them so this journey I’ve been

through them so this journey I’ve been

through them so this journey I’ve been on I took the long road and I want to

on I took the long road and I want to

on I took the long road and I want to help you to skip the hard parts because

help you to skip the hard parts because

help you to skip the hard parts because it’s so much harder to bolt the stuff on

it’s so much harder to bolt the stuff on

it’s so much harder to bolt the stuff on later so I’m going to get into some

later so I’m going to get into some

later so I’m going to get into some house so firstly you don’t want to be

house so firstly you don’t want to be

house so firstly you don’t want to be working at some desk doing something you

working at some desk doing something you

working at some desk doing something you don’t care about building someone else’s

don’t care about building someone else’s

don’t care about building someone else’s dream entrepreneurship is about solving

dream entrepreneurship is about solving

dream entrepreneurship is about solving problems that you care about or as I

problems that you care about or as I

problems that you care about or as I like to say solving real pains Richard

like to say solving real pains Richard

like to say solving real pains Richard Branson once said if you aren’t making a

Branson once said if you aren’t making a

Branson once said if you aren’t making a difference in other people’s lives then

difference in other people’s lives then

difference in other people’s lives then you shouldn’t be in business so what are

you shouldn’t be in business so what are

you shouldn’t be in business so what are some problems that you care about what

some problems that you care about what

some problems that you care about what are some things about the world that

are some things about the world that

are some things about the world that really annoy you secondly what are your

really annoy you secondly what are your

really annoy you secondly what are your passions write out a list what are some

passions write out a list what are some

passions write out a list what are some things that get you really excited what

things that get you really excited what

things that get you really excited what are some of your hobbies how do you

are some of your hobbies how do you

are some of your hobbies how do you spend your spare time if you never had

spend your spare time if you never had

spend your spare time if you never had to work again

to work again

to work again what would you do then build that

what would you do then build that

what would you do then build that supportive community around you from the

supportive community around you from the

supportive community around you from the start even before you come up with that

start even before you come up with that

start even before you come up with that idea surround yourself with inspiring

idea surround yourself with inspiring

idea surround yourself with inspiring entrepreneurs

entrepreneurs

entrepreneurs start a mastermind were you bring

start a mastermind were you bring

start a mastermind were you bring together people to talk about challenges

together people to talk about challenges

together people to talk about challenges and wins attend conferences and retreats

and wins attend conferences and retreats

and wins attend conferences and retreats not because you want to make sales but

not because you want to make sales but

not because you want to make sales but because you want to really connect and

because you want to really connect and

because you want to really connect and build that supportive community around

build that supportive community around

build that supportive community around you we are the average of the five

you we are the average of the five

you we are the average of the five people we hang out with the most and

people we hang out with the most and

people we hang out with the most and that is so true then lastly sometimes we

that is so true then lastly sometimes we

that is so true then lastly sometimes we get so wound up in the business of

get so wound up in the business of

get so wound up in the business of living that we really forget to take

living that we really forget to take

living that we really forget to take time to think so reflect on the past

time to think so reflect on the past

time to think so reflect on the past journal meditate practice mindfulness

journal meditate practice mindfulness

journal meditate practice mindfulness try yoga every year I go on a three-day

try yoga every year I go on a three-day

try yoga every year I go on a three-day personal retreat to mount cook and I

personal retreat to mount cook and I

personal retreat to mount cook and I reflect on the past and I plan the

reflect on the past and I plan the

reflect on the past and I plan the future and out of everything it makes

future and out of everything it makes

future and out of everything it makes most difference so I’ve gone through

most difference so I’ve gone through

most difference so I’ve gone through this list and some of you are probably

this list and some of you are probably

this list and some of you are probably going yeah cool story Logan that’s great

going yeah cool story Logan that’s great

going yeah cool story Logan that’s great but I’m not an entrepreneur I don’t want

but I’m not an entrepreneur I don’t want

but I’m not an entrepreneur I don’t want to start a business I’ve got a stable

to start a business I’ve got a stable

to start a business I’ve got a stable reliable full-time job actually

reliable full-time job actually

reliable full-time job actually however opportunities and advances in

however opportunities and advances in

however opportunities and advances in technology mean then it’s easier for

technology mean then it’s easier for

technology mean then it’s easier for more and more people to get involved in

more and more people to get involved in

more and more people to get involved in this world of entrepreneurship we’re the

this world of entrepreneurship we’re the

this world of entrepreneurship we’re the world of jobs is getting less secure

world of jobs is getting less secure

world of jobs is getting less secure entrepreneurship is getting easier less

entrepreneurship is getting easier less

entrepreneurship is getting easier less risky and cheaper you’ll find now that

risky and cheaper you’ll find now that

risky and cheaper you’ll find now that the entrepreneurship journey is getting

the entrepreneurship journey is getting

the entrepreneurship journey is getting easier by the day because of all of

easier by the day because of all of

easier by the day because of all of these changes now the other thing about

these changes now the other thing about

these changes now the other thing about entrepreneurship is it’s your best way

entrepreneurship is it’s your best way

entrepreneurship is it’s your best way to give impact and value to the world

to give impact and value to the world

to give impact and value to the world and also to reach your own full

and also to reach your own full

and also to reach your own full potential so this journey I’ve been on

potential so this journey I’ve been on

potential so this journey I’ve been on I’m gonna keep going I’m gonna keep

I’m gonna keep going I’m gonna keep

I’m gonna keep going I’m gonna keep blurring those lines of work and play

blurring those lines of work and play

blurring those lines of work and play I’m going to keep growing those

I’m going to keep growing those

I’m going to keep growing those communities and connecting with those

communities and connecting with those

communities and connecting with those communities through my businesses in my

communities through my businesses in my

communities through my businesses in my treats I feel like my journey into that

treats I feel like my journey into that

treats I feel like my journey into that crazy world of entrepreneurship it’s

crazy world of entrepreneurship it’s

crazy world of entrepreneurship it’s just starting all over again and for you

just starting all over again and for you

just starting all over again and for you your volcano is waiting so come join us

”

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