[Music] you
fear fear of failure fear of looking
fear fear of failure fear of looking stupid fear of rejection fear of public
stupid fear of rejection fear of public
stupid fear of rejection fear of public speaking no matter what your fear is
speaking no matter what your fear is
speaking no matter what your fear is fear either stifles you or it motivates
fear either stifles you or it motivates
fear either stifles you or it motivates you what are you afraid of me what I’m
you what are you afraid of me what I’m
you what are you afraid of me what I’m most afraid of is not fulfilling my
most afraid of is not fulfilling my
most afraid of is not fulfilling my purpose in life not achieving my full
purpose in life not achieving my full
purpose in life not achieving my full potential that’s my purpose as an
potential that’s my purpose as an
potential that’s my purpose as an individual my purpose as a mom as a
individual my purpose as a mom as a
individual my purpose as a mom as a daughter as a friend and even as an
daughter as a friend and even as an
daughter as a friend and even as an employee of Delta this fear keeps me in
employee of Delta this fear keeps me in
employee of Delta this fear keeps me in a place where I’m constantly achieving
a place where I’m constantly achieving
a place where I’m constantly achieving trying to achieve excellence constantly
trying to achieve excellence constantly
trying to achieve excellence constantly pursuing greatness 6.3 million Americans
pursuing greatness 6.3 million Americans
pursuing greatness 6.3 million Americans have a diagnosed fear of something so my
have a diagnosed fear of something so my
have a diagnosed fear of something so my theme for today is fear less innovate
theme for today is fear less innovate
theme for today is fear less innovate more I want to share with you just a few
more I want to share with you just a few
more I want to share with you just a few techniques that have worked for me as
techniques that have worked for me as
techniques that have worked for me as I’ve conquered my fears over the years
I’ve conquered my fears over the years
I’ve conquered my fears over the years first know your why simon Sinek is one
first know your why simon Sinek is one
first know your why simon Sinek is one of my favorite authors and motivational
of my favorite authors and motivational
of my favorite authors and motivational speakers in his books in his speeches he
speakers in his books in his speeches he
speakers in his books in his speeches he talks about knowing your why everyone
talks about knowing your why everyone
talks about knowing your why everyone has a why your why is the purpose belief
has a why your why is the purpose belief
has a why your why is the purpose belief or cause that inspires you to do what
or cause that inspires you to do what
or cause that inspires you to do what you do now taking it to the corporate
you do now taking it to the corporate
you do now taking it to the corporate side at Delta we have this principle
side at Delta we have this principle
side at Delta we have this principle called the virtuous circle it starts at
called the virtuous circle it starts at
called the virtuous circle it starts at the very top of the circle where you
the very top of the circle where you
the very top of the circle where you take care of your employees you equip
take care of your employees you equip
take care of your employees you equip your employees with the tools and the
your employees with the tools and the
your employees with the tools and the things that they need to be successful
things that they need to be successful
things that they need to be successful in serving your customers your customers
in serving your customers your customers
in serving your customers your customers are then more loyal and spend more money
are then more loyal and spend more money
are then more loyal and spend more money with the company which leads to
with the company which leads to
with the company which leads to financial value and success in turn
financial value and success in turn
financial value and success in turn shareholder value
shareholder value
shareholder value so as an innovator in the hanger which
so as an innovator in the hanger which
so as an innovator in the hanger which is Delta’s global innovation Center my
is Delta’s global innovation Center my
is Delta’s global innovation Center my why is helping delts have become the
why is helping delts have become the
why is helping delts have become the world’s most innovative airline I have a
world’s most innovative airline I have a
world’s most innovative airline I have a team of students employees and partners
team of students employees and partners
team of students employees and partners who are every day thinking about how can
who are every day thinking about how can
who are every day thinking about how can we change the travel industry and
we change the travel industry and
we change the travel industry and make it more innovative now we do that
make it more innovative now we do that
make it more innovative now we do that sometimes without knowing all the
sometimes without knowing all the
sometimes without knowing all the answers or even having the right skill
answers or even having the right skill
answers or even having the right skill sets to be successful but we figure it
sets to be successful but we figure it
sets to be successful but we figure it out because our customers and our
out because our customers and our
out because our customers and our employees they count on us to do so
employees they count on us to do so
employees they count on us to do so we’ve created this environment where
we’ve created this environment where
we’ve created this environment where failure is okay and occasionally we’re
failure is okay and occasionally we’re
failure is okay and occasionally we’re gonna have to fail but we fail fast
gonna have to fail but we fail fast
gonna have to fail but we fail fast because sometimes the best learnings
because sometimes the best learnings
because sometimes the best learnings come from failure now I’ve taken this
come from failure now I’ve taken this
come from failure now I’ve taken this principle in my work life but in my
principle in my work life but in my
principle in my work life but in my personal life my Y is very similar so I
personal life my Y is very similar so I
personal life my Y is very similar so I talked about fear and I talked about
talked about fear and I talked about
talked about fear and I talked about excellence and you know the things that
excellence and you know the things that
excellence and you know the things that really drive me
really drive me
really drive me well that is my personal why it’s about
well that is my personal why it’s about
well that is my personal why it’s about excellence
excellence
excellence I want to strive to be the best at
I want to strive to be the best at
I want to strive to be the best at everything I accomplished I try to
everything I accomplished I try to
everything I accomplished I try to accomplish in life the fear of letting
accomplish in life the fear of letting
accomplish in life the fear of letting my children down or my family down or
my children down or my family down or
my children down or my family down or even my team at work down is what
even my team at work down is what
even my team at work down is what motivates me and so no matter whether
motivates me and so no matter whether
motivates me and so no matter whether it’s personal or work figure out what
it’s personal or work figure out what
it’s personal or work figure out what your Y is and use that to motivate you
your Y is and use that to motivate you
your Y is and use that to motivate you to achieve your goals and overcome fear
to achieve your goals and overcome fear
to achieve your goals and overcome fear so now switching gears how many of you
so now switching gears how many of you
so now switching gears how many of you like to be told no well I didn’t think
like to be told no well I didn’t think
like to be told no well I didn’t think anyone would raise their hand so that’s
anyone would raise their hand so that’s
anyone would raise their hand so that’s good and it’s because no is a form of
good and it’s because no is a form of
good and it’s because no is a form of rejection and rejection is a form of
rejection and rejection is a form of
rejection and rejection is a form of failure I often say that optimism is my
failure I often say that optimism is my
failure I often say that optimism is my superpower and I’ve seen a lot of
superpower and I’ve seen a lot of
superpower and I’ve seen a lot of adversity in life and experienced a lot
adversity in life and experienced a lot
adversity in life and experienced a lot of things from health issues to divorce
of things from health issues to divorce
of things from health issues to divorce parents to death in the workplace but
parents to death in the workplace but
parents to death in the workplace but despite all of that I’ve been successful
despite all of that I’ve been successful
despite all of that I’ve been successful and the reason that I’ve been successful
and the reason that I’ve been successful
and the reason that I’ve been successful is because I don’t let negativity take
is because I don’t let negativity take
is because I don’t let negativity take away and my dreams and so what I’ve
away and my dreams and so what I’ve
away and my dreams and so what I’ve realized that no is often a obstacle
realized that no is often a obstacle
realized that no is often a obstacle it’s not a brick wall as an innovation
it’s not a brick wall as an innovation
it’s not a brick wall as an innovation team we are told no on a daily basis
team we are told no on a daily basis
team we are told no on a daily basis almost we are told that’s been done
almost we are told that’s been done
almost we are told that’s been done before it’s too complex it’s too
before it’s too complex it’s too
before it’s too complex it’s too difficult but we don’t let that stop us
difficult but we don’t let that stop us
difficult but we don’t let that stop us negativity is often the result of fear
negativity is often the result of fear
negativity is often the result of fear of failure
of failure
of failure so put yourself in their shoes the
so put yourself in their shoes the
so put yourself in their shoes the person who’s telling you no empathize
person who’s telling you no empathize
person who’s telling you no empathize with them really get a deeper
with them really get a deeper
with them really get a deeper understanding of why you’re getting that
understanding of why you’re getting that
understanding of why you’re getting that know and try to change that no into a
know and try to change that no into a
know and try to change that no into a yes through empathy so one example of
yes through empathy so one example of
yes through empathy so one example of that is about a year ago in my role I
that is about a year ago in my role I
that is about a year ago in my role I realized that Delta was doing a lot of
realized that Delta was doing a lot of
realized that Delta was doing a lot of investment in hackathons so there’s
investment in hackathons so there’s
investment in hackathons so there’s these events where we would go out and
these events where we would go out and
these events where we would go out and we’d ask students to generate lots of
we’d ask students to generate lots of
we’d ask students to generate lots of really cool and interesting ideas that
really cool and interesting ideas that
really cool and interesting ideas that would help us improve our business and
would help us improve our business and
would help us improve our business and we got some great ideas but I realized
we got some great ideas but I realized
we got some great ideas but I realized we were never asking our employees to do
we were never asking our employees to do
we were never asking our employees to do the same and so I said why don’t we do
the same and so I said why don’t we do
the same and so I said why don’t we do our own employee hackathon where we have
our own employee hackathon where we have
our own employee hackathon where we have all 80,000 people get together on a
all 80,000 people get together on a
all 80,000 people get together on a weekend and think about ways to solve
weekend and think about ways to solve
weekend and think about ways to solve our challenges and so as you can imagine
our challenges and so as you can imagine
our challenges and so as you can imagine I immediately got a lot of resistance
I immediately got a lot of resistance
I immediately got a lot of resistance and I was told you know it’s too
and I was told you know it’s too
and I was told you know it’s too expensive it’s too complex it’ll never
expensive it’s too complex it’ll never
expensive it’s too complex it’ll never work so I had to figure out a way to
work so I had to figure out a way to
work so I had to figure out a way to make it work
make it work
make it work so what I did was we started with a very
so what I did was we started with a very
so what I did was we started with a very small group one division within the
small group one division within the
small group one division within the company and we asked about a couple
company and we asked about a couple
company and we asked about a couple hundred employees if they didn’t like to
hundred employees if they didn’t like to
hundred employees if they didn’t like to participate and slowly we started to see
participate and slowly we started to see
participate and slowly we started to see people who said you know what I’d like
people who said you know what I’d like
people who said you know what I’d like to do that I’m interested and it’s
to do that I’m interested and it’s
to do that I’m interested and it’s because I have these ideas but I don’t
because I have these ideas but I don’t
because I have these ideas but I don’t have a forum or a way to share them and
have a forum or a way to share them and
have a forum or a way to share them and so to cover the expense we asked some of
so to cover the expense we asked some of
so to cover the expense we asked some of our partners our technology partners to
our partners our technology partners to
our partners our technology partners to chip in and provide subject matter
chip in and provide subject matter
chip in and provide subject matter experts and technology and resources we
experts and technology and resources we
experts and technology and resources we ended up with about a hundred and fifty
ended up with about a hundred and fifty
ended up with about a hundred and fifty people over the course of one weekend
people over the course of one weekend
people over the course of one weekend who devoted their personal time they
who devoted their personal time they
who devoted their personal time they chose to take time away from their
chose to take time away from their
chose to take time away from their family they chose to take time away from
family they chose to take time away from
family they chose to take time away from the things that matter to them to
the things that matter to them to
the things that matter to them to generate ideas for the company and we
generate ideas for the company and we
generate ideas for the company and we also thought about prizes and we said
also thought about prizes and we said
also thought about prizes and we said well what do we have to give them to
well what do we have to give them to
well what do we have to give them to really motivate them because people are
really motivate them because people are
really motivate them because people are busy at work and now they’re doing the
busy at work and now they’re doing the
busy at work and now they’re doing the weekend the one prize that stood out the
weekend the one prize that stood out the
weekend the one prize that stood out the most was people wanted to know that they
most was people wanted to know that they
most was people wanted to know that they could work on their idea and see it live
could work on their idea and see it live
could work on their idea and see it live in an environment so it wasn’t monetary
in an environment so it wasn’t monetary
in an environment so it wasn’t monetary it was the pride of taking that idea
it was the pride of taking that idea
it was the pride of taking that idea that I came up with in a weekend and
that I came up with in a weekend and
that I came up with in a weekend and seeing it in front of customers so when
seeing it in front of customers so when
seeing it in front of customers so when you hear no find a way to make it happen
you hear no find a way to make it happen
you hear no find a way to make it happen let your
let your
let your passion and your interest and your wife
passion and your interest and your wife
passion and your interest and your wife really drive your success and so now
really drive your success and so now
really drive your success and so now we’re taking that program and we’re
we’re taking that program and we’re
we’re taking that program and we’re looking to scale it across the 80,000 it
looking to scale it across the 80,000 it
looking to scale it across the 80,000 it may take some time but we’ll get there
may take some time but we’ll get there
may take some time but we’ll get there so now on to my third point many of you
so now on to my third point many of you
so now on to my third point many of you may have heard of the book good to great
may have heard of the book good to great
may have heard of the book good to great by Jim Collins I’ve read the book twice
by Jim Collins I’ve read the book twice
by Jim Collins I’ve read the book twice now and I was fortunate enough recently
now and I was fortunate enough recently
now and I was fortunate enough recently to hear him speak at an event in the
to hear him speak at an event in the
to hear him speak at an event in the book he talks about this concept of a
book he talks about this concept of a
book he talks about this concept of a flywheel so imagine this huge heavy
flywheel so imagine this huge heavy
flywheel so imagine this huge heavy flywheel it’s massive and it’s
flywheel it’s massive and it’s
flywheel it’s massive and it’s overwhelming as a company in order to
overwhelming as a company in order to
overwhelming as a company in order to get your company from good to great
get your company from good to great
get your company from good to great you’ve got to turn that flywheel as fast
you’ve got to turn that flywheel as fast
you’ve got to turn that flywheel as fast as possible because the momentum that
as possible because the momentum that
as possible because the momentum that you get as company will help you succeed
you get as company will help you succeed
you get as company will help you succeed and achieve that success it’s scary that
and achieve that success it’s scary that
and achieve that success it’s scary that flywheel is massive and making that
flywheel is massive and making that
flywheel is massive and making that first turn especially when the flywheel
first turn especially when the flywheel
first turn especially when the flywheel is at a standstill is hard but the more
is at a standstill is hard but the more
is at a standstill is hard but the more people you can get on board the faster
people you can get on board the faster
people you can get on board the faster the flywheel starts to move and the
the flywheel starts to move and the
the flywheel starts to move and the faster you start to make some change so
faster you start to make some change so
faster you start to make some change so how do you get that momentum to make
how do you get that momentum to make
how do you get that momentum to make that very first push well what I want to
that very first push well what I want to
that very first push well what I want to talk about today is being courageous and
talk about today is being courageous and
talk about today is being courageous and making that very first turn it only
making that very first turn it only
making that very first turn it only takes one individual it only takes one
takes one individual it only takes one
takes one individual it only takes one group make that first turn and that’s
group make that first turn and that’s
group make that first turn and that’s how I think of my innovation team at
how I think of my innovation team at
how I think of my innovation team at Delta we are the team that’s raising our
Delta we are the team that’s raising our
Delta we are the team that’s raising our hand proud smiling saying we will make
hand proud smiling saying we will make
hand proud smiling saying we will make that first turn for the people who say
that first turn for the people who say
that first turn for the people who say no it’s too complex we’re the ones who
no it’s too complex we’re the ones who
no it’s too complex we’re the ones who say we’re gonna go figure out a way to
say we’re gonna go figure out a way to
say we’re gonna go figure out a way to make it happen and we are the coaches
make it happen and we are the coaches
make it happen and we are the coaches and the counselors that once we get
and the counselors that once we get
and the counselors that once we get everyone on board we keep that flywheel
everyone on board we keep that flywheel
everyone on board we keep that flywheel turning and so we’ve created this
turning and so we’ve created this
turning and so we’ve created this environment where we can rapidly and
environment where we can rapidly and
environment where we can rapidly and quickly test things new ideas and bring
quickly test things new ideas and bring
quickly test things new ideas and bring them to life we make bold moves take big
them to life we make bold moves take big
them to life we make bold moves take big risks to figure out how to make this
risks to figure out how to make this
risks to figure out how to make this successful five years ago I had probably
successful five years ago I had probably
successful five years ago I had probably with them one of the most difficult
with them one of the most difficult
with them one of the most difficult times in my personal life and now
times in my personal life and now
times in my personal life and now looking back on that I view it as my own
looking back on that I view it as my own
looking back on that I view it as my own personal flywheel
personal flywheel
personal flywheel so I was diagnosed with breast cancer
so I was diagnosed with breast cancer
so I was diagnosed with breast cancer and I was forced with facing my own
and I was forced with facing my own
and I was forced with facing my own fears all of that optimism and
fears all of that optimism and
fears all of that optimism and positivity that I just talked about that
positivity that I just talked about that
positivity that I just talked about that went out the window leading up to my
went out the window leading up to my
went out the window leading up to my diagnosis I was told oh this is really
diagnosis I was told oh this is really
diagnosis I was told oh this is really mostly a formality there’s no history of
mostly a formality there’s no history of
mostly a formality there’s no history of breast cancer in your family it’s most
breast cancer in your family it’s most
breast cancer in your family it’s most likely not the case so as you can
likely not the case so as you can
likely not the case so as you can imagine I was devastated when I got that
imagine I was devastated when I got that
imagine I was devastated when I got that call the first people I spoke to my
call the first people I spoke to my
call the first people I spoke to my husband my parents and the way they
husband my parents and the way they
husband my parents and the way they responded to me in that moment is what
responded to me in that moment is what
responded to me in that moment is what got me through they didn’t allow me to
got me through they didn’t allow me to
got me through they didn’t allow me to sulk they didn’t allow me to be negative
sulk they didn’t allow me to be negative
sulk they didn’t allow me to be negative they basically said we’re gonna fight
they basically said we’re gonna fight
they basically said we’re gonna fight and we’re gonna do this together so I
and we’re gonna do this together so I
and we’re gonna do this together so I spent that weekend with a little bit of
spent that weekend with a little bit of
spent that weekend with a little bit of a pity party I have to admit but I
a pity party I have to admit but I
a pity party I have to admit but I compartmentalized it and I really
compartmentalized it and I really
compartmentalized it and I really focused in on battling this disease
focused in on battling this disease
focused in on battling this disease I couldn’t submit to it so after that
I couldn’t submit to it so after that
I couldn’t submit to it so after that weekend I knew that this was going to be
weekend I knew that this was going to be
weekend I knew that this was going to be a Bala had to fight but I had to make
a Bala had to fight but I had to make
a Bala had to fight but I had to make that very first turn on the flywheel so
that very first turn on the flywheel so
that very first turn on the flywheel so don’t get overwhelmed by the massive
don’t get overwhelmed by the massive
don’t get overwhelmed by the massive thing that’s in front of you take that
thing that’s in front of you take that
thing that’s in front of you take that very first turn and remember whether
very first turn and remember whether
very first turn and remember whether it’s work life personal whatever you
it’s work life personal whatever you
it’s work life personal whatever you have ahead of you make the first turn
have ahead of you make the first turn
have ahead of you make the first turn and five years later I will say that I
and five years later I will say that I
and five years later I will say that I am still making turns every day it’s
am still making turns every day it’s
am still making turns every day it’s definitely a journey and without my
definitely a journey and without my
definitely a journey and without my family support and the people around me
family support and the people around me
family support and the people around me I don’t know that I would have gotten
I don’t know that I would have gotten
I don’t know that I would have gotten this far but I’ll tell you I still have
this far but I’ll tell you I still have
this far but I’ll tell you I still have a long way to go so on the heels of
a long way to go so on the heels of
a long way to go so on the heels of breast cancer awareness month proud to
breast cancer awareness month proud to
breast cancer awareness month proud to say that I am a survivor
and when you think about that concept
and when you think about that concept and how massive it can be I will tell
and how massive it can be I will tell
and how massive it can be I will tell you that you can conquer anything and
you that you can conquer anything and
you that you can conquer anything and you don’t have to be afraid of what’s
you don’t have to be afraid of what’s
you don’t have to be afraid of what’s ahead of you now my last concept is
ahead of you now my last concept is
ahead of you now my last concept is about dreaming big about 10 years ago
about dreaming big about 10 years ago
about dreaming big about 10 years ago long before I joined Delta I was in a
long before I joined Delta I was in a
long before I joined Delta I was in a role where I was supporting a senior
role where I was supporting a senior
role where I was supporting a senior executive with speech writing and so he
executive with speech writing and so he
executive with speech writing and so he had to deliver a speech and I helped him
had to deliver a speech and I helped him
had to deliver a speech and I helped him write his speech for this huge business
write his speech for this huge business
write his speech for this huge business development presentation and so I joined
development presentation and so I joined
development presentation and so I joined him on the plane on the ride back and
him on the plane on the ride back and
him on the plane on the ride back and while we were on the plane he started to
while we were on the plane he started to
while we were on the plane he started to ask how I love my job
ask how I love my job
ask how I love my job and I said actually I love my job having
and I said actually I love my job having
and I said actually I love my job having a great time I enjoy supporting you and
a great time I enjoy supporting you and
a great time I enjoy supporting you and I’d love to keep working for you for a
I’d love to keep working for you for a
I’d love to keep working for you for a long time and he said well do you have
long time and he said well do you have
long time and he said well do you have your sights set on my job one day you
your sights set on my job one day you
your sights set on my job one day you know do you ever want to reach my
know do you ever want to reach my
know do you ever want to reach my potential as president and I said I
potential as president and I said I
potential as president and I said I thought about it for a moment and I said
thought about it for a moment and I said
thought about it for a moment and I said well I’m not sure if I actually want
well I’m not sure if I actually want
well I’m not sure if I actually want your job you seem to be very successful
your job you seem to be very successful
your job you seem to be very successful and you have a lot of great things going
and you have a lot of great things going
and you have a lot of great things going for you but you also travel a lot and
for you but you also travel a lot and
for you but you also travel a lot and you don’t seem to have as much time with
you don’t seem to have as much time with
you don’t seem to have as much time with your family and he said to me Nicole I
your family and he said to me Nicole I
your family and he said to me Nicole I have dinner with my family almost every
have dinner with my family almost every
have dinner with my family almost every night he said good leaders learn how to
night he said good leaders learn how to
night he said good leaders learn how to balance work and family he said you know
balance work and family he said you know
balance work and family he said you know figure out a way to put family first and
figure out a way to put family first and
figure out a way to put family first and don’t let that stop you from pursuing
don’t let that stop you from pursuing
don’t let that stop you from pursuing your dreams I realized that I was
your dreams I realized that I was
your dreams I realized that I was selling myself short I was allowing my
selling myself short I was allowing my
selling myself short I was allowing my fear of sacrifice to stifle my career
fear of sacrifice to stifle my career
fear of sacrifice to stifle my career and so what I realized is I can put
and so what I realized is I can put
and so what I realized is I can put family first I can pursue a career and I
family first I can pursue a career and I
family first I can pursue a career and I can achieve and have his job one day and
can achieve and have his job one day and
can achieve and have his job one day and since that moment I’ve come a long way
since that moment I’ve come a long way
since that moment I’ve come a long way and I dream big and I don’t let those
and I dream big and I don’t let those
and I dream big and I don’t let those fears hold me back so in summary I first
fears hold me back so in summary I first
fears hold me back so in summary I first want to say know your why second no is
want to say know your why second no is
want to say know your why second no is an obstacle
an obstacle
an obstacle it’s not a brick wall use empathy to get
it’s not a brick wall use empathy to get
it’s not a brick wall use empathy to get to a place of yes
to a place of yes
to a place of yes be courageous and make that first turn
be courageous and make that first turn
be courageous and make that first turn of the flywheel I’m here to as a
of the flywheel I’m here to as a
of the flywheel I’m here to as a testimony that it does pay off
testimony that it does pay off
testimony that it does pay off and finally dream big don’t lose sight
and finally dream big don’t lose sight
and finally dream big don’t lose sight of your full potential what fear will
of your full potential what fear will
of your full potential what fear will each of you conquer next thank you
each of you conquer next thank you
each of you conquer next thank you [Applause]
”
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