it all starts with a question a gap between what we know and what we don’t
between what we know and what we don’t
between what we know and what we don’t know and it’s curiosity that makes the
know and it’s curiosity that makes the
know and it’s curiosity that makes the urge to fill that gap compulsive I grew
urge to fill that gap compulsive I grew
urge to fill that gap compulsive I grew up on a dairy farm just outside Nantwich
up on a dairy farm just outside Nantwich
up on a dairy farm just outside Nantwich as a young girl I used to help my dad
as a young girl I used to help my dad
as a young girl I used to help my dad collect the cows for milking and I was
collect the cows for milking and I was
collect the cows for milking and I was fascinated by the cow’s behavior
fascinated by the cow’s behavior
fascinated by the cow’s behavior watching them follow that same path back
watching them follow that same path back
watching them follow that same path back through the field every day to the
through the field every day to the
through the field every day to the milking parlor walking at the same
milking parlor walking at the same
milking parlor walking at the same steady pace they would fall into line
steady pace they would fall into line
steady pace they would fall into line filing along their well-worn self-made
filing along their well-worn self-made
filing along their well-worn self-made tracks compliantly
tracks compliantly
tracks compliantly waiting in line to be milked I was
waiting in line to be milked I was
waiting in line to be milked I was curious about how they followed that
curious about how they followed that
curious about how they followed that same pattern every day twice a day
same pattern every day twice a day
same pattern every day twice a day creatures of habit throughout my life
creatures of habit throughout my life
creatures of habit throughout my life I’ve always been fascinated by human
I’ve always been fascinated by human
I’ve always been fascinated by human behavior and how we work as a school
behavior and how we work as a school
behavior and how we work as a school girl in 1986 I made three wishes for the
girl in 1986 I made three wishes for the
girl in 1986 I made three wishes for the future one of those wishes was to live
future one of those wishes was to live
future one of those wishes was to live until I was 200 can you imagine
until I was 200 can you imagine
until I was 200 can you imagine because I wants to see how the world
because I wants to see how the world
because I wants to see how the world changed
changed
changed I was curious still am about where we’re
I was curious still am about where we’re
I was curious still am about where we’re heading what we’re learning and what
heading what we’re learning and what
heading what we’re learning and what we’re not learning fast enough day to
we’re not learning fast enough day to
we’re not learning fast enough day to day day to day in life I’m an explorer I
day day to day in life I’m an explorer I
day day to day in life I’m an explorer I love discovering new things a different
love discovering new things a different
love discovering new things a different route home a great book or an
route home a great book or an
route home a great book or an undiscovered country pub and I am
undiscovered country pub and I am
undiscovered country pub and I am intrigued by what makes people tick
intrigued by what makes people tick
intrigued by what makes people tick our stories passions and motivations I’m
our stories passions and motivations I’m
our stories passions and motivations I’m curious what energizes you and how is
curious what energizes you and how is
curious what energizes you and how is that different from the person who sat
that different from the person who sat
that different from the person who sat right next to you what’s holding you
right next to you what’s holding you
right next to you what’s holding you back and how is it that sometimes we end
back and how is it that sometimes we end
back and how is it that sometimes we end up falling in line just like the cows
curiosity is a natural drive much like
curiosity is a natural drive much like hunger or thirst we’re all born with it
hunger or thirst we’re all born with it
hunger or thirst we’re all born with it so why is adults do we have a tendency
so why is adults do we have a tendency
so why is adults do we have a tendency to pull back stay safe and move away
to pull back stay safe and move away
to pull back stay safe and move away from anything that’s too far outside
from anything that’s too far outside
from anything that’s too far outside comfort-zone fear undoubtedly plays a
comfort-zone fear undoubtedly plays a
comfort-zone fear undoubtedly plays a big part in this but so does complacency
big part in this but so does complacency
big part in this but so does complacency it’s as though we reach a saturation
it’s as though we reach a saturation
it’s as though we reach a saturation point in life where we’ve experienced so
point in life where we’ve experienced so
point in life where we’ve experienced so many things that we somehow assume we
many things that we somehow assume we
many things that we somehow assume we know enough and we settle back into our
know enough and we settle back into our
know enough and we settle back into our familiar well-worn tracks complacency is
familiar well-worn tracks complacency is
familiar well-worn tracks complacency is no friend of curiosity like a muscle
no friend of curiosity like a muscle
no friend of curiosity like a muscle it needs flexing so I’d like to ask you
it needs flexing so I’d like to ask you
it needs flexing so I’d like to ask you something bring to mind your favorite
something bring to mind your favorite
something bring to mind your favorite comfy armchair you know the one or maybe
comfy armchair you know the one or maybe
comfy armchair you know the one or maybe it’s the spot on the sofa that’s yours
it’s the spot on the sofa that’s yours
it’s the spot on the sofa that’s yours I’d like you to imagine that you settled
I’d like you to imagine that you settled
I’d like you to imagine that you settled into it right now notice how it looks
into it right now notice how it looks
into it right now notice how it looks and feels notice what you can see around
and feels notice what you can see around
and feels notice what you can see around you familiar objects why is it that you
you familiar objects why is it that you
you familiar objects why is it that you always choose to sit there how do you
always choose to sit there how do you
always choose to sit there how do you feel when someone else is in your spot
feel when someone else is in your spot
feel when someone else is in your spot and what would happen if you mix things
and what would happen if you mix things
and what would happen if you mix things up a bit my dad’s favorite armchair was
up a bit my dad’s favorite armchair was
up a bit my dad’s favorite armchair was his recliner a huge brown 1980s chair
his recliner a huge brown 1980s chair
his recliner a huge brown 1980s chair fabric worn and tatty
fabric worn and tatty
fabric worn and tatty were oh so comfy the chair creaks and
were oh so comfy the chair creaks and
were oh so comfy the chair creaks and groans when Dad kicked it back to relax
groans when Dad kicked it back to relax
groans when Dad kicked it back to relax and with the further push he was fully
and with the further push he was fully
and with the further push he was fully horizontal and ready for his nap despite
horizontal and ready for his nap despite
horizontal and ready for his nap despite my mom’s best endeavours to get rid of
my mom’s best endeavours to get rid of
my mom’s best endeavours to get rid of that chair dad hung onto it for years it
that chair dad hung onto it for years it
that chair dad hung onto it for years it was battered and frayed screws were
was battered and frayed screws were
was battered and frayed screws were loose and bits were fallin off but it
loose and bits were fallin off but it
loose and bits were fallin off but it was comfortable and familiar ten years
was comfortable and familiar ten years
was comfortable and familiar ten years ago I found myself stuck in my armchair
ago I found myself stuck in my armchair
ago I found myself stuck in my armchair I’d fallen into one of those comfortable
I’d fallen into one of those comfortable
I’d fallen into one of those comfortable ruts at work doing the same thing day in
ruts at work doing the same thing day in
ruts at work doing the same thing day in day out
day out
day out operating on autopilot really not
operating on autopilot really not
operating on autopilot really not enjoying it
enjoying it
enjoying it not disliking it enough to do anything
not disliking it enough to do anything
not disliking it enough to do anything about it stagnating hanging on telling
about it stagnating hanging on telling
about it stagnating hanging on telling myself I was staying for the money the
myself I was staying for the money the
myself I was staying for the money the benefits the security all good reasons I
benefits the security all good reasons I
benefits the security all good reasons I thought and then something happened I
thought and then something happened I
thought and then something happened I had a moment of realization a wake up
had a moment of realization a wake up
had a moment of realization a wake up call someone at work who I respected
call someone at work who I respected
call someone at work who I respected told me I’d lost my spark they said my
told me I’d lost my spark they said my
told me I’d lost my spark they said my energy used to light up a room now it
energy used to light up a room now it
energy used to light up a room now it didn’t my first reaction was shock shock
didn’t my first reaction was shock shock
didn’t my first reaction was shock shock that someone had even noticed this for
that someone had even noticed this for
that someone had even noticed this for in my mind I was just getting on with
in my mind I was just getting on with
in my mind I was just getting on with things being normal I thought was it
things being normal I thought was it
things being normal I thought was it that evident that I’d lost my spark
that evident that I’d lost my spark
that evident that I’d lost my spark I felt crushed that I’d allowed it to
I felt crushed that I’d allowed it to
I felt crushed that I’d allowed it to happen and sad that wasn’t me anymore
happen and sad that wasn’t me anymore
happen and sad that wasn’t me anymore but after the hurt had worn off of it I
but after the hurt had worn off of it I
but after the hurt had worn off of it I picked myself up and in my mum’s words
picked myself up and in my mum’s words
picked myself up and in my mum’s words got on with it I began to get curious
got on with it I began to get curious
got on with it I began to get curious about what exactly my spot was I’ve
about what exactly my spot was I’ve
about what exactly my spot was I’ve never thought about it before I wondered
never thought about it before I wondered
never thought about it before I wondered where it had gone and how I was going to
where it had gone and how I was going to
where it had gone and how I was going to get it back
instinctively I began to write a list a
instinctively I began to write a list a list of everything I was good at enjoyed
list of everything I was good at enjoyed
list of everything I was good at enjoyed or had ever been interested in I got it
or had ever been interested in I got it
or had ever been interested in I got it all down in the back of my notebook it
all down in the back of my notebook it
all down in the back of my notebook it was a really random list I had no idea
was a really random list I had no idea
was a really random list I had no idea where I was heading with it but I
where I was heading with it but I
where I was heading with it but I allowed myself to be okay with not
allowed myself to be okay with not
allowed myself to be okay with not knowing and instead I got curious about
knowing and instead I got curious about
knowing and instead I got curious about what could happen it felt so good to be
what could happen it felt so good to be
what could happen it felt so good to be making small steps out of that rot again
making small steps out of that rot again
making small steps out of that rot again and it was the start of a fantastic
and it was the start of a fantastic
and it was the start of a fantastic adventure Marcel Proust said the real
adventure Marcel Proust said the real
adventure Marcel Proust said the real voyage of discovery consists not in
voyage of discovery consists not in
voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in seeing
seeking new landscapes but in seeing
seeking new landscapes but in seeing with new eyes so I chose to sit in a new
with new eyes so I chose to sit in a new
with new eyes so I chose to sit in a new armchair and I viewed the world
armchair and I viewed the world
armchair and I viewed the world differently
differently
differently I stalked her one rule and one rule only
I stalked her one rule and one rule only
I stalked her one rule and one rule only I followed what interested me it was
I followed what interested me it was
I followed what interested me it was great I enrolled on courses I read books
great I enrolled on courses I read books
great I enrolled on courses I read books watch videos join groups and connected
watch videos join groups and connected
watch videos join groups and connected with a whole new world of people who
with a whole new world of people who
with a whole new world of people who were curious about learning just like me
were curious about learning just like me
were curious about learning just like me I immerse myself in the process and
I immerse myself in the process and
I immerse myself in the process and flexing my curiosity motivated me to
flexing my curiosity motivated me to
flexing my curiosity motivated me to learn in all areas of life that were
learn in all areas of life that were
learn in all areas of life that were meaningful to me
meaningful to me
meaningful to me so I delve deeper into human behavior
so I delve deeper into human behavior
so I delve deeper into human behavior beliefs and attitudes to change
beliefs and attitudes to change
beliefs and attitudes to change I was curious about potential how little
I was curious about potential how little
I was curious about potential how little of it we actually use and how we often
of it we actually use and how we often
of it we actually use and how we often find ourselves settling for situations
find ourselves settling for situations
find ourselves settling for situations that make us unhappy because we think we
that make us unhappy because we think we
that make us unhappy because we think we have no choice in truth there is always
have no choice in truth there is always
have no choice in truth there is always a choice
a choice
a choice a choice to choose how to look at a
a choice to choose how to look at a
a choice to choose how to look at a situation a choice to view it a
situation a choice to view it a
situation a choice to view it a different way
different way
different way a choice to move armchairs here’s
a choice to move armchairs here’s
a choice to move armchairs here’s something that will make you smile did
something that will make you smile did
something that will make you smile did you know that on average a child can ask
you know that on average a child can ask
you know that on average a child can ask up to a hundred questions every hour a
up to a hundred questions every hour a
up to a hundred questions every hour a hundred questions is that all some of
hundred questions is that all some of
hundred questions is that all some of your thinking I bet many of you as
your thinking I bet many of you as
your thinking I bet many of you as parents me included get impatient by the
parents me included get impatient by the
parents me included get impatient by the endless stream of questions some days it
endless stream of questions some days it
endless stream of questions some days it feels like it will never stop but what’s
feels like it will never stop but what’s
feels like it will never stop but what’s surprising is that by the time children
surprising is that by the time children
surprising is that by the time children start school that natural sense of
start school that natural sense of
start school that natural sense of wonder is already starting to escape
wonder is already starting to escape
wonder is already starting to escape them answers are often more valued than
them answers are often more valued than
them answers are often more valued than inquisitive thoughts and curiosity
inquisitive thoughts and curiosity
inquisitive thoughts and curiosity simply trained out of us can you imagine
simply trained out of us can you imagine
simply trained out of us can you imagine if adults asked questions at the same
if adults asked questions at the same
if adults asked questions at the same pace as children it would ping
pace as children it would ping
pace as children it would ping exhausting and completely unrealistic
exhausting and completely unrealistic
exhausting and completely unrealistic but we must beware the opposite end of
but we must beware the opposite end of
but we must beware the opposite end of the spectrum for when we don’t ask
the spectrum for when we don’t ask
the spectrum for when we don’t ask enough questions when we lose interest
enough questions when we lose interest
enough questions when we lose interest when we settle back we risk losing our
when we settle back we risk losing our
when we settle back we risk losing our spark
spark
spark and we find ourselves saying things like
and we find ourselves saying things like
and we find ourselves saying things like I’m too old for that it’s not really me
I’m too old for that it’s not really me
I’m too old for that it’s not really me or I can’t be bothered William Roth said
or I can’t be bothered William Roth said
or I can’t be bothered William Roth said every man dies but not every man really
every man dies but not every man really
every man dies but not every man really lives so how would you feel reaching the
lives so how would you feel reaching the
lives so how would you feel reaching the end of your life sat in your armchair
end of your life sat in your armchair
end of your life sat in your armchair looking back at how it all went did you
looking back at how it all went did you
looking back at how it all went did you do that stuff you were curious about did
do that stuff you were curious about did
do that stuff you were curious about did you find and follow what really
you find and follow what really
you find and follow what really interested you no matter how big or
interested you no matter how big or
interested you no matter how big or small or did you settle back and think
small or did you settle back and think
small or did you settle back and think I’ve got plenty of time
I’ve got plenty of time
I’ve got plenty of time I get round to it next week I want to
I get round to it next week I want to
I get round to it next week I want to challenge you to get out of your
challenge you to get out of your
challenge you to get out of your armchair – literally and figuratively
armchair – literally and figuratively
armchair – literally and figuratively see the world with new eyes go and find
see the world with new eyes go and find
see the world with new eyes go and find your spark it’s what makes you you
your spark it’s what makes you you
your spark it’s what makes you you life is a great adventure and there is
life is a great adventure and there is
life is a great adventure and there is no better time than now do you want to
no better time than now do you want to
no better time than now do you want to stay safe or do you want to explore
stay safe or do you want to explore
stay safe or do you want to explore thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
”
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