slay the monster save the city wait what monster which city those are questions
monster which city those are questions
monster which city those are questions I’m going to ask you but before I do let
I’m going to ask you but before I do let
I’m going to ask you but before I do let me tell you about a very particular
me tell you about a very particular
me tell you about a very particular monster and a very particular city the
monster and a very particular city the
monster and a very particular city the city is ancient Athens and the monster
city is ancient Athens and the monster
city is ancient Athens and the monster was the Minotaur half-man half-bull now
was the Minotaur half-man half-bull now
was the Minotaur half-man half-bull now if you lived in ancient Athens you know
if you lived in ancient Athens you know
if you lived in ancient Athens you know all about the Minotaur because every
all about the Minotaur because every
all about the Minotaur because every year the best and brightest of you so
year the best and brightest of you so
year the best and brightest of you so clearly all of you would be sent as an
clearly all of you would be sent as an
clearly all of you would be sent as an offering to it and be killed if you
offering to it and be killed if you
offering to it and be killed if you didn’t go the Minotaur’s master would
didn’t go the Minotaur’s master would
didn’t go the Minotaur’s master would send an army to attack athens and so
send an army to attack athens and so
send an army to attack athens and so your choice was kill Athens slowly kill
your choice was kill Athens slowly kill
your choice was kill Athens slowly kill athens quickly and given that choice
athens quickly and given that choice
athens quickly and given that choice your best option was slay the monster
your best option was slay the monster
your best option was slay the monster save the city but I’m assuming you don’t
save the city but I’m assuming you don’t
save the city but I’m assuming you don’t live in ancient Athens I’m assuming you
live in ancient Athens I’m assuming you
live in ancient Athens I’m assuming you live now but I’m going to guess that you
live now but I’m going to guess that you
live now but I’m going to guess that you still have your own monsters to slay and
still have your own monsters to slay and
still have your own monsters to slay and cities to save the cities are our big
cities to save the cities are our big
cities to save the cities are our big goals the monsters are the big problems
goals the monsters are the big problems
goals the monsters are the big problems that stand in the way and the stakes can
that stand in the way and the stakes can
that stand in the way and the stakes can feel just as high do you risk your
feel just as high do you risk your
feel just as high do you risk your savings and start that dream business or
savings and start that dream business or
savings and start that dream business or do you let that dream die and maybe a
do you let that dream die and maybe a
do you let that dream die and maybe a little bit of you with it do you upend
little bit of you with it do you upend
little bit of you with it do you upend your life for a chance at true love or
your life for a chance at true love or
your life for a chance at true love or you live with what might have been do
you live with what might have been do
you live with what might have been do you stand up speak up act or let others
you stand up speak up act or let others
you stand up speak up act or let others or you suffer in silence if you solve
or you suffer in silence if you solve
or you suffer in silence if you solve the problem you get the goal slay the
the problem you get the goal slay the
the problem you get the goal slay the monster save the city but how if you
monster save the city but how if you
monster save the city but how if you lived in ancient Athens you’d be asking
lived in ancient Athens you’d be asking
lived in ancient Athens you’d be asking yourself that same question because
yourself that same question because
yourself that same question because people had been trying to kill that
people had been trying to kill that
people had been trying to kill that monster for years they sent the bravest
monster for years they sent the bravest
monster for years they sent the bravest and the strongest and the smartest they
and the strongest and the smartest they
and the strongest and the smartest they tried different weapons they tried
tried different weapons they tried
tried different weapons they tried everything they could think of but there
everything they could think of but there
everything they could think of but there were no options left the monster lived
were no options left the monster lived
were no options left the monster lived on
on
on saving the city seemed far out of reach
saving the city seemed far out of reach
saving the city seemed far out of reach and it can feel that way now with our
and it can feel that way now with our
and it can feel that way now with our monsters like there’s this big yawning
monsters like there’s this big yawning
monsters like there’s this big yawning gap between the here where we are now
gap between the here where we are now
gap between the here where we are now and the way over there where the
and the way over there where the
and the way over there where the businesses started where we’ve taken
businesses started where we’ve taken
businesses started where we’ve taken that chance where we act and the gap is
that chance where we act and the gap is
that chance where we act and the gap is there because you’ve tried everything
there because you’ve tried everything
there because you’ve tried everything you can think of to and you can’t see
you can think of to and you can’t see
you can think of to and you can’t see the path forward if you lived in ancient
the path forward if you lived in ancient
the path forward if you lived in ancient Athens you literally couldn’t see the
Athens you literally couldn’t see the
Athens you literally couldn’t see the path forward because the monster lived
path forward because the monster lived
path forward because the monster lived in a maze and a pitch-black maze in
in a maze and a pitch-black maze in
in a maze and a pitch-black maze in order to get to the monster you had to
order to get to the monster you had to
order to get to the monster you had to get through the maze but how could you
get through the maze but how could you
get through the maze but how could you when you couldn’t see and that makes
when you couldn’t see and that makes
when you couldn’t see and that makes that gap that maze a lot like the gap in
that gap that maze a lot like the gap in
that gap that maze a lot like the gap in our heads the gap between where we are
our heads the gap between where we are
our heads the gap between where we are and where we want to be and the gap
and where we want to be and the gap
and where we want to be and the gap looks empty because there aren’t any
looks empty because there aren’t any
looks empty because there aren’t any options left and that gets you to a
options left and that gets you to a
options left and that gets you to a point where maybe you’re losing a little
point where maybe you’re losing a little
point where maybe you’re losing a little bit of hope and he left if you lived in
bit of hope and he left if you lived in
bit of hope and he left if you lived in ancient Athens you might have lost a
ancient Athens you might have lost a
ancient Athens you might have lost a little hope too because no one ever got
little hope too because no one ever got
little hope too because no one ever got out of the maze until someone did
out of the maze until someone did
out of the maze until someone did his name was Theseus and how he got
his name was Theseus and how he got
his name was Theseus and how he got through the maze is the key to how you
through the maze is the key to how you
through the maze is the key to how you can bridge your mental gap so what did
can bridge your mental gap so what did
can bridge your mental gap so what did he do after all he had the same goal as
he do after all he had the same goal as
he do after all he had the same goal as everybody else save the city and he had
everybody else save the city and he had
everybody else save the city and he had the same information there was both a
the same information there was both a
the same information there was both a maze and a monster but there was one
maze and a monster but there was one
maze and a monster but there was one thing about Theseus that was different
thing about Theseus that was different
thing about Theseus that was different there was one thing that he knew about
there was one thing that he knew about
there was one thing that he knew about himself that made him see the problem as
himself that made him see the problem as
himself that made him see the problem as no one else could or hat because Theseus
no one else could or hat because Theseus
no one else could or hat because Theseus wasn’t just a citizen of Athens he was
wasn’t just a citizen of Athens he was
wasn’t just a citizen of Athens he was the son of its king he was the heir to
the son of its king he was the heir to
the son of its king he was the heir to the throne so someone else could kill
the throne so someone else could kill
the throne so someone else could kill the monster but unless Theseus himself
the monster but unless Theseus himself
the monster but unless Theseus himself got out Athens would be without an heir
got out Athens would be without an heir
got out Athens would be without an heir which would leave it vulnerable to
which would leave it vulnerable to
which would leave it vulnerable to attack which would put everybody right
attack which would put everybody right
attack which would put everybody right back in the situation where we started
the theist knew that his future was the
the theist knew that his future was the city’s future and that one idea made all
city’s future and that one idea made all
city’s future and that one idea made all the difference
the difference
the difference see when faced with a maze and a monster
see when faced with a maze and a monster
see when faced with a maze and a monster most of us will focus on the obvious
most of us will focus on the obvious
most of us will focus on the obvious threat on the monster and that’s not
threat on the monster and that’s not
threat on the monster and that’s not wrong because the monster will kill you
wrong because the monster will kill you
wrong because the monster will kill you but so will the maze and Theseus
but so will the maze and Theseus
but so will the maze and Theseus couldn’t let that problem stand because
couldn’t let that problem stand because
couldn’t let that problem stand because it was at odds with this fundamental
it was at odds with this fundamental
it was at odds with this fundamental truth about himself that his future was
truth about himself that his future was
truth about himself that his future was the city’s future which means he had to
the city’s future which means he had to
the city’s future which means he had to solve for the fact that the maze
solve for the fact that the maze
solve for the fact that the maze mattered just as much as the monster
mattered just as much as the monster
mattered just as much as the monster which meant he had to bring a tool for
which meant he had to bring a tool for
which meant he had to bring a tool for each task Theseus knew that if he had
each task Theseus knew that if he had
each task Theseus knew that if he had both of those things then he could
both of those things then he could
both of those things then he could succeed why was it that that problem
succeed why was it that that problem
succeed why was it that that problem plus that idea created that change in
plus that idea created that change in
plus that idea created that change in approach well even though Theseus and
approach well even though Theseus and
approach well even though Theseus and the Minotaur are in fact a myth there’s
the Minotaur are in fact a myth there’s
the Minotaur are in fact a myth there’s one thing that’s real that applies to
one thing that’s real that applies to
one thing that’s real that applies to all of us and that is when two things
all of us and that is when two things
all of us and that is when two things that we know to be true are in
that we know to be true are in
that we know to be true are in opposition to each other it creates an
opposition to each other it creates an
opposition to each other it creates an untenable tension in our minds one that
untenable tension in our minds one that
untenable tension in our minds one that we have to resolve it’s the one mental
we have to resolve it’s the one mental
we have to resolve it’s the one mental gap we cannot leave open so what we’ll
gap we cannot leave open so what we’ll
gap we cannot leave open so what we’ll do is we’ll either change a fundamental
do is we’ll either change a fundamental
do is we’ll either change a fundamental truth belief value assumption about
truth belief value assumption about
truth belief value assumption about ourselves or and this one is much more
ourselves or and this one is much more
ourselves or and this one is much more likely we will change a fundamental core
likely we will change a fundamental core
likely we will change a fundamental core belief of value about how we see the
belief of value about how we see the
belief of value about how we see the world about what the real problem is
when we think of it this way in the maze
when we think of it this way in the maze of our minds when two truths fight only
of our minds when two truths fight only
of our minds when two truths fight only one lives to tell the tale so how did
one lives to tell the tale so how did
one lives to tell the tale so how did Theseus live so that we could tell the
Theseus live so that we could tell the
Theseus live so that we could tell the tale well not very excitingly he brought
tale well not very excitingly he brought
tale well not very excitingly he brought a sword
a sword
a sword which you would expect but in order to
which you would expect but in order to
which you would expect but in order to get through the maze he brought
get through the maze he brought
get through the maze he brought something else he brought a ball of red
something else he brought a ball of red
something else he brought a ball of red thread and he used it like Athenian
thread and he used it like Athenian
thread and he used it like Athenian GPS to trace his path in and out of the
GPS to trace his path in and out of the
GPS to trace his path in and out of the maze he slayed the monster he escaped
maze he slayed the monster he escaped
maze he slayed the monster he escaped the maze
the maze
the maze he saved the city he bridged a mental
he saved the city he bridged a mental
he saved the city he bridged a mental gap and so my modern-day Athenians this
gap and so my modern-day Athenians this
gap and so my modern-day Athenians this is what we need to do – we need to find
is what we need to do – we need to find
is what we need to do – we need to find our own red threads – hold on to
our own red threads – hold on to
our own red threads – hold on to something that shows you what you’re
something that shows you what you’re
something that shows you what you’re doing and why so that you can see what
doing and why so that you can see what
doing and why so that you can see what you need to do next something that helps
you need to do next something that helps
you need to do next something that helps you navigate your maze so that you can
you navigate your maze so that you can
you navigate your maze so that you can find the monster so that you can
find the monster so that you can
find the monster so that you can equipped yourself for the journey and
equipped yourself for the journey and
equipped yourself for the journey and the fight and Theseus shows us the way
the fight and Theseus shows us the way
the fight and Theseus shows us the way he knew that he needed to solve for the
he knew that he needed to solve for the
he knew that he needed to solve for the real problem that the maze mattered as
real problem that the maze mattered as
real problem that the maze mattered as much as the monster and he knew why that
much as the monster and he knew why that
much as the monster and he knew why that problem was untenable to me to him what
problem was untenable to me to him what
problem was untenable to me to him what made it impossible for him to ignore
made it impossible for him to ignore
made it impossible for him to ignore that his future was the city’s future
that his future was the city’s future
that his future was the city’s future which led to that change to bring a tool
which led to that change to bring a tool
which led to that change to bring a tool for each task one for the monster one
for each task one for the monster one
for each task one for the monster one for the maze when you need a bridge of
for the maze when you need a bridge of
for the maze when you need a bridge of mental gap follow Theseus ask yourself
mental gap follow Theseus ask yourself
mental gap follow Theseus ask yourself these three questions one what is the
these three questions one what is the
these three questions one what is the real problem that stands in the way of
real problem that stands in the way of
real problem that stands in the way of my goal – what is the idea that makes
my goal – what is the idea that makes
my goal – what is the idea that makes that problem impossible for me to ignore
that problem impossible for me to ignore
that problem impossible for me to ignore what makes it untenable why does it
what makes it untenable why does it
what makes it untenable why does it bother me so much 3 what change does
bother me so much 3 what change does
bother me so much 3 what change does that demand problem idea change and you
that demand problem idea change and you
that demand problem idea change and you may be thinking to yourself well why are
may be thinking to yourself well why are
may be thinking to yourself well why are those questions and why that order and
those questions and why that order and
those questions and why that order and this is where I need to reveal a little
this is where I need to reveal a little
this is where I need to reveal a little bit my own red thread because the cities
bit my own red thread because the cities
bit my own red thread because the cities that I need to save are yours
that I need to save are yours
that I need to save are yours I hate mental gaps there are the
I hate mental gaps there are the
I hate mental gaps there are the problems I’m drawn to solve and not
problems I’m drawn to solve and not
problems I’m drawn to solve and not because I’ve got bridged a few of my own
because I’ve got bridged a few of my own
because I’ve got bridged a few of my own a 50 pound weight loss a 17-year panic
a 50 pound weight loss a 17-year panic
a 50 pound weight loss a 17-year panic disorder finishing a second marathon
disorder finishing a second marathon
disorder finishing a second marathon after a bomb stopped the first and I
after a bomb stopped the first and I
after a bomb stopped the first and I could geek out completely on all the
could geek out completely on all the
could geek out completely on all the science behind this on
science behind this on
science behind this on how every decision we make is based on
how every decision we make is based on
how every decision we make is based on the meaning we make and how that meaning
the meaning we make and how that meaning
the meaning we make and how that meaning follows a universal pattern and how all
follows a universal pattern and how all
follows a universal pattern and how all of what I’m talking about today is a
of what I’m talking about today is a
of what I’m talking about today is a simple way to create the cognitive
simple way to create the cognitive
simple way to create the cognitive dissonance that makes it impossible for
dissonance that makes it impossible for
dissonance that makes it impossible for us to do anything but act the real
us to do anything but act the real
us to do anything but act the real reason I can’t stand mental gaps is
reason I can’t stand mental gaps is
reason I can’t stand mental gaps is because I can’t stand to see someone
because I can’t stand to see someone
because I can’t stand to see someone suffer when they have a simple way to
suffer when they have a simple way to
suffer when they have a simple way to get out already they just need to
get out already they just need to
get out already they just need to understand what’s really there too often
understand what’s really there too often
understand what’s really there too often when there is a gap between us and the
when there is a gap between us and the
when there is a gap between us and the thing that we want we think that if we
thing that we want we think that if we
thing that we want we think that if we could just love that thing
could just love that thing
could just love that thing or maybe ourselves a little bit more
or maybe ourselves a little bit more
or maybe ourselves a little bit more that that would pull us across and
that that would pull us across and
that that would pull us across and sometimes that’s true but if that goal
sometimes that’s true but if that goal
sometimes that’s true but if that goal that City is something that you can’t
that City is something that you can’t
that City is something that you can’t imagine living without what if the
imagine living without what if the
imagine living without what if the answer lay in figuring out why you can’t
answer lay in figuring out why you can’t
answer lay in figuring out why you can’t live with the monster anymore because
live with the monster anymore because
live with the monster anymore because once you create that untenable tension
once you create that untenable tension
once you create that untenable tension it will push you across the gap so it
it will push you across the gap so it
it will push you across the gap so it isn’t that we don’t love our problems
isn’t that we don’t love our problems
isn’t that we don’t love our problems excuse me it’s not that we don’t love
excuse me it’s not that we don’t love
excuse me it’s not that we don’t love our goals enough it’s not that we don’t
our goals enough it’s not that we don’t
our goals enough it’s not that we don’t love our goals enough it’s that we don’t
love our goals enough it’s that we don’t
love our goals enough it’s that we don’t yet have a reason to hate our problems
yet have a reason to hate our problems
yet have a reason to hate our problems more when you find that idea that makes
more when you find that idea that makes
more when you find that idea that makes inaction impossible the gap closes you
inaction impossible the gap closes you
inaction impossible the gap closes you don’t have to be the strongest or the
don’t have to be the strongest or the
don’t have to be the strongest or the bravest or the smartest you just need a
bravest or the smartest you just need a
bravest or the smartest you just need a way to see what makes you you
way to see what makes you you
way to see what makes you you you’re a through-line your red thread
you’re a through-line your red thread
you’re a through-line your red thread which brings me back to the questions I
which brings me back to the questions I
which brings me back to the questions I wanted to ask you what monster which
wanted to ask you what monster which
wanted to ask you what monster which city but you know your city
city but you know your city
city but you know your city it’s what’s waiting for you on the other
it’s what’s waiting for you on the other
it’s what’s waiting for you on the other side of that gap so to get there ask
side of that gap so to get there ask
side of that gap so to get there ask that first question what’s your monster
that first question what’s your monster
that first question what’s your monster that comes next is what’s your amazing
that comes next is what’s your amazing
that comes next is what’s your amazing idea that makes it impossible for you to
idea that makes it impossible for you to
idea that makes it impossible for you to let that monster survive which leads you
let that monster survive which leads you
let that monster survive which leads you to what swords you need to bring to the
to what swords you need to bring to the
to what swords you need to bring to the fight when you find those your monsters
fight when you find those your monsters
fight when you find those your monsters your mazes your swords you will have
your mazes your swords you will have
your mazes your swords you will have your path through the maze your bridge
your path through the maze your bridge
your path through the maze your bridge across the gap your red thread and so my
across the gap your red thread and so my
across the gap your red thread and so my modern day Athenians the thing I want to
modern day Athenians the thing I want to
modern day Athenians the thing I want to know is what is yours
know is what is yours
know is what is yours [Applause]
”
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