we evolved because it’s what we can do it’s what we should do
it’s what we should do
it’s what we should do Today Tomorrow forever
well a little over eight years ago I
well a little over eight years ago I helped start hands for others and in the
helped start hands for others and in the
helped start hands for others and in the past eight years I’ve been a part of
past eight years I’ve been a part of
past eight years I’ve been a part of growing hands for others into one of the
growing hands for others into one of the
growing hands for others into one of the largest organizations engaging students
largest organizations engaging students
largest organizations engaging students and advocacy work really in the world
and advocacy work really in the world
and advocacy work really in the world and through that I’ve had the unique
and through that I’ve had the unique
and through that I’ve had the unique opportunity to connect and work
opportunity to connect and work
opportunity to connect and work alongside literally thousands of
alongside literally thousands of
alongside literally thousands of students and been able to learn a lot of
students and been able to learn a lot of
students and been able to learn a lot of things from that and one of them is that
things from that and one of them is that
things from that and one of them is that every student has a distinct vision for
every student has a distinct vision for
every student has a distinct vision for what they believe their communities in
what they believe their communities in
what they believe their communities in the world that large should look like
the world that large should look like
the world that large should look like and you know the the funny thing about
and you know the the funny thing about
and you know the the funny thing about this is that you every student has these
this is that you every student has these
this is that you every student has these strong ideas about what their community
strong ideas about what their community
strong ideas about what their community in the world should look like and then
in the world should look like and then
in the world should look like and then they get these ideas of what should be
they get these ideas of what should be
they get these ideas of what should be different about their communities and
different about their communities and
different about their communities and what ought to change in the world and
what ought to change in the world and
what ought to change in the world and those are often accompanied by what I’d
those are often accompanied by what I’d
those are often accompanied by what I’d like to call strong opinions about those
like to call strong opinions about those
like to call strong opinions about those ideas and those changes what makes it
ideas and those changes what makes it
ideas and those changes what makes it really fun and one of the things that
really fun and one of the things that
really fun and one of the things that I’ve been able to witness firsthand
I’ve been able to witness firsthand
I’ve been able to witness firsthand about these students who care about
about these students who care about
about these students who care about changing their communities in the world
changing their communities in the world
changing their communities in the world is that they really really deeply care
is that they really really deeply care
is that they really really deeply care and you know whether it’s regarding
and you know whether it’s regarding
and you know whether it’s regarding civil rights in our country or an issue
civil rights in our country or an issue
civil rights in our country or an issue in their communities such as
in their communities such as
in their communities such as homelessness or a global challenge such
homelessness or a global challenge such
homelessness or a global challenge such as the world’s water crisis they really
as the world’s water crisis they really
as the world’s water crisis they really care about making an impact and yet at
care about making an impact and yet at
care about making an impact and yet at the same time despite all these great
the same time despite all these great
the same time despite all these great dreams and these great ambitions so few
dreams and these great ambitions so few
dreams and these great ambitions so few of them are actually able to take those
of them are actually able to take those
of them are actually able to take those ideas put them into action and start
ideas put them into action and start
ideas put them into action and start movements to begin to address the
movements to begin to address the
movements to begin to address the changes that they want to see made in
changes that they want to see made in
changes that they want to see made in their communities around the world and
their communities around the world and
their communities around the world and so I’ve sort of been obsessed with this
so I’ve sort of been obsessed with this
so I’ve sort of been obsessed with this question for the past eight years which
question for the past eight years which
question for the past eight years which is how is it that ideas evolve into
is how is it that ideas evolve into
is how is it that ideas evolve into movements why is it that so many young
movements why is it that so many young
movements why is it that so many young people who have a desire to change the
people who have a desire to change the
people who have a desire to change the world why is it only that just a few of
world why is it only that just a few of
world why is it only that just a few of them are able to take those ideas and
them are able to take those ideas and
them are able to take those ideas and that’s in those passions and to make a
that’s in those passions and to make a
that’s in those passions and to make a difference
difference
difference and the thing is is I believe that
and the thing is is I believe that
and the thing is is I believe that everyone wants to make a difference but
everyone wants to make a difference but
everyone wants to make a difference but why is it that only a small percentage
why is it that only a small percentage
why is it that only a small percentage is actually doing so well I have some
is actually doing so well I have some
is actually doing so well I have some thoughts on this question before I get
thoughts on this question before I get
thoughts on this question before I get there I want to make sure we’re on the
there I want to make sure we’re on the
there I want to make sure we’re on the same page here’s I’m bringing up a word
same page here’s I’m bringing up a word
same page here’s I’m bringing up a word like movements I want to make sure that
like movements I want to make sure that
like movements I want to make sure that we are on the same page and so what is a
we are on the same page and so what is a
we are on the same page and so what is a movement well a movement is a group of
movement well a movement is a group of
movement well a movement is a group of people making okay so not thinking not
people making okay so not thinking not
people making okay so not thinking not dreaming not hoping not waiting but
dreaming not hoping not waiting but
dreaming not hoping not waiting but making a change so when we think of
making a change so when we think of
making a change so when we think of movements we may think of Martin Luther
movements we may think of Martin Luther
movements we may think of Martin Luther King jr. in the civil rights movement
King jr. in the civil rights movement
King jr. in the civil rights movement acting on the idea that everyone’s equal
acting on the idea that everyone’s equal
acting on the idea that everyone’s equal regardless of the color of their skin we
regardless of the color of their skin we
regardless of the color of their skin we may think of a business such as TOMS
may think of a business such as TOMS
may think of a business such as TOMS shoes acting on the idea that business
shoes acting on the idea that business
shoes acting on the idea that business is at a fundamental level can exist to
is at a fundamental level can exist to
is at a fundamental level can exist to do good we may think of a local
do good we may think of a local
do good we may think of a local organization or soup kitchen that’s
organization or soup kitchen that’s
organization or soup kitchen that’s feeding the hungry acting on the idea
feeding the hungry acting on the idea
feeding the hungry acting on the idea that everyone in our communities
that everyone in our communities
that everyone in our communities deserves a hot meal personally I think
deserves a hot meal personally I think
deserves a hot meal personally I think of hands for others and that’s acting on
of hands for others and that’s acting on
of hands for others and that’s acting on the idea that young people are capable
the idea that young people are capable
the idea that young people are capable of making a difference in the world if
of making a difference in the world if
of making a difference in the world if they’re given a chance to so what can we
they’re given a chance to so what can we
they’re given a chance to so what can we learn from these movements what have I
learn from these movements what have I
learn from these movements what have I learned from the students that I’ve been
learned from the students that I’ve been
learned from the students that I’ve been able to work alongside of well I’ve come
able to work alongside of well I’ve come
able to work alongside of well I’ve come up with what I’d say are three qualities
up with what I’d say are three qualities
up with what I’d say are three qualities that I believe any person needs to
that I believe any person needs to
that I believe any person needs to embody if they’re going to take his or
embody if they’re going to take his or
embody if they’re going to take his or her ideas and put them into action and
her ideas and put them into action and
her ideas and put them into action and start a movement of their own and I call
start a movement of their own and I call
start a movement of their own and I call them the three P’s of idea actualization
them the three P’s of idea actualization
them the three P’s of idea actualization and the first is passion you have to be
and the first is passion you have to be
and the first is passion you have to be passionate if you want to start a
passionate if you want to start a
passionate if you want to start a movement now the best way to really
movement now the best way to really
movement now the best way to really quantify passion I think is by questions
quantify passion I think is by questions
quantify passion I think is by questions asking somebody how badly do you care
asking somebody how badly do you care
asking somebody how badly do you care about your ideas how much do you want to
about your ideas how much do you want to
about your ideas how much do you want to make those changes that you believe in
make those changes that you believe in
make those changes that you believe in happen in your community or around the
happen in your community or around the
happen in your community or around the world do you ever lose sleep over them
world do you ever lose sleep over them
world do you ever lose sleep over them do you wake up every day feeling
do you wake up every day feeling
do you wake up every day feeling motivated to do something about these
motivated to do something about these
motivated to do something about these ideas that you have is there ever a
ideas that you have is there ever a
ideas that you have is there ever a point that you’re just sitting around
point that you’re just sitting around
point that you’re just sitting around and you feel overwhelmed by the thought
and you feel overwhelmed by the thought
and you feel overwhelmed by the thought that you want to make
that you want to make
that you want to make that you want to impact a certain group
that you want to impact a certain group
that you want to impact a certain group of people and the reason why passion is
of people and the reason why passion is
of people and the reason why passion is so important is because it is
so important is because it is
so important is because it is essentially a tipping point for action
essentially a tipping point for action
essentially a tipping point for action and when you care so deeply about
and when you care so deeply about
and when you care so deeply about something when you want so badly to make
something when you want so badly to make
something when you want so badly to make a difference and to change certain
a difference and to change certain
a difference and to change certain people’s lives the only logical response
people’s lives the only logical response
people’s lives the only logical response is to do something about it and if
is to do something about it and if
is to do something about it and if you’re truly passionate about it
you’re truly passionate about it
you’re truly passionate about it you’re gonna persevere yeah some speed
you’re gonna persevere yeah some speed
you’re gonna persevere yeah some speed bumps might come up there might be some
bumps might come up there might be some
bumps might come up there might be some hurdles in your way but if you care
hurdles in your way but if you care
hurdles in your way but if you care deeply about it you’re going to overcome
deeply about it you’re going to overcome
deeply about it you’re going to overcome those because nothing or no one is going
those because nothing or no one is going
those because nothing or no one is going to stand in your way of the change that
to stand in your way of the change that
to stand in your way of the change that you are looking to make the second P of
you are looking to make the second P of
you are looking to make the second P of idea actualization is persistence now
idea actualization is persistence now
idea actualization is persistence now the reality is it takes hard work to
the reality is it takes hard work to
the reality is it takes hard work to build a movement because you are
build a movement because you are
build a movement because you are essentially going against the present
essentially going against the present
essentially going against the present reality it’s a lot like walking uphill
reality it’s a lot like walking uphill
reality it’s a lot like walking uphill versus walking downhill and when you’re
versus walking downhill and when you’re
versus walking downhill and when you’re walking uphill you have this thing
walking uphill you have this thing
walking uphill you have this thing called gravity which is makes it a
called gravity which is makes it a
called gravity which is makes it a little bit harder to do so well people
little bit harder to do so well people
little bit harder to do so well people who start movements feel this sort of
who start movements feel this sort of
who start movements feel this sort of gravity in a sense as well when they
gravity in a sense as well when they
gravity in a sense as well when they realize wow you know it’s hard to do
realize wow you know it’s hard to do
realize wow you know it’s hard to do what I’m trying to do and they quickly
what I’m trying to do and they quickly
what I’m trying to do and they quickly realize that it takes a lot of work and
realize that it takes a lot of work and
realize that it takes a lot of work and it’s hard work and it’s draining work
it’s hard work and it’s draining work
it’s hard work and it’s draining work and so I like to call this the iceberg
and so I like to call this the iceberg
and so I like to call this the iceberg principle or if you look at an iceberg
principle or if you look at an iceberg
principle or if you look at an iceberg the top 10% the stuff that’s above water
the top 10% the stuff that’s above water
the top 10% the stuff that’s above water that you can actually see there’s only
that you can actually see there’s only
that you can actually see there’s only 10% of an iceberg and it’s held up by
10% of an iceberg and it’s held up by
10% of an iceberg and it’s held up by the 90% underneath the water that keeps
the 90% underneath the water that keeps
the 90% underneath the water that keeps it afloat and keeps it intact
it afloat and keeps it intact
it afloat and keeps it intact well movements are really not all that
well movements are really not all that
well movements are really not all that different you have your top 10% there
different you have your top 10% there
different you have your top 10% there which is what people can see which is
which is what people can see which is
which is what people can see which is all the exciting stuff the big ideas the
all the exciting stuff the big ideas the
all the exciting stuff the big ideas the glamorous vision the incredible change
glamorous vision the incredible change
glamorous vision the incredible change that you’re making in your community or
that you’re making in your community or
that you’re making in your community or around the world and yet all of that can
around the world and yet all of that can
around the world and yet all of that can only be sustained and held up if you
only be sustained and held up if you
only be sustained and held up if you have that foundation built and the
have that foundation built and the
have that foundation built and the foundation is things like hard work you
foundation is things like hard work you
foundation is things like hard work you know late nights a lot of coffee
know late nights a lot of coffee
know late nights a lot of coffee meetings you know a lot of rejection
meetings you know a lot of rejection
meetings you know a lot of rejection along the way people are telling you I
along the way people are telling you I
along the way people are telling you I don’t know if this will work and dealing
don’t know if this will work and dealing
don’t know if this will work and dealing with that it looks like doing a lot of
with that it looks like doing a lot of
with that it looks like doing a lot of very boring repetitive tasks over and
very boring repetitive tasks over and
very boring repetitive tasks over and over and over again because you have to
over and over again because you have to
over and over again because you have to and it looks like messing up
and it looks like messing up
and it looks like messing up occasionally and having
occasionally and having
occasionally and having learn from those mistakes and failures
learn from those mistakes and failures
learn from those mistakes and failures and address them and get back up and
and address them and get back up and
and address them and get back up and keep going you see there’s no shortcut
keep going you see there’s no shortcut
keep going you see there’s no shortcut to movement building there’s no growth
to movement building there’s no growth
to movement building there’s no growth hack this foundation has to be built and
hack this foundation has to be built and
hack this foundation has to be built and if this step is skipped or if you avoid
if this step is skipped or if you avoid
if this step is skipped or if you avoid it
it
it well that top 10% the thing that people
well that top 10% the thing that people
well that top 10% the thing that people see it’s got it’s not going to float for
see it’s got it’s not going to float for
see it’s got it’s not going to float for long or it’s going to melt pretty quick
long or it’s going to melt pretty quick
long or it’s going to melt pretty quick so the last P of idea actualization is
so the last P of idea actualization is
so the last P of idea actualization is patience you have to be patient to build
patience you have to be patient to build
patience you have to be patient to build a movement you know a lot of the
a movement you know a lot of the
a movement you know a lot of the students that I get to work with they
students that I get to work with they
students that I get to work with they all have some incredible ideas for
all have some incredible ideas for
all have some incredible ideas for nonprofits for businesses for social
nonprofits for businesses for social
nonprofits for businesses for social enterprises and so they like to ask me a
enterprises and so they like to ask me a
enterprises and so they like to ask me a lot hey what do you think about this
lot hey what do you think about this
lot hey what do you think about this idea before they begin I always say hey
idea before they begin I always say hey
idea before they begin I always say hey wait one second I have a question for
wait one second I have a question for
wait one second I have a question for you and the question I asked them before
you and the question I asked them before
you and the question I asked them before you tell me this idea I want to know
you tell me this idea I want to know
you tell me this idea I want to know right now is this something that you are
right now is this something that you are
right now is this something that you are willing to spend the next five to ten
willing to spend the next five to ten
willing to spend the next five to ten years of your life on because that’s
years of your life on because that’s
years of your life on because that’s what it may take if you really want to
what it may take if you really want to
what it may take if you really want to do this if you want to solve this
do this if you want to solve this
do this if you want to solve this problem if you want to create this
problem if you want to create this
problem if you want to create this change build this movement that’s what
change build this movement that’s what
change build this movement that’s what it can take and so the reality is is
it can take and so the reality is is
it can take and so the reality is is that it really only takes an instant to
that it really only takes an instant to
that it really only takes an instant to create a movement and to create a lot of
create a movement and to create a lot of
create a movement and to create a lot of excitement and a lot of energy behind
excitement and a lot of energy behind
excitement and a lot of energy behind something but it takes a lot of time to
something but it takes a lot of time to
something but it takes a lot of time to build an organization of sustainable
build an organization of sustainable
build an organization of sustainable greatness and sustainable change
greatness and sustainable change
greatness and sustainable change you know I’ve mentioned Martin Luther
you know I’ve mentioned Martin Luther
you know I’ve mentioned Martin Luther King jr. earlier and the reality of that
King jr. earlier and the reality of that
King jr. earlier and the reality of that many people overlook is that he started
many people overlook is that he started
many people overlook is that he started his work in civil rights in the early
his work in civil rights in the early
his work in civil rights in the early 1950s but it wasn’t until 1964 that the
1950s but it wasn’t until 1964 that the
1950s but it wasn’t until 1964 that the Civil Rights Act was actually passed and
Civil Rights Act was actually passed and
Civil Rights Act was actually passed and of course it’s been an uphill battle
of course it’s been an uphill battle
of course it’s been an uphill battle every since ever since then so it takes
every since ever since then so it takes
every since ever since then so it takes time to build a movement real change is
time to build a movement real change is
time to build a movement real change is hard work and it requires you to be
hard work and it requires you to be
hard work and it requires you to be patient so here’s the thing everyone has
patient so here’s the thing everyone has
patient so here’s the thing everyone has ideas everyone has a thought on what
ideas everyone has a thought on what
ideas everyone has a thought on what they believe their community and what
they believe their community and what
they believe their community and what the world should look like and that’s a
the world should look like and that’s a
the world should look like and that’s a great thing it’s important that we hold
great thing it’s important that we hold
great thing it’s important that we hold on to those ideas because that’s the
on to those ideas because that’s the
on to those ideas because that’s the only way that we ever can create change
only way that we ever can create change
only way that we ever can create change is by having ideas of what should be
is by having ideas of what should be
is by having ideas of what should be different but the sad fact is that not a
different but the sad fact is that not a
different but the sad fact is that not a lot of people act on their ideas
lot of people act on their ideas
lot of people act on their ideas it’s because of sort of what we talked
it’s because of sort of what we talked
it’s because of sort of what we talked about here is that it’s hard work and
about here is that it’s hard work and
about here is that it’s hard work and there’s a lot of it and it’s emotionally
there’s a lot of it and it’s emotionally
there’s a lot of it and it’s emotionally draining work and it’s not easy but
draining work and it’s not easy but
draining work and it’s not easy but here’s the other thing that you have the
here’s the other thing that you have the
here’s the other thing that you have the opportunity to not be most people so to
opportunity to not be most people so to
opportunity to not be most people so to speak you can take those dreams you have
speak you can take those dreams you have
speak you can take those dreams you have those ideas you have the vision you have
those ideas you have the vision you have
those ideas you have the vision you have for your community and for the world and
for your community and for the world and
for your community and for the world and you can put it into action right now you
you can put it into action right now you
you can put it into action right now you can make it happen who says that you
can make it happen who says that you
can make it happen who says that you can’t be the next great civil rights
can’t be the next great civil rights
can’t be the next great civil rights leader of our generation who says that
leader of our generation who says that
leader of our generation who says that you can’t start a movement that ends
you can’t start a movement that ends
you can’t start a movement that ends homelessness in your community who says
homelessness in your community who says
homelessness in your community who says that you can’t start a global movement
that you can’t start a global movement
that you can’t start a global movement that ends human trafficking
that ends human trafficking
that ends human trafficking you see I’ve worked with a few college
you see I’ve worked with a few college
you see I’ve worked with a few college students who literally barely were able
students who literally barely were able
students who literally barely were able to graduate college because they had a
to graduate college because they had a
to graduate college because they had a hard time in their classes and I’ve kept
hard time in their classes and I’ve kept
hard time in their classes and I’ve kept in touch with a few of those students
in touch with a few of those students
in touch with a few of those students and some of them are doing incredible
and some of them are doing incredible
and some of them are doing incredible work in their communities and around the
work in their communities and around the
work in their communities and around the world
world
world conversely I’ve worked with some
conversely I’ve worked with some
conversely I’ve worked with some students
students
students college students that were straight a
college students that were straight a
college students that were straight a student’s way smarter than me and they
student’s way smarter than me and they
student’s way smarter than me and they got out and tried to start their own
got out and tried to start their own
got out and tried to start their own movements and didn’t end up working
movements and didn’t end up working
movements and didn’t end up working because maybe they weren’t patient
because maybe they weren’t patient
because maybe they weren’t patient enough or persistent enough and so I
enough or persistent enough and so I
enough or persistent enough and so I bring that up not to say that grades
bring that up not to say that grades
bring that up not to say that grades don’t matter because they do but I bring
don’t matter because they do but I bring
don’t matter because they do but I bring it up because this whole thing of
it up because this whole thing of
it up because this whole thing of movement building it’s not about how
movement building it’s not about how
movement building it’s not about how smart you are
smart you are
smart you are it’s not about where you’re from it’s
it’s not about where you’re from it’s
it’s not about where you’re from it’s not about who your parents are how much
not about who your parents are how much
not about who your parents are how much money you have it’s not about whether
money you have it’s not about whether
money you have it’s not about whether you’ve been perceived your whole life as
you’ve been perceived your whole life as
you’ve been perceived your whole life as a leader or whether you’ve been ignored
a leader or whether you’ve been ignored
a leader or whether you’ve been ignored so you feel by everyone that’s not the
so you feel by everyone that’s not the
so you feel by everyone that’s not the point that doesn’t matter what matters
point that doesn’t matter what matters
point that doesn’t matter what matters is how much you care what matters is are
is how much you care what matters is are
is how much you care what matters is are you willing to roll up your sleeves and
you willing to roll up your sleeves and
you willing to roll up your sleeves and do the hard work that most people are
do the hard work that most people are
do the hard work that most people are unwilling to do what matters is are you
unwilling to do what matters is are you
unwilling to do what matters is are you willing to persevere and keep at it when
willing to persevere and keep at it when
willing to persevere and keep at it when most people around you have given up so
the next time you get that big idea or
the next time you get that big idea or you have this this urge in your heart to
you have this this urge in your heart to
you have this this urge in your heart to create some type of change in your
create some type of change in your
create some type of change in your community or the world I encourage you
community or the world I encourage you
community or the world I encourage you to remember that it’s right here
to remember that it’s right here
to remember that it’s right here but it’s at your fingertips and that if
but it’s at your fingertips and that if
but it’s at your fingertips and that if you are passionate if you are persistent
you are passionate if you are persistent
you are passionate if you are persistent and if you are patient you can build
and if you are patient you can build
and if you are patient you can build movements that change your communities
movements that change your communities
movements that change your communities and change the world I believe in you
and change the world I believe in you
and change the world I believe in you and I believe that we as a generation
and I believe that we as a generation
and I believe that we as a generation can be known not only for our big ideas
can be known not only for our big ideas
can be known not only for our big ideas and for our deal ISM but for our
and for our deal ISM but for our
and for our deal ISM but for our activism and for the great things that
activism and for the great things that
activism and for the great things that we’re doing in our communities and
we’re doing in our communities and
we’re doing in our communities and around the world thank you
around the world thank you
around the world thank you [Applause]
”
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