let’s start our time together today with a little exercise who here is bad at
a little exercise who here is bad at
a little exercise who here is bad at something raise your hand no shame okay
something raise your hand no shame okay
something raise your hand no shame okay if you’re here with someone you know
if you’re here with someone you know
if you’re here with someone you know point to them if you think they know
point to them if you think they know
point to them if you think they know you’re bad at that thing and if you’re
you’re bad at that thing and if you’re
you’re bad at that thing and if you’re by yourself you can just point to me if
by yourself you can just point to me if
by yourself you can just point to me if you think other people know that you’re
you think other people know that you’re
you think other people know that you’re bad at it go ahead again no shame
there’s some shame out there but let’s
there’s some shame out there but let’s instead just give ourselves a round of
instead just give ourselves a round of
instead just give ourselves a round of applause because we also and apparently
applause because we also and apparently
applause because we also and apparently other people know it it’s okay I’m
other people know it it’s okay I’m
other people know it it’s okay I’m actually really glad to know that I’m
actually really glad to know that I’m
actually really glad to know that I’m not alone full disclosure I am generally
not alone full disclosure I am generally
not alone full disclosure I am generally one of those really annoying
one of those really annoying
one of those really annoying overachievers but there’s something I’ve
overachievers but there’s something I’ve
overachievers but there’s something I’ve always been really bad at math it all
always been really bad at math it all
always been really bad at math it all started with a pencil case I was ten and
started with a pencil case I was ten and
started with a pencil case I was ten and I had some pretty pressing priorities in
I had some pretty pressing priorities in
I had some pretty pressing priorities in my life like finally beating the boss in
my life like finally beating the boss in
my life like finally beating the boss in Sonic the Hedgehog and tuning our
Sonic the Hedgehog and tuning our
Sonic the Hedgehog and tuning our antenna so I could get in that latest
antenna so I could get in that latest
antenna so I could get in that latest episode of goosebumps somehow I was also
episode of goosebumps somehow I was also
episode of goosebumps somehow I was also expected to learn how to multiply
expected to learn how to multiply
expected to learn how to multiply luckily I had this pencil case that I
luckily I had this pencil case that I
luckily I had this pencil case that I could turn and it would show me the
could turn and it would show me the
could turn and it would show me the times tables for each number I’d done
times tables for each number I’d done
times tables for each number I’d done all of them except for eight which I’m
all of them except for eight which I’m
all of them except for eight which I’m pretty sure everyone knows is the
pretty sure everyone knows is the
pretty sure everyone knows is the hardest but I just couldn’t put it off
hardest but I just couldn’t put it off
hardest but I just couldn’t put it off any longer so I turned my pencil case to
any longer so I turned my pencil case to
any longer so I turned my pencil case to eight let’s do this but instead of
eight let’s do this but instead of
eight let’s do this but instead of digging in I started to barter with
digging in I started to barter with
digging in I started to barter with myself listen Emily you know all of the
myself listen Emily you know all of the
myself listen Emily you know all of the other times tables which technically
other times tables which technically
other times tables which technically means you know eight plus eight is
means you know eight plus eight is
means you know eight plus eight is really just two of the four times table
really just two of the four times table
really just two of the four times table which was an easy one so we’re probably
which was an easy one so we’re probably
which was an easy one so we’re probably good here and so I put the pencil case
good here and so I put the pencil case
good here and so I put the pencil case down and decided not to learn it and I
down and decided not to learn it and I
down and decided not to learn it and I think that this is where why weird
think that this is where why weird
think that this is where why weird complex with math star
complex with math star
complex with math star my next run-in with the math monster was
my next run-in with the math monster was
my next run-in with the math monster was 6th grade geometry test c-plus I can’t
6th grade geometry test c-plus I can’t
6th grade geometry test c-plus I can’t tell you exactly how the classroom exit
tell you exactly how the classroom exit
tell you exactly how the classroom exit played out but I definitely remember
played out but I definitely remember
played out but I definitely remember crying in the last bathroom stall
crying in the last bathroom stall
crying in the last bathroom stall staring at my page c-plus what was I
staring at my page c-plus what was I
staring at my page c-plus what was I going to do my overachieving self
going to do my overachieving self
going to do my overachieving self assumed that this was the end of my
assumed that this was the end of my
assumed that this was the end of my academic career that it was all just
academic career that it was all just
academic career that it was all just downhill from there
downhill from there
downhill from there but then another idea came to my mind
but then another idea came to my mind
but then another idea came to my mind what if I was just bad at math I mean
what if I was just bad at math I mean
what if I was just bad at math I mean I’d never gotten a c-plus in any other
I’d never gotten a c-plus in any other
I’d never gotten a c-plus in any other subject before and that’s what I told my
subject before and that’s what I told my
subject before and that’s what I told my parents and that’s what I told myself so
parents and that’s what I told myself so
parents and that’s what I told myself so it began my life of being bad at math by
it began my life of being bad at math by
it began my life of being bad at math by 11th grade math actually got pretty
11th grade math actually got pretty
11th grade math actually got pretty tough I think I studied more for that
tough I think I studied more for that
tough I think I studied more for that class and I have anything in my entire
class and I have anything in my entire
class and I have anything in my entire life and I still only ended up with a 69
life and I still only ended up with a 69
life and I still only ended up with a 69 to this day my mom will tell you it was
to this day my mom will tell you it was
to this day my mom will tell you it was my hardest earned grade to this day I
my hardest earned grade to this day I
my hardest earned grade to this day I will tell you that in math terms there
will tell you that in math terms there
will tell you that in math terms there was a direct correlation between the
was a direct correlation between the
was a direct correlation between the number of hours I studied for that class
number of hours I studied for that class
number of hours I studied for that class and the number of times I’ve through my
and the number of times I’ve through my
and the number of times I’ve through my textbook against the wall this is my
textbook against the wall this is my
textbook against the wall this is my high school transcript that 69 is as in
high school transcript that 69 is as in
high school transcript that 69 is as in a sea of 80s and 90s and although I’m
a sea of 80s and 90s and although I’m
a sea of 80s and 90s and although I’m more proud of that grade than any other
more proud of that grade than any other
more proud of that grade than any other up there it cemented the fact that I
up there it cemented the fact that I
up there it cemented the fact that I just could not do math no matter how
just could not do math no matter how
just could not do math no matter how hard I studied no matter how hard I
hard I studied no matter how hard I
hard I studied no matter how hard I tried I would never be good at math and
tried I would never be good at math and
tried I would never be good at math and it made sense to me I was a right brain
it made sense to me I was a right brain
it made sense to me I was a right brain person it was good at drama and English
person it was good at drama and English
person it was good at drama and English of course I couldn’t also be good at
of course I couldn’t also be good at
of course I couldn’t also be good at math everyone knows you’re either mathy
math everyone knows you’re either mathy
math everyone knows you’re either mathy or you’re artsy nobody gets to be both
or you’re artsy nobody gets to be both
or you’re artsy nobody gets to be both plus I wanted to help people
plus I wanted to help people
plus I wanted to help people and I was pretty sure you didn’t need to
and I was pretty sure you didn’t need to
and I was pretty sure you didn’t need to be a mathematician to change the world I
be a mathematician to change the world I
be a mathematician to change the world I vowed never to take another math class
vowed never to take another math class
vowed never to take another math class again liberated without the chains of
again liberated without the chains of
again liberated without the chains of math I loved my university degree and
math I loved my university degree and
math I loved my university degree and managed to score myself a full ride
managed to score myself a full ride
managed to score myself a full ride scholarship to an MBA there was one
scholarship to an MBA there was one
scholarship to an MBA there was one condition I had to pass a standardized
condition I had to pass a standardized
condition I had to pass a standardized test it had a math section looking at
test it had a math section looking at
test it had a math section looking at your grades you’ll ace it in three weeks
your grades you’ll ace it in three weeks
your grades you’ll ace it in three weeks the program director told me easy I
the program director told me easy I
the program director told me easy I thought and then I opened the study
thought and then I opened the study
thought and then I opened the study guide triangles graphs letters
guide triangles graphs letters
guide triangles graphs letters masquerading as numbers all of those
masquerading as numbers all of those
masquerading as numbers all of those math e things I knew that I couldn’t do
math e things I knew that I couldn’t do
math e things I knew that I couldn’t do fast forward those three weeks and then
fast forward those three weeks and then
fast forward those three weeks and then another three because I was in no way
another three because I was in no way
another three because I was in no way we’re ready like the program director
we’re ready like the program director
we’re ready like the program director thought I take the test I bomb it and I
thought I take the test I bomb it and I
thought I take the test I bomb it and I mean bomb not like a C+ and crying it
mean bomb not like a C+ and crying it
mean bomb not like a C+ and crying it off in the little girl’s room
off in the little girl’s room
off in the little girl’s room I mean bombed like a 10th percentile
I mean bombed like a 10th percentile
I mean bombed like a 10th percentile score looking up how to become an au
score looking up how to become an au
score looking up how to become an au pair in Germany because I’m pretty sure
pair in Germany because I’m pretty sure
pair in Germany because I’m pretty sure I have no future bombed true story I
I have no future bombed true story I
I have no future bombed true story I managed to talk my way into the program
managed to talk my way into the program
managed to talk my way into the program without it but I had to be on academic
without it but I had to be on academic
without it but I had to be on academic probation pretty humbling for what I’m
probation pretty humbling for what I’m
probation pretty humbling for what I’m sure you’re now thinking of as an ex
sure you’re now thinking of as an ex
sure you’re now thinking of as an ex overachiever in the program math reared
overachiever in the program math reared
overachiever in the program math reared its ugly head again I made it through
its ugly head again I made it through
its ugly head again I made it through Finance and Accounting with the help of
Finance and Accounting with the help of
Finance and Accounting with the help of my tutor and now spouse of seven years
my tutor and now spouse of seven years
my tutor and now spouse of seven years Matt but I could not do stats I actually
Matt but I could not do stats I actually
Matt but I could not do stats I actually went to talk to my stats professor for
went to talk to my stats professor for
went to talk to my stats professor for some help and he told me that I should
some help and he told me that I should
some help and he told me that I should just drop out of the program because
just drop out of the program because
just drop out of the program because there was no way I would ever pass much
there was no way I would ever pass much
there was no way I would ever pass much less be successful in business somehow I
less be successful in business somehow I
less be successful in business somehow I made it through and well the math was a
made it through and well the math was a
made it through and well the math was a challenge for me it’s like it opened
challenge for me it’s like it opened
challenge for me it’s like it opened this completely different side of me
this completely different side of me
this completely different side of me something I never knew existed I learned
something I never knew existed I learned
something I never knew existed I learned that I was amazing at using
that I was amazing at using
that I was amazing at using to solve practical problems something
to solve practical problems something
to solve practical problems something some people who were good at math seem
some people who were good at math seem
some people who were good at math seem to struggle with it was like once the
to struggle with it was like once the
to struggle with it was like once the math became more than just numbers on a
math became more than just numbers on a
math became more than just numbers on a page once it started to mean something
page once it started to mean something
page once it started to mean something to me it just kind of clicked I remember
to me it just kind of clicked I remember
to me it just kind of clicked I remember we were working on a client project and
we were working on a client project and
we were working on a client project and we are trying to prove if one of our
we are trying to prove if one of our
we are trying to prove if one of our recommendations was correct and I said
recommendations was correct and I said
recommendations was correct and I said well let’s just take this data point in
well let’s just take this data point in
well let’s just take this data point in this data point and we’ll run a
this data point and we’ll run a
this data point and we’ll run a regression to see if we’re right excuse
regression to see if we’re right excuse
regression to see if we’re right excuse me I couldn’t believe the words coming
me I couldn’t believe the words coming
me I couldn’t believe the words coming out of my mouth I knew what her
out of my mouth I knew what her
out of my mouth I knew what her regression was and how to run one but
regression was and how to run one but
regression was and how to run one but the major turning point for me was when
the major turning point for me was when
the major turning point for me was when another student came up to me after a
another student came up to me after a
another student came up to me after a presentation and said you’re a great
presentation and said you’re a great
presentation and said you’re a great presenter and you’re really creative too
presenter and you’re really creative too
presenter and you’re really creative too bad you’re so bad at math and for the
bad you’re so bad at math and for the
bad you’re so bad at math and for the first time I got mad I wasn’t bad at
first time I got mad I wasn’t bad at
first time I got mad I wasn’t bad at math sure it wasn’t my natural strengths
math sure it wasn’t my natural strengths
math sure it wasn’t my natural strengths but I definitely wasn’t bad at it it’s
but I definitely wasn’t bad at it it’s
but I definitely wasn’t bad at it it’s like I finally got sick of this box that
like I finally got sick of this box that
like I finally got sick of this box that I put myself in in a world goes full
I put myself in in a world goes full
I put myself in in a world goes full circle ain’t karma hilarious twist my
circle ain’t karma hilarious twist my
circle ain’t karma hilarious twist my first job after graduating was in market
first job after graduating was in market
first job after graduating was in market research witches stats I spent hours
research witches stats I spent hours
research witches stats I spent hours poring over data tables finding
poring over data tables finding
poring over data tables finding statistically significant data points
statistically significant data points
statistically significant data points and making recommendations to big
and making recommendations to big
and making recommendations to big corporate brands I did this using math
corporate brands I did this using math
corporate brands I did this using math in just two years
in just two years
in just two years I went from someone who couldn’t do math
I went from someone who couldn’t do math
I went from someone who couldn’t do math to a complete data nerd a 24 I became
to a complete data nerd a 24 I became
to a complete data nerd a 24 I became the president in part owner of an
the president in part owner of an
the president in part owner of an international tech company that helps
international tech company that helps
international tech company that helps nonprofits measure hunger and poverty
nonprofits measure hunger and poverty
nonprofits measure hunger and poverty whether it’s helping one of our clients
whether it’s helping one of our clients
whether it’s helping one of our clients put together a report or defining some
put together a report or defining some
put together a report or defining some new analytic for our platform or doing
new analytic for our platform or doing
new analytic for our platform or doing financial analysis I now use math every
financial analysis I now use math every
financial analysis I now use math every day of my
day of my
day of my life and it’s helped our company impact
life and it’s helped our company impact
life and it’s helped our company impact over 1.7 million people living in
over 1.7 million people living in
over 1.7 million people living in poverty a guess math can help you on
poverty a guess math can help you on
poverty a guess math can help you on your quest to change the world but even
your quest to change the world but even
your quest to change the world but even though math has given me a life I never
though math has given me a life I never
though math has given me a life I never could have dreamed of when I put that
could have dreamed of when I put that
could have dreamed of when I put that pencil case down 20 years ago it’s not
pencil case down 20 years ago it’s not
pencil case down 20 years ago it’s not the math that matters what matters is
the math that matters what matters is
the math that matters what matters is realizing that something I thought about
realizing that something I thought about
realizing that something I thought about myself for most of my life was wrong
myself for most of my life was wrong
myself for most of my life was wrong what matters is realizing that I had
what matters is realizing that I had
what matters is realizing that I had written a story and said it out loud so
written a story and said it out loud so
written a story and said it out loud so many times that it actually started to
many times that it actually started to
many times that it actually started to come true
come true
come true what matters is deciding it was time to
what matters is deciding it was time to
what matters is deciding it was time to make some edits the truth is we grow and
make some edits the truth is we grow and
make some edits the truth is we grow and we change we shouldn’t be the person we
we change we shouldn’t be the person we
we change we shouldn’t be the person we were at 10 or at least we don’t have to
were at 10 or at least we don’t have to
were at 10 or at least we don’t have to be if we don’t want to life puts us in
be if we don’t want to life puts us in
be if we don’t want to life puts us in situations that challenges us and forces
situations that challenges us and forces
situations that challenges us and forces us to go out of our comfort zone
us to go out of our comfort zone
us to go out of our comfort zone questioning who we are in those moments
questioning who we are in those moments
questioning who we are in those moments is how we fall into ourselves but if we
is how we fall into ourselves but if we
is how we fall into ourselves but if we keep telling ourselves these same old
keep telling ourselves these same old
keep telling ourselves these same old stories if we keep prescribing two
stories if we keep prescribing two
stories if we keep prescribing two convenient labels like right brain and
convenient labels like right brain and
convenient labels like right brain and left brain that’s how we miss out on
left brain that’s how we miss out on
left brain that’s how we miss out on getting what the world has to offer so
getting what the world has to offer so
getting what the world has to offer so let’s try this again this time close
let’s try this again this time close
let’s try this again this time close your eyes think of one of these stories
your eyes think of one of these stories
your eyes think of one of these stories you tell yourself with eyes closed raise
you tell yourself with eyes closed raise
you tell yourself with eyes closed raise your hand when you’ve got one now point
your hand when you’ve got one now point
your hand when you’ve got one now point to the writer and narrator of that story
to the writer and narrator of that story
to the writer and narrator of that story and now give yourselves a round of
and now give yourselves a round of
and now give yourselves a round of applause because you just took the first
applause because you just took the first
applause because you just took the first step toward rewriting it
step toward rewriting it
step toward rewriting it [Applause]
”
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