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The Surprising Practicality of Dreaming | Dan Dan Ralphs | TEDxPSU


I’m on my way home from work it’s a long

I’m on my way home from work it’s a long commute and I fall into what I call the

commute and I fall into what I call the

commute and I fall into what I call the glaze this is where you’re brain dead

glaze this is where you’re brain dead

glaze this is where you’re brain dead but still driving safely and he could

but still driving safely and he could

but still driving safely and he could experience the glaze I was deep in the

experience the glaze I was deep in the

experience the glaze I was deep in the glaze and I was awakened for my glace

glaze and I was awakened for my glace

glaze and I was awakened for my glace just slightly by a phone call for my

just slightly by a phone call for my

just slightly by a phone call for my wife she asked if I could bring home

wife she asked if I could bring home

wife she asked if I could bring home some milk I received the message did

some milk I received the message did

some milk I received the message did back down into the glaze and I felt a

back down into the glaze and I felt a

back down into the glaze and I felt a little frustrated cuz I knew that the

little frustrated cuz I knew that the

little frustrated cuz I knew that the only place to get milk between myself

only place to get milk between myself

only place to get milk between myself and my home was a gas station and gas

and my home was a gas station and gas

and my home was a gas station and gas station had a milk gas station when you

station had a milk gas station when you

station had a milk gas station when you go buy milk at a gas station it’s like

go buy milk at a gas station it’s like

go buy milk at a gas station it’s like extortion right it take a lot of money

extortion right it take a lot of money

extortion right it take a lot of money anyway pull in I I get out of my car go

anyway pull in I I get out of my car go

anyway pull in I I get out of my car go get the milk have some nondescript

get the milk have some nondescript

get the milk have some nondescript conversation with the man behind the

conversation with the man behind the

conversation with the man behind the counter and I walk back out to my car at

counter and I walk back out to my car at

counter and I walk back out to my car at that point I was awoken from the glaze

that point I was awoken from the glaze

that point I was awoken from the glaze or at least I took a few minutes because

or at least I took a few minutes because

or at least I took a few minutes because I opened the door and I look and in my

I opened the door and I look and in my

I opened the door and I look and in my car there was a large that man sitting

car there was a large that man sitting

car there was a large that man sitting in my car now I hoped that the James

in my car now I hoped that the James

in my car now I hoped that the James bonded me would have come out and I

bonded me would have come out and I

bonded me would have come out and I would have said something really tough

would have said something really tough

would have said something really tough really brave but I had nothing I was

really brave but I had nothing I was

really brave but I had nothing I was still in the glaze and I’m trying to

still in the glaze and I’m trying to

still in the glaze and I’m trying to wake up trying to wake up you ever had

wake up trying to wake up you ever had

wake up trying to wake up you ever had that moment your brains dead come on

that moment your brains dead come on

that moment your brains dead come on come on come on come on come on and I’m

come on come on come on come on and I’m

come on come on come on come on and I’m staring at him he’s staring at me and

staring at him he’s staring at me and

staring at him he’s staring at me and then finally it dawns on me to bury the

then finally it dawns on me to bury the

then finally it dawns on me to bury the perfect thing to say and I turned to him

perfect thing to say and I turned to him

perfect thing to say and I turned to him and with all like the force that I could

and with all like the force that I could

and with all like the force that I could muster I say now here’s the thing

muster I say now here’s the thing

muster I say now here’s the thing the reason I share this story is because

the reason I share this story is because

the reason I share this story is because we all have experienced what it feels

we all have experienced what it feels

we all have experienced what it feels like to be going through the motions in

like to be going through the motions in

like to be going through the motions in life have you felt that before in your

life have you felt that before in your

life have you felt that before in your life where you’re just kind of going

life where you’re just kind of going

life where you’re just kind of going through the motions and I think that’s

through the motions and I think that’s

through the motions and I think that’s maybe okay on a drive home from work but

maybe okay on a drive home from work but

maybe okay on a drive home from work but it becomes tragic to me tragic to me

it becomes tragic to me tragic to me

it becomes tragic to me tragic to me when it’s happens for a day or a week or

when it’s happens for a day or a week or

when it’s happens for a day or a week or a month or even a year and I’ve met

a month or even a year and I’ve met

a month or even a year and I’ve met people who seem to have had a whole

people who seem to have had a whole

people who seem to have had a whole lifetime where they were just going

lifetime where they were just going

lifetime where they were just going through the motions did you know that

through the motions did you know that

through the motions did you know that only 15 percent of the global workforce

only 15 percent of the global workforce

only 15 percent of the global workforce is engaged they probably learned it in

is engaged they probably learned it in

is engaged they probably learned it in school because two out of three kids are

school because two out of three kids are

school because two out of three kids are bored in school every day now this kind

bored in school every day now this kind

bored in school every day now this kind of tragedy this kind of atrocity is so

of tragedy this kind of atrocity is so

of tragedy this kind of atrocity is so familiar so Universal that it becomes

familiar so Universal that it becomes

familiar so Universal that it becomes invisible

we laugh about it on sitcoms and yet to

we laugh about it on sitcoms and yet to me it’s tragic consider all the wasted

me it’s tragic consider all the wasted

me it’s tragic consider all the wasted days all the wasted hours all the

days all the wasted hours all the

days all the wasted hours all the absentee looks on parents faces as they

absentee looks on parents faces as they

absentee looks on parents faces as they just go through the motions in their

just go through the motions in their

just go through the motions in their lives so there is stood and I said to

lives so there is stood and I said to

lives so there is stood and I said to this man

and I closed the door

and I closed the door and then the worst part about it wasn’t

and then the worst part about it wasn’t

and then the worst part about it wasn’t the same make it wasn’t the same model

the same make it wasn’t the same model

the same make it wasn’t the same model it wasn’t it was nothing like my car I

it wasn’t it was nothing like my car I

it wasn’t it was nothing like my car I walk quite a ways away because it wasn’t

walk quite a ways away because it wasn’t

walk quite a ways away because it wasn’t close to my car either and I get in my

close to my car either and I get in my

close to my car either and I get in my car and I kind of peek up hoping that

car and I kind of peek up hoping that

car and I kind of peek up hoping that the man doesn’t make eye contact because

the man doesn’t make eye contact because

the man doesn’t make eye contact because I’m just checking to make sure he wasn’t

I’m just checking to make sure he wasn’t

I’m just checking to make sure he wasn’t calling 9-1-1 and reporting a carjacking

calling 9-1-1 and reporting a carjacking

calling 9-1-1 and reporting a carjacking and I look up and of course we lock eyes

and I look up and of course we lock eyes

and I look up and of course we lock eyes and – as a mortal credit this man simply

and – as a mortal credit this man simply

and – as a mortal credit this man simply turns to me and goes good job buddy

so today I hope that I can be a little

so today I hope that I can be a little bit of a fat man for you

bit of a fat man for you

bit of a fat man for you in other words if there’s any part of

in other words if there’s any part of

in other words if there’s any part of your life in which you’re just going

your life in which you’re just going

your life in which you’re just going through the motions I hope to wake you

through the motions I hope to wake you

through the motions I hope to wake you up if perhaps more importantly I hope

up if perhaps more importantly I hope

up if perhaps more importantly I hope that if I can I can shine a light on how

that if I can I can shine a light on how

that if I can I can shine a light on how you can help your children and your

you can help your children and your

you can help your children and your students and your employees to wake up

students and your employees to wake up

students and your employees to wake up as well now as was mentioned I’m a dream

as well now as was mentioned I’m a dream

as well now as was mentioned I’m a dream manager which means my job is to help

manager which means my job is to help

manager which means my job is to help people to identify articulate and

people to identify articulate and

people to identify articulate and accomplish their personal dreams now out

accomplish their personal dreams now out

accomplish their personal dreams now out of curiosity how many of you in the

of curiosity how many of you in the

of curiosity how many of you in the audience have have worked in a company

audience have have worked in a company

audience have have worked in a company that had a dream manager by raise of

that had a dream manager by raise of

that had a dream manager by raise of hands raise I’m high so I can see him no

hands raise I’m high so I can see him no

hands raise I’m high so I can see him no go ahead and raise him up all right I

go ahead and raise him up all right I

go ahead and raise him up all right I don’t see anyone and how many of you

don’t see anyone and how many of you

don’t see anyone and how many of you maybe worked in a company where there’s

maybe worked in a company where there’s

maybe worked in a company where there’s I could dream crusher any of those oh

I could dream crusher any of those oh

I could dream crusher any of those oh yeah most most of you that’s a little

yeah most most of you that’s a little

yeah most most of you that’s a little startling uh so let me start at the

startling uh so let me start at the

startling uh so let me start at the beginning I want to teach you what an

beginning I want to teach you what an

beginning I want to teach you what an about the anatomy of a dream the first

about the anatomy of a dream the first

about the anatomy of a dream the first thing that’s important to recognize is

thing that’s important to recognize is

thing that’s important to recognize is that we all have a biological propensity

that we all have a biological propensity

that we all have a biological propensity to live rather boring or rather humdrum

to live rather boring or rather humdrum

to live rather boring or rather humdrum lives have you noticed that maybe you

lives have you noticed that maybe you

lives have you noticed that maybe you notice that in someone you know that

notice that in someone you know that

notice that in someone you know that they seem biologically prone to boredom

they seem biologically prone to boredom

they seem biologically prone to boredom and it’s not necessarily our fault it’s

and it’s not necessarily our fault it’s

and it’s not necessarily our fault it’s by its biological we’re much the same as

by its biological we’re much the same as

by its biological we’re much the same as the deer who wanders down to water and

the deer who wanders down to water and

the deer who wanders down to water and when he gets water and if he wanders

when he gets water and if he wanders

when he gets water and if he wanders back which path will he take the next

back which path will he take the next

back which path will he take the next Sun same path again and again and again

Sun same path again and again and again

Sun same path again and again and again until what’s created a little divot a

until what’s created a little divot a

until what’s created a little divot a little rut in the ground

little rut in the ground

little rut in the ground our brains are the same way our brains

our brains are the same way our brains

our brains are the same way our brains desire familiarity and consistency and

desire familiarity and consistency and

desire familiarity and consistency and they care about that so much that they

they care about that so much that they

they care about that so much that they put up a barrier they put up a wall of

put up a barrier they put up a wall of

put up a barrier they put up a wall of fear around anything new have you felt

fear around anything new have you felt

fear around anything new have you felt that before and even if it’s a good

that before and even if it’s a good

that before and even if it’s a good thing they’ll put up a little barrier of

thing they’ll put up a little barrier of

thing they’ll put up a little barrier of fear around it and I call that the rut

fear around it and I call that the rut

fear around it and I call that the rut and all of us have this tendency to fall

and all of us have this tendency to fall

and all of us have this tendency to fall into a bit of a rut and this rut has

into a bit of a rut and this rut has

into a bit of a rut and this rut has something of a gravitational effect on

something of a gravitational effect on

something of a gravitational effect on us have you noticed this before in your

us have you noticed this before in your

us have you noticed this before in your life it’s called a new year’s resolution

life it’s called a new year’s resolution

life it’s called a new year’s resolution it’s like lose weight lose weight lose

it’s like lose weight lose weight lose

it’s like lose weight lose weight lose weight lose weight lose weight donuts

weight lose weight lose weight donuts

weight lose weight lose weight donuts donuts donuts right and and and we have

donuts donuts right and and and we have

donuts donuts right and and and we have this kind of gravitational pull where we

this kind of gravitational pull where we

this kind of gravitational pull where we get pulled back down to the mean I think

get pulled back down to the mean I think

get pulled back down to the mean I think Allen do which one puts a finer

Allen do which one puts a finer

Allen do which one puts a finer he talks about a group of cardiologists

he talks about a group of cardiologists

he talks about a group of cardiologists at Johns Hopkins University they would

at Johns Hopkins University they would

at Johns Hopkins University they would talk to people who had major cardiac

talk to people who had major cardiac

talk to people who had major cardiac surgery and in the post-op they would

surgery and in the post-op they would

surgery and in the post-op they would turn to them and they would say listen

turn to them and they would say listen

turn to them and they would say listen your current lifestyle is not working it

your current lifestyle is not working it

your current lifestyle is not working it got you here and if you don’t change

got you here and if you don’t change

got you here and if you don’t change your behavior you will die out of ten

your behavior you will die out of ten

your behavior you will die out of ten people how many do you think would make

people how many do you think would make

people how many do you think would make a change one one in ten people would

a change one one in ten people would

a change one one in ten people would make a change now before you stare at

make a change now before you stare at

make a change now before you stare at those people and you judge them I want

those people and you judge them I want

those people and you judge them I want you to notice in yourself have you felt

you to notice in yourself have you felt

you to notice in yourself have you felt that tendency that that kind of

that tendency that that kind of

that tendency that that kind of gravitational pull to keep you put to

gravitational pull to keep you put to

gravitational pull to keep you put to keep you stuck so there are two ways to

keep you stuck so there are two ways to

keep you stuck so there are two ways to escape this virtual rut way number one

escape this virtual rut way number one

escape this virtual rut way number one is to be compelled or pushed out that

is to be compelled or pushed out that

is to be compelled or pushed out that happens when we have some kind of major

happens when we have some kind of major

happens when we have some kind of major life event we have a death in the family

life event we have a death in the family

life event we have a death in the family a divorce we lose our jobs we get

a divorce we lose our jobs we get

a divorce we lose our jobs we get married we have children something

married we have children something

married we have children something really traumatic so if you have children

really traumatic so if you have children

really traumatic so if you have children I understand and the second way is that

I understand and the second way is that

I understand and the second way is that we get we get enticed out of the rat we

we get we get enticed out of the rat we

we get we get enticed out of the rat we can kind of encourage to leave and

can kind of encourage to leave and

can kind of encourage to leave and that’s where dreaming comes in dreaming

that’s where dreaming comes in dreaming

that’s where dreaming comes in dreaming to me as a surprisingly practical tool

to me as a surprisingly practical tool

to me as a surprisingly practical tool to help us move forward in our lives and

to help us move forward in our lives and

to help us move forward in our lives and dreaming at the end of the day is simply

dreaming at the end of the day is simply

dreaming at the end of the day is simply identifying things that are possible

identifying things that are possible

identifying things that are possible that live outside of our current

that live outside of our current

that live outside of our current familiar and then identifying them

familiar and then identifying them

familiar and then identifying them writing them down so some of our dreams

writing them down so some of our dreams

writing them down so some of our dreams might be to buy a new house some dreams

might be to buy a new house some dreams

might be to buy a new house some dreams might be to travel to I had one person

might be to travel to I had one person

might be to travel to I had one person who wanted to ride elephants in Thailand

who wanted to ride elephants in Thailand

who wanted to ride elephants in Thailand another person who wanted to get a US

another person who wanted to get a US

another person who wanted to get a US citizenship and another person who

citizenship and another person who

citizenship and another person who wanted to meet Will Smith and spend a

wanted to meet Will Smith and spend a

wanted to meet Will Smith and spend a day with Will Smith I have a little man

day with Will Smith I have a little man

day with Will Smith I have a little man crush on him so I’m mentioning that here

crush on him so I’m mentioning that here

crush on him so I’m mentioning that here just in case this ever makes its way to

just in case this ever makes its way to

just in case this ever makes its way to him

him

him does that make sense it’s those things

does that make sense it’s those things

does that make sense it’s those things that are so compelling so exciting that

that are so compelling so exciting that

that are so compelling so exciting that they would actually move us outside of

they would actually move us outside of

they would actually move us outside of our rut now here’s where it gets

our rut now here’s where it gets

our rut now here’s where it gets exciting what happens if I get the

exciting what happens if I get the

exciting what happens if I get the courage to go out and accomplish a dream

courage to go out and accomplish a dream

courage to go out and accomplish a dream what happens to the red

what happens to the red

what happens to the red this is I’m really asking what happens

this is I’m really asking what happens

this is I’m really asking what happens to the rod it gets bigger that’s right

to the rod it gets bigger that’s right

to the rod it gets bigger that’s right it gets bigger it expands and then what

it gets bigger it expands and then what

it gets bigger it expands and then what happens to those dreams that seemed

happens to those dreams that seemed

happens to those dreams that seemed really far off they feel closer in fact

really far off they feel closer in fact

really far off they feel closer in fact I had one dreamer that said dance since

I had one dreamer that said dance since

I had one dreamer that said dance since I’ve been dreaming those dreams that

I’ve been dreaming those dreams that

I’ve been dreaming those dreams that seemed impossible now seem possible

seemed impossible now seem possible

seemed impossible now seem possible those dreams that seem just possible now

those dreams that seem just possible now

those dreams that seem just possible now seem likely those dreams that seem

seem likely those dreams that seem

seem likely those dreams that seem likely now seem inevitable they get

likely now seem inevitable they get

likely now seem inevitable they get closer still

closer still

closer still and one dream after the other we expand

and one dream after the other we expand

and one dream after the other we expand now more important than a way the dreams

now more important than a way the dreams

now more important than a way the dreams engage with the individual is what

engage with the individual is what

engage with the individual is what happens to the individual as they dream

happens to the individual as they dream

happens to the individual as they dream think about it what happens what change

think about it what happens what change

think about it what happens what change transpires as I go on this journey and I

transpires as I go on this journey and I

transpires as I go on this journey and I accomplish one dream after the other

accomplish one dream after the other

accomplish one dream after the other what happens to the person well they

what happens to the person well they

what happens to the person well they grow how do they grow well they grow

grow how do they grow well they grow

grow how do they grow well they grow more confident more creative they have a

more confident more creative they have a

more confident more creative they have a greater ability to face life’s

greater ability to face life’s

greater ability to face life’s challenges they’re more gritty and now

challenges they’re more gritty and now

challenges they’re more gritty and now if I’m a teacher if I’m an employer and

if I’m a teacher if I’m an employer and

if I’m a teacher if I’m an employer and I look at the employee who’s made that

I look at the employee who’s made that

I look at the employee who’s made that journey guess what I think that’s the

journey guess what I think that’s the

journey guess what I think that’s the person I want and so why is it that if

person I want and so why is it that if

person I want and so why is it that if that’s the person we want we aren’t as

that’s the person we want we aren’t as

that’s the person we want we aren’t as companies and schools demanding that our

companies and schools demanding that our

companies and schools demanding that our employees that our students dream why

employees that our students dream why

employees that our students dream why aren’t we as individuals in the game of

aren’t we as individuals in the game of

aren’t we as individuals in the game of dreaming far more often if that’s the

dreaming far more often if that’s the

dreaming far more often if that’s the outcome that’s the result that we can

outcome that’s the result that we can

outcome that’s the result that we can get that we can have creative innovative

get that we can have creative innovative

get that we can have creative innovative members within our organizations why not

members within our organizations why not

members within our organizations why not it’s a good question right i I came up

it’s a good question right i I came up

it’s a good question right i I came up with it I think it’s fantastic years ago

with it I think it’s fantastic years ago

with it I think it’s fantastic years ago I was a school teacher of a very small

I was a school teacher of a very small

I was a school teacher of a very small private high school it was so small that

private high school it was so small that

private high school it was so small that I was the only teacher and I taught all

I was the only teacher and I taught all

I was the only teacher and I taught all the subjects that’s us upon us

the subjects that’s us upon us

the subjects that’s us upon us and I remember one day I was teaching a

and I remember one day I was teaching a

and I remember one day I was teaching a class and the class we were teaching the

class and the class we were teaching the

class and the class we were teaching the American Revolution and I looked out of

American Revolution and I looked out of

American Revolution and I looked out of my class and they were looking up at me

my class and they were looking up at me

my class and they were looking up at me wide-eyed they were a part of the two

wide-eyed they were a part of the two

wide-eyed they were a part of the two out of three that were bored in school

out of three that were bored in school

out of three that were bored in school every day there they were and I the best

every day there they were and I the best

every day there they were and I the best I can say is I threw a little bit of an

I can say is I threw a little bit of an

I can say is I threw a little bit of an adult tantrum and I turned to them and I

adult tantrum and I turned to them and I

adult tantrum and I turned to them and I said

said

said actually I if you don’t want to learn

actually I if you don’t want to learn

actually I if you don’t want to learn this stuff I don’t care about it I’m

this stuff I don’t care about it I’m

this stuff I don’t care about it I’m going to my office teach ourselves it

going to my office teach ourselves it

going to my office teach ourselves it was kind of what I did I went my office

was kind of what I did I went my office

was kind of what I did I went my office I sat down and I felt frustrated and I

I sat down and I felt frustrated and I

I sat down and I felt frustrated and I felt annoyed with the students and I’m

felt annoyed with the students and I’m

felt annoyed with the students and I’m sure they were annoyed with me and I

sure they were annoyed with me and I

sure they were annoyed with me and I started pondering the American

started pondering the American

started pondering the American Revolution I started considering the

Revolution I started considering the

Revolution I started considering the British aristocracy and the British

British aristocracy and the British

British aristocracy and the British aristocracy and King George at the time

aristocracy and King George at the time

aristocracy and King George at the time they looked at this little upstart

they looked at this little upstart

they looked at this little upstart Americans and they said those folks need

Americans and they said those folks need

Americans and they said those folks need us because without us they’ll fall into

us because without us they’ll fall into

us because without us they’ll fall into lawlessness and debauchery and then I

lawlessness and debauchery and then I

lawlessness and debauchery and then I had an incredible epiphany I was King

had an incredible epiphany I was King

had an incredible epiphany I was King George because I thought to myself

George because I thought to myself

George because I thought to myself without me they will fall those

without me they will fall those

without me they will fall those teenagers will fall into lawlessness and

teenagers will fall into lawlessness and

teenagers will fall into lawlessness and debauchery and so I walked out in a

debauchery and so I walked out in a

debauchery and so I walked out in a moment of insanity I walked out I said

moment of insanity I walked out I said

moment of insanity I walked out I said listen students I’m so so sorry I’m King

listen students I’m so so sorry I’m King

listen students I’m so so sorry I’m King George you’re the Americans I said I I

George you’re the Americans I said I I

George you’re the Americans I said I I just assumed you needed me but I’m wrong

just assumed you needed me but I’m wrong

just assumed you needed me but I’m wrong you don’t mean me and so here are the

you don’t mean me and so here are the

you don’t mean me and so here are the contracts I have out contract with the

contracts I have out contract with the

contracts I have out contract with the building I have a contract with your

building I have a contract with your

building I have a contract with your parents have a contract with the the

parents have a contract with the the

parents have a contract with the the accreditation agency which means that I

accreditation agency which means that I

accreditation agency which means that I can’t give you grades that you don’t

can’t give you grades that you don’t

can’t give you grades that you don’t earn but other than that it’s up to you

earn but other than that it’s up to you

earn but other than that it’s up to you and I went back in my office and for the

and I went back in my office and for the

and I went back in my office and for the next three weeks those students taught

next three weeks those students taught

next three weeks those students taught themselves the first complaint came in

themselves the first complaint came in

themselves the first complaint came in fifteen-year-old girl came in my office

fifteen-year-old girl came in my office

fifteen-year-old girl came in my office mr. rouse mr. Ralph’s it’s not fair the

mr. rouse mr. Ralph’s it’s not fair the

mr. rouse mr. Ralph’s it’s not fair the assignments they’re assigning are way

assignments they’re assigning are way

assignments they’re assigning are way harder than anything you would have

harder than anything you would have

harder than anything you would have assigned it was fantastic well

assigned it was fantastic well

assigned it was fantastic well eventually they hired me back it’s

eventually they hired me back it’s

eventually they hired me back it’s really a good day for me I was a little

really a good day for me I was a little

really a good day for me I was a little nervous I’m like what if they actually

nervous I’m like what if they actually

nervous I’m like what if they actually don’t need me this would not be good for

don’t need me this would not be good for

don’t need me this would not be good for job security purposes and and so I

job security purposes and and so I

job security purposes and and so I eventually was hired back but the class

eventually was hired back but the class

eventually was hired back but the class forever was changed I had students who

forever was changed I had students who

forever was changed I had students who were being punished because they were

were being punished because they were

were being punished because they were studying too much at home their parents

studying too much at home their parents

studying too much at home their parents were couldn’t get them to do anything

were couldn’t get them to do anything

were couldn’t get them to do anything else

else

else I had one student who was crying

I had one student who was crying

I had one student who was crying literally as she left a math class

literally as she left a math class

literally as she left a math class because she had to go to a dentist

because she had to go to a dentist

because she had to go to a dentist appointment I had to console her like

appointment I had to console her like

appointment I had to console her like it’s gonna be okay the math will be here

it’s gonna be okay the math will be here

it’s gonna be okay the math will be here when you get back I had one student was

when you get back I had one student was

when you get back I had one student was failing gin the year before he would

failing gin the year before he would

failing gin the year before he would later say I don’t know how you failed

later say I don’t know how you failed

later say I don’t know how you failed Jim went on to

Jim went on to

Jim went on to 800 plate pages of Plato that summer

800 plate pages of Plato that summer

800 plate pages of Plato that summer voluntarily and not only that he went on

voluntarily and not only that he went on

voluntarily and not only that he went on to double major at Northwestern and what

to double major at Northwestern and what

to double major at Northwestern and what happened what changed I simply gave them

happened what changed I simply gave them

happened what changed I simply gave them permission to create and I got out of

permission to create and I got out of

permission to create and I got out of their way because let’s face it the

their way because let’s face it the

their way because let’s face it the relationship between employer and

relationship between employer and

relationship between employer and employee is has been and historically

employee is has been and historically

employee is has been and historically large part adversarial and it’s not

large part adversarial and it’s not

large part adversarial and it’s not necessarily bad and badly intentioned by

necessarily bad and badly intentioned by

necessarily bad and badly intentioned by the employer by the school it’s just

the employer by the school it’s just

the employer by the school it’s just they simply have such a big agenda it

they simply have such a big agenda it

they simply have such a big agenda it fills the whole room and there’s no room

fills the whole room and there’s no room

fills the whole room and there’s no room for the individual dreams the individual

for the individual dreams the individual

for the individual dreams the individual agendas of those people that they lead

agendas of those people that they lead

agendas of those people that they lead and ironically in that vice-grip on the

and ironically in that vice-grip on the

and ironically in that vice-grip on the agenda they lose out on the very thing

agenda they lose out on the very thing

agenda they lose out on the very thing they’re trying to inspire namely

they’re trying to inspire namely

they’re trying to inspire namely inspired committed passionate

inspired committed passionate

inspired committed passionate individuals it’s sort of like we if we

individuals it’s sort of like we if we

individuals it’s sort of like we if we were we were to be friends and I walked

were we were to be friends and I walked

were we were to be friends and I walked out and I said hi nice to meet my name’s

out and I said hi nice to meet my name’s

out and I said hi nice to meet my name’s Dan um let’s be friends and then I said

Dan um let’s be friends and then I said

Dan um let’s be friends and then I said but just so you’re clit so it’s clear

but just so you’re clit so it’s clear

but just so you’re clit so it’s clear it’s all gonna be all about me and

it’s all gonna be all about me and

it’s all gonna be all about me and nothing about you and not only that I’m

nothing about you and not only that I’m

nothing about you and not only that I’m you need to be at my beck and call

you need to be at my beck and call

you need to be at my beck and call whenever I need anything and but don’t

whenever I need anything and but don’t

whenever I need anything and but don’t worry I’m gonna give you some money and

worry I’m gonna give you some money and

worry I’m gonna give you some money and if at any point I’m dissatisfied with a

if at any point I’m dissatisfied with a

if at any point I’m dissatisfied with a relationship I’m gonna end it let’s be

relationship I’m gonna end it let’s be

relationship I’m gonna end it let’s be friends

friends

friends that wouldn’t work in any other

that wouldn’t work in any other

that wouldn’t work in any other circumstance to have a healthy

circumstance to have a healthy

circumstance to have a healthy relationship where two people were

relationship where two people were

relationship where two people were committed to each other and yet we

committed to each other and yet we

committed to each other and yet we expect it to work in our schools and we

expect it to work in our schools and we

expect it to work in our schools and we expect it to work in our jobs so what

expect it to work in our jobs so what

expect it to work in our jobs so what would happen what would happen if we

would happen what would happen if we

would happen what would happen if we turn to our employees and we said what’s

turn to our employees and we said what’s

turn to our employees and we said what’s your dream we asked that simple question

your dream we asked that simple question

your dream we asked that simple question what would happen if we turn to students

what would happen if we turn to students

what would happen if we turn to students and we said what’s your dream there’s a

and we said what’s your dream there’s a

and we said what’s your dream there’s a incredible book by the name I by a man

incredible book by the name I by a man

incredible book by the name I by a man by the name of Raja Jaya

by the name of Raja Jaya

by the name of Raja Jaya and he wrote entitled firms of

and he wrote entitled firms of

and he wrote entitled firms of endearment and he talks about companies

endearment and he talks about companies

endearment and he talks about companies who do that who have turned to their

who do that who have turned to their

who do that who have turned to their employees to their stakeholders and are

employees to their stakeholders and are

employees to their stakeholders and are as committed to the interests of their

as committed to the interests of their

as committed to the interests of their employees and stakeholders as they are

employees and stakeholders as they are

employees and stakeholders as they are interested in they’re committed to their

interested in they’re committed to their

interested in they’re committed to their to their shareholders and those

to their shareholders and those

to their shareholders and those companies outperform the market six to

companies outperform the market six to

companies outperform the market six to one as a dream manager in my company I

one as a dream manager in my company I

one as a dream manager in my company I noticed a similar phenomena those who

noticed a similar phenomena those who

noticed a similar phenomena those who accomplished personal dreams

accomplished personal dreams

accomplished personal dreams outperformed those who did not does it

outperformed those who did not does it

outperformed those who did not does it surprise you I want to close by sharing

surprise you I want to close by sharing

surprise you I want to close by sharing my dream I’m gonna borrow some words

my dream I’m gonna borrow some words

my dream I’m gonna borrow some words from one of my very favorite dreamers I

have a dream that someday employers will

have a dream that someday employers will turn to their employees and say I know

turn to their employees and say I know

turn to their employees and say I know we have important work to do here but I

we have important work to do here but I

we have important work to do here but I want to make sure we make space for your

want to make sure we make space for your

want to make sure we make space for your dream I have a dream that someday that

dream I have a dream that someday that

dream I have a dream that someday that employ that leaders will be judged as

employ that leaders will be judged as

employ that leaders will be judged as much about what they put to the

much about what they put to the

much about what they put to the bottom-line as how many dreams are

bottom-line as how many dreams are

bottom-line as how many dreams are accomplished under their watch I have a

accomplished under their watch I have a

accomplished under their watch I have a dream that someday schools and school

dream that someday schools and school

dream that someday schools and school boards will consider the 21st century

boards will consider the 21st century

boards will consider the 21st century skill of dreaming in an information age

skill of dreaming in an information age

skill of dreaming in an information age as important as arithmetic was in an

as important as arithmetic was in an

as important as arithmetic was in an industrial age I have a dream that

industrial age I have a dream that

industrial age I have a dream that teachers will care about and nurture the

teachers will care about and nurture the

teachers will care about and nurture the dreams of those that they teach and will

dreams of those that they teach and will

dreams of those that they teach and will be as interested in those dreams being

be as interested in those dreams being

be as interested in those dreams being accomplished as moving their students on

accomplished as moving their students on

accomplished as moving their students on to the next grade level I have a dream

to the next grade level I have a dream

to the next grade level I have a dream that parents will teach their children

that parents will teach their children

that parents will teach their children to dream and they’ll do it mostly by

to dream and they’ll do it mostly by

to dream and they’ll do it mostly by example I have a dream that all of us

example I have a dream that all of us

example I have a dream that all of us will choose to find something worthy of

will choose to find something worthy of

will choose to find something worthy of waking us up in the morning and that we

waking us up in the morning and that we

waking us up in the morning and that we will never spend a week or a month

will never spend a week or a month

will never spend a week or a month much less a year just going through the

much less a year just going through the

much less a year just going through the motions in life that’s my dream and I

motions in life that’s my dream and I

motions in life that’s my dream and I hope you’ll join me thank you

hope you’ll join me thank you

hope you’ll join me thank you [Applause]

”

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