well actually I wanted to talk about this circle so imagine that this circle
this circle so imagine that this circle
this circle so imagine that this circle is an area of human endeavor that you’re
is an area of human endeavor that you’re
is an area of human endeavor that you’re really interested in but you know
really interested in but you know
really interested in but you know nothing about right and but you want to
nothing about right and but you want to
nothing about right and but you want to get engaged with it but it’s always
get engaged with it but it’s always
get engaged with it but it’s always going to have a bunch of experts in it
going to have a bunch of experts in it
going to have a bunch of experts in it and if you try and say something these
and if you try and say something these
and if you try and say something these experts are going to say something like
experts are going to say something like
experts are going to say something like this hey kid a little knowledge is a
this hey kid a little knowledge is a
this hey kid a little knowledge is a dangerous thing but I want to talk to
dangerous thing but I want to talk to
dangerous thing but I want to talk to you today about the fact that I don’t
you today about the fact that I don’t
you today about the fact that I don’t think a little knowledge of something is
think a little knowledge of something is
think a little knowledge of something is a dangerous thing I actually think it’s
a dangerous thing I actually think it’s
a dangerous thing I actually think it’s a really really great thing I am and
a really really great thing I am and
a really really great thing I am and always have been a geek this is me at
always have been a geek this is me at
always have been a geek this is me at five years old I grew up in Adelaide
five years old I grew up in Adelaide
five years old I grew up in Adelaide Australia I just remembered I’m in a
Australia I just remembered I’m in a
Australia I just remembered I’m in a stand in the circle I grew up in
stand in the circle I grew up in
stand in the circle I grew up in Adelaide Australia and I always loved
Adelaide Australia and I always loved
Adelaide Australia and I always loved tinkering Here I am helping my dad fix
tinkering Here I am helping my dad fix
tinkering Here I am helping my dad fix the family car but I was always building
the family car but I was always building
the family car but I was always building things breaking things I was a whore of
things breaking things I was a whore of
things breaking things I was a whore of a kid but I ended up doing engineering
a kid but I ended up doing engineering
a kid but I ended up doing engineering and then did a PhD in electrical
and then did a PhD in electrical
and then did a PhD in electrical engineering and then you know I love
engineering and then you know I love
engineering and then you know I love doing it I love building things and the
doing it I love building things and the
doing it I love building things and the problem was at the time in Australia
problem was at the time in Australia
problem was at the time in Australia which was the 1980s if you got a degree
which was the 1980s if you got a degree
which was the 1980s if you got a degree in electrical engineering my speciality
in electrical engineering my speciality
in electrical engineering my speciality was building silicon chips
was building silicon chips
was building silicon chips there was no jobs for you in Australia
there was no jobs for you in Australia
there was no jobs for you in Australia so eventually I decided to leave
so eventually I decided to leave
so eventually I decided to leave Australia move to the US because that’s
Australia move to the US because that’s
Australia move to the US because that’s where silicon chips were and still are
where silicon chips were and still are
where silicon chips were and still are built I mean in fact to make it even
built I mean in fact to make it even
built I mean in fact to make it even more difficult I moved from beautiful
more difficult I moved from beautiful
more difficult I moved from beautiful sunny Australia in the middle of summer
sunny Australia in the middle of summer
sunny Australia in the middle of summer to darkest central New Jersey in the
to darkest central New Jersey in the
to darkest central New Jersey in the middle of winter and I worked in this
middle of winter and I worked in this
middle of winter and I worked in this giant glass box it’s actually an amazing
giant glass box it’s actually an amazing
giant glass box it’s actually an amazing institution called Bell Labs which was a
institution called Bell Labs which was a
institution called Bell Labs which was a research organization had 17 Nobel Prize
research organization had 17 Nobel Prize
research organization had 17 Nobel Prize winners Bell Labs invented the
winners Bell Labs invented the
winners Bell Labs invented the transistor the Lay’s of a communication
transistor the Lay’s of a communication
transistor the Lay’s of a communication satellite the UNIX operating system all
satellite the UNIX operating system all
satellite the UNIX operating system all sorts of stuff had a great time there
sorts of stuff had a great time there
sorts of stuff had a great time there but I’ve always been someone that tends
but I’ve always been someone that tends
but I’ve always been someone that tends to get a little bored and I realized I
to get a little bored and I realized I
to get a little bored and I realized I didn’t want to spend the rest of my
didn’t want to spend the rest of my
didn’t want to spend the rest of my career working on those things and went
career working on those things and went
career working on those things and went to Columbia got an MBA at Columbia came
to Columbia got an MBA at Columbia came
to Columbia got an MBA at Columbia came out of that and those of you in the
out of that and those of you in the
out of that and those of you in the audience that have an MBA you may know
audience that have an MBA you may know
audience that have an MBA you may know we have to attest you come out with an
we have to attest you come out with an
we have to attest you come out with an MBA convinced you can do anything
MBA convinced you can do anything
MBA convinced you can do anything because they say you’re really smart
because they say you’re really smart
because they say you’re really smart really smart and so I thought I could do
really smart and so I thought I could do
really smart and so I thought I could do startup companies
startup companies
startup companies so I did a series of startup companies
so I did a series of startup companies
so I did a series of startup companies and they started off awful and gradually
and they started off awful and gradually
and they started off awful and gradually got less worse over time eventually I
got less worse over time eventually I
got less worse over time eventually I ran one founded wasn’t with some friends
ran one founded wasn’t with some friends
ran one founded wasn’t with some friends at Caltech called alixus that built a
at Caltech called alixus that built a
at Caltech called alixus that built a small D a kind of a DNA sequencer we
small D a kind of a DNA sequencer we
small D a kind of a DNA sequencer we sold it to a company called alumina
sold it to a company called alumina
sold it to a company called alumina which is a big DNA sequencing company
which is a big DNA sequencing company
which is a big DNA sequencing company down in San Diego I write there and I
down in San Diego I write there and I
down in San Diego I write there and I was a company that was full of really
was a company that was full of really
was a company that was full of really smart scientists and biologists and I
smart scientists and biologists and I
smart scientists and biologists and I literally didn’t do any biology in my
literally didn’t do any biology in my
literally didn’t do any biology in my entire school career I thought it was
entire school career I thought it was
entire school career I thought it was cutting up frogs I didn’t want anything
cutting up frogs I didn’t want anything
cutting up frogs I didn’t want anything to do with it and so I never touched it
to do with it and so I never touched it
to do with it and so I never touched it so I arrived in this company I was
so I arrived in this company I was
so I arrived in this company I was trying to work out what it was that I
trying to work out what it was that I
trying to work out what it was that I might be able to do and I got really
might be able to do and I got really
might be able to do and I got really curious about the idea of these DNA
curious about the idea of these DNA
curious about the idea of these DNA sequences were all over the world and
sequences were all over the world and
sequences were all over the world and they were generating all this data but
they were generating all this data but
they were generating all this data but no there was nowhere to pull all the
no there was nowhere to pull all the
no there was nowhere to pull all the information together where you could
information together where you could
information together where you could start to make interesting observations
start to make interesting observations
start to make interesting observations about it so I led a team when we built a
about it so I led a team when we built a
about it so I led a team when we built a thing called base space which led all of
thing called base space which led all of
thing called base space which led all of aluminous sequences upload data on the
aluminous sequences upload data on the
aluminous sequences upload data on the internet into the cloud computing
internet into the cloud computing
internet into the cloud computing infrastructure that Amazon is built it’s
infrastructure that Amazon is built it’s
infrastructure that Amazon is built it’s actually one that broke down the other
actually one that broke down the other
actually one that broke down the other day but it was an amazing system and
day but it was an amazing system and
day but it was an amazing system and it’s now the world’s biggest genome
it’s now the world’s biggest genome
it’s now the world’s biggest genome database again I got a little bored will
database again I got a little bored will
database again I got a little bored will frustrated because that was kind of
frustrated because that was kind of
frustrated because that was kind of working well and I got antsy hey God
working well and I got antsy hey God
working well and I got antsy hey God given a very different job which was
given a very different job which was
given a very different job which was being an evangelist for aluminous
being an evangelist for aluminous
being an evangelist for aluminous technology and the use of DNA sequencing
technology and the use of DNA sequencing
technology and the use of DNA sequencing in medicine so that was an extraordinary
in medicine so that was an extraordinary
in medicine so that was an extraordinary opportunity had traveled all over the
opportunity had traveled all over the
opportunity had traveled all over the world met lots of interesting people
world met lots of interesting people
world met lots of interesting people with the idea of getting together with
with the idea of getting together with
with the idea of getting together with governments and saying how sequencing
governments and saying how sequencing
governments and saying how sequencing and what’s called precision medicine
and what’s called precision medicine
and what’s called precision medicine could help their healthcare systems
could help their healthcare systems
could help their healthcare systems great pleasure for me is I got to have
great pleasure for me is I got to have
great pleasure for me is I got to have dinner with the Prime Minister of
dinner with the Prime Minister of
dinner with the Prime Minister of Australia with he and his wife at his
Australia with he and his wife at his
Australia with he and his wife at his house which was an absolutely amazing
house which was an absolutely amazing
house which was an absolutely amazing opportunity it’s a kid that grew up in
opportunity it’s a kid that grew up in
opportunity it’s a kid that grew up in Australia and then just a couple of
Australia and then just a couple of
Australia and then just a couple of weeks ago I left Illumina because I got
weeks ago I left Illumina because I got
weeks ago I left Illumina because I got bored again and have just started what’s
bored again and have just started what’s
bored again and have just started what’s now my fifth I think four / fifth
now my fifth I think four / fifth
now my fifth I think four / fifth company a company called chroma code
company a company called chroma code
company a company called chroma code they also down San Diego away but along
they also down San Diego away but along
they also down San Diego away but along this path what I found is that in the
this path what I found is that in the
this path what I found is that in the various jobs I’ve done some don’t
various jobs I’ve done some don’t
various jobs I’ve done some don’t require a lot of creativity
require a lot of creativity
require a lot of creativity some of them do rely on a lot of
some of them do rely on a lot of
some of them do rely on a lot of creativity but what I concluded over
creativity but what I concluded over
creativity but what I concluded over time is that the that thinks that’s
time is that the that thinks that’s
time is that the that thinks that’s interesting around creativity is when
interesting around creativity is when
interesting around creativity is when you jumble two things together to have
you jumble two things together to have
you jumble two things together to have them
them
them being done you know I think as someone
being done you know I think as someone
being done you know I think as someone like Einstein right really bright people
like Einstein right really bright people
like Einstein right really bright people don’t have to do this because they’ll be
don’t have to do this because they’ll be
don’t have to do this because they’ll be creative and invent something like BAM
creative and invent something like BAM
creative and invent something like BAM it just comes out of nowhere but for the
it just comes out of nowhere but for the
it just comes out of nowhere but for the rest of us I think the best we can do is
rest of us I think the best we can do is
rest of us I think the best we can do is find something here and find something
find something here and find something
find something here and find something here and bring it together and see what
here and bring it together and see what
here and bring it together and see what it means you know jumble it around the
it means you know jumble it around the
it means you know jumble it around the problem with that is you’re usually
problem with that is you’re usually
problem with that is you’re usually coming from somewhere where you may be
coming from somewhere where you may be
coming from somewhere where you may be you know a reasonable amount but you’ve
you know a reasonable amount but you’ve
you know a reasonable amount but you’ve got to come into this other area and
got to come into this other area and
got to come into this other area and probably don’t know anything around it
probably don’t know anything around it
probably don’t know anything around it and this is where you get this a little
and this is where you get this a little
and this is where you get this a little knowledge is a dangerous thing but as I
knowledge is a dangerous thing but as I
knowledge is a dangerous thing but as I think you probably appreciate it’s also
think you probably appreciate it’s also
think you probably appreciate it’s also advantageous if you push past the
advantageous if you push past the
advantageous if you push past the experts the experts that are skeptical
experts the experts that are skeptical
experts the experts that are skeptical if you push past them you can actually
if you push past them you can actually
if you push past them you can actually be coming at things in a very new way
be coming at things in a very new way
be coming at things in a very new way and obviously there’s a lot of students
and obviously there’s a lot of students
and obviously there’s a lot of students here and I would urge you to understand
here and I would urge you to understand
here and I would urge you to understand you are so well equipped to do that you
you are so well equipped to do that you
you are so well equipped to do that you have so few preconceptions about things
have so few preconceptions about things
have so few preconceptions about things that I would say you’re ignorant is
that I would say you’re ignorant is
that I would say you’re ignorant is perhaps your biggest competitive
perhaps your biggest competitive
perhaps your biggest competitive advantage a couple of examples that are
advantage a couple of examples that are
advantage a couple of examples that are current at the moment lin-manuel Miranda
current at the moment lin-manuel Miranda
current at the moment lin-manuel Miranda you know took the traditional Broadway
you know took the traditional Broadway
you know took the traditional Broadway musical and combined it with hip hop in
musical and combined it with hip hop in
musical and combined it with hip hop in American history
American history
American history and built Hamilton right just an
and built Hamilton right just an
and built Hamilton right just an absolutely amazing success Trey Parker
absolutely amazing success Trey Parker
absolutely amazing success Trey Parker and Matt Stone took animation and
and Matt Stone took animation and
and Matt Stone took animation and profanity right animation which is like
profanity right animation which is like
profanity right animation which is like the most conservative and motherhood and
the most conservative and motherhood and
the most conservative and motherhood and apple pie medium in American television
apple pie medium in American television
apple pie medium in American television and put profanity in it and came up with
and put profanity in it and came up with
and put profanity in it and came up with South Park right and you can tell if you
South Park right and you can tell if you
South Park right and you can tell if you watch South Park for 10 seconds there
watch South Park for 10 seconds there
watch South Park for 10 seconds there were no animators right there not
were no animators right there not
were no animators right there not animation experts but they were
animation experts but they were
animation experts but they were absolutely profanity experts and then of
absolutely profanity experts and then of
absolutely profanity experts and then of course you know in recent times probably
course you know in recent times probably
course you know in recent times probably most memorably Steve Jobs he was not a
most memorably Steve Jobs he was not a
most memorably Steve Jobs he was not a technologist he wasn’t an engineer he
technologist he wasn’t an engineer he
technologist he wasn’t an engineer he was an expert designer but he was good
was an expert designer but he was good
was an expert designer but he was good enough at several of those things to be
enough at several of those things to be
enough at several of those things to be absolutely amazing in terms of the
absolutely amazing in terms of the
absolutely amazing in terms of the results that he got I was very fortunate
results that he got I was very fortunate
results that he got I was very fortunate in the early 1990s at Bell Labs he came
in the early 1990s at Bell Labs he came
in the early 1990s at Bell Labs he came to visit us and at the time this was
to visit us and at the time this was
to visit us and at the time this was sort of pre what I would call consumer
sort of pre what I would call consumer
sort of pre what I would call consumer internet the internet existed and Bell
internet the internet existed and Bell
internet the internet existed and Bell Labs had a big role in how the internet
Labs had a big role in how the internet
Labs had a big role in how the internet was designed and how it worked and Steve
was designed and how it worked and Steve
was designed and how it worked and Steve came to visit us to tell us what a bunch
came to visit us to tell us what a bunch
came to visit us to tell us what a bunch of idiot
of idiot
of idiot and this was surprising right cuz I was
and this was surprising right cuz I was
and this was surprising right cuz I was sitting next to Ana Penzias who’s a
sitting next to Ana Penzias who’s a
sitting next to Ana Penzias who’s a Nobel Prize winner and Steve is up there
Nobel Prize winner and Steve is up there
Nobel Prize winner and Steve is up there and he and we’re very you know in most
and he and we’re very you know in most
and he and we’re very you know in most in the technology and how it works and
in the technology and how it works and
in the technology and how it works and this and that tcp/ip and packets and
this and that tcp/ip and packets and
this and that tcp/ip and packets and switches and all this sort of thing and
switches and all this sort of thing and
switches and all this sort of thing and he had such a he was an a detailed
he had such a he was an a detailed
he had such a he was an a detailed knowledgeable person on that issue but
knowledgeable person on that issue but
knowledgeable person on that issue but he had this really clear vision right he
he had this really clear vision right he
he had this really clear vision right he had the Steve Jobs vision he was looking
had the Steve Jobs vision he was looking
had the Steve Jobs vision he was looking at networking right he looked at a
at networking right he looked at a
at networking right he looked at a million things we’ve seen it all right
million things we’ve seen it all right
million things we’ve seen it all right we looked at music you look at phones
we looked at music you look at phones
we looked at music you look at phones the right then he was looking at
the right then he was looking at
the right then he was looking at networking he said I wish I’d a wall
networking he said I wish I’d a wall
networking he said I wish I’d a wall he said you know all I want is to be
he said you know all I want is to be
he said you know all I want is to be able to plug the computer into the wall
able to plug the computer into the wall
able to plug the computer into the wall just like I plug it in and get
just like I plug it in and get
just like I plug it in and get electricity out of it I want to plug a
electricity out of it I want to plug a
electricity out of it I want to plug a cable into the wall and get data across
cable into the wall and get data across
cable into the wall and get data across the country or across the world it needs
the country or across the world it needs
the country or across the world it needs to be that simple to use and I can’t
to be that simple to use and I can’t
to be that simple to use and I can’t believe you people are so effing stupid
believe you people are so effing stupid
believe you people are so effing stupid that you can’t do that and we’re all
that you can’t do that and we’re all
that you can’t do that and we’re all blown away
blown away
blown away it was amazing he was so compelling and
it was amazing he was so compelling and
it was amazing he was so compelling and so extraordinary that it really changed
so extraordinary that it really changed
so extraordinary that it really changed the course of all the work we were doing
the course of all the work we were doing
the course of all the work we were doing around networking and how we thought
around networking and how we thought
around networking and how we thought about the internet and I’ve often
about the internet and I’ve often
about the internet and I’ve often marveled in fact that if he made that
marveled in fact that if he made that
marveled in fact that if he made that big a difference to that group of people
big a difference to that group of people
big a difference to that group of people in just one day of his life in all the
in just one day of his life in all the
in just one day of his life in all the days of his life he must have done as we
days of his life he must have done as we
days of his life he must have done as we know pretty extraordinary things so
know pretty extraordinary things so
know pretty extraordinary things so nothing on that scale but just to give
nothing on that scale but just to give
nothing on that scale but just to give you my little story of creativity as I
you my little story of creativity as I
you my little story of creativity as I mentioned I got PhD in electrical
mentioned I got PhD in electrical
mentioned I got PhD in electrical engineering and I knew how to design
engineering and I knew how to design
engineering and I knew how to design chips I wasn’t actually very good at it
chips I wasn’t actually very good at it
chips I wasn’t actually very good at it because I’m not a detail person and if
because I’m not a detail person and if
because I’m not a detail person and if you’re designing something with a
you’re designing something with a
you’re designing something with a billion pieces in it you actually have
billion pieces in it you actually have
billion pieces in it you actually have to be a detail person but it would get
to be a detail person but it would get
to be a detail person but it would get by alright but also when I was a kid I
by alright but also when I was a kid I
by alright but also when I was a kid I was fascinated by cameras my mother was
was fascinated by cameras my mother was
was fascinated by cameras my mother was a professional photographer and she had
a professional photographer and she had
a professional photographer and she had a darkroom and for those old enough for
a darkroom and for those old enough for
a darkroom and for those old enough for remember once upon a time cameras had
remember once upon a time cameras had
remember once upon a time cameras had film in them which is a chemical process
film in them which is a chemical process
film in them which is a chemical process the light went onto the film he
the light went onto the film he
the light went onto the film he developed the film and another chemical
developed the film and another chemical
developed the film and another chemical and you printed it and you developed the
and you printed it and you developed the
and you printed it and you developed the paper and another chemical and then you
paper and another chemical and then you
paper and another chemical and then you fixed it it was actually kind of fun as
fixed it it was actually kind of fun as
fixed it it was actually kind of fun as a kid because it seemed kind of magical
a kid because it seemed kind of magical
a kid because it seemed kind of magical and kind of chemically but when I got to
and kind of chemically but when I got to
and kind of chemically but when I got to Bell Labs and I knew about chips I was
Bell Labs and I knew about chips I was
Bell Labs and I knew about chips I was really interested in the idea of could
really interested in the idea of could
really interested in the idea of could you build a chip that would detect the
you build a chip that would detect the
you build a chip that would detect the light from the image you know could you
light from the image you know could you
light from the image you know could you build the equivalent of film out of a
build the equivalent of film out of a
build the equivalent of film out of a chip and I wasn’t the only person that
chip and I wasn’t the only person that
chip and I wasn’t the only person that was working on this I looked around and
was working on this I looked around and
was working on this I looked around and found a group at NASA who were very
found a group at NASA who were very
found a group at NASA who were very interested in building very tiny light
interested in building very tiny light
interested in building very tiny light cameras for spacecraft and we teamed up
cameras for spacecraft and we teamed up
cameras for spacecraft and we teamed up together and worked for a number of
together and worked for a number of
together and worked for a number of years
years
years actually ended up building what are
actually ended up building what are
actually ended up building what are called active pixel senses which are the
called active pixel senses which are the
called active pixel senses which are the kind of chips that you would find today
kind of chips that you would find today
kind of chips that you would find today inside every cell phone I think there’s
inside every cell phone I think there’s
inside every cell phone I think there’s around 2 billion of them built every
around 2 billion of them built every
around 2 billion of them built every year but along the way we hit some rough
year but along the way we hit some rough
year but along the way we hit some rough patches I remember once going to one of
patches I remember once going to one of
patches I remember once going to one of the big Japanese camera manufacturers
the big Japanese camera manufacturers
the big Japanese camera manufacturers and visiting him in Japan and showing
and visiting him in Japan and showing
and visiting him in Japan and showing them the images that we have and they
them the images that we have and they
them the images that we have and they literally just laughed at us you know
literally just laughed at us you know
literally just laughed at us you know they kind of polite Japanese laughs that
they kind of polite Japanese laughs that
they kind of polite Japanese laughs that we couldn’t really tell what was going
we couldn’t really tell what was going
we couldn’t really tell what was going on but they were laughing at us because
on but they were laughing at us because
on but they were laughing at us because they thought that we thought that
they thought that we thought that
they thought that we thought that somehow these crude pictures would one
somehow these crude pictures would one
somehow these crude pictures would one day in any way overtake film film
day in any way overtake film film
day in any way overtake film film cameras and then something you did a
cameras and then something you did a
cameras and then something you did a little after that again the concept of
little after that again the concept of
little after that again the concept of bringing two things together someone
bringing two things together someone
bringing two things together someone asked me given these cameras was there a
asked me given these cameras was there a
asked me given these cameras was there a way we could detect fingerprints and
way we could detect fingerprints and
way we could detect fingerprints and it’s thinking well you could have
it’s thinking well you could have
it’s thinking well you could have because right back then you would use a
because right back then you would use a
because right back then you would use a camera to look at a fingerprint but then
camera to look at a fingerprint but then
camera to look at a fingerprint but then I started to think what it would be like
I started to think what it would be like
I started to think what it would be like I would look so I didn’t know anything
I would look so I didn’t know anything
I would look so I didn’t know anything about fingerprints but you can just look
about fingerprints but you can just look
about fingerprints but you can just look at your own fingerprint you can see
at your own fingerprint you can see
at your own fingerprint you can see obviously that there are ridges and
obviously that there are ridges and
obviously that there are ridges and valleys right this there’s depth and
valleys right this there’s depth and
valleys right this there’s depth and height and I started to think well if
height and I started to think well if
height and I started to think well if you were a silicon chip and there was a
you were a silicon chip and there was a
you were a silicon chip and there was a finger on top of you what would it look
finger on top of you what would it look
finger on top of you what would it look like and there’d be big ridges and
like and there’d be big ridges and
like and there’d be big ridges and there’d be big gaps and we built a chip
there’d be big gaps and we built a chip
there’d be big gaps and we built a chip and it actually worked the first time
and it actually worked the first time
and it actually worked the first time based on fingerprints and we actually
based on fingerprints and we actually
based on fingerprints and we actually built the first fingerprint ship and
built the first fingerprint ship and
built the first fingerprint ship and filed the patents back in 1995 and
filed the patents back in 1995 and
filed the patents back in 1995 and around 1 billion of those are made every
around 1 billion of those are made every
around 1 billion of those are made every year I’ve never made a cent out of it
year I’ve never made a cent out of it
year I’ve never made a cent out of it but Apple does own my patent that’s my
but Apple does own my patent that’s my
but Apple does own my patent that’s my claim to fame around that I’ll talk more
claim to fame around that I’ll talk more
claim to fame around that I’ll talk more about that a moment but in this process
about that a moment but in this process
about that a moment but in this process you know it also let me think about
you know it also let me think about
you know it also let me think about along the way different stages because I
along the way different stages because I
along the way different stages because I went back to get my MBA and I got my PhD
went back to get my MBA and I got my PhD
went back to get my MBA and I got my PhD so I’ve done a lot of school and think
so I’ve done a lot of school and think
so I’ve done a lot of school and think about learning and the importance of
about learning and the importance of
about learning and the importance of learning and back to you know the prior
learning and back to you know the prior
learning and back to you know the prior talk about pivoting I was in research I
talk about pivoting I was in research I
talk about pivoting I was in research I got my MBA that let me come out as a
got my MBA that let me come out as a
got my MBA that let me come out as a business person right learning and doing
business person right learning and doing
business person right learning and doing a course can help you a lot in the pivot
a course can help you a lot in the pivot
a course can help you a lot in the pivot and again I would urge folks obviously
and again I would urge folks obviously
and again I would urge folks obviously the students here to stress the
the students here to stress the
the students here to stress the importance of that education and come
importance of that education and come
importance of that education and come back at any point in your life and be a
back at any point in your life and be a
back at any point in your life and be a big help in making a pivot so learning
big help in making a pivot so learning
big help in making a pivot so learning is important but the more for me
is important but the more for me
is important but the more for me personally and maybe this is just in my
personally and maybe this is just in my
personally and maybe this is just in my nature than
nature than
nature than most effective thing for me is failure
most effective thing for me is failure
most effective thing for me is failure this is SpaceX Elon Musk’s company we’ve
this is SpaceX Elon Musk’s company we’ve
this is SpaceX Elon Musk’s company we’ve been working to land Rockets right to
been working to land Rockets right to
been working to land Rockets right to recover the Walker first time we’re
recover the Walker first time we’re
recover the Walker first time we’re going to land it but nearly every time
going to land it but nearly every time
going to land it but nearly every time they do it it just falls over and
they do it it just falls over and
they do it it just falls over and crashes into the ground and they have no
crashes into the ground and they have no
crashes into the ground and they have no shame about this still like it’s
shame about this still like it’s
shame about this still like it’s probably not going to work and put the
probably not going to work and put the
probably not going to work and put the rocket up it’s going to come down it’s
rocket up it’s going to come down it’s
rocket up it’s going to come down it’s going to fall over and you know if I
going to fall over and you know if I
going to fall over and you know if I think they land on these barges and the
think they land on these barges and the
think they land on these barges and the cool that barge
cool that barge
cool that barge tell me again you love me which i think
tell me again you love me which i think
tell me again you love me which i think is a great name for a buck but you know
is a great name for a buck but you know
is a great name for a buck but you know the ability to try things and fail is
the ability to try things and fail is
the ability to try things and fail is incredibly powerful if someone said to
incredibly powerful if someone said to
incredibly powerful if someone said to me you don’t it’s actually someone who
me you don’t it’s actually someone who
me you don’t it’s actually someone who gave me some venture capital money when
gave me some venture capital money when
gave me some venture capital money when I didn’t think they would because I just
I didn’t think they would because I just
I didn’t think they would because I just screwed something up he said how people
screwed something up he said how people
screwed something up he said how people don’t learn anything from success you
don’t learn anything from success you
don’t learn anything from success you only learned from failure I’m sure you
only learned from failure I’m sure you
only learned from failure I’m sure you learned a lot it was other people’s
learned a lot it was other people’s
learned a lot it was other people’s money don’t worry about it and so I
money don’t worry about it and so I
money don’t worry about it and so I think failure is an amazing tool so when
think failure is an amazing tool so when
think failure is an amazing tool so when you think about learning and this may
you think about learning and this may
you think about learning and this may not be popular with all the parents here
not be popular with all the parents here
not be popular with all the parents here I don’t think it’s that important what
I don’t think it’s that important what
I don’t think it’s that important what you learn right I think it’s important
you learn right I think it’s important
you learn right I think it’s important that you pick something you want to
that you pick something you want to
that you pick something you want to learn that you’re going to enjoy that
learn that you’re going to enjoy that
learn that you’re going to enjoy that you’re going to get good at that you get
you’re going to get good at that you get
you’re going to get good at that you get a skill whether it be writing whether it
a skill whether it be writing whether it
a skill whether it be writing whether it be painting whether it be coding get
be painting whether it be coding get
be painting whether it be coding get that skill because that’s your first
that skill because that’s your first
that skill because that’s your first step out into the world they could see
step out into the world they could see
step out into the world they could see the credibility to get to your first job
the credibility to get to your first job
the credibility to get to your first job it lets you actually contribute to teams
it lets you actually contribute to teams
it lets you actually contribute to teams as soon as you’re there so I don’t think
as soon as you’re there so I don’t think
as soon as you’re there so I don’t think you should worry too much about it
you should worry too much about it
you should worry too much about it against Steve Jobs is probably more the
against Steve Jobs is probably more the
against Steve Jobs is probably more the exception than the rule we should follow
exception than the rule we should follow
exception than the rule we should follow but the only formal tertiary schooling I
but the only formal tertiary schooling I
but the only formal tertiary schooling I think he did was calligraphy my he was
think he did was calligraphy my he was
think he did was calligraphy my he was at Reed College and he ordered some
at Reed College and he ordered some
at Reed College and he ordered some calligraphy classes and he said for
calligraphy classes and he said for
calligraphy classes and he said for years afterwards that that had a huge
years afterwards that that had a huge
years afterwards that that had a huge impact on his thoughts around aesthetics
impact on his thoughts around aesthetics
impact on his thoughts around aesthetics so you never know I don’t think it’s
so you never know I don’t think it’s
so you never know I don’t think it’s it’s possible to say what the right
it’s possible to say what the right
it’s possible to say what the right subject particularly is and by the same
subject particularly is and by the same
subject particularly is and by the same token when you’re choosing the thing
token when you’re choosing the thing
token when you’re choosing the thing you’re going to fail that you’ve got a
you’re going to fail that you’ve got a
you’re going to fail that you’ve got a really good passionate about that
really good passionate about that
really good passionate about that because it’s going to be painful it’s
because it’s going to be painful it’s
because it’s going to be painful it’s not going to work and you don’t want to
not going to work and you don’t want to
not going to work and you don’t want to fail at something and then go away and
fail at something and then go away and
fail at something and then go away and do something else that’s a little
do something else that’s a little
do something else that’s a little counterintuitive you actually want to
counterintuitive you actually want to
counterintuitive you actually want to come back and do the same thing that you
come back and do the same thing that you
come back and do the same thing that you just failed at because you will have
just failed at because you will have
just failed at because you will have learnt a lot on the prior turn so it’s
learnt a lot on the prior turn so it’s
learnt a lot on the prior turn so it’s not a good policy I don’t think to fail
not a good policy I don’t think to fail
not a good policy I don’t think to fail and go well I’m no good at that I should
and go well I’m no good at that I should
and go well I’m no good at that I should move on to the next thing I think again
move on to the next thing I think again
move on to the next thing I think again speaking from personal experience fail
speaking from personal experience fail
speaking from personal experience fail fail and fail and keep failing the same
fail and fail and keep failing the same
fail and fail and keep failing the same thing is very important the thing that I
thing is very important the thing that I
thing is very important the thing that I love to do is stock companies and the
love to do is stock companies and the
love to do is stock companies and the reason is and I used to love engineering
reason is and I used to love engineering
reason is and I used to love engineering as I said but what I found even more
as I said but what I found even more
as I said but what I found even more interesting that we can do in this this
interesting that we can do in this this
interesting that we can do in this this country in this day and age in
country in this day and age in
country in this day and age in particular with venture capital is
particular with venture capital is
particular with venture capital is people start with just an idea right a
people start with just an idea right a
people start with just an idea right a completely ephemeral thing an idea can’t
completely ephemeral thing an idea can’t
completely ephemeral thing an idea can’t touch it feel it it isn’t worth anything
touch it feel it it isn’t worth anything
touch it feel it it isn’t worth anything it’s just a form and then you take that
it’s just a form and then you take that
it’s just a form and then you take that idea and you spin a story around it you
idea and you spin a story around it you
idea and you spin a story around it you spin a story about how it’s going to
spin a story about how it’s going to
spin a story about how it’s going to change the world
change the world
change the world why it’s gonna make money go out to
why it’s gonna make money go out to
why it’s gonna make money go out to venture capitalists and if you do a good
venture capitalists and if you do a good
venture capitalists and if you do a good job they’ll give you money which is just
job they’ll give you money which is just
job they’ll give you money which is just amazing to me because you had nothing a
amazing to me because you had nothing a
amazing to me because you had nothing a moment ago and now you have a bunch of
moment ago and now you have a bunch of
moment ago and now you have a bunch of money to turn nothing into something
money to turn nothing into something
money to turn nothing into something then you turn to something and you build
then you turn to something and you build
then you turn to something and you build a business now it often doesn’t work but
a business now it often doesn’t work but
a business now it often doesn’t work but I just love that idea of that there
I just love that idea of that there
I just love that idea of that there nothing to something and so I give you
nothing to something and so I give you
nothing to something and so I give you my first example of something not
my first example of something not
my first example of something not working
working
working so back when the day when we were doing
so back when the day when we were doing
so back when the day when we were doing the fingerprint companies I got the MBA
the fingerprint companies I got the MBA
the fingerprint companies I got the MBA and I thought oh I’ll do a fingerprint
and I thought oh I’ll do a fingerprint
and I thought oh I’ll do a fingerprint company it was a terrible disaster tens
company it was a terrible disaster tens
company it was a terrible disaster tens of millions of dollars wasted I was the
of millions of dollars wasted I was the
of millions of dollars wasted I was the CEO it lost at about three torturous
CEO it lost at about three torturous
CEO it lost at about three torturous years where I never slept as cherry will
years where I never slept as cherry will
years where I never slept as cherry will attest and the weird thing about it
attest and the weird thing about it
attest and the weird thing about it actually wouldn’t have done any good if
actually wouldn’t have done any good if
actually wouldn’t have done any good if I’d done a good job because the reality
I’d done a good job because the reality
I’d done a good job because the reality was the fingerprint sensors were
was the fingerprint sensors were
was the fingerprint sensors were invented in 1995 it wasn’t until 15
invented in 1995 it wasn’t until 15
invented in 1995 it wasn’t until 15 years later that they started to appear
years later that they started to appear
years later that they started to appear in cell phones it was as things off for
in cell phones it was as things off for
in cell phones it was as things off for now it just wasn’t ready it was too
now it just wasn’t ready it was too
now it just wasn’t ready it was too expensive it was too fragile it was
expensive it was too fragile it was
expensive it was too fragile it was going to take a lot of work and a lot of
going to take a lot of work and a lot of
going to take a lot of work and a lot of evolution so a lot of the time these
evolution so a lot of the time these
evolution so a lot of the time these things are timing as well so fingerprint
things are timing as well so fingerprint
things are timing as well so fingerprint census happened but as I said 15 years
census happened but as I said 15 years
census happened but as I said 15 years after we thought they would second time
after we thought they would second time
after we thought they would second time around it was a company called Lux Terra
around it was a company called Lux Terra
around it was a company called Lux Terra which was a technology out of Caltech
which was a technology out of Caltech
which was a technology out of Caltech and it brought optical fibres directly
and it brought optical fibres directly
and it brought optical fibres directly into silicon chips so silicon chips
into silicon chips so silicon chips
into silicon chips so silicon chips could talk to each other directly using
could talk to each other directly using
could talk to each other directly using light instead of electrons which they
light instead of electrons which they
light instead of electrons which they typically do that one still took ten
typically do that one still took ten
typically do that one still took ten years and it’s still it’s it’s actually
years and it’s still it’s it’s actually
years and it’s still it’s it’s actually thriving now but it went through a lot
thriving now but it went through a lot
thriving now but it went through a lot of pain and it took until the big cloud
of pain and it took until the big cloud
of pain and it took until the big cloud computing companies were building these
computing companies were building these
computing companies were building these giant data centers where they needed
giant data centers where they needed
giant data centers where they needed light to move from one side of the to
light to move from one side of the to
light to move from one side of the to the other instead of
the other instead of
the other instead of electrons that Lux Terra really found
electrons that Lux Terra really found
electrons that Lux Terra really found its fee and then you know getting a
its fee and then you know getting a
its fee and then you know getting a little worse lease was each time alexis
little worse lease was each time alexis
little worse lease was each time alexis was less than three years from when we
was less than three years from when we
was less than three years from when we took the idea we raised the venture
took the idea we raised the venture
took the idea we raised the venture capital money and we sold it to Illumina
capital money and we sold it to Illumina
capital money and we sold it to Illumina so again but think about that I don’t
so again but think about that I don’t
so again but think about that I don’t mean to put again the particularly the
mean to put again the particularly the
mean to put again the particularly the young folks here off it took fifteen
young folks here off it took fifteen
young folks here off it took fifteen years of trying and mucking it up to get
years of trying and mucking it up to get
years of trying and mucking it up to get that right so I want to leave you with
that right so I want to leave you with
that right so I want to leave you with this be excited we live in an
this be excited we live in an
this be excited we live in an extraordinary time in an extraordinary
extraordinary time in an extraordinary
extraordinary time in an extraordinary place and you were the recipients of a
place and you were the recipients of a
place and you were the recipients of a most extraordinary education you’re
most extraordinary education you’re
most extraordinary education you’re going to learn you have been learning
going to learn you have been learning
going to learn you have been learning and you will continue to learn you
and you will continue to learn you
and you will continue to learn you should go to college you’ll get the
should go to college you’ll get the
should go to college you’ll get the opportunity to create I think the period
opportunity to create I think the period
opportunity to create I think the period of time in your 20s or 30s and
of time in your 20s or 30s and
of time in your 20s or 30s and extraordinary don’t know what’s going on
extraordinary don’t know what’s going on
extraordinary don’t know what’s going on in the human brain I think it’s partly
in the human brain I think it’s partly
in the human brain I think it’s partly this don’t know what you don’t know it
this don’t know what you don’t know it
this don’t know what you don’t know it can be an amazing creative time then you
can be an amazing creative time then you
can be an amazing creative time then you with if you do well at that they’ll give
with if you do well at that they’ll give
with if you do well at that they’ll give you more resources and you can screw up
you more resources and you can screw up
you more resources and you can screw up and learn a few times and that’s a you
and learn a few times and that’s a you
and learn a few times and that’s a you know pretty exciting part of growing up
know pretty exciting part of growing up
know pretty exciting part of growing up and eventually you will succeed thank
and eventually you will succeed thank
and eventually you will succeed thank you very much
”
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