this is a mic one you guys hear me yeah holy crab this is this is cool okay
holy crab this is this is cool okay
holy crab this is this is cool okay thank you for being with your a couple
thank you for being with your a couple
thank you for being with your a couple minutes after so you’ll be with me this
minutes after so you’ll be with me this
minutes after so you’ll be with me this is obviously a major fit said that my
is obviously a major fit said that my
is obviously a major fit said that my dream for a long time and hopefully you
dream for a long time and hopefully you
dream for a long time and hopefully you enjoy this so my name is Zack Cohen and
enjoy this so my name is Zack Cohen and
enjoy this so my name is Zack Cohen and this is me this was me this was me on
this is me this was me this was me on
this is me this was me this was me on exactly my first birthday on March 14th
exactly my first birthday on March 14th
exactly my first birthday on March 14th 1996 this was me on my deathbed and this
1996 this was me on my deathbed and this
1996 this was me on my deathbed and this was me with less than 5% chance to live
was me with less than 5% chance to live
was me with less than 5% chance to live and luckily holy crap I’m standing here
and luckily holy crap I’m standing here
and luckily holy crap I’m standing here for you right that’s awesome so really
for you right that’s awesome so really
for you right that’s awesome so really really the best part about this story
really the best part about this story
really the best part about this story for you and for me really is not about
for you and for me really is not about
for you and for me really is not about the medical mystery that saved my life
the medical mystery that saved my life
the medical mystery that saved my life that day because you can’t deny that
that day because you can’t deny that
that day because you can’t deny that science had a role in that
science had a role in that
science had a role in that but what I’m here to talk to you about
but what I’m here to talk to you about
but what I’m here to talk to you about today is a little thing and the little
today is a little thing and the little
today is a little thing and the little thing that saved my life that day and
thing that saved my life that day and
thing that saved my life that day and that little thing is this cake as I said
that little thing is this cake as I said
that little thing is this cake as I said before if you remember my birthday was
before if you remember my birthday was
before if you remember my birthday was that day and that day as you know and
that day and that day as you know and
that day and that day as you know and and cakes commonly are filled with hope
and cakes commonly are filled with hope
and cakes commonly are filled with hope and surprise and excitement and and the
and surprise and excitement and and the
and surprise and excitement and and the promise of a new year but I don’t think
promise of a new year but I don’t think
promise of a new year but I don’t think anyone in that room was even hungry
anyone in that room was even hungry
anyone in that room was even hungry enough to stress eating at that moment
enough to stress eating at that moment
enough to stress eating at that moment so the stories I’m going to present you
so the stories I’m going to present you
so the stories I’m going to present you today are are very deep and very
today are are very deep and very
today are are very deep and very personal to me
personal to me
personal to me because the more distance I gain from
because the more distance I gain from
because the more distance I gain from them the more meaning they give me and
them the more meaning they give me and
them the more meaning they give me and the more significance I’ve learned to
the more significance I’ve learned to
the more significance I’ve learned to give them as as I mature so this is a
give them as as I mature so this is a
give them as as I mature so this is a story about the little things and the
story about the little things and the
story about the little things and the first little thing I’d like to talk to
first little thing I’d like to talk to
first little thing I’d like to talk to you about is this napkin I think it’s
you about is this napkin I think it’s
you about is this napkin I think it’s kind of funny when I tell this story
kind of funny when I tell this story
kind of funny when I tell this story people kind of go oh that’s that’s
people kind of go oh that’s that’s
people kind of go oh that’s that’s exactly happened to me I would say from
exactly happened to me I would say from
exactly happened to me I would say from I don’t know from the first day of
I don’t know from the first day of
I don’t know from the first day of kindergarten until I tossed my
kindergarten until I tossed my
kindergarten until I tossed my graduation cap at in high school my mom
graduation cap at in high school my mom
graduation cap at in high school my mom made my lunch for me every single day
made my lunch for me every single day
made my lunch for me every single day and that was and and as you can expect
and that was and and as you can expect
and that was and and as you can expect the classic sack lunch the brown bag had
the classic sack lunch the brown bag had
the classic sack lunch the brown bag had a Gatorade an apple it had a
a Gatorade an apple it had a
a Gatorade an apple it had a backpack it had really all the
backpack it had really all the
backpack it had really all the essentials and nothing you can replace
essentials and nothing you can replace
essentials and nothing you can replace from from my very own mom but was also
from from my very own mom but was also
from from my very own mom but was also when that was a love note on a napkin
when that was a love note on a napkin
when that was a love note on a napkin and it’s kind of funny you guys are
and it’s kind of funny you guys are
and it’s kind of funny you guys are giving me this look like that’s uh that
giving me this look like that’s uh that
giving me this look like that’s uh that was me that was me I see a lot of you
was me that was me I see a lot of you
was me that was me I see a lot of you and me and and I like that that’s great
and me and and I like that that’s great
and me and and I like that that’s great but what’s funny is that after every day
but what’s funny is that after every day
but what’s funny is that after every day after I was done eating I would pick up
after I was done eating I would pick up
after I was done eating I would pick up all my stuff and I would walk over the
all my stuff and I would walk over the
all my stuff and I would walk over the trashcan and I would throw it all away
trashcan and I would throw it all away
trashcan and I would throw it all away and the fact that everyone in this
and the fact that everyone in this
and the fact that everyone in this audience was really looking at me like
audience was really looking at me like
audience was really looking at me like what the heck was that story for it
what the heck was that story for it
what the heck was that story for it means that you missed the point like I
means that you missed the point like I
means that you missed the point like I did when I think back to this time I was
did when I think back to this time I was
did when I think back to this time I was too busy to read that you know I was a
too busy to read that you know I was a
too busy to read that you know I was a high school kid I had homework to do I
high school kid I had homework to do I
high school kid I had homework to do I had things to like on Facebook you know
had things to like on Facebook you know
had things to like on Facebook you know I was busy
I was busy
I was busy I was busy of course but what is that
I was busy of course but what is that
I was busy of course but what is that what does that say about me what does
what does that say about me what does
what does that say about me what does that say about me and that I did not
that say about me and that I did not
that say about me and that I did not take the time to pay attention to the
take the time to pay attention to the
take the time to pay attention to the little things so this cake this very
little things so this cake this very
little things so this cake this very small thing that you know could have
small thing that you know could have
small thing that you know could have made my day happier if I gave it a
made my day happier if I gave it a
made my day happier if I gave it a second and I was too young I was too
second and I was too young I was too
second and I was too young I was too immature to understand that I did have a
immature to understand that I did have a
immature to understand that I did have a second and then I could have opened my
second and then I could have opened my
second and then I could have opened my eyes to see this little thing because
eyes to see this little thing because
eyes to see this little thing because frankly this Knapton still makes me
frankly this Knapton still makes me
frankly this Knapton still makes me smile to this day the last thing I think
smile to this day the last thing I think
smile to this day the last thing I think we said is something we could all can
we said is something we could all can
we said is something we could all can relate to and that is your common
relate to and that is your common
relate to and that is your common typical good morning it is your very
typical good morning it is your very
typical good morning it is your very average very commonplace greeting in the
average very commonplace greeting in the
average very commonplace greeting in the morning that you can get from anyone
morning that you can get from anyone
morning that you can get from anyone that it’s not just at West Point ladies
that it’s not just at West Point ladies
that it’s not just at West Point ladies and gentlemen but this is in all facets
and gentlemen but this is in all facets
and gentlemen but this is in all facets of life this is it crazy New York City
of life this is it crazy New York City
of life this is it crazy New York City this is an absolutely packed
this is an absolutely packed
this is an absolutely packed organizational structure this is every
organizational structure this is every
organizational structure this is every day of your life and we’re missing
day of your life and we’re missing
day of your life and we’re missing something very special there’s two kinds
something very special there’s two kinds
something very special there’s two kinds of greens in this world the first one is
of greens in this world the first one is
of greens in this world the first one is the really boring one it’s you’re
the really boring one it’s you’re
the really boring one it’s you’re walking to class and you kick a bottle
walking to class and you kick a bottle
walking to class and you kick a bottle cap nickname some ham okay good morning
cap nickname some ham okay good morning
cap nickname some ham okay good morning so and you’re still asleep at 7:45 in
so and you’re still asleep at 7:45 in
so and you’re still asleep at 7:45 in the morning and you even know that kid
the morning and you even know that kid
the morning and you even know that kid exists like holy crap this guy just
exists like holy crap this guy just
exists like holy crap this guy just walks by you and you had no idea what
walks by you and you had no idea what
walks by you and you had no idea what this guy said right or this girl or this
this guy said right or this girl or this
this guy said right or this girl or this person who was maybe feeling a little
person who was maybe feeling a little
person who was maybe feeling a little down and him or herself and you and you
down and him or herself and you and you
down and him or herself and you and you and you missed it but there’s the other
and you missed it but there’s the other
and you missed it but there’s the other one there’s the other kind of greeting
one there’s the other kind of greeting
one there’s the other kind of greeting that
that
that know you’ve all experienced you’re
know you’ve all experienced you’re
know you’ve all experienced you’re walking along you’re hurrying off the
walking along you’re hurrying off the
walking along you’re hurrying off the class you’re really busy you’ve got a
class you’re really busy you’ve got a
class you’re really busy you’ve got a hundred things going on and someone
hundred things going on and someone
hundred things going on and someone looks you dead in the face looks you
looks you dead in the face looks you
looks you dead in the face looks you really right in your soul and says hey
really right in your soul and says hey
really right in your soul and says hey good morning and I know we’ve all had
good morning and I know we’ve all had
good morning and I know we’ve all had that feeling we’ve all had that
that feeling we’ve all had that
that feeling we’ve all had that experience of another person brightening
experience of another person brightening
experience of another person brightening our day like that okay you’re like oh my
our day like that okay you’re like oh my
our day like that okay you’re like oh my god like what the hell what the heck was
god like what the hell what the heck was
god like what the hell what the heck was that and it’s funny because I know what
that and it’s funny because I know what
that and it’s funny because I know what has happened to you these little things
has happened to you these little things
has happened to you these little things they happen to us every single day and
they happen to us every single day and
they happen to us every single day and they bounce off of us like you won’t
they bounce off of us like you won’t
they bounce off of us like you won’t even believe and the older we get the
even believe and the older we get the
even believe and the older we get the more mature we get it’s only getting
more mature we get it’s only getting
more mature we get it’s only getting busier ladies and gentlemen it’s only
busier ladies and gentlemen it’s only
busier ladies and gentlemen it’s only getting busier because you got to write
getting busier because you got to write
getting busier because you got to write that resume you got to make that job you
that resume you got to make that job you
that resume you got to make that job you got to get married you got to move all
got to get married you got to move all
got to get married you got to move all these things are true all of them but
these things are true all of them but
these things are true all of them but we’re missing something and you know
we’re missing something and you know
we’re missing something and you know when I say that it’s not a knocking your
when I say that it’s not a knocking your
when I say that it’s not a knocking your character it’s why not it’s it’s not
character it’s why not it’s it’s not
character it’s why not it’s it’s not about you as a person it’s not about you
about you as a person it’s not about you
about you as a person it’s not about you and your man or woman hood it’s really
and your man or woman hood it’s really
and your man or woman hood it’s really not what it’s about or our priorities
not what it’s about or our priorities
not what it’s about or our priorities what matters it’s not our connections
what matters it’s not our connections
what matters it’s not our connections it’s about the little things the cakes
it’s about the little things the cakes
it’s about the little things the cakes in our life that made my life possible
in our life that made my life possible
in our life that made my life possible to stand here in front of you today that
to stand here in front of you today that
to stand here in front of you today that mattered to us and we’re missing them
mattered to us and we’re missing them
mattered to us and we’re missing them because we’re just too busy so if I
because we’re just too busy so if I
because we’re just too busy so if I could leave you with two things from
could leave you with two things from
could leave you with two things from this talk I think you’ll live a happier
this talk I think you’ll live a happier
this talk I think you’ll live a happier life I really do that’s what I can do
life I really do that’s what I can do
life I really do that’s what I can do for you I actually can do that the the
for you I actually can do that the the
for you I actually can do that the the first thing is open your eyes a little
first thing is open your eyes a little
first thing is open your eyes a little bit how often does your mom or your
bit how often does your mom or your
bit how often does your mom or your girlfriend or your boyfriend text you in
girlfriend or your boyfriend text you in
girlfriend or your boyfriend text you in the morning and say hey I love you have
the morning and say hey I love you have
the morning and say hey I love you have a great day probably pretty often but
a great day probably pretty often but
a great day probably pretty often but how often you text back how often do you
how often you text back how often do you
how often you text back how often do you pick up your phone when your grandma’s
pick up your phone when your grandma’s
pick up your phone when your grandma’s calling you and 9:30 at night and all
calling you and 9:30 at night and all
calling you and 9:30 at night and all you want to do is study for that test
you want to do is study for that test
you want to do is study for that test how often you pick up the phone and how
how often you pick up the phone and how
how often you pick up the phone and how often you call her back how often do you
often you call her back how often do you
often you call her back how often do you turn to that person who said hey good
turn to that person who said hey good
turn to that person who said hey good morning and meant it do you say oh hey
morning and meant it do you say oh hey
morning and meant it do you say oh hey what’s up how often do you do that how
what’s up how often do you do that how
what’s up how often do you do that how often you do that the second thing I
often you do that the second thing I
often you do that the second thing I would like to leave you with in addition
would like to leave you with in addition
would like to leave you with in addition to opening your eyes to these little
to opening your eyes to these little
to opening your eyes to these little things these cakes
things these cakes
things these cakes in your life the things that can make
in your life the things that can make
in your life the things that can make your life better and happier is to be
your life better and happier is to be
your life better and happier is to be that little thing that you want to see
that little thing that you want to see
that little thing that you want to see is to impose that happiness make that
is to impose that happiness make that
is to impose that happiness make that connection these great connections that
connection these great connections that
connection these great connections that these speakers have been talking about
these speakers have been talking about
these speakers have been talking about today of science and education and
today of science and education and
today of science and education and technology and general lifestyle and
technology and general lifestyle and
technology and general lifestyle and history and tradition and all of these
history and tradition and all of these
history and tradition and all of these things combined and are we missing the
things combined and are we missing the
things combined and are we missing the connection are we missing these little
connection are we missing these little
connection are we missing these little things that make us human that connect
things that make us human that connect
things that make us human that connect you to the person your left and right I
you to the person your left and right I
you to the person your left and right I think we’re missing him
think we’re missing him
think we’re missing him so on this day on this Friday in this
so on this day on this Friday in this
so on this day on this Friday in this TEDx talk the inaugural TEDx talk at
TEDx talk the inaugural TEDx talk at
TEDx talk the inaugural TEDx talk at West Point I challenge you above all
West Point I challenge you above all
West Point I challenge you above all things to be the cake thank you ladies
things to be the cake thank you ladies
things to be the cake thank you ladies and gentleman for coming and have a
and gentleman for coming and have a
and gentleman for coming and have a great Friday and have a good weekend
great Friday and have a good weekend
great Friday and have a good weekend thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
”
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