when I was seven years old my dream was to move to Hollywood to be a famous
to move to Hollywood to be a famous
to move to Hollywood to be a famous actor by the time I turned fifteen years
actor by the time I turned fifteen years
actor by the time I turned fifteen years old I declared this to my family I wrote
old I declared this to my family I wrote
old I declared this to my family I wrote it down on a piece of paper I posted it
it down on a piece of paper I posted it
it down on a piece of paper I posted it on my bedroom door for everybody to see
on my bedroom door for everybody to see
on my bedroom door for everybody to see because I knew in a few years I was
because I knew in a few years I was
because I knew in a few years I was gonna leave home and spread my wings
gonna leave home and spread my wings
gonna leave home and spread my wings so I did move home away from home when I
so I did move home away from home when I
so I did move home away from home when I was 15 years old but it wasn’t a
was 15 years old but it wasn’t a
was 15 years old but it wasn’t a Hollywood it was to the world stage I
Hollywood it was to the world stage I
Hollywood it was to the world stage I found myself in South Africa and this
found myself in South Africa and this
found myself in South Africa and this was during the tumultuous years of
was during the tumultuous years of
was during the tumultuous years of apartheid I was there as a foreign
apartheid I was there as a foreign
apartheid I was there as a foreign exchange student South Africa was in a
exchange student South Africa was in a
exchange student South Africa was in a state of emergency due to heightened
state of emergency due to heightened
state of emergency due to heightened racial tensions and state sanctioned
racial tensions and state sanctioned
racial tensions and state sanctioned segregation it was a very intense time
segregation it was a very intense time
segregation it was a very intense time to be there and it was my first time out
to be there and it was my first time out
to be there and it was my first time out of the country a radical change from my
of the country a radical change from my
of the country a radical change from my small town upbringing in Salem Oregon
small town upbringing in Salem Oregon
small town upbringing in Salem Oregon that experience as a teenager to be
that experience as a teenager to be
that experience as a teenager to be living abroad blasted opened my
living abroad blasted opened my
living abroad blasted opened my worldview and radically expanded my
worldview and radically expanded my
worldview and radically expanded my sense of possibility I just realized wow
sense of possibility I just realized wow
sense of possibility I just realized wow there’s a whole world out there and I’ve
there’s a whole world out there and I’ve
there’s a whole world out there and I’ve just begun to scratch the surface I
just begun to scratch the surface I
just begun to scratch the surface I wanted to learn more be more I realized
wanted to learn more be more I realized
wanted to learn more be more I realized that I became very passionate about
that I became very passionate about
that I became very passionate about social justice issues in international
social justice issues in international
social justice issues in international education I dream that every young
education I dream that every young
education I dream that every young person would have the opportunity to
person would have the opportunity to
person would have the opportunity to travel abroad as part of their education
travel abroad as part of their education
travel abroad as part of their education the seeds to my vision were planted and
the seeds to my vision were planted and
the seeds to my vision were planted and I even began to see myself as a change
I even began to see myself as a change
I even began to see myself as a change maker even for me as a young person that
maker even for me as a young person that
maker even for me as a young person that I could influence change in the world
I could influence change in the world
I could influence change in the world I spent my 20s living all over the world
I spent my 20s living all over the world
I spent my 20s living all over the world Moscow Paris London tably see I was
Moscow Paris London tably see I was
Moscow Paris London tably see I was doing some really interesting things and
doing some really interesting things and
doing some really interesting things and I was following my heart but I really
I was following my heart but I really
I was following my heart but I really was unsure how all of these seemingly
was unsure how all of these seemingly
was unsure how all of these seemingly different experiences were gonna connect
different experiences were gonna connect
different experiences were gonna connect I wish somebody had assured me that the
I wish somebody had assured me that the
I wish somebody had assured me that the dots will all eventually connect if I’d
dots will all eventually connect if I’d
dots will all eventually connect if I’d known that then I’d feel a lot better I
known that then I’d feel a lot better I
known that then I’d feel a lot better I wish that somebody had told me hold the
wish that somebody had told me hold the
wish that somebody had told me hold the vision but let go of how it looks
vision but let go of how it looks
vision but let go of how it looks because if I’ve learned anything on the
because if I’ve learned anything on the
because if I’ve learned anything on the way to vision it’s that it never looks
way to vision it’s that it never looks
way to vision it’s that it never looks like we think it’s gonna look we never
like we think it’s gonna look we never
like we think it’s gonna look we never get there how we think we’re gonna get
get there how we think we’re gonna get
get there how we think we’re gonna get there so we should just let go of that
there so we should just let go of that
there so we should just let go of that but if we stay committed to what we want
but if we stay committed to what we want
but if we stay committed to what we want to create in life we will get there but
to create in life we will get there but
to create in life we will get there but it’ll be probably in a very unexpected
it’ll be probably in a very unexpected
it’ll be probably in a very unexpected way
so finally
so finally after 10 years of traveling the globe
after 10 years of traveling the globe
after 10 years of traveling the globe and after the tragic events of 9/11 I
and after the tragic events of 9/11 I
and after the tragic events of 9/11 I was aspired to start my big bold vision
was aspired to start my big bold vision
was aspired to start my big bold vision and create this organization called one
and create this organization called one
and create this organization called one world now this was an organization that
world now this was an organization that
world now this was an organization that was serving young people who’d had the
was serving young people who’d had the
was serving young people who’d had the least opportunities to travel abroad
least opportunities to travel abroad
least opportunities to travel abroad mostly low-income minority youth and one
mostly low-income minority youth and one
mostly low-income minority youth and one world now taught these young people
world now taught these young people
world now taught these young people language skills gave them leadership
language skills gave them leadership
language skills gave them leadership skills and scholarships to be able to
skills and scholarships to be able to
skills and scholarships to be able to travel abroad
travel abroad
travel abroad finally my dots were connecting
finally my dots were connecting
finally my dots were connecting making this dream a reality was the most
making this dream a reality was the most
making this dream a reality was the most difficult thing I’ve ever done in my
difficult thing I’ve ever done in my
difficult thing I’ve ever done in my life
life
life and the most rewarding I’m so glad that
and the most rewarding I’m so glad that
and the most rewarding I’m so glad that I did it fortunately I had a very
I did it fortunately I had a very
I did it fortunately I had a very inspiring visionary mentor Bob Walsh who
inspiring visionary mentor Bob Walsh who
inspiring visionary mentor Bob Walsh who sadly I’m sad to say actually just
sadly I’m sad to say actually just
sadly I’m sad to say actually just passed away this week I just found that
passed away this week I just found that
passed away this week I just found that out a couple days ago
out a couple days ago
out a couple days ago rest in peace Bob Walsh but what he
rest in peace Bob Walsh but what he
rest in peace Bob Walsh but what he taught me was to always follow my dreams
taught me was to always follow my dreams
taught me was to always follow my dreams he taught me that an ordinary citizen
he taught me that an ordinary citizen
he taught me that an ordinary citizen can change the world he came up with
can change the world he came up with
can change the world he came up with these major world events bringing
these major world events bringing
these major world events bringing together citizens from nations that did
together citizens from nations that did
together citizens from nations that did not even talk to each other and
not even talk to each other and
not even talk to each other and everybody around them telling him he was
everybody around them telling him he was
everybody around them telling him he was those were impossible that would be
those were impossible that would be
those were impossible that would be impossible but he made it happened
impossible but he made it happened
impossible but he made it happened anyway and he never listened to people
anyway and he never listened to people
anyway and he never listened to people and he never gave up and that really
and he never gave up and that really
and he never gave up and that really influenced me I too wanted to inspire
influenced me I too wanted to inspire
influenced me I too wanted to inspire and influence young people in the way
and influence young people in the way
and influence young people in the way that Bob had with me with doing the work
that Bob had with me with doing the work
that Bob had with me with doing the work at one world now I too wanted to show
at one world now I too wanted to show
at one world now I too wanted to show them an expanded sense of possibility
them an expanded sense of possibility
them an expanded sense of possibility and this idea that everything is
and this idea that everything is
and this idea that everything is possible
possible
possible this was the underlying message of the
this was the underlying message of the
this was the underlying message of the leadership training that we did with our
leadership training that we did with our
leadership training that we did with our young people and in those 12 years of
young people and in those 12 years of
young people and in those 12 years of working at one world now I realized that
working at one world now I realized that
working at one world now I realized that besides giving young people the tools if
besides giving young people the tools if
besides giving young people the tools if you give them the encouragement to
you give them the encouragement to
you give them the encouragement to believe in themselves and to see in that
believe in themselves and to see in that
believe in themselves and to see in that possibility they will always rise to the
possibility they will always rise to the
possibility they will always rise to the occasion and they will surprise us if we
occasion and they will surprise us if we
occasion and they will surprise us if we give them that space and these young
give them that space and these young
give them that space and these young people did and I watched them pursue
people did and I watched them pursue
people did and I watched them pursue their dreams
their dreams
their dreams I watched them travel to countries and
I watched them travel to countries and
I watched them travel to countries and places that they thought they would
places that they thought they would
places that they thought they would never be able to afford to do
never be able to afford to do
never be able to afford to do I watched them create social ventures to
I watched them create social ventures to
I watched them create social ventures to bring positive change in their
bring positive change in their
bring positive change in their communities and I watched them many of
communities and I watched them many of
communities and I watched them many of them being the very first in their
them being the very first in their
them being the very first in their family to ever attend college and that
family to ever attend college and that
family to ever attend college and that was inspiring I realized the greatest
was inspiring I realized the greatest
was inspiring I realized the greatest gift that we can give to a young person
gift that we can give to a young person
gift that we can give to a young person or for that man man or any person is
or for that man man or any person is
or for that man man or any person is this expanded sense of possibility
this expanded sense of possibility
this expanded sense of possibility I would tell the young people we may not
I would tell the young people we may not
I would tell the young people we may not be able to control our circumstances
be able to control our circumstances
be able to control our circumstances many of us are born into situations that
many of us are born into situations that
many of us are born into situations that we cannot control
we cannot control
we cannot control but the one thing that we can control is
but the one thing that we can control is
but the one thing that we can control is our minds and our beliefs
we often get in our own way our mind can
we often get in our own way our mind can be our prison or our vision change on
be our prison or our vision change on
be our prison or our vision change on the outside starts with change on the
the outside starts with change on the
the outside starts with change on the inside and if you can dream it you can
inside and if you can dream it you can
inside and if you can dream it you can be it think about it
be it think about it
be it think about it think about all the major innovations in
think about all the major innovations in
think about all the major innovations in our world today everything started with
our world today everything started with
our world today everything started with vision everything all the things that we
vision everything all the things that we
vision everything all the things that we take for granted right now the iPhone
take for granted right now the iPhone
take for granted right now the iPhone anime self-driving cars all of those
anime self-driving cars all of those
anime self-driving cars all of those things started with a vision in
things started with a vision in
things started with a vision in somebody’s head think about all the
somebody’s head think about all the
somebody’s head think about all the great social movements the occures
great social movements the occures
great social movements the occures woman’s right to vote the first man on
woman’s right to vote the first man on
woman’s right to vote the first man on the moon all of that started with an
the moon all of that started with an
the moon all of that started with an idea in somebody’s head and usually when
idea in somebody’s head and usually when
idea in somebody’s head and usually when that idea first came into the person’s
that idea first came into the person’s
that idea first came into the person’s head and they announced it to the world
head and they announced it to the world
head and they announced it to the world everybody around them said that is
everybody around them said that is
everybody around them said that is ludicrous crazy not possible but they
ludicrous crazy not possible but they
ludicrous crazy not possible but they did it anyway and now those things we
did it anyway and now those things we
did it anyway and now those things we take for granted as normal remember that
take for granted as normal remember that
take for granted as normal remember that when you are considering your vision –
when you are considering your vision –
when you are considering your vision – and some visions take years to manifest
and some visions take years to manifest
and some visions take years to manifest think about Nelson Mandela his enduring
think about Nelson Mandela his enduring
think about Nelson Mandela his enduring vision for 27 years he was in prison 27
vision for 27 years he was in prison 27
vision for 27 years he was in prison 27 years before he was freed and then
years before he was freed and then
years before he was freed and then became president of the new free South
became president of the new free South
became president of the new free South Africa
my vision has taken me all over the
my vision has taken me all over the world talking to so many people about
world talking to so many people about
world talking to so many people about what’s possible and I realize that the
what’s possible and I realize that the
what’s possible and I realize that the world would be a better place if we all
world would be a better place if we all
world would be a better place if we all lived our vision and I’m quite sure that
lived our vision and I’m quite sure that
lived our vision and I’m quite sure that everybody would be happier too and the
everybody would be happier too and the
everybody would be happier too and the thing about vision is it’s contagious
thing about vision is it’s contagious
thing about vision is it’s contagious when you finally write that book that
when you finally write that book that
when you finally write that book that you’ve always wanted to write when you
you’ve always wanted to write when you
you’ve always wanted to write when you finally travel to that place that you’ve
finally travel to that place that you’ve
finally travel to that place that you’ve always wanted to travel to when you
always wanted to travel to when you
always wanted to travel to when you finally start that company that you’ve
finally start that company that you’ve
finally start that company that you’ve been dreaming about you inspire the
been dreaming about you inspire the
been dreaming about you inspire the people around you to be courageous to
people around you to be courageous to
people around you to be courageous to we all have a vision inside of us all of
we all have a vision inside of us all of
we all have a vision inside of us all of us I think the thing that gets in the
us I think the thing that gets in the
us I think the thing that gets in the way most of people living their vision
way most of people living their vision
way most of people living their vision is that we don’t give ourselves
is that we don’t give ourselves
is that we don’t give ourselves permission to dream we don’t give
permission to dream we don’t give
permission to dream we don’t give ourselves permission to dream this is
ourselves permission to dream this is
ourselves permission to dream this is the one thing that we can control what
the one thing that we can control what
the one thing that we can control what if we started asking ourselves what
if we started asking ourselves what
if we started asking ourselves what brings me the greatest joy how do I want
brings me the greatest joy how do I want
brings me the greatest joy how do I want to be feeling
to be feeling
to be feeling what if I just live the best year of my
what if I just live the best year of my
what if I just live the best year of my life what would that look like what
life what would that look like what
life what would that look like what would I be doing how would I be feeling
would I be doing how would I be feeling
would I be doing how would I be feeling then how would the world be different if
then how would the world be different if
then how would the world be different if I was really doing what I wanted to be
I was really doing what I wanted to be
I was really doing what I wanted to be doing and how would I be different
everything starts with vision
everything starts with vision we only we can ask these questions of
we only we can ask these questions of
we only we can ask these questions of ourselves but if we take a moment to
ourselves but if we take a moment to
ourselves but if we take a moment to actually connect in our body in our
actually connect in our body in our
actually connect in our body in our bones with what that might feel like to
bones with what that might feel like to
bones with what that might feel like to see that possibility in ourselves just
see that possibility in ourselves just
see that possibility in ourselves just for a moment to get that sparkle in our
for a moment to get that sparkle in our
for a moment to get that sparkle in our eye
eye
eye then we know we are connecting with
then we know we are connecting with
then we know we are connecting with vision and that is a very powerful thing
vision and that is a very powerful thing
vision and that is a very powerful thing we all have a vision inside of us it’s
we all have a vision inside of us it’s
we all have a vision inside of us it’s up to us to do the deep listening to
up to us to do the deep listening to
up to us to do the deep listening to access that inner space to bring it to
access that inner space to bring it to
access that inner space to bring it to the outer world to ask ourselves those
the outer world to ask ourselves those
the outer world to ask ourselves those deep questions to be courageous to be
deep questions to be courageous to be
deep questions to be courageous to be bold to allow ourselves remember
bold to allow ourselves remember
bold to allow ourselves remember everything starts with vision in this
everything starts with vision in this
everything starts with vision in this complex challenge world needs our
complex challenge world needs our
complex challenge world needs our collective vision now more than ever
collective vision now more than ever
collective vision now more than ever before I invite you to awaken yours will
before I invite you to awaken yours will
before I invite you to awaken yours will you join me thank you very much arigato
you join me thank you very much arigato
you join me thank you very much arigato [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
”
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