[Applause] [Music]
[Music]
[Music] now there any weirdos here I’m quite
now there any weirdos here I’m quite
now there any weirdos here I’m quite pleased by that apparently I’m weird I
pleased by that apparently I’m weird I
pleased by that apparently I’m weird I did something recently that a lot of
did something recently that a lot of
did something recently that a lot of people considered weird I fired myself
people considered weird I fired myself
people considered weird I fired myself it was kind of funny I’ll tell you the
it was kind of funny I’ll tell you the
it was kind of funny I’ll tell you the story so I was CEO of one of New
story so I was CEO of one of New
story so I was CEO of one of New Zealand’s fastest growing technology
Zealand’s fastest growing technology
Zealand’s fastest growing technology startups that I founded and I appointed
startups that I founded and I appointed
startups that I founded and I appointed somebody else to be my boss and people
somebody else to be my boss and people
somebody else to be my boss and people were surprised
were surprised
were surprised then my company grew from just an idea
then my company grew from just an idea
then my company grew from just an idea six years ago and now we’ve got 15,000
six years ago and now we’ve got 15,000
six years ago and now we’ve got 15,000 customers around the world we’ve got our
customers around the world we’ve got our
customers around the world we’ve got our customers 130 countries we’ve got a team
customers 130 countries we’ve got a team
customers 130 countries we’ve got a team of 200 spread across Auckland in
of 200 spread across Auckland in
of 200 spread across Auckland in Melbourne in London and San Fransisco
Melbourne in London and San Fransisco
Melbourne in London and San Fransisco and Toronto and we constantly regarded
and Toronto and we constantly regarded
and Toronto and we constantly regarded as one of the top 10 startups to watch
as one of the top 10 startups to watch
as one of the top 10 startups to watch we just partnered with Apple which is
we just partnered with Apple which is
we just partnered with Apple which is pretty cool so why the hell was I
pretty cool so why the hell was I
pretty cool so why the hell was I stepping out of the CEO role but as a
stepping out of the CEO role but as a
stepping out of the CEO role but as a founder and CEO of a company you often
founder and CEO of a company you often
founder and CEO of a company you often have to wear multiple hats and so
have to wear multiple hats and so
have to wear multiple hats and so there’s the shareholder head is the
there’s the shareholder head is the
there’s the shareholder head is the director head is the visionary head is
director head is the visionary head is
director head is the visionary head is the cultural leader hat and it’s cool
the cultural leader hat and it’s cool
the cultural leader hat and it’s cool having a title of CEO I mean who
having a title of CEO I mean who
having a title of CEO I mean who wouldn’t want to be CEO right um but you
wouldn’t want to be CEO right um but you
wouldn’t want to be CEO right um but you know I was doing things like running a
know I was doing things like running a
know I was doing things like running a business designing a global sales
business designing a global sales
business designing a global sales organization all these things they’re
organization all these things they’re
organization all these things they’re all really really interesting and also
all really really interesting and also
all really really interesting and also the very first time I do have done these
the very first time I do have done these
the very first time I do have done these things but it wasn’t as much fun as
things but it wasn’t as much fun as
things but it wasn’t as much fun as talking to customers and innovating and
talking to customers and innovating and
talking to customers and innovating and doing all that really cool stuff my
doing all that really cool stuff my
doing all that really cool stuff my vision for the company was to change the
vision for the company was to change the
vision for the company was to change the world of retail and I wanted to get back
world of retail and I wanted to get back
world of retail and I wanted to get back to that and I loved spreadsheets as much
to that and I loved spreadsheets as much
to that and I loved spreadsheets as much as the next person but I reckon there’s
as the next person but I reckon there’s
as the next person but I reckon there’s probably people out there who loves free
probably people out there who loves free
probably people out there who loves free sheets a bit more and we were going
sheets a bit more and we were going
sheets a bit more and we were going really fast so I thought we could go
really fast so I thought we could go
really fast so I thought we could go faster and so the best way to do that I
faster and so the best way to do that I
faster and so the best way to do that I thought was to get somebody else in the
thought was to get somebody else in the
thought was to get somebody else in the CEO and how do you do that what you call
CEO and how do you do that what you call
CEO and how do you do that what you call them CEO I mean how cool are you welcome
them CEO I mean how cool are you welcome
them CEO I mean how cool are you welcome on board and then I could
on board and then I could
on board and then I could hand over all my stuff that I was doing
sometimes you have to take yourself out
sometimes you have to take yourself out of the equation and to find the best
of the equation and to find the best
of the equation and to find the best solution this is something that we try
solution this is something that we try
solution this is something that we try and do a lot at v– and it’s just part
and do a lot at v– and it’s just part
and do a lot at v– and it’s just part of our culture I would say it’s a no ego
of our culture I would say it’s a no ego
of our culture I would say it’s a no ego thing but I have a huge one but I don’t
thing but I have a huge one but I don’t
thing but I have a huge one but I don’t need to be the boss of the world in
need to be the boss of the world in
need to be the boss of the world in order to change it but people still
order to change it but people still
order to change it but people still didn’t get it you were fired nope you
didn’t get it you were fired nope you
didn’t get it you were fired nope you got bored seriously you’d made millions
got bored seriously you’d made millions
got bored seriously you’d made millions and you’re going sailing on a yacht I
and you’re going sailing on a yacht I
and you’re going sailing on a yacht I wish that sounds pretty good so there
wish that sounds pretty good so there
wish that sounds pretty good so there was a range of use here right and
was a range of use here right and
was a range of use here right and everybody wanted to believe anything but
everybody wanted to believe anything but
everybody wanted to believe anything but the truth because the decision I made
the truth because the decision I made
the truth because the decision I made didn’t match up the decisions that
didn’t match up the decisions that
didn’t match up the decisions that they’ve seen made it wasn’t the sort of
they’ve seen made it wasn’t the sort of
they’ve seen made it wasn’t the sort of thing that the CEO did it didn’t match
thing that the CEO did it didn’t match
thing that the CEO did it didn’t match the pattern of the collective wisdom it
the pattern of the collective wisdom it
the pattern of the collective wisdom it was weird and I don’t have a problem
was weird and I don’t have a problem
was weird and I don’t have a problem with being considered weird I do weird
with being considered weird I do weird
with being considered weird I do weird things all the time I’ve kind of made a
things all the time I’ve kind of made a
things all the time I’ve kind of made a thing out of it you know you know I kind
thing out of it you know you know I kind
thing out of it you know you know I kind of want to live a life less ordinary but
of want to live a life less ordinary but
of want to live a life less ordinary but thinking about all this got me thinking
thinking about all this got me thinking
thinking about all this got me thinking about how weirdos like me make radical
about how weirdos like me make radical
about how weirdos like me make radical calls that they think will make a huge
calls that they think will make a huge
calls that they think will make a huge difference I mean it’s not that we were
difference I mean it’s not that we were
difference I mean it’s not that we were trying to go out there and cause trouble
trying to go out there and cause trouble
trying to go out there and cause trouble but what makes a weirdo are they born
but what makes a weirdo are they born
but what makes a weirdo are they born are they made well they dropped on the
are they made well they dropped on the
are they made well they dropped on the head as a child and as a species we’re
head as a child and as a species we’re
head as a child and as a species we’re really good at conforming being
really good at conforming being
really good at conforming being predictable this is probably why we have
predictable this is probably why we have
predictable this is probably why we have survived for so long
survived for so long
survived for so long thousands of years ago before the
thousands of years ago before the
thousands of years ago before the internet but after the dinosaur was
internet but after the dinosaur was
internet but after the dinosaur was somewhere in that period we were simple
somewhere in that period we were simple
somewhere in that period we were simple tribes and we surrounded ourselves with
tribes and we surrounded ourselves with
tribes and we surrounded ourselves with others just like us that we understood
others just like us that we understood
others just like us that we understood we could predict and together things
we could predict and together things
we could predict and together things were safe anybody doing anything
were safe anybody doing anything
were safe anybody doing anything unpredictable
unpredictable
unpredictable was considered a liability I mean
was considered a liability I mean
was considered a liability I mean imagine if we all decided that we wanted
imagine if we all decided that we wanted
imagine if we all decided that we wanted to go hunt lions and we all had our own
to go hunt lions and we all had our own
to go hunt lions and we all had our own idea as to how it was best to hunt lions
idea as to how it was best to hunt lions
idea as to how it was best to hunt lions I’m gonna throw rocks at lions I’m gonna
I’m gonna throw rocks at lions I’m gonna
I’m gonna throw rocks at lions I’m gonna run at them for my hands waving we’d all
run at them for my hands waving we’d all
run at them for my hands waving we’d all basically be dead but sometimes a weirdo
basically be dead but sometimes a weirdo
basically be dead but sometimes a weirdo tries something that’s a bit different
tries something that’s a bit different
tries something that’s a bit different despite being ignored despite being
despite being ignored despite being
despite being ignored despite being shunned they persevere they fail they
shunned they persevere they fail they
shunned they persevere they fail they try again and eventually it works they
try again and eventually it works they
try again and eventually it works they convince somebody of the new idea into
convince somebody of the new idea into
convince somebody of the new idea into in three then eventually the entire
in three then eventually the entire
in three then eventually the entire group owned the idea and it becomes it
group owned the idea and it becomes it
group owned the idea and it becomes it becomes part of the establishment so
becomes part of the establishment so
becomes part of the establishment so that weirdo creates change and did you
that weirdo creates change and did you
that weirdo creates change and did you know this that our brains are really
know this that our brains are really
know this that our brains are really good at finding patterns there their
good at finding patterns there their
good at finding patterns there their pattern matching machines and
pattern matching machines and
pattern matching machines and recognizing patterns is way easier than
recognizing patterns is way easier than
recognizing patterns is way easier than having to think about every single
having to think about every single
having to think about every single detail all the time
detail all the time
detail all the time so we find things that we can repeat and
so we find things that we can repeat and
so we find things that we can repeat and usually get the same results what a
usually get the same results what a
usually get the same results what a tribe member looks like what scary
tribe member looks like what scary
tribe member looks like what scary animals look like what mom poisonous
animals look like what mom poisonous
animals look like what mom poisonous food looks like but just following
food looks like but just following
food looks like but just following patterns means we never actually learn
patterns means we never actually learn
patterns means we never actually learn anything new so in order to evolve and
anything new so in order to evolve and
anything new so in order to evolve and better ourselves as a species we
better ourselves as a species we
better ourselves as a species we occasionally need to screw up the
occasionally need to screw up the
occasionally need to screw up the pattern but we’re programmed not to like
pattern but we’re programmed not to like
pattern but we’re programmed not to like it when other idiots try and screw up
it when other idiots try and screw up
it when other idiots try and screw up the pattern it make they make us think
the pattern it make they make us think
the pattern it make they make us think too hard and if they’re wrong we’re
too hard and if they’re wrong we’re
too hard and if they’re wrong we’re probably going to get eaten by lions
probably going to get eaten by lions
probably going to get eaten by lions and that’s a problem but we’re all
and that’s a problem but we’re all
and that’s a problem but we’re all capable of being weird
capable of being weird
capable of being weird have you checked out teenagers recently
have you checked out teenagers recently
have you checked out teenagers recently but we grow up and it first were really
but we grow up and it first were really
but we grow up and it first were really good at obeying of you know when you’re
good at obeying of you know when you’re
good at obeying of you know when you’re a small child and you can’t walk or feed
a small child and you can’t walk or feed
a small child and you can’t walk or feed yourself it’s kind of important that you
yourself it’s kind of important that you
yourself it’s kind of important that you obey but then we start to develop
obey but then we start to develop
obey but then we start to develop language or motor skills and then we
language or motor skills and then we
language or motor skills and then we start to develop an imagination we
start to develop an imagination we
start to develop an imagination we wonder we wonder about the worlds we
wonder we wonder about the worlds we
wonder we wonder about the worlds we dream about where the Sun goes every day
dream about where the Sun goes every day
dream about where the Sun goes every day why we throw stones at lions why do we
why we throw stones at lions why do we
why we throw stones at lions why do we eat green things and then we start to
eat green things and then we start to
eat green things and then we start to rebel we start to take these ideas and
rebel we start to take these ideas and
rebel we start to take these ideas and we decide that we want to go out in the
we decide that we want to go out in the
we decide that we want to go out in the world and discover new things and take
world and discover new things and take
world and discover new things and take the ideas that we’ve learned and try new
the ideas that we’ve learned and try new
the ideas that we’ve learned and try new things we go off on our own path we want
things we go off on our own path we want
things we go off on our own path we want to throw stones at the Lions but then
to throw stones at the Lions but then
to throw stones at the Lions but then for some reason we stop we stop being
for some reason we stop we stop being
for some reason we stop we stop being weird and we conform and it probably has
weird and we conform and it probably has
weird and we conform and it probably has something to do with the fact that
something to do with the fact that
something to do with the fact that 10,000 years ago there was a high
10,000 years ago there was a high
10,000 years ago there was a high probability you’d be dead by 30 and so
probability you’d be dead by 30 and so
probability you’d be dead by 30 and so to keep the pattern going you had to
to keep the pattern going you had to
to keep the pattern going you had to have kids and they would start the new
have kids and they would start the new
have kids and they would start the new cycle of going through weirdness and so
cycle of going through weirdness and so
cycle of going through weirdness and so going through the cycle many times the
going through the cycle many times the
going through the cycle many times the tribe would evolve the young robots will
tribe would evolve the young robots will
tribe would evolve the young robots will try stuff out and hopefully not get
try stuff out and hopefully not get
try stuff out and hopefully not get eaten by a lion but not so much these
eaten by a lion but not so much these
eaten by a lion but not so much these days these days that progression from
days these days that progression from
days these days that progression from you know obedience to wonder to question
you know obedience to wonder to question
you know obedience to wonder to question to rebell
to rebell
to rebell and then ultimately to conform which was
and then ultimately to conform which was
and then ultimately to conform which was a perfectly good system ten thousand
a perfectly good system ten thousand
a perfectly good system ten thousand years ago today looks more like this
years ago today looks more like this
years ago today looks more like this we live a bit longer than thirty and
we live a bit longer than thirty and
we live a bit longer than thirty and that’s a bloody long time to be a
that’s a bloody long time to be a
that’s a bloody long time to be a conformist but some of us never stop
conformist but some of us never stop
conformist but some of us never stop that tendency to be weird now and then
that tendency to be weird now and then
that tendency to be weird now and then today it’s never been easier or safer to
today it’s never been easier or safer to
today it’s never been easier or safer to be weird it’s a distinct lack of lions
be weird it’s a distinct lack of lions
be weird it’s a distinct lack of lions hanging about for a start so what makes
hanging about for a start so what makes
hanging about for a start so what makes those of us who keep being weird
those of us who keep being weird
those of us who keep being weird keeping being weird how do we be more
keeping being weird how do we be more
keeping being weird how do we be more weird do we need more weird what would
weird do we need more weird what would
weird do we need more weird what would happen if we had a lot more weird if we
happen if we had a lot more weird if we
happen if we had a lot more weird if we were all weird would that be normal so I
were all weird would that be normal so I
were all weird would that be normal so I got to thinking about what made me weird
got to thinking about what made me weird
got to thinking about what made me weird and I did a lot of thinking in hundreds
and I did a lot of thinking in hundreds
and I did a lot of thinking in hundreds of hours of therapy and I figured out
of hours of therapy and I figured out
of hours of therapy and I figured out that I became weird when I was around
that I became weird when I was around
that I became weird when I was around about seven or eight or because I didn’t
about seven or eight or because I didn’t
about seven or eight or because I didn’t fit a pattern
fit a pattern
fit a pattern remember the patterns and it’s a pattern
remember the patterns and it’s a pattern
remember the patterns and it’s a pattern that I would have loved to a fit but I
that I would have loved to a fit but I
that I would have loved to a fit but I didn’t I had a group of friends at
didn’t I had a group of friends at
didn’t I had a group of friends at school and we did everything together we
school and we did everything together we
school and we did everything together we played together you know we had the same
played together you know we had the same
played together you know we had the same sense of humor we like the same things
sense of humor we like the same things
sense of humor we like the same things we had fun we were peers but the way
we had fun we were peers but the way
we had fun we were peers but the way that they learned matched a particular
that they learned matched a particular
that they learned matched a particular pattern
pattern
pattern they were cook with math they could
they were cook with math they could
they were cook with math they could spell really well and they were
spell really well and they were
spell really well and they were identified as having special abilities
identified as having special abilities
identified as having special abilities that other kids didn’t have and so they
that other kids didn’t have and so they
that other kids didn’t have and so they were picked to be in what was called a
were picked to be in what was called a
were picked to be in what was called a special class a special accelerated
special class a special accelerated
special class a special accelerated learning class and I didn’t this is
learning class and I didn’t this is
learning class and I didn’t this is innocent paedon matching to find kids
innocent paedon matching to find kids
innocent paedon matching to find kids that were different made me feel like I
that were different made me feel like I
that were different made me feel like I didn’t fit in and I couldn’t understand
didn’t fit in and I couldn’t understand
didn’t fit in and I couldn’t understand what made me different from my friends
what made me different from my friends
what made me different from my friends and that’s when I think I started
and that’s when I think I started
and that’s when I think I started beginning to think like that bit like a
beginning to think like that bit like a
beginning to think like that bit like a weirdo and not a nodder in-your-face
weirdo and not a nodder in-your-face
weirdo and not a nodder in-your-face weirdo I wasn’t angry I just refused to
weirdo I wasn’t angry I just refused to
weirdo I wasn’t angry I just refused to accept that my friends are any different
accept that my friends are any different
accept that my friends are any different and it’s funny what you remember from
and it’s funny what you remember from
and it’s funny what you remember from your childhood right shortly after that
your childhood right shortly after that
your childhood right shortly after that I moved to Australia not my choice and I
I moved to Australia not my choice and I
I moved to Australia not my choice and I remember it was the start of a new
remember it was the start of a new
remember it was the start of a new school year and it was a class exercise
school year and it was a class exercise
school year and it was a class exercise to draw a picture of Australia and I was
to draw a picture of Australia and I was
to draw a picture of Australia and I was 9 I wasn’t really familiar with the
9 I wasn’t really familiar with the
9 I wasn’t really familiar with the geography of Australia so I drew this
geography of Australia so I drew this
geography of Australia so I drew this blob and then I thought about mmm what
blob and then I thought about mmm what
blob and then I thought about mmm what if Australia looked like and I imagined
if Australia looked like and I imagined
if Australia looked like and I imagined flying over Australia and a plane
flying over Australia and a plane
flying over Australia and a plane I thought it must be fields and things
I thought it must be fields and things
I thought it must be fields and things and rivers and all that sort of stuff
and rivers and all that sort of stuff
and rivers and all that sort of stuff they probably grow lots of really
they probably grow lots of really
they probably grow lots of really exciting food in Australia and so I
exciting food in Australia and so I
exciting food in Australia and so I started to draw this really highly
started to draw this really highly
started to draw this really highly detailed lattice of squares and stripes
detailed lattice of squares and stripes
detailed lattice of squares and stripes all across Australia colouring it in
all across Australia colouring it in
all across Australia colouring it in green and yellow and I thought there’s
green and yellow and I thought there’s
green and yellow and I thought there’s probably fruit trees so butter red it’s
probably fruit trees so butter red it’s
probably fruit trees so butter red it’s probably some rivers it’s a bit of blue
probably some rivers it’s a bit of blue
probably some rivers it’s a bit of blue and I thought I’d drawn this highly
and I thought I’d drawn this highly
and I thought I’d drawn this highly detailed high-resolution map of
detailed high-resolution map of
detailed high-resolution map of Australia whereas all the other kids in
Australia whereas all the other kids in
Australia whereas all the other kids in the class
the class
the class drew yellow Australia shaped Australia
drew yellow Australia shaped Australia
drew yellow Australia shaped Australia and but then my teacher did something
and but then my teacher did something
and but then my teacher did something I’ll never forget
I’ll never forget
I’ll never forget and probably accounts for several hours
and probably accounts for several hours
and probably accounts for several hours of therapy she she ridiculed me in front
of therapy she she ridiculed me in front
of therapy she she ridiculed me in front of the class you know look at the silly
of the class you know look at the silly
of the class you know look at the silly kid who drew who uses imagination and
kid who drew who uses imagination and
kid who drew who uses imagination and drew something different it was probably
drew something different it was probably
drew something different it was probably because I was in New Zealand er but you
because I was in New Zealand er but you
because I was in New Zealand er but you know that didn’t stop me from doing
know that didn’t stop me from doing
know that didn’t stop me from doing things differently and then a couple
things differently and then a couple
things differently and then a couple years later back in New Zealand now
years later back in New Zealand now
years later back in New Zealand now thankfully I had to write a book report
thankfully I had to write a book report
thankfully I had to write a book report and I can’t remember what the book was
and I can’t remember what the book was
and I can’t remember what the book was about but it was boring and I also knew
about but it was boring and I also knew
about but it was boring and I also knew that book reports were boring so I
that book reports were boring so I
that book reports were boring so I decided that I’d do it a little bit
decided that I’d do it a little bit
decided that I’d do it a little bit differently and I’d write it as a
differently and I’d write it as a
differently and I’d write it as a humorous poem and and to my surprise my
humorous poem and and to my surprise my
humorous poem and and to my surprise my teacher stood up in front of the class
teacher stood up in front of the class
teacher stood up in front of the class and asked me if I was special and I
and asked me if I was special and I
and asked me if I was special and I thought yes finally the recognition I
thought yes finally the recognition I
thought yes finally the recognition I was looking for to be considered special
was looking for to be considered special
was looking for to be considered special but it was the 80s and she was actually
but it was the 80s and she was actually
but it was the 80s and she was actually referring to the other kind of special
referring to the other kind of special
referring to the other kind of special she didn’t appreciate my poetic approach
she didn’t appreciate my poetic approach
she didn’t appreciate my poetic approach and this was a semi-regular experience
and this was a semi-regular experience
and this was a semi-regular experience in my life but you know being ignored or
in my life but you know being ignored or
in my life but you know being ignored or ridiculed I somehow kept trying to do
ridiculed I somehow kept trying to do
ridiculed I somehow kept trying to do things that they were slightly different
things that they were slightly different
things that they were slightly different if I didn’t match the pattern it was
if I didn’t match the pattern it was
if I didn’t match the pattern it was like the time when I was at university
like the time when I was at university
like the time when I was at university we had this problem and I came up with a
we had this problem and I came up with a
we had this problem and I came up with a really interesting way to solve the
really interesting way to solve the
really interesting way to solve the problem it was a image compression
problem it was a image compression
problem it was a image compression algorithm I won’t bore you with the
algorithm I won’t bore you with the
algorithm I won’t bore you with the details but it really fascinated me and
details but it really fascinated me and
details but it really fascinated me and so I really applied myself now for the
so I really applied myself now for the
so I really applied myself now for the most part I was a slacker I just cruised
most part I was a slacker I just cruised
most part I was a slacker I just cruised along I did only to be a minimum to get
along I did only to be a minimum to get
along I did only to be a minimum to get through but this problem really caught
through but this problem really caught
through but this problem really caught my interest and so I spent weeks and
my interest and so I spent weeks and
my interest and so I spent weeks and weeks and weeks coming up with this
weeks and weeks coming up with this
weeks and weeks coming up with this amazing solution and it was so different
amazing solution and it was so different
amazing solution and it was so different and so amazing that my electric accuse
and so amazing that my electric accuse
and so amazing that my electric accuse me of cheating so I dropped out of
me of cheating so I dropped out of
me of cheating so I dropped out of university never finished my degree
university never finished my degree
university never finished my degree we’re not started businesses some worked
we’re not started businesses some worked
we’re not started businesses some worked some failed but my need to do things
some failed but my need to do things
some failed but my need to do things differently ultimately led me to start a
differently ultimately led me to start a
differently ultimately led me to start a company that I recently fired myself
company that I recently fired myself
company that I recently fired myself from the company I started in the middle
from the company I started in the middle
from the company I started in the middle of the GSC
of the GSC
of the GSC because I thought that would be weird
because I thought that would be weird
because I thought that would be weird and in building this business at then we
and in building this business at then we
and in building this business at then we developed a culture a culture of
developed a culture a culture of
developed a culture a culture of individuality creativity openness and
individuality creativity openness and
individuality creativity openness and transparency and we did things very very
transparency and we did things very very
transparency and we did things very very differently again unlike any other
differently again unlike any other
differently again unlike any other companies and it was considered weird
companies and it was considered weird
companies and it was considered weird but by doing these things differently
but by doing these things differently
but by doing these things differently and weirdly we became New Zealand’s
and weirdly we became New Zealand’s
and weirdly we became New Zealand’s fastest-growing tech company and we
fastest-growing tech company and we
fastest-growing tech company and we became the leader in our emerging field
became the leader in our emerging field
became the leader in our emerging field ironically this all happened because
ironically this all happened because
ironically this all happened because they didn’t match a pattern a pattern to
they didn’t match a pattern a pattern to
they didn’t match a pattern a pattern to find kids who were different when my
find kids who were different when my
find kids who were different when my friends were picked to be in that
friends were picked to be in that
friends were picked to be in that special class the pattern made me weird
special class the pattern made me weird
special class the pattern made me weird and the patterns not always right we’ve
and the patterns not always right we’ve
and the patterns not always right we’ve already heard this today the patterns
already heard this today the patterns
already heard this today the patterns and science the patterns and healthcare
and science the patterns and healthcare
and science the patterns and healthcare dependence in education and so I think
dependence in education and so I think
dependence in education and so I think more weird is good I love weirdness all
more weird is good I love weirdness all
more weird is good I love weirdness all over the place I want more weird in the
over the place I want more weird in the
over the place I want more weird in the world and it’s never ever been in the
world and it’s never ever been in the
world and it’s never ever been in the history of this planet been safer to be
history of this planet been safer to be
history of this planet been safer to be weird there’s no lines anywhere and you
weird there’s no lines anywhere and you
weird there’s no lines anywhere and you know what you’re thinking the world has
know what you’re thinking the world has
know what you’re thinking the world has probably got a lot more weird people in
probably got a lot more weird people in
probably got a lot more weird people in it than at use 15,000 years ago and in
it than at use 15,000 years ago and in
it than at use 15,000 years ago and in fact in this room
fact in this room
fact in this room we’re probably overflowing with
we’re probably overflowing with
we’re probably overflowing with weirdness
weirdness
weirdness but how do we get the more weirdos does
but how do we get the more weirdos does
but how do we get the more weirdos does it start with the eight-year-olds do we
it start with the eight-year-olds do we
it start with the eight-year-olds do we encourage creativity and thinking
encourage creativity and thinking
encourage creativity and thinking outside the square do we encourage
outside the square do we encourage
outside the square do we encourage thinking differently enough you know
thinking differently enough you know
thinking differently enough you know screw the special class we’re all in it
screw the special class we’re all in it
screw the special class we’re all in it well last year I tried to recreate some
well last year I tried to recreate some
well last year I tried to recreate some of the steps that made me a weirdo so I
of the steps that made me a weirdo so I
of the steps that made me a weirdo so I launched a charity with fellow TEDx sir
launched a charity with fellow TEDx sir
launched a charity with fellow TEDx sir Michele Dickinson and future Ted X’s
Michele Dickinson and future Ted X’s
Michele Dickinson and future Ted X’s Zoey timbrel and Reb Heath and this
Zoey timbrel and Reb Heath and this
Zoey timbrel and Reb Heath and this charity is based around giving kids from
charity is based around giving kids from
charity is based around giving kids from every background an opportunity to be
every background an opportunity to be
every background an opportunity to be weird with technology so we get a whole
weird with technology so we get a whole
weird with technology so we get a whole bunch of passionate kids into a room a
bunch of passionate kids into a room a
bunch of passionate kids into a room a whole bunch of crazy technology and we
whole bunch of crazy technology and we
whole bunch of crazy technology and we let them go we let them discover it we
let them go we let them discover it we
let them go we let them discover it we let them imagine Willet and discover and
let them imagine Willet and discover and
let them imagine Willet and discover and we let them invent and it’s kids of
we let them invent and it’s kids of
we let them invent and it’s kids of every background so it’s 50% boys 50%
every background so it’s 50% boys 50%
every background so it’s 50% boys 50% girls but also we work with the low
girls but also we work with the low
girls but also we work with the low decile schools as well so we make sure
decile schools as well so we make sure
decile schools as well so we make sure that half of the kids coming along are
that half of the kids coming along are
that half of the kids coming along are coming from backgrounds where access to
coming from backgrounds where access to
coming from backgrounds where access to this sort of technology just would
this sort of technology just would
this sort of technology just would normally be out of their reach and we do
normally be out of their reach and we do
normally be out of their reach and we do that by sponsoring them through it this
that by sponsoring them through it this
that by sponsoring them through it this is really important because being weird
is really important because being weird
is really important because being weird is not a privileged white male thing and
is not a privileged white male thing and
is not a privileged white male thing and the results are amazing these are some
the results are amazing these are some
the results are amazing these are some photos from one of the recent events you
photos from one of the recent events you
photos from one of the recent events you can just see how many kids that we get
can just see how many kids that we get
can just see how many kids that we get along to these things and we just let
along to these things and we just let
along to these things and we just let them explore new ways of thinking so you
them explore new ways of thinking so you
them explore new ways of thinking so you know playing with robot gloves is not a
know playing with robot gloves is not a
know playing with robot gloves is not a crazy idea you only had a code learning
crazy idea you only had a code learning
crazy idea you only had a code learning how to 3d print learning about drones
how to 3d print learning about drones
how to 3d print learning about drones learning about science and
learning about science and
learning about science and nanotechnology because this is our
nanotechnology because this is our
nanotechnology because this is our future and we want to encourage the 10
future and we want to encourage the 10
future and we want to encourage the 10 year olds today to become the innovators
year olds today to become the innovators
year olds today to become the innovators in ten years time but what about the
in ten years time but what about the
in ten years time but what about the rest of us whatever about us here who
rest of us whatever about us here who
rest of us whatever about us here who are in that dreaded conformist age I’m
are in that dreaded conformist age I’m
are in that dreaded conformist age I’m not calling you guys conformist by the
not calling you guys conformist by the
not calling you guys conformist by the way is it too late or is there a part of
way is it too late or is there a part of
way is it too late or is there a part of us that never forgets how to be weird
us that never forgets how to be weird
us that never forgets how to be weird except for the stupidest thing that
except for the stupidest thing that
except for the stupidest thing that tries to protect us from these lions
tries to protect us from these lions
tries to protect us from these lions that makes us all conformists do we
that makes us all conformists do we
that makes us all conformists do we never forget how to be a weirdo but we
never forget how to be a weirdo but we
never forget how to be a weirdo but we just become too scared so what are you
just become too scared so what are you
just become too scared so what are you gonna do be weird encourage the weirdos
gonna do be weird encourage the weirdos
gonna do be weird encourage the weirdos will continue to ignore them the Lions
will continue to ignore them the Lions
will continue to ignore them the Lions aren’t real anymore thank you
aren’t real anymore thank you
aren’t real anymore thank you [Applause]
[Music]
[Music] you
”
Be First to Comment