How to Become a Superhero | Andros Sturgeon | TEDxCamarillo

[Music]

[Music] [Applause]

[Applause]

[Applause] I’m gonna admit something I’ve never

I’m gonna admit something I’ve never

I’m gonna admit something I’ve never admitted publicly before I’m a superhero

admitted publicly before I’m a superhero

admitted publicly before I’m a superhero with super powers it’s true I can’t do

with super powers it’s true I can’t do

with super powers it’s true I can’t do things like fly or shoot lightning out

things like fly or shoot lightning out

things like fly or shoot lightning out of my hands but I can do some other

of my hands but I can do some other

of my hands but I can do some other things like I can create things that

things like I can create things that

things like I can create things that have never existed before and travel

have never existed before and travel

have never existed before and travel through time and I can change reality I

through time and I can change reality I

through time and I can change reality I learned how to do this with a real

learned how to do this with a real

learned how to do this with a real wizard who raised me in the land of

wizard who raised me in the land of

wizard who raised me in the land of dreams

dreams

dreams now another frame another way of saying

now another frame another way of saying

now another frame another way of saying this that I was raised by a science

this that I was raised by a science

this that I was raised by a science fiction writer by the name of Theodore

fiction writer by the name of Theodore

fiction writer by the name of Theodore sturgeon and he was famous for a lot of

sturgeon and he was famous for a lot of

sturgeon and he was famous for a lot of things what he was most famous for was

things what he was most famous for was

things what he was most famous for was this

this

this live long and prosper he got a gig

live long and prosper he got a gig

live long and prosper he got a gig writing for this show called Star Trek

writing for this show called Star Trek

writing for this show called Star Trek in the 60s and he wrote the script where

in the 60s and he wrote the script where

in the 60s and he wrote the script where this was said for the first time and

this was said for the first time and

this was said for the first time and Kirk and Spock fought to the death

Kirk and Spock fought to the death

Kirk and Spock fought to the death during the Vulcan meeting ritual of pon

during the Vulcan meeting ritual of pon

during the Vulcan meeting ritual of pon farr that the don don don don don lee

farr that the don don don don don lee

farr that the don don don don don lee was to say I had a colorful childhood

was to say I had a colorful childhood

was to say I had a colorful childhood and my parents were friends with really

and my parents were friends with really

and my parents were friends with really interesting people like the cast from

interesting people like the cast from

interesting people like the cast from Star Trek Carl Sagan Ray Bradbury Isaac

Star Trek Carl Sagan Ray Bradbury Isaac

Star Trek Carl Sagan Ray Bradbury Isaac Asimov Harlan Ellison and other

Asimov Harlan Ellison and other

Asimov Harlan Ellison and other well-known musicians and artists and

well-known musicians and artists and

well-known musicians and artists and writers I grew up in an altered reality

writers I grew up in an altered reality

writers I grew up in an altered reality where imagination was more important

where imagination was more important

where imagination was more important than physical matter and they would have

than physical matter and they would have

than physical matter and they would have parties at our house and as a little boy

parties at our house and as a little boy

parties at our house and as a little boy I would fall asleep listening to their

I would fall asleep listening to their

I would fall asleep listening to their conversations now I’m gonna be

conversations now I’m gonna be

conversations now I’m gonna be transparent with you about something

transparent with you about something

transparent with you about something which is I just used my superpower on

which is I just used my superpower on

which is I just used my superpower on you it’s just a little bit because if I

you it’s just a little bit because if I

you it’s just a little bit because if I come up here and I said I’m gonna tell

come up here and I said I’m gonna tell

come up here and I said I’m gonna tell you about the mating habits of slime

you about the mating habits of slime

you about the mating habits of slime mold the way you react to me would be

mold the way you react to me would be

mold the way you react to me would be completely different but because I told

completely different but because I told

completely different but because I told you this interesting detail about my

you this interesting detail about my

you this interesting detail about my life moving forward everything that

life moving forward everything that

life moving forward everything that comes out of my mouth any way that you

comes out of my mouth any way that you

comes out of my mouth any way that you relate to me will be altered right and I

relate to me will be altered right and I

relate to me will be altered right and I did that by sharing with you my personal

did that by sharing with you my personal

did that by sharing with you my personal mythos it is the biggest version of my

mythos it is the biggest version of my

mythos it is the biggest version of my origin story and by that I change

origin story and by that I change

origin story and by that I change reality

reality

reality now the poet Maru Kizer

now the poet Maru Kizer

now the poet Maru Kizer said the universe is made up of stories

said the universe is made up of stories

said the universe is made up of stories and not

and not

and not and we all have stories personal stories

and we all have stories personal stories

and we all have stories personal stories are those things that we tell ourselves

are those things that we tell ourselves

are those things that we tell ourselves to kind of act as a barometer to tell

to kind of act as a barometer to tell

to kind of act as a barometer to tell where we are at a particular time in

where we are at a particular time in

where we are at a particular time in place in this now and a lot of times

place in this now and a lot of times

place in this now and a lot of times they’re kind of handed to us when we’re

they’re kind of handed to us when we’re

they’re kind of handed to us when we’re born our religion the place we grew up

born our religion the place we grew up

born our religion the place we grew up our lineage it all folds into that and

our lineage it all folds into that and

our lineage it all folds into that and we kind of buy into that right but

we kind of buy into that right but

we kind of buy into that right but sometimes it’s better if we don’t

sometimes it’s better if we don’t

sometimes it’s better if we don’t because a lot of times things make more

because a lot of times things make more

because a lot of times things make more sense if you don’t it all depends on

sense if you don’t it all depends on

sense if you don’t it all depends on your framing see your story colors

your framing see your story colors

your framing see your story colors everything around you everything that

everything around you everything that

everything around you everything that happens to you if you’re a generally

happens to you if you’re a generally

happens to you if you’re a generally positive person and you think positive

positive person and you think positive

positive person and you think positive thoughts the world looks like a pretty

thoughts the world looks like a pretty

thoughts the world looks like a pretty groovy place if you’re a negative person

groovy place if you’re a negative person

groovy place if you’re a negative person and you think negative thoughts the

and you think negative thoughts the

and you think negative thoughts the world can be terrifying what if there

world can be terrifying what if there

world can be terrifying what if there was a third option besides half empty

was a third option besides half empty

was a third option besides half empty and half full what if you were able to

and half full what if you were able to

and half full what if you were able to think of your life as epic its mythic

think of your life as epic its mythic

think of your life as epic its mythic then what well you’re on your way to

then what well you’re on your way to

then what well you’re on your way to becoming a superhero

so what we’re gonna do is we’re gonna

so what we’re gonna do is we’re gonna travel back in time we’re gonna get into

travel back in time we’re gonna get into

travel back in time we’re gonna get into time machines and travel back to

time machines and travel back to

time machines and travel back to something called the inciting incident

something called the inciting incident

something called the inciting incident now in the movies the inciting incident

now in the movies the inciting incident

now in the movies the inciting incident is that moment that you’re bitten by a

is that moment that you’re bitten by a

is that moment that you’re bitten by a radioactive spider or your aunt and

radioactive spider or your aunt and

radioactive spider or your aunt and uncle are killed by the empire maybe

uncle are killed by the empire maybe

uncle are killed by the empire maybe it’s not that dramatic maybe it might be

it’s not that dramatic maybe it might be

it’s not that dramatic maybe it might be as simple as that time that Kenny stake

as simple as that time that Kenny stake

as simple as that time that Kenny stake is threw a rock at you because he said

is threw a rock at you because he said

is threw a rock at you because he said that you talk too much

but what we’re gonna do is we’re gonna

but what we’re gonna do is we’re gonna go back in time and I want you to think

go back in time and I want you to think

go back in time and I want you to think about your inciting incident we all have

about your inciting incident we all have

about your inciting incident we all have one of these it’s the moment that we

one of these it’s the moment that we

one of these it’s the moment that we went right instead of left took the blue

went right instead of left took the blue

went right instead of left took the blue pill when we really wanted to take the

pill when we really wanted to take the

pill when we really wanted to take the red one it was that moment that we sat

red one it was that moment that we sat

red one it was that moment that we sat in the decision box and everything

in the decision box and everything

in the decision box and everything changed and led you onto a path

changed and led you onto a path

changed and led you onto a path that you are here now with think about

that you are here now with think about

that you are here now with think about that moment what was that

that moment what was that

that moment what was that because whatever that moment was it led

because whatever that moment was it led

because whatever that moment was it led you to your superpower now you have a

you to your superpower now you have a

you to your superpower now you have a superpower right and I want you to think

superpower right and I want you to think

superpower right and I want you to think about another time we’re gonna get in

about another time we’re gonna get in

about another time we’re gonna get in our time machines again go back to a

our time machines again go back to a

our time machines again go back to a time that you remembered doing something

time that you remembered doing something

time that you remembered doing something that surprised yourself you stood up for

that surprised yourself you stood up for

that surprised yourself you stood up for yourself or someone else you did

yourself or someone else you did

yourself or someone else you did something unexpected and the funny thing

something unexpected and the funny thing

something unexpected and the funny thing about superpowers most of us don’t

about superpowers most of us don’t

about superpowers most of us don’t realize we even have them or that’s what

realize we even have them or that’s what

realize we even have them or that’s what they are what I mean by that is when

they are what I mean by that is when

they are what I mean by that is when those things happen we just think of

those things happen we just think of

those things happen we just think of them as our normal everyday existence

them as our normal everyday existence

them as our normal everyday existence but then you have someone come up to you

but then you have someone come up to you

but then you have someone come up to you and go wow that’s really great and the

and go wow that’s really great and the

and go wow that’s really great and the funny thing about superpowers is not

funny thing about superpowers is not

funny thing about superpowers is not only do we not realize we have them but

only do we not realize we have them but

only do we not realize we have them but we also have trouble accepting them when

we also have trouble accepting them when

we also have trouble accepting them when we’re complimented on them so whatever

we’re complimented on them so whatever

we’re complimented on them so whatever that thing is for you that’s probably

that thing is for you that’s probably

that thing is for you that’s probably your superpower and it’s been bubbling

your superpower and it’s been bubbling

your superpower and it’s been bubbling there all the time underneath the

there all the time underneath the

there all the time underneath the surface if you can’t think of what it is

surface if you can’t think of what it is

surface if you can’t think of what it is think about the thing that makes your

think about the thing that makes your

think about the thing that makes your heart sing or maybe the thing that

heart sing or maybe the thing that

heart sing or maybe the thing that people comment the most on Facebook with

people comment the most on Facebook with

people comment the most on Facebook with that’s probably it

that’s probably it

that’s probably it now once you connect to your superpower

now once you connect to your superpower

now once you connect to your superpower the next thing is to put into a context

the next thing is to put into a context

the next thing is to put into a context that makes it real so you can own it

that makes it real so you can own it

that makes it real so you can own it give you an example if you have kids

give you an example if you have kids

give you an example if you have kids your love is a superpower that allows

your love is a superpower that allows

your love is a superpower that allows your children to have an effect that

your children to have an effect that

your children to have an effect that will last for generations love is a

will last for generations love is a

will last for generations love is a superpower maybe your superpower is

superpower maybe your superpower is

superpower maybe your superpower is writing words have big meaning in them

writing words have big meaning in them

writing words have big meaning in them they can change everything why do you

they can change everything why do you

they can change everything why do you think they call it spelling

contextualize it in a way that makes

contextualize it in a way that makes sense to you and once you do that you

sense to you and once you do that you

sense to you and once you do that you superpowers start to become active now

superpowers start to become active now

superpowers start to become active now don’t get me wrong

don’t get me wrong

don’t get me wrong you’re probably gonna run into a

you’re probably gonna run into a

you’re probably gonna run into a supervillain or two that happens and

supervillain or two that happens and

supervillain or two that happens and when that happens you simply have to

when that happens you simply have to

when that happens you simply have to overcome it and a supervillain doesn’t

overcome it and a supervillain doesn’t

overcome it and a supervillain doesn’t necessarily have to be a person it could

necessarily have to be a person it could

necessarily have to be a person it could just be a situation it could be a

just be a situation it could be a

just be a situation it could be a parasite that lives in your brain that

parasite that lives in your brain that

parasite that lives in your brain that changes its state because whatever your

changes its state because whatever your

changes its state because whatever your superpower is it defines the superhero

superpower is it defines the superhero

superpower is it defines the superhero that you are whatever your weakness is

that you are whatever your weakness is

that you are whatever your weakness is also defines the superhero you are you

also defines the superhero you are you

also defines the superhero you are you might have your own version of

might have your own version of

might have your own version of kryptonite me it’s procrastination you

kryptonite me it’s procrastination you

kryptonite me it’s procrastination you might be sugar but whatever that thing

might be sugar but whatever that thing

might be sugar but whatever that thing is you got to overcome it and it’s there

is you got to overcome it and it’s there

is you got to overcome it and it’s there all right

all right

all right so next you’ve got to figure out what

so next you’ve got to figure out what

so next you’ve got to figure out what your call to action is so this is your

your call to action is so this is your

your call to action is so this is your call to action your call to action is

call to action your call to action is

call to action your call to action is that moment that you get your lightsaber

that moment that you get your lightsaber

that moment that you get your lightsaber your call to action is that moment that

your call to action is that moment that

your call to action is that moment that you get the invitation to Hogwarts right

you get the invitation to Hogwarts right

you get the invitation to Hogwarts right so this is it because the thing that

so this is it because the thing that

so this is it because the thing that makes your superpowers activated the

makes your superpowers activated the

makes your superpowers activated the thing that got your superpowers was your

thing that got your superpowers was your

thing that got your superpowers was your inciting incident but in order to truly

inciting incident but in order to truly

inciting incident but in order to truly become a superhero you’ve got to do the

become a superhero you’ve got to do the

become a superhero you’ve got to do the one thing that separates mortals from

one thing that separates mortals from

one thing that separates mortals from mythical legends

you’ve got to create something now the

you’ve got to create something now the one thing about the human race is we

one thing about the human race is we

one thing about the human race is we have this really unique collective

have this really unique collective

have this really unique collective superpower that no other species that we

superpower that no other species that we

superpower that no other species that we know of has and that is we can reach

know of has and that is we can reach

know of has and that is we can reach into the void and pull out things that

into the void and pull out things that

into the void and pull out things that have never existed before and we do this

have never existed before and we do this

have never existed before and we do this all the time with artwork music events

all the time with artwork music events

all the time with artwork music events iPhone apps an idea made real magic made

iPhone apps an idea made real magic made

iPhone apps an idea made real magic made manifest into this reality can ricochet

manifest into this reality can ricochet

manifest into this reality can ricochet around like a ping-pong ball and change

around like a ping-pong ball and change

around like a ping-pong ball and change everything now whatever you do for gosh

everything now whatever you do for gosh

everything now whatever you do for gosh sakes do not wait for it to be perfect

sakes do not wait for it to be perfect

sakes do not wait for it to be perfect because perfection is the worst kind of

because perfection is the worst kind of

because perfection is the worst kind of super villain there is so let’s think

super villain there is so let’s think

super villain there is so let’s think about this for a second

about this for a second

about this for a second you have an inciting incident that led

you have an inciting incident that led

you have an inciting incident that led you to your superpower and you

you to your superpower and you

you to your superpower and you contextualise it in a way that became

contextualise it in a way that became

contextualise it in a way that became active and now you create something

active and now you create something

active and now you create something bring something in form the from the

bring something in form the from the

bring something in form the from the void and make it real so let’s cut to

void and make it real so let’s cut to

void and make it real so let’s cut to this part in your movie in this movie it

this part in your movie in this movie it

this part in your movie in this movie it starts out at a time in a world in

starts out at a time in a world in

starts out at a time in a world in desperate need of a hero this is you and

desperate need of a hero this is you and

desperate need of a hero this is you and like most movies you’re just kind of

like most movies you’re just kind of

like most movies you’re just kind of going about your life thinking that

going about your life thinking that

going about your life thinking that everything is just the way that it is

everything is just the way that it is

everything is just the way that it is until you realize that you have gifts

until you realize that you have gifts

until you realize that you have gifts that no one else has incredible gifts in

that no one else has incredible gifts in

that no one else has incredible gifts in fact you may be the most powerful person

fact you may be the most powerful person

fact you may be the most powerful person in the universe and the world needs a

in the universe and the world needs a

in the universe and the world needs a hero and it needs you and it needs you

hero and it needs you and it needs you

hero and it needs you and it needs you to create something that hasn’t existed

to create something that hasn’t existed

to create something that hasn’t existed before so you can change reality and you

before so you can change reality and you

before so you can change reality and you probably get beat up doing it cuz that’s

probably get beat up doing it cuz that’s

probably get beat up doing it cuz that’s what happens superheroes get beat up and

what happens superheroes get beat up and

what happens superheroes get beat up and you will

you will

you will but that gives you an opportunity to

but that gives you an opportunity to

but that gives you an opportunity to come back into the game stronger than

come back into the game stronger than

come back into the game stronger than ever

ever

ever and when you do you will know that you

and when you do you will know that you

and when you do you will know that you are playing the best Xbox game ever you

are playing the best Xbox game ever you

are playing the best Xbox game ever you are in the best movie ever told and it

are in the best movie ever told and it

are in the best movie ever told and it stars all of your friends and everyone

stars all of your friends and everyone

stars all of your friends and everyone you know but you’re writing the script

so let’s get in our time machines one

so let’s get in our time machines one more time we’re gonna stick a stake in

more time we’re gonna stick a stake in

more time we’re gonna stick a stake in this moment and we’re gonna move forward

this moment and we’re gonna move forward

this moment and we’re gonna move forward in our time machines writing the moments

in our time machines writing the moments

in our time machines writing the moments out one second after another but in this

out one second after another but in this

out one second after another but in this movie you create something with your

movie you create something with your

movie you create something with your superpowers you reboot the story you

superpowers you reboot the story you

superpowers you reboot the story you change the script and you know what it

change the script and you know what it

change the script and you know what it doesn’t matter that you can’t see

doesn’t matter that you can’t see

doesn’t matter that you can’t see lightning shoot out of your hands and it

lightning shoot out of your hands and it

lightning shoot out of your hands and it doesn’t matter that you or no-one else

doesn’t matter that you or no-one else

doesn’t matter that you or no-one else can see the spaceship that you

can see the spaceship that you

can see the spaceship that you crash-landed on and it doesn’t matter

crash-landed on and it doesn’t matter

crash-landed on and it doesn’t matter that you can’t talk to your invisible

that you can’t talk to your invisible

that you can’t talk to your invisible friends anymore just own it be in it

friends anymore just own it be in it

friends anymore just own it be in it because the thing that is true is that

because the thing that is true is that

because the thing that is true is that we need a new reality we need you to

we need a new reality we need you to

we need a new reality we need you to create that reality because what is true

create that reality because what is true

create that reality because what is true is that the world needs a hero the world

is that the world needs a hero the world

is that the world needs a hero the world needs you

we need your superpowers and we need you

we need your superpowers and we need you to create something so the next time

to create something so the next time

to create something so the next time that you’re telling your personal story

that you’re telling your personal story

that you’re telling your personal story tell it as an epic myth tell it as if it

tell it as an epic myth tell it as if it

tell it as an epic myth tell it as if it had special effects

thank you

thank you [Applause]