hello and verse my first job back in the halcyon days of 2010 was organizing
halcyon days of 2010 was organizing
halcyon days of 2010 was organizing cultural events very much like this one
cultural events very much like this one
cultural events very much like this one where I would invite leading
where I would invite leading
where I would invite leading philosophers and artists writers and
philosophers and artists writers and
philosophers and artists writers and scientists to talk about their ideas and
scientists to talk about their ideas and
scientists to talk about their ideas and tell us a little bit about where they
tell us a little bit about where they
tell us a little bit about where they thought the world was heading and one
thought the world was heading and one
thought the world was heading and one thing that you get very good at very
thing that you get very good at very
thing that you get very good at very quickly if you meet so many leading
quickly if you meet so many leading
quickly if you meet so many leading thinkers is sounding much cleverer than
thinkers is sounding much cleverer than
thinkers is sounding much cleverer than you actually are I can do 30 seconds on
you actually are I can do 30 seconds on
you actually are I can do 30 seconds on anything from particle physics to
anything from particle physics to
anything from particle physics to geopolitics and after that I have to
geopolitics and after that I have to
geopolitics and after that I have to change the subject list you figure out
change the subject list you figure out
change the subject list you figure out how ignorant charlatan I actually am
how ignorant charlatan I actually am
how ignorant charlatan I actually am unfortunately 30 seconds isn’t long
unfortunately 30 seconds isn’t long
unfortunately 30 seconds isn’t long enough for a TED talk so when I was
enough for a TED talk so when I was
enough for a TED talk so when I was invited here by the organizers of this
invited here by the organizers of this
invited here by the organizers of this conference I had to sit down and think
conference I had to sit down and think
conference I had to sit down and think about what if anything I could actually
about what if anything I could actually
about what if anything I could actually claim to be an expert in and what I came
claim to be an expert in and what I came
claim to be an expert in and what I came up with was this being incredibly
up with was this being incredibly
up with was this being incredibly miserable and in your twenties
miserable and in your twenties
miserable and in your twenties unfortunately as quickly found out that
unfortunately as quickly found out that
unfortunately as quickly found out that all of my friends were experts to as
all of my friends were experts to as
all of my friends were experts to as were their friends and their friends and
were their friends and their friends and
were their friends and their friends and their friends advice Baz Luhrmann once
their friends advice Baz Luhrmann once
their friends advice Baz Luhrmann once said is a form of nostalgia so allow me
said is a form of nostalgia so allow me
said is a form of nostalgia so allow me to reminisce to some of the highlights
to reminisce to some of the highlights
to reminisce to some of the highlights of my 23rd year I was living in a
of my 23rd year I was living in a
of my 23rd year I was living in a rat-infested apartment in a chinese
rat-infested apartment in a chinese
rat-infested apartment in a chinese industrial mega city where every time I
industrial mega city where every time I
industrial mega city where every time I flushed the toilet sewage water would
flushed the toilet sewage water would
flushed the toilet sewage water would leak out of the floorboards in the
leak out of the floorboards in the
leak out of the floorboards in the living room I was interning for 16 hours
living room I was interning for 16 hours
living room I was interning for 16 hours a day for months and months trying to
a day for months and months trying to
a day for months and months trying to get a paid job I split up with the only
get a paid job I split up with the only
get a paid job I split up with the only woman I had ever loved and moved back in
woman I had ever loved and moved back in
woman I had ever loved and moved back in with my parents who are lovely but in my
with my parents who are lovely but in my
with my parents who are lovely but in my defense didn’t really want to live
defense didn’t really want to live
defense didn’t really want to live together either middle-aged people
together either middle-aged people
together either middle-aged people expect to go through a crisis when they
expect to go through a crisis when they
expect to go through a crisis when they realize they’re no longer young but
realize they’re no longer young but
realize they’re no longer young but young people are expected to be having
young people are expected to be having
young people are expected to be having the time of their lives that means
the time of their lives that means
the time of their lives that means there’s a hell of a lot more advice out
there’s a hell of a lot more advice out
there’s a hell of a lot more advice out there for dealing with the problems of
there for dealing with the problems of
there for dealing with the problems of being 42 than the problems of being 22
being 42 than the problems of being 22
being 42 than the problems of being 22 and I didn’t even realize until after I
and I didn’t even realize until after I
and I didn’t even realize until after I was through with this period that it has
was through with this period that it has
was through with this period that it has a name which is the quarter life crisis
a name which is the quarter life crisis
a name which is the quarter life crisis today I work for an organization called
today I work for an organization called
today I work for an organization called the school of life our mission is to
the school of life our mission is to
the school of life our mission is to help people develop their emotional
help people develop their emotional
help people develop their emotional intelligence and we do that through
intelligence and we do that through
intelligence and we do that through films through books through workshops
films through books through workshops
films through books through workshops and through classes where we teach you
and through classes where we teach you
and through classes where we teach you everything that you wished you’d learned
everything that you wished you’d learned
everything that you wished you’d learned in your real school from how to find a
in your real school from how to find a
in your real school from how to find a job that you love to how to face death
job that you love to how to face death
job that you love to how to face death now most of the people who come to the
now most of the people who come to the
now most of the people who come to the school of life’s classes are fair bit
school of life’s classes are fair bit
school of life’s classes are fair bit older than you guys and already in the
older than you guys and already in the
older than you guys and already in the midst of other existential crises but I
midst of other existential crises but I
midst of other existential crises but I think it’s best to be prepared for the
think it’s best to be prepared for the
think it’s best to be prepared for the storm before it hits so with that in
storm before it hits so with that in
storm before it hits so with that in mind I’ve stolen some of my favorite
mind I’ve stolen some of my favorite
mind I’ve stolen some of my favorite ideas from the school’s curriculum and
ideas from the school’s curriculum and
ideas from the school’s curriculum and brought them here for you today just put
brought them here for you today just put
brought them here for you today just put them in your back pocket until you need
them in your back pocket until you need
them in your back pocket until you need them a few years down the line Oh before
them a few years down the line Oh before
them a few years down the line Oh before you ask I’m 30 now so everything I’m
you ask I’m 30 now so everything I’m
you ask I’m 30 now so everything I’m about to tell you has been
about to tell you has been
about to tell you has been scientifically proven to be true what is
scientifically proven to be true what is
scientifically proven to be true what is the quarter life crisis well as American
the quarter life crisis well as American
the quarter life crisis well as American psychologist called Geoffrey Arnott
psychologist called Geoffrey Arnott
psychologist called Geoffrey Arnott coined the term emerging adulthood to
coined the term emerging adulthood to
coined the term emerging adulthood to describe a new conception of development
describe a new conception of development
describe a new conception of development from the teens through to the 20s with a
from the teens through to the 20s with a
from the teens through to the 20s with a particular focus on the ages of 18 to 25
particular focus on the ages of 18 to 25
particular focus on the ages of 18 to 25 now are not found in a study of
now are not found in a study of
now are not found in a study of Millennials which is the media’s
Millennials which is the media’s
Millennials which is the media’s favorite term for my generation that
favorite term for my generation that
favorite term for my generation that very few of us thought of mortgages
very few of us thought of mortgages
very few of us thought of mortgages marriage and kids as the key symbols of
marriage and kids as the key symbols of
marriage and kids as the key symbols of adulthood after all none of these things
adulthood after all none of these things
adulthood after all none of these things precludes you from behaving like a child
precludes you from behaving like a child
precludes you from behaving like a child instead we prefer to think of adulthood
instead we prefer to think of adulthood
instead we prefer to think of adulthood as being achieved when you were
as being achieved when you were
as being achieved when you were financially independent and able to
financially independent and able to
financially independent and able to accept responsibility for your actions
accept responsibility for your actions
accept responsibility for your actions but a third of those are not surveyed
but a third of those are not surveyed
but a third of those are not surveyed still haven’t achieved these milestones
still haven’t achieved these milestones
still haven’t achieved these milestones between the ages of 25 and 29 so what’s
between the ages of 25 and 29 so what’s
between the ages of 25 and 29 so what’s stopping so many people from feeling
stopping so many people from feeling
stopping so many people from feeling financially independent and personally
financially independent and personally
financially independent and personally responsible well coming of age in the
responsible well coming of age in the
responsible well coming of age in the aftermath of the 2008 global financial
aftermath of the 2008 global financial
aftermath of the 2008 global financial crisis young people globally are
crisis young people globally are
crisis young people globally are according to the economist newspaper an
according to the economist newspaper an
according to the economist newspaper an oppressed minority a bit an unusual one
oppressed minority a bit an unusual one
oppressed minority a bit an unusual one held back by their elders where the most
held back by their elders where the most
held back by their elders where the most educated generation in history thanks to
educated generation in history thanks to
educated generation in history thanks to improvements in nutrition and school
improvements in nutrition and school
improvements in nutrition and school but our talents are being squandered
but our talents are being squandered
but our talents are being squandered globally job markets biased in favor of
globally job markets biased in favor of
globally job markets biased in favor of older people and in the big cities where
older people and in the big cities where
older people and in the big cities where there are lots of jobs house prices of
there are lots of jobs house prices of
there are lots of jobs house prices of skyrocketed meaning home ownership for
skyrocketed meaning home ownership for
skyrocketed meaning home ownership for us as a very distant prospect that means
us as a very distant prospect that means
us as a very distant prospect that means a lot of us are more financially
a lot of us are more financially
a lot of us are more financially dependent on my parents than is strictly
dependent on my parents than is strictly
dependent on my parents than is strictly emotionally healthy and that makes us
emotionally healthy and that makes us
emotionally healthy and that makes us the lucky ones add to that a
the lucky ones add to that a
the lucky ones add to that a psychological component in your early
psychological component in your early
psychological component in your early twenties life loses a lot of its
twenties life loses a lot of its
twenties life loses a lot of its structure throughout your education what
structure throughout your education what
structure throughout your education what success means and how you get there is
success means and how you get there is
success means and how you get there is pretty clearly marked and for university
pretty clearly marked and for university
pretty clearly marked and for university students like you guys that’s coupled
students like you guys that’s coupled
students like you guys that’s coupled with a good deal of personal freedom but
with a good deal of personal freedom but
with a good deal of personal freedom but once you graduate and enter the
once you graduate and enter the
once you graduate and enter the workforce all of that is lost suddenly
workforce all of that is lost suddenly
workforce all of that is lost suddenly you’re faced with enormous
you’re faced with enormous
you’re faced with enormous incomprehensible number of different
incomprehensible number of different
incomprehensible number of different options and choices to make but you have
options and choices to make but you have
options and choices to make but you have no roadmap telling you which ones are
no roadmap telling you which ones are
no roadmap telling you which ones are the best to take and when that happens
the best to take and when that happens
the best to take and when that happens your sense of who you are is bound to be
your sense of who you are is bound to be
your sense of who you are is bound to be fractured now five years ago Stannis
fractured now five years ago Stannis
fractured now five years ago Stannis nisshin’s in the US UK and Europe found
nisshin’s in the US UK and Europe found
nisshin’s in the US UK and Europe found that the romance of youth is actually a
that the romance of youth is actually a
that the romance of youth is actually a myth as Simon was saying earlier
myth as Simon was saying earlier
myth as Simon was saying earlier happiness isn’t a kind of downward curve
happiness isn’t a kind of downward curve
happiness isn’t a kind of downward curve from the joy of youth to the misery of
from the joy of youth to the misery of
from the joy of youth to the misery of old age it’s actually more like a u-bend
old age it’s actually more like a u-bend
old age it’s actually more like a u-bend it drops off very sharply in your early
it drops off very sharply in your early
it drops off very sharply in your early twenties continues to plummet all the
twenties continues to plummet all the
twenties continues to plummet all the way into middle age and then only
way into middle age and then only
way into middle age and then only recovers in your sixties but that isn’t
recovers in your sixties but that isn’t
recovers in your sixties but that isn’t because 60 some things and having wildly
because 60 some things and having wildly
because 60 some things and having wildly better lives it’s actually because
better lives it’s actually because
better lives it’s actually because they’ve learned to accept who they are
they’ve learned to accept who they are
they’ve learned to accept who they are and become grateful for what they have
and become grateful for what they have
and become grateful for what they have now that’s great advice and appreciating
now that’s great advice and appreciating
now that’s great advice and appreciating what you have can help mitigate against
what you have can help mitigate against
what you have can help mitigate against the worst of the quarter life crisis but
the worst of the quarter life crisis but
the worst of the quarter life crisis but I don’t believe it’s the only thing that
I don’t believe it’s the only thing that
I don’t believe it’s the only thing that can be done otherwise I wouldn’t be here
can be done otherwise I wouldn’t be here
can be done otherwise I wouldn’t be here today and for the rest of my time I’m
today and for the rest of my time I’m
today and for the rest of my time I’m going to suggest a few tips that you can
going to suggest a few tips that you can
going to suggest a few tips that you can use to deal with one of the most
use to deal with one of the most
use to deal with one of the most traumatic elements of the chord life
traumatic elements of the chord life
traumatic elements of the chord life crisis which is finding a career that
crisis which is finding a career that
crisis which is finding a career that you actually find emotionally fulfilling
you actually find emotionally fulfilling
you actually find emotionally fulfilling and enjoyable okay I’m going to start
and enjoyable okay I’m going to start
and enjoyable okay I’m going to start with the odd one out round from have I
with the odd one out round from have I
with the odd one out round from have I got news for you
got news for you
got news for you everyone know how to play this game I
everyone know how to play this game I
everyone know how to play this game I want you to tell me what three of these
want you to tell me what three of these
want you to tell me what three of these people have in common and one of them
people have in common and one of them
people have in common and one of them does not and they are Amy Winehouse the
does not and they are Amy Winehouse the
does not and they are Amy Winehouse the Renaissance playwright Christopher
Renaissance playwright Christopher
Renaissance playwright Christopher Marlowe Alexander the Great and the
Marlowe Alexander the Great and the
Marlowe Alexander the Great and the Joker new thoughts the answer isn’t that
Joker new thoughts the answer isn’t that
Joker new thoughts the answer isn’t that three of them are humans and one of them
three of them are humans and one of them
three of them are humans and one of them is a manifestation of the darkness in
is a manifestation of the darkness in
is a manifestation of the darkness in Batman did the correct answer is that
Batman did the correct answer is that
Batman did the correct answer is that Alexander was the only one who lived
Alexander was the only one who lived
Alexander was the only one who lived into his thirties how depressing is that
into his thirties how depressing is that
into his thirties how depressing is that everyone here knows what it feels like
everyone here knows what it feels like
everyone here knows what it feels like to be envious of someone and one way the
to be envious of someone and one way the
to be envious of someone and one way the envy manifests itself in the quarter
envy manifests itself in the quarter
envy manifests itself in the quarter life crisis is as a sense that you’re a
life crisis is as a sense that you’re a
life crisis is as a sense that you’re a humiliating failure because you fail to
humiliating failure because you fail to
humiliating failure because you fail to live up to the glorious achievements of
live up to the glorious achievements of
live up to the glorious achievements of your twenty-something heroes right there
your twenty-something heroes right there
your twenty-something heroes right there will always be people who through talent
will always be people who through talent
will always be people who through talent and luck achieve extraordinary things in
and luck achieve extraordinary things in
and luck achieve extraordinary things in their twenties up to and including
their twenties up to and including
their twenties up to and including holding Gotham City to ransom but these
holding Gotham City to ransom but these
holding Gotham City to ransom but these people are freaks not just Heath Ledger
people are freaks not just Heath Ledger
people are freaks not just Heath Ledger but all of them I’m sure you can all
but all of them I’m sure you can all
but all of them I’m sure you can all think of one maybe it’s Zadie Smith
think of one maybe it’s Zadie Smith
think of one maybe it’s Zadie Smith writing white teeth on the kitchen table
writing white teeth on the kitchen table
writing white teeth on the kitchen table or Mark Zuckerberg founding Facebook in
or Mark Zuckerberg founding Facebook in
or Mark Zuckerberg founding Facebook in his dorm room or even steven spielberg
his dorm room or even steven spielberg
his dorm room or even steven spielberg directing jaws the reason that we know
directing jaws the reason that we know
directing jaws the reason that we know their stories so well is because they
their stories so well is because they
their stories so well is because they play into this idea that youth is a
play into this idea that youth is a
play into this idea that youth is a romantic and brilliant time of
romantic and brilliant time of
romantic and brilliant time of flourishing but the truth is people
flourishing but the truth is people
flourishing but the truth is people achieve extraordinary things at all
achieve extraordinary things at all
achieve extraordinary things at all stages in their life mother Teresa never
stages in their life mother Teresa never
stages in their life mother Teresa never even saw a poor person until she was 14
even saw a poor person until she was 14
even saw a poor person until she was 14 Stanley created the Fantastic Four in
Stanley created the Fantastic Four in
Stanley created the Fantastic Four in his late 30s and the rest of the Marvel
his late 30s and the rest of the Marvel
his late 30s and the rest of the Marvel Universe followed thereafter Joseph
Universe followed thereafter Joseph
Universe followed thereafter Joseph Conrad one of the greatest writers in
Conrad one of the greatest writers in
Conrad one of the greatest writers in the English language didn’t even speak
the English language didn’t even speak
the English language didn’t even speak it until his 30s and in her 20s JK
it until his 30s and in her 20s JK
it until his 30s and in her 20s JK Rowling was a single mother living in
Rowling was a single mother living in
Rowling was a single mother living in relative poverty watching the rejection
relative poverty watching the rejection
relative poverty watching the rejection slips pile up high for her obscure
slips pile up high for her obscure
slips pile up high for her obscure children’s novel even if envy doesn’t
children’s novel even if envy doesn’t
children’s novel even if envy doesn’t manifest in you towards the rich and
manifest in you towards the rich and
manifest in you towards the rich and famous it’s very likely that you’ll find
famous it’s very likely that you’ll find
famous it’s very likely that you’ll find it manifesting towards perhaps all the
it manifesting towards perhaps all the
it manifesting towards perhaps all the siblings who you deemed to have been
siblings who you deemed to have been
siblings who you deemed to have been successful
successful
successful other family members or friends or even
other family members or friends or even
other family members or friends or even in a much vaguer way towards the
in a much vaguer way towards the
in a much vaguer way towards the twenty-something heroes who are having
twenty-something heroes who are having
twenty-something heroes who are having wild times in all of those sitcoms are
wild times in all of those sitcoms are
wild times in all of those sitcoms are used to watch as a teenager like scrubs
used to watch as a teenager like scrubs
used to watch as a teenager like scrubs and friends and whatever is only for
and friends and whatever is only for
and friends and whatever is only for these days it’s a very dangerous emotion
these days it’s a very dangerous emotion
these days it’s a very dangerous emotion and if you let it it will eat you up
and if you let it it will eat you up
and if you let it it will eat you up from the inside but at the school of
from the inside but at the school of
from the inside but at the school of life we think that Envy can be turned on
life we think that Envy can be turned on
life we think that Envy can be turned on its head and can in fact become
its head and can in fact become
its head and can in fact become something is very useful to you if you
something is very useful to you if you
something is very useful to you if you consider it maturely and critically so
consider it maturely and critically so
consider it maturely and critically so the way to do this is to push past the
the way to do this is to push past the
the way to do this is to push past the superficial reason that you think um be
superficial reason that you think um be
superficial reason that you think um be someone and find what signal underneath
someone and find what signal underneath
someone and find what signal underneath that you might actually want to bring
that you might actually want to bring
that you might actually want to bring into your own life for example let’s say
into your own life for example let’s say
into your own life for example let’s say I MV Steve Jobs and when I think of
I MV Steve Jobs and when I think of
I MV Steve Jobs and when I think of Steve Jobs the first thing that popped
Steve Jobs the first thing that popped
Steve Jobs the first thing that popped into my head is his a playboy
into my head is his a playboy
into my head is his a playboy billionaire who founded a global mega
billionaire who founded a global mega
billionaire who founded a global mega cult okay ignore that impulse and keep
cult okay ignore that impulse and keep
cult okay ignore that impulse and keep digging when I think about it what I
digging when I think about it what I
digging when I think about it what I might find is what I really truly admire
might find is what I really truly admire
might find is what I really truly admire about Steve Jobs and want to bring into
about Steve Jobs and want to bring into
about Steve Jobs and want to bring into my life from his life is his ability to
my life from his life is his ability to
my life from his life is his ability to turn the ugly and functional part of
turn the ugly and functional part of
turn the ugly and functional part of life into something that’s beautiful and
life into something that’s beautiful and
life into something that’s beautiful and desirable so he turns people’s needs
desirable so he turns people’s needs
desirable so he turns people’s needs into things that people actually want
into things that people actually want
into things that people actually want and that is a useful signal that I can
and that is a useful signal that I can
and that is a useful signal that I can then build on when I’m thinking about
then build on when I’m thinking about
then build on when I’m thinking about what I want to do in my career I’ve got
what I want to do in my career I’ve got
what I want to do in my career I’ve got another exercise to suggest and it’s
another exercise to suggest and it’s
another exercise to suggest and it’s this think about what you would want to
this think about what you would want to
this think about what you would want to do in your life if you’re going to die
do in your life if you’re going to die
do in your life if you’re going to die 10 years from now so suppose you were
10 years from now so suppose you were
10 years from now so suppose you were going to drop off this mortal coil
going to drop off this mortal coil
going to drop off this mortal coil around the same time as old alexander of
around the same time as old alexander of
around the same time as old alexander of macedon here it’s too long to do nothing
macedon here it’s too long to do nothing
macedon here it’s too long to do nothing does something crystallize in front of
does something crystallize in front of
does something crystallize in front of your mind giving you a sense of purpose
your mind giving you a sense of purpose
your mind giving you a sense of purpose and vision is it something that you
and vision is it something that you
and vision is it something that you would want to achieve so badly that you
would want to achieve so badly that you
would want to achieve so badly that you would be quite happy to fail at it
would be quite happy to fail at it
would be quite happy to fail at it knowing that you had at least tried to
knowing that you had at least tried to
knowing that you had at least tried to do it if so my advice to you very
do it if so my advice to you very
do it if so my advice to you very strongly is to go for it forget the
strongly is to go for it forget the
strongly is to go for it forget the advice from people telling you to get a
advice from people telling you to get a
advice from people telling you to get a stable sensible job if you want to be
stable sensible job if you want to be
stable sensible job if you want to be truly successful at something you have
truly successful at something you have
truly successful at something you have to put in way more than the 925 and you
to put in way more than the 925 and you
to put in way more than the 925 and you can only do that if you’re driven
can only do that if you’re driven
can only do that if you’re driven because you have a passion for it and
because you have a passion for it and
because you have a passion for it and truly want to succeed at it
truly want to succeed at it
truly want to succeed at it so if you have that vision crystallizing
so if you have that vision crystallizing
so if you have that vision crystallizing in front of you go for it now what about
in front of you go for it now what about
in front of you go for it now what about those of you who don’t necessarily see
those of you who don’t necessarily see
those of you who don’t necessarily see anything in front of your eyes when you
anything in front of your eyes when you
anything in front of your eyes when you do that exercise what about those of you
do that exercise what about those of you
do that exercise what about those of you who don’t want to be a tech billionaire
who don’t want to be a tech billionaire
who don’t want to be a tech billionaire or a Batman supervillain what can you do
or a Batman supervillain what can you do
or a Batman supervillain what can you do to have something emotionally fulfilling
to have something emotionally fulfilling
to have something emotionally fulfilling in your career well you could take a
in your career well you could take a
in your career well you could take a personality test the most famous of
personality test the most famous of
personality test the most famous of these is called the myers-briggs and it
these is called the myers-briggs and it
these is called the myers-briggs and it puts you into one of 16 different
puts you into one of 16 different
puts you into one of 16 different personality types from which a careers
personality types from which a careers
personality types from which a careers counsellor can then choose a list of
counsellor can then choose a list of
counsellor can then choose a list of suggested vocations just one problem
suggested vocations just one problem
suggested vocations just one problem with this which is you’ll get dull and
with this which is you’ll get dull and
with this which is you’ll get dull and unimaginative options written by dull
unimaginative options written by dull
unimaginative options written by dull and unimaginative people if Mozart was
and unimaginative people if Mozart was
and unimaginative people if Mozart was doing the myers-briggs test they would
doing the myers-briggs test they would
doing the myers-briggs test they would probably say do something creative like
probably say do something creative like
probably say do something creative like marketing or selling a cake decorating
marketing or selling a cake decorating
marketing or selling a cake decorating business okay at the school of love are
business okay at the school of love are
business okay at the school of love are not interested in databases and we
not interested in databases and we
not interested in databases and we believe the answers are best found if
believe the answers are best found if
believe the answers are best found if you look inward in your 20s the changes
you look inward in your 20s the changes
you look inward in your 20s the changes that you’re going to undergo a highly
that you’re going to undergo a highly
that you’re going to undergo a highly turbulent but instead of resisting those
turbulent but instead of resisting those
turbulent but instead of resisting those and sticking doggedly to a part set upon
and sticking doggedly to a part set upon
and sticking doggedly to a part set upon by a teenager that you can no longer
by a teenager that you can no longer
by a teenager that you can no longer recognize trust your new hunches and
recognize trust your new hunches and
recognize trust your new hunches and instincts but follow them in a
instincts but follow them in a
instincts but follow them in a controlled and experimental way that
controlled and experimental way that
controlled and experimental way that mitigates against the risk now one way
mitigates against the risk now one way
mitigates against the risk now one way to do this is on a gap year I’m sure
to do this is on a gap year I’m sure
to do this is on a gap year I’m sure many of you are thinking about gap years
many of you are thinking about gap years
many of you are thinking about gap years now maybe teaching English abroad or
now maybe teaching English abroad or
now maybe teaching English abroad or bumming around the world’s most
bumming around the world’s most
bumming around the world’s most beautiful beaches but I want to suggest
beautiful beaches but I want to suggest
beautiful beaches but I want to suggest another kind of gap year devised by a
another kind of gap year devised by a
another kind of gap year devised by a colleague of mine Roman Krasner Eric who
colleague of mine Roman Krasner Eric who
colleague of mine Roman Krasner Eric who is inspired by some of the world’s
is inspired by some of the world’s
is inspired by some of the world’s leading business experts and
leading business experts and
leading business experts and psychologists this is the idea you write
psychologists this is the idea you write
psychologists this is the idea you write down a bunch of things that sound like
down a bunch of things that sound like
down a bunch of things that sound like they might be cool to do don’t limit
they might be cool to do don’t limit
they might be cool to do don’t limit yourself to the white-collar jobs
yourself to the white-collar jobs
yourself to the white-collar jobs advertised in the pages of the Guardian
advertised in the pages of the Guardian
advertised in the pages of the Guardian be imaginative maybe it’s starting a
be imaginative maybe it’s starting a
be imaginative maybe it’s starting a brewery in the South of France becoming
brewery in the South of France becoming
brewery in the South of France becoming a tree surgeon building the giant-sized
a tree surgeon building the giant-sized
a tree surgeon building the giant-sized household objects that they use as props
household objects that they use as props
household objects that they use as props in TV adverts whatever put it on a list
in TV adverts whatever put it on a list
in TV adverts whatever put it on a list and keep going until you’ve got 20
and keep going until you’ve got 20
and keep going until you’ve got 20 things 30 things then put it in a drawer
things 30 things then put it in a drawer
things 30 things then put it in a drawer come back a week or two later and take
come back a week or two later and take
come back a week or two later and take it out start slashing off things that
it out start slashing off things that
it out start slashing off things that now seem fans
now seem fans
now seem fans dull with all the list down now when
dull with all the list down now when
dull with all the list down now when you’ve got it down devised a series of
you’ve got it down devised a series of
you’ve got it down devised a series of controlled experiments that you can
controlled experiments that you can
controlled experiments that you can undertake over the course of this year
undertake over the course of this year
undertake over the course of this year that will allow you to test how much you
that will allow you to test how much you
that will allow you to test how much you actually enjoy these potential vocations
actually enjoy these potential vocations
actually enjoy these potential vocations for example maybe you need to learn
for example maybe you need to learn
for example maybe you need to learn French and then do a brewery tool maybe
French and then do a brewery tool maybe
French and then do a brewery tool maybe you need to climb some trees and see how
you need to climb some trees and see how
you need to climb some trees and see how much of a rush you get from that maybe
much of a rush you get from that maybe
much of a rush you get from that maybe you want to meet up with a friend of a
you want to meet up with a friend of a
you want to meet up with a friend of a friend who works in TV advertising and
friend who works in TV advertising and
friend who works in TV advertising and really grilled them over coffee about
really grilled them over coffee about
really grilled them over coffee about what the job actually entails don’t just
what the job actually entails don’t just
what the job actually entails don’t just limit yourself to conventional work
limit yourself to conventional work
limit yourself to conventional work experience in internships as you’re
experience in internships as you’re
experience in internships as you’re undertaking these experiments some of
undertaking these experiments some of
undertaking these experiments some of them will be boring and you won’t enjoy
them will be boring and you won’t enjoy
them will be boring and you won’t enjoy them forget those options the ones that
them forget those options the ones that
them forget those options the ones that you enjoy grow them come up with more
you enjoy grow them come up with more
you enjoy grow them come up with more extensive and in depth and exciting
extensive and in depth and exciting
extensive and in depth and exciting experiments along those lines that will
experiments along those lines that will
experiments along those lines that will enable you to test those careers more
enable you to test those careers more
enable you to test those careers more thoroughly by the end of the year you
thoroughly by the end of the year you
thoroughly by the end of the year you will have an incredible understanding of
will have an incredible understanding of
will have an incredible understanding of where your talents and your passions
where your talents and your passions
where your talents and your passions meet the needs of the working world and
meet the needs of the working world and
meet the needs of the working world and you will be a hell of a lot more
you will be a hell of a lot more
you will be a hell of a lot more interesting as a person than if you just
interesting as a person than if you just
interesting as a person than if you just accepted the first corporate grad scheme
accepted the first corporate grad scheme
accepted the first corporate grad scheme that came your way I hope that’s helpful
that came your way I hope that’s helpful
that came your way I hope that’s helpful thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
”
Be First to Comment