thanks I’m really happy to be talking to you today since as you’ve just heard
you today since as you’ve just heard
you today since as you’ve just heard I haven’t spoken for a week I just
I haven’t spoken for a week I just
I haven’t spoken for a week I just finished a week long voice cleanse and I
finished a week long voice cleanse and I
finished a week long voice cleanse and I wasn’t sure if my voice is gonna work
wasn’t sure if my voice is gonna work
wasn’t sure if my voice is gonna work very well if it was gonna crack like a
very well if it was gonna crack like a
very well if it was gonna crack like a thirteen-year-old boy or something like
thirteen-year-old boy or something like
thirteen-year-old boy or something like that but seems to be working so let me
that but seems to be working so let me
that but seems to be working so let me tell you about what I’ve learned first I
tell you about what I’ve learned first I
tell you about what I’ve learned first I want to talk about my general philosophy
want to talk about my general philosophy
want to talk about my general philosophy about big hairy audacious goals and how
about big hairy audacious goals and how
about big hairy audacious goals and how we can incorporate them into our lives
we can incorporate them into our lives
we can incorporate them into our lives for self awareness and self improvement
for self awareness and self improvement
for self awareness and self improvement this year I set out to do three big
this year I set out to do three big
this year I set out to do three big hairy audacious goals or be hags
hairy audacious goals or be hags
hairy audacious goals or be hags the first was a seven-day food cleanse
the first was a seven-day food cleanse
the first was a seven-day food cleanse where I cut out all food as taking away
where I cut out all food as taking away
where I cut out all food as taking away one of my basic human needs of air water
one of my basic human needs of air water
one of my basic human needs of air water food and shelter to put my life in
food and shelter to put my life in
food and shelter to put my life in perspective and to appreciate the little
perspective and to appreciate the little
perspective and to appreciate the little things I take for granted the second be
things I take for granted the second be
things I take for granted the second be hag I did was running the Grand Slam as
hag I did was running the Grand Slam as
hag I did was running the Grand Slam as was mentioned I’m a runner I run about
was mentioned I’m a runner I run about
was mentioned I’m a runner I run about an hour a day and I set out to do the
an hour a day and I set out to do the
an hour a day and I set out to do the Grand Slam ultra series which is a set
Grand Slam ultra series which is a set
Grand Slam ultra series which is a set of the four original 100-mile races in
of the four original 100-mile races in
of the four original 100-mile races in the United States and running them all
the United States and running them all
the United States and running them all all within 11 weeks I did it in 109
all within 11 weeks I did it in 109
all within 11 weeks I did it in 109 hours which if you break it out is about
hours which if you break it out is about
hours which if you break it out is about 24 hours per race except for the last
24 hours per race except for the last
24 hours per race except for the last one which was super hard had 29,000 feet
one which was super hard had 29,000 feet
one which was super hard had 29,000 feet of climbing was at high altitude crazy
of climbing was at high altitude crazy
of climbing was at high altitude crazy but I was able to test the limits of my
but I was able to test the limits of my
but I was able to test the limits of my endurance and have some of the most
endurance and have some of the most
endurance and have some of the most cathartic moments of my life
cathartic moments of my life
cathartic moments of my life both of these be hags were painful
both of these be hags were painful
both of these be hags were painful physical and transformative experiences
physical and transformative experiences
physical and transformative experiences and so for my next be hag I wanted to do
and so for my next be hag I wanted to do
and so for my next be hag I wanted to do something along the lines of sensory
something along the lines of sensory
something along the lines of sensory deprivation specifically not talking and
deprivation specifically not talking and
deprivation specifically not talking and we talk all the time and take it for
we talk all the time and take it for
we talk all the time and take it for granted so I knew that not talking for a
granted so I knew that not talking for a
granted so I knew that not talking for a week would require extreme discipline
week would require extreme discipline
week would require extreme discipline and concentration
and concentration
and concentration I also knew that I’d have to incorporate
I also knew that I’d have to incorporate
I also knew that I’d have to incorporate this into my normal life as opposed to
this into my normal life as opposed to
this into my normal life as opposed to going away to a meditation retreat for a
going away to a meditation retreat for a
going away to a meditation retreat for a week or somebody that in order to get
week or somebody that in order to get
week or somebody that in order to get the real experience that I wanted so not
the real experience that I wanted so not
the real experience that I wanted so not talking was actually really frustrating
talking was actually really frustrating
talking was actually really frustrating just a simple fact that I’m standing
just a simple fact that I’m standing
just a simple fact that I’m standing here today probably tells you that I
here today probably tells you that I
here today probably tells you that I like to talk and I have to talk a lot in
like to talk and I have to talk a lot in
like to talk and I have to talk a lot in my job I’m a venture capitalists in
my job I’m a venture capitalists in
my job I’m a venture capitalists in Silicon Valley and I hear a lot of
Silicon Valley and I hear a lot of
Silicon Valley and I hear a lot of people talk and pitches and and calls
people talk and pitches and and calls
people talk and pitches and and calls all week I’m on the board of a games
all week I’m on the board of a games
all week I’m on the board of a games company in Finland called next games and
company in Finland called next games and
company in Finland called next games and we had a board call with people around
we had a board call with people around
we had a board call with people around the world and it’s really hard to do a
the world and it’s really hard to do a
the world and it’s really hard to do a board call when you can’t talk but what
board call when you can’t talk but what
board call when you can’t talk but what it was I emailed the CEO in advance and
it was I emailed the CEO in advance and
it was I emailed the CEO in advance and told them that I would email him
told them that I would email him
told them that I would email him questions as they came up and he read
questions as they came up and he read
questions as they came up and he read them aloud and it worked pretty well
them aloud and it worked pretty well
them aloud and it worked pretty well I’m also pitched a few times a day by
I’m also pitched a few times a day by
I’m also pitched a few times a day by entrepreneurs who are raising money
entrepreneurs who are raising money
entrepreneurs who are raising money similar to shark tank but in real life
similar to shark tank but in real life
similar to shark tank but in real life and I had a small whiteboard and I was
and I had a small whiteboard and I was
and I had a small whiteboard and I was just write down questions on it and it
just write down questions on it and it
just write down questions on it and it worked pretty well what I found is that
worked pretty well what I found is that
worked pretty well what I found is that communication became pretty efficient I
communication became pretty efficient I
communication became pretty efficient I was very terse in what I wrote I
was very terse in what I wrote I
was very terse in what I wrote I typically wrote in about 140 characters
typically wrote in about 140 characters
typically wrote in about 140 characters partially because my whiteboard was
partially because my whiteboard was
partially because my whiteboard was small but also because I’m a big fan of
small but also because I’m a big fan of
small but also because I’m a big fan of Twitter and I think you’re able to say
Twitter and I think you’re able to say
Twitter and I think you’re able to say what you want to say in less words in
what you want to say in less words in
what you want to say in less words in many cases actually my twitter is at San
many cases actually my twitter is at San
many cases actually my twitter is at San Francisco BC so if you want to follow me
Francisco BC so if you want to follow me
Francisco BC so if you want to follow me you can follow me it’s a little plug I
you can follow me it’s a little plug I
you can follow me it’s a little plug I also found that people talk less when I
also found that people talk less when I
also found that people talk less when I was doing the voice fast and more
was doing the voice fast and more
was doing the voice fast and more specifically they were very to the point
specifically they were very to the point
specifically they were very to the point which was great and sometimes they
which was great and sometimes they
which was great and sometimes they actually were able to look at my
actually were able to look at my
actually were able to look at my gesticulation
gesticulation
gesticulation and figure out what I was gonna say and
and figure out what I was gonna say and
and figure out what I was gonna say and I didn’t have to complete my sentence
I didn’t have to complete my sentence
I didn’t have to complete my sentence also I found I was a better listener by
also I found I was a better listener by
also I found I was a better listener by not talking I had to listen more and I
not talking I had to listen more and I
not talking I had to listen more and I always tried to listen more and be a
always tried to listen more and be a
always tried to listen more and be a better listener when it comes to
better listener when it comes to
better listener when it comes to personal and professional relationships
personal and professional relationships
personal and professional relationships because when you really listen to
because when you really listen to
because when you really listen to somebody you’re telling them you
somebody you’re telling them you
somebody you’re telling them you appreciate them
appreciate them
appreciate them and what they’re saying also better
and what they’re saying also better
and what they’re saying also better listening is better business one of my
listening is better business one of my
listening is better business one of my business partners always says you should
business partners always says you should
business partners always says you should have big ears in a small mouth and what
have big ears in a small mouth and what
have big ears in a small mouth and what he’s saying is that people often
he’s saying is that people often
he’s saying is that people often negotiate against themselves when it
negotiate against themselves when it
negotiate against themselves when it comes to business knowing when to be
comes to business knowing when to be
comes to business knowing when to be silent in business is actually a pretty
silent in business is actually a pretty
silent in business is actually a pretty big skill I think we can all appreciate
big skill I think we can all appreciate
big skill I think we can all appreciate the importance of listening to
the importance of listening to
the importance of listening to leadership skills as well I also found
leadership skills as well I also found
leadership skills as well I also found that I had a much less stressful week
that I had a much less stressful week
that I had a much less stressful week generally it was just quieter as I said
generally it was just quieter as I said
generally it was just quieter as I said people talk to me less but also I didn’t
people talk to me less but also I didn’t
people talk to me less but also I didn’t hear the sound of my own voice and on
hear the sound of my own voice and on
hear the sound of my own voice and on average we speak about 15,000 words per
average we speak about 15,000 words per
average we speak about 15,000 words per day that’s a lot and there’s a lot of
day that’s a lot and there’s a lot of
day that’s a lot and there’s a lot of noise and there have been studies that
noise and there have been studies that
noise and there have been studies that show that noise pollution activates the
show that noise pollution activates the
show that noise pollution activates the amygdala portion of your brain which
amygdala portion of your brain which
amygdala portion of your brain which causes a release of stress hormones
causes a release of stress hormones
causes a release of stress hormones there have also been studies that show
there have also been studies that show
there have also been studies that show that a few minutes of prolonged silence
that a few minutes of prolonged silence
that a few minutes of prolonged silence throughout the day are much more
throughout the day are much more
throughout the day are much more relaxing than listening to soft music as
relaxing than listening to soft music as
relaxing than listening to soft music as shown by decreased blood flow in the
shown by decreased blood flow in the
shown by decreased blood flow in the brain and lower blood pressure I think
brain and lower blood pressure I think
brain and lower blood pressure I think the most stressful part of my whole week
the most stressful part of my whole week
the most stressful part of my whole week though was trying to figure out how to
though was trying to figure out how to
though was trying to figure out how to rehearse this talk without actually
rehearse this talk without actually
rehearse this talk without actually talking it’s really hard but I had great
talking it’s really hard but I had great
talking it’s really hard but I had great sleep and there been studies that show
sleep and there been studies that show
sleep and there been studies that show that a few minutes of silence throughout
that a few minutes of silence throughout
that a few minutes of silence throughout the day lead to lower insomnia and much
the day lead to lower insomnia and much
the day lead to lower insomnia and much better sleep I found myself alone of my
better sleep I found myself alone of my
better sleep I found myself alone of my thoughts throughout the day and one of
thoughts throughout the day and one of
thoughts throughout the day and one of the hardest things was actually not
the hardest things was actually not
the hardest things was actually not talking to yourself I don’t talk to
talking to yourself I don’t talk to
talking to yourself I don’t talk to yourself yes you do we all talk to
yourself yes you do we all talk to
yourself yes you do we all talk to ourselves even though we may not realize
ourselves even though we may not realize
ourselves even though we may not realize it but it’s really you’re very acutely
it but it’s really you’re very acutely
it but it’s really you’re very acutely aware of it when you do a voice fast I
aware of it when you do a voice fast I
aware of it when you do a voice fast I also found that my other senses were
also found that my other senses were
also found that my other senses were heightened I could really hear what
heightened I could really hear what
heightened I could really hear what people were saying both literally and
people were saying both literally and
people were saying both literally and metaphorically I could also sometimes
metaphorically I could also sometimes
metaphorically I could also sometimes see what they’re about to say before
see what they’re about to say before
see what they’re about to say before they said it by looking at the nonverbal
they said it by looking at the nonverbal
they said it by looking at the nonverbal communication
communication
communication and their facial expressions I was also
and their facial expressions I was also
and their facial expressions I was also really aware of my own breathing you
really aware of my own breathing you
really aware of my own breathing you know we take about 20,000 breaths a day
know we take about 20,000 breaths a day
know we take about 20,000 breaths a day and when you really focus on your
and when you really focus on your
and when you really focus on your breathing it’s pretty relaxing it’s sort
breathing it’s pretty relaxing it’s sort
breathing it’s pretty relaxing it’s sort of like a yoga class but without the
of like a yoga class but without the
of like a yoga class but without the stretching and if you’re like me you
stretching and if you’re like me you
stretching and if you’re like me you probably need to stretch more because
probably need to stretch more because
probably need to stretch more because I’m totally inflexible
I’m totally inflexible
I’m totally inflexible there are also some real medical
there are also some real medical
there are also some real medical benefits to voice fasting extensive
benefits to voice fasting extensive
benefits to voice fasting extensive studies have shown that a few hours of
studies have shown that a few hours of
studies have shown that a few hours of prolonged silence lead to brain cell
prolonged silence lead to brain cell
prolonged silence lead to brain cell regeneration in the hippocampus part of
regeneration in the hippocampus part of
regeneration in the hippocampus part of your brain the part that’s responsible
your brain the part that’s responsible
your brain the part that’s responsible for learning and memory also when you’re
for learning and memory also when you’re
for learning and memory also when you’re awake but you’re don’t have external
awake but you’re don’t have external
awake but you’re don’t have external stimuli your brain goes into default
stimuli your brain goes into default
stimuli your brain goes into default mode which basically allows yourself to
mode which basically allows yourself to
mode which basically allows yourself to process the experiences you’ve had and
process the experiences you’ve had and
process the experiences you’ve had and convert them into learnings and key
convert them into learnings and key
convert them into learnings and key takeaway it’s an important part of your
takeaway it’s an important part of your
takeaway it’s an important part of your day so I don’t know if I’ll do a voice
day so I don’t know if I’ll do a voice
day so I don’t know if I’ll do a voice fast again probably not it was really
fast again probably not it was really
fast again probably not it was really hard and frustrating for a lot of people
hard and frustrating for a lot of people
hard and frustrating for a lot of people but I had some key takeaways I became a
but I had some key takeaways I became a
but I had some key takeaways I became a better communicator in many ways I was
better communicator in many ways I was
better communicator in many ways I was better at listening I had a much less
better at listening I had a much less
better at listening I had a much less stressful week I slept great
stressful week I slept great
stressful week I slept great I relied on my other senses and I knew
I relied on my other senses and I knew
I relied on my other senses and I knew there’s some real medical benefits but
there’s some real medical benefits but
there’s some real medical benefits but more than anything I was really excited
more than anything I was really excited
more than anything I was really excited to just set a goal and achieve it I
to just set a goal and achieve it I
to just set a goal and achieve it I think it’s a really important thing that
think it’s a really important thing that
think it’s a really important thing that we do in our lives for many people their
we do in our lives for many people their
we do in our lives for many people their goals are to pay their rent or send
goals are to pay their rent or send
goals are to pay their rent or send their kids to school for others goals
their kids to school for others goals
their kids to school for others goals are less defined and sometimes they’ve
are less defined and sometimes they’ve
are less defined and sometimes they’ve already been accomplished in some ways
already been accomplished in some ways
already been accomplished in some ways these types of be hags are first-world
these types of be hags are first-world
these types of be hags are first-world person’s problem of or manufacturing
person’s problem of or manufacturing
person’s problem of or manufacturing pain in order to gain some wisdom for me
pain in order to gain some wisdom for me
pain in order to gain some wisdom for me it’s about setting a goal and achieving
it’s about setting a goal and achieving
it’s about setting a goal and achieving it as part of my lifelong goal of
it as part of my lifelong goal of
it as part of my lifelong goal of personal improvement I highly recommend
personal improvement I highly recommend
personal improvement I highly recommend setting a be hag in one of your lives
setting a be hag in one of your lives
setting a be hag in one of your lives and for this didn’t see where it takes
and for this didn’t see where it takes
and for this didn’t see where it takes you thank you
you thank you
you thank you [Applause]
”
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