now it was easy because on being the best we forget things and we miss out on
best we forget things and we miss out on
best we forget things and we miss out on what could be just beyond her
what could be just beyond her
what could be just beyond her while the truth about this story was
while the truth about this story was
while the truth about this story was that that boy was me
that that boy was me
that that boy was me and these are my negatives and I
and these are my negatives and I
and these are my negatives and I certainly did not get the pizza but I
certainly did not get the pizza but I
certainly did not get the pizza but I learned an invaluable lesson sometimes
learned an invaluable lesson sometimes
learned an invaluable lesson sometimes we can be blinded by excitement and
we can be blinded by excitement and
we can be blinded by excitement and leave a lens cap over the things that
leave a lens cap over the things that
leave a lens cap over the things that truly matter most if you want to start
truly matter most if you want to start
truly matter most if you want to start looking at life through your own lens
looking at life through your own lens
looking at life through your own lens there’s three things that you’re going
there’s three things that you’re going
there’s three things that you’re going to want to do number one is you want to
to want to do number one is you want to
to want to do number one is you want to focus on what’s important number two you
focus on what’s important number two you
focus on what’s important number two you want to capture the good times and three
want to capture the good times and three
want to capture the good times and three develop from the negatives as a young
develop from the negatives as a young
develop from the negatives as a young boy I was always looking toward the
boy I was always looking toward the
boy I was always looking toward the future and doing these three things are
future and doing these three things are
future and doing these three things are a way to gain a snapshot of your future
a way to gain a snapshot of your future
a way to gain a snapshot of your future at just 14 years of age there was one
at just 14 years of age there was one
at just 14 years of age there was one thing I wanted more than anything in the
thing I wanted more than anything in the
thing I wanted more than anything in the world
world
world pizza because I didn’t get it so I
pizza because I didn’t get it so I
pizza because I didn’t get it so I started a business you’re probably
started a business you’re probably
started a business you’re probably thinking I made a really cool lemonade
thinking I made a really cool lemonade
thinking I made a really cool lemonade stand and I did but I didn’t realize
stand and I did but I didn’t realize
stand and I did but I didn’t realize that the stand partment stand around
that the stand partment stand around
that the stand partment stand around desperately waiting for a car to come by
desperately waiting for a car to come by
desperately waiting for a car to come by and ultimately chasing them down the
and ultimately chasing them down the
and ultimately chasing them down the street and with that my dreams of
street and with that my dreams of
street and with that my dreams of throwing a pizza party my first business
throwing a pizza party my first business
throwing a pizza party my first business ever were flushed down the drain with
ever were flushed down the drain with
ever were flushed down the drain with five gallons of warm lemonade but I
five gallons of warm lemonade but I
five gallons of warm lemonade but I refused to give up I was focused on
refused to give up I was focused on
refused to give up I was focused on success so I tried again this time a
success so I tried again this time a
success so I tried again this time a computer repair business I convinced my
computer repair business I convinced my
computer repair business I convinced my dad to put an ad in the local newspaper
dad to put an ad in the local newspaper
dad to put an ad in the local newspaper and see I wanted people to call me to
and see I wanted people to call me to
and see I wanted people to call me to make an appointment there was no more
make an appointment there was no more
make an appointment there was no more chasing cars down the street it was a
chasing cars down the street it was a
chasing cars down the street it was a very busy man
very busy man
very busy man then I got my first call call came in I
then I got my first call call came in I
then I got my first call call came in I ran it through the room I said dad dad I
ran it through the room I said dad dad I
ran it through the room I said dad dad I need a ride in an hour I’ve got a client
need a ride in an hour I’ve got a client
need a ride in an hour I’ve got a client shots he kind of sat there probably
shots he kind of sat there probably
shots he kind of sat there probably questioning whether or not putting an ad
questioning whether or not putting an ad
questioning whether or not putting an ad in the local newspaper for a 14 year old
in the local newspaper for a 14 year old
in the local newspaper for a 14 year old boy was the right thing to do and then
boy was the right thing to do and then
boy was the right thing to do and then he said that one famous line that all
he said that one famous line that all
he said that one famous line that all dads are very good at saying go ask your
dads are very good at saying go ask your
dads are very good at saying go ask your mother just like that I hired my first
mother just like that I hired my first
mother just like that I hired my first intern my mom became the official driver
intern my mom became the official driver
intern my mom became the official driver of blacksburg computer repair but as
of blacksburg computer repair but as
of blacksburg computer repair but as fast as you can say super driver and
fast as you can say super driver and
fast as you can say super driver and after just two house visits I’d let my
after just two house visits I’d let my
after just two house visits I’d let my intern go she told me she couldn’t work
intern go she told me she couldn’t work
intern go she told me she couldn’t work between the hours of 9:00 to 5:00 Monday
between the hours of 9:00 to 5:00 Monday
between the hours of 9:00 to 5:00 Monday through Friday all summer long and just
through Friday all summer long and just
through Friday all summer long and just like that the blink of an eye
like that the blink of an eye
like that the blink of an eye second business failed you know
second business failed you know
second business failed you know Bloomberg says that eight out of ten
Bloomberg says that eight out of ten
Bloomberg says that eight out of ten entrepreneurs will fail in their first
entrepreneurs will fail in their first
entrepreneurs will fail in their first 18 months I was quickly becoming another
18 months I was quickly becoming another
18 months I was quickly becoming another number so I decided it was probably a
number so I decided it was probably a
number so I decided it was probably a good idea to stay in school and
good idea to stay in school and
good idea to stay in school and fortunately went on to graduate and get
fortunately went on to graduate and get
fortunately went on to graduate and get my degree I was just following the same
my degree I was just following the same
my degree I was just following the same scripts that everyone else was following
scripts that everyone else was following
scripts that everyone else was following you know the one go to school get a
you know the one go to school get a
you know the one go to school get a degree find a job find a wife buy a
degree find a job find a wife buy a
degree find a job find a wife buy a house start a family but this was a
house start a family but this was a
house start a family but this was a script that other people had set out for
script that other people had set out for
script that other people had set out for me not a script that I wanted for myself
me not a script that I wanted for myself
me not a script that I wanted for myself it was time to change the game
it was time to change the game
it was time to change the game see it was like Groundhog Day I’d get up
see it was like Groundhog Day I’d get up
see it was like Groundhog Day I’d get up go to work come home go to sleep
go to work come home go to sleep
go to work come home go to sleep wash rinse and repeat and if you took a
wash rinse and repeat and if you took a
wash rinse and repeat and if you took a photo of my life at that point in time
photo of my life at that point in time
photo of my life at that point in time it might as well have been left white
it might as well have been left white
it might as well have been left white because I wasn’t living my story now I
because I wasn’t living my story now I
because I wasn’t living my story now I went on to have quite a few different
went on to have quite a few different
went on to have quite a few different jobs from working at the Apple Store to
jobs from working at the Apple Store to
jobs from working at the Apple Store to being a photographer on a construction
being a photographer on a construction
being a photographer on a construction site and I even went out to get my
site and I even went out to get my
site and I even went out to get my motorcycle license because that just 24
motorcycle license because that just 24
motorcycle license because that just 24 years old I thought I was having a
years old I thought I was having a
years old I thought I was having a midlife crisis till one day I met an
midlife crisis till one day I met an
midlife crisis till one day I met an entrepreneur he came up to me and he
entrepreneur he came up to me and he
entrepreneur he came up to me and he said why aren’t you working for yourself
said why aren’t you working for yourself
said why aren’t you working for yourself just yet and I said well I don’t know
just yet and I said well I don’t know
just yet and I said well I don’t know how to make this $30,000 a year salary
how to make this $30,000 a year salary
how to make this $30,000 a year salary on my own and he said you’re making a
on my own and he said you’re making a
on my own and he said you’re making a mistake you’re putting your focus in the
mistake you’re putting your focus in the
mistake you’re putting your focus in the wrong place see you’re focusing on
wrong place see you’re focusing on
wrong place see you’re focusing on making $30,000 in the year when you
making $30,000 in the year when you
making $30,000 in the year when you really need to focus on just making $120
really need to focus on just making $120
really need to focus on just making $120 a day five days a week for 12 months it
a day five days a week for 12 months it
a day five days a week for 12 months it took 10 years to go from being the
took 10 years to go from being the
took 10 years to go from being the lemonade stand entrepreneur chasing cars
lemonade stand entrepreneur chasing cars
lemonade stand entrepreneur chasing cars down the road to the videographer
down the road to the videographer
down the road to the videographer extraordinaire that I am now it took 10
extraordinaire that I am now it took 10
extraordinaire that I am now it took 10 seconds to shift my focus from the holy
seconds to shift my focus from the holy
seconds to shift my focus from the holy grail to just taking the first step see
grail to just taking the first step see
grail to just taking the first step see I was afraid to take risks because it
I was afraid to take risks because it
I was afraid to take risks because it hadn’t gone so well in the past and fear
hadn’t gone so well in the past and fear
hadn’t gone so well in the past and fear was a huge issue of my life it was a big
was a huge issue of my life it was a big
was a huge issue of my life it was a big reason why I wasn’t doing it but fear
reason why I wasn’t doing it but fear
reason why I wasn’t doing it but fear can mean many things to many different
can mean many things to many different
can mean many things to many different people see on one hand here can me
people see on one hand here can me
people see on one hand here can me forget everything and run it can stop
forget everything and run it can stop
forget everything and run it can stop you in your tracks it can rob you from
you in your tracks it can rob you from
you in your tracks it can rob you from providing an amazing service to the
providing an amazing service to the
providing an amazing service to the world but what if you shifted your focus
world but what if you shifted your focus
world but what if you shifted your focus what if you just change that definition
what if you just change that definition
what if you just change that definition an endowment face everything and rise I
an endowment face everything and rise I
an endowment face everything and rise I can’t tell you that learning to balance
can’t tell you that learning to balance
can’t tell you that learning to balance that motorcycle allowed me to balance
that motorcycle allowed me to balance
that motorcycle allowed me to balance the clients in my business but just like
the clients in my business but just like
the clients in my business but just like this roll film you get to take another
this roll film you get to take another
this roll film you get to take another shot here’s an important question and
shot here’s an important question and
shot here’s an important question and please pay very close attention you’re
please pay very close attention you’re
please pay very close attention you’re in an audience right now how many of you
in an audience right now how many of you
in an audience right now how many of you have been in an audience before and you
have been in an audience before and you
have been in an audience before and you look around and everyone has their phone
look around and everyone has their phone
look around and everyone has their phone out taking pictures everyone’s got their
out taking pictures everyone’s got their
out taking pictures everyone’s got their phone I’ll take your picture so pics or
phone I’ll take your picture so pics or
phone I’ll take your picture so pics or it didn’t happen right it’s like it
it didn’t happen right it’s like it
it didn’t happen right it’s like it doesn’t matter unless 100 of your
doesn’t matter unless 100 of your
doesn’t matter unless 100 of your friends know that you were there it’s
friends know that you were there it’s
friends know that you were there it’s like you don’t matter unless someone
like you don’t matter unless someone
like you don’t matter unless someone else out there in the world it’s jealous
else out there in the world it’s jealous
else out there in the world it’s jealous of the life that you live we paint this
of the life that you live we paint this
of the life that you live we paint this picture that we want people to see about
picture that we want people to see about
picture that we want people to see about our lives because the struggle isn’t
our lives because the struggle isn’t
our lives because the struggle isn’t sexy if I asked you to recall a point in
sexy if I asked you to recall a point in
sexy if I asked you to recall a point in time in your life would you instantly go
time in your life would you instantly go
time in your life would you instantly go to a Facebook photo could you even tell
to a Facebook photo could you even tell
to a Facebook photo could you even tell me what it smelled like what it sounded
me what it smelled like what it sounded
me what it smelled like what it sounded like how you felt so how do we capture
like how you felt so how do we capture
like how you felt so how do we capture life how do we go about changing this
life how do we go about changing this
life how do we go about changing this into this
into this
into this one of the amazing things that my
one of the amazing things that my
one of the amazing things that my entrepreneur friend taught me was not
entrepreneur friend taught me was not
entrepreneur friend taught me was not only how important it is to shift your
only how important it is to shift your
only how important it is to shift your focus from time to time but also to step
focus from time to time but also to step
focus from time to time but also to step out from behind the lens from time to
out from behind the lens from time to
out from behind the lens from time to time you know that quote from Ferris
time you know that quote from Ferris
time you know that quote from Ferris Bueller he says life moves pretty fast
Bueller he says life moves pretty fast
Bueller he says life moves pretty fast and if you don’t stop to look around
and if you don’t stop to look around
and if you don’t stop to look around every once in a while you could miss it
every once in a while you could miss it
every once in a while you could miss it so I went on a journey to discover one
so I went on a journey to discover one
so I went on a journey to discover one thing a formula for happiness success
thing a formula for happiness success
thing a formula for happiness success and purpose and along the way I learned
and purpose and along the way I learned
and purpose and along the way I learned about a man named Napoleon Hill now
about a man named Napoleon Hill now
about a man named Napoleon Hill now Napoleon Hill was tasked by Andrew
Napoleon Hill was tasked by Andrew
Napoleon Hill was tasked by Andrew Carnegie to interview millionaires and
Carnegie to interview millionaires and
Carnegie to interview millionaires and find out one simple thing a formula for
find out one simple thing a formula for
find out one simple thing a formula for success and he detailed about it in his
success and he detailed about it in his
success and he detailed about it in his book Think and Grow Rich and I really
book Think and Grow Rich and I really
book Think and Grow Rich and I really liked what he did so I thought well how
liked what he did so I thought well how
liked what he did so I thought well how go do the same thing so I found 200
go do the same thing so I found 200
go do the same thing so I found 200 entrepreneurs that had created life on
entrepreneurs that had created life on
entrepreneurs that had created life on their own terms
their own terms
their own terms and I interviewed all of them on my
and I interviewed all of them on my
and I interviewed all of them on my podcast and I found that every single
podcast and I found that every single
podcast and I found that every single one of them had three things in common
one of them had three things in common
one of them had three things in common one they learned from the best they
one they learned from the best they
one they learned from the best they hired mentors they studied the experts
hired mentors they studied the experts
hired mentors they studied the experts they had coaches 2 they shared the
they had coaches 2 they shared the
they had coaches 2 they shared the information with others they didn’t just
information with others they didn’t just
information with others they didn’t just keep it to themselves they had
keep it to themselves they had
keep it to themselves they had masterminds and meetings and events just
masterminds and meetings and events just
masterminds and meetings and events just like this one and 3 they leave behind a
like this one and 3 they leave behind a
like this one and 3 they leave behind a legacy you know there’s this amazing
legacy you know there’s this amazing
legacy you know there’s this amazing quote and one of my favorite childhood
quote and one of my favorite childhood
quote and one of my favorite childhood movies the Sandlot
movies the Sandlot
movies the Sandlot they say heroes get remembered the
they say heroes get remembered the
they say heroes get remembered the legends never die in a Grant’s Heinlein
legends never die in a Grant’s Heinlein
legends never die in a Grant’s Heinlein of things our life on this earth is the
of things our life on this earth is the
of things our life on this earth is the blink of an eye or the click of a camera
blink of an eye or the click of a camera
blink of an eye or the click of a camera shutter so why wouldn’t you go out there
shutter so why wouldn’t you go out there
shutter so why wouldn’t you go out there and capture everything that life has to
and capture everything that life has to
and capture everything that life has to offer
offer
offer you know sometimes negative things
you know sometimes negative things
you know sometimes negative things happen in our lives and we have to be
happen in our lives and we have to be
happen in our lives and we have to be able to develop from those negatives my
able to develop from those negatives my
able to develop from those negatives my mantra is ABM always be moving I believe
mantra is ABM always be moving I believe
mantra is ABM always be moving I believe that movement is the Fountain of Youth
that movement is the Fountain of Youth
that movement is the Fountain of Youth you should aspire to move your story
you should aspire to move your story
you should aspire to move your story forward your life can be like one of
forward your life can be like one of
forward your life can be like one of those choose your own adventure stories
those choose your own adventure stories
those choose your own adventure stories without all the flipping back and forth
without all the flipping back and forth
without all the flipping back and forth between the pages but just remember at
between the pages but just remember at
between the pages but just remember at the end of the day when your movie fades
the end of the day when your movie fades
the end of the day when your movie fades and the credits start to roll the music
and the credits start to roll the music
and the credits start to roll the music starts to play there’s only one question
starts to play there’s only one question
starts to play there’s only one question to ask yourself did you write the story
to ask yourself did you write the story
to ask yourself did you write the story did you direct it or was it someone
did you direct it or was it someone
did you direct it or was it someone else’s script I want to leave you with
else’s script I want to leave you with
else’s script I want to leave you with one last story before I go on my
one last story before I go on my
one last story before I go on my adventure of interviewing 200
adventure of interviewing 200
adventure of interviewing 200 entrepreneurs all over the globe I met a
entrepreneurs all over the globe I met a
entrepreneurs all over the globe I met a woman who was the first woman ever to
woman who was the first woman ever to
woman who was the first woman ever to stand up paddle board the Bering Strait
stand up paddle board the Bering Strait
stand up paddle board the Bering Strait and in my research on the Bering Strait
and in my research on the Bering Strait
and in my research on the Bering Strait I found out that there’s two islands in
I found out that there’s two islands in
I found out that there’s two islands in the middle of the Bering Strait one is
the middle of the Bering Strait one is
the middle of the Bering Strait one is called little diamond and one is how big
called little diamond and one is how big
called little diamond and one is how big diamond they’re only two miles apart
diamond they’re only two miles apart
diamond they’re only two miles apart big Diomede is owned by Russia and
big Diomede is owned by Russia and
big Diomede is owned by Russia and little diamond is actually part of the
little diamond is actually part of the
little diamond is actually part of the US it’s part of Alaska now why would I
US it’s part of Alaska now why would I
US it’s part of Alaska now why would I tell you about two islands that you’ve
tell you about two islands that you’ve
tell you about two islands that you’ve never heard of because the International
never heard of because the International
never heard of because the International Dateline separates the two meaning on
Dateline separates the two meaning on
Dateline separates the two meaning on one Island it’s today but on the other
one Island it’s today but on the other
one Island it’s today but on the other Island it’s tomorrow if you find
Island it’s tomorrow if you find
Island it’s tomorrow if you find yourself on little Diomede and you walk
yourself on little Diomede and you walk
yourself on little Diomede and you walk over to the shore on a clear day you’re
over to the shore on a clear day you’re
over to the shore on a clear day you’re not only looking over into another
not only looking over into another
not only looking over into another country you’re looking over into another
country you’re looking over into another
country you’re looking over into another time life is like a camera you focus on
time life is like a camera you focus on
time life is like a camera you focus on what’s important
what’s important
what’s important you capture the good times and you
you capture the good times and you
you capture the good times and you develop from the negatives so here’s to
develop from the negatives so here’s to
develop from the negatives so here’s to the frames of your life that you might
the frames of your life that you might
the frames of your life that you might not understand right now but in the
not understand right now but in the
not understand right now but in the future they’ll make a lot more sense
future they’ll make a lot more sense
future they’ll make a lot more sense here’s to the mistakes that you’ll make
here’s to the mistakes that you’ll make
here’s to the mistakes that you’ll make and the people that come in and out of
and the people that come in and out of
and the people that come in and out of your life as you make those mistakes
your life as you make those mistakes
your life as you make those mistakes here’s to the bad times and the good
here’s to the bad times and the good
here’s to the bad times and the good every one of these photos a painted
every one of these photos a painted
every one of these photos a painted picture of a point in time in your life
picture of a point in time in your life
picture of a point in time in your life but just know that if things don’t go
but just know that if things don’t go
but just know that if things don’t go your way you can always pull out another
your way you can always pull out another
your way you can always pull out another bulb and take another shot you know
bulb and take another shot you know
bulb and take another shot you know being able to take that extra shot is so
being able to take that extra shot is so
being able to take that extra shot is so fantastic but remember that the longer
fantastic but remember that the longer
fantastic but remember that the longer you stare at something the more
you stare at something the more
you stare at something the more out-of-focus it becomes when you look at
out-of-focus it becomes when you look at
out-of-focus it becomes when you look at life through your own lens you don’t
life through your own lens you don’t
life through your own lens you don’t have to worry about having the whole
have to worry about having the whole
have to worry about having the whole picture you just have to make sure that
picture you just have to make sure that
picture you just have to make sure that you took the lens cap off in the first
you took the lens cap off in the first
you took the lens cap off in the first place thank you
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
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