have you ever chased a dragon yeah and by that I mean pursued a risky venture
by that I mean pursued a risky venture
by that I mean pursued a risky venture voluntarily got a little bit more than
voluntarily got a little bit more than
voluntarily got a little bit more than you bargained for yeah how did it go I
you bargained for yeah how did it go I
you bargained for yeah how did it go I saw a couple hands raised okay on the
saw a couple hands raised okay on the
saw a couple hands raised okay on the night of June 1st 2011 on the edge of
night of June 1st 2011 on the edge of
night of June 1st 2011 on the edge of the continental shelf I found myself at
the continental shelf I found myself at
the continental shelf I found myself at night face to face with the most
night face to face with the most
night face to face with the most dangerous of all sharks the oceanic
dangerous of all sharks the oceanic
dangerous of all sharks the oceanic whitetip the shark of the world war ii
whitetip the shark of the world war ii
whitetip the shark of the world war ii sea disasters and this is exactly what I
sea disasters and this is exactly what I
sea disasters and this is exactly what I wanted how did I get there began with a
wanted how did I get there began with a
wanted how did I get there began with a corporate downsizing knocked me out of
corporate downsizing knocked me out of
corporate downsizing knocked me out of my ordinary world I needed a change so I
my ordinary world I needed a change so I
my ordinary world I needed a change so I decided to take an adventure I gathered
decided to take an adventure I gathered
decided to take an adventure I gathered a team and we did the first-ever night
a team and we did the first-ever night
a team and we did the first-ever night dive outside of a shark cage with
dive outside of a shark cage with
dive outside of a shark cage with multiple oceanic whitetip sharks in
multiple oceanic whitetip sharks in
multiple oceanic whitetip sharks in history this was the last dive that was
history this was the last dive that was
history this was the last dive that was left undone with the marquee dangerous
left undone with the marquee dangerous
left undone with the marquee dangerous sharks my inspiration for this dive was
sharks my inspiration for this dive was
sharks my inspiration for this dive was a man named Peter gimble he did the
a man named Peter gimble he did the
a man named Peter gimble he did the granddaddy of all shark documentaries I
granddaddy of all shark documentaries I
granddaddy of all shark documentaries I don’t know if anybody here has heard of
don’t know if anybody here has heard of
don’t know if anybody here has heard of blue water white death they search for
blue water white death they search for
blue water white death they search for the great white shark it’s a film that
the great white shark it’s a film that
the great white shark it’s a film that came out in 1969 it was one of the films
came out in 1969 it was one of the films
came out in 1969 it was one of the films that inspired jaws so in in 1969 Peter
that inspired jaws so in in 1969 Peter
that inspired jaws so in in 1969 Peter gimble and his team left their shark
gimble and his team left their shark
gimble and his team left their shark cages to swim among hundreds of oceanic
cages to swim among hundreds of oceanic
cages to swim among hundreds of oceanic whitetip sharks underneath harpoon sperm
whitetip sharks underneath harpoon sperm
whitetip sharks underneath harpoon sperm whales that ended up being the signature
whales that ended up being the signature
whales that ended up being the signature scene of the film even though they found
scene of the film even though they found
scene of the film even though they found white sharks at the end because the
white sharks at the end because the
white sharks at the end because the people were exposed they were vulnerable
people were exposed they were vulnerable
people were exposed they were vulnerable well gamble regretted that he didn’t
well gamble regretted that he didn’t
well gamble regretted that he didn’t leave a shark cage at night he told
leave a shark cage at night he told
leave a shark cage at night he told author Peter Matheson recorded his word
author Peter Matheson recorded his word
author Peter Matheson recorded his word he said I regret now that I did it would
he said I regret now that I did it would
he said I regret now that I did it would have made all the difference in our
have made all the difference in our
have made all the difference in our night sequence and it turned out that
night sequence and it turned out that
night sequence and it turned out that four decades later still no one had done
four decades later still no one had done
four decades later still no one had done that particular dive where did it lead
that particular dive where did it lead
that particular dive where did it lead well it led me to meet surviving members
well it led me to meet surviving members
well it led me to meet surviving members of Gimbels team it led me to meet member
of Gimbels team it led me to meet member
of Gimbels team it led me to meet member the jaws team and allow me to meet
the jaws team and allow me to meet
the jaws team and allow me to meet survivors of the USS Indianapolis men
survivors of the USS Indianapolis men
survivors of the USS Indianapolis men who had faced this shark under dire
who had faced this shark under dire
who had faced this shark under dire circumstances including the oceanic
circumstances including the oceanic
circumstances including the oceanic whitetip horror for the Indianapolis
whitetip horror for the Indianapolis
whitetip horror for the Indianapolis began on the just after midnight on July
began on the just after midnight on July
began on the just after midnight on July 30th 1945 over the deep waters of the
30th 1945 over the deep waters of the
30th 1945 over the deep waters of the Marianas Basin the Philippine Sea two
Marianas Basin the Philippine Sea two
Marianas Basin the Philippine Sea two torpedoes slammed into the starboard
torpedoes slammed into the starboard
torpedoes slammed into the starboard side of the ship twin blasts radiated
side of the ship twin blasts radiated
side of the ship twin blasts radiated outward shearing off the bow and blowing
outward shearing off the bow and blowing
outward shearing off the bow and blowing a hole underneath the forward turnips
a hole underneath the forward turnips
a hole underneath the forward turnips seawater rushed in the moving ship’s
seawater rushed in the moving ship’s
seawater rushed in the moving ship’s goods being water by the ton
goods being water by the ton
goods being water by the ton twelve minutes later mile from where it
twelve minutes later mile from where it
twelve minutes later mile from where it was hit screws still slowly turning the
was hit screws still slowly turning the
was hit screws still slowly turning the ship rolled onto its side and began to
ship rolled onto its side and began to
ship rolled onto its side and began to sink at the bow the stern rose high
sink at the bow the stern rose high
sink at the bow the stern rose high bobbed there for a time and the ship
bobbed there for a time and the ship
bobbed there for a time and the ship began its descent three miles to the
began its descent three miles to the
began its descent three miles to the øresund floor below the Indianapolis
øresund floor below the Indianapolis
øresund floor below the Indianapolis was already guaranteed a footnote in
was already guaranteed a footnote in
was already guaranteed a footnote in history a ship and their crew had
history a ship and their crew had
history a ship and their crew had delivered the bomb the atomic bomb the
delivered the bomb the atomic bomb the
delivered the bomb the atomic bomb the Hiroshima Banda Tinian and then the
Hiroshima Banda Tinian and then the
Hiroshima Banda Tinian and then the tragedy came for the crew 1196 men had
tragedy came for the crew 1196 men had
tragedy came for the crew 1196 men had been aboard the ship when it was hit
been aboard the ship when it was hit
been aboard the ship when it was hit perhaps 900 survived the sinking 400 may
perhaps 900 survived the sinking 400 may
perhaps 900 survived the sinking 400 may still have been alive when they were
still have been alive when they were
still have been alive when they were finally spotted from the air after four
finally spotted from the air after four
finally spotted from the air after four days adrift 322 were rescued 317
days adrift 322 were rescued 317
days adrift 322 were rescued 317 survived one of those survivors that I
survived one of those survivors that I
survived one of those survivors that I met Richard Hale and I learned had
met Richard Hale and I learned had
met Richard Hale and I learned had joined the Navy at 17 in order to avoid
joined the Navy at 17 in order to avoid
joined the Navy at 17 in order to avoid being drafted in the army nor to avoid
being drafted in the army nor to avoid
being drafted in the army nor to avoid being drafted in the army at 18 this was
being drafted in the army at 18 this was
being drafted in the army at 18 this was born from his interest in the sea and
born from his interest in the sea and
born from his interest in the sea and also his plans that survived the war the
also his plans that survived the war the
also his plans that survived the war the Navy was the safer bet and a few months
Navy was the safer bet and a few months
Navy was the safer bet and a few months later he found himself adrift held
later he found himself adrift held
later he found himself adrift held afloat in the end by three soggy kapok
afloat in the end by three soggy kapok
afloat in the end by three soggy kapok life vests he had been in a group he’d
life vests he had been in a group he’d
life vests he had been in a group he’d been in the water he’d been a group of
been in the water he’d been a group of
been in the water he’d been a group of 80 people in the beginning by the time
80 people in the beginning by the time
80 people in the beginning by the time he was rescued
he was rescued
he was rescued there were 12 left Richard told me about
there were 12 left Richard told me about
there were 12 left Richard told me about his third day adrift and he said
his third day adrift and he said
his third day adrift and he said hopefully I’ll get his words right he
hopefully I’ll get his words right he
hopefully I’ll get his words right he said well I figured it’s only a matter
said well I figured it’s only a matter
said well I figured it’s only a matter of time they’re gonna get me or I’m
of time they’re gonna get me or I’m
of time they’re gonna get me or I’m gonna give up or something I didn’t give
gonna give up or something I didn’t give
gonna give up or something I didn’t give up but I thought I would crack I would
up but I thought I would crack I would
up but I thought I would crack I would drink the water as you said and drink
drink the water as you said and drink
drink the water as you said and drink the water a shark would get me I didn’t
the water a shark would get me I didn’t
the water a shark would get me I didn’t give up in the terms of giving out but I
give up in the terms of giving out but I
give up in the terms of giving out but I didn’t think I was going to make it
didn’t think I was going to make it
didn’t think I was going to make it because men are dying all around you and
because men are dying all around you and
because men are dying all around you and I figured hell I’m gonna be one of them
I figured hell I’m gonna be one of them
I figured hell I’m gonna be one of them too richer would not talk about his
too richer would not talk about his
too richer would not talk about his experience for 30 years when he finally
experience for 30 years when he finally
experience for 30 years when he finally did talk about it he like many of the
did talk about it he like many of the
did talk about it he like many of the other survivors anchored on a simple
other survivors anchored on a simple
other survivors anchored on a simple message never give up and he told me he
message never give up and he told me he
message never give up and he told me he said I’ve got letters from school kids
said I’ve got letters from school kids
said I’ve got letters from school kids in a box and people asked me why do you
in a box and people asked me why do you
in a box and people asked me why do you why do you go to school to talk and so
why do you go to school to talk and so
why do you go to school to talk and so well you read those letters then you’ll
well you read those letters then you’ll
well you read those letters then you’ll then you’ll know because my theory is
then you’ll know because my theory is
then you’ll know because my theory is not giving up I had trouble when I come
not giving up I had trouble when I come
not giving up I had trouble when I come home with my family and my by myself
home with my family and my by myself
home with my family and my by myself that I never give up it’ll carry the
that I never give up it’ll carry the
that I never give up it’ll carry the rest your life you know what I’m trying
rest your life you know what I’m trying
rest your life you know what I’m trying to say to you when my adventure became
to say to you when my adventure became
to say to you when my adventure became the cornerstone of reinventing my career
the cornerstone of reinventing my career
the cornerstone of reinventing my career I asked myself what is never giving up
I asked myself what is never giving up
I asked myself what is never giving up really mean and while it’s easy to
really mean and while it’s easy to
really mean and while it’s easy to understand in the terms and richer stems
understand in the terms and richer stems
understand in the terms and richer stems and the terms of survival what would it
and the terms of survival what would it
and the terms of survival what would it mean in terms of of other things no
mean in terms of of other things no
mean in terms of of other things no matter the scale of the accomplish or
matter the scale of the accomplish or
matter the scale of the accomplish or the the challenge because as I found
the the challenge because as I found
the the challenge because as I found that reinventing my career came with its
that reinventing my career came with its
that reinventing my career came with its own style of challenges trying to move
own style of challenges trying to move
own style of challenges trying to move forward when it was easier to move
forward when it was easier to move
forward when it was easier to move backwards I account coined a term
backwards I account coined a term
backwards I account coined a term tongue-in-cheek I called it how to how
tongue-in-cheek I called it how to how
tongue-in-cheek I called it how to how to never give up without going Ahab and
to never give up without going Ahab and
to never give up without going Ahab and you may know a hobbies the captain ahab
you may know a hobbies the captain ahab
you may know a hobbies the captain ahab from he was a guy who pastored the great
from he was a guy who pastored the great
from he was a guy who pastored the great white whale in the classic novel Moby
white whale in the classic novel Moby
white whale in the classic novel Moby Dick
Dick
Dick well his vengeance was reprised by Quint
well his vengeance was reprised by Quint
well his vengeance was reprised by Quint in the movie Jaws and Quint be in the
in the movie Jaws and Quint be in the
in the movie Jaws and Quint be in the fictional USS Indianapolis survivor who
fictional USS Indianapolis survivor who
fictional USS Indianapolis survivor who spoke to vengeance whereas most of the
spoke to vengeance whereas most of the
spoke to vengeance whereas most of the the survivors had had taken to silence
the survivors had had taken to silence
the survivors had had taken to silence but but I thought about it and I thought
but but I thought about it and I thought
but but I thought about it and I thought about his message and and I looked and I
about his message and and I looked and I
about his message and and I looked and I saw that my own career had traces of
saw that my own career had traces of
saw that my own career had traces of Ahab ie when I got out of the army I
Ahab ie when I got out of the army I
Ahab ie when I got out of the army I pursued lofty goals when I still
pursued lofty goals when I still
pursued lofty goals when I still believed that I could do anything and
believed that I could do anything and
believed that I could do anything and one of those first assignments what
one of those first assignments what
one of those first assignments what anything was the first time was a new
anything was the first time was a new
anything was the first time was a new business assignment in New York City
business assignment in New York City
business assignment in New York City where I was going to attempt to succeed
where I was going to attempt to succeed
where I was going to attempt to succeed where eleven other sales representatives
where eleven other sales representatives
where eleven other sales representatives were failing two of us sold anything
were failing two of us sold anything
were failing two of us sold anything that year so our reward was we got a
that year so our reward was we got a
that year so our reward was we got a chance to do it again the next year but
chance to do it again the next year but
chance to do it again the next year but for half the Commission’s the other ten
for half the Commission’s the other ten
for half the Commission’s the other ten were sent packing and so what did I do
were sent packing and so what did I do
were sent packing and so what did I do I tried again it went poorly this was my
I tried again it went poorly this was my
I tried again it went poorly this was my first experience in business with what I
first experience in business with what I
first experience in business with what I called the wall the the impossible goal
called the wall the the impossible goal
called the wall the the impossible goal and I knew that in in my own life I had
and I knew that in in my own life I had
and I knew that in in my own life I had I was predisposed I didn’t know it at
I was predisposed I didn’t know it at
I was predisposed I didn’t know it at the time to charge walls if I didn’t
the time to charge walls if I didn’t
the time to charge walls if I didn’t help that in my own experience in the
help that in my own experience in the
help that in my own experience in the military my mission had the big one
military my mission had the big one
military my mission had the big one happened would have been to fight Soviet
happened would have been to fight Soviet
happened would have been to fight Soviet tanks and artillery from a none armored
tanks and artillery from a none armored
tanks and artillery from a none armored Humvee and and later to parachute into
Humvee and and later to parachute into
Humvee and and later to parachute into Norway yeah assuming that country was
Norway yeah assuming that country was
Norway yeah assuming that country was going to be overrun neither these
going to be overrun neither these
going to be overrun neither these scenarios played well particularly well
scenarios played well particularly well
scenarios played well particularly well in the in the war games
in the in the war games
in the in the war games and I also think about my senior quote
and I also think about my senior quote
and I also think about my senior quote where I said never say it can’t be done
where I said never say it can’t be done
where I said never say it can’t be done because anything is possible if you give
because anything is possible if you give
because anything is possible if you give it your all noble perhaps true
it your all noble perhaps true
it your all noble perhaps true absolutely not and so I realized that I
absolutely not and so I realized that I
absolutely not and so I realized that I had learned the lesson how to succeed or
had learned the lesson how to succeed or
had learned the lesson how to succeed or what I could do to succeed years before
what I could do to succeed years before
what I could do to succeed years before if I was only willing to listen my army
if I was only willing to listen my army
if I was only willing to listen my army CEO once gave me and my team of five
CEO once gave me and my team of five
CEO once gave me and my team of five others a very simple mission the mission
others a very simple mission the mission
others a very simple mission the mission was to take a two and a half ton truck
was to take a two and a half ton truck
was to take a two and a half ton truck and push it many miles down a dirt road
and push it many miles down a dirt road
and push it many miles down a dirt road on the clock get it up onto an Arras
on the clock get it up onto an Arras
on the clock get it up onto an Arras trip and across the finish line what I
trip and across the finish line what I
trip and across the finish line what I didn’t know was the purpose behind this
didn’t know was the purpose behind this
didn’t know was the purpose behind this mission the purpose behind this mission
mission the purpose behind this mission
mission the purpose behind this mission was to see how I and my team would
was to see how I and my team would
was to see how I and my team would handle failure because no team in all
handle failure because no team in all
handle failure because no team in all the years of this exercise had ever
the years of this exercise had ever
the years of this exercise had ever gotten that truck up on over the lip
gotten that truck up on over the lip
gotten that truck up on over the lip that surrounds the entire airfield and
that surrounds the entire airfield and
that surrounds the entire airfield and onto the airstrip and across the finish
onto the airstrip and across the finish
onto the airstrip and across the finish line but I had insight that no one else
line but I had insight that no one else
line but I had insight that no one else had I knew from working out by pushing
had I knew from working out by pushing
had I knew from working out by pushing my pickup truck around an open field
my pickup truck around an open field
my pickup truck around an open field that your legs are a lot stronger when
that your legs are a lot stronger when
that your legs are a lot stronger when you kind of get on the bumper and extend
you kind of get on the bumper and extend
you kind of get on the bumper and extend versus finally do it the traditional way
versus finally do it the traditional way
versus finally do it the traditional way of getting behind it and pushing so I
of getting behind it and pushing so I
of getting behind it and pushing so I got my team on the front bumper of that
got my team on the front bumper of that
got my team on the front bumper of that truck and we got it up over that lip so
truck and we got it up over that lip so
truck and we got it up over that lip so easily we had no idea we were supposed
easily we had no idea we were supposed
easily we had no idea we were supposed to fail so what did I do with that
to fail so what did I do with that
to fail so what did I do with that insight for the next two decades in a
insight for the next two decades in a
insight for the next two decades in a few more years I went right ahead
few more years I went right ahead
few more years I went right ahead charging walls and then I met Richard
charging walls and then I met Richard
charging walls and then I met Richard and I asked myself again what does it
and I asked myself again what does it
and I asked myself again what does it really mean to never give up I remember
really mean to never give up I remember
really mean to never give up I remember what he had told me about his time and
what he had told me about his time and
what he had told me about his time and never giving up from his experience
never giving up from his experience
never giving up from his experience being in the water and also his life
being in the water and also his life
being in the water and also his life afterward and I realized that never
afterward and I realized that never
afterward and I realized that never giving up means three things the first
giving up means three things the first
giving up means three things the first is survival straight up the second is
is survival straight up the second is
is survival straight up the second is justice and the third is ambition
justice and the third is ambition
justice and the third is ambition Richard however his experience was
Richard however his experience was
Richard however his experience was driven by misfortune mine and a halves
driven by misfortune mine and a halves
driven by misfortune mine and a halves were driven by choice but each has one
were driven by choice but each has one
were driven by choice but each has one thing in common each offers a chance if
thing in common each offers a chance if
thing in common each offers a chance if there is a chance because truth be told
there is a chance because truth be told
there is a chance because truth be told sometimes there isn’t a chance
sometimes there isn’t a chance
sometimes there isn’t a chance so never giving up guarantees nothing
so never giving up guarantees nothing
so never giving up guarantees nothing but it does offer a chance if there’s a
but it does offer a chance if there’s a
but it does offer a chance if there’s a chance to be had and in more dire
chance to be had and in more dire
chance to be had and in more dire circumstances perhaps it offers hope so
circumstances perhaps it offers hope so
circumstances perhaps it offers hope so I thought about the challenge that
I thought about the challenge that
I thought about the challenge that brought me to meet Richard and
brought me to meet Richard and
brought me to meet Richard and what happened to me is I my industry
what happened to me is I my industry
what happened to me is I my industry change out the financial crisis so I had
change out the financial crisis so I had
change out the financial crisis so I had to reinvent myself make a new career so
to reinvent myself make a new career so
to reinvent myself make a new career so what did I do
what did I do
what did I do well I gathered a team got together and
well I gathered a team got together and
well I gathered a team got together and we went and did the first night dive
we went and did the first night dive
we went and did the first night dive among multiple oceanic whitetip sharks
among multiple oceanic whitetip sharks
among multiple oceanic whitetip sharks the most dangerous of all sharks the
the most dangerous of all sharks the
the most dangerous of all sharks the shark of the world war ii sea disasters
and it kind of worked out but after that
and it kind of worked out but after that I finally thought about that truck and
I finally thought about that truck and
I finally thought about that truck and it’s not that I wanted to pursue easy
it’s not that I wanted to pursue easy
it’s not that I wanted to pursue easy tasks nobody had gotten that truck up
tasks nobody had gotten that truck up
tasks nobody had gotten that truck up that runway for years but I wanted to
that runway for years but I wanted to
that runway for years but I wanted to pursue tasks that were easy for me where
pursue tasks that were easy for me where
pursue tasks that were easy for me where I could do the seemingly impossible and
I could do the seemingly impossible and
I could do the seemingly impossible and still succeed and where the prospect of
still succeed and where the prospect of
still succeed and where the prospect of giving up novello longer loomed so large
giving up novello longer loomed so large
giving up novello longer loomed so large and that’s what I wanted to share
and that’s what I wanted to share
and that’s what I wanted to share tonight thank you
tonight thank you
tonight thank you [Applause]
”
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