hi when I was four years old I was nearly trampled to death by a hippo
I was trapped and there was nothing I
I was trapped and there was nothing I could do to move out of its way and it
could do to move out of its way and it
could do to move out of its way and it was getting closer and closer and it
was getting closer and closer and it
was getting closer and closer and it swerved at the last moment and missed me
swerved at the last moment and missed me
swerved at the last moment and missed me by meters and I’ve been told the
by meters and I’ve been told the
by meters and I’ve been told the incidents like that usually put people
incidents like that usually put people
incidents like that usually put people off doing things that led to said
off doing things that led to said
off doing things that led to said incidents but I’ve never allowed
incidents but I’ve never allowed
incidents but I’ve never allowed anything to stop me from doing what I
anything to stop me from doing what I
anything to stop me from doing what I love doing which is bird-watching and
love doing which is bird-watching and
love doing which is bird-watching and I’ve been doing all of this since I was
I’ve been doing all of this since I was
I’ve been doing all of this since I was very very young in fact the first time I
very very young in fact the first time I
very very young in fact the first time I went to go see a bird was when I was
went to go see a bird was when I was
went to go see a bird was when I was nine days old and it was to the Isles of
nine days old and it was to the Isles of
nine days old and it was to the Isles of Scilly to see but a rare bird called a
Scilly to see but a rare bird called a
Scilly to see but a rare bird called a letter Kestrel and I personally think
letter Kestrel and I personally think
letter Kestrel and I personally think the passion comes from within you like
the passion comes from within you like
the passion comes from within you like no one else can ever force it upon you
no one else can ever force it upon you
no one else can ever force it upon you and the reason that I care about birds
and the reason that I care about birds
and the reason that I care about birds were one of the reasons anyway is
were one of the reasons anyway is
were one of the reasons anyway is because I have a sister who’s much older
because I have a sister who’s much older
because I have a sister who’s much older than me and when I was three she was
than me and when I was three she was
than me and when I was three she was about 15 and so everything she did was
about 15 and so everything she did was
about 15 and so everything she did was just insanely cool so if she liked birds
just insanely cool so if she liked birds
just insanely cool so if she liked birds I would like birds and that’s how it all
I would like birds and that’s how it all
I would like birds and that’s how it all started with me and from then on I’ve
started with me and from then on I’ve
started with me and from then on I’ve just tried to see as many as possible
just tried to see as many as possible
just tried to see as many as possible wherever I went whether it’s in the UK
wherever I went whether it’s in the UK
wherever I went whether it’s in the UK or on holiday somewhere else and one of
or on holiday somewhere else and one of
or on holiday somewhere else and one of the ways that I’ve almost motivated
the ways that I’ve almost motivated
the ways that I’ve almost motivated myself to go out there and do it is I
myself to go out there and do it is I
myself to go out there and do it is I just set goals for myself along the way
just set goals for myself along the way
just set goals for myself along the way and what I think is the key is just
and what I think is the key is just
and what I think is the key is just understanding what my priorities are um
understanding what my priorities are um
understanding what my priorities are um for example in 2009 when I was six years
for example in 2009 when I was six years
for example in 2009 when I was six years old I did a thing called a big year
old I did a thing called a big year
old I did a thing called a big year which basically when you try to see as
which basically when you try to see as
which basically when you try to see as many birds as possible in your country
many birds as possible in your country
many birds as possible in your country within a year and I set the goal for
within a year and I set the goal for
within a year and I set the goal for myself I wanted to see 300 Birds which’s
myself I wanted to see 300 Birds which’s
myself I wanted to see 300 Birds which’s which is a lot basically and my mum
which is a lot basically and my mum
which is a lot basically and my mum actually originally refused to even join
actually originally refused to even join
actually originally refused to even join in during the big year with me because
in during the big year with me because
in during the big year with me because she was sure that I would just kind of
she was sure that I would just kind of
she was sure that I would just kind of lose motivation and drop out but she
lose motivation and drop out but she
lose motivation and drop out but she very quickly realized that I had decided
very quickly realized that I had decided
very quickly realized that I had decided that this was what I was going to do and
that this was what I was going to do and
that this was what I was going to do and I had decided what I was going to be
I had decided what I was going to be
I had decided what I was going to be putting before anything else and so this
putting before anything else and so this
putting before anything else and so this thing that I was really really
thing that I was really really
thing that I was really really passionate and engaged about was just
passionate and engaged about was just
passionate and engaged about was just cut more of a priority than anything
cut more of a priority than anything
cut more of a priority than anything else it came before normal childhood
else it came before normal childhood
else it came before normal childhood activities and friends and family and
activities and friends and family and
activities and friends and family and all of that different stuff because I
all of that different stuff because I
all of that different stuff because I had to try and see these birds and it
had to try and see these birds and it
had to try and see these birds and it paid off me I managed to see 324 in the
paid off me I managed to see 324 in the
paid off me I managed to see 324 in the end which is amazing by the way I need
end which is amazing by the way I need
end which is amazing by the way I need them and it was it was kind of the start
them and it was it was kind of the start
them and it was it was kind of the start of me realizing that just if you set
of me realizing that just if you set
of me realizing that just if you set goals for yourself and you achieve those
goals for yourself and you achieve those
goals for yourself and you achieve those goals it makes everything that you do
goals it makes everything that you do
goals it makes everything that you do just that much better and for example
just that much better and for example
just that much better and for example when I was 8 I went to Ecuador for two
when I was 8 I went to Ecuador for two
when I was 8 I went to Ecuador for two weeks
weeks
weeks and before I went I flipped through the
and before I went I flipped through the
and before I went I flipped through the book and I saw a couple of birds I just
book and I saw a couple of birds I just
book and I saw a couple of birds I just knew I had to see and the first one was
knew I had to see and the first one was
knew I had to see and the first one was a half ago and this is the biggest eagle
a half ago and this is the biggest eagle
a half ago and this is the biggest eagle in the world and so when and I was just
in the world and so when and I was just
in the world and so when and I was just so excited that I was going to see this
so excited that I was going to see this
so excited that I was going to see this bird and when we got to the Amazon I
bird and when we got to the Amazon I
bird and when we got to the Amazon I discovered something horrifying because
discovered something horrifying because
discovered something horrifying because the thing is I am terrified of heights
the thing is I am terrified of heights
the thing is I am terrified of heights like laughably so in fact and I
like laughably so in fact and I
like laughably so in fact and I discovered that I had to climb up this
discovered that I had to climb up this
discovered that I had to climb up this 200 foot tall rickety wooden structure
200 foot tall rickety wooden structure
200 foot tall rickety wooden structure and stand there for hours at a time as
and stand there for hours at a time as
and stand there for hours at a time as it kind of swayed in the wind looking
it kind of swayed in the wind looking
it kind of swayed in the wind looking for this bird and these were like the
for this bird and these were like the
for this bird and these were like the floor was so rotten that it felt like it
floor was so rotten that it felt like it
floor was so rotten that it felt like it was going to fall through I was
was going to fall through I was
was going to fall through I was terrified the entire time and the only
terrified the entire time and the only
terrified the entire time and the only thing that kept me walking onto that
thing that kept me walking onto that
thing that kept me walking onto that thing for three days I think it was was
thing for three days I think it was was
thing for three days I think it was was the fact that I was going to see this
the fact that I was going to see this
the fact that I was going to see this eagle and
eagle and
eagle and in the end I didn’t see the eagle and
in the end I didn’t see the eagle and
in the end I didn’t see the eagle and but I’m you know what I still really
but I’m you know what I still really
but I’m you know what I still really want to see this birth but I had much
want to see this birth but I had much
want to see this birth but I had much more luck with the second bird that I
more luck with the second bird that I
more luck with the second bird that I knew I had to see in Ecuador which was a
knew I had to see in Ecuador which was a
knew I had to see in Ecuador which was a sword build hummingbird and it was so
sword build hummingbird and it was so
sword build hummingbird and it was so easy to see which made it just better I
easy to see which made it just better I
easy to see which made it just better I just had to walk out into the garden and
just had to walk out into the garden and
just had to walk out into the garden and it’s just this really amazing looking
it’s just this really amazing looking
it’s just this really amazing looking bird like its beak is twice the length
bird like its beak is twice the length
bird like its beak is twice the length of his actual body and it’s like got
of his actual body and it’s like got
of his actual body and it’s like got these really iridescent green feathers
these really iridescent green feathers
these really iridescent green feathers on it and it was just the most amazing
on it and it was just the most amazing
on it and it was just the most amazing thing I had ever seen and when I looked
thing I had ever seen and when I looked
thing I had ever seen and when I looked at it I just kind of went I want to see
at it I just kind of went I want to see
at it I just kind of went I want to see all of the species of hummingbird in the
all of the species of hummingbird in the
all of the species of hummingbird in the world and that was the most ridiculous
world and that was the most ridiculous
world and that was the most ridiculous thing for an eight-year-old to just
thing for an eight-year-old to just
thing for an eight-year-old to just proclaim like that but I knew that’s
proclaim like that but I knew that’s
proclaim like that but I knew that’s what I wanted to do and I’m working on
what I wanted to do and I’m working on
what I wanted to do and I’m working on it then I’ve just managed the over half
it then I’ve just managed the over half
it then I’ve just managed the over half in the wild which is just incredible but
in the wild which is just incredible but
in the wild which is just incredible but um but another thing that I’ve had to
um but another thing that I’ve had to
um but another thing that I’ve had to get over you may have noticed I’m scared
get over you may have noticed I’m scared
get over you may have noticed I’m scared of quite a few things and then another
of quite a few things and then another
of quite a few things and then another one of them is spiders and again
one of them is spiders and again
one of them is spiders and again laughably so like I live in one of these
laughably so like I live in one of these
laughably so like I live in one of these creepy old cottages out in the
creepy old cottages out in the
creepy old cottages out in the countryside where there’s hundreds of
countryside where there’s hundreds of
countryside where there’s hundreds of spiders in every room but every time I
spiders in every room but every time I
spiders in every room but every time I see one I’m immediately paranoid
see one I’m immediately paranoid
see one I’m immediately paranoid following it everywhere and dad has
following it everywhere and dad has
following it everywhere and dad has immediately cooled and come carry it out
immediately cooled and come carry it out
immediately cooled and come carry it out of the room again but and a lot of
of the room again but and a lot of
of the room again but and a lot of people kind of surprised that I’m
people kind of surprised that I’m
people kind of surprised that I’m willing to go to places like Australia
willing to go to places like Australia
willing to go to places like Australia and the Amazon and places like that
and the Amazon and places like that
and the Amazon and places like that because there are so many spiders there
because there are so many spiders there
because there are so many spiders there and I do have to admit the wild on these
and I do have to admit the wild on these
and I do have to admit the wild on these trips
trips
trips I am completely paranoid that there’s
I am completely paranoid that there’s
I am completely paranoid that there’s going to be like a tarantula or
going to be like a tarantula or
going to be like a tarantula or something popping out from behind a tree
something popping out from behind a tree
something popping out from behind a tree while I’m stood there like jumping on to
while I’m stood there like jumping on to
while I’m stood there like jumping on to me or something but I kind of just have
me or something but I kind of just have
me or something but I kind of just have to get over it because I really want to
to get over it because I really want to
to get over it because I really want to go to these places and even if there is
go to these places and even if there is
go to these places and even if there is a spider right in front of me like I
a spider right in front of me like I
a spider right in front of me like I think the worst one was when the size of
think the worst one was when the size of
think the worst one was when the size of a dinner plate which could jump up to
a dinner plate which could jump up to
a dinner plate which could jump up to about I was only about that high at the
about I was only about that high at the
about I was only about that high at the time and it could jump up to about that
time and it could jump up to about that
time and it could jump up to about that high
high
high and then I ran away very quickly but but
and then I ran away very quickly but but
and then I ran away very quickly but but I just kind of have to deal with this
I just kind of have to deal with this
I just kind of have to deal with this stuff and then with just basically what
stuff and then with just basically what
stuff and then with just basically what I’m trying to tell you guys is that if
I’m trying to tell you guys is that if
I’m trying to tell you guys is that if you care about something a lot and you
you care about something a lot and you
you care about something a lot and you kind of just decide what you want to do
kind of just decide what you want to do
kind of just decide what you want to do you can do it or work on it but
you can do it or work on it but
you can do it or work on it but something it’s something like on the
something it’s something like on the
something it’s something like on the same ecuador trip I decided I wanted to
same ecuador trip I decided I wanted to
same ecuador trip I decided I wanted to see 5400 bird species in the world which
see 5400 bird species in the world which
see 5400 bird species in the world which is Oh which is half of them and that’s
is Oh which is half of them and that’s
is Oh which is half of them and that’s just a very big number that I’m never
just a very big number that I’m never
just a very big number that I’m never going to see and I decided I want to see
going to see and I decided I want to see
going to see and I decided I want to see them before I’m 18 and I it’s become a
them before I’m 18 and I it’s become a
them before I’m 18 and I it’s become a priority I do all sorts of different
priority I do all sorts of different
priority I do all sorts of different things to try and do it but in the end I
things to try and do it but in the end I
things to try and do it but in the end I probably won’t manage it and that kind
probably won’t manage it and that kind
probably won’t manage it and that kind of okay because I’ve put lots of work
of okay because I’ve put lots of work
of okay because I’ve put lots of work and effort and I know that I’ve tried
and effort and I know that I’ve tried
and effort and I know that I’ve tried and I know that I’ve just focused and
and I know that I’ve just focused and
and I know that I’ve just focused and work tonight and that almost as
work tonight and that almost as
work tonight and that almost as important to me is the actual goal just
important to me is the actual goal just
important to me is the actual goal just knowing that you’ve tried and when I was
knowing that you’ve tried and when I was
knowing that you’ve tried and when I was 7 I decided I wanted to go to all of the
7 I decided I wanted to go to all of the
7 I decided I wanted to go to all of the continents before I was 15 and I mean at
continents before I was 15 and I mean at
continents before I was 15 and I mean at the time that seemed perfectly
the time that seemed perfectly
the time that seemed perfectly reasonable to me because like 15 was
reasonable to me because like 15 was
reasonable to me because like 15 was ancient 15 was like decades away and you
ancient 15 was like decades away and you
ancient 15 was like decades away and you know I just thought it was something
know I just thought it was something
know I just thought it was something that I could do but it got to the point
that I could do but it got to the point
that I could do but it got to the point where I was about 13 and I had been
where I was about 13 and I had been
where I was about 13 and I had been bothering my parents for months and
bothering my parents for months and
bothering my parents for months and months and months because this deadline
months and months because this deadline
months and months because this deadline was like kind of looming a little bit
was like kind of looming a little bit
was like kind of looming a little bit and in the end they broke and they took
and in the end they broke and they took
and in the end they broke and they took me to Antarctica which is my last
me to Antarctica which is my last
me to Antarctica which is my last continent and it was amazing and then
continent and it was amazing and then
continent and it was amazing and then that’s another way which I have worked
that’s another way which I have worked
that’s another way which I have worked on achieving my goals by bothering my
on achieving my goals by bothering my
on achieving my goals by bothering my parents
and what a lot of people forget or don’t
and what a lot of people forget or don’t really think about in the first place is
really think about in the first place is
really think about in the first place is if you have too many goals like if
if you have too many goals like if
if you have too many goals like if you’re working on hundreds of different
you’re working on hundreds of different
you’re working on hundreds of different things at a time then you just end up
things at a time then you just end up
things at a time then you just end up not doing any one because all of your
not doing any one because all of your
not doing any one because all of your priorities are just clashing and you
priorities are just clashing and you
priorities are just clashing and you you’re just kind of sat at home going or
you’re just kind of sat at home going or
you’re just kind of sat at home going or I don’t know what to do and an example
I don’t know what to do and an example
I don’t know what to do and an example of that is I know some British birders
of that is I know some British birders
of that is I know some British birders but will never ever leave the country
but will never ever leave the country
but will never ever leave the country just in case a bird that they’ve never
just in case a bird that they’ve never
just in case a bird that they’ve never seen before
seen before
seen before turns up I’ve seen birders who are off
turns up I’ve seen birders who are off
turns up I’ve seen birders who are off somewhere in South America or something
somewhere in South America or something
somewhere in South America or something and then a bird they’ve never seen turns
and then a bird they’ve never seen turns
and then a bird they’ve never seen turns up in Britain and they abandon their
up in Britain and they abandon their
up in Britain and they abandon their trip in like Brazil or somewhere halfway
trip in like Brazil or somewhere halfway
trip in like Brazil or somewhere halfway to come back to England to see like a
to come back to England to see like a
to come back to England to see like a little brown bird that’s flown over from
little brown bird that’s flown over from
little brown bird that’s flown over from like Asia or something you know like
like Asia or something you know like
like Asia or something you know like you’ve got these crashing of priorities
you’ve got these crashing of priorities
you’ve got these crashing of priorities and that’s what a lot of people forget
and that’s what a lot of people forget
and that’s what a lot of people forget and bird watching is a bit of a white
and bird watching is a bit of a white
and bird watching is a bit of a white blokes hobby basically and I fit in
blokes hobby basically and I fit in
blokes hobby basically and I fit in neither of those categories and so I’ve
neither of those categories and so I’ve
neither of those categories and so I’ve experienced the kind of lots of clashes
experienced the kind of lots of clashes
experienced the kind of lots of clashes with people as they’ve tried to kind of
with people as they’ve tried to kind of
with people as they’ve tried to kind of deter me from doing what I love to do
deter me from doing what I love to do
deter me from doing what I love to do and I mean that’s never going to work
and I mean that’s never going to work
and I mean that’s never going to work but they try anyway and I guess all I
but they try anyway and I guess all I
but they try anyway and I guess all I have to say to that is there’s always
have to say to that is there’s always
have to say to that is there’s always going to be someone out there who’s like
going to be someone out there who’s like
going to be someone out there who’s like really negative and trying to like hold
really negative and trying to like hold
really negative and trying to like hold you back from doing stuff and it’s much
you back from doing stuff and it’s much
you back from doing stuff and it’s much easier to be deterred than to be
easier to be deterred than to be
easier to be deterred than to be encouraged by things and in the end the
encouraged by things and in the end the
encouraged by things and in the end the only reason these people are even being
only reason these people are even being
only reason these people are even being nasty to someone else is because they’re
nasty to someone else is because they’re
nasty to someone else is because they’re not never really gonna do the things
not never really gonna do the things
not never really gonna do the things that any of you guys are doing and
that any of you guys are doing and
that any of you guys are doing and you’re going to be the one who is
you’re going to be the one who is
you’re going to be the one who is acknowledged and admire doing things
acknowledged and admire doing things
acknowledged and admire doing things that you’re doing and basically I
that you’re doing and basically I
that you’re doing and basically I believe that everyone has a passion in
believe that everyone has a passion in
believe that everyone has a passion in them and it’s a case of whether you
them and it’s a case of whether you
them and it’s a case of whether you found it or not you need to just have
found it or not you need to just have
found it or not you need to just have self belief and be fearless and go out
self belief and be fearless and go out
self belief and be fearless and go out and do what you want to do and I know so
and do what you want to do and I know so
and do what you want to do and I know so many people that unwilling to do what
many people that unwilling to do what
many people that unwilling to do what they think is right or what they want to
they think is right or what they want to
they think is right or what they want to stand up for because there are
stand up for because there are
stand up for because there are scared of the consequences whether it’s
scared of the consequences whether it’s
scared of the consequences whether it’s something to do with their career or
something to do with their career or
something to do with their career or that future or anything like that and I
that future or anything like that and I
that future or anything like that and I think it’s impossible to do anything
think it’s impossible to do anything
think it’s impossible to do anything anything like really good and well
anything like really good and well
anything like really good and well unless you honestly care about it and
unless you honestly care about it and
unless you honestly care about it and that’s what I’m trying to tell you guys
that’s what I’m trying to tell you guys
that’s what I’m trying to tell you guys today just go out and achieve what you
today just go out and achieve what you
today just go out and achieve what you want to achieve
want to achieve
want to achieve [Applause]
”
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