there’s a common recipe for good storytelling that’s been used for
storytelling that’s been used for
storytelling that’s been used for millennia across art forms and across
millennia across art forms and across
millennia across art forms and across different cultures many of my favorite
different cultures many of my favorite
different cultures many of my favorite stories move slides many of our favorite
stories move slides many of our favorite
stories move slides many of our favorite stories of Frodo
stories of Frodo
stories of Frodo Harry Dorothy and Alice all have the
Harry Dorothy and Alice all have the
Harry Dorothy and Alice all have the same pattern and it’s been called the
same pattern and it’s been called the
same pattern and it’s been called the hero’s journey the Star Wars saga is a
hero’s journey the Star Wars saga is a
hero’s journey the Star Wars saga is a perfect example luke has an ordinary
perfect example luke has an ordinary
perfect example luke has an ordinary life on Tatooine until Leia has a call
life on Tatooine until Leia has a call
life on Tatooine until Leia has a call to call to him for help our 2d2 delivers
to call to him for help our 2d2 delivers
to call to him for help our 2d2 delivers this call for help and he refuses it
this call for help and he refuses it
this call for help and he refuses it until motivated by the loss of his
until motivated by the loss of his
until motivated by the loss of his family then with the help of obi-wan as
family then with the help of obi-wan as
family then with the help of obi-wan as his mentor he crosses the threshold to
his mentor he crosses the threshold to
his mentor he crosses the threshold to follow his call rebelling against the
follow his call rebelling against the
follow his call rebelling against the Empire then there are these exciting
Empire then there are these exciting
Empire then there are these exciting events the exotic Cantina scene lessons
events the exotic Cantina scene lessons
events the exotic Cantina scene lessons on using the force and getting stuck in
on using the force and getting stuck in
on using the force and getting stuck in the trash compactor events that prepare
the trash compactor events that prepare
the trash compactor events that prepare him for the final challenge the climax
him for the final challenge the climax
him for the final challenge the climax destroying the Death Star
destroying the Death Star
destroying the Death Star only after learning how to use the Force
only after learning how to use the Force
only after learning how to use the Force Luke returns home as a celebrated hero
Luke returns home as a celebrated hero
Luke returns home as a celebrated hero and ever since Joseph Campbell
and ever since Joseph Campbell
and ever since Joseph Campbell popularized this narrative psychologists
popularized this narrative psychologists
popularized this narrative psychologists and philosophers have suggested using it
and philosophers have suggested using it
and philosophers have suggested using it in your own lives to face challenges for
in your own lives to face challenges for
in your own lives to face challenges for example things were just fine with me
example things were just fine with me
example things were just fine with me until I was asked to give a TED talk I
until I was asked to give a TED talk I
until I was asked to give a TED talk I promptly freaked out ask for help from
promptly freaked out ask for help from
promptly freaked out ask for help from friends and then struggled and
friends and then struggled and
friends and then struggled and procrastinated to write this and you all
procrastinated to write this and you all
procrastinated to write this and you all are here for the main event and
are here for the main event and
are here for the main event and afterwards I’ll be seen basking in the
afterwards I’ll be seen basking in the
afterwards I’ll be seen basking in the relief of surviving your truly
relief of surviving your truly
relief of surviving your truly terrifying gazes and this model is great
terrifying gazes and this model is great
terrifying gazes and this model is great for problems that you can see and
for problems that you can see and
for problems that you can see and conquer and throw a nice little party
conquer and throw a nice little party
conquer and throw a nice little party afterwards but most challenges aren’t
afterwards but most challenges aren’t
afterwards but most challenges aren’t this finite especially the ones that are
this finite especially the ones that are
this finite especially the ones that are worthwhile the social and physical
worthwhile the social and physical
worthwhile the social and physical diseases of the world violence ignorant
diseases of the world violence ignorant
diseases of the world violence ignorant corruption they’re not just one person’s
corruption they’re not just one person’s
corruption they’re not just one person’s heroic struggle
heroic struggle
heroic struggle and internalizing the model that we see
and internalizing the model that we see
and internalizing the model that we see from heroes that we watch and read about
from heroes that we watch and read about
from heroes that we watch and read about can be dangerous to us and our goals
can be dangerous to us and our goals
can be dangerous to us and our goals when we face bigger problems we aren’t
when we face bigger problems we aren’t
when we face bigger problems we aren’t going to fight the dragon and then come
going to fight the dragon and then come
going to fight the dragon and then come home we need to have a different story
home we need to have a different story
home we need to have a different story first of all most of us never get a
first of all most of us never get a
first of all most of us never get a giant flashing neon sign from the
giant flashing neon sign from the
giant flashing neon sign from the universe saying that you will be the
universe saying that you will be the
universe saying that you will be the person to solve ovarian cancer there
person to solve ovarian cancer there
person to solve ovarian cancer there very rarely talking white rabbits or
very rarely talking white rabbits or
very rarely talking white rabbits or burning bushes saying hey go fight
burning bushes saying hey go fight
burning bushes saying hey go fight hunger in rural America and actually as
hunger in rural America and actually as
hunger in rural America and actually as a child I was angry that no one had
a child I was angry that no one had
a child I was angry that no one had invited me on a personal wild crazy
invited me on a personal wild crazy
invited me on a personal wild crazy adventure and sometimes life shakes us
adventure and sometimes life shakes us
adventure and sometimes life shakes us up and gives us new motivation but most
up and gives us new motivation but most
up and gives us new motivation but most of the time our call isn’t something
of the time our call isn’t something
of the time our call isn’t something external the change happens when we
external the change happens when we
external the change happens when we start to listen there are calls to
start to listen there are calls to
start to listen there are calls to action around us every day all the time
action around us every day all the time
action around us every day all the time every news report about prison
every news report about prison
every news report about prison conditions and every homeless person you
conditions and every homeless person you
conditions and every homeless person you walk by your adventure can start any
walk by your adventure can start any
walk by your adventure can start any time but of course here comes our
time but of course here comes our
time but of course here comes our refusal we say I don’t know how to make
refusal we say I don’t know how to make
refusal we say I don’t know how to make people less violent and more pathetic I
people less violent and more pathetic I
people less violent and more pathetic I don’t have enough money to fight
don’t have enough money to fight
don’t have enough money to fight addiction in my community so I can’t
addiction in my community so I can’t
addiction in my community so I can’t change the world
change the world
change the world and these statements are all true and
and these statements are all true and
and these statements are all true and for most people this is where their epic
for most people this is where their epic
for most people this is where their epic stories end maybe there weren’t enough
stories end maybe there weren’t enough
stories end maybe there weren’t enough miraculous signs or enough fearless
miraculous signs or enough fearless
miraculous signs or enough fearless leaders around them reasonable things
leaders around them reasonable things
leaders around them reasonable things like money and time get in the way and
like money and time get in the way and
like money and time get in the way and the story is so short that it’s rarely
the story is so short that it’s rarely
the story is so short that it’s rarely told except for in passing how I always
told except for in passing how I always
told except for in passing how I always wanted to create a video game that would
wanted to create a video game that would
wanted to create a video game that would teach conflict resolution or I almost
teach conflict resolution or I almost
teach conflict resolution or I almost quit my job to work for human rights
quit my job to work for human rights
quit my job to work for human rights agency in these cases I try to consider
agency in these cases I try to consider
agency in these cases I try to consider the best and worst possible outcomes of
the best and worst possible outcomes of
the best and worst possible outcomes of what happens if I do and what happens if
what happens if I do and what happens if
what happens if I do and what happens if I don’t you’ll have to decide the odds
I don’t you’ll have to decide the odds
I don’t you’ll have to decide the odds and then maybe despite the fear and
and then maybe despite the fear and
and then maybe despite the fear and uncertainty go for it anyway and if
uncertainty go for it anyway and if
uncertainty go for it anyway and if you’re lucky
you’re lucky
you’re lucky Gandalf Morpheus or Dumbledore will
Gandalf Morpheus or Dumbledore will
Gandalf Morpheus or Dumbledore will guide you to your life’s will filament
guide you to your life’s will filament
guide you to your life’s will filament but if you’re actually solving one of
but if you’re actually solving one of
but if you’re actually solving one of the world’s hairy messy weird world
the world’s hairy messy weird world
the world’s hairy messy weird world problems it’s likely that no one can
problems it’s likely that no one can
problems it’s likely that no one can guide you no one knows the full solution
guide you no one knows the full solution
guide you no one knows the full solution to a societal problem which is
to a societal problem which is
to a societal problem which is inherently why it’s still around and
inherently why it’s still around and
inherently why it’s still around and this can be terrifying no one knows the
this can be terrifying no one knows the
this can be terrifying no one knows the full solution but listen to that again
full solution but listen to that again
full solution but listen to that again no single person knows the full solution
no single person knows the full solution
no single person knows the full solution so you can’t wait for the perfect mentor
so you can’t wait for the perfect mentor
so you can’t wait for the perfect mentor you’ll need to form your own counsel
you’ll need to form your own counsel
you’ll need to form your own counsel you’ll need a trusted group of advisers
you’ll need a trusted group of advisers
you’ll need a trusted group of advisers and resources who can help you in every
and resources who can help you in every
and resources who can help you in every facet of your challenges sometimes the
facet of your challenges sometimes the
facet of your challenges sometimes the right mentor might even be a book or a
right mentor might even be a book or a
right mentor might even be a book or a podcast or a person you’ll never even
podcast or a person you’ll never even
podcast or a person you’ll never even meet and with the support of this team
meet and with the support of this team
meet and with the support of this team you’ll be ready to cross the threshold
you’ll be ready to cross the threshold
you’ll be ready to cross the threshold into the unknown but it won’t just be
into the unknown but it won’t just be
into the unknown but it won’t just be like the yellow brick road where you
like the yellow brick road where you
like the yellow brick road where you know where you’ve been and where you
know where you’ve been and where you
know where you’ve been and where you need to explore next the paradox of our
need to explore next the paradox of our
need to explore next the paradox of our reality is that more you learn the more
reality is that more you learn the more
reality is that more you learn the more you realize just how little you know you
you realize just how little you know you
you realize just how little you know you don’t just crossing one threshold you’re
don’t just crossing one threshold you’re
don’t just crossing one threshold you’re crossing thresholds every single day and
crossing thresholds every single day and
crossing thresholds every single day and once again this can be exhausting and
once again this can be exhausting and
once again this can be exhausting and overwhelming but as you’re making steps
overwhelming but as you’re making steps
overwhelming but as you’re making steps forward you have to realize that you are
forward you have to realize that you are
forward you have to realize that you are becoming the expert in your adventure in
becoming the expert in your adventure in
becoming the expert in your adventure in your challenge you’ve made steps and
your challenge you’ve made steps and
your challenge you’ve made steps and gone somewhere new even if you’re just
gone somewhere new even if you’re just
gone somewhere new even if you’re just now realizing how many more steps there
now realizing how many more steps there
now realizing how many more steps there are so my personal journey has gone like
are so my personal journey has gone like
are so my personal journey has gone like this I understood that they were
this I understood that they were
this I understood that they were suffering caused by preventable
suffering caused by preventable
suffering caused by preventable waterborne illness but I started
waterborne illness but I started
waterborne illness but I started listening when my uncle told me stories
listening when my uncle told me stories
listening when my uncle told me stories from his life in Cameroon I started to
from his life in Cameroon I started to
from his life in Cameroon I started to understand exactly how complicated it
understand exactly how complicated it
understand exactly how complicated it was and went to see it for myself that’s
was and went to see it for myself that’s
was and went to see it for myself that’s me in Haiti I of course wanted to help
me in Haiti I of course wanted to help
me in Haiti I of course wanted to help but I didn’t know how I’m an engineer
but I didn’t know how I’m an engineer
but I didn’t know how I’m an engineer after all I can’t start a company don’t
after all I can’t start a company don’t
after all I can’t start a company don’t know how to run out a non-profit but
know how to run out a non-profit but
know how to run out a non-profit but over the next three years some very
over the next three years some very
over the next three years some very convincing people listen to an idea that
convincing people listen to an idea that
convincing people listen to an idea that I had
I had
I had and assured me into it they became my
and assured me into it they became my
and assured me into it they became my business mentors my speaking coaches my
business mentors my speaking coaches my
business mentors my speaking coaches my exercise and meditation partners my
exercise and meditation partners my
exercise and meditation partners my mentors in every aspect of life so that
mentors in every aspect of life so that
mentors in every aspect of life so that I can focus and do my best
I can focus and do my best
I can focus and do my best in fact I’m sharing the stage today with
in fact I’m sharing the stage today with
in fact I’m sharing the stage today with one of my mentors in Rosenberger so
one of my mentors in Rosenberger so
one of my mentors in Rosenberger so thank you Ian and now my co-founder and
thank you Ian and now my co-founder and
thank you Ian and now my co-founder and I created roars it’s a startup company
I created roars it’s a startup company
I created roars it’s a startup company making water filters that address one of
making water filters that address one of
making water filters that address one of the key roots of the drinking water
the key roots of the drinking water
the key roots of the drinking water crisis poor hygiene education but that’s
crisis poor hygiene education but that’s
crisis poor hygiene education but that’s a whole nother TED talk and we’re still
a whole nother TED talk and we’re still
a whole nother TED talk and we’re still exploring the unknown because no one can
exploring the unknown because no one can
exploring the unknown because no one can tell us exactly how to run roars no one
tell us exactly how to run roars no one
tell us exactly how to run roars no one knows exactly how to make the world’s
knows exactly how to make the world’s
knows exactly how to make the world’s simplest safest water filters for
simplest safest water filters for
simplest safest water filters for example we won’t even know meaningful
example we won’t even know meaningful
example we won’t even know meaningful data about our impact for a little while
data about our impact for a little while
data about our impact for a little while because our what the crisis we’re facing
because our what the crisis we’re facing
because our what the crisis we’re facing is one that’s embedded in and created by
is one that’s embedded in and created by
is one that’s embedded in and created by and multiplied by lack of information
fighting the good fight isn’t always
fighting the good fight isn’t always glamorous it isn’t even always righteous
glamorous it isn’t even always righteous
glamorous it isn’t even always righteous sometimes it’s mostly just fear of
sometimes it’s mostly just fear of
sometimes it’s mostly just fear of public failure and habit pushing me my
public failure and habit pushing me my
public failure and habit pushing me my physical and my mental health have
physical and my mental health have
physical and my mental health have suffered and my relationships have
suffered and my relationships have
suffered and my relationships have suffered I’ve lost best friends over
suffered I’ve lost best friends over
suffered I’ve lost best friends over decisions that I’ve made for Morris and
decisions that I’ve made for Morris and
decisions that I’ve made for Morris and I can’t even be sure that those
I can’t even be sure that those
I can’t even be sure that those decisions are the right ones no one is
decisions are the right ones no one is
decisions are the right ones no one is entirely sure of how many times I have
entirely sure of how many times I have
entirely sure of how many times I have seriously considered quitting because
seriously considered quitting because
seriously considered quitting because it’s just that hard it just seems so
it’s just that hard it just seems so
it’s just that hard it just seems so impossible there’s a Haitian proverb
impossible there’s a Haitian proverb
impossible there’s a Haitian proverb about this that says beyond mountains
about this that says beyond mountains
about this that says beyond mountains there are mountains and I expected the
there are mountains and I expected the
there are mountains and I expected the exhaustion and the uncertainty but I
exhaustion and the uncertainty but I
exhaustion and the uncertainty but I never expected the mountains I was
never expected the mountains I was
never expected the mountains I was facing to make me jaded against other
facing to make me jaded against other
facing to make me jaded against other people or disappointed in my own
people or disappointed in my own
people or disappointed in my own character I never expected the mountains
character I never expected the mountains
character I never expected the mountains to be cemented in ignorance the
to be cemented in ignorance the
to be cemented in ignorance the challenges just don’t stop coming I’m
challenges just don’t stop coming I’m
challenges just don’t stop coming I’m still stumbling along and I will be
still stumbling along and I will be
still stumbling along and I will be stumbling along for probably my entire
stumbling along for probably my entire
stumbling along for probably my entire career so my advice to you is to forget
career so my advice to you is to forget
career so my advice to you is to forget the rest of the hero’s journey forget
the rest of the hero’s journey forget
the rest of the hero’s journey forget the way that
the way that
the way that success is portrayed in our culture just
success is portrayed in our culture just
success is portrayed in our culture just about every day of our entire lives
about every day of our entire lives
about every day of our entire lives when you’re fighting a cause that’s so
when you’re fighting a cause that’s so
when you’re fighting a cause that’s so big that you feel like a drop in the
big that you feel like a drop in the
big that you feel like a drop in the bucket drop any expectations of a
bucket drop any expectations of a
bucket drop any expectations of a triumphant and final return home we’ll
triumphant and final return home we’ll
triumphant and final return home we’ll all be lucky to get a good Wikipedia
all be lucky to get a good Wikipedia
all be lucky to get a good Wikipedia page let alone the satisfaction of
page let alone the satisfaction of
page let alone the satisfaction of solving the likes of cancer racism or
solving the likes of cancer racism or
solving the likes of cancer racism or human trafficking instead I’d like to
human trafficking instead I’d like to
human trafficking instead I’d like to suggest a different ending to our
suggest a different ending to our
suggest a different ending to our narrative what I really think we should
narrative what I really think we should
narrative what I really think we should be seeking it’s become the version of
be seeking it’s become the version of
be seeking it’s become the version of ourselves that’s ready and willing for
ourselves that’s ready and willing for
ourselves that’s ready and willing for the long haul it’s a marathon not a
the long haul it’s a marathon not a
the long haul it’s a marathon not a sprint
sprint
sprint and even more accurately carrying your
and even more accurately carrying your
and even more accurately carrying your cause is a marathon without mile markers
cause is a marathon without mile markers
cause is a marathon without mile markers or even a finish line so don’t be a
or even a finish line so don’t be a
or even a finish line so don’t be a martyr for your cause cherish your
martyr for your cause cherish your
martyr for your cause cherish your health and your sanity because there
health and your sanity because there
health and your sanity because there would enable you to make more than just
would enable you to make more than just
would enable you to make more than just a single drop in the ocean don’t focus
a single drop in the ocean don’t focus
a single drop in the ocean don’t focus on success focus on thriving as you go
on success focus on thriving as you go
on success focus on thriving as you go for me that meant learning how to
for me that meant learning how to
for me that meant learning how to meditate everyday and prioritizing sleep
meditate everyday and prioritizing sleep
meditate everyday and prioritizing sleep exercise time with loved ones and
exercise time with loved ones and
exercise time with loved ones and chances to travel for you that might
chances to travel for you that might
chances to travel for you that might mean yoga therapy cooking or time
mean yoga therapy cooking or time
mean yoga therapy cooking or time cuddling a pet caring for humanity is
cuddling a pet caring for humanity is
cuddling a pet caring for humanity is much more like caring for a young child
much more like caring for a young child
much more like caring for a young child than it is like going on a volunteer
than it is like going on a volunteer
than it is like going on a volunteer trip you’ll need to be the most
trip you’ll need to be the most
trip you’ll need to be the most resilient healthiest version of yourself
resilient healthiest version of yourself
resilient healthiest version of yourself in order to put up the best fight and
in order to put up the best fight and
in order to put up the best fight and you’ll need to be that person every
you’ll need to be that person every
you’ll need to be that person every single day so in case you haven’t heard
single day so in case you haven’t heard
single day so in case you haven’t heard a real fervent call to action in your
a real fervent call to action in your
a real fervent call to action in your life and no one’s invited you on a wild
life and no one’s invited you on a wild
life and no one’s invited you on a wild reckless adventure this is it you can
reckless adventure this is it you can
reckless adventure this is it you can start listening right now for the ways
start listening right now for the ways
start listening right now for the ways that your skills meet what the world
that your skills meet what the world
that your skills meet what the world needs
needs
needs so be the change repair the world save
so be the change repair the world save
so be the change repair the world save the Shire decide what White Rabbit you
the Shire decide what White Rabbit you
the Shire decide what White Rabbit you care about and decide if you’re willing
care about and decide if you’re willing
care about and decide if you’re willing to chase it and if you just thought I
to chase it and if you just thought I
to chase it and if you just thought I don’t have the skills or I don’t know
don’t have the skills or I don’t know
don’t have the skills or I don’t know what to do you’re right you don’t know
what to do you’re right you don’t know
what to do you’re right you don’t know but that’s not permanent if you find out
but that’s not permanent if you find out
but that’s not permanent if you find out find the right resources you can make a
find the right resources you can make a
find the right resources you can make a big difference
so please dream big and please work hard
so please dream big and please work hard but most importantly work to become the
but most importantly work to become the
but most importantly work to become the version of yourself that’s ready to just
version of yourself that’s ready to just
version of yourself that’s ready to just keep swimming thank you
keep swimming thank you
keep swimming thank you [Applause]
”
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