whatever your goals may be you can achieve success by building your vision
achieve success by building your vision
achieve success by building your vision brick by brick it’s that simple that’s
brick by brick it’s that simple that’s
brick by brick it’s that simple that’s the end of my talk goodbye no of course
the end of my talk goodbye no of course
the end of my talk goodbye no of course not it’s not that simple because life is
not it’s not that simple because life is
not it’s not that simple because life is not a fairy tale where you get to live
not a fairy tale where you get to live
not a fairy tale where you get to live happily ever after you can build your
happily ever after you can build your
happily ever after you can build your vision brick by brick but there’s a good
vision brick by brick but there’s a good
vision brick by brick but there’s a good chance that it’ll come crashing down and
chance that it’ll come crashing down and
chance that it’ll come crashing down and hitting you on your head or perhaps
hitting you on your head or perhaps
hitting you on your head or perhaps worse you get to watch it slowly crumble
worse you get to watch it slowly crumble
worse you get to watch it slowly crumble away as you desperately try to piece
away as you desperately try to piece
away as you desperately try to piece things back together with futility I’m
things back together with futility I’m
things back together with futility I’m sorry for the bad news but most of what
sorry for the bad news but most of what
sorry for the bad news but most of what we do exist in a middle part of a normal
we do exist in a middle part of a normal
we do exist in a middle part of a normal curve some things are on the right-hand
curve some things are on the right-hand
curve some things are on the right-hand side and they are truly great some
side and they are truly great some
side and they are truly great some things are on the left-hand side and
things are on the left-hand side and
things are on the left-hand side and there well quite terrible like my
there well quite terrible like my
there well quite terrible like my cooking but we’re not gonna talk about
cooking but we’re not gonna talk about
cooking but we’re not gonna talk about that why is it that most of what we do
that why is it that most of what we do
that why is it that most of what we do exists in a middle part of the normal
exists in a middle part of the normal
exists in a middle part of the normal curve well you might try something that
curve well you might try something that
curve well you might try something that you’re interested in and you’ll find
you’re interested in and you’ll find
you’re interested in and you’ll find that you’re not passionate about it
that you’re not passionate about it
that you’re not passionate about it this isn’t your passion so you try it in
this isn’t your passion so you try it in
this isn’t your passion so you try it in and you drop it halfway like a dusty
and you drop it halfway like a dusty
and you drop it halfway like a dusty guitar that you might have sitting
guitar that you might have sitting
guitar that you might have sitting around in your house or you might not
around in your house or you might not
around in your house or you might not even try anything you might be too lazy
even try anything you might be too lazy
even try anything you might be too lazy to pick anything up or you might think
to pick anything up or you might think
to pick anything up or you might think that it is very difficult what you’re
that it is very difficult what you’re
that it is very difficult what you’re trying whatever your endeavor may be it
trying whatever your endeavor may be it
trying whatever your endeavor may be it is way too difficult and you’re just too
is way too difficult and you’re just too
is way too difficult and you’re just too scared to fill so you don’t try
scared to fill so you don’t try
scared to fill so you don’t try or perhaps you think that the people who
or perhaps you think that the people who
or perhaps you think that the people who achieve things on the right hand side of
achieve things on the right hand side of
achieve things on the right hand side of the normal curve those people well
the normal curve those people well
the normal curve those people well they’re weird
they’re weird
they’re weird they straddled the line between
they straddled the line between
they straddled the line between greatness and madness and that’s not you
greatness and madness and that’s not you
greatness and madness and that’s not you you’re a normal person well normal
you’re a normal person well normal
you’re a normal person well normal person enjoy being in the middle of the
person enjoy being in the middle of the
person enjoy being in the middle of the normal curve in other words why do we
normal curve in other words why do we
normal curve in other words why do we exist in this middle part we’d like to
exist in this middle part we’d like to
exist in this middle part we’d like to stay in a place that I like to call calm
stay in a place that I like to call calm
stay in a place that I like to call calm place and sea resort this resort is good
place and sea resort this resort is good
place and sea resort this resort is good enough it’s not bad and it’s adequate
enough it’s not bad and it’s adequate
enough it’s not bad and it’s adequate of course I’m not talking about an
of course I’m not talking about an
of course I’m not talking about an actual resort or if you say calm place
actual resort or if you say calm place
actual resort or if you say calm place and see quick ten times it sounds like
and see quick ten times it sounds like
and see quick ten times it sounds like complacency you see what I did there I’m
complacency you see what I did there I’m
complacency you see what I did there I’m talking about complacency we tend to
talking about complacency we tend to
talking about complacency we tend to stay within our comfort zones and not
stay within our comfort zones and not
stay within our comfort zones and not venture out so how do we increase our
venture out so how do we increase our
venture out so how do we increase our chances of success with both magnitude
chances of success with both magnitude
chances of success with both magnitude and longevity and get to the right-hand
and longevity and get to the right-hand
and longevity and get to the right-hand side of the normal curve well we can
side of the normal curve well we can
side of the normal curve well we can take a look at historical examples like
take a look at historical examples like
take a look at historical examples like the wonders of the world some of which
the wonders of the world some of which
the wonders of the world some of which were literally built brick by brick for
were literally built brick by brick for
were literally built brick by brick for more recent and relevant examples I like
more recent and relevant examples I like
more recent and relevant examples I like to turn to entrepreneurs I believe that
to turn to entrepreneurs I believe that
to turn to entrepreneurs I believe that whatever your goals may be whether it’s
whatever your goals may be whether it’s
whatever your goals may be whether it’s an academic goal a career goal maybe
an academic goal a career goal maybe
an academic goal a career goal maybe it’s a fitness goal entrepreneurs can
it’s a fitness goal entrepreneurs can
it’s a fitness goal entrepreneurs can teach us many lessons about how to
teach us many lessons about how to
teach us many lessons about how to achieve success in magnitude and
achieve success in magnitude and
achieve success in magnitude and longevity
longevity
longevity why because like our favorite Instagram
why because like our favorite Instagram
why because like our favorite Instagram fitness model or that career role model
fitness model or that career role model
fitness model or that career role model that we have or that friend who’s always
that we have or that friend who’s always
that we have or that friend who’s always at the top of the class there are
at the top of the class there are
at the top of the class there are misconceptions about entrepreneurs you
misconceptions about entrepreneurs you
misconceptions about entrepreneurs you might see these people as visionaries
might see these people as visionaries
might see these people as visionaries leaders geniuses and oftentimes
leaders geniuses and oftentimes
leaders geniuses and oftentimes entrepreneurs and entrepreneurship is
entrepreneurs and entrepreneurship is
entrepreneurs and entrepreneurship is romanticized you might think that
romanticized you might think that
romanticized you might think that entrepreneurs get to wear whatever they
entrepreneurs get to wear whatever they
entrepreneurs get to wear whatever they want to work like Mark Zuckerberg whose
want to work like Mark Zuckerberg whose
want to work like Mark Zuckerberg whose favorite outfit at work is a great
favorite outfit at work is a great
favorite outfit at work is a great t-shirt and blue jeans or you might
t-shirt and blue jeans or you might
t-shirt and blue jeans or you might think that entrepreneurs love what they
think that entrepreneurs love what they
think that entrepreneurs love what they do and they have impacted the quality of
do and they have impacted the quality of
do and they have impacted the quality of lives of so many people like Sara
lives of so many people like Sara
lives of so many people like Sara Blakely from Spanx or you might think
Blakely from Spanx or you might think
Blakely from Spanx or you might think that entrepreneurs are highly respected
that entrepreneurs are highly respected
that entrepreneurs are highly respected and seen as experts in their field like
and seen as experts in their field like
and seen as experts in their field like Elon Musk but how did these people get
Elon Musk but how did these people get
Elon Musk but how did these people get there to preface what I’m about to tell
there to preface what I’m about to tell
there to preface what I’m about to tell you I started my first business as an
you I started my first business as an
you I started my first business as an undergraduate student at the University
undergraduate student at the University
undergraduate student at the University of Waterloo I’ve been to innovation
of Waterloo I’ve been to innovation
of Waterloo I’ve been to innovation spaces all over Ontario and in
spaces all over Ontario and in
spaces all over Ontario and in California and currently act as a bit of
California and currently act as a bit of
California and currently act as a bit of a coach to startup businesses at the
a coach to startup businesses at the
a coach to startup businesses at the University of Guelph essentially helping
University of Guelph essentially helping
University of Guelph essentially helping startups startup
startups startup
startups startup what I’m about to tell you is drawn from
what I’m about to tell you is drawn from
what I’m about to tell you is drawn from my own experiences and from the
my own experiences and from the
my own experiences and from the observations of many entrepreneurs that
observations of many entrepreneurs that
observations of many entrepreneurs that I’ve had the privilege of meeting I find
I’ve had the privilege of meeting I find
I’ve had the privilege of meeting I find that there are three things that
that there are three things that
that there are three things that separate the people who achieve success
separate the people who achieve success
separate the people who achieve success in magnitude and longevity from the ones
in magnitude and longevity from the ones
in magnitude and longevity from the ones who do not these three things are
who do not these three things are
who do not these three things are habitual effort dedicated attention and
habitual effort dedicated attention and
habitual effort dedicated attention and unwavering conviction so like I said I
unwavering conviction so like I said I
unwavering conviction so like I said I started my first business as an
started my first business as an
started my first business as an undergraduate student and it was called
undergraduate student and it was called
undergraduate student and it was called you frizz what we did was we promoted
you frizz what we did was we promoted
you frizz what we did was we promoted physical activity to youth through
physical activity to youth through
physical activity to youth through Ultimate Frisbee workshops we would go
Ultimate Frisbee workshops we would go
Ultimate Frisbee workshops we would go into elementary schools and summer camps
into elementary schools and summer camps
into elementary schools and summer camps and teach Ultimate Frisbee with the hope
and teach Ultimate Frisbee with the hope
and teach Ultimate Frisbee with the hope that we would get more kids more active
that we would get more kids more active
that we would get more kids more active and I’ll never forget my first sales
and I’ll never forget my first sales
and I’ll never forget my first sales meeting I was meeting with the vice
meeting I was meeting with the vice
meeting I was meeting with the vice principal at an elementary school and I
principal at an elementary school and I
principal at an elementary school and I have prepared a cheap plastic
have prepared a cheap plastic
have prepared a cheap plastic duel-taining of an information package I
duel-taining of an information package I
duel-taining of an information package I went into her office dropped it on her
went into her office dropped it on her
went into her office dropped it on her desk and said hey what do you think how
desk and said hey what do you think how
desk and said hey what do you think how about you give me some money of course
about you give me some money of course
about you give me some money of course she did not give me some money and if I
she did not give me some money and if I
she did not give me some money and if I actually did not even flip through the
actually did not even flip through the
actually did not even flip through the information package and after five
information package and after five
information package and after five minutes of awkward small talk
minutes of awkward small talk
minutes of awkward small talk I walked out of that school and I felt
I walked out of that school and I felt
I walked out of that school and I felt like a boss of course I quickly realized
like a boss of course I quickly realized
like a boss of course I quickly realized that I was indeed not like a boss and
that I was indeed not like a boss and
that I was indeed not like a boss and this was actually a terrible sales
this was actually a terrible sales
this was actually a terrible sales meeting and I had no sales but I believe
meeting and I had no sales but I believe
meeting and I had no sales but I believe that what I was doing had value and that
that what I was doing had value and that
that what I was doing had value and that there were people who were willing to
there were people who were willing to
there were people who were willing to say yes to me all I have to do is put in
say yes to me all I have to do is put in
say yes to me all I have to do is put in the effort in a habitual manner every
the effort in a habitual manner every
the effort in a habitual manner every single day however small I have to move
single day however small I have to move
single day however small I have to move forward so I did that and eventually I
forward so I did that and eventually I
forward so I did that and eventually I got to her yes by believing that each no
got to her yes by believing that each no
got to her yes by believing that each no that I would get through would get me
that I would get through would get me
that I would get through would get me closer that yes all I had to do was give
closer that yes all I had to do was give
closer that yes all I had to do was give habitual effort a friend of mine Lexi
habitual effort a friend of mine Lexi
habitual effort a friend of mine Lexi she also started a business as an
she also started a business as an
she also started a business as an undergraduate student and her idea was
undergraduate student and her idea was
undergraduate student and her idea was to start a community garden what this
to start a community garden what this
to start a community garden what this community garden would do it would
community garden would do it would
community garden would do it would promote local and sustainable food
promote local and sustainable food
promote local and sustainable food systems she would grow the food in a
systems she would grow the food in a
systems she would grow the food in a garden
garden
garden and this was on campus at University of
and this was on campus at University of
and this was on campus at University of Waterloo she’ll grow to food and give it
Waterloo she’ll grow to food and give it
Waterloo she’ll grow to food and give it to the cafeterias and cafeterias were
to the cafeterias and cafeterias were
to the cafeterias and cafeterias were feed it to the students now there’s
feed it to the students now there’s
feed it to the students now there’s transparency within the whole system you
transparency within the whole system you
transparency within the whole system you know where your food is being grown
know where your food is being grown
know where your food is being grown you know how it’s being grown so she
you know how it’s being grown so she
you know how it’s being grown so she would promote local and sustainable food
would promote local and sustainable food
would promote local and sustainable food systems the challenge was that there
systems the challenge was that there
systems the challenge was that there were significant health and safety
were significant health and safety
were significant health and safety regulations that prevented this from
regulations that prevented this from
regulations that prevented this from happening and despite the fact that the
happening and despite the fact that the
happening and despite the fact that the food was being consumed 50 meters
food was being consumed 50 meters
food was being consumed 50 meters perhaps away from where it was being
perhaps away from where it was being
perhaps away from where it was being grown this was not possible of course
grown this was not possible of course
grown this was not possible of course Lexie put in the habitual effort kept
Lexie put in the habitual effort kept
Lexie put in the habitual effort kept pushing kept pushing and eventually her
pushing kept pushing and eventually her
pushing kept pushing and eventually her 10 foot by 24 foot garden changed
10 foot by 24 foot garden changed
10 foot by 24 foot garden changed national policy now everywhere this
national policy now everywhere this
national policy now everywhere this could be possible you can grow the food
could be possible you can grow the food
could be possible you can grow the food and feed it to the students on our
and feed it to the students on our
and feed it to the students on our University campus how of course Lexi
University campus how of course Lexi
University campus how of course Lexi gave habitual effort but she also
gave habitual effort but she also
gave habitual effort but she also understood that the end result is a
understood that the end result is a
understood that the end result is a summation of its parts so you have to
summation of its parts so you have to
summation of its parts so you have to dedicate the utmost attention to each
dedicate the utmost attention to each
dedicate the utmost attention to each and every detail if you can’t do the
and every detail if you can’t do the
and every detail if you can’t do the small things right how do you expect to
small things right how do you expect to
small things right how do you expect to do the big things right and if each
do the big things right and if each
do the big things right and if each detail each small component you’re
detail each small component you’re
detail each small component you’re working on you’re not giving it you’re
working on you’re not giving it you’re
working on you’re not giving it you’re not giving it the attention that it
not giving it the attention that it
not giving it the attention that it deserves then it will only be average
deserves then it will only be average
deserves then it will only be average and if you do the math all the small
and if you do the math all the small
and if you do the math all the small components are average and the end
components are average and the end
components are average and the end result is the sum of all the average
result is the sum of all the average
result is the sum of all the average components carry the one then your end
components carry the one then your end
components carry the one then your end result is well just average and you’re
result is well just average and you’re
result is well just average and you’re right back in the middle of the normal
right back in the middle of the normal
right back in the middle of the normal curve so you have to dedicate to each
curve so you have to dedicate to each
curve so you have to dedicate to each detail the attention that it deserves my
detail the attention that it deserves my
detail the attention that it deserves my friend John started a business using
friend John started a business using
friend John started a business using artificial intelligence and machine
artificial intelligence and machine
artificial intelligence and machine learning to help content readers write
learning to help content readers write
learning to help content readers write better and write faster at the time when
better and write faster at the time when
better and write faster at the time when John started where it’s like artificial
John started where it’s like artificial
John started where it’s like artificial intelligence machine learning natural
intelligence machine learning natural
intelligence machine learning natural language processing
language processing
language processing they weren’t the buzzwords that we know
they weren’t the buzzwords that we know
they weren’t the buzzwords that we know of today the only players who were in
of today the only players who were in
of today the only players who were in that space where perhaps a small company
that space where perhaps a small company
that space where perhaps a small company called Google and you don’t know
called Google and you don’t know
called Google and you don’t know you can go ahead and google it John took
you can go ahead and google it John took
you can go ahead and google it John took his idea and he told a respected
his idea and he told a respected
his idea and he told a respected professor of his and his professor shot
professor of his and his professor shot
professor of his and his professor shot him down his professor said John this is
him down his professor said John this is
him down his professor said John this is a terrible idea go work on something
a terrible idea go work on something
a terrible idea go work on something else John took his idea to his family
else John took his idea to his family
else John took his idea to his family and friends and he say you know what
and friends and he say you know what
and friends and he say you know what John I think you’ve had better ideas in
John I think you’ve had better ideas in
John I think you’ve had better ideas in the past despite all the negativity John
the past despite all the negativity John
the past despite all the negativity John kept pushing and pushing and eventually
kept pushing and pushing and eventually
kept pushing and pushing and eventually somebody came up to him and said you
somebody came up to him and said you
somebody came up to him and said you know what this is perfect for me what
know what this is perfect for me what
know what this is perfect for me what you’re working on is perfect
you’re working on is perfect
you’re working on is perfect I am your ideal customer and after three
I am your ideal customer and after three
I am your ideal customer and after three long years John got to his first sale of
long years John got to his first sale of
long years John got to his first sale of course he gave habitual effort and he
course he gave habitual effort and he
course he gave habitual effort and he gave dedicated attention he also had
gave dedicated attention he also had
gave dedicated attention he also had unwavering conviction despite the lack
unwavering conviction despite the lack
unwavering conviction despite the lack of immediate results John believed in a
of immediate results John believed in a
of immediate results John believed in a value that he was providing and he
value that he was providing and he
value that he was providing and he believed that no matter what he could
believed that no matter what he could
believed that no matter what he could figure things out the thing is the time
figure things out the thing is the time
figure things out the thing is the time it takes to see results is in direct
it takes to see results is in direct
it takes to see results is in direct correlation with the size of your
correlation with the size of your
correlation with the size of your ambition so the further you try to go on
ambition so the further you try to go on
ambition so the further you try to go on the right-hand side of normal curve the
the right-hand side of normal curve the
the right-hand side of normal curve the longer it’s going to take so be
longer it’s going to take so be
longer it’s going to take so be unwavering in your conviction and
unwavering in your conviction and
unwavering in your conviction and believe that you can become great and
believe that you can become great and
believe that you can become great and you can build something magnificent how
you can build something magnificent how
you can build something magnificent how does this apply to you well whatever
does this apply to you well whatever
does this apply to you well whatever your goals may be whether it’s fitness
your goals may be whether it’s fitness
your goals may be whether it’s fitness career academic define success start by
career academic define success start by
career academic define success start by defining what greatness is work
defining what greatness is work
defining what greatness is work backwards and piece together all the
backwards and piece together all the
backwards and piece together all the tiny parts that you need to put together
tiny parts that you need to put together
tiny parts that you need to put together to create something magnificent and
to create something magnificent and
to create something magnificent and great and then dedicate your attention
great and then dedicate your attention
great and then dedicate your attention to each detail dedicate the attention
to each detail dedicate the attention
to each detail dedicate the attention that it deserves and as you build
that it deserves and as you build
that it deserves and as you build believe that what you’re putting
believe that what you’re putting
believe that what you’re putting together will amount to something
together will amount to something
together will amount to something wonderful it will be difficult it will
wonderful it will be difficult it will
wonderful it will be difficult it will be challenging and you will want to quit
be challenging and you will want to quit
be challenging and you will want to quit but if you apply these three things
but if you apply these three things
but if you apply these three things habitual effort that
habitual effort that
habitual effort that attention and unwavering conviction
attention and unwavering conviction
attention and unwavering conviction conviction you can reach the right-hand
conviction you can reach the right-hand
conviction you can reach the right-hand side of the normal curve and you can
side of the normal curve and you can
side of the normal curve and you can become great if you continuously
become great if you continuously
become great if you continuously practice these three things and you stay
practice these three things and you stay
practice these three things and you stay away from complacency you can remain
away from complacency you can remain
away from complacency you can remain great so dream big at small and build
great so dream big at small and build
great so dream big at small and build your vision brick by brick thank you
your vision brick by brick thank you
your vision brick by brick thank you [Applause]
”
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