how to make big things happen four years ago today I sit on the TEDx stage on a
ago today I sit on the TEDx stage on a
ago today I sit on the TEDx stage on a topic called stop listening to the notes
topic called stop listening to the notes
topic called stop listening to the notes when I spoke on that stage I was focused
when I spoke on that stage I was focused
when I spoke on that stage I was focused on I what are the challenges we face
on I what are the challenges we face
on I what are the challenges we face when we want to lead a path that’s
when we want to lead a path that’s
when we want to lead a path that’s different than what society expects us
different than what society expects us
different than what society expects us to leave I spoke about the traditional
to leave I spoke about the traditional
to leave I spoke about the traditional white picket fence story that many of us
white picket fence story that many of us
white picket fence story that many of us know where you’re expected to go to
know where you’re expected to go to
know where you’re expected to go to school get a job get a reliable career
school get a job get a reliable career
school get a job get a reliable career work your way up the ladder and then
work your way up the ladder and then
work your way up the ladder and then maybe once you’re successful look to
maybe once you’re successful look to
maybe once you’re successful look to other things to explore your passions
other things to explore your passions
other things to explore your passions before you retire and I ask the question
before you retire and I ask the question
before you retire and I ask the question what happens to those of us who decide
what happens to those of us who decide
what happens to those of us who decide to pursue a path different from the
to pursue a path different from the
to pursue a path different from the beginning those of us who want to pursue
beginning those of us who want to pursue
beginning those of us who want to pursue our passions from the start I didn’t
our passions from the start I didn’t
our passions from the start I didn’t know at the time what that would hold or
know at the time what that would hold or
know at the time what that would hold or where that journey would take me all I
where that journey would take me all I
where that journey would take me all I knew was I was passionate that I wanted
knew was I was passionate that I wanted
knew was I was passionate that I wanted to take my life into my own hands
to take my life into my own hands
to take my life into my own hands little did I know that that journey
little did I know that that journey
little did I know that that journey would take me on a wild ride over these
would take me on a wild ride over these
would take me on a wild ride over these next four years I started off as a
next four years I started off as a
next four years I started off as a motivational speaker trying to empower
motivational speaker trying to empower
motivational speaker trying to empower the voice of my peers like many of you
the voice of my peers like many of you
the voice of my peers like many of you here today giving a voice to the
here today giving a voice to the
here today giving a voice to the ambitions and passions that our
ambitions and passions that our
ambitions and passions that our generation holds and the ability that we
generation holds and the ability that we
generation holds and the ability that we have to shape that future after speaking
have to shape that future after speaking
have to shape that future after speaking a started on a whirlwind of a journey
a started on a whirlwind of a journey
a started on a whirlwind of a journey founding my first company Lavelle
founding my first company Lavelle
founding my first company Lavelle corporation under which then I ended up
corporation under which then I ended up
corporation under which then I ended up founding between four to five other
founding between four to five other
founding between four to five other startup ventures and companies
startup ventures and companies
startup ventures and companies everything from a positive media series
everything from a positive media series
everything from a positive media series that share the stories of youth creating
that share the stories of youth creating
that share the stories of youth creating change to a tech startup that could
change to a tech startup that could
change to a tech startup that could capture the skills we are gaining from
capture the skills we are gaining from
capture the skills we are gaining from volunteerism in ways that we could
volunteerism in ways that we could
volunteerism in ways that we could improve our employment candidacy and
improve our employment candidacy and
improve our employment candidacy and embody the impact our generation has
embody the impact our generation has
embody the impact our generation has along that way I ended up becoming a
along that way I ended up becoming a
along that way I ended up becoming a prominent voice for the generate our
prominent voice for the generate our
prominent voice for the generate our generation speaking to heads of states
generation speaking to heads of states
generation speaking to heads of states and most recently Her Majesty Queen
and most recently Her Majesty Queen
and most recently Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth
Elizabeth
Elizabeth never
never
never in the million years when I stood on
in the million years when I stood on
in the million years when I stood on that TEDx stage four years ago what I
that TEDx stage four years ago what I
that TEDx stage four years ago what I have imagined that I would have been in
have imagined that I would have been in
have imagined that I would have been in Buckingham Palace last year this journey
Buckingham Palace last year this journey
Buckingham Palace last year this journey has been filled of big things and so
has been filled of big things and so
has been filled of big things and so when I thought today of the topic of
when I thought today of the topic of
when I thought today of the topic of TEDx and the thing of equilibrium the
TEDx and the thing of equilibrium the
TEDx and the thing of equilibrium the very first thing that comes to mind is
very first thing that comes to mind is
very first thing that comes to mind is balance but my life has been anything
balance but my life has been anything
balance but my life has been anything but balance and this journey has been a
but balance and this journey has been a
but balance and this journey has been a whirlwind to say the least but one thing
whirlwind to say the least but one thing
whirlwind to say the least but one thing when looking back that I found was when
when looking back that I found was when
when looking back that I found was when I started to look at all of the big
I started to look at all of the big
I started to look at all of the big things that has happened so far in my
things that has happened so far in my
things that has happened so far in my journey I found common character traits
journey I found common character traits
journey I found common character traits and more importantly a common
and more importantly a common
and more importantly a common combination of those character traits
combination of those character traits
combination of those character traits that always seem to be rooted in my
that always seem to be rooted in my
that always seem to be rooted in my success or bringing that idea to life
success or bringing that idea to life
success or bringing that idea to life and today I want to share that with you
and today I want to share that with you
and today I want to share that with you I would like to share with you the
I would like to share with you the
I would like to share with you the change leader formula this has taken the
change leader formula this has taken the
change leader formula this has taken the five character traits that I have found
five character traits that I have found
five character traits that I have found prominent in my journey that have made
prominent in my journey that have made
prominent in my journey that have made my my success today the first character
my my success today the first character
my my success today the first character trait that is most important is passion
trait that is most important is passion
trait that is most important is passion passion is your greatest asset as a
passion is your greatest asset as a
passion is your greatest asset as a young leader it is in even the most
young leader it is in even the most
young leader it is in even the most famous TED Talks that we listen to of
famous TED Talks that we listen to of
famous TED Talks that we listen to of assignment cynics of the world of the
assignment cynics of the world of the
assignment cynics of the world of the power of the y2y investors invest in
power of the y2y investors invest in
power of the y2y investors invest in businesses they invest in the founder in
businesses they invest in the founder in
businesses they invest in the founder in the vision not necessarily on the
the vision not necessarily on the
the vision not necessarily on the product itself it’s the same thing with
product itself it’s the same thing with
product itself it’s the same thing with consumers and what we buy we don’t buy a
consumers and what we buy we don’t buy a
consumers and what we buy we don’t buy a smartphone because it’s a device to make
smartphone because it’s a device to make
smartphone because it’s a device to make calls we buy it for what it represents
calls we buy it for what it represents
calls we buy it for what it represents the same thing happens with ideas your
the same thing happens with ideas your
the same thing happens with ideas your passion is your fire particularly as a
passion is your fire particularly as a
passion is your fire particularly as a young leader when trying to make a big
young leader when trying to make a big
young leader when trying to make a big thing happen your passion is what people
thing happen your passion is what people
thing happen your passion is what people believe in and increase in energy and
believe in and increase in energy and
believe in and increase in energy and that energy attracts the right people
that energy attracts the right people
that energy attracts the right people resources and supports you need to build
resources and supports you need to build
resources and supports you need to build your ideas for me it’s how I got started
your ideas for me it’s how I got started
your ideas for me it’s how I got started I didn’t know what I wanted to do all I
I didn’t know what I wanted to do all I
I didn’t know what I wanted to do all I knew as I was passionate about creating
knew as I was passionate about creating
knew as I was passionate about creating opportunities for my peers and with that
opportunities for my peers and with that
opportunities for my peers and with that passion
passion
passion I was able to connect with others who
I was able to connect with others who
I was able to connect with others who also wanted to do the same thing and
also wanted to do the same thing and
also wanted to do the same thing and that energy is contagious and slowly it
that energy is contagious and slowly it
that energy is contagious and slowly it starts to snowball into building and
starts to snowball into building and
starts to snowball into building and getting momentum for your idea
getting momentum for your idea
getting momentum for your idea the second thing though once you have
the second thing though once you have
the second thing though once you have passion is persistence I wouldn’t be
passion is persistence I wouldn’t be
passion is persistence I wouldn’t be standing here today literally if I
standing here today literally if I
standing here today literally if I didn’t have persistence my very first
didn’t have persistence my very first
didn’t have persistence my very first talk ever as a motivational speaker was
talk ever as a motivational speaker was
talk ever as a motivational speaker was live to 7,000 students in a stadium at
live to 7,000 students in a stadium at
live to 7,000 students in a stadium at we day we day is a large event that
we day we day is a large event that
we day we day is a large event that usually enlists a list speakers such as
usually enlists a list speakers such as
usually enlists a list speakers such as the Selena Gomez’s and Demi Lovato’s of
the Selena Gomez’s and Demi Lovato’s of
the Selena Gomez’s and Demi Lovato’s of the world and political leaders and and
the world and political leaders and and
the world and political leaders and and humanitarians not a teenage girl with
humanitarians not a teenage girl with
humanitarians not a teenage girl with nothing to her name the way I got on
nothing to her name the way I got on
nothing to her name the way I got on that stage was I first reached out to we
that stage was I first reached out to we
that stage was I first reached out to we day because I had wanted to share some
day because I had wanted to share some
day because I had wanted to share some of the journey that I had I had some
of the journey that I had I had some
of the journey that I had I had some health issues and gone through some
health issues and gone through some
health issues and gone through some bullying and mental health struggles and
bullying and mental health struggles and
bullying and mental health struggles and I wanted to share that with my peers I
I wanted to share that with my peers I
I wanted to share that with my peers I thought it would really fit with the
thought it would really fit with the
thought it would really fit with the vision of the event and I received a
vision of the event and I received a
vision of the event and I received a standard rejection letter I was
standard rejection letter I was
standard rejection letter I was persistent enough to reply back and try
persistent enough to reply back and try
persistent enough to reply back and try again but I got the rejection letter
again but I got the rejection letter
again but I got the rejection letter again I was first this isn’t enough to
again I was first this isn’t enough to
again I was first this isn’t enough to try one more time and that time instead
try one more time and that time instead
try one more time and that time instead of going to the same speaker the speaker
of going to the same speaker the speaker
of going to the same speaker the speaker lead I contacted the founder and I
lead I contacted the founder and I
lead I contacted the founder and I shared with him my story and immediately
shared with him my story and immediately
shared with him my story and immediately the next day I got a call for an
the next day I got a call for an
the next day I got a call for an invitation to be one of the opening
invitation to be one of the opening
invitation to be one of the opening speakers at the we day event if I was
speakers at the we day event if I was
speakers at the we day event if I was not persistent enough to make sure my
not persistent enough to make sure my
not persistent enough to make sure my message got heard by the right person I
message got heard by the right person I
message got heard by the right person I would have never started as a
would have never started as a
would have never started as a motivational speaker and would not be
motivational speaker and would not be
motivational speaker and would not be standing here on my third TEDx talk
standing here on my third TEDx talk
standing here on my third TEDx talk right now
right now
right now persistence to continue to knock down
persistence to continue to knock down
persistence to continue to knock down those doors until you find the one that
those doors until you find the one that
those doors until you find the one that opens is critical and making big things
opens is critical and making big things
opens is critical and making big things happen your success will rarely lie
happen your success will rarely lie
happen your success will rarely lie behind that first closed door so you
behind that first closed door so you
behind that first closed door so you need to continue to pursue that vision
need to continue to pursue that vision
need to continue to pursue that vision but as you pursue that vision most
but as you pursue that vision most
but as you pursue that vision most importantly and this is a lesson I learn
importantly and this is a lesson I learn
importantly and this is a lesson I learn the hard way
the hard way
the hard way you must have patience
you must have patience
you must have patience I’m probably the least patient person
I’m probably the least patient person
I’m probably the least patient person you will ever meet
you will ever meet
you will ever meet I have no attention to him for patience
I have no attention to him for patience
I have no attention to him for patience and I want everything to happen now and
and I want everything to happen now and
and I want everything to happen now and particularly because I started so young
particularly because I started so young
particularly because I started so young I think our perception when we’re young
I think our perception when we’re young
I think our perception when we’re young on time is already a little shorter than
on time is already a little shorter than
on time is already a little shorter than what it is in the executive world
what it is in the executive world
what it is in the executive world exactly the world right now they’re
exactly the world right now they’re
exactly the world right now they’re talking about their plan – mm they’re
talking about their plan – mm they’re
talking about their plan – mm they’re ready way past 2018 they’re talking 2020
ready way past 2018 they’re talking 2020
ready way past 2018 they’re talking 2020 2025 and you look at the sustainable
2025 and you look at the sustainable
2025 and you look at the sustainable development goals with the UN we’re
development goals with the UN we’re
development goals with the UN we’re talking 2030 that’s a lifetime when
talking 2030 that’s a lifetime when
talking 2030 that’s a lifetime when you’re a teenager I in school and it’s
you’re a teenager I in school and it’s
you’re a teenager I in school and it’s the biggest deal in the world if you’re
the biggest deal in the world if you’re
the biggest deal in the world if you’re dating someone just two grades ahead of
dating someone just two grades ahead of
dating someone just two grades ahead of you ridden in delight so when I first
you ridden in delight so when I first
you ridden in delight so when I first started as a young leader trying to make
started as a young leader trying to make
started as a young leader trying to make an idea happen I had these great ideas I
an idea happen I had these great ideas I
an idea happen I had these great ideas I was bubbling with energy and I was like
was bubbling with energy and I was like
was bubbling with energy and I was like okay and we’re going to do this and this
okay and we’re going to do this and this
okay and we’re going to do this and this and this and we’re gonna do a national
and this and we’re gonna do a national
and this and we’re gonna do a national fundraising campaign and we’re gonna do
fundraising campaign and we’re gonna do
fundraising campaign and we’re gonna do it all of all of it in less than two
it all of all of it in less than two
it all of all of it in less than two months everyone any mentor that I had in
months everyone any mentor that I had in
months everyone any mentor that I had in my em and my networks look would laughed
my em and my networks look would laughed
my em and my networks look would laughed at maybe like Kelly you can’t do this in
at maybe like Kelly you can’t do this in
at maybe like Kelly you can’t do this in two months you need to play this for a
two months you need to play this for a
two months you need to play this for a year you can’t do a cross-country
year you can’t do a cross-country
year you can’t do a cross-country fundraiser for students and I know I can
fundraiser for students and I know I can
fundraiser for students and I know I can do it and I did it but it wasn’t as
do it and I did it but it wasn’t as
do it and I did it but it wasn’t as effective I could have reached more
effective I could have reached more
effective I could have reached more people I could have probably raised more
people I could have probably raised more
people I could have probably raised more money because there was a lot of things
money because there was a lot of things
money because there was a lot of things in planning that I had neglected cuz I
in planning that I had neglected cuz I
in planning that I had neglected cuz I was rushing to push it out and so I’ve
was rushing to push it out and so I’ve
was rushing to push it out and so I’ve learned over time that patience in
learned over time that patience in
learned over time that patience in creating bait things is extremely
creating bait things is extremely
creating bait things is extremely important the power of youth book is one
important the power of youth book is one
important the power of youth book is one of these is an example of this it’s a
of these is an example of this it’s a
of these is an example of this it’s a project that I’ve worked on for two
project that I’ve worked on for two
project that I’ve worked on for two years I started off two years ago
years I started off two years ago
years I started off two years ago wanting to capture the stories of change
wanting to capture the stories of change
wanting to capture the stories of change of youth around the world who would like
of youth around the world who would like
of youth around the world who would like me wanted to create a different path
me wanted to create a different path
me wanted to create a different path wanted to lead a meaningful life that
wanted to lead a meaningful life that
wanted to lead a meaningful life that critic impact and was changing our world
critic impact and was changing our world
critic impact and was changing our world it took me two years to put it together
it took me two years to put it together
it took me two years to put it together eighty-three thousand words later but in
eighty-three thousand words later but in
eighty-three thousand words later but in the process we have curated two hundred
the process we have curated two hundred
the process we have curated two hundred stories of youth in over 59 different
stories of youth in over 59 different
stories of youth in over 59 different countries who are changing our world
countries who are changing our world
countries who are changing our world everything from age six to thirty I can
everything from age six to thirty I can
everything from age six to thirty I can I would not have been able to create
I would not have been able to create
I would not have been able to create such an amazing piece if I had
such an amazing piece if I had
such an amazing piece if I had ruch that and I would not have been able
ruch that and I would not have been able
ruch that and I would not have been able to reach 59 countries if I had rushed
to reach 59 countries if I had rushed
to reach 59 countries if I had rushed that having patience to let your ideas
that having patience to let your ideas
that having patience to let your ideas evolve and grow it builds on that
evolve and grow it builds on that
evolve and grow it builds on that foundation thirdly and this is something
foundation thirdly and this is something
foundation thirdly and this is something that a lesson that I’ve just still
that a lesson that I’ve just still
that a lesson that I’ve just still working on in honesty it’s a lesson that
working on in honesty it’s a lesson that
working on in honesty it’s a lesson that I only really came to realize really
I only really came to realize really
I only really came to realize really strongly almost probably in the last
strongly almost probably in the last
strongly almost probably in the last month is self-care since standing on
month is self-care since standing on
month is self-care since standing on that TEDx stage four years ago I have
that TEDx stage four years ago I have
that TEDx stage four years ago I have been an overdrive I have worked seven
been an overdrive I have worked seven
been an overdrive I have worked seven days a week no holidays
days a week no holidays
days a week no holidays starting off working till 1 a.m. those 1
starting off working till 1 a.m. those 1
starting off working till 1 a.m. those 1 a.m. s turn to 2 a.m. to 3 a.m. and most
a.m. s turn to 2 a.m. to 3 a.m. and most
a.m. s turn to 2 a.m. to 3 a.m. and most recently before I decide to really make
recently before I decide to really make
recently before I decide to really make self-care a priority for am running on 4
self-care a priority for am running on 4
self-care a priority for am running on 4 hours sleep around the clock I neglected
hours sleep around the clock I neglected
hours sleep around the clock I neglected the most important thing myself I was so
the most important thing myself I was so
the most important thing myself I was so concerned and passionate about making my
concerned and passionate about making my
concerned and passionate about making my ideas happen in helping others in
ideas happen in helping others in
ideas happen in helping others in creating a better future for everyone
creating a better future for everyone
creating a better future for everyone else that I forgot my own well-being in
else that I forgot my own well-being in
else that I forgot my own well-being in the process and you don’t see that first
the process and you don’t see that first
the process and you don’t see that first at first it sometimes it’s exciting when
at first it sometimes it’s exciting when
at first it sometimes it’s exciting when you first start as an entrepreneur
you first start as an entrepreneur
you first start as an entrepreneur you’re like oh I’m working through 1:00
you’re like oh I’m working through 1:00
you’re like oh I’m working through 1:00 a.m. that means I must be doing
a.m. that means I must be doing
a.m. that means I must be doing something graded and I’m being
something graded and I’m being
something graded and I’m being productive because I really long days
productive because I really long days
productive because I really long days it really doesn’t you can be much more
it really doesn’t you can be much more
it really doesn’t you can be much more effective in use of your time and still
effective in use of your time and still
effective in use of your time and still take care of yourself
take care of yourself
take care of yourself I found that I became on burnout and
I found that I became on burnout and
I found that I became on burnout and when as I’m burnout and I was last
when as I’m burnout and I was last
when as I’m burnout and I was last summer I pushed through it and continued
summer I pushed through it and continued
summer I pushed through it and continued to push through it
to push through it
to push through it and what I found my relationships
and what I found my relationships
and what I found my relationships dwindle I became distant from my team at
dwindle I became distant from my team at
dwindle I became distant from my team at work and I wasn’t able to mentally take
work and I wasn’t able to mentally take
work and I wasn’t able to mentally take care of the things I needed to more
care of the things I needed to more
care of the things I needed to more productivity things I used to be able to
productivity things I used to be able to
productivity things I used to be able to get done in a day took me a week to do
get done in a day took me a week to do
get done in a day took me a week to do self-care is extremely important I
self-care is extremely important I
self-care is extremely important I always go back to your driving out in
always go back to your driving out in
always go back to your driving out in your airplane and they say put your
your airplane and they say put your
your airplane and they say put your oxygen oxygen mask on before you help
oxygen oxygen mask on before you help
oxygen oxygen mask on before you help others take care of yourself in order to
others take care of yourself in order to
others take care of yourself in order to make your big ideas happen
make your big ideas happen
make your big ideas happen once you have those character traits
once you have those character traits
once you have those character traits though the next and most important
though the next and most important
though the next and most important character trait you need is confidence
character trait you need is confidence
character trait you need is confidence you can be the most passionate person in
you can be the most passionate person in
you can be the most passionate person in the world has the best idea be
the world has the best idea be
the world has the best idea be persistent knocking down all of those
persistent knocking down all of those
persistent knocking down all of those doors continue your way but if you do
doors continue your way but if you do
doors continue your way but if you do not have the confidence for when that
not have the confidence for when that
not have the confidence for when that door opens to feel that you are worthy
door opens to feel that you are worthy
door opens to feel that you are worthy to be heard that your voice matters and
to be heard that your voice matters and
to be heard that your voice matters and your idea is a value it’s all for
your idea is a value it’s all for
your idea is a value it’s all for nothing you first must believe in
nothing you first must believe in
nothing you first must believe in yourself before you can expect others to
yourself before you can expect others to
yourself before you can expect others to believe in your ideas confidence for me
believe in your ideas confidence for me
believe in your ideas confidence for me has been my greatest asset and something
has been my greatest asset and something
has been my greatest asset and something that for me has really created the
that for me has really created the
that for me has really created the opportunities I started off with nothing
opportunities I started off with nothing
opportunities I started off with nothing I was not primed for success nothing
I was not primed for success nothing
I was not primed for success nothing special I would not I didn’t have any
special I would not I didn’t have any
special I would not I didn’t have any edge business education when I started
edge business education when I started
edge business education when I started off or connections or a financing to
off or connections or a financing to
off or connections or a financing to make any of these ideas happen I’ve
make any of these ideas happen I’ve
make any of these ideas happen I’ve bootstrapped the whole thing and running
bootstrapped the whole thing and running
bootstrapped the whole thing and running on a lot of times just passion and drive
on a lot of times just passion and drive
on a lot of times just passion and drive but because I was passionate about it
but because I was passionate about it
but because I was passionate about it and I was confident enough to share that
and I was confident enough to share that
and I was confident enough to share that passion with the world amazing things
passion with the world amazing things
passion with the world amazing things have happened I’ve made it to the red
have happened I’ve made it to the red
have happened I’ve made it to the red carpet at the Oscars Buckingham Palace
carpet at the Oscars Buckingham Palace
carpet at the Oscars Buckingham Palace United Nations headquarters Mets with
United Nations headquarters Mets with
United Nations headquarters Mets with our prime ministers and president former
our prime ministers and president former
our prime ministers and president former presidents and it’s all because I
presidents and it’s all because I
presidents and it’s all because I believed that my mission was worthy
believed that my mission was worthy
believed that my mission was worthy enough for others to hear and I had the
enough for others to hear and I had the
enough for others to hear and I had the confidence to share it so if you combine
confidence to share it so if you combine
confidence to share it so if you combine these character traits passion and
these character traits passion and
these character traits passion and persistence to bring and make those
persistence to bring and make those
persistence to bring and make those ideas happen combined and equally
ideas happen combined and equally
ideas happen combined and equally balanced out with the patience to let
balanced out with the patience to let
balanced out with the patience to let those ideas grow to plan and coordinate
those ideas grow to plan and coordinate
those ideas grow to plan and coordinate the logistics and self-care to make sure
the logistics and self-care to make sure
the logistics and self-care to make sure that you’re running at your hundred
that you’re running at your hundred
that you’re running at your hundred percent bests so you can support those
percent bests so you can support those
percent bests so you can support those opportunities when they come in those
opportunities when they come in those
opportunities when they come in those doors open and you’re ready and ready to
doors open and you’re ready and ready to
doors open and you’re ready and ready to take
take
take action you can achieve equilibrium but
action you can achieve equilibrium but
action you can achieve equilibrium but remember you need that confidence to
remember you need that confidence to
remember you need that confidence to balance things out when combined by
balance things out when combined by
balance things out when combined by passion perseverance patience and
passion perseverance patience and
passion perseverance patience and self-care and confidence you can make
self-care and confidence you can make
self-care and confidence you can make big things happen
big things happen
big things happen [Applause]
”
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