my name is Richard askin and and I am one of those strange people that
one of those strange people that
one of those strange people that actually enjoys doing this I actually do
actually enjoys doing this I actually do
actually enjoys doing this I actually do this for a living so it’s a little bit
this for a living so it’s a little bit
this for a living so it’s a little bit weird for me today to work on a Saturday
weird for me today to work on a Saturday
weird for me today to work on a Saturday if I’m honest but I have been in America
if I’m honest but I have been in America
if I’m honest but I have been in America recently and one of the things that I
recently and one of the things that I
recently and one of the things that I love about the Americans is that the
love about the Americans is that the
love about the Americans is that the legendary status that they afford their
legendary status that they afford their
legendary status that they afford their sports stars and as a result those
sports stars and as a result those
sports stars and as a result those sports stars future is completely sorted
sports stars future is completely sorted
sports stars future is completely sorted for them they have no worries about what
for them they have no worries about what
for them they have no worries about what their future looks like and that they
their future looks like and that they
their future looks like and that they don’t have to give it any thought at all
don’t have to give it any thought at all
don’t have to give it any thought at all because they are treated almost as
because they are treated almost as
because they are treated almost as royalty does anybody know the picture
royalty does anybody know the picture
royalty does anybody know the picture that is on the screen now is a legendary
that is on the screen now is a legendary
that is on the screen now is a legendary ice hockey player Wayne Gretzky thank
ice hockey player Wayne Gretzky thank
ice hockey player Wayne Gretzky thank you very much
you very much
you very much and he is known universally as as the
and he is known universally as as the
and he is known universally as as the great one and he was asked recently what
great one and he was asked recently what
great one and he was asked recently what made him better and the hockey player
made him better and the hockey player
made him better and the hockey player that’s ever lived and his art was quite
that’s ever lived and his art was quite
that’s ever lived and his art was quite useful for today’s future topic he said
useful for today’s future topic he said
useful for today’s future topic he said it’s not because I was the quickest and
it’s not because I was the quickest and
it’s not because I was the quickest and it’s not because I was the strongest but
it’s not because I was the strongest but
it’s not because I was the strongest but where everybody else skated to where the
where everybody else skated to where the
where everybody else skated to where the puck was I skated to where the puck was
puck was I skated to where the puck was
puck was I skated to where the puck was going to be he knew what the future
going to be he knew what the future
going to be he knew what the future looked like and as a result he became a
looked like and as a result he became a
looked like and as a result he became a legend and it got me thinking what does
legend and it got me thinking what does
legend and it got me thinking what does the future look like and the worrying
the future look like and the worrying
the future look like and the worrying thing for me was earlier on this year my
thing for me was earlier on this year my
thing for me was earlier on this year my future became my present and I turned 50
future became my present and I turned 50
future became my present and I turned 50 on April the 1st this year the good news
on April the 1st this year the good news
on April the 1st this year the good news is 50 is only 14 in Scrabble so in dog
is 50 is only 14 in Scrabble so in dog
is 50 is only 14 in Scrabble so in dog years I’m only 14 but it forced me to
years I’m only 14 but it forced me to
years I’m only 14 but it forced me to look back on the first half of my life
look back on the first half of my life
look back on the first half of my life because let’s be honest 50 is only half
because let’s be honest 50 is only half
because let’s be honest 50 is only half way so it’s what you do in the second
way so it’s what you do in the second
way so it’s what you do in the second half that’s important as the first and
half that’s important as the first and
half that’s important as the first and of course a wise man once said that the
of course a wise man once said that the
of course a wise man once said that the only point in looking backwards is to
only point in looking backwards is to
only point in looking backwards is to see where you’ve come from so I thought
see where you’ve come from so I thought
see where you’ve come from so I thought this was an opportunity to potentially
this was an opportunity to potentially
this was an opportunity to potentially change the way that my future could be
change the way that my future could be
change the way that my future could be and perhaps possibly create a new future
and perhaps possibly create a new future
and perhaps possibly create a new future for myself
for myself
for myself and many years ago I found myself in
and many years ago I found myself in
and many years ago I found myself in Australia and I spent quite a lot of
Australia and I spent quite a lot of
Australia and I spent quite a lot of time there watching TV and there was an
time there watching TV and there was an
time there watching TV and there was an advertising campaign for the northern
advertising campaign for the northern
advertising campaign for the northern territories which if any of you have
territories which if any of you have
territories which if any of you have ever been to Australia you’ll know that
ever been to Australia you’ll know that
ever been to Australia you’ll know that the northern territories is effectively
the northern territories is effectively
the northern territories is effectively a swamp and they were trying to create
a swamp and they were trying to create
a swamp and they were trying to create it as a tourist destination and the
it as a tourist destination and the
it as a tourist destination and the strap line for the TV commercial was if
strap line for the TV commercial was if
strap line for the TV commercial was if you never ever go you’ll never ever know
you never ever go you’ll never ever know
you never ever go you’ll never ever know and I’ve used that throughout my entire
and I’ve used that throughout my entire
and I’ve used that throughout my entire working life as
working life as
working life as reason to be in rooms night today
reason to be in rooms night today
reason to be in rooms night today because what’s the worst that can happen
because what’s the worst that can happen
because what’s the worst that can happen your future can happen if you let it and
your future can happen if you let it and
your future can happen if you let it and that’s a maxim that I’ve lived by ever
that’s a maxim that I’ve lived by ever
that’s a maxim that I’ve lived by ever since and occasionally you find
since and occasionally you find
since and occasionally you find yourselves at those crossroads those
yourselves at those crossroads those
yourselves at those crossroads those moments in time when you could either
moments in time when you could either
moments in time when you could either choose to sit in the dark room in your
choose to sit in the dark room in your
choose to sit in the dark room in your underwear eating rice krispies and
underwear eating rice krispies and
underwear eating rice krispies and drinking vodka and let’s face it we’ve
drinking vodka and let’s face it we’ve
drinking vodka and let’s face it we’ve probably all contemplated that at some
probably all contemplated that at some
probably all contemplated that at some point in our time or you can choose the
point in our time or you can choose the
point in our time or you can choose the pathway of hope which is to create a new
pathway of hope which is to create a new
pathway of hope which is to create a new version of the story that you were
version of the story that you were
version of the story that you were previously on and that’s something that
previously on and that’s something that
previously on and that’s something that I found myself doing and I I’d take
I found myself doing and I I’d take
I found myself doing and I I’d take tasks with the word entrepreneur
tasks with the word entrepreneur
tasks with the word entrepreneur unfortunately apologies for earlier
unfortunately apologies for earlier
unfortunately apologies for earlier speakers today because for me the word
speakers today because for me the word
speakers today because for me the word entrepreneur makes no sense for anybody
entrepreneur makes no sense for anybody
entrepreneur makes no sense for anybody that speaks French the word
that speaks French the word
that speaks French the word entre means between and the preneur
entre means between and the preneur
entre means between and the preneur means taker so if you describe yourself
means taker so if you describe yourself
means taker so if you describe yourself as an entrepreneur you’re effectively
as an entrepreneur you’re effectively
as an entrepreneur you’re effectively saying you are a between taker which to
saying you are a between taker which to
saying you are a between taker which to me has no logical sense whatsoever
me has no logical sense whatsoever
me has no logical sense whatsoever whereas the word risk apron er is of
whereas the word risk apron er is of
whereas the word risk apron er is of course risk-taker and I’ve been in that
course risk-taker and I’ve been in that
course risk-taker and I’ve been in that plane a few times I’ve jumped off that
plane a few times I’ve jumped off that
plane a few times I’ve jumped off that cliff several times in my working life
cliff several times in my working life
cliff several times in my working life and on the last occasion I did that I
and on the last occasion I did that I
and on the last occasion I did that I actually invited somebody to join me on
actually invited somebody to join me on
actually invited somebody to join me on that plane ride and rather annoyingly
that plane ride and rather annoyingly
that plane ride and rather annoyingly and frustratingly for me
and frustratingly for me
and frustratingly for me they chose halfway down that plane right
they chose halfway down that plane right
they chose halfway down that plane right to throw me out of the plane and
to throw me out of the plane and
to throw me out of the plane and actually didn’t afford me the privilege
actually didn’t afford me the privilege
actually didn’t afford me the privilege of a parachute so what happened was that
of a parachute so what happened was that
of a parachute so what happened was that I needed to find and create a new future
I needed to find and create a new future
I needed to find and create a new future for myself and I decided that the time
for myself and I decided that the time
for myself and I decided that the time was right at the age of 50 to build a
was right at the age of 50 to build a
was right at the age of 50 to build a working life with no walls and become a
working life with no walls and become a
working life with no walls and become a digital nomad and I’m quite fortunate
digital nomad and I’m quite fortunate
digital nomad and I’m quite fortunate that my brain is connected to my mouth
that my brain is connected to my mouth
that my brain is connected to my mouth in such an order that I can do this for
in such an order that I can do this for
in such an order that I can do this for a living
a living
a living on whether that’s by the spoken word or
on whether that’s by the spoken word or
on whether that’s by the spoken word or the written word but did I have the
the written word but did I have the
the written word but did I have the attributes that were necessary to be
attributes that were necessary to be
attributes that were necessary to be able to do that as an individual was I
able to do that as an individual was I
able to do that as an individual was I open minded I’m here today I think
open minded I’m here today I think
open minded I’m here today I think that’s a fair assumption that’s a tick
that’s a fair assumption that’s a tick
that’s a fair assumption that’s a tick am i friendly I’ll let you be the judge
am i friendly I’ll let you be the judge
am i friendly I’ll let you be the judge of that
of that
of that am i adventurous I sort of I’m probably
am i adventurous I sort of I’m probably
am i adventurous I sort of I’m probably the world’s worst tourist if I’m honest
the world’s worst tourist if I’m honest
the world’s worst tourist if I’m honest if I’m on my own I tend to stay around
if I’m on my own I tend to stay around
if I’m on my own I tend to stay around the hotel so I’m not so sure that that
the hotel so I’m not so sure that that
the hotel so I’m not so sure that that really fits the bill
really fits the bill
really fits the bill I might tech-savvy absolutely not I’m
I might tech-savvy absolutely not I’m
I might tech-savvy absolutely not I’m not really comfortable with a clicker
not really comfortable with a clicker
not really comfortable with a clicker that only has one button if I’m honest
that only has one button if I’m honest
that only has one button if I’m honest but it’s probably something
but it’s probably something
but it’s probably something that I don’t need to worry too much
that I don’t need to worry too much
that I don’t need to worry too much about because there are cleverer people
about because there are cleverer people
about because there are cleverer people than me so the thing that I question
than me so the thing that I question
than me so the thing that I question most of all was the discipline did I
most of all was the discipline did I
most of all was the discipline did I have the discipline to have a freelance
have the discipline to have a freelance
have the discipline to have a freelance working life with no structure
working life with no structure
working life with no structure unfortunately for me one of the lucky
unfortunately for me one of the lucky
unfortunately for me one of the lucky things that happened in my life was that
things that happened in my life was that
things that happened in my life was that I met my beautiful wife nearly 20 years
I met my beautiful wife nearly 20 years
I met my beautiful wife nearly 20 years ago and when I met her she worked in the
ago and when I met her she worked in the
ago and when I met her she worked in the radio industry in London and she smoked
radio industry in London and she smoked
radio industry in London and she smoked and she drank sand she generally had a
and she drank sand she generally had a
and she drank sand she generally had a very nice time and I thought I’m on to a
very nice time and I thought I’m on to a
very nice time and I thought I’m on to a good life here and then she retrained as
good life here and then she retrained as
good life here and then she retrained as a personal trainer and my life
a personal trainer and my life
a personal trainer and my life effectively ended but rather cleverly
effectively ended but rather cleverly
effectively ended but rather cleverly she suggested to me a point that could
she suggested to me a point that could
she suggested to me a point that could bring discipline into my working life
bring discipline into my working life
bring discipline into my working life and her suggestion was to bring that
and her suggestion was to bring that
and her suggestion was to bring that discipline forward in the form of
discipline forward in the form of
discipline forward in the form of exercise no surprise from a personal
exercise no surprise from a personal
exercise no surprise from a personal trainer so she challenged me she
trainer so she challenged me she
trainer so she challenged me she challenged me to run a mile a day a mile
challenged me to run a mile a day a mile
challenged me to run a mile a day a mile a day every day for a month and during
a day every day for a month and during
a day every day for a month and during that time make that the focal point of
that time make that the focal point of
that time make that the focal point of my day so that became the structure of
my day so that became the structure of
my day so that became the structure of the life without walls that gave me an
the life without walls that gave me an
the life without walls that gave me an anchor point in my working life that
anchor point in my working life that
anchor point in my working life that every day I knew I had to run this mile
every day I knew I had to run this mile
every day I knew I had to run this mile and whether it took me seven minutes to
and whether it took me seven minutes to
and whether it took me seven minutes to run it which it did once or 10 minutes
run it which it did once or 10 minutes
run it which it did once or 10 minutes to run it which he did most times
to run it which he did most times
to run it which he did most times occasionally 11 which was a Sunday that
occasionally 11 which was a Sunday that
occasionally 11 which was a Sunday that gave me a discipline point and a focal
gave me a discipline point and a focal
gave me a discipline point and a focal point that allowed my working life as a
point that allowed my working life as a
point that allowed my working life as a digital nomad to be possible and it’s
digital nomad to be possible and it’s
digital nomad to be possible and it’s something that I will be forever
something that I will be forever
something that I will be forever grateful for her to do and it’s
grateful for her to do and it’s
grateful for her to do and it’s something that allows me to do events
something that allows me to do events
something that allows me to do events such as this today so if anybody ever
such as this today so if anybody ever
such as this today so if anybody ever really questions the future that you
really questions the future that you
really questions the future that you wish to have for yourself I’ll give you
wish to have for yourself I’ll give you
wish to have for yourself I’ll give you one piece of advice if they’re arguing
one piece of advice if they’re arguing
one piece of advice if they’re arguing with you before you argue back run a
with you before you argue back run a
with you before you argue back run a mile in their shoes because at the very
mile in their shoes because at the very
mile in their shoes because at the very least you’ll be a mile away from them
least you’ll be a mile away from them
least you’ll be a mile away from them and at the very least you’ll have their
and at the very least you’ll have their
and at the very least you’ll have their shoes thank you very much
”
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