
everyone close your eyes for just a second if you will I need you to think
second if you will I need you to think
second if you will I need you to think back to your 6th birthday party they
back to your 6th birthday party they
back to your 6th birthday party they just put the cake in front of you the
just put the cake in front of you the
just put the cake in front of you the candle is lit it’s your chance you get
candle is lit it’s your chance you get
candle is lit it’s your chance you get to make the wish you take a did big deep
to make the wish you take a did big deep
to make the wish you take a did big deep breath and blow out the candle everyone
breath and blow out the candle everyone
breath and blow out the candle everyone open your eyes for just a moment on the
open your eyes for just a moment on the
open your eyes for just a moment on the count of three I want everyone to shout
count of three I want everyone to shout
count of three I want everyone to shout out what your wish was for your six year
out what your wish was for your six year
out what your wish was for your six year old self now I’m serious this is on tape
old self now I’m serious this is on tape
old self now I’m serious this is on tape and if you don’t shout it out this is
and if you don’t shout it out this is
and if you don’t shout it out this is going to be a really awkward moment in
going to be a really awkward moment in
going to be a really awkward moment in the speech one two three
the speech one two three
the speech one two three I caught the dinosaur there at the end
I caught the dinosaur there at the end
I caught the dinosaur there at the end some may have wanted to play for the
some may have wanted to play for the
some may have wanted to play for the Dallas Cowboys or be a firefighter or a
Dallas Cowboys or be a firefighter or a
Dallas Cowboys or be a firefighter or a flight attendant or get a pony or a
flight attendant or get a pony or a
flight attendant or get a pony or a unicorn or that brand new bike whatever
unicorn or that brand new bike whatever
unicorn or that brand new bike whatever it was we all held on to that little
it was we all held on to that little
it was we all held on to that little morsel of hope that possibility that
morsel of hope that possibility that
morsel of hope that possibility that maybe just maybe that wish is about to
maybe just maybe that wish is about to
maybe just maybe that wish is about to come true one of my favorite speakers on
come true one of my favorite speakers on
come true one of my favorite speakers on this topic is Randy posh many of you
this topic is Randy posh many of you
this topic is Randy posh many of you know Randy for the last lecture at
know Randy for the last lecture at
know Randy for the last lecture at carnegie mellon university that he gave
carnegie mellon university that he gave
carnegie mellon university that he gave now last lectures at carnegie mellon
now last lectures at carnegie mellon
now last lectures at carnegie mellon were not rare what was we’re rare about
were not rare what was we’re rare about
were not rare what was we’re rare about this and sense is that when he gave the
this and sense is that when he gave the
this and sense is that when he gave the lecture about a month or two before he
lecture about a month or two before he
lecture about a month or two before he had been diagnosed with the rare form of
had been diagnosed with the rare form of
had been diagnosed with the rare form of pancreatic cancer that was terminal in
pancreatic cancer that was terminal in
pancreatic cancer that was terminal in fact this was truly one of his last
fact this was truly one of his last
fact this was truly one of his last lectures so when he got out there to
lectures so when he got out there to
lectures so when he got out there to talk about pursuing childhood dreams he
talk about pursuing childhood dreams he
talk about pursuing childhood dreams he asked the question are you a Tigger
asked the question are you a Tigger
asked the question are you a Tigger or are you an e or a Tigger is just so
or are you an e or a Tigger is just so
or are you an e or a Tigger is just so happy all the time bounces around
happy all the time bounces around
happy all the time bounces around couldn’t wait to pursue everything with
couldn’t wait to pursue everything with
couldn’t wait to pursue everything with full gusto always happy always exciting
full gusto always happy always exciting
full gusto always happy always exciting always the smile brought to the stage
always the smile brought to the stage
always the smile brought to the stage versus poor E or E or just had that
versus poor E or E or just had that
versus poor E or E or just had that great cloud above his head
great cloud above his head
great cloud above his head and seem so sad all the time
and seem so sad all the time
and seem so sad all the time see posh went on to say what were his
see posh went on to say what were his
see posh went on to say what were his two childhood dreams
two childhood dreams
two childhood dreams number one he wanted to play in the NFL
number one he wanted to play in the NFL
number one he wanted to play in the NFL he played some little league football
he played some little league football
he played some little league football but he didn’t have the talent
but he didn’t have the talent
but he didn’t have the talent he didn’t achieve that dream but he went
he didn’t achieve that dream but he went
he didn’t achieve that dream but he went full speed after the second one he
full speed after the second one he
full speed after the second one he wasn’t going to let that hold him back
wasn’t going to let that hold him back
wasn’t going to let that hold him back his second dream he wanted to be a
his second dream he wanted to be a
his second dream he wanted to be a Disney Imagineer see when he was eight
Disney Imagineer see when he was eight
Disney Imagineer see when he was eight years old he went to Disneyland and he
years old he went to Disneyland and he
years old he went to Disneyland and he looked around and saw all the amazing
looked around and saw all the amazing
looked around and saw all the amazing rides all the amazing activities and
rides all the amazing activities and
rides all the amazing activities and thought this is what I want to be a part
thought this is what I want to be a part
thought this is what I want to be a part of he just couldn’t wait and so he
of he just couldn’t wait and so he
of he just couldn’t wait and so he applied to Disney to be an Imagineer and
applied to Disney to be an Imagineer and
applied to Disney to be an Imagineer and guess what he got denied he kept that
guess what he got denied he kept that
guess what he got denied he kept that letter he applied again and he got
letter he applied again and he got
letter he applied again and he got denied he kept that letter and all this
denied he kept that letter and all this
denied he kept that letter and all this time he decided I’m going to continue
time he decided I’m going to continue
time he decided I’m going to continue following my passion as a junior faculty
following my passion as a junior faculty
following my passion as a junior faculty member at Carnegie Mellon University he
member at Carnegie Mellon University he
member at Carnegie Mellon University he became really really good at virtual
became really really good at virtual
became really really good at virtual reality machines so good that Disney
reality machines so good that Disney
reality machines so good that Disney caught word of it they called they asked
caught word of it they called they asked
caught word of it they called they asked him to come down and he helped create
him to come down and he helped create
him to come down and he helped create the magic carpets of Aladdin in Florida
the magic carpets of Aladdin in Florida
the magic carpets of Aladdin in Florida his second wish did come true so my
his second wish did come true so my
his second wish did come true so my question is what’s your wish
question is what’s your wish
question is what’s your wish what’s not that six-year-old wish that
what’s not that six-year-old wish that
what’s not that six-year-old wish that you shout it out a little while ago but
you shout it out a little while ago but
you shout it out a little while ago but what’s your dream that right now if you
what’s your dream that right now if you
what’s your dream that right now if you could just check it off the list while
could just check it off the list while
could just check it off the list while you’re there you accomplished exactly
you’re there you accomplished exactly
you’re there you accomplished exactly what you hope to do let me tell you
what you hope to do let me tell you
what you hope to do let me tell you about my wishes number one I wanted to
about my wishes number one I wanted to
about my wishes number one I wanted to be a t-ball coach I didn’t want to be a
be a t-ball coach I didn’t want to be a
be a t-ball coach I didn’t want to be a baseball coach I wanted to talk to young
baseball coach I wanted to talk to young
baseball coach I wanted to talk to young kids about the sport that I loved
kids about the sport that I loved
kids about the sport that I loved I’ve now coached my son and my daughter
I’ve now coached my son and my daughter
I’ve now coached my son and my daughter in t-ball and getting ready for a new
in t-ball and getting ready for a new
in t-ball and getting ready for a new season it’s so awesome to talk to them
season it’s so awesome to talk to them
season it’s so awesome to talk to them about which first-base do you run to
about which first-base do you run to
about which first-base do you run to because sometimes third base looks just
because sometimes third base looks just
because sometimes third base looks just like first which butterfly can I chase
like first which butterfly can I chase
like first which butterfly can I chase and not chase what dirt am I allowed to
and not chase what dirt am I allowed to
and not chase what dirt am I allowed to throw and what do I get in trouble for I
throw and what do I get in trouble for I
throw and what do I get in trouble for I love t-ball it opens the door to a sport
love t-ball it opens the door to a sport
love t-ball it opens the door to a sport that I love the second one though ii
that I love the second one though ii
that I love the second one though ii wish that i have
wish that i have
wish that i have I’m on my way I’m not quite there yet in
I’m on my way I’m not quite there yet in
I’m on my way I’m not quite there yet in fact many of you will make fun of me I
fact many of you will make fun of me I
fact many of you will make fun of me I want to be a clown
want to be a clown
want to be a clown not just sitting clown I want to be
not just sitting clown I want to be
not just sitting clown I want to be Ronald McDonald see there’s something
Ronald McDonald see there’s something
Ronald McDonald see there’s something special about Ronald yeah I already have
special about Ronald yeah I already have
special about Ronald yeah I already have the shoe that’s a good start
the shoe that’s a good start
the shoe that’s a good start there’s something special about Ronald
there’s something special about Ronald
there’s something special about Ronald part of his job is that he has to go to
part of his job is that he has to go to
part of his job is that he has to go to hospitals to bring a smile to young kids
hospitals to bring a smile to young kids
hospitals to bring a smile to young kids faces that’s a pretty cool gig don’t you
faces that’s a pretty cool gig don’t you
faces that’s a pretty cool gig don’t you think his job is to bring us well he’s
think his job is to bring us well he’s
think his job is to bring us well he’s not scary clown he’s happy Ronald we buy
not scary clown he’s happy Ronald we buy
not scary clown he’s happy Ronald we buy fries from him so I thought about what
fries from him so I thought about what
fries from him so I thought about what do I need to do to help fulfill my goal
do I need to do to help fulfill my goal
do I need to do to help fulfill my goal what are those short-term goals to help
what are those short-term goals to help
what are those short-term goals to help me get to this long-term goal
me get to this long-term goal
me get to this long-term goal I learned to juggle I wasn’t quite bold
I learned to juggle I wasn’t quite bold
I learned to juggle I wasn’t quite bold enough to do it here today I can do
enough to do it here today I can do
enough to do it here today I can do three I can’t quite do four or five I’m
three I can’t quite do four or five I’m
three I can’t quite do four or five I’m working on it though but the second
working on it though but the second
working on it though but the second thing I did is I wanted to know how do I
thing I did is I wanted to know how do I
thing I did is I wanted to know how do I get to a hospital to make children smile
get to a hospital to make children smile
get to a hospital to make children smile so I became a wish trainer with
so I became a wish trainer with
so I became a wish trainer with make-a-wish I’ve done this now for about
make-a-wish I’ve done this now for about
make-a-wish I’ve done this now for about eight years in fact this last summer I
eight years in fact this last summer I
eight years in fact this last summer I got to be a part of the National
got to be a part of the National
got to be a part of the National make-a-wish campaign to help bring more
make-a-wish campaign to help bring more
make-a-wish campaign to help bring more acknowledgement to the amazing programs
acknowledgement to the amazing programs
acknowledgement to the amazing programs that they offer all right sometimes I’ve
that they offer all right sometimes I’ve
that they offer all right sometimes I’ve sat down and thought if laughter is the
sat down and thought if laughter is the
sat down and thought if laughter is the best medicine is make-a-wish the world’s
best medicine is make-a-wish the world’s
best medicine is make-a-wish the world’s best doctor redo my car makeover my
best doctor redo my car makeover my
best doctor redo my car makeover my living room can I really meet my
living room can I really meet my
living room can I really meet my favorite princess I want to swim with
favorite princess I want to swim with
favorite princess I want to swim with dolphins I want to meet my favorite
dolphins I want to meet my favorite
dolphins I want to meet my favorite musician I want to help other kids going
musician I want to help other kids going
musician I want to help other kids going through what I just did all of these are
through what I just did all of these are
through what I just did all of these are wishes I’ve worked alongside my wife
wishes I’ve worked alongside my wife
wishes I’ve worked alongside my wife with all of them have brought laughter
with all of them have brought laughter
with all of them have brought laughter all of them have brought a new energy to
all of them have brought a new energy to
all of them have brought a new energy to an old battle I believe in the power of
an old battle I believe in the power of
an old battle I believe in the power of laughter I believe in the power of a
laughter I believe in the power of a
laughter I believe in the power of a wish think about it
89% of doctors nurses and health
89% of doctors nurses and health professional survey said the wish
professional survey said the wish
professional survey said the wish experience can actually change the
experience can actually change the
experience can actually change the physical health of the child going
physical health of the child going
physical health of the child going through the life-threatening illness
through the life-threatening illness
through the life-threatening illness physical not their emotional health it
physical not their emotional health it
physical not their emotional health it could actually make them get better why
could actually make them get better why
could actually make them get better why wouldn’t you want to be a part of it did
wouldn’t you want to be a part of it did
wouldn’t you want to be a part of it did you know in this this past year every 30
you know in this this past year every 30
you know in this this past year every 30 minutes of wish was granted in the
minutes of wish was granted in the
minutes of wish was granted in the United States in 2015 they granted 14800
United States in 2015 they granted 14800
United States in 2015 they granted 14800 wishes 96 percent of parents who had the
wishes 96 percent of parents who had the
wishes 96 percent of parents who had the wish granted said that wish experience
wish granted said that wish experience
wish granted said that wish experience actually brought their family closer
actually brought their family closer
actually brought their family closer together Wow you just can’t beat such an
together Wow you just can’t beat such an
together Wow you just can’t beat such an experience like that
experience like that
experience like that I do want to talk about one of my
I do want to talk about one of my
I do want to talk about one of my favorite wishes this is Alyssa
favorite wishes this is Alyssa
favorite wishes this is Alyssa she was 10 years old when we met her and
she was 10 years old when we met her and
she was 10 years old when we met her and she said I don’t want to go somewhere I
she said I don’t want to go somewhere I
she said I don’t want to go somewhere I don’t want to do something I’ll tell you
don’t want to do something I’ll tell you
don’t want to do something I’ll tell you what I want to do I was diagnosed with
what I want to do I was diagnosed with
what I want to do I was diagnosed with an illness that had to be treated in
an illness that had to be treated in
an illness that had to be treated in California and she’s from Oklahoma she
California and she’s from Oklahoma she
California and she’s from Oklahoma she said I didn’t know what to pack in my
said I didn’t know what to pack in my
said I didn’t know what to pack in my bag for three weeks so she said I want
bag for three weeks so she said I want
bag for three weeks so she said I want to build a website in my voice because I
to build a website in my voice because I
to build a website in my voice because I didn’t understand what doctors were
didn’t understand what doctors were
didn’t understand what doctors were telling me I want to be able to tell
telling me I want to be able to tell
telling me I want to be able to tell kids what to pack in their bags and what
kids what to pack in their bags and what
kids what to pack in their bags and what treats to bring in that bag to share
treats to bring in that bag to share
treats to bring in that bag to share some smiles with some other kids on
some smiles with some other kids on
some smiles with some other kids on their haul it was amazing
their haul it was amazing
their haul it was amazing Alyssa wish dorg oh yeah and on the side
Alyssa wish dorg oh yeah and on the side
Alyssa wish dorg oh yeah and on the side she went ahead and raised she wanted to
she went ahead and raised she wanted to
she went ahead and raised she wanted to raise some money for the local
raise some money for the local
raise some money for the local Children’s Hospital Foundation so in
Children’s Hospital Foundation so in
Children’s Hospital Foundation so in three months she raised $10,000 not too
three months she raised $10,000 not too
three months she raised $10,000 not too bad for a ten-year-old the number one
bad for a ten-year-old the number one
bad for a ten-year-old the number one wish for make-a-wish is Disney about 50%
wish for make-a-wish is Disney about 50%
wish for make-a-wish is Disney about 50% of all Disney wishes above all
of all Disney wishes above all
of all Disney wishes above all make-a-wish wishes are for Disney they
make-a-wish wishes are for Disney they
make-a-wish wishes are for Disney they are so good at granting wishes that they
are so good at granting wishes that they
are so good at granting wishes that they created a program called the year of a
created a program called the year of a
created a program called the year of a million dreams back in 2006 what’s
million dreams back in 2006 what’s
million dreams back in 2006 what’s fascinating about it is their program
fascinating about it is their program
fascinating about it is their program went from oh six to December 2008 figure
went from oh six to December 2008 figure
went from oh six to December 2008 figure 26 months for a year of a million dreams
26 months for a year of a million dreams
26 months for a year of a million dreams it was that good so one thing that they
it was that good so one thing that they
it was that good so one thing that they did is they empowered their cast members
did is they empowered their cast members
did is they empowered their cast members or their staff to say whatever it takes
or their staff to say whatever it takes
or their staff to say whatever it takes see if you can make a guest
see if you can make a guest
see if you can make a guest their day something special can you make
their day something special can you make
their day something special can you make their wish come true before they even
their wish come true before they even
their wish come true before they even know to ask it imagine walking onto Main
know to ask it imagine walking onto Main
know to ask it imagine walking onto Main Main Street USA and you’re dubbed the
Main Street USA and you’re dubbed the
Main Street USA and you’re dubbed the mayor that’s pretty cool
mayor that’s pretty cool
mayor that’s pretty cool imagine getting to stay the night and
imagine getting to stay the night and
imagine getting to stay the night and Cinderella’s castle people actually got
Cinderella’s castle people actually got
Cinderella’s castle people actually got to do that imagine when they walk up to
to do that imagine when they walk up to
to do that imagine when they walk up to you and say hey you see that long line
you and say hey you see that long line
you and say hey you see that long line over there I can take you to the front
over there I can take you to the front
over there I can take you to the front that means something at Disney World if
that means something at Disney World if
that means something at Disney World if you’ve ever been there those wishes cost
you’ve ever been there those wishes cost
you’ve ever been there those wishes cost Disney not a single dime but it has
Disney not a single dime but it has
Disney not a single dime but it has people like me standing up here telling
people like me standing up here telling
people like me standing up here telling you all about it because it’s amazing
you all about it because it’s amazing
you all about it because it’s amazing it’s a ball about the power of a wish
it’s a ball about the power of a wish
it’s a ball about the power of a wish posh said the key question to keep
posh said the key question to keep
posh said the key question to keep asking are you spending your time on the
asking are you spending your time on the
asking are you spending your time on the right things because time is all you
right things because time is all you
right things because time is all you have he asked are you a Tigger
have he asked are you a Tigger
have he asked are you a Tigger or are you an Eeyore I’m not quite
or are you an Eeyore I’m not quite
or are you an Eeyore I’m not quite Ronald McDonald yet but I sure am
Ronald McDonald yet but I sure am
Ronald McDonald yet but I sure am working towards it so my challenge for
working towards it so my challenge for
working towards it so my challenge for you number one how can you help make
you number one how can you help make
you number one how can you help make someone else’s wish come true and number
someone else’s wish come true and number
someone else’s wish come true and number two are you a Tigger or are you any or
two are you a Tigger or are you any or
two are you a Tigger or are you any or thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
”
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