hi guys this is Scott Campbell um I am so heartbroken that I’m sending you this
so heartbroken that I’m sending you this
so heartbroken that I’m sending you this and I’m not there in person but my my
and I’m not there in person but my my
and I’m not there in person but my my wife’s water just broke
wife’s water just broke
wife’s water just broke and um we it’s the next 24 hours are
and um we it’s the next 24 hours are
and um we it’s the next 24 hours are going to be interesting but I really
going to be interesting but I really
going to be interesting but I really wish I could be there doing a TED talk
wish I could be there doing a TED talk
wish I could be there doing a TED talk is a dream of mine for a long time
is a dream of mine for a long time
is a dream of mine for a long time everyone asked me to draw pictures
everyone asked me to draw pictures
everyone asked me to draw pictures nobody wants to hear what I have to say
nobody wants to hear what I have to say
nobody wants to hear what I have to say but um I’m sorry I can’t be there I’m
but um I’m sorry I can’t be there I’m
but um I’m sorry I can’t be there I’m gonna send a video that we shot while
gonna send a video that we shot while
gonna send a video that we shot while rehearsing yesterday and hopefully that
rehearsing yesterday and hopefully that
rehearsing yesterday and hopefully that does it for you thanks guys so I was one
does it for you thanks guys so I was one
does it for you thanks guys so I was one of these countless kids in the 80s that
of these countless kids in the 80s that
of these countless kids in the 80s that was diagnosed with attention deficit
was diagnosed with attention deficit
was diagnosed with attention deficit disorder now I have my own opinions as
disorder now I have my own opinions as
disorder now I have my own opinions as to whether or not it should even be
to whether or not it should even be
to whether or not it should even be considered a deficit or a disorder I
considered a deficit or a disorder I
considered a deficit or a disorder I won’t get into that here but I will say
won’t get into that here but I will say
won’t get into that here but I will say that the Texas public school system I
that the Texas public school system I
that the Texas public school system I went through was not a hospitable
went through was not a hospitable
went through was not a hospitable environment for anyone who’s more
environment for anyone who’s more
environment for anyone who’s more comfortable with creative abstract
comfortable with creative abstract
comfortable with creative abstract thought than they are with linear
thought than they are with linear
thought than they are with linear rational thought because of that my
rational thought because of that my
rational thought because of that my academic career was challenging to say
academic career was challenging to say
academic career was challenging to say the least I barely got through in most
the least I barely got through in most
the least I barely got through in most of my classes the only the only time I
of my classes the only the only time I
of my classes the only the only time I really did well was when I was taking
really did well was when I was taking
really did well was when I was taking tests because when I was taking a test
tests because when I was taking a test
tests because when I was taking a test there’d be a clock ticking there’d be a
there’d be a clock ticking there’d be a
there’d be a clock ticking there’d be a performance pressure and then that
performance pressure and then that
performance pressure and then that pressure created a sense of crisis I
pressure created a sense of crisis I
pressure created a sense of crisis I really needed a sense of crisis in order
really needed a sense of crisis in order
really needed a sense of crisis in order to stay focused on anything for any
to stay focused on anything for any
to stay focused on anything for any length of time in high school I realized
length of time in high school I realized
length of time in high school I realized I had a knack for drawing I still
I had a knack for drawing I still
I had a knack for drawing I still managed to fail art class though because
managed to fail art class though because
managed to fail art class though because I even then I couldn’t ever finish any
I even then I couldn’t ever finish any
I even then I couldn’t ever finish any drawings each attempt would would go the
drawings each attempt would would go the
drawings each attempt would would go the same way I’d have an idea about
same way I’d have an idea about
same way I’d have an idea about something and I’d be passionate about
something and I’d be passionate about
something and I’d be passionate about the idea to the point where I couldn’t
the idea to the point where I couldn’t
the idea to the point where I couldn’t think about anything else I had to get
think about anything else I had to get
think about anything else I had to get to a piece of paper and pencil as
to a piece of paper and pencil as
to a piece of paper and pencil as quickly as I could and I’d start drawing
quickly as I could and I’d start drawing
quickly as I could and I’d start drawing convinced that what I was about to make
convinced that what I was about to make
convinced that what I was about to make would be so
would be so
would be so eight it would revolutionize the concept
eight it would revolutionize the concept
eight it would revolutionize the concept of drawing for the rest of time and then
of drawing for the rest of time and then
of drawing for the rest of time and then flash to 20 minutes later I’d be
flash to 20 minutes later I’d be
flash to 20 minutes later I’d be frustrated disheartened and just not
frustrated disheartened and just not
frustrated disheartened and just not interested you know because what was
interested you know because what was
interested you know because what was happening on the paper was slightly
happening on the paper was slightly
happening on the paper was slightly different than what I had originally
different than what I had originally
different than what I had originally envisioned and so I crumpled it all up
envisioned and so I crumpled it all up
envisioned and so I crumpled it all up and I start over again and again and
and I start over again and again and
and I start over again and again and again and nothing ever got finished I
again and nothing ever got finished I
again and nothing ever got finished I was also pretty unattractive child a lot
was also pretty unattractive child a lot
was also pretty unattractive child a lot of people had a difficult time figuring
of people had a difficult time figuring
of people had a difficult time figuring out if I was even a boy or a girl and
out if I was even a boy or a girl and
out if I was even a boy or a girl and that didn’t help my romantic life much
that didn’t help my romantic life much
that didn’t help my romantic life much but of the few people that did happen to
but of the few people that did happen to
but of the few people that did happen to guess correctly as to my gender none of
guess correctly as to my gender none of
guess correctly as to my gender none of them wanted to make out with a pudgy
them wanted to make out with a pudgy
them wanted to make out with a pudgy little boy girl things things started to
little boy girl things things started to
little boy girl things things started to get a little bit better in my 20s when
get a little bit better in my 20s when
get a little bit better in my 20s when when puberty finally let go of me
when puberty finally let go of me
when puberty finally let go of me and I did convince a couple girls and to
and I did convince a couple girls and to
and I did convince a couple girls and to hanging out with me in public and often
hanging out with me in public and often
hanging out with me in public and often those relationships went similar to my
those relationships went similar to my
those relationships went similar to my drawings I would have an idea about a
drawings I would have an idea about a
drawings I would have an idea about a person I’d meet them and I project this
person I’d meet them and I project this
person I’d meet them and I project this whole life together and and I’d get them
whole life together and and I’d get them
whole life together and and I’d get them in front of me and a couple weeks later
in front of me and a couple weeks later
in front of me and a couple weeks later I would realize that the person that is
I would realize that the person that is
I would realize that the person that is actually there is not the one I imagined
actually there is not the one I imagined
actually there is not the one I imagined them to be and so I’d crumpled it all up
them to be and so I’d crumpled it all up
them to be and so I’d crumpled it all up and start over again so I dropped out of
and start over again so I dropped out of
and start over again so I dropped out of school and ran away to San Francisco I
school and ran away to San Francisco I
school and ran away to San Francisco I ended up falling in with this little
ended up falling in with this little
ended up falling in with this little crew of punk-rock hippies living in
crew of punk-rock hippies living in
crew of punk-rock hippies living in Golden Gate Park I spent a lot of my
Golden Gate Park I spent a lot of my
Golden Gate Park I spent a lot of my time just drawing on jean jackets like I
time just drawing on jean jackets like I
time just drawing on jean jackets like I get jean jackets from some of the other
get jean jackets from some of the other
get jean jackets from some of the other kids and I draw band logos or album
kids and I draw band logos or album
kids and I draw band logos or album covers on the back and in exchange
covers on the back and in exchange
covers on the back and in exchange they’d kick me a couple bucks or buy me
they’d kick me a couple bucks or buy me
they’d kick me a couple bucks or buy me dinner but it didn’t take that long for
dinner but it didn’t take that long for
dinner but it didn’t take that long for me to transition from drawing on jackets
me to transition from drawing on jackets
me to transition from drawing on jackets to actually trying to carve these
to actually trying to carve these
to actually trying to carve these pictures into their arms and legs
pictures into their arms and legs
pictures into their arms and legs needless to say my first couple dozen
needless to say my first couple dozen
needless to say my first couple dozen attempts were horrible but I remember
attempts were horrible but I remember
attempts were horrible but I remember distinctly I got together seven photos
distinctly I got together seven photos
distinctly I got together seven photos of my
of my
of my least horrible attempts and I took them
least horrible attempts and I took them
least horrible attempts and I took them to this grimy just smoky biker tattoo
to this grimy just smoky biker tattoo
to this grimy just smoky biker tattoo shop I walked in I laid my seven photos
shop I walked in I laid my seven photos
shop I walked in I laid my seven photos out on the counter and I explained to
out on the counter and I explained to
out on the counter and I explained to them that I was an incredibly
them that I was an incredibly
them that I was an incredibly experienced tattoo artist I had just
experienced tattoo artist I had just
experienced tattoo artist I had just moved there from Texas and damn it if
moved there from Texas and damn it if
moved there from Texas and damn it if the airline didn’t lose my luggage and
the airline didn’t lose my luggage and
the airline didn’t lose my luggage and all I had to prove this story was these
all I had to prove this story was these
all I had to prove this story was these seven photos
seven photos
seven photos fortunately the airline luggage story
fortunately the airline luggage story
fortunately the airline luggage story also helped explain why I hadn’t changed
also helped explain why I hadn’t changed
also helped explain why I hadn’t changed my clothes in a week but much to my
my clothes in a week but much to my
my clothes in a week but much to my surprise they hired me and I started the
surprise they hired me and I started the
surprise they hired me and I started the next day as a professional tattoo artist
next day as a professional tattoo artist
next day as a professional tattoo artist I did learn later on that their quality
I did learn later on that their quality
I did learn later on that their quality control was lapsed because they made
control was lapsed because they made
control was lapsed because they made most of their money selling meth out of
most of their money selling meth out of
most of their money selling meth out of backdoor but at the time I didn’t care I
backdoor but at the time I didn’t care I
backdoor but at the time I didn’t care I all I wanted to do was draw pictures and
all I wanted to do was draw pictures and
all I wanted to do was draw pictures and make enough money to feed myself about
make enough money to feed myself about
make enough money to feed myself about my first 300 tattoos at the tattoo shop
my first 300 tattoos at the tattoo shop
my first 300 tattoos at the tattoo shop they all started out the same way my
they all started out the same way my
they all started out the same way my childhood drawing did I sketch out this
childhood drawing did I sketch out this
childhood drawing did I sketch out this idea on some dirt bags arm and I’d be so
idea on some dirt bags arm and I’d be so
idea on some dirt bags arm and I’d be so excited about it I dive into tattooing
excited about it I dive into tattooing
excited about it I dive into tattooing it with all the optimism in the world
it with all the optimism in the world
it with all the optimism in the world certain that nothing could go wrong and
certain that nothing could go wrong and
certain that nothing could go wrong and then 20 minutes later I’d be freaking
then 20 minutes later I’d be freaking
then 20 minutes later I’d be freaking out I’d be having an internal panic
out I’d be having an internal panic
out I’d be having an internal panic attack while trying to keep the customer
attack while trying to keep the customer
attack while trying to keep the customer from noticing that everything was going
from noticing that everything was going
from noticing that everything was going wrong like the lines were not the way I
wrong like the lines were not the way I
wrong like the lines were not the way I had initially envisioned them I didn’t
had initially envisioned them I didn’t
had initially envisioned them I didn’t know how I was going to shade it now
know how I was going to shade it now
know how I was going to shade it now I the whole thing just felt overwhelming
I the whole thing just felt overwhelming
I the whole thing just felt overwhelming and out of control but unlike drawing on
and out of control but unlike drawing on
and out of control but unlike drawing on paper
paper
paper I couldn’t just turn the page and start
I couldn’t just turn the page and start
I couldn’t just turn the page and start over again I had to see this thing
over again I had to see this thing
over again I had to see this thing through for better for worse the
through for better for worse the
through for better for worse the imminent possibility of getting my teeth
imminent possibility of getting my teeth
imminent possibility of getting my teeth kicked in by a disgruntled customer
kicked in by a disgruntled customer
kicked in by a disgruntled customer created that sense of crisis that I
created that sense of crisis that I
created that sense of crisis that I needed in order to stay focused
so I finally found a scenario where I
so I finally found a scenario where I could handcuff myself to an idea and
could handcuff myself to an idea and
could handcuff myself to an idea and follow it through to completion every
follow it through to completion every
follow it through to completion every time and every time I did that
time and every time I did that
time and every time I did that I would wipe away the blood and the ink
I would wipe away the blood and the ink
I would wipe away the blood and the ink from the tattoo and I’d look at it and
from the tattoo and I’d look at it and
from the tattoo and I’d look at it and realize it’s great it’s not my original
realize it’s great it’s not my original
realize it’s great it’s not my original idea but it’s better than an idea
idea but it’s better than an idea
idea but it’s better than an idea because it’s not just an idea
because it’s not just an idea
because it’s not just an idea it’s a real thing and when you look at
it’s a real thing and when you look at
it’s a real thing and when you look at it I can feel all those decisions and
it I can feel all those decisions and
it I can feel all those decisions and course corrections that I made along the
course corrections that I made along the
course corrections that I made along the way and it took me going through that
way and it took me going through that
way and it took me going through that excruciating process literally thousands
excruciating process literally thousands
excruciating process literally thousands of times before I had the confidence to
of times before I had the confidence to
of times before I had the confidence to take a similar leap in other mediums
take a similar leap in other mediums
take a similar leap in other mediums love included I feel incredibly lucky
love included I feel incredibly lucky
love included I feel incredibly lucky that I found tattooing I mean since
that I found tattooing I mean since
that I found tattooing I mean since starting at that little grimy tattoo
starting at that little grimy tattoo
starting at that little grimy tattoo shop I’ve tattooed the whole spectrum of
shop I’ve tattooed the whole spectrum of
shop I’ve tattooed the whole spectrum of humanity literally I’ve tattooed biker
humanity literally I’ve tattooed biker
humanity literally I’ve tattooed biker gang members who are professional hitmen
gang members who are professional hitmen
gang members who are professional hitmen I’ve tattooed Jennifer Aniston and
I’ve tattooed Jennifer Aniston and
I’ve tattooed Jennifer Aniston and everything in between even outside of
everything in between even outside of
everything in between even outside of tattooing I’ve gotten to collaborate
tattooing I’ve gotten to collaborate
tattooing I’ve gotten to collaborate with Marc Jacobs Louis Vuitton Nike
with Marc Jacobs Louis Vuitton Nike
with Marc Jacobs Louis Vuitton Nike Apple and a whole bunch of other kind of
Apple and a whole bunch of other kind of
Apple and a whole bunch of other kind of creative forces who would still don’t
creative forces who would still don’t
creative forces who would still don’t know how they got my phone number but
know how they got my phone number but
know how they got my phone number but after sitting down with thousands of
after sitting down with thousands of
after sitting down with thousands of these clients tattooing them and
these clients tattooing them and
these clients tattooing them and basically listening to who they are in
basically listening to who they are in
basically listening to who they are in their life and what they’re going
their life and what they’re going
their life and what they’re going through and helping them figure out what
through and helping them figure out what
through and helping them figure out what sort of symbols or phrases or imagery
sort of symbols or phrases or imagery
sort of symbols or phrases or imagery make them feel more like themselves
make them feel more like themselves
make them feel more like themselves I’ve definitely picked up a couple
I’ve definitely picked up a couple
I’ve definitely picked up a couple patterns and learned a few things
anything worthwhile has to be earned you
anything worthwhile has to be earned you know when I first started painting I was
know when I first started painting I was
know when I first started painting I was really desperate to figure out my thing
really desperate to figure out my thing
really desperate to figure out my thing I you know in the same way that Jackson
I you know in the same way that Jackson
I you know in the same way that Jackson Pollock made his little squiggles and MC
Pollock made his little squiggles and MC
Pollock made his little squiggles and MC Escher did his crazy stares going
Escher did his crazy stares going
Escher did his crazy stares going everywhere I was like I really wanted to
everywhere I was like I really wanted to
everywhere I was like I really wanted to find my thing and our my trick and start
find my thing and our my trick and start
find my thing and our my trick and start putting things out there in the world
putting things out there in the world
putting things out there in the world but you know I realized that there’s you
but you know I realized that there’s you
but you know I realized that there’s you don’t find a thing your thing comes when
don’t find a thing your thing comes when
don’t find a thing your thing comes when you just get your hands dirty and start
you just get your hands dirty and start
you just get your hands dirty and start making stuff and everything you learn
making stuff and everything you learn
making stuff and everything you learn along the way that’s your thing
along the way that’s your thing
along the way that’s your thing and with relationships it’s the same way
and with relationships it’s the same way
and with relationships it’s the same way I feel like I’ve met so many people who
I feel like I’ve met so many people who
I feel like I’ve met so many people who have this idea of finding love
have this idea of finding love
have this idea of finding love like they’re really hoping to find love
like they’re really hoping to find love
like they’re really hoping to find love you don’t find love nobody finds love
you don’t find love nobody finds love
you don’t find love nobody finds love love is something you have to build the
love is something you have to build the
love is something you have to build the best thing you can do if you’re lucky is
best thing you can do if you’re lucky is
best thing you can do if you’re lucky is find someone that is a willing
find someone that is a willing
find someone that is a willing collaborator with which to build a love
collaborator with which to build a love
collaborator with which to build a love a flawed something is so much better
a flawed something is so much better
a flawed something is so much better than a perfect nothing you know in my
than a perfect nothing you know in my
than a perfect nothing you know in my tattoos or in any artwork I make really
tattoos or in any artwork I make really
tattoos or in any artwork I make really my favorite things when I look back on
my favorite things when I look back on
my favorite things when I look back on it or all the little mistakes you know
it or all the little mistakes you know
it or all the little mistakes you know the unexpected things that happened that
the unexpected things that happened that
the unexpected things that happened that I had to adjust to and in relationships
I had to adjust to and in relationships
I had to adjust to and in relationships that’s this that’s the same way it’s the
that’s this that’s the same way it’s the
that’s this that’s the same way it’s the good stuff you know we of course
good stuff you know we of course
good stuff you know we of course initially we have this crush and we have
initially we have this crush and we have
initially we have this crush and we have this idea of who a person is and and
this idea of who a person is and and
this idea of who a person is and and that excitement is what gets us in there
that excitement is what gets us in there
that excitement is what gets us in there to get our hands dirty but eventually
to get our hands dirty but eventually
to get our hands dirty but eventually you get to the point where you realize
you get to the point where you realize
you get to the point where you realize that that happily-ever-after you
that that happily-ever-after you
that that happily-ever-after you imagined is not what’s in front of you
imagined is not what’s in front of you
imagined is not what’s in front of you what’s in front of you is just a pile of
what’s in front of you is just a pile of
what’s in front of you is just a pile of a human mess but that human mess is so
a human mess but that human mess is so
a human mess but that human mess is so much more real and it’s so much more fun
much more real and it’s so much more fun
much more real and it’s so much more fun and I feel like the success of love is
and I feel like the success of love is
and I feel like the success of love is not necessarily how long it lasts
not necessarily how long it lasts
not necessarily how long it lasts whether it’s two weeks or 20 years the
whether it’s two weeks or 20 years the
whether it’s two weeks or 20 years the success of a love is is based on how
success of a love is is based on how
success of a love is is based on how profoundly you can appreciate the person
profoundly you can appreciate the person
profoundly you can appreciate the person in front of you as they are and not how
in front of you as they are and not how
in front of you as they are and not how you imagined they might be
strength can be a weakness granted I’ve
strength can be a weakness granted I’ve spent too much time in tattoo shops
spent too much time in tattoo shops
spent too much time in tattoo shops around a bunch of tough guys but I feel
around a bunch of tough guys but I feel
around a bunch of tough guys but I feel like I run into so many people who put
like I run into so many people who put
like I run into so many people who put forth this facade of stoicism and then
forth this facade of stoicism and then
forth this facade of stoicism and then get frustrated when they don’t meet
get frustrated when they don’t meet
get frustrated when they don’t meet anyone who just miraculously understands
anyone who just miraculously understands
anyone who just miraculously understands all of the stirrings inside them you
all of the stirrings inside them you
all of the stirrings inside them you know they they keep their poker face on
know they they keep their poker face on
know they they keep their poker face on but but then they expect people to just
but but then they expect people to just
but but then they expect people to just be sensitive to everything that’s
be sensitive to everything that’s
be sensitive to everything that’s happening but stoicism is not strength
happening but stoicism is not strength
happening but stoicism is not strength strength is being able to be honest with
strength is being able to be honest with
strength is being able to be honest with yourself about who you are and present
yourself about who you are and present
yourself about who you are and present that to someone without being afraid of
that to someone without being afraid of
that to someone without being afraid of how they might receive you so with
how they might receive you so with
how they might receive you so with making art and love and really anything
making art and love and really anything
making art and love and really anything once you step back from it all there’s
once you step back from it all there’s
once you step back from it all there’s nothing to lose every now and then we
nothing to lose every now and then we
nothing to lose every now and then we get people coming into the tattoo shop
get people coming into the tattoo shop
get people coming into the tattoo shop wanting to get their boyfriends or
wanting to get their boyfriends or
wanting to get their boyfriends or girlfriends names tattooed on them and I
girlfriends names tattooed on them and I
girlfriends names tattooed on them and I feel like in most tattoo shops they all
feel like in most tattoo shops they all
feel like in most tattoo shops they all have a their own version of a disclaimer
have a their own version of a disclaimer
have a their own version of a disclaimer that they give in that scenario it’s are
that they give in that scenario it’s are
that they give in that scenario it’s are you sure this is the one have you been
you sure this is the one have you been
you sure this is the one have you been together at least a year you know this
together at least a year you know this
together at least a year you know this is permanent right I say it if you
is permanent right I say it if you
is permanent right I say it if you love someone today love them with
love someone today love them with
love someone today love them with everything you have we pull no punches
everything you have we pull no punches
everything you have we pull no punches because yes statistically the odds are
because yes statistically the odds are
because yes statistically the odds are stacked against you that you’ll be
stacked against you that you’ll be
stacked against you that you’ll be together forever but you know a failed
together forever but you know a failed
together forever but you know a failed attempt that love is nothing to be
attempt that love is nothing to be
attempt that love is nothing to be ashamed of I feel like it’s so much less
ashamed of I feel like it’s so much less
ashamed of I feel like it’s so much less tragic to have a couple ex-girlfriends
tragic to have a couple ex-girlfriends
tragic to have a couple ex-girlfriends or ex-boyfriends names tattooed on you
or ex-boyfriends names tattooed on you
or ex-boyfriends names tattooed on you than it is to find yourself in the later
than it is to find yourself in the later
than it is to find yourself in the later years of life having never known what it
years of life having never known what it
years of life having never known what it feels like to really give yourself to
feels like to really give yourself to
feels like to really give yourself to something that’s it
something that’s it
something that’s it you
you
you [Music]
”
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