I am terrified of dying I am terrified of leaving this world without leaving an
of leaving this world without leaving an
of leaving this world without leaving an impression or making an impact I want
impression or making an impact I want
impression or making an impact I want people to know that I’m a brave person
people to know that I’m a brave person
people to know that I’m a brave person hard-working I’m a fun and loving person
hard-working I’m a fun and loving person
hard-working I’m a fun and loving person I want people to know that I’m a person
I want people to know that I’m a person
I want people to know that I’m a person that hates lack of ambition but loves
that hates lack of ambition but loves
that hates lack of ambition but loves hummus and avocados I want you all to
hummus and avocados I want you all to
hummus and avocados I want you all to know that I’m passionate and that I put
know that I’m passionate and that I put
know that I’m passionate and that I put my work as my one number-one priority if
my work as my one number-one priority if
my work as my one number-one priority if you die tomorrow what will people say
you die tomorrow what will people say
you die tomorrow what will people say about you seriously think about it
about you seriously think about it
about you seriously think about it what do you think people will say I
what do you think people will say I
what do you think people will say I brought some examples and these are some
brought some examples and these are some
brought some examples and these are some of my favorites but these are not the
of my favorites but these are not the
of my favorites but these are not the ones we’re going to focus on today we’re
ones we’re going to focus on today we’re
ones we’re going to focus on today we’re going to focus on these ones the ones if
going to focus on these ones the ones if
going to focus on these ones the ones if you also might be when you die flaky
you also might be when you die flaky
you also might be when you die flaky self-centered arrogant it’s not quite
self-centered arrogant it’s not quite
self-centered arrogant it’s not quite it’s not really a nice description of a
it’s not really a nice description of a
it’s not really a nice description of a person but sometimes we we are or become
person but sometimes we we are or become
person but sometimes we we are or become one of those things because we make a
one of those things because we make a
one of those things because we make a decision and that decision takes
decision and that decision takes
decision and that decision takes priority over something else for example
priority over something else for example
priority over something else for example if I die tomorrow these are probably and
if I die tomorrow these are probably and
if I die tomorrow these are probably and not probably most likely some of the
not probably most likely some of the
not probably most likely some of the things that would sit be said about me
things that would sit be said about me
things that would sit be said about me she was too busy she didn’t pay
she was too busy she didn’t pay
she was too busy she didn’t pay attention and she wore sweatpants to
attention and she wore sweatpants to
attention and she wore sweatpants to work but also some of the harsher ones
work but also some of the harsher ones
work but also some of the harsher ones she was not a good friend she did not
she was not a good friend she did not
she was not a good friend she did not know her younger siblings and she was
know her younger siblings and she was
know her younger siblings and she was selfish of course we don’t want to give
selfish of course we don’t want to give
selfish of course we don’t want to give this impression and we don’t do it on
this impression and we don’t do it on
this impression and we don’t do it on purpose we do this because many things
purpose we do this because many things
purpose we do this because many things in our lives are very important to us
in our lives are very important to us
in our lives are very important to us and we want we want to prioritize all of
and we want we want to prioritize all of
and we want we want to prioritize all of it but we do sometimes forget that we
it but we do sometimes forget that we
it but we do sometimes forget that we only have 100% of our time and we’re
only have 100% of our time and we’re
only have 100% of our time and we’re optimistic about that we think we can
optimistic about that we think we can
optimistic about that we think we can squeeze in more than we actually can so
squeeze in more than we actually can so
squeeze in more than we actually can so we end up working all evening instead of
we end up working all evening instead of
we end up working all evening instead of being at home with our loved ones as we
being at home with our loved ones as we
being at home with our loved ones as we promised I call this your hierarchy of
promised I call this your hierarchy of
promised I call this your hierarchy of priorities this is a hierarchy of the
priorities this is a hierarchy of the
priorities this is a hierarchy of the essence of you number one being the most
essence of you number one being the most
essence of you number one being the most important thing in your life and then
important thing in your life and then
important thing in your life and then going down to whatever
going down to whatever
going down to whatever you have other priorities in your life
you have other priorities in your life
you have other priorities in your life one thing is very important with this
one thing is very important with this
one thing is very important with this it’s not a it’s not a hierarchy that you
it’s not a it’s not a hierarchy that you
it’s not a it’s not a hierarchy that you can take home over a coffee and say hmm
can take home over a coffee and say hmm
can take home over a coffee and say hmm what number one to be this and number
what number one to be this and number
what number one to be this and number two to be that and my hair also looks
two to be that and my hair also looks
two to be that and my hair also looks good I don’t want to keep it that way so
good I don’t want to keep it that way so
good I don’t want to keep it that way so that’s number three this is not based on
that’s number three this is not based on
that’s number three this is not based on what you say but on your actions what
what you say but on your actions what
what you say but on your actions what you do two rules apply to this hierarchy
you do two rules apply to this hierarchy
you do two rules apply to this hierarchy one is that two things two of your
one is that two things two of your
one is that two things two of your priorities cannot have the same level of
priorities cannot have the same level of
priorities cannot have the same level of importance one will always overrule the
importance one will always overrule the
importance one will always overrule the other in one situation and to let you
other in one situation and to let you
other in one situation and to let you only have one hundred percent time to
only have one hundred percent time to
only have one hundred percent time to stretch out over these priorities you
stretch out over these priorities you
stretch out over these priorities you are forced to choose between one or
are forced to choose between one or
are forced to choose between one or another very often and most likely every
another very often and most likely every
another very often and most likely every single day even though they might feel
single day even though they might feel
single day even though they might feel like they are let the two priorities
like they are let the two priorities
like they are let the two priorities have the same level of importance let me
have the same level of importance let me
have the same level of importance let me give you an example can we agree that
give you an example can we agree that
give you an example can we agree that being on time and being honest or two
being on time and being honest or two
being on time and being honest or two things that most of us value but how
things that most of us value but how
things that most of us value but how many of you value honesty over
many of you value honesty over
many of you value honesty over timeliness yes look around this most of
timeliness yes look around this most of
timeliness yes look around this most of us imagine this it’s 7:15 a.m. in the
us imagine this it’s 7:15 a.m. in the
us imagine this it’s 7:15 a.m. in the morning and you’re at home you have a
morning and you’re at home you have a
morning and you’re at home you have a meeting downtown at 8 o’clock and you
meeting downtown at 8 o’clock and you
meeting downtown at 8 o’clock and you snoozed one time too many this morning
snoozed one time too many this morning
snoozed one time too many this morning you just got out of the shower and you
you just got out of the shower and you
you just got out of the shower and you still need to have breakfast you rush
still need to have breakfast you rush
still need to have breakfast you rush out the door
out the door
out the door and through town to get to your meeting
and through town to get to your meeting
and through town to get to your meeting in time you get there at 8 10 10 minutes
in time you get there at 8 10 10 minutes
in time you get there at 8 10 10 minutes late no big deal sorry I’m late I was
late no big deal sorry I’m late I was
late no big deal sorry I’m late I was stuck in traffic how many of you have
stuck in traffic how many of you have
stuck in traffic how many of you have you tried tried this before I think we
you tried tried this before I think we
you tried tried this before I think we all know that this is a little small
all know that this is a little small
all know that this is a little small white lie that is ok and that is that
white lie that is ok and that is that
white lie that is ok and that is that it’s not harmful but suddenly you’re a
it’s not harmful but suddenly you’re a
it’s not harmful but suddenly you’re a liar it’s not like we want to be
liar it’s not like we want to be
liar it’s not like we want to be dishonest but in the moment we
dishonest but in the moment we
dishonest but in the moment we prioritize timeliness over honesty and
prioritize timeliness over honesty and
prioritize timeliness over honesty and even worse you rush out the door through
even worse you rush out the door through
even worse you rush out the door through the city probably in your car or also in
the city probably in your car or also in
the city probably in your car or also in on your bicycle to get the meeting in
on your bicycle to get the meeting in
on your bicycle to get the meeting in time which you know you’re going to be
time which you know you’re going to be
time which you know you’re going to be too late for so
too late for so
too late for so now you put timeliness over honesty and
now you put timeliness over honesty and
now you put timeliness over honesty and safety this is a simple example
safety this is a simple example
safety this is a simple example illustrating how your hierarchy of
illustrating how your hierarchy of
illustrating how your hierarchy of priorities work on a daily basis but are
priorities work on a daily basis but are
priorities work on a daily basis but are you often aware about how often this
you often aware about how often this
you often aware about how often this happens to you and how often you
happens to you and how often you
happens to you and how often you prioritize differently than what you let
prioritize differently than what you let
prioritize differently than what you let your peep the people around you know of
your peep the people around you know of
your peep the people around you know of and that you let yourself know of it all
and that you let yourself know of it all
and that you let yourself know of it all plays out in what you do not what you
plays out in what you do not what you
plays out in what you do not what you say
say
say your actions tells exactly who you are
your actions tells exactly who you are
your actions tells exactly who you are and what your priorities are
and what your priorities are
and what your priorities are it’s totally transparent work is more
it’s totally transparent work is more
it’s totally transparent work is more important and family sleeping is more
important and family sleeping is more
important and family sleeping is more important than work out and going out is
important than work out and going out is
important than work out and going out is more important than paying off your
more important than paying off your
more important than paying off your debts what I discovered over the last
debts what I discovered over the last
debts what I discovered over the last three years while starting a business is
three years while starting a business is
three years while starting a business is that who you are who you want to become
that who you are who you want to become
that who you are who you want to become and who you set yourself up to be when
and who you set yourself up to be when
and who you set yourself up to be when you die is a direct result of your
you die is a direct result of your
you die is a direct result of your hierarchy of priorities I grew up in a
hierarchy of priorities I grew up in a
hierarchy of priorities I grew up in a small city being the oldest of five six
small city being the oldest of five six
small city being the oldest of five six siblings sorry I forgot I forgot one
siblings sorry I forgot I forgot one
siblings sorry I forgot I forgot one there yeah sorry um of six siblings both
there yeah sorry um of six siblings both
there yeah sorry um of six siblings both of my parents worked a lot so we always
of my parents worked a lot so we always
of my parents worked a lot so we always had a nanny I was raised to be very
had a nanny I was raised to be very
had a nanny I was raised to be very independent from a young age and that
independent from a young age and that
independent from a young age and that was a strong personality trait I took
was a strong personality trait I took
was a strong personality trait I took with me when I left my hometown to start
with me when I left my hometown to start
with me when I left my hometown to start studying I started studying studying
studying I started studying studying
studying I started studying studying business economics and one year in
business economics and one year in
business economics and one year in during my exam period I got an idea
during my exam period I got an idea
during my exam period I got an idea Spotify for textbooks so I eventually
Spotify for textbooks so I eventually
Spotify for textbooks so I eventually dropped out to make this idea happen to
dropped out to make this idea happen to
dropped out to make this idea happen to save up money I moved back with my mom I
save up money I moved back with my mom I
save up money I moved back with my mom I got a full-time day job work as a
got a full-time day job work as a
got a full-time day job work as a waitress in the evening and worked on my
waitress in the evening and worked on my
waitress in the evening and worked on my ID at night and this went on for nine
ID at night and this went on for nine
ID at night and this went on for nine months three months it took me to get a
months three months it took me to get a
months three months it took me to get a loan from the bank and I could finally
loan from the bank and I could finally
loan from the bank and I could finally make my dreams come true and make this
make my dreams come true and make this
make my dreams come true and make this adventure happen
adventure happen
adventure happen I found a software partner and they were
I found a software partner and they were
I found a software partner and they were based in the same city as I used to
based in the same city as I used to
based in the same city as I used to study in I did not have money for rent
study in I did not have money for rent
study in I did not have money for rent but a friend of mine asked me to move in
but a friend of mine asked me to move in
but a friend of mine asked me to move in on her couch in this in her studio
on her couch in this in her studio
on her couch in this in her studio apartment and I gratefully accepted
apartment and I gratefully accepted
apartment and I gratefully accepted since all the money was going to the
since all the money was going to the
since all the money was going to the software partner I didn’t have money for
software partner I didn’t have money for
software partner I didn’t have money for salary and now let me take a second here
salary and now let me take a second here
salary and now let me take a second here to explain to you and show you how my
to explain to you and show you how my
to explain to you and show you how my hierarchy of priorities look like in
hierarchy of priorities look like in
hierarchy of priorities look like in this period and what influence it had on
this period and what influence it had on
this period and what influence it had on me and the people around me when you
me and the people around me when you
me and the people around me when you look at the hierarchy you immediately
look at the hierarchy you immediately
look at the hierarchy you immediately see that work was my number one very
see that work was my number one very
see that work was my number one very dominant priority throughout this time
dominant priority throughout this time
dominant priority throughout this time family or friends were nowhere to be
family or friends were nowhere to be
family or friends were nowhere to be found in there like no nothing else
found in there like no nothing else
found in there like no nothing else basically and this was me in 2014 and 15
basically and this was me in 2014 and 15
basically and this was me in 2014 and 15 glamorous startup life the results of
glamorous startup life the results of
glamorous startup life the results of this the hierarchy I just showed you
this the hierarchy I just showed you
this the hierarchy I just showed you before was that my family didn’t want to
before was that my family didn’t want to
before was that my family didn’t want to make appointments with me anymore
make appointments with me anymore
make appointments with me anymore because I was too flaky I didn’t have
because I was too flaky I didn’t have
because I was too flaky I didn’t have the surplus to work out think about what
the surplus to work out think about what
the surplus to work out think about what I ate or even wear makeup meetings are
I ate or even wear makeup meetings are
I ate or even wear makeup meetings are no meetings I didn’t care I showed up in
no meetings I didn’t care I showed up in
no meetings I didn’t care I showed up in my sweatpants and in my sneakers without
my sweatpants and in my sneakers without
my sweatpants and in my sneakers without a makeup and my hair in a bun and they
a makeup and my hair in a bun and they
a makeup and my hair in a bun and they needed to just take me as I were several
needed to just take me as I were several
needed to just take me as I were several of my closest friends gave up on me and
of my closest friends gave up on me and
of my closest friends gave up on me and I got between 3 and 5 hours of sleep
I got between 3 and 5 hours of sleep
I got between 3 and 5 hours of sleep during this period because my tasks in
during this period because my tasks in
during this period because my tasks in my inbox was growing too quickly to
my inbox was growing too quickly to
my inbox was growing too quickly to follow I also had my heart checked
follow I also had my heart checked
follow I also had my heart checked several times because I felt like
several times because I felt like
several times because I felt like something was wrong and as a 22 year old
something was wrong and as a 22 year old
something was wrong and as a 22 year old that’s not normal I was told the
that’s not normal I was told the
that’s not normal I was told the hospital but many extraordinary things
hospital but many extraordinary things
hospital but many extraordinary things in the business happened throughout this
in the business happened throughout this
in the business happened throughout this period because all of my focus and my
period because all of my focus and my
period because all of my focus and my time was going into this my software
time was going into this my software
time was going into this my software partners turned out to be scammers so I
partners turned out to be scammers so I
partners turned out to be scammers so I lost all of my hot earned and loaned
lost all of my hot earned and loaned
lost all of my hot earned and loaned money and had to have to start over
money and had to have to start over
money and had to have to start over because of my priorities I didn’t have
because of my priorities I didn’t have
because of my priorities I didn’t have the option to quit but also because of
the option to quit but also because of
the option to quit but also because of my priorities I had spent 90% of my time
my priorities I had spent 90% of my time
my priorities I had spent 90% of my time working so of course I had created
working so of course I had created
working so of course I had created opportunities for myself I had created a
opportunities for myself I had created a
opportunities for myself I had created a huge network of people that could help
huge network of people that could help
huge network of people that could help so I turned out that I knew enough of
so I turned out that I knew enough of
so I turned out that I knew enough of the right people that had the right
the right people that had the right
the right people that had the right resources to start over then I was still
resources to start over then I was still
resources to start over then I was still on the couch finding my first employees
on the couch finding my first employees
on the couch finding my first employees finding my co-founder I found some
finding my co-founder I found some
finding my co-founder I found some investments to pay salaries to all the
investments to pay salaries to all the
investments to pay salaries to all the people it started to look very bright
people it started to look very bright
people it started to look very bright the team grew bigger we started to win
the team grew bigger we started to win
the team grew bigger we started to win awards we suddenly had a product and we
awards we suddenly had a product and we
awards we suddenly had a product and we started to have customers
suddenly there was a lot at stake a lot
suddenly there was a lot at stake a lot of responsibility to bear an enormous
of responsibility to bear an enormous
of responsibility to bear an enormous workload to keep up with on the day of
workload to keep up with on the day of
workload to keep up with on the day of my sister’s my little sister’s prom
my sister’s my little sister’s prom
my sister’s my little sister’s prom night I promised to do her hair and
night I promised to do her hair and
night I promised to do her hair and makeup
makeup
makeup she asked me months in advance if I was
she asked me months in advance if I was
she asked me months in advance if I was free that day because she knew I had a
free that day because she knew I had a
free that day because she knew I had a history of being a little flaky she was
history of being a little flaky she was
history of being a little flaky she was so excited for this evening and she made
so excited for this evening and she made
so excited for this evening and she made everything ready for us to have some
everything ready for us to have some
everything ready for us to have some sister time while drinking champagne
sister time while drinking champagne
sister time while drinking champagne talking catching up and well me being
talking catching up and well me being
talking catching up and well me being her makeup artist following my
her makeup artist following my
her makeup artist following my priorities as usual I bailed last minute
priorities as usual I bailed last minute
priorities as usual I bailed last minute leaving her heartbroken heartbroken
leaving her heartbroken heartbroken
leaving her heartbroken heartbroken sorry with no one to make her ready for
sorry with no one to make her ready for
sorry with no one to make her ready for her big night I had always been telling
her big night I had always been telling
her big night I had always been telling her that everything comes it comes down
her that everything comes it comes down
her that everything comes it comes down to priorities so when she got a sorry
to priorities so when she got a sorry
to priorities so when she got a sorry excuse for some guy that she wanted to
excuse for some guy that she wanted to
excuse for some guy that she wanted to go on a date with I told her forget
go on a date with I told her forget
go on a date with I told her forget about him he’s not worth it if he wanted
about him he’s not worth it if he wanted
about him he’s not worth it if he wanted to see you you would know because
to see you you would know because
to see you you would know because everything comes down to priorities so
everything comes down to priorities so
everything comes down to priorities so of course she told me the exact same
of course she told me the exact same
of course she told me the exact same thing this evening when I bailed on her
thing this evening when I bailed on her
thing this evening when I bailed on her for the hundredth time in a row on a
for the hundredth time in a row on a
for the hundredth time in a row on a night that actually mattered to her I
night that actually mattered to her I
night that actually mattered to her I felt so torn because I was so sure that
felt so torn because I was so sure that
felt so torn because I was so sure that I could make time for everything but I
I could make time for everything but I
I could make time for everything but I could fit in both of those really
could fit in both of those really
could fit in both of those really important things to me hmm but I
important things to me hmm but I
important things to me hmm but I couldn’t I was full of regret so I
couldn’t I was full of regret so I
couldn’t I was full of regret so I didn’t want to hurt her and she meant
didn’t want to hurt her and she meant
didn’t want to hurt her and she meant the world to me but still I did in that
the world to me but still I did in that
the world to me but still I did in that moment I chose to change my decisions
moment I chose to change my decisions
moment I chose to change my decisions and my priorities I bail and my
and my priorities I bail and my
and my priorities I bail and my colleagues went home to my sister got
colleagues went home to my sister got
colleagues went home to my sister got her ready
her ready
her ready and took her to the prom now my
and took her to the prom now my
and took her to the prom now my hierarchy of priorities look like this I
hierarchy of priorities look like this I
hierarchy of priorities look like this I did this by changing my actions and not
did this by changing my actions and not
did this by changing my actions and not only what I say I changed my promises so
only what I say I changed my promises so
only what I say I changed my promises so when I say something I stick to it I
when I say something I stick to it I
when I say something I stick to it I weren’t deliberately on my hierarchy of
weren’t deliberately on my hierarchy of
weren’t deliberately on my hierarchy of priorities to make the life for myself
priorities to make the life for myself
priorities to make the life for myself and the people around me that I desire
and the people around me that I desire
and the people around me that I desire and some of the things I said before are
and some of the things I said before are
and some of the things I said before are still true I am NOT the best friend you
still true I am NOT the best friend you
still true I am NOT the best friend you could wish for I am very busy and yes I
could wish for I am very busy and yes I
could wish for I am very busy and yes I am extremely selfish
am extremely selfish
am extremely selfish because I put my work first but I won’t
because I put my work first but I won’t
because I put my work first but I won’t accept being dishonest being unreliable
accept being dishonest being unreliable
accept being dishonest being unreliable and flaky so I chose to change that so
and flaky so I chose to change that so
and flaky so I chose to change that so no your hierarchy of priorities and show
no your hierarchy of priorities and show
no your hierarchy of priorities and show it through your actions and stay honest
it through your actions and stay honest
it through your actions and stay honest with yourself where you have to choose
with yourself where you have to choose
with yourself where you have to choose and remember everything comes down to
and remember everything comes down to
and remember everything comes down to priorities and this is my way of living
priorities and this is my way of living
priorities and this is my way of living towards what I want to be when I die
towards what I want to be when I die
towards what I want to be when I die thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
”
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