did you know that out of every 100 businesses started only four go on to
businesses started only four go on to
businesses started only four go on to achieve revenues of a million pounds a
achieve revenues of a million pounds a
achieve revenues of a million pounds a year or more and did you know that 50%
year or more and did you know that 50%
year or more and did you know that 50% of businesses started fail within the
of businesses started fail within the
of businesses started fail within the first four years and finally did you
first four years and finally did you
first four years and finally did you know that according to the Kauffman
know that according to the Kauffman
know that according to the Kauffman Foundation the rate of new entrepreneurs
Foundation the rate of new entrepreneurs
Foundation the rate of new entrepreneurs is growing fastest amongst those without
is growing fastest amongst those without
is growing fastest amongst those without a university education well I’m very
a university education well I’m very
a university education well I’m very glad that I had no idea about those
glad that I had no idea about those
glad that I had no idea about those statistics when I started my first
statistics when I started my first
statistics when I started my first business at the age of 17 about a year
business at the age of 17 about a year
business at the age of 17 about a year earlier
earlier
earlier my best friend Will had introduced me to
my best friend Will had introduced me to
my best friend Will had introduced me to the Internet and I remember taking one
the Internet and I remember taking one
the Internet and I remember taking one look at the Internet and thinking I can
look at the Internet and thinking I can
look at the Internet and thinking I can do something with this all I need is a
do something with this all I need is a
do something with this all I need is a computer and my parents had just bought
computer and my parents had just bought
computer and my parents had just bought one of those my office was my bedroom
one of those my office was my bedroom
one of those my office was my bedroom I’d taken down my supermodel posters and
I’d taken down my supermodel posters and
I’d taken down my supermodel posters and I’d push my bed right up against the
I’d push my bed right up against the
I’d push my bed right up against the wall to make room for a big desk it was
wall to make room for a big desk it was
wall to make room for a big desk it was chaos there were boxes files computers
chaos there were boxes files computers
chaos there were boxes files computers and cables everywhere but my office
and cables everywhere but my office
and cables everywhere but my office sharing a room with my bedroom had some
sharing a room with my bedroom had some
sharing a room with my bedroom had some really huge advantages for one thing it
really huge advantages for one thing it
really huge advantages for one thing it meant that my commute was the shortest
meant that my commute was the shortest
meant that my commute was the shortest known to man so I could work all night
known to man so I could work all night
known to man so I could work all night at my desk walk across to the other side
at my desk walk across to the other side
at my desk walk across to the other side of the room get straight into bed and go
of the room get straight into bed and go
of the room get straight into bed and go to sleep now on most nights I’d sleep
to sleep now on most nights I’d sleep
to sleep now on most nights I’d sleep for an hour or two and then I would get
for an hour or two and then I would get
for an hour or two and then I would get straight back up again and I’d go to
straight back up again and I’d go to
straight back up again and I’d go to school one day on one of my very weary
school one day on one of my very weary
school one day on one of my very weary journeys to school my mum who was
journeys to school my mum who was
journeys to school my mum who was driving the car
driving the car
driving the car turned to me and said you’ve got to
turned to me and said you’ve got to
turned to me and said you’ve got to focus on your schoolwork if you don’t
focus on your schoolwork if you don’t
focus on your schoolwork if you don’t you’re not gonna be able to go to
you’re not gonna be able to go to
you’re not gonna be able to go to university now I really didn’t want to
university now I really didn’t want to
university now I really didn’t want to disappoint my mum or let her down but
disappoint my mum or let her down but
disappoint my mum or let her down but privately I thought to myself I know
privately I thought to myself I know
privately I thought to myself I know that’s not going to happen I’m already
that’s not going to happen I’m already
that’s not going to happen I’m already doing exactly what I want to do now a
doing exactly what I want to do now a
doing exactly what I want to do now a few weeks later and it’s half term so
few weeks later and it’s half term so
few weeks later and it’s half term so I’m not at school
I’m not at school
I’m not at school in fact it’s 11:30 a.m. on a Wednesday
in fact it’s 11:30 a.m. on a Wednesday
in fact it’s 11:30 a.m. on a Wednesday and I’ve just got off the phone one of
and I’ve just got off the phone one of
and I’ve just got off the phone one of my contacts at a magazine had called me
my contacts at a magazine had called me
my contacts at a magazine had called me and he’d said I’ll sell you all the
and he’d said I’ll sell you all the
and he’d said I’ll sell you all the advertising space that we have left in
advertising space that we have left in
advertising space that we have left in the magazine for 15,000 pounds I knew
the magazine for 15,000 pounds I knew
the magazine for 15,000 pounds I knew right then that it was a pivotal moment
right then that it was a pivotal moment
right then that it was a pivotal moment I thought to myself if I do this
I thought to myself if I do this
I thought to myself if I do this everyone that reads that magazine is
everyone that reads that magazine is
everyone that reads that magazine is going to know what my company does and
going to know what my company does and
going to know what my company does and even better my competitors aren’t gonna
even better my competitors aren’t gonna
even better my competitors aren’t gonna have any we’re left to advertise so as a
have any we’re left to advertise so as a
have any we’re left to advertise so as a 17 year old kid I agreed to that 15,000
17 year old kid I agreed to that 15,000
17 year old kid I agreed to that 15,000 pound deal my heart was racing I stared
pound deal my heart was racing I stared
pound deal my heart was racing I stared out of my bedroom window to the fields
out of my bedroom window to the fields
out of my bedroom window to the fields outside in a state of shock I couldn’t
outside in a state of shock I couldn’t
outside in a state of shock I couldn’t believe that I just risked all the money
believe that I just risked all the money
believe that I just risked all the money that I had but you know what it paid off
that I had but you know what it paid off
that I had but you know what it paid off it worked
it worked
it worked within a month we had hundreds of
within a month we had hundreds of
within a month we had hundreds of customers and there were more and more
customers and there were more and more
customers and there were more and more pouring in every day
pouring in every day
pouring in every day it was a strategic gamble that I could
it was a strategic gamble that I could
it was a strategic gamble that I could only have taken because I had no idea
only have taken because I had no idea
only have taken because I had no idea about the rules
about the rules
about the rules and before long another breakthrough
and before long another breakthrough
and before long another breakthrough happened I’d fairly spontaneously picked
happened I’d fairly spontaneously picked
happened I’d fairly spontaneously picked up the phone one day to a competitor and
up the phone one day to a competitor and
up the phone one day to a competitor and I’d asked him why’d you charge so much
I’d asked him why’d you charge so much
I’d asked him why’d you charge so much for something that I know is so cheap
for something that I know is so cheap
for something that I know is so cheap you to provide and the competitor had
you to provide and the competitor had
you to provide and the competitor had sort of laughed at me and said well we
sort of laughed at me and said well we
sort of laughed at me and said well we do it because everyone else does but I
do it because everyone else does but I
do it because everyone else does but I realized that I didn’t have to play by
realized that I didn’t have to play by
realized that I didn’t have to play by those rules and so I immediately reduced
those rules and so I immediately reduced
those rules and so I immediately reduced my prices by 50% and as you can imagine
my prices by 50% and as you can imagine
my prices by 50% and as you can imagine my customers loved it the business
my customers loved it the business
my customers loved it the business started to grow really quite rapidly at
started to grow really quite rapidly at
started to grow really quite rapidly at that point I hired six people and by
that point I hired six people and by
that point I hired six people and by working really hard we turn that little
working really hard we turn that little
working really hard we turn that little web hosting company that I’d started in
web hosting company that I’d started in
web hosting company that I’d started in my bedroom to a thriving business with
my bedroom to a thriving business with
my bedroom to a thriving business with twenty four thousand customers and it
twenty four thousand customers and it
twenty four thousand customers and it was pretty much business as usual from
was pretty much business as usual from
was pretty much business as usual from that point on until one day I got an
that point on until one day I got an
that point on until one day I got an intriguing phone call it was from a
intriguing phone call it was from a
intriguing phone call it was from a competitor and to my surprise they
competitor and to my surprise they
competitor and to my surprise they wanted to buy my business well I don’t
wanted to buy my business well I don’t
wanted to buy my business well I don’t think I did anything with the phone call
think I did anything with the phone call
think I did anything with the phone call I think I got off the phone and just
I think I got off the phone and just
I think I got off the phone and just went back to whatever it was I’d been
went back to whatever it was I’d been
went back to whatever it was I’d been doing but a couple of weeks later I got
doing but a couple of weeks later I got
doing but a couple of weeks later I got another phone call this time from
another phone call this time from
another phone call this time from someone else and a few weeks after that
someone else and a few weeks after that
someone else and a few weeks after that I got a voicemail from a different
I got a voicemail from a different
I got a voicemail from a different competitor who wanted the same thing and
competitor who wanted the same thing and
competitor who wanted the same thing and after the fourth or fifth approach I
after the fourth or fifth approach I
after the fourth or fifth approach I adorned on me that I needed to start
adorned on me that I needed to start
adorned on me that I needed to start taking them seriously
taking them seriously
taking them seriously now as luck would have it one of those
now as luck would have it one of those
now as luck would have it one of those companies was based just up the road and
companies was based just up the road and
companies was based just up the road and so perhaps naively I thought well I’ll
so perhaps naively I thought well I’ll
so perhaps naively I thought well I’ll go along for a quick meeting to find out
go along for a quick meeting to find out
go along for a quick meeting to find out a little bit more about what they’re
a little bit more about what they’re
a little bit more about what they’re after well after what I can only
after well after what I can only
after well after what I can only describe as an intense to our grilling
describe as an intense to our grilling
describe as an intense to our grilling the chairman of this company sat back in
the chairman of this company sat back in
the chairman of this company sat back in his massive leather chair in his huge
his massive leather chair in his huge
his massive leather chair in his huge meeting room and said okay we’ll make
meeting room and said okay we’ll make
meeting room and said okay we’ll make you an offer we’ll give you 750 thousand
you an offer we’ll give you 750 thousand
you an offer we’ll give you 750 thousand pounds for your business now as I’m sure
pounds for your business now as I’m sure
pounds for your business now as I’m sure you can imagine that was quite good news
you can imagine that was quite good news
you can imagine that was quite good news really
but somewhere along the line as a young
but somewhere along the line as a young man someone had told me never to accept
man someone had told me never to accept
man someone had told me never to accept the first offer and so out of my mouth
the first offer and so out of my mouth
the first offer and so out of my mouth came the words thanks very much but I’m
came the words thanks very much but I’m
came the words thanks very much but I’m gonna sell it for a lot more than that
gonna sell it for a lot more than that
gonna sell it for a lot more than that and incredibly just a few short months
and incredibly just a few short months
and incredibly just a few short months later that’s exactly what happened I
later that’s exactly what happened I
later that’s exactly what happened I sold that business that I’d started as a
sold that business that I’d started as a
sold that business that I’d started as a 17 year old kid in my bedroom with my
17 year old kid in my bedroom with my
17 year old kid in my bedroom with my bed pushed up against the wall for 2.1
bed pushed up against the wall for 2.1
bed pushed up against the wall for 2.1 million pounds but why had I been able
million pounds but why had I been able
million pounds but why had I been able to start grow and sell a business in
to start grow and sell a business in
to start grow and sell a business in such a short period of time at such a
such a short period of time at such a
such a short period of time at such a young age well I think it has a lot to
young age well I think it has a lot to
young age well I think it has a lot to do with not following the rules think
do with not following the rules think
do with not following the rules think about your life were you brought up to
about your life were you brought up to
about your life were you brought up to follow the rules or were you brought up
follow the rules or were you brought up
follow the rules or were you brought up like me not really realizing that there
like me not really realizing that there
like me not really realizing that there were any rules or were you brought up to
were any rules or were you brought up to
were any rules or were you brought up to create your own rules now I want you to
create your own rules now I want you to
create your own rules now I want you to fast forward with me about six years
fast forward with me about six years
fast forward with me about six years after that I’m on business number two
after that I’m on business number two
after that I’m on business number two and it’s like I’ve forgotten everything
and it’s like I’ve forgotten everything
and it’s like I’ve forgotten everything that I knew back then I’m working seven
that I knew back then I’m working seven
that I knew back then I’m working seven days a week I’m doing all the
days a week I’m doing all the
days a week I’m doing all the advertising that I can possibly afford
advertising that I can possibly afford
advertising that I can possibly afford but the business is barely profitable
but the business is barely profitable
but the business is barely profitable I’ve appointed team leaders and managers
I’ve appointed team leaders and managers
I’ve appointed team leaders and managers but it’s like I’m banging my head on
but it’s like I’m banging my head on
but it’s like I’m banging my head on invisible ceiling I just can’t get this
invisible ceiling I just can’t get this
invisible ceiling I just can’t get this business to work each week is filled
business to work each week is filled
business to work each week is filled with difficult situations
with difficult situations
with difficult situations the business is lurching from crisis to
the business is lurching from crisis to
the business is lurching from crisis to crisis and that’s making my team really
crisis and that’s making my team really
crisis and that’s making my team really demotivated and unhappy I’m stuck in
demotivated and unhappy I’m stuck in
demotivated and unhappy I’m stuck in seemingly endless meetings and as an
seemingly endless meetings and as an
seemingly endless meetings and as an introvert
introvert
introvert those are my idea of hell what’s making
those are my idea of hell what’s making
those are my idea of hell what’s making everything worse
everything worse
everything worse and everything more difficult is that
and everything more difficult is that
and everything more difficult is that all around me people are trying to give
all around me people are trying to give
all around me people are trying to give me their advice and their rules but the
me their advice and their rules but the
me their advice and their rules but the more I try to fix things the worse it
more I try to fix things the worse it
more I try to fix things the worse it gets
gets
gets I’m basically trying to minimize risk at
I’m basically trying to minimize risk at
I’m basically trying to minimize risk at all costs and for the first time in my
all costs and for the first time in my
all costs and for the first time in my life I’m following the rulebook and it
life I’m following the rulebook and it
life I’m following the rulebook and it isn’t working I remember one day after a
isn’t working I remember one day after a
isn’t working I remember one day after a particularly bad staff meeting everyone
particularly bad staff meeting everyone
particularly bad staff meeting everyone left the meeting room and I stayed in
left the meeting room and I stayed in
left the meeting room and I stayed in there alone now I’ve got to describe
there alone now I’ve got to describe
there alone now I’ve got to describe this room to you it was in the very
this room to you it was in the very
this room to you it was in the very basement of our building it was a really
basement of our building it was a really
basement of our building it was a really dark room no matter what the weather was
dark room no matter what the weather was
dark room no matter what the weather was doing outside and it had damp growing up
doing outside and it had damp growing up
doing outside and it had damp growing up the walls and it had these huge thick
the walls and it had these huge thick
the walls and it had these huge thick bars on the windows now those bars were
bars on the windows now those bars were
bars on the windows now those bars were there to stop people breaking in but on
there to stop people breaking in but on
there to stop people breaking in but on that particular day they felt like they
that particular day they felt like they
that particular day they felt like they were there to stop me breaking out in
were there to stop me breaking out in
were there to stop me breaking out in fact I was so low and so miserable that
fact I was so low and so miserable that
fact I was so low and so miserable that I was quite close to giving up and that
I was quite close to giving up and that
I was quite close to giving up and that just isn’t really who I am but as I sat
just isn’t really who I am but as I sat
just isn’t really who I am but as I sat there in the doom I began to realize
there in the doom I began to realize
there in the doom I began to realize something I realized why this business
something I realized why this business
something I realized why this business was so different to my first I had
was so different to my first I had
was so different to my first I had changed I changed who I was as a leader
changed I changed who I was as a leader
changed I changed who I was as a leader I’d gone from being the kid making
I’d gone from being the kid making
I’d gone from being the kid making everything up as I went along to being
everything up as I went along to being
everything up as I went along to being the grown-up following the rules I’d
the grown-up following the rules I’d
the grown-up following the rules I’d gone from being innocent and naive to
gone from being innocent and naive to
gone from being innocent and naive to being knowledgeable and responsible and
being knowledgeable and responsible and
being knowledgeable and responsible and I’d morphed from being a visionary
I’d morphed from being a visionary
I’d morphed from being a visionary leader into a run it by the book manager
leader into a run it by the book manager
leader into a run it by the book manager I’d got really really good at doing
I’d got really really good at doing
I’d got really really good at doing things like minimizing risk and avoiding
things like minimizing risk and avoiding
things like minimizing risk and avoiding rocking the boat but I knew as I sat
rocking the boat but I knew as I sat
rocking the boat but I knew as I sat there that I had to change because if I
there that I had to change because if I
there that I had to change because if I didn’t change my company wouldn’t
didn’t change my company wouldn’t
didn’t change my company wouldn’t survive then as I was sitting there in
survive then as I was sitting there in
survive then as I was sitting there in that meeting room something
that meeting room something
that meeting room something remarkable happened in one moment I
remarkable happened in one moment I
remarkable happened in one moment I realized exactly what I had to do to
realized exactly what I had to do to
realized exactly what I had to do to turn things around I thought to myself I
turn things around I thought to myself I
turn things around I thought to myself I have to rebuild this company from the
have to rebuild this company from the
have to rebuild this company from the ground up and I have to start doing that
ground up and I have to start doing that
ground up and I have to start doing that today and so that very day that’s
today and so that very day that’s
today and so that very day that’s exactly what I started doing I started
exactly what I started doing I started
exactly what I started doing I started following my gut instinct more I went to
following my gut instinct more I went to
following my gut instinct more I went to my operations manager and I said stop
my operations manager and I said stop
my operations manager and I said stop everything you’re doing and help me
everything you’re doing and help me
everything you’re doing and help me rebuild this thing and I’m thankful to
rebuild this thing and I’m thankful to
rebuild this thing and I’m thankful to say he did I started being less scared
say he did I started being less scared
say he did I started being less scared to try new things when a loyal team
to try new things when a loyal team
to try new things when a loyal team member who handled all of our
member who handled all of our
member who handled all of our recruitment came to me and asked what
recruitment came to me and asked what
recruitment came to me and asked what she could do to help
she could do to help
she could do to help I said let’s stop recruiting just in
I said let’s stop recruiting just in
I said let’s stop recruiting just in this tiny city and let’s find the very
this tiny city and let’s find the very
this tiny city and let’s find the very best people wherever they are anywhere
best people wherever they are anywhere
best people wherever they are anywhere in the world but I met resistance along
in the world but I met resistance along
in the world but I met resistance along the way it wasn’t always easy to rebuild
the way it wasn’t always easy to rebuild
the way it wasn’t always easy to rebuild the company I remember the day that I
the company I remember the day that I
the company I remember the day that I was due to rip up the restrictive and
was due to rip up the restrictive and
was due to rip up the restrictive and legal heavy client contracts that we’d
legal heavy client contracts that we’d
legal heavy client contracts that we’d had for years and replace those with the
had for years and replace those with the
had for years and replace those with the freedom and flexibility that our clients
freedom and flexibility that our clients
freedom and flexibility that our clients really wanted and one of my team said if
really wanted and one of my team said if
really wanted and one of my team said if you do that I’m going to leave but I
you do that I’m going to leave but I
you do that I’m going to leave but I knew I had to follow my gut instinct as
knew I had to follow my gut instinct as
knew I had to follow my gut instinct as I stand here today I’m really happy to
I stand here today I’m really happy to
I stand here today I’m really happy to tell you that ripping up the rule book
tell you that ripping up the rule book
tell you that ripping up the rule book and instead starting to follow my
and instead starting to follow my
and instead starting to follow my instinct again has helped us to create a
instinct again has helped us to create a
instinct again has helped us to create a remarkable business that provides
remarkable business that provides
remarkable business that provides meaningful work to more than six hundred
meaningful work to more than six hundred
meaningful work to more than six hundred people around the world and has
people around the world and has
people around the world and has incredible multi-million pan revenues
incredible multi-million pan revenues
incredible multi-million pan revenues and a 275 percent growth rate and me
and a 275 percent growth rate and me
and a 275 percent growth rate and me well I’m rewarded not just financially
well I’m rewarded not just financially
well I’m rewarded not just financially but I’m happier I worry less I’m less
but I’m happier I worry less I’m less
but I’m happier I worry less I’m less stressed there’s less friction in my
stressed there’s less friction in my
stressed there’s less friction in my life and above all else I really enjoy
life and above all else I really enjoy
life and above all else I really enjoy what I do every day but what did I
what I do every day but what did I
what I do every day but what did I really
really
really learn well I learned that it’s really
learn well I learned that it’s really
learn well I learned that it’s really easy to do things the right way and to
easy to do things the right way and to
easy to do things the right way and to follow the rules but it was only by
follow the rules but it was only by
follow the rules but it was only by learning the hard way that I discovered
learning the hard way that I discovered
learning the hard way that I discovered that my biggest asset back when I was a
that my biggest asset back when I was a
that my biggest asset back when I was a 17 year old had been my innocence now
17 year old had been my innocence now
17 year old had been my innocence now you might be thinking that’s all very
you might be thinking that’s all very
you might be thinking that’s all very well for you but how do I apply that to
well for you but how do I apply that to
well for you but how do I apply that to my life
my life
my life well I’d like to give you an example
well I’d like to give you an example
well I’d like to give you an example I’ve got a great friend called Phil Phil
I’ve got a great friend called Phil Phil
I’ve got a great friend called Phil Phil is a qualified plumber and a few years
is a qualified plumber and a few years
is a qualified plumber and a few years ago he set up his own plumbing company
ago he set up his own plumbing company
ago he set up his own plumbing company just outside London from the outside it
just outside London from the outside it
just outside London from the outside it looked like everything was going really
looked like everything was going really
looked like everything was going really well until one day Phil called me up and
well until one day Phil called me up and
well until one day Phil called me up and said you have to help we need more
said you have to help we need more
said you have to help we need more customers but we’re struggling to stand
customers but we’re struggling to stand
customers but we’re struggling to stand out from our competition and Phil was
out from our competition and Phil was
out from our competition and Phil was right he was struggling to stand out but
right he was struggling to stand out but
right he was struggling to stand out but why well I think it’s because Phil had
why well I think it’s because Phil had
why well I think it’s because Phil had used the plumbing company rulebook when
used the plumbing company rulebook when
used the plumbing company rulebook when he created his company he’d sought
he created his company he’d sought
he created his company he’d sought knowledge and advice from his friends
knowledge and advice from his friends
knowledge and advice from his friends who were also running plumbing companies
who were also running plumbing companies
who were also running plumbing companies when he designed his website he’d looked
when he designed his website he’d looked
when he designed his website he’d looked at all the other plumbing company
at all the other plumbing company
at all the other plumbing company websites and he basically ended up with
websites and he basically ended up with
websites and he basically ended up with something a bit similar so Phil had
something a bit similar so Phil had
something a bit similar so Phil had accidentally created a commodity
accidentally created a commodity
accidentally created a commodity business not a unique one-of-a-kind
business not a unique one-of-a-kind
business not a unique one-of-a-kind company that could truly stand out from
company that could truly stand out from
company that could truly stand out from the pack so I said to Phil you have to
the pack so I said to Phil you have to
the pack so I said to Phil you have to rip up the plumbing company rulebook you
rip up the plumbing company rulebook you
rip up the plumbing company rulebook you have to get a piece of paper at a pen
have to get a piece of paper at a pen
have to get a piece of paper at a pen and write down your rulebook for the
and write down your rulebook for the
and write down your rulebook for the perfect plumbing company and that’s
perfect plumbing company and that’s
perfect plumbing company and that’s exactly what Phil did he now has a
exactly what Phil did he now has a
exactly what Phil did he now has a thriving business that uses the Internet
thriving business that uses the Internet
thriving business that uses the Internet to match people that need a plumber with
to match people that need a plumber with
to match people that need a plumber with qualified plumbers in their area not
qualified plumbers in their area not
qualified plumbers in their area not just outside of London but all over the
just outside of London but all over the
just outside of London but all over the UK at a massive scale and because it
UK at a massive scale and because it
UK at a massive scale and because it uses the Internet and it does things
uses the Internet and it does things
uses the Internet and it does things different
different
different it regularly beats the competition on
it regularly beats the competition on
it regularly beats the competition on both response time and price but you
both response time and price but you
both response time and price but you know ripping up the rulebook can go so
know ripping up the rulebook can go so
know ripping up the rulebook can go so much further than just helping with a
much further than just helping with a
much further than just helping with a business it can help with your entire
business it can help with your entire
business it can help with your entire career take Kirsten from the moment she
career take Kirsten from the moment she
career take Kirsten from the moment she joined my team I knew she was different
joined my team I knew she was different
joined my team I knew she was different when some of her colleagues would face
when some of her colleagues would face
when some of her colleagues would face stressful situations and start surviving
stressful situations and start surviving
stressful situations and start surviving until the weekend Kirsten always seemed
until the weekend Kirsten always seemed
until the weekend Kirsten always seemed to thrive and when some of her more
to thrive and when some of her more
to thrive and when some of her more junior colleagues would finish a project
junior colleagues would finish a project
junior colleagues would finish a project and sit and wait to be asked to work on
and sit and wait to be asked to work on
and sit and wait to be asked to work on something else
something else
something else Kirsten always seemed to know what to do
Kirsten always seemed to know what to do
Kirsten always seemed to know what to do next and so one day I asked her out
next and so one day I asked her out
next and so one day I asked her out right what’s different about you and she
right what’s different about you and she
right what’s different about you and she said that she doesn’t think of herself
said that she doesn’t think of herself
said that she doesn’t think of herself as an employee she thinks of herself as
as an employee she thinks of herself as
as an employee she thinks of herself as an owner she explained that her dad had
an owner she explained that her dad had
an owner she explained that her dad had once said to her you shouldn’t wait for
once said to her you shouldn’t wait for
once said to her you shouldn’t wait for the rewards to come to you you should
the rewards to come to you you should
the rewards to come to you you should work hard and take ownership and they’ll
work hard and take ownership and they’ll
work hard and take ownership and they’ll come and he was right when I looked at
come and he was right when I looked at
come and he was right when I looked at Kirsten I realized that she doesn’t
Kirsten I realized that she doesn’t
Kirsten I realized that she doesn’t follow the typical employee rule book
follow the typical employee rule book
follow the typical employee rule book she’d made her own and in her rule book
she’d made her own and in her rule book
she’d made her own and in her rule book you never sit and wait to be asked to do
you never sit and wait to be asked to do
you never sit and wait to be asked to do something you just get on and do it and
something you just get on and do it and
something you just get on and do it and in her rule book
in her rule book
in her rule book you don’t even act like an employee you
you don’t even act like an employee you
you don’t even act like an employee you act like an owner now back to you guys
act like an owner now back to you guys
act like an owner now back to you guys could following the rule book be holding
could following the rule book be holding
could following the rule book be holding back your business or your career you
back your business or your career you
back your business or your career you know when I was preparing for this talk
know when I was preparing for this talk
know when I was preparing for this talk I I looked back at 17 years of starting
I I looked back at 17 years of starting
I I looked back at 17 years of starting and growing businesses and I realized
and growing businesses and I realized
and growing businesses and I realized that my idea worth sharing
that my idea worth sharing
that my idea worth sharing is that we are in control of the rules
is that we are in control of the rules
is that we are in control of the rules and the exciting thing
and the exciting thing
and the exciting thing the really exciting thing is that we can
the really exciting thing is that we can
the really exciting thing is that we can choose not to follow other people’s
choose not to follow other people’s
choose not to follow other people’s rules and not only are we in control but
rules and not only are we in control but
rules and not only are we in control but we can create our own rules so if you
we can create our own rules so if you
we can create our own rules so if you ever find yourself standing still or
ever find yourself standing still or
ever find yourself standing still or stuck whether it’s in your personal life
stuck whether it’s in your personal life
stuck whether it’s in your personal life your business or your career just ask
your business or your career just ask
your business or your career just ask yourself this one question whose rules
yourself this one question whose rules
yourself this one question whose rules am i following and if the answer is
am i following and if the answer is
am i following and if the answer is somebody else’s rules then stop and just
somebody else’s rules then stop and just
somebody else’s rules then stop and just imagine what could happen if you created
imagine what could happen if you created
imagine what could happen if you created your own thank you
your own thank you
your own thank you [Applause]
”
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