this one kid I knew when I was growing up he’s one of those kids that was
up he’s one of those kids that was
up he’s one of those kids that was always following the straight normal
always following the straight normal
always following the straight normal never stepping out of line never trying
never stepping out of line never trying
never stepping out of line never trying to draw attention to himself he saw
to draw attention to himself he saw
to draw attention to himself he saw early on that you try hard in school you
early on that you try hard in school you
early on that you try hard in school you go to college find the major you like
go to college find the major you like
go to college find the major you like find a job you did it and you do that
find a job you did it and you do that
find a job you did it and you do that for 30-some odd years and that’s what he
for 30-some odd years and that’s what he
for 30-some odd years and that’s what he set out to do so he goes to college and
set out to do so he goes to college and
set out to do so he goes to college and liking math and science he decides to
liking math and science he decides to
liking math and science he decides to major in mechanical engineering and he
major in mechanical engineering and he
major in mechanical engineering and he likes it it’s interesting it’s engaging
likes it it’s interesting it’s engaging
likes it it’s interesting it’s engaging for a few years he’s about to graduate
for a few years he’s about to graduate
for a few years he’s about to graduate and he starts questioning himself he
and he starts questioning himself he
and he starts questioning himself he starts wondering if he went to that just
starts wondering if he went to that just
starts wondering if he went to that just because he was good in math and science
because he was good in math and science
because he was good in math and science he was wondering if maybe changing
he was wondering if maybe changing
he was wondering if maybe changing fields might help and so he went to
fields might help and so he went to
fields might help and so he went to research start working a lab doing
research start working a lab doing
research start working a lab doing computational biomechanics it was
computational biomechanics it was
computational biomechanics it was interesting it was new it was a new way
interesting it was new it was a new way
interesting it was new it was a new way of working and thinking he was engaged
of working and thinking he was engaged
of working and thinking he was engaged he was really productive if you worked
he was really productive if you worked
he was really productive if you worked on a whole bunch of projects he
on a whole bunch of projects he
on a whole bunch of projects he published a lot sometimes I’d ask him
published a lot sometimes I’d ask him
published a lot sometimes I’d ask him how’s the research going his response
how’s the research going his response
how’s the research going his response was it’s good
the past is the time and so I think to
the past is the time and so I think to myself like is that really what you want
myself like is that really what you want
myself like is that really what you want him doing but he’s stuck with it and so
him doing but he’s stuck with it and so
him doing but he’s stuck with it and so he was wondering if changing feels again
he was wondering if changing feels again
he was wondering if changing feels again would help sort of Jewry spark his
would help sort of Jewry spark his
would help sort of Jewry spark his interest
interest
interest this time he goes for a PhD and machine
this time he goes for a PhD and machine
this time he goes for a PhD and machine learning artificial intelligence and
learning artificial intelligence and
learning artificial intelligence and data analysis and again it’s interesting
data analysis and again it’s interesting
data analysis and again it’s interesting it’s new and he’s engaged again he’s
it’s new and he’s engaged again he’s
it’s new and he’s engaged again he’s super productive working on a whole
super productive working on a whole
super productive working on a whole bunch of projects in addition to his
bunch of projects in addition to his
bunch of projects in addition to his dissertation work he’s about to graduate
dissertation work he’s about to graduate
dissertation work he’s about to graduate and again his interest starts afaid
and again his interest starts afaid
and again his interest starts afaid doing that for so long that it’s sort of
doing that for so long that it’s sort of
doing that for so long that it’s sort of the norm it’s sort of the easy route
the norm it’s sort of the easy route
the norm it’s sort of the easy route he’s still wondering if he’s going down
he’s still wondering if he’s going down
he’s still wondering if he’s going down that route just because he likes math
that route just because he likes math
that route just because he likes math and science though this other kid I knew
and science though this other kid I knew
and science though this other kid I knew he was athletic and energetic and his
he was athletic and energetic and his
he was athletic and energetic and his parents put him into gymnastics around
parents put him into gymnastics around
parents put him into gymnastics around the age of four just like any other kid
the age of four just like any other kid
the age of four just like any other kid at that age he wanted to go to the
at that age he wanted to go to the
at that age he wanted to go to the Olympics he loved the gym but he loved
Olympics he loved the gym but he loved
Olympics he loved the gym but he loved the gym for a reason that was very
the gym for a reason that was very
the gym for a reason that was very different than many other kids see he
different than many other kids see he
different than many other kids see he had a stutter and the stutter was pretty
had a stutter and the stutter was pretty
had a stutter and the stutter was pretty bad he would get caught up on words and
bad he would get caught up on words and
bad he would get caught up on words and sounds he’d end up holding his breath
sounds he’d end up holding his breath
sounds he’d end up holding his breath exhaust himself and then have to start
exhaust himself and then have to start
exhaust himself and then have to start all over again he was embarrassed to
all over again he was embarrassed to
all over again he was embarrassed to speak in who’s embarrassed for anyone to
speak in who’s embarrassed for anyone to
speak in who’s embarrassed for anyone to listen to him speak and so the gym it
listen to him speak and so the gym it
listen to him speak and so the gym it was his place where he didn’t have to
was his place where he didn’t have to
was his place where he didn’t have to worry and he could be a kid in high
worry and he could be a kid in high
worry and he could be a kid in high school in college he was on his way to
school in college he was on his way to
school in college he was on his way to doing really good things in gymnastics
doing really good things in gymnastics
doing really good things in gymnastics in high school he was a national
in high school he was a national
in high school he was a national champion on rings in college he was well
champion on rings in college he was well
champion on rings in college he was well ranked in the country and his team like
ranked in the country and his team like
ranked in the country and his team like that him captain three years in a row he
that him captain three years in a row he
that him captain three years in a row he started to struggle though when he was
started to struggle though when he was
started to struggle though when he was competing
competing
competing he was inconsistent injuries he had
he was inconsistent injuries he had
he was inconsistent injuries he had about seven surgeries his love
about seven surgeries his love
about seven surgeries his love gymnastics started to fade a little bit
gymnastics started to fade a little bit
gymnastics started to fade a little bit except as long as you could get in the
except as long as you could get in the
except as long as you could get in the gym and just train he was happy
gym and just train he was happy
gym and just train he was happy now most cute most guys finish college
now most cute most guys finish college
now most cute most guys finish college and they’re happy to hang up their grips
and they’re happy to hang up their grips
and they’re happy to hang up their grips this guy he was happy to be done
this guy he was happy to be done
this guy he was happy to be done competing but he just stayed in the gym
competing but he just stayed in the gym
competing but he just stayed in the gym and trained that was still the place
and trained that was still the place
and trained that was still the place where he felt most comfortable and free
where he felt most comfortable and free
where he felt most comfortable and free and he could relax even after all those
and he could relax even after all those
and he could relax even after all those years those two stories are stories of
years those two stories are stories of
years those two stories are stories of two very different people one person he
two very different people one person he
two very different people one person he went down this path just because he was
went down this path just because he was
went down this path just because he was good at something not necessarily
good at something not necessarily
good at something not necessarily because he loved it
because he loved it
because he loved it felt like he didn’t have freedom when in
felt like he didn’t have freedom when in
felt like he didn’t have freedom when in fact he did and the other he did
fact he did and the other he did
fact he did and the other he did something that he didn’t care what
something that he didn’t care what
something that he didn’t care what anyone else thought and he was handed
anyone else thought and he was handed
anyone else thought and he was handed something that made him feel trapped and
something that made him feel trapped and
something that made him feel trapped and yet he found that freedom and something
yet he found that freedom and something
yet he found that freedom and something else and before I go on I should clarify
else and before I go on I should clarify
else and before I go on I should clarify some things those two stories I just
some things those two stories I just
some things those two stories I just told you are actually stories from my
told you are actually stories from my
told you are actually stories from my life where I was the person that felt
life where I was the person that felt
life where I was the person that felt pushed down the engineering track and I
pushed down the engineering track and I
pushed down the engineering track and I was also the kid who’s hiding from the
was also the kid who’s hiding from the
was also the kid who’s hiding from the world in the gym second thing is that I
world in the gym second thing is that I
world in the gym second thing is that I haven’t finished the stories see some
haven’t finished the stories see some
haven’t finished the stories see some kids don’t like school because it’s hard
kids don’t like school because it’s hard
kids don’t like school because it’s hard it’s not engaging me I didn’t like
it’s not engaging me I didn’t like
it’s not engaging me I didn’t like school because I had to speak and what
school because I had to speak and what
school because I had to speak and what does that do it made me love the gym I
does that do it made me love the gym I
does that do it made me love the gym I was at one place where I could feel like
was at one place where I could feel like
was at one place where I could feel like a kid I could relax and I didn’t feel
a kid I could relax and I didn’t feel
a kid I could relax and I didn’t feel limited those used after I graduated
limited those used after I graduated
limited those used after I graduated with my bachelor’s in mechanical
with my bachelor’s in mechanical
with my bachelor’s in mechanical engineering might’ve seemed like I
engineering might’ve seemed like I
engineering might’ve seemed like I wasn’t doing a whole lot maybe I was
wasn’t doing a whole lot maybe I was
wasn’t doing a whole lot maybe I was just going through the grind of research
just going through the grind of research
just going through the grind of research and work maybe I was just wasting my
and work maybe I was just wasting my
and work maybe I was just wasting my time in the gym after competing those
time in the gym after competing those
time in the gym after competing those years were actually really important
years were actually really important
years were actually really important though in that time I found a really
though in that time I found a really
though in that time I found a really important mentor and I wanted to love
important mentor and I wanted to love
important mentor and I wanted to love research I presented a whole lot and I
research I presented a whole lot and I
research I presented a whole lot and I interacted with a whole bunch of people
interacted with a whole bunch of people
interacted with a whole bunch of people and I got to the point where my speech
and I got to the point where my speech
and I got to the point where my speech was no longer limiting what I decided to
was no longer limiting what I decided to
was no longer limiting what I decided to do in life and in the gym and for
do in life and in the gym and for
do in life and in the gym and for after I finished competing I just
after I finished competing I just
after I finished competing I just trained on my own and I learned how to
trained on my own and I learned how to
trained on my own and I learned how to play and break free from the mould of
play and break free from the mould of
play and break free from the mould of gymnastics when I was about to finish my
gymnastics when I was about to finish my
gymnastics when I was about to finish my PhD I was still pulled in two directions
PhD I was still pulled in two directions
PhD I was still pulled in two directions one going down that path for something I
one going down that path for something I
one going down that path for something I was good at
was good at
was good at except I didn’t really love and then
except I didn’t really love and then
except I didn’t really love and then something that I actually did love and
something that I actually did love and
something that I actually did love and then at the age of 32 I started
then at the age of 32 I started
then at the age of 32 I started listening to myself I made a demo tape
listening to myself I made a demo tape
listening to myself I made a demo tape and then on a Monday afternoon I got a
and then on a Monday afternoon I got a
and then on a Monday afternoon I got a call from Cirque du Soleil offering me a
call from Cirque du Soleil offering me a
call from Cirque du Soleil offering me a contract for an artist on a Tony show in
contract for an artist on a Tony show in
contract for an artist on a Tony show in South America that Tuesday I defended my
South America that Tuesday I defended my
South America that Tuesday I defended my thesis that Friday is on the contract
thesis that Friday is on the contract
thesis that Friday is on the contract about two weeks later
about two weeks later
about two weeks later [Applause]
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] about two weeks later I was up in
about two weeks later I was up in
about two weeks later I was up in Montreal training and then seven weeks
Montreal training and then seven weeks
Montreal training and then seven weeks later I flew to Santiago Chile to start
later I flew to Santiago Chile to start
later I flew to Santiago Chile to start performing so I got to the circus after
performing so I got to the circus after
performing so I got to the circus after about 10 years in academia and I know
about 10 years in academia and I know
about 10 years in academia and I know there’s some things right off the bat
first is it no one cares about your
first is it no one cares about your credentials no one cares
credentials no one cares
credentials no one cares where you went to school what degrees
where you went to school what degrees
where you went to school what degrees you have or how many papers you
you have or how many papers you
you have or how many papers you published what matters is if you work
published what matters is if you work
published what matters is if you work hard if you’re good on stage and you’re
hard if you’re good on stage and you’re
hard if you’re good on stage and you’re a good person second thing is that for a
a good person second thing is that for a
a good person second thing is that for a little bit odd and not normal it’s a
little bit odd and not normal it’s a
little bit odd and not normal it’s a good thing third thing is that my mind
good thing third thing is that my mind
good thing third thing is that my mind still thought analytically and I started
still thought analytically and I started
still thought analytically and I started seeing all these problems where my
seeing all these problems where my
seeing all these problems where my background in biomechanics machine
background in biomechanics machine
background in biomechanics machine learning and data analysis that could be
learning and data analysis that could be
learning and data analysis that could be applied to contribute Iran was one of
applied to contribute Iran was one of
applied to contribute Iran was one of those problems where I was still
those problems where I was still
those problems where I was still performing had to developed an algorithm
performing had to developed an algorithm
performing had to developed an algorithm for automatically scheduling circus
for automatically scheduling circus
for automatically scheduling circus artists
circ has taught me something about the
circ has taught me something about the click is not working all right
click is not working all right
click is not working all right that’s right circus taught me about also
that’s right circus taught me about also
that’s right circus taught me about also being an athlete something that I didn’t
being an athlete something that I didn’t
being an athlete something that I didn’t expect when I was competing I could
expect when I was competing I could
expect when I was competing I could never get in the right headspace now I
never get in the right headspace now I
never get in the right headspace now I always psych myself out instead I
always psych myself out instead I
always psych myself out instead I psyched myself up a circus after I got
psyched myself up a circus after I got
psyched myself up a circus after I got over the initial jitters of being on
over the initial jitters of being on
over the initial jitters of being on stage my head was always in our minds of
stage my head was always in our minds of
stage my head was always in our minds of play and fun and not perfection and that
play and fun and not perfection and that
play and fun and not perfection and that whatever I did on stage it would be just
whatever I did on stage it would be just
whatever I did on stage it would be just fine and so what I could never figure
fine and so what I could never figure
fine and so what I could never figure out in 20 years of gymnastics in the
out in 20 years of gymnastics in the
out in 20 years of gymnastics in the circus I’ve figured out in just over one
circus I’ve figured out in just over one
circus I’ve figured out in just over one year this one time when we were
year this one time when we were
year this one time when we were performing we’re down in Mexico we had a
performing we’re down in Mexico we had a
performing we’re down in Mexico we had a break of about 10 days in between cities
break of about 10 days in between cities
break of about 10 days in between cities and a few of us went over to these
and a few of us went over to these
and a few of us went over to these coasts of the Yucatan and so a few of us
coasts of the Yucatan and so a few of us
coasts of the Yucatan and so a few of us are sitting on a beach and we started
are sitting on a beach and we started
are sitting on a beach and we started talking about what we would do later
talking about what we would do later
talking about what we would do later that year after the show closed and it
that year after the show closed and it
that year after the show closed and it wasn’t something I had really been
wasn’t something I had really been
wasn’t something I had really been thinking about at that time but at that
thinking about at that time but at that
thinking about at that time but at that moment sitting on the beach it was
moment sitting on the beach it was
moment sitting on the beach it was totally clear
handstands why handstands make people
handstands why handstands make people happy see it doesn’t matter if they’re
happy see it doesn’t matter if they’re
happy see it doesn’t matter if they’re doing handstands or they’re just
doing handstands or they’re just
doing handstands or they’re just watching me training apart it makes
watching me training apart it makes
watching me training apart it makes people happy and for me it’s much more
people happy and for me it’s much more
people happy and for me it’s much more than just helping people get upside down
than just helping people get upside down
than just helping people get upside down it’s about helping them achieve
it’s about helping them achieve
it’s about helping them achieve something that they didn’t think they
something that they didn’t think they
something that they didn’t think they can do or they don’t even know how to
can do or they don’t even know how to
can do or they don’t even know how to approach it’s about helping them achieve
approach it’s about helping them achieve
approach it’s about helping them achieve something that can be meditative for the
something that can be meditative for the
something that can be meditative for the mind and strengthening for the body it’s
mind and strengthening for the body it’s
mind and strengthening for the body it’s about passing on my knowledge and
about passing on my knowledge and
about passing on my knowledge and experience and most of all it’s about
experience and most of all it’s about
experience and most of all it’s about connecting with people which is
connecting with people which is
connecting with people which is basically what I tried to avoid for my
basically what I tried to avoid for my
basically what I tried to avoid for my entire life a lot of people ask me if
entire life a lot of people ask me if
entire life a lot of people ask me if I’m if I’m still using my background and
I’m if I’m still using my background and
I’m if I’m still using my background and research and I am just not in a
research and I am just not in a
research and I am just not in a traditional way
traditional way
traditional way now unfocused on handstands and circus
now unfocused on handstands and circus
now unfocused on handstands and circus problems and right now it’s totally out
problems and right now it’s totally out
problems and right now it’s totally out of my interests and unfunded but I’m
of my interests and unfunded but I’m
of my interests and unfunded but I’m certain it’s gonna lead to impactful
certain it’s gonna lead to impactful
certain it’s gonna lead to impactful work my freshman year in college I was I
work my freshman year in college I was I
work my freshman year in college I was I was asked what I wanted to be doing in
was asked what I wanted to be doing in
was asked what I wanted to be doing in 10 years and my answer was actually
10 years and my answer was actually
10 years and my answer was actually supposed to be a bit more comical than
supposed to be a bit more comical than
supposed to be a bit more comical than serious it was engineered by a circus
serious it was engineered by a circus
serious it was engineered by a circus performer by night and so it actually
performer by night and so it actually
performer by night and so it actually took me about 14 years but that’s
took me about 14 years but that’s
took me about 14 years but that’s basically where I ended up for a lot of
basically where I ended up for a lot of
basically where I ended up for a lot of my life I didn’t know exactly what I
my life I didn’t know exactly what I
my life I didn’t know exactly what I wanted to do I felt pulled down this
wanted to do I felt pulled down this
wanted to do I felt pulled down this path where maybe I should be doing
path where maybe I should be doing
path where maybe I should be doing something that I was good at instead of
something that I was good at instead of
something that I was good at instead of something that I totally loved along the
something that I totally loved along the
something that I totally loved along the way I had a lot of good experiences and
way I had a lot of good experiences and
way I had a lot of good experiences and a lot of bad experiences and each one of
a lot of bad experiences and each one of
a lot of bad experiences and each one of those taught me something has gotten you
those taught me something has gotten you
those taught me something has gotten you where I am today if you’re wondering
where I am today if you’re wondering
where I am today if you’re wondering what you should be doing with your life
so that I don’t have an answer what I
so that I don’t have an answer what I will say is that I think you should be
will say is that I think you should be
will say is that I think you should be questioning what you are doing and why
questioning what you are doing and why
questioning what you are doing and why and then you should be listening
and then you should be listening
and then you should be listening yourself and in the meantime if you
yourself and in the meantime if you
yourself and in the meantime if you don’t have answers to those things still
don’t have answers to those things still
don’t have answers to those things still stay productive and everything that you
stay productive and everything that you
stay productive and everything that you are doing is gonna be helping you
are doing is gonna be helping you
are doing is gonna be helping you handstands makes me happy maybe it’s
handstands makes me happy maybe it’s
handstands makes me happy maybe it’s just a matter of time until you find
just a matter of time until you find
just a matter of time until you find your hansteen thank you
”
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