[Applause] just about everything in our society
just about everything in our society
just about everything in our society today involve some sort of product
today involve some sort of product
today involve some sort of product everything from your phone to the chair
everything from your phone to the chair
everything from your phone to the chair you’re sitting in has its origins with
you’re sitting in has its origins with
you’re sitting in has its origins with an entrepreneurial minded individual who
an entrepreneurial minded individual who
an entrepreneurial minded individual who developed and executed his idea now that
developed and executed his idea now that
developed and executed his idea now that person that created your chair probably
person that created your chair probably
person that created your chair probably failed repeatedly and he was probably
failed repeatedly and he was probably
failed repeatedly and he was probably told that his idea was stupid
told that his idea was stupid
told that his idea was stupid why create another chair when there were
why create another chair when there were
why create another chair when there were already thousands out there yet you are
already thousands out there yet you are
already thousands out there yet you are currently sitting in his chair now was
currently sitting in his chair now was
currently sitting in his chair now was the person who created your chair an
the person who created your chair an
the person who created your chair an entrepreneur absolutely but not because
entrepreneur absolutely but not because
entrepreneur absolutely but not because he was a businessman it was because he
he was a businessman it was because he
he was a businessman it was because he tried to create a better product to
tried to create a better product to
tried to create a better product to solve a problem that’s why he is an
solve a problem that’s why he is an
solve a problem that’s why he is an entrepreneur now compare the way we
entrepreneur now compare the way we
entrepreneur now compare the way we teach this entrepreneurial attitude to
teach this entrepreneurial attitude to
teach this entrepreneurial attitude to our young people with how we teach them
our young people with how we teach them
our young people with how we teach them athletics take Michael Phelps twenty
athletics take Michael Phelps twenty
athletics take Michael Phelps twenty three time gold medal winner and
three time gold medal winner and
three time gold medal winner and undoubtedly one of the greatest athletes
undoubtedly one of the greatest athletes
undoubtedly one of the greatest athletes and champions of our time but did
and champions of our time but did
and champions of our time but did Michael Phelps get to where he was today
Michael Phelps get to where he was today
Michael Phelps get to where he was today by reading books about swimming and just
by reading books about swimming and just
by reading books about swimming and just hoping to be a better swimmer of course
hoping to be a better swimmer of course
hoping to be a better swimmer of course not Michael Phelps was in the pool since
not Michael Phelps was in the pool since
not Michael Phelps was in the pool since the age of seven
the age of seven
the age of seven now entrepreneurship is a sport just
now entrepreneurship is a sport just
now entrepreneurship is a sport just like any other except we teach our
like any other except we teach our
like any other except we teach our athletes to try and fail from a young
athletes to try and fail from a young
athletes to try and fail from a young age the Michael Phelps is of the
age the Michael Phelps is of the
age the Michael Phelps is of the entrepreneurial world were the ones who
entrepreneurial world were the ones who
entrepreneurial world were the ones who realized this and who were trying and
realized this and who were trying and
realized this and who were trying and failing during a time of their lives
failing during a time of their lives
failing during a time of their lives when they had the luxury to all great
when they had the luxury to all great
when they had the luxury to all great athletes start when they’re young and
athletes start when they’re young and
athletes start when they’re young and they failed constantly but because of
they failed constantly but because of
they failed constantly but because of these factors they can become great but
these factors they can become great but
these factors they can become great but it’s clear that this entrepreneurial
it’s clear that this entrepreneurial
it’s clear that this entrepreneurial mindset is not being taught at least
mindset is not being taught at least
mindset is not being taught at least widely to our young people and so what
widely to our young people and so what
widely to our young people and so what people are always going to create
people are always going to create
people are always going to create companies and jobs and the world will
companies and jobs and the world will
companies and jobs and the world will keep on spinning being an entrepreneur
keep on spinning being an entrepreneur
keep on spinning being an entrepreneur is about so much more than just sales
is about so much more than just sales
is about so much more than just sales and products being an entrepreneur
and products being an entrepreneur
and products being an entrepreneur is about realizing and addressing
is about realizing and addressing
is about realizing and addressing problems it’s about seeing opportunity
problems it’s about seeing opportunity
problems it’s about seeing opportunity where others might only see failure and
where others might only see failure and
where others might only see failure and it’s about carving your own path through
it’s about carving your own path through
it’s about carving your own path through life and challenging the status quo we
life and challenging the status quo we
life and challenging the status quo we as young people are taught to work hard
as young people are taught to work hard
as young people are taught to work hard in school so that we can get good grades
in school so that we can get good grades
in school so that we can get good grades so that someday we might grow up and get
so that someday we might grow up and get
so that someday we might grow up and get a good job but why not create a new job
a good job but why not create a new job
a good job but why not create a new job why not go ahead and use all your youth
why not go ahead and use all your youth
why not go ahead and use all your youth and your passion and your energy and
and your passion and your energy and
and your passion and your energy and your freedom to create something rather
your freedom to create something rather
your freedom to create something rather than sitting back and consuming the past
than sitting back and consuming the past
than sitting back and consuming the past for your life that people lay out for
for your life that people lay out for
for your life that people lay out for you our society is governed by creators
you our society is governed by creators
you our society is governed by creators not by consumers our society is governed
not by consumers our society is governed
not by consumers our society is governed by entrepreneurs you know we we high
by entrepreneurs you know we we high
by entrepreneurs you know we we high schoolers we young people we love to
schoolers we young people we love to
schoolers we young people we love to complain about how hard and stressful
complain about how hard and stressful
complain about how hard and stressful our lives are and we’re not necessarily
our lives are and we’re not necessarily
our lives are and we’re not necessarily wrong but between sats schoolwork
wrong but between sats schoolwork
wrong but between sats schoolwork homework after school jobs and just
homework after school jobs and just
homework after school jobs and just being a kid it can be hard to realize
being a kid it can be hard to realize
being a kid it can be hard to realize that you as a young person are in a
that you as a young person are in a
that you as a young person are in a perfect opportunity to take a risk and
perfect opportunity to take a risk and
perfect opportunity to take a risk and create something now you might be
create something now you might be
create something now you might be fortunate enough to not have to worry
fortunate enough to not have to worry
fortunate enough to not have to worry about paying bills every month or
about paying bills every month or
about paying bills every month or putting food on the table for you or
putting food on the table for you or
putting food on the table for you or your family every night and this is
your family every night and this is
your family every night and this is probably the last years of your life
probably the last years of your life
probably the last years of your life we’re gonna have this incredible freedom
we’re gonna have this incredible freedom
we’re gonna have this incredible freedom but still people brush off this attitude
but still people brush off this attitude
but still people brush off this attitude is being for adults or being for smarter
is being for adults or being for smarter
is being for adults or being for smarter more capable people and because we grow
more capable people and because we grow
more capable people and because we grow up in this age of incredible technology
up in this age of incredible technology
up in this age of incredible technology it can be hard to see that the barriers
it can be hard to see that the barriers
it can be hard to see that the barriers to entrepreneurship have never been
to entrepreneurship have never been
to entrepreneurship have never been lower all you need today is an internet
lower all you need today is an internet
lower all you need today is an internet connection and a drive to create at one
connection and a drive to create at one
connection and a drive to create at one of the point in human history can you
of the point in human history can you
of the point in human history can you press some buttons and within seconds be
press some buttons and within seconds be
press some buttons and within seconds be learning about the economic impact of
learning about the economic impact of
learning about the economic impact of our last olympics or international Talk
our last olympics or international Talk
our last olympics or international Talk Like a Pirate Day which is September
Like a Pirate Day which is September
Like a Pirate Day which is September 19th in case you were wondering
19th in case you were wondering
19th in case you were wondering Wikipedia alone has over 5 million
Wikipedia alone has over 5 million
Wikipedia alone has over 5 million unique articles but these aren’t just
unique articles but these aren’t just
unique articles but these aren’t just random pieces of text to be memorized
random pieces of text to be memorized
random pieces of text to be memorized for a test these are 5 million
for a test these are 5 million
for a test these are 5 million incredible unique
incredible unique
incredible unique experiences and opportunities to learn
experiences and opportunities to learn
experiences and opportunities to learn from and this learning breeds immense
from and this learning breeds immense
from and this learning breeds immense possibility
ever since I was young I always wanted
ever since I was young I always wanted to be an entrepreneur I looked at daily
to be an entrepreneur I looked at daily
to be an entrepreneur I looked at daily products in my own life as inspiration
products in my own life as inspiration
products in my own life as inspiration for new ones one morning as I brushed my
for new ones one morning as I brushed my
for new ones one morning as I brushed my teeth I questioned the toothbrush
teeth I questioned the toothbrush
teeth I questioned the toothbrush wondering how and why was it developed
wondering how and why was it developed
wondering how and why was it developed after my research I came out with no
after my research I came out with no
after my research I came out with no inspiration for a new product but rather
inspiration for a new product but rather
inspiration for a new product but rather an appreciation for the toothbrush
an appreciation for the toothbrush
an appreciation for the toothbrush soon after I found myself talking with
soon after I found myself talking with
soon after I found myself talking with Hugh where I decided to share some a
Hugh where I decided to share some a
Hugh where I decided to share some a newfound knowledge for example over 4
newfound knowledge for example over 4
newfound knowledge for example over 4 million days of work and school are
million days of work and school are
million days of work and school are wasted each year in the United States
wasted each year in the United States
wasted each year in the United States alone because of oral health diseases
alone because of oral health diseases
alone because of oral health diseases many of which are preventable by simply
many of which are preventable by simply
many of which are preventable by simply brushing one’s own teeth we continue to
brushing one’s own teeth we continue to
brushing one’s own teeth we continue to talk about how in our society we lack an
talk about how in our society we lack an
talk about how in our society we lack an understanding of the toothbrushes
understanding of the toothbrushes
understanding of the toothbrushes preventive medical applications because
preventive medical applications because
preventive medical applications because of its wide availability and how in
of its wide availability and how in
of its wide availability and how in other parts of the world many lack these
other parts of the world many lack these
other parts of the world many lack these supplies we then floated the idea of
supplies we then floated the idea of
supplies we then floated the idea of creating a nonprofit that would collect
creating a nonprofit that would collect
creating a nonprofit that would collect and distribute toothbrushes to those in
and distribute toothbrushes to those in
and distribute toothbrushes to those in need now were we the most qualified
need now were we the most qualified
need now were we the most qualified individuals to do this not at all
individuals to do this not at all
individuals to do this not at all we had no experience in the dental or
we had no experience in the dental or
we had no experience in the dental or nonprofit sector heck we didn’t even
nonprofit sector heck we didn’t even
nonprofit sector heck we didn’t even have our driver’s license yet we had no
have our driver’s license yet we had no
have our driver’s license yet we had no idea how difficult this would be our
idea how difficult this would be our
idea how difficult this would be our sheltered naive high school Minds simply
sheltered naive high school Minds simply
sheltered naive high school Minds simply ignored this but this is one of the
ignored this but this is one of the
ignored this but this is one of the greatest advantages that we as young
greatest advantages that we as young
greatest advantages that we as young people have we lack an understanding of
people have we lack an understanding of
people have we lack an understanding of how difficult our idea of venture vision
how difficult our idea of venture vision
how difficult our idea of venture vision may just be and we get ourselves
may just be and we get ourselves
may just be and we get ourselves involved in something that had we known
involved in something that had we known
involved in something that had we known from the beginning we would have been
from the beginning we would have been
from the beginning we would have been this difficult we might not have gotten
this difficult we might not have gotten
this difficult we might not have gotten involved so fast now fast forward six
involved so fast now fast forward six
involved so fast now fast forward six months we had created a name logo and a
months we had created a name logo and a
months we had created a name logo and a really not so great website but now it’s
really not so great website but now it’s
really not so great website but now it’s time to start fundraising
time to start fundraising
time to start fundraising our first idea was a dodgeball
our first idea was a dodgeball
our first idea was a dodgeball tournament and the tournament flopped
tournament and the tournament flopped
tournament and the tournament flopped with 12 kids showing up it was
with 12 kids showing up it was
with 12 kids showing up it was humiliating as it was disappointing but
humiliating as it was disappointing but
humiliating as it was disappointing but through this we learned to persevere and
through this we learned to persevere and
through this we learned to persevere and to not get weighed down by failure and
to not get weighed down by failure and
to not get weighed down by failure and with this mentality we soon found
with this mentality we soon found
with this mentality we soon found ourselves in another opportunity this
ourselves in another opportunity this
ourselves in another opportunity this time outside our local Walmart where we
time outside our local Walmart where we
time outside our local Walmart where we plan to ask people to purchase and then
plan to ask people to purchase and then
plan to ask people to purchase and then drop off toothbrushes then when we first
drop off toothbrushes then when we first
drop off toothbrushes then when we first got there I was pretty timid and I kind
got there I was pretty timid and I kind
got there I was pretty timid and I kind of stood by the door and wishfully hoped
of stood by the door and wishfully hoped
of stood by the door and wishfully hoped that people would ask me why I was
that people would ask me why I was
that people would ask me why I was standing out there but as the minutes
standing out there but as the minutes
standing out there but as the minutes ruled by I soon learned that that
ruled by I soon learned that that
ruled by I soon learned that that wouldn’t be the case and I kind of
wouldn’t be the case and I kind of
wouldn’t be the case and I kind of pushed myself too shyly ask people hi I
pushed myself too shyly ask people hi I
pushed myself too shyly ask people hi I was wondering if you could buy a
was wondering if you could buy a
was wondering if you could buy a toothbrush or something but I was
toothbrush or something but I was
toothbrush or something but I was rejected by every single person that I
rejected by every single person that I
rejected by every single person that I asked so I started too soon experiment
asked so I started too soon experiment
asked so I started too soon experiment with different approaches and I found
with different approaches and I found
with different approaches and I found that saying sir or ma’am smiling and
that saying sir or ma’am smiling and
that saying sir or ma’am smiling and speaking with confidence were the keys
speaking with confidence were the keys
speaking with confidence were the keys to getting the most donations still
to getting the most donations still
to getting the most donations still people laughed at us or asking them to
people laughed at us or asking them to
people laughed at us or asking them to do but one of the most memorable pitches
do but one of the most memorable pitches
do but one of the most memorable pitches that I gave that day was when this
that I gave that day was when this
that I gave that day was when this really big biker dude sort of got off
really big biker dude sort of got off
really big biker dude sort of got off his motorcycle and started walking
his motorcycle and started walking
his motorcycle and started walking towards Walmart with this demeanor as if
towards Walmart with this demeanor as if
towards Walmart with this demeanor as if he did not want to be approached but I
he did not want to be approached but I
he did not want to be approached but I pushed myself and kind of shaking I came
pushed myself and kind of shaking I came
pushed myself and kind of shaking I came up to him and told him a little bit
up to him and told him a little bit
up to him and told him a little bit about mission toothbrush and what we
about mission toothbrush and what we
about mission toothbrush and what we were doing that day but he abruptly shut
were doing that day but he abruptly shut
were doing that day but he abruptly shut me up
me up
me up he said toothbrushes and toothpaste you
he said toothbrushes and toothpaste you
he said toothbrushes and toothpaste you got it man what you’re doing is great I
got it man what you’re doing is great I
got it man what you’re doing is great I was shocked by getting out of my comfort
was shocked by getting out of my comfort
was shocked by getting out of my comfort zone I learned that not judging a book
zone I learned that not judging a book
zone I learned that not judging a book by its cover really does carry merit but
by its cover really does carry merit but
by its cover really does carry merit but more importantly I learned to have
more importantly I learned to have
more importantly I learned to have confidence in my idea and in what I was
confidence in my idea and in what I was
confidence in my idea and in what I was saying
saying
saying many of the things that we did were
many of the things that we did were
many of the things that we did were successes but most of the time they were
successes but most of the time they were
successes but most of the time they were failures
failures
failures it was our youthful energy passion and
it was our youthful energy passion and
it was our youthful energy passion and inexperience that allowed us to fail but
inexperience that allowed us to fail but
inexperience that allowed us to fail but to come out as a better organization and
to come out as a better organization and
to come out as a better organization and as better people take our high school
as better people take our high school
as better people take our high school system with 45 minutes allocated to a
system with 45 minutes allocated to a
system with 45 minutes allocated to a class we were told when to come when to
class we were told when to come when to
class we were told when to come when to eat and when to learn math that this was
eat and when to learn math that this was
eat and when to learn math that this was different we were the ones creating the
different we were the ones creating the
different we were the ones creating the rules when and where would we spend our
rules when and where would we spend our
rules when and where would we spend our time was the most effective method for
time was the most effective method for
time was the most effective method for collecting recording and then
collecting recording and then
collecting recording and then distributing toothbrushes this was the
distributing toothbrushes this was the
distributing toothbrushes this was the opposite of everything that we had
opposite of everything that we had
opposite of everything that we had experienced before and gave us insight
experienced before and gave us insight
experienced before and gave us insight into the entrepreneurial world no longer
into the entrepreneurial world no longer
into the entrepreneurial world no longer were we just passive consumers but
were we just passive consumers but
were we just passive consumers but rather active originators now if you
rather active originators now if you
rather active originators now if you were to tell us back when we first had
were to tell us back when we first had
were to tell us back when we first had this idea that mission toothbrush would
this idea that mission toothbrush would
this idea that mission toothbrush would have raised over twenty five thousand
have raised over twenty five thousand
have raised over twenty five thousand dollars in supplies over the past four
dollars in supplies over the past four
dollars in supplies over the past four months we probably would have thought
months we probably would have thought
months we probably would have thought you were joking but it’s not the
you were joking but it’s not the
you were joking but it’s not the successes that we’ve mostly learned from
successes that we’ve mostly learned from
successes that we’ve mostly learned from it’s the failures and we haven’t just
it’s the failures and we haven’t just
it’s the failures and we haven’t just learned how to successfully run and
learned how to successfully run and
learned how to successfully run and manage an organization but we’ve learned
manage an organization but we’ve learned
manage an organization but we’ve learned something that’s so much more important
something that’s so much more important
something that’s so much more important that we we as young people have
that we we as young people have
that we we as young people have everything to gain by taking a risk and
everything to gain by taking a risk and
everything to gain by taking a risk and creating something and along the way
creating something and along the way
creating something and along the way we’ll have these incredibly unique
we’ll have these incredibly unique
we’ll have these incredibly unique learning experiences that we otherwise
learning experiences that we otherwise
learning experiences that we otherwise would have never gotten and learning
would have never gotten and learning
would have never gotten and learning these skills now is invaluable with so
these skills now is invaluable with so
these skills now is invaluable with so much of our life ahead of us in a
much of our life ahead of us in a
much of our life ahead of us in a society that’s governed by entrepreneurs
society that’s governed by entrepreneurs
society that’s governed by entrepreneurs we can all have a better grasp of the
we can all have a better grasp of the
we can all have a better grasp of the world that we live in by being the ones
world that we live in by being the ones
world that we live in by being the ones who try and change it thank you
who try and change it thank you
who try and change it thank you you
”
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