
so when I was in first grade I fell in love her name was Emily Baker and she
love her name was Emily Baker and she
love her name was Emily Baker and she was the most beautiful girl in my class
was the most beautiful girl in my class
was the most beautiful girl in my class of 25 kids you see our relationship
of 25 kids you see our relationship
of 25 kids you see our relationship started when we went on a field trip to
started when we went on a field trip to
started when we went on a field trip to an industrial bakery and I still
an industrial bakery and I still
an industrial bakery and I still remember very clearly what all
remember very clearly what all
remember very clearly what all transpired she she came up right up next
transpired she she came up right up next
transpired she she came up right up next to me and she did the unthinkable she
to me and she did the unthinkable she
to me and she did the unthinkable she held my hand a sensation of electricity
held my hand a sensation of electricity
held my hand a sensation of electricity flew from my fingertips through my arm
flew from my fingertips through my arm
flew from my fingertips through my arm to my brain where I realized oh my god
to my brain where I realized oh my god
to my brain where I realized oh my god do I have a girlfriend
do I have a girlfriend
do I have a girlfriend I looked at her bewildered demanding an
I looked at her bewildered demanding an
I looked at her bewildered demanding an answer and this cool girl she doesn’t
answer and this cool girl she doesn’t
answer and this cool girl she doesn’t even look back she just stands there not
even look back she just stands there not
even look back she just stands there not saying a word and that’s when I knew I
saying a word and that’s when I knew I
saying a word and that’s when I knew I had a girlfriend
had a girlfriend
had a girlfriend fast forward to second grade and two
fast forward to second grade and two
fast forward to second grade and two very tragic things happen number one on
very tragic things happen number one on
very tragic things happen number one on the first day I realized that Emily
the first day I realized that Emily
the first day I realized that Emily Baker and I are no longer in the same
Baker and I are no longer in the same
Baker and I are no longer in the same class and number two during recess I
class and number two during recess I
class and number two during recess I find out that she left me for another
find out that she left me for another
find out that she left me for another boy I was heartbroken
boy I was heartbroken
boy I was heartbroken you know only if I could only if I could
you know only if I could only if I could
you know only if I could only if I could tell her how much I really really liked
tell her how much I really really liked
tell her how much I really really liked her maybe she’ll take me back except I
her maybe she’ll take me back except I
her maybe she’ll take me back except I couldn’t you see a tiny detail left out
couldn’t you see a tiny detail left out
couldn’t you see a tiny detail left out I emigrated when I was in first grade
I emigrated when I was in first grade
I emigrated when I was in first grade and I couldn’t speak a word of English
and I couldn’t speak a word of English
and I couldn’t speak a word of English so I could not literally tell her how
so I could not literally tell her how
so I could not literally tell her how much I liked her I was absolutely
much I liked her I was absolutely
much I liked her I was absolutely heartbroken and in short I was
heartbroken and in short I was
heartbroken and in short I was absolutely disgusted now stop right
absolutely disgusted now stop right
absolutely disgusted now stop right there right there it’s one of the most
there right there it’s one of the most
there right there it’s one of the most beautiful most meaningful moments in my
beautiful most meaningful moments in my
beautiful most meaningful moments in my life that is when I got my first chip on
life that is when I got my first chip on
life that is when I got my first chip on my shoulder not being able to speak
my shoulder not being able to speak
my shoulder not being able to speak English was the very first chip I ever
English was the very first chip I ever
English was the very first chip I ever had on my shoulder you see this
had on my shoulder you see this
had on my shoulder you see this conversation today is for the losers the
conversation today is for the losers the
conversation today is for the losers the losers who want to become the winners
losers who want to become the winners
losers who want to become the winners this one is for the underdogs the
this one is for the underdogs the
this one is for the underdogs the underdogs who always wanted to change
underdogs who always wanted to change
underdogs who always wanted to change themselves but didn’t know how
themselves but didn’t know how
themselves but didn’t know how this one is for all those who dreamed of
this one is for all those who dreamed of
this one is for all those who dreamed of becoming extraordinary but today are
becoming extraordinary but today are
becoming extraordinary but today are looking down at the road of mediocrity
looking down at the road of mediocrity
looking down at the road of mediocrity and deluding themselves that that’s what
and deluding themselves that that’s what
and deluding themselves that that’s what they wanted all along this one is for
they wanted all along this one is for
they wanted all along this one is for you
you
you so listen very carefully because I’m
so listen very carefully because I’m
so listen very carefully because I’m going to tell it to you very bluntly you
going to tell it to you very bluntly you
going to tell it to you very bluntly you have some deep insecurities you do and
have some deep insecurities you do and
have some deep insecurities you do and if you don’t know what I’m talking about
if you don’t know what I’m talking about
if you don’t know what I’m talking about it’s simply because your insecurities go
it’s simply because your insecurities go
it’s simply because your insecurities go deeper than you can notice see I know
deeper than you can notice see I know
deeper than you can notice see I know this because I am one of these people so
this because I am one of these people so
this because I am one of these people so today we’re going to be talking a lot
today we’re going to be talking a lot
today we’re going to be talking a lot about the theme of creative chaos well
about the theme of creative chaos well
about the theme of creative chaos well right now I want to talk about how to
right now I want to talk about how to
right now I want to talk about how to create something out of this chaotic
create something out of this chaotic
create something out of this chaotic place we call our insecurities now some
place we call our insecurities now some
place we call our insecurities now some people call it in few already complex
people call it in few already complex
people call it in few already complex other people will call it having
other people will call it having
other people will call it having something to prove I call it having a
something to prove I call it having a
something to prove I call it having a chip on your shoulder whatever you want
chip on your shoulder whatever you want
chip on your shoulder whatever you want to call it just know this that chip on
to call it just know this that chip on
to call it just know this that chip on your shoulder will be your single
your shoulder will be your single
your shoulder will be your single greatest asset to building your success
greatest asset to building your success
greatest asset to building your success now here’s the reason why having a chip
now here’s the reason why having a chip
now here’s the reason why having a chip on your shoulder is absolutely crucial
on your shoulder is absolutely crucial
on your shoulder is absolutely crucial to your success you see I work in
to your success you see I work in
to your success you see I work in venture capital and that basically means
venture capital and that basically means
venture capital and that basically means I meet with entrepreneurs and they pitch
I meet with entrepreneurs and they pitch
I meet with entrepreneurs and they pitch me their ideas and it’s really great and
me their ideas and it’s really great and
me their ideas and it’s really great and if it is so great our funds will
if it is so great our funds will
if it is so great our funds will basically invest in the startup now
basically invest in the startup now
basically invest in the startup now here’s one little trick that I like to
here’s one little trick that I like to
here’s one little trick that I like to use to separate the real entrepreneurs
use to separate the real entrepreneurs
use to separate the real entrepreneurs from the fake entrepreneurs go to an
from the fake entrepreneurs go to an
from the fake entrepreneurs go to an accelerator go to an incubator basically
accelerator go to an incubator basically
accelerator go to an incubator basically anywhere where entrepreneurs gather to
anywhere where entrepreneurs gather to
anywhere where entrepreneurs gather to work together but go between the hours
work together but go between the hours
work together but go between the hours of 4:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. on a Friday
of 4:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. on a Friday
of 4:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. on a Friday evening and see what you find
evening and see what you find
evening and see what you find Hustler’s man that’s when you’re going
Hustler’s man that’s when you’re going
Hustler’s man that’s when you’re going to find the hustlers and I’ve talked to
to find the hustlers and I’ve talked to
to find the hustlers and I’ve talked to these hustlers
these hustlers
these hustlers and they really have one thing in common
and they really have one thing in common
and they really have one thing in common even though they come from all walks of
even though they come from all walks of
even though they come from all walks of life from all sorts of different
life from all sorts of different
life from all sorts of different problems that one thing is hunger and
problems that one thing is hunger and
problems that one thing is hunger and I’m not talking about any type of hunger
I’m not talking about any type of hunger
I’m not talking about any type of hunger I’m talking about this unforgiving
I’m talking about this unforgiving
I’m talking about this unforgiving relentless type of hunger that comes
relentless type of hunger that comes
relentless type of hunger that comes from their insecurities their fear of
from their insecurities their fear of
from their insecurities their fear of failure and this desperate need to be
failure and this desperate need to be
failure and this desperate need to be part of something bigger than themselves
part of something bigger than themselves
part of something bigger than themselves it comes from their chip on their
it comes from their chip on their
it comes from their chip on their shoulder where it does not come
shoulder where it does not come
shoulder where it does not come from is some market need it doesn’t come
from is some market need it doesn’t come
from is some market need it doesn’t come from a brilliant idea it doesn’t even
from a brilliant idea it doesn’t even
from a brilliant idea it doesn’t even come from a smart mind it comes from
come from a smart mind it comes from
come from a smart mind it comes from deep within this insecurity place see it
deep within this insecurity place see it
deep within this insecurity place see it comes from this crazy deranged person
comes from this crazy deranged person
comes from this crazy deranged person who refuses to take a salary and a
who refuses to take a salary and a
who refuses to take a salary and a normal job just because you’re obsessed
normal job just because you’re obsessed
normal job just because you’re obsessed to prove something to the world
to prove something to the world
to prove something to the world it comes from their chip on their
it comes from their chip on their
it comes from their chip on their shoulder and if you look at every one of
shoulder and if you look at every one of
shoulder and if you look at every one of the greatest entrepreneurs of our time
the greatest entrepreneurs of our time
the greatest entrepreneurs of our time Elon Musk Steve Jobs Jack Ma they all
Elon Musk Steve Jobs Jack Ma they all
Elon Musk Steve Jobs Jack Ma they all have this chip on their shoulder and
have this chip on their shoulder and
have this chip on their shoulder and bigger the chip hungrier they are so
bigger the chip hungrier they are so
bigger the chip hungrier they are so what I want to do today is I want to
what I want to do today is I want to
what I want to do today is I want to walk you through how I’ve been thinking
walk you through how I’ve been thinking
walk you through how I’ve been thinking about my chip on my shoulder and I won’t
about my chip on my shoulder and I won’t
about my chip on my shoulder and I won’t invite you to do the same just walk
invite you to do the same just walk
invite you to do the same just walk alongside with me as I identify mine I
alongside with me as I identify mine I
alongside with me as I identify mine I want you to identify yours and as you’ll
want you to identify yours and as you’ll
want you to identify yours and as you’ll see as I walk mine back to its
see as I walk mine back to its
see as I walk mine back to its characteristics I want you to do the
characteristics I want you to do the
characteristics I want you to do the same and what we’re going to do is we’re
same and what we’re going to do is we’re
same and what we’re going to do is we’re going to try to flip your biggest
going to try to flip your biggest
going to try to flip your biggest liability into your biggest asset so the
liability into your biggest asset so the
liability into your biggest asset so the biggest the first step here is to
biggest the first step here is to
biggest the first step here is to identify your chip on your shoulder and
identify your chip on your shoulder and
identify your chip on your shoulder and this one’s pretty easy I like to think
this one’s pretty easy I like to think
this one’s pretty easy I like to think mine actually is deeply rooted in Who I
mine actually is deeply rooted in Who I
mine actually is deeply rooted in Who I am I’m an immigrant I came from an
am I’m an immigrant I came from an
am I’m an immigrant I came from an immigrant family and it’s true that the
immigrant family and it’s true that the
immigrant family and it’s true that the very first chip on my shoulder is not
very first chip on my shoulder is not
very first chip on my shoulder is not being able to speak English but the true
being able to speak English but the true
being able to speak English but the true story behind it is not some heartbreak I
story behind it is not some heartbreak I
story behind it is not some heartbreak I had in first grade but the very first
had in first grade but the very first
had in first grade but the very first meal I ever had in the United States of
meal I ever had in the United States of
meal I ever had in the United States of America I still remember very clearly it
America I still remember very clearly it
America I still remember very clearly it was very late our family went to this
was very late our family went to this
was very late our family went to this fine sandwich sandwich establishment
fine sandwich sandwich establishment
fine sandwich sandwich establishment called subway and this very exciting
called subway and this very exciting
called subway and this very exciting state called Indiana and I still
state called Indiana and I still
state called Indiana and I still remember my seven year old self my baby
remember my seven year old self my baby
remember my seven year old self my baby sister my parents we all kind of stumble
sister my parents we all kind of stumble
sister my parents we all kind of stumble into the subway with with four luggages
into the subway with with four luggages
into the subway with with four luggages trailing behind this my father and I go
trailing behind this my father and I go
trailing behind this my father and I go right up to the counter and there’s a
right up to the counter and there’s a
right up to the counter and there’s a teenager right on the other side and it
teenager right on the other side and it
teenager right on the other side and it becomes very clear to the three of us
becomes very clear to the three of us
becomes very clear to the three of us that the two of us do not speak English
that the two of us do not speak English
that the two of us do not speak English now if you know anything about trying to
now if you know anything about trying to
now if you know anything about trying to order a subway sandwich
order a subway sandwich
order a subway sandwich from a white teenager in Indiana not
from a white teenager in Indiana not
from a white teenager in Indiana not speaking English is not the way to do it
speaking English is not the way to do it
speaking English is not the way to do it no I was young at the time but I knew
no I was young at the time but I knew
no I was young at the time but I knew exactly what was happening
exactly what was happening
exactly what was happening the teenager grew very frustrated and
the teenager grew very frustrated and
the teenager grew very frustrated and dismissive and my father became very
dismissive and my father became very
dismissive and my father became very small I want to tell you a little
small I want to tell you a little
small I want to tell you a little something about my father he’s a better
something about my father he’s a better
something about my father he’s a better man and a father that not will ever be
man and a father that not will ever be
man and a father that not will ever be you see when I was little he used to be
you see when I was little he used to be
you see when I was little he used to be the best storyteller he would at bedtime
the best storyteller he would at bedtime
the best storyteller he would at bedtime read these bedtime stories and he would
read these bedtime stories and he would
read these bedtime stories and he would record himself on cassette tape so that
record himself on cassette tape so that
record himself on cassette tape so that when he was away during the day I could
when he was away during the day I could
when he was away during the day I could replay his voice and I can just follow
replay his voice and I can just follow
replay his voice and I can just follow along the picture that’s the kind of man
along the picture that’s the kind of man
along the picture that’s the kind of man this my father was I want you to imagine
this my father was I want you to imagine
this my father was I want you to imagine having this hero who lost his own father
having this hero who lost his own father
having this hero who lost his own father when he was in fourth grade who put
when he was in fourth grade who put
when he was in fourth grade who put himself through college having this hero
himself through college having this hero
himself through college having this hero figure in your life being reduced down
figure in your life being reduced down
figure in your life being reduced down to stutters as he’s trying to order a
to stutters as he’s trying to order a
to stutters as he’s trying to order a sandwich from a teenager I was young at
sandwich from a teenager I was young at
sandwich from a teenager I was young at the time too young to articulate it but
the time too young to articulate it but
the time too young to articulate it but I knew what I felt what I felt was
I knew what I felt what I felt was
I knew what I felt what I felt was embarrassment what I felt was shame what
embarrassment what I felt was shame what
embarrassment what I felt was shame what I felt was the weight of my first chip
I felt was the weight of my first chip
I felt was the weight of my first chip on my shoulder and of course it didn’t
on my shoulder and of course it didn’t
on my shoulder and of course it didn’t stop there and I came to actually resent
stop there and I came to actually resent
stop there and I came to actually resent my Korean culture as I grew up I came to
my Korean culture as I grew up I came to
my Korean culture as I grew up I came to resent the fact that my mom she couldn’t
resent the fact that my mom she couldn’t
resent the fact that my mom she couldn’t speak English I resented the fact that
speak English I resented the fact that
speak English I resented the fact that all my American friends and their
all my American friends and their
all my American friends and their parents were invited to dinner parties
parents were invited to dinner parties
parents were invited to dinner parties after their kids football practice but
after their kids football practice but
after their kids football practice but my parents weren’t but you know what I’m
my parents weren’t but you know what I’m
my parents weren’t but you know what I’m talking about because you have your own
talking about because you have your own
talking about because you have your own chip on your shoulder
chip on your shoulder
chip on your shoulder you have your own grudge your own
you have your own grudge your own
you have your own grudge your own resentment your own perplex Minh of why
resentment your own perplex Minh of why
resentment your own perplex Minh of why things are the way they are I want you
things are the way they are I want you
things are the way they are I want you to just hold that in your mind because
to just hold that in your mind because
to just hold that in your mind because we’re going to try to harness that today
we’re going to try to harness that today
we’re going to try to harness that today the second step is to have the courage
the second step is to have the courage
the second step is to have the courage to start asking why and delve deeper
to start asking why and delve deeper
to start asking why and delve deeper into that chip on your shoulder for me
into that chip on your shoulder for me
into that chip on your shoulder for me this is very important because this is
this is very important because this is
this is very important because this is the hard
the hard
the hard our part this is where it gets ugly this
our part this is where it gets ugly this
our part this is where it gets ugly this is where it gets unglamorous and
is where it gets unglamorous and
is where it gets unglamorous and negative for me this really happened in
negative for me this really happened in
negative for me this really happened in high school when I started to ask why
high school when I started to ask why
high school when I started to ask why why was it that I resented my Korean
why was it that I resented my Korean
why was it that I resented my Korean culture so much well it was the reason
culture so much well it was the reason
culture so much well it was the reason why I couldn’t speak English well why
why I couldn’t speak English well why
why I couldn’t speak English well why did it frustrate me so much that I
did it frustrate me so much that I
did it frustrate me so much that I couldn’t speak English well it made me
couldn’t speak English well it made me
couldn’t speak English well it made me feel helpless why did I feel helpless I
feel helpless why did I feel helpless I
feel helpless why did I feel helpless I felt like I couldn’t speak up why was it
felt like I couldn’t speak up why was it
felt like I couldn’t speak up why was it so important that I spoke up and what I
so important that I spoke up and what I
so important that I spoke up and what I found was that when I started to walk
found was that when I started to walk
found was that when I started to walk back my chip on my shoulder I found that
back my chip on my shoulder I found that
back my chip on my shoulder I found that I had this poor characteristic of
I had this poor characteristic of
I had this poor characteristic of wanting to be heard I want to be heard I
wanting to be heard I want to be heard I
wanting to be heard I want to be heard I need to be heard that’s that’s who I am
need to be heard that’s that’s who I am
need to be heard that’s that’s who I am I’m a I’m a loudmouth obnoxious person
I’m a I’m a loudmouth obnoxious person
I’m a I’m a loudmouth obnoxious person but you have your own don’t you you have
but you have your own don’t you you have
but you have your own don’t you you have your own chip on your shoulder that if
your own chip on your shoulder that if
your own chip on your shoulder that if you walk back I can guarantee you that
you walk back I can guarantee you that
you walk back I can guarantee you that you will find your own core
you will find your own core
you will find your own core characteristic within yourself it will
characteristic within yourself it will
characteristic within yourself it will be ugly it will be negative but it will
be ugly it will be negative but it will
be ugly it will be negative but it will sound very right to you now once you
sound very right to you now once you
sound very right to you now once you have identified this core characteristic
have identified this core characteristic
have identified this core characteristic once you’ve been brutally honest with
once you’ve been brutally honest with
once you’ve been brutally honest with yourself I realized this that the best
yourself I realized this that the best
yourself I realized this that the best and the worst versions of ourselves are
and the worst versions of ourselves are
and the worst versions of ourselves are oftentimes the best and the worst
oftentimes the best and the worst
oftentimes the best and the worst versions of that core characteristic so
versions of that core characteristic so
versions of that core characteristic so this is what I mean
for me my core characteristic is wanting
for me my core characteristic is wanting to be heard and its worst form it turns
to be heard and its worst form it turns
to be heard and its worst form it turns me into someone who doesn’t listen
me into someone who doesn’t listen
me into someone who doesn’t listen it turns me into someone who’s
it turns me into someone who’s
it turns me into someone who’s attention-seeking it turns me into
attention-seeking it turns me into
attention-seeking it turns me into someone who needs to be the loudest
someone who needs to be the loudest
someone who needs to be the loudest voice in the room or it can turn me into
voice in the room or it can turn me into
voice in the room or it can turn me into someone who can speak up for others it
someone who can speak up for others it
someone who can speak up for others it can turn me into someone who delivers a
can turn me into someone who delivers a
can turn me into someone who delivers a good message it can turn me into someone
good message it can turn me into someone
good message it can turn me into someone who tells losers that they have what it
who tells losers that they have what it
who tells losers that they have what it takes to be winners and you’ll find that
takes to be winners and you’ll find that
takes to be winners and you’ll find that every core characteristic has a duality
every core characteristic has a duality
every core characteristic has a duality it actually went through this exercise
it actually went through this exercise
it actually went through this exercise with one of my good friends from college
with one of my good friends from college
with one of my good friends from college and his
and his
and his core characteristic is having this
core characteristic is having this
core characteristic is having this obsessive personality and this is really
obsessive personality and this is really
obsessive personality and this is really fascinating because if you take
fascinating because if you take
fascinating because if you take obsessive personality and you mix it
obsessive personality and you mix it
obsessive personality and you mix it with impulse people call that addiction
with impulse people call that addiction
with impulse people call that addiction but if you take the same obsessive
but if you take the same obsessive
but if you take the same obsessive personality and you temper it with a
personality and you temper it with a
personality and you temper it with a sense of purpose a sense of mission
sense of purpose a sense of mission
sense of purpose a sense of mission people happen to call it passion
so what you’ll find is that for every
so what you’ll find is that for every one of these so-called weaknesses
one of these so-called weaknesses
one of these so-called weaknesses there’s just simply an unproductive
there’s just simply an unproductive
there’s just simply an unproductive manifestation of your core
manifestation of your core
manifestation of your core characteristic and the good news here
characteristic and the good news here
characteristic and the good news here that for every one of those there’s a
that for every one of those there’s a
that for every one of those there’s a corresponding productive manifestation
corresponding productive manifestation
corresponding productive manifestation that you can harness as your strengths
that you can harness as your strengths
that you can harness as your strengths now I know I know there are times when
now I know I know there are times when
now I know I know there are times when you wonder to yourself why why is this
you wonder to yourself why why is this
you wonder to yourself why why is this the way that I am I know but I want to
the way that I am I know but I want to
the way that I am I know but I want to challenge you to not throw that away
challenge you to not throw that away
challenge you to not throw that away this is who you are this is who you were
this is who you are this is who you were
this is who you are this is who you were meant to be this is your raw fuel and
meant to be this is your raw fuel and
meant to be this is your raw fuel and your raw material and you were meant to
your raw material and you were meant to
your raw material and you were meant to harness this you see in first grade I
harness this you see in first grade I
harness this you see in first grade I didn’t speak a word of English my very
didn’t speak a word of English my very
didn’t speak a word of English my very first book that I ever read was green
first book that I ever read was green
first book that I ever read was green eggs and ham and in third grade I
eggs and ham and in third grade I
eggs and ham and in third grade I finished Harry Potter in sixth grade I
finished Harry Potter in sixth grade I
finished Harry Potter in sixth grade I tried out for the school play with my
tried out for the school play with my
tried out for the school play with my thick Korean accent and by the end of
thick Korean accent and by the end of
thick Korean accent and by the end of high school I was the captain of my
high school I was the captain of my
high school I was the captain of my speech team and today I’m here speaking
speech team and today I’m here speaking
speech team and today I’m here speaking to all of you in English in case you
to all of you in English in case you
to all of you in English in case you haven’t noticed so when life gives you a
haven’t noticed so when life gives you a
haven’t noticed so when life gives you a chip to play never cash it just take
chip to play never cash it just take
chip to play never cash it just take that chip place it on your shoulder and
that chip place it on your shoulder and
that chip place it on your shoulder and instead of Lading it letting it weigh
instead of Lading it letting it weigh
instead of Lading it letting it weigh you down let it ground you and who you
you down let it ground you and who you
you down let it ground you and who you are and more importantly how you can
are and more importantly how you can
are and more importantly how you can prove wrong every doubt and every
prove wrong every doubt and every
prove wrong every doubt and every self-doubt in your mind
self-doubt in your mind
self-doubt in your mind thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
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