I turned 50 this year and I had the thank you I had the good fortune of
thank you I had the good fortune of
thank you I had the good fortune of being able to go back home and spend
being able to go back home and spend
being able to go back home and spend some time with my family
some time with my family
some time with my family shortly after my birthday and one of the
shortly after my birthday and one of the
shortly after my birthday and one of the most memorable things that happened was
most memorable things that happened was
most memorable things that happened was my dad walked into the living room
my dad walked into the living room
my dad walked into the living room holding a small box in his hand and I
holding a small box in his hand and I
holding a small box in his hand and I knew something was up because he had
knew something was up because he had
knew something was up because he had this really sneaky smile on his face and
this really sneaky smile on his face and
this really sneaky smile on his face and he thinks he’s a comedian anyway but I
he thinks he’s a comedian anyway but I
he thinks he’s a comedian anyway but I also knew that not that many things can
also knew that not that many things can
also knew that not that many things can fit in a box that size so I’m making it
fit in a box that size so I’m making it
fit in a box that size so I’m making it rain in my head right I’m thinking is it
rain in my head right I’m thinking is it
rain in my head right I’m thinking is it a bracelet is it a ring is it a necklace
a bracelet is it a ring is it a necklace
a bracelet is it a ring is it a necklace is it may be just a wad of cash that he
is it may be just a wad of cash that he
is it may be just a wad of cash that he wants to give me so he walks up to me
wants to give me so he walks up to me
wants to give me so he walks up to me and he says Laurie I have been waiting a
and he says Laurie I have been waiting a
and he says Laurie I have been waiting a really long time to give this to you and
really long time to give this to you and
really long time to give this to you and then he opened his hand and he showed me
then he opened his hand and he showed me
then he opened his hand and he showed me what it was and my mouth fell open and
what it was and my mouth fell open and
what it was and my mouth fell open and disbelief this is what he gave me and as
disbelief this is what he gave me and as
disbelief this is what he gave me and as I looked at it I realized that I had
I looked at it I realized that I had
I looked at it I realized that I had given him those same cards 27 years
given him those same cards 27 years
given him those same cards 27 years before and he liked them so much that he
before and he liked them so much that he
before and he liked them so much that he had held onto them and kept them in
had held onto them and kept them in
had held onto them and kept them in pristine condition just so that he could
pristine condition just so that he could
pristine condition just so that he could give them back to me and so yes I had
give them back to me and so yes I had
give them back to me and so yes I had died the gray out of my hair just that
died the gray out of my hair just that
died the gray out of my hair just that very morning but I think he must have
very morning but I think he must have
very morning but I think he must have thought the same thing that I thought
thought the same thing that I thought
thought the same thing that I thought when I gave them to him that I was
when I gave them to him that I was
when I gave them to him that I was thinking in that moment which was are
thinking in that moment which was are
thinking in that moment which was are you calling old so you know don’t get me
you calling old so you know don’t get me
you calling old so you know don’t get me wrong being 50 has some perks I mean
wrong being 50 has some perks I mean
wrong being 50 has some perks I mean there are places I can go to and get the
there are places I can go to and get the
there are places I can go to and get the seniors discount now but most of all it
seniors discount now but most of all it
seniors discount now but most of all it made me realize that I don’t
made me realize that I don’t
made me realize that I don’t have a lot of time to waste and that I
have a lot of time to waste and that I
have a lot of time to waste and that I need to really seize opportunities and
need to really seize opportunities and
need to really seize opportunities and so in the spirit of seizing the moment I
so in the spirit of seizing the moment I
so in the spirit of seizing the moment I want to tell you all about a place that
want to tell you all about a place that
want to tell you all about a place that I realized that I am now eligible to be
I realized that I am now eligible to be
I realized that I am now eligible to be on the waiting list for now to call this
on the waiting list for now to call this
on the waiting list for now to call this place extraordinary is an understatement
place extraordinary is an understatement
place extraordinary is an understatement and even though there’s one in just
and even though there’s one in just
and even though there’s one in just about every city not that many people
about every city not that many people
about every city not that many people talk about it because it’s sort of a
talk about it because it’s sort of a
talk about it because it’s sort of a mysterious underground place but there
mysterious underground place but there
mysterious underground place but there is always a long line of people waiting
is always a long line of people waiting
is always a long line of people waiting to get in and the incredible thing about
to get in and the incredible thing about
to get in and the incredible thing about this place is that the people who are
this place is that the people who are
this place is that the people who are there when they’re finally admitted they
there when they’re finally admitted they
there when they’re finally admitted they bring with them some of the most
bring with them some of the most
bring with them some of the most innovative ideas on the planet
innovative ideas on the planet
innovative ideas on the planet inventions that could change the course
inventions that could change the course
inventions that could change the course of world history medical discoveries
of world history medical discoveries
of world history medical discoveries that could save millions of lives some
that could save millions of lives some
that could save millions of lives some of the most brilliant minds that you
of the most brilliant minds that you
of the most brilliant minds that you have ever heard of and some that you
have ever heard of and some that you
have ever heard of and some that you have never heard of and the creative
have never heard of and the creative
have never heard of and the creative minds ideas for books that will change
minds ideas for books that will change
minds ideas for books that will change your perspective introduce new concepts
your perspective introduce new concepts
your perspective introduce new concepts or that can make a difference in
or that can make a difference in
or that can make a difference in someone’s life
someone’s life
someone’s life and stories yet to be told that take you
and stories yet to be told that take you
and stories yet to be told that take you to these entirely new realms it would
to these entirely new realms it would
to these entirely new realms it would not surprise me if there was the newest
not surprise me if there was the newest
not surprise me if there was the newest Harry Potter Lord of the Rings or Game
Harry Potter Lord of the Rings or Game
Harry Potter Lord of the Rings or Game of Thrones yet to be discovered and the
of Thrones yet to be discovered and the
of Thrones yet to be discovered and the music everything from classical to rock
music everything from classical to rock
music everything from classical to rock to jazz and hip hop that makes you want
to jazz and hip hop that makes you want
to jazz and hip hop that makes you want to pop and lock yes I can do that and
to pop and lock yes I can do that and
to pop and lock yes I can do that and the artwork sculptures and paintings
the artwork sculptures and paintings
the artwork sculptures and paintings that transcend cultures and that would
that transcend cultures and that would
that transcend cultures and that would reach deep into your soul if you had the
reach deep into your soul if you had the
reach deep into your soul if you had the chance to gaze upon them now this place
chance to gaze upon them now this place
chance to gaze upon them now this place sounds amazing
sounds amazing
sounds amazing than it well because of all of the
than it well because of all of the
than it well because of all of the innovations and ideas that are there
innovations and ideas that are there
innovations and ideas that are there some people have even dubbed it the
some people have even dubbed it the
some people have even dubbed it the richest place on the planet now how many
richest place on the planet now how many
richest place on the planet now how many of you want to know where this place is
of you want to know where this place is
of you want to know where this place is okay I need some hands people all right
okay I need some hands people all right
okay I need some hands people all right okay let’s show them see we are all on
okay let’s show them see we are all on
okay let’s show them see we are all on the waiting list and this is where the
the waiting list and this is where the
the waiting list and this is where the ideas go that you don’t act upon the
ideas go that you don’t act upon the
ideas go that you don’t act upon the ideas that are meant only for you and
ideas that are meant only for you and
ideas that are meant only for you and that only you can bring to phew at
that only you can bring to phew at
that only you can bring to phew at fruition because here’s the thing guys
fruition because here’s the thing guys
fruition because here’s the thing guys when we let our fear of being ridiculed
when we let our fear of being ridiculed
when we let our fear of being ridiculed and judged hoodwink us into playing
and judged hoodwink us into playing
and judged hoodwink us into playing small it keeps us from reaching our
small it keeps us from reaching our
small it keeps us from reaching our potential or going after our dreams do
potential or going after our dreams do
potential or going after our dreams do you think that anyone other than da
you think that anyone other than da
you think that anyone other than da Vinci could have given us the Mona Lisa
Vinci could have given us the Mona Lisa
Vinci could have given us the Mona Lisa Mozart is Requiem Stephen King that
Mozart is Requiem Stephen King that
Mozart is Requiem Stephen King that scary is hell clown called it and this
scary is hell clown called it and this
scary is hell clown called it and this dude right here the Super Soaker don’t
dude right here the Super Soaker don’t
dude right here the Super Soaker don’t laugh he’s a millionaire off of that
laugh he’s a millionaire off of that
laugh he’s a millionaire off of that thing so just think about your favorite
thing so just think about your favorite
thing so just think about your favorite artist your favorite musician your
artist your favorite musician your
artist your favorite musician your favorite author and imagine how less
favorite author and imagine how less
favorite author and imagine how less rich your life would be without their
rich your life would be without their
rich your life would be without their contribution sometimes those crazy
contribution sometimes those crazy
contribution sometimes those crazy unorthodox out-of-the-box ideas come to
unorthodox out-of-the-box ideas come to
unorthodox out-of-the-box ideas come to you because they’re met for you only you
you because they’re met for you only you
you because they’re met for you only you and only you can execute upon them and
and only you can execute upon them and
and only you can execute upon them and often it’s the people that we care about
often it’s the people that we care about
often it’s the people that we care about that we look up to and who care about us
that we look up to and who care about us
that we look up to and who care about us who discourage us from going after those
who discourage us from going after those
who discourage us from going after those dreams they tell us let somebody else
dreams they tell us let somebody else
dreams they tell us let somebody else it’s too risky why you and 9 times out
it’s too risky why you and 9 times out
it’s too risky why you and 9 times out of 10 we believe them
of 10 we believe them
of 10 we believe them but they’re not telling you what your
but they’re not telling you what your
but they’re not telling you what your limitations are or what you can’t do
limitations are or what you can’t do
limitations are or what you can’t do they’re telling you what they can’t do
they’re telling you what they can’t do
they’re telling you what they can’t do or what they’re too afraid to do now I
or what they’re too afraid to do now I
or what they’re too afraid to do now I have had my share of crazy
have had my share of crazy
have had my share of crazy out-of-the-box ideas over the years I
out-of-the-box ideas over the years I
out-of-the-box ideas over the years I remember when I first came to Hong Kong
remember when I first came to Hong Kong
remember when I first came to Hong Kong many many moons ago I started a catering
many many moons ago I started a catering
many many moons ago I started a catering business and I started it doing new
business and I started it doing new
business and I started it doing new orleans-style cuisine because that’s
orleans-style cuisine because that’s
orleans-style cuisine because that’s where I’m from and that’s what I know
where I’m from and that’s what I know
where I’m from and that’s what I know how to cook and there were so many
how to cook and there were so many
how to cook and there were so many people that told me it wouldn’t work
people that told me it wouldn’t work
people that told me it wouldn’t work they said Chinese people don’t like
they said Chinese people don’t like
they said Chinese people don’t like spicy food they won’t eat soft-shell
spicy food they won’t eat soft-shell
spicy food they won’t eat soft-shell crab your food is too exotic I thought
crab your food is too exotic I thought
crab your food is too exotic I thought they’d eat rice that’s what we eat so I
they’d eat rice that’s what we eat so I
they’d eat rice that’s what we eat so I didn’t listen to them and the reason is
didn’t listen to them and the reason is
didn’t listen to them and the reason is because number one I’m a tourist and I’m
because number one I’m a tourist and I’m
because number one I’m a tourist and I’m stubborn and also I realized that I was
stubborn and also I realized that I was
stubborn and also I realized that I was on to something and I had to go after it
on to something and I had to go after it
on to something and I had to go after it and that concept just doing that led to
and that concept just doing that led to
and that concept just doing that led to two award-winning restaurants that got
two award-winning restaurants that got
two award-winning restaurants that got me featured in Time Newsweek on CNN CNBC
me featured in Time Newsweek on CNN CNBC
me featured in Time Newsweek on CNN CNBC and Bloomberg and had me went to
and Bloomberg and had me went to
and Bloomberg and had me went to entrepreneur of the Year awards and over
entrepreneur of the Year awards and over
entrepreneur of the Year awards and over the years I have had a lot of other
the years I have had a lot of other
the years I have had a lot of other crazy out-of-the-box ideas and some of
crazy out-of-the-box ideas and some of
crazy out-of-the-box ideas and some of them were wildly successful and some of
them were wildly successful and some of
them were wildly successful and some of them if I’m being generous they were
them if I’m being generous they were
them if I’m being generous they were huge flops fortunately my most recent
huge flops fortunately my most recent
huge flops fortunately my most recent venture which I started with my husband
venture which I started with my husband
venture which I started with my husband falls into the former category but we
falls into the former category but we
falls into the former category but we were also told that it was something
were also told that it was something
were also told that it was something that wouldn’t work here and as a company
that wouldn’t work here and as a company
that wouldn’t work here and as a company called kitchen sink and what we did was
called kitchen sink and what we did was
called kitchen sink and what we did was take the co-working space and the tech
take the co-working space and the tech
take the co-working space and the tech incubator model and we smashed them
incubator model and we smashed them
incubator model and we smashed them together and applied it to the food
together and applied it to the food
together and applied it to the food industry to create an affordable place
industry to create an affordable place
industry to create an affordable place for food entrepreneurs to start up with
for food entrepreneurs to start up with
for food entrepreneurs to start up with and we had so many reasons why it
and we had so many reasons why it
and we had so many reasons why it wouldn’t work but had we listened to
wouldn’t work but had we listened to
wouldn’t work but had we listened to those naysayers that idea would have
those naysayers that idea would have
those naysayers that idea would have remained an idea on a piece of paper on
remained an idea on a piece of paper on
remained an idea on a piece of paper on our dining room table instead of one
our dining room table instead of one
our dining room table instead of one that has now helped to launch over 20
that has now helped to launch over 20
that has now helped to launch over 20 companies in Hong Kong and I’m not
companies in Hong Kong and I’m not
companies in Hong Kong and I’m not trying to say that you should not seek
trying to say that you should not seek
trying to say that you should not seek out advice but you should trust yourself
out advice but you should trust yourself
out advice but you should trust yourself when you have those seemingly crazy
when you have those seemingly crazy
when you have those seemingly crazy ideas that nobody else gets but you you
ideas that nobody else gets but you you
ideas that nobody else gets but you you should always push and strive to the oh
should always push and strive to the oh
should always push and strive to the oh I’m just trying to see what’s up there
I’m just trying to see what’s up there
I’m just trying to see what’s up there now trust your crazy ideas that’s right
now trust your crazy ideas that’s right
now trust your crazy ideas that’s right so you should always strive to push
so you should always strive to push
so you should always strive to push forward and do the things that only you
forward and do the things that only you
forward and do the things that only you know that you can do even at the risk of
know that you can do even at the risk of
know that you can do even at the risk of failing or perhaps looking a little bit
failing or perhaps looking a little bit
failing or perhaps looking a little bit silly because you see we have all been
silly because you see we have all been
silly because you see we have all been conditioned that failing is bad but if
conditioned that failing is bad but if
conditioned that failing is bad but if you don’t give yourself permission to
you don’t give yourself permission to
you don’t give yourself permission to fail you will never have permission to
fail you will never have permission to
fail you will never have permission to fully succeed sometimes you will win and
fully succeed sometimes you will win and
fully succeed sometimes you will win and sometimes you will learn and as long as
sometimes you will learn and as long as
sometimes you will learn and as long as you have breath it is never too late to
you have breath it is never too late to
you have breath it is never too late to be what you might have been because your
be what you might have been because your
be what you might have been because your past does not have to equal your future
past does not have to equal your future
past does not have to equal your future and here is another thing those mistakes
and here is another thing those mistakes
and here is another thing those mistakes those mistakes are necessary I have made
those mistakes are necessary I have made
those mistakes are necessary I have made lots of mistakes in my career going
lots of mistakes in my career going
lots of mistakes in my career going after crazy crazy ideas you know some of
after crazy crazy ideas you know some of
after crazy crazy ideas you know some of them have left me financially and
them have left me financially and
them have left me financially and emotionally devastated I mean I would
emotionally devastated I mean I would
emotionally devastated I mean I would remember being down to my last 100 Hong
remember being down to my last 100 Hong
remember being down to my last 100 Hong Kong dollars and going down to the ATM
Kong dollars and going down to the ATM
Kong dollars and going down to the ATM machine to get it out of the bank and I
machine to get it out of the bank and I
machine to get it out of the bank and I couldn’t because there was 97 dollars in
couldn’t because there was 97 dollars in
couldn’t because there was 97 dollars in the account they had taken our bank
the account they had taken our bank
the account they had taken our bank charges so I had to walk into the bank
charges so I had to walk into the bank
charges so I had to walk into the bank stand in a really long line and get up
stand in a really long line and get up
stand in a really long line and get up to the counter and write a cheque to get
to the counter and write a cheque to get
to the counter and write a cheque to get that money out while I watched the
that money out while I watched the
that money out while I watched the teller smirk at me
teller smirk at me
teller smirk at me and that was one of the most humiliating
and that was one of the most humiliating
and that was one of the most humiliating things of my life but I don’t regret it
things of my life but I don’t regret it
things of my life but I don’t regret it I don’t regret taking the chance that
I don’t regret taking the chance that
I don’t regret taking the chance that got me there I don’t regret the trying
got me there I don’t regret the trying
got me there I don’t regret the trying you can’t let your mistakes allow you to
you can’t let your mistakes allow you to
you can’t let your mistakes allow you to not move forward and those mistakes have
not move forward and those mistakes have
not move forward and those mistakes have taught me invaluable life and business
taught me invaluable life and business
taught me invaluable life and business lessons and without those lessons I
lessons and without those lessons I
lessons and without those lessons I would never have been put on the path to
would never have been put on the path to
would never have been put on the path to embracing my gifts I would not have had
embracing my gifts I would not have had
embracing my gifts I would not have had the meadow or the courage to be able to
the meadow or the courage to be able to
the meadow or the courage to be able to start again and risk failing again
instead I would have been living a life
instead I would have been living a life that was expected of me one that kept me
that was expected of me one that kept me
that was expected of me one that kept me from doing what I really wanted to do
from doing what I really wanted to do
from doing what I really wanted to do even at 50 I finally figured that out
even at 50 I finally figured that out
even at 50 I finally figured that out you still get to disrupt yourself I had
you still get to disrupt yourself I had
you still get to disrupt yourself I had to disrupt myself again and leap into a
to disrupt myself again and leap into a
to disrupt myself again and leap into a new business one that was speaking in
new business one that was speaking in
new business one that was speaking in personal development and coaching and
personal development and coaching and
personal development and coaching and things that I had never done before but
things that I had never done before but
things that I had never done before but what I knew was my true calling
disrupting yourself is uncomfortable and
disrupting yourself is uncomfortable and you will not always look good doing it
you will not always look good doing it
you will not always look good doing it let me tell you but as one of my mentor
let me tell you but as one of my mentor
let me tell you but as one of my mentor says it’s always awkward before it’s
says it’s always awkward before it’s
says it’s always awkward before it’s elegant and you guys are not average so
elegant and you guys are not average so
elegant and you guys are not average so ask yourself what would you do with your
ask yourself what would you do with your
ask yourself what would you do with your life if there were no barriers to
life if there were no barriers to
life if there were no barriers to success and then go out and do that you
success and then go out and do that you
success and then go out and do that you see I believe that we all have something
see I believe that we all have something
see I believe that we all have something some special gift and when you don’t
some special gift and when you don’t
some special gift and when you don’t allow yourself to embrace that gift and
allow yourself to embrace that gift and
allow yourself to embrace that gift and then you don’t do what you’re meant to
then you don’t do what you’re meant to
then you don’t do what you’re meant to do you are selfishly depriving the world
do you are selfishly depriving the world
do you are selfishly depriving the world of that gift and possibly allowing it to
of that gift and possibly allowing it to
of that gift and possibly allowing it to die with you
die with you
die with you now I need your help with something I
now I need your help with something I
now I need your help with something I want to ask you guys to do something I’m
want to ask you guys to do something I’m
want to ask you guys to do something I’m repurposing from a video that I once saw
repurposing from a video that I once saw
repurposing from a video that I once saw I don’t even remember the name and I
I don’t even remember the name and I
I don’t even remember the name and I hope I do it justice but I would like to
hope I do it justice but I would like to
hope I do it justice but I would like to ask you guys to close your eyes close
ask you guys to close your eyes close
ask you guys to close your eyes close your eyes and imagine this your life has
your eyes and imagine this your life has
your eyes and imagine this your life has suddenly ended right this very moment it
suddenly ended right this very moment it
suddenly ended right this very moment it was just one of those things but don’t
was just one of those things but don’t
was just one of those things but don’t worry it was painless one minute you
worry it was painless one minute you
worry it was painless one minute you were here the next minute gone and there
were here the next minute gone and there
were here the next minute gone and there was no warning so you had no time to say
was no warning so you had no time to say
was no warning so you had no time to say goodbye and no matter how much your
goodbye and no matter how much your
goodbye and no matter how much your family and your friends loved you life
family and your friends loved you life
family and your friends loved you life goes on
goes on
goes on the world keeps spinning let that settle
the world keeps spinning let that settle
the world keeps spinning let that settle in for a minute now that you did think
in for a minute now that you did think
in for a minute now that you did think about what did you love about your life
do you have any regrets what would you
do you have any regrets what would you do differently if you had one more
do differently if you had one more
do differently if you had one more chance okay open your eyes you’re about
chance okay open your eyes you’re about
chance okay open your eyes you’re about to get your life back but before we do
to get your life back but before we do
to get your life back but before we do that I want you to take a deep breath in
that I want you to take a deep breath in
that I want you to take a deep breath in and hold hold hold
and hold hold hold
and hold hold hold now breathe in new life
now breathe in new life
now breathe in new life a new chance a new opportunity new hope
a new chance a new opportunity new hope
a new chance a new opportunity new hope what are you going to do with the time
what are you going to do with the time
what are you going to do with the time that you have been given now Harley
that you have been given now Harley
that you have been given now Harley Davidson once wrote
Davidson once wrote
Davidson once wrote let’s see where we got when you’re
let’s see where we got when you’re
let’s see where we got when you’re writing your story don’t let someone
writing your story don’t let someone
writing your story don’t let someone else hold the pen so who is writing your
else hold the pen so who is writing your
else hold the pen so who is writing your story and what are you waiting for
story and what are you waiting for
story and what are you waiting for because as long as you are here there is
because as long as you are here there is
because as long as you are here there is always space to write a new chapter
always space to write a new chapter
always space to write a new chapter don’t ever forget that we are all on
don’t ever forget that we are all on
don’t ever forget that we are all on that waiting list and we don’t know when
that waiting list and we don’t know when
that waiting list and we don’t know when we’re going to get our final invitation
we’re going to get our final invitation
we’re going to get our final invitation so when you have those out-of-the-box
so when you have those out-of-the-box
so when you have those out-of-the-box crazy unorthodox ideas that come to you
crazy unorthodox ideas that come to you
crazy unorthodox ideas that come to you just remember that you are the right
just remember that you are the right
just remember that you are the right person in the right place at the right
person in the right place at the right
person in the right place at the right time to go after what you were meant to
time to go after what you were meant to
time to go after what you were meant to do so stop trying to fit in when you
do so stop trying to fit in when you
do so stop trying to fit in when you were born to stand out thank you
were born to stand out thank you
were born to stand out thank you [Applause]
”
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