After a riff in Madison, Wisconsin in March 2008:
I appreciated your presentation very much. I’d say it was a breath of fresh air (because honestly I thought the message “go abroad” couldn’t be driven into my head any longer).
You did a great job keeping the group engaged, mostly because you were passionate about what you were saying and I could easily see you really wanted the group to benefit from what you have learned yourself. So I’d like to say thanks for all your encouragement and for giving me inspiration…
I wanted to thank you ( I was going to earlier, but without an e-mail address or time on my hands, I was weary to write). I’ve been thinking a lot about failure and your presentation last week really resonated with me.
I recently changed my major-so now im getting a BS instead of a BA. I know you said school was merely a tool to get where you want to be going, but what I learn is really whats going to take me there–and i have a lot of people telling me that i cant do it-and that I can’t live my dream.
That was discouraging until i realized I could tell people who told me i was going to fail to go fuck themselves, and to just do what I want.
I am trying to think of failure-in my academic and personal life-as a tool for growth, but I guess its easier said then done. BUT…it’s always nice to hear that other people fail too, and get over it.
THANKS for being so honest to a room full of (half at least) strangers. You said that half of the people wouldnt understand what you were talking about and hate what you had to say. But what you said was quite relevant to my life, and I appreciate the motivation and the nice tips (and pictures).
I’ve spoken to groups in three countries up to 250 bodies in size.
The largest was with a copilot to an AIESEC US conference delegation at the end of 2006. Although we were speaking to college students the first session on New Year’s Day, it ended in a standing ovation. We followed that up at their summer conference 8 months later. That one started in a standing ovation.
I specialize in youth entrepreneurship, college success, personal development, and living The Dream.
Drop me a note and let’s see if we can change some lives together.