TEDxGoldenGatePark 2012
Scott Dinsmore: How to find work you love
Filmed:
Readability: 3.1
6,503,628 views
Scott Dinsmore quit a job that made him miserable, and spent the next four years wondering how to find work that was joyful and meaningful. He shares what he learned in this deceptively simple talk about finding out what matters to you — and then getting started doing it.
Scott Dinsmore - Writer, traveler
Scott Dinsmore founded Live Your Legend, a career and connection platform to inspire people to find their passion. Full bio
Scott Dinsmore founded Live Your Legend, a career and connection platform to inspire people to find their passion. Full bio
Double-click the English transcript below to play the video.
00:10
Wow, what an honor. I always wondered
what this would feel like.
what this would feel like.
0
240
3016
00:13
So eight years ago,
I got the worst career advice of my life.
I got the worst career advice of my life.
1
3280
4775
00:18
I had a friend tell me,
2
8080
1456
00:19
"Don't worry about how much
you like the work you're doing now.
you like the work you're doing now.
3
9560
2936
00:22
It's all about just building your resume."
4
12520
2016
00:24
And I'd just come back
from living in Spain for a while,
from living in Spain for a while,
5
14560
2656
00:27
and I'd joined this Fortune 500 company.
I thought, "This is fantastic.
I thought, "This is fantastic.
6
17240
3334
00:30
I'm going to have
big impact on the world."
big impact on the world."
7
20598
2016
00:33
I had all these ideas.
And within about two months,
And within about two months,
8
22638
2698
00:35
I noticed at about 10am every morning
I had this strange urge
I had this strange urge
9
25360
3000
00:38
to want to slam my head
through the monitor of my computer.
through the monitor of my computer.
10
28384
3552
00:42
I don't know if anyone's ever felt that.
11
31960
1905
00:44
And I noticed pretty soon after that
that all the competitors in our space
that all the competitors in our space
12
33889
3527
00:47
had already automated my job role.
13
37440
2896
00:50
And this is right about when I got
this sage advice to build up my resume.
this sage advice to build up my resume.
14
40360
4216
00:55
Well, as I'm trying to figure out
15
44600
2016
00:57
what two-story window I'm going
to jump out of and change things up,
to jump out of and change things up,
16
46640
6496
01:03
I read some altogether different advice
from Warren Buffett, and he said,
from Warren Buffett, and he said,
17
53160
3736
01:07
"Taking jobs to build up your resume
is the same as saving up sex for old age."
is the same as saving up sex for old age."
18
56920
5616
01:12
(Laughter)
19
62560
1736
01:14
And I heard that,
and that was all I needed.
and that was all I needed.
20
64319
2297
01:17
Within two weeks, I was out of there,
and I left with one intention:
and I left with one intention:
21
66640
3216
01:20
to find something that I could screw up.
That's how tough it was.
That's how tough it was.
22
69880
3056
01:23
I wanted to have some type of impact.
It didn't matter what it was.
It didn't matter what it was.
23
72960
3016
01:26
And I found pretty quickly
that I wasn't alone:
that I wasn't alone:
24
76000
2715
01:29
it turns out that over 80 percent
of the people around
of the people around
25
78739
2837
01:32
don't enjoy their work.
26
81600
1496
01:33
I'm guessing this room is different,
27
83120
1536
01:35
but that's the average
that Deloitte has done with their studies.
that Deloitte has done with their studies.
28
84680
2856
01:37
So I wanted to find out,
what is it that sets these people apart,
what is it that sets these people apart,
29
87560
3048
01:41
the people who do the passionate,
world-changing work,
world-changing work,
30
90632
2336
01:43
that wake up inspired every day,
31
92992
1624
01:45
and then these people,
the other 80 percent
the other 80 percent
32
94640
1776
01:46
who lead these lives of quiet desperation.
33
96440
2056
01:48
So I started to interview all these people
doing this inspiring work,
doing this inspiring work,
34
98520
3256
01:52
and I read books and did case studies,
35
101800
2816
01:55
300 books altogether
on purpose and career and all this,
on purpose and career and all this,
36
104640
2696
01:57
totally just self-immersion,
really for the selfish reason of --
really for the selfish reason of --
37
107360
4320
02:02
I wanted to find the work
that I couldn't not do,
that I couldn't not do,
38
112240
2496
02:05
what that was for me.
39
114760
1536
02:06
But as I was doing this,
more and more people started to ask me,
more and more people started to ask me,
40
116320
2642
02:09
"You're into this career thing.
41
118986
1470
02:10
I don't like my job.
Can we sit down for lunch?"
Can we sit down for lunch?"
42
120480
2216
02:13
I'd say, "Sure."
But I would have to warn them,
But I would have to warn them,
43
122720
2176
02:15
because at this point,
my quit rate was also 80 percent.
my quit rate was also 80 percent.
44
124920
2296
02:17
Of the people I'd sit down with for lunch,
80 percent would quit their job
80 percent would quit their job
45
127240
3226
02:20
within two months.
46
130491
1165
02:22
I was proud of this, and it wasn't
that I had any special magic.
that I had any special magic.
47
131680
4216
02:26
It was that I would ask
one simple question.
one simple question.
48
135920
2048
02:28
It was, "Why are you doing
the work that you're doing?"
the work that you're doing?"
49
137992
2616
02:31
And so often their answer would be,
50
140632
2104
02:33
"Well, because somebody
told me I'm supposed to."
told me I'm supposed to."
51
142760
2296
02:35
And I realized that so many
people around us
people around us
52
145080
2136
02:37
are climbing their way up this ladder
that someone tells them to climb,
that someone tells them to climb,
53
147240
3616
02:41
and it ends up being leaned up
against the wrong wall,
against the wrong wall,
54
150880
2536
02:43
or no wall at all.
55
153440
1656
02:45
The more time I spent around
these people and saw this problem,
these people and saw this problem,
56
155120
2696
02:48
I thought, what if we could
create a community,
create a community,
57
157840
2216
02:50
a place where people
could feel like they belonged
could feel like they belonged
58
160080
2376
02:52
and that it was OK
to do things differently,
to do things differently,
59
162480
2143
02:55
to take the road less traveled,
where that was encouraged,
where that was encouraged,
60
164647
2715
02:57
and inspire people to change?
61
167386
2550
03:00
And that later became
what I now call Live Your Legend,
what I now call Live Your Legend,
62
169960
2696
03:03
which I'll explain in a little bit.
63
172680
1667
03:04
But as I've made these discoveries,
I noticed a framework
I noticed a framework
64
174371
3685
03:08
of really three simple things
65
178080
1381
03:09
that all these different passionate
world-changers have in common,
world-changers have in common,
66
179485
3131
03:13
whether you're a Steve Jobs
or if you're just, you know,
or if you're just, you know,
67
182640
2656
03:15
the person that has
the bakery down the street.
the bakery down the street.
68
185320
2056
03:17
But you're doing work
that embodies who you are.
that embodies who you are.
69
187400
2016
03:19
I want to share those three with you,
so we can use them as a lens
so we can use them as a lens
70
189440
2896
03:22
for the rest of today
and hopefully the rest of our life.
and hopefully the rest of our life.
71
192360
2667
03:25
The first part of this three-step
passionate work framework
passionate work framework
72
195051
2776
03:28
is becoming a self-expert
and understanding yourself,
and understanding yourself,
73
197851
2925
03:31
because if you don't know
what you're looking for,
what you're looking for,
74
200800
2656
03:33
you're never going to find it.
75
203480
1616
03:35
And the thing is that no one
is going to do this for us.
is going to do this for us.
76
205120
2620
03:38
There's no major in university
on passion and purpose and career.
on passion and purpose and career.
77
207764
3692
03:41
I don't know how that's not
a required double major,
a required double major,
78
211480
2256
03:44
but don't even get me started on that.
79
213760
1816
03:46
I mean, you spend more time
picking out a dorm room TV set
picking out a dorm room TV set
80
215600
2976
03:49
than you do you picking your major
and your area of study.
and your area of study.
81
218600
2936
03:51
But the point is,
it's on us to figure that out,
it's on us to figure that out,
82
221560
2616
03:54
and we need a framework,
we need a way to navigate through this.
we need a way to navigate through this.
83
224200
3216
03:57
And so the first step of our compass is
finding out what our unique strengths are.
finding out what our unique strengths are.
84
227440
3858
04:01
What are the things that we wake up
loving to do no matter what,
loving to do no matter what,
85
231322
3014
04:04
whether we're paid or we're not paid,
the things that people thank us for?
the things that people thank us for?
86
234360
3496
04:08
And the Strengths Finder 2.0
is a book and also an online tool.
is a book and also an online tool.
87
237880
2976
04:11
I highly recommend it for sorting out
what it is that you're naturally good at.
what it is that you're naturally good at.
88
240880
3736
04:15
And next, what's our framework
or our hierarchy for making decisions?
or our hierarchy for making decisions?
89
244640
4416
04:19
Do we care about the people,
our family, health,
our family, health,
90
249080
4216
04:23
or is it achievement, success,
all this stuff?
all this stuff?
91
253320
2136
04:25
We have to figure out what it is
to make these decisions,
to make these decisions,
92
255480
2667
04:28
so we know what our soul is made of,
93
258171
1725
04:30
so that we don't go selling it
to some cause we don't give a shit about.
to some cause we don't give a shit about.
94
259920
4696
04:35
And then the next step is our experiences.
95
264640
3696
04:38
All of us have these experiences.
We learn things every day, every minute
We learn things every day, every minute
96
268360
3456
04:42
about what we love, what we hate,
97
271840
1696
04:43
what we're good at,
what we're terrible at.
what we're terrible at.
98
273560
2000
04:45
And if we don't spend time
paying attention to that
paying attention to that
99
275584
2392
04:48
and assimilating that learning
100
278000
1536
04:49
and applying it to the rest of our lives,
it's all for nothing.
it's all for nothing.
101
279560
2976
04:52
Every day, every week,
every month of every year
every month of every year
102
282560
2656
04:55
I spend some time
just reflecting on what went right,
just reflecting on what went right,
103
285240
2456
04:58
what went wrong,
and what do I want to repeat,
and what do I want to repeat,
104
287720
2143
05:00
what can I apply more to my life.
105
289887
1576
05:01
And even more so than that,
as you see people, especially today,
as you see people, especially today,
106
291487
3089
05:05
who inspire you, who are doing
things where you say
things where you say
107
294600
2381
05:07
"Oh God, what Jeff is doing,
I want to be like him."
I want to be like him."
108
297005
2931
05:10
Why are you saying that?
Open up a journal.
Open up a journal.
109
299960
1721
05:12
Write down what it is about them
that inspires you.
that inspires you.
110
301706
2070
05:14
It's not going to be
everything about their life,
everything about their life,
111
303800
2056
05:16
but whatever it is, take note on that,
112
305880
1816
05:18
so over time we'll have
this repository of things
this repository of things
113
307720
2296
05:20
that we can use to apply to our life
and have a more passionate existence
and have a more passionate existence
114
310040
4216
05:24
and make a better impact.
115
314280
1496
05:26
Because when we start
to put these things together,
to put these things together,
116
315800
2381
05:28
we can then define
what success actually means to us,
what success actually means to us,
117
318205
3291
05:31
and without these different parts
of the compass, it's impossible.
of the compass, it's impossible.
118
321520
3136
05:35
We end up in the situation --
we have that scripted life
we have that scripted life
119
324680
2620
05:37
that everybody seems to be living
going up this ladder to nowhere.
going up this ladder to nowhere.
120
327324
3132
05:40
It's kind of like in Wall Street 2,
if anybody saw that,
if anybody saw that,
121
330480
2656
05:43
the peon employee asks
the big Wall Street banker CEO,
the big Wall Street banker CEO,
122
333160
3816
05:47
"What's your number?
Everyone's got a number,
Everyone's got a number,
123
337000
2136
05:49
where if they make this money,
they'll leave it all."
they'll leave it all."
124
339160
2536
05:52
He says, "Oh, it's simple. More."
125
341720
2520
05:55
And he just smiles.
126
345120
1296
05:56
And it's the sad state
of most of the people
of most of the people
127
346440
1776
05:58
that haven't spent time
understanding what matters for them,
understanding what matters for them,
128
348240
2536
06:01
who keep reaching for something
that doesn't mean anything to us,
that doesn't mean anything to us,
129
350800
2736
06:03
but we're doing it because everyone
said we're supposed to.
said we're supposed to.
130
353560
2496
06:06
But once we have this framework together,
131
356080
1736
06:08
we can start to identify
the things that make us come alive.
the things that make us come alive.
132
357840
2616
06:10
You know, before this, a passion
could come and hit you in the face,
could come and hit you in the face,
133
360480
3216
06:14
or maybe in your possible line of work,
you might throw it away
you might throw it away
134
363720
2696
06:16
because you don't have
a way of identifying it.
a way of identifying it.
135
366440
2191
06:19
But once you do, you can see something
that's congruent with my strengths,
that's congruent with my strengths,
136
368655
3536
06:22
my values, who I am as a person,
137
372215
1801
06:24
so I'm going to grab ahold of this,
I'm going to do something with it,
I'm going to do something with it,
138
374040
3286
06:27
and I'm going to pursue it
and try to make an impact with it.
and try to make an impact with it.
139
377350
2858
06:30
And Live Your Legend
and the movement we've built
and the movement we've built
140
380232
2544
06:33
wouldn't exist if I didn't have
this compass to identify,
this compass to identify,
141
382800
2667
06:35
"Wow, this is something I want to pursue
and make a difference with."
and make a difference with."
142
385491
3245
06:39
If we don't know what we're looking for,
we're never going to find it,
we're never going to find it,
143
388760
3056
06:42
but once we have
this framework, this compass,
this framework, this compass,
144
391840
2536
06:44
then we can move on to what's next --
and that's not me up there --
and that's not me up there --
145
394400
4456
06:49
doing the impossible
and pushing our limits.
and pushing our limits.
146
398880
2216
06:51
There's two reasons
why people don't do things.
why people don't do things.
147
401120
2016
06:53
One is they tell themselves
they can't do them,
they can't do them,
148
403160
1976
06:55
or people around them
tell them they can't do them.
tell them they can't do them.
149
405160
2136
06:57
Either way, we start to believe it.
150
407320
1536
06:59
Either we give up,
or we never start in the first place.
or we never start in the first place.
151
408880
2376
07:01
The things is, everyone was impossible
until somebody did it.
until somebody did it.
152
411280
2896
07:04
Every invention,
every new thing in the world,
every new thing in the world,
153
414200
2536
07:07
people thought were crazy at first.
154
416760
1667
07:08
Roger Bannister and the four-minute mile,
it was a physical impossibility
it was a physical impossibility
155
418451
3429
07:12
to break the four-minute mile
in a foot race
in a foot race
156
421904
2392
07:14
until Roger Bannister stood up and did it.
157
424320
2016
07:16
And then what happened?
158
426360
1216
07:18
Two months later,
16 people broke the four-minute mile.
16 people broke the four-minute mile.
159
427600
2616
07:20
The things that we have in our head
that we think are impossible
that we think are impossible
160
430240
2736
07:23
are often just milestones
waiting to be accomplished
waiting to be accomplished
161
433000
2136
07:25
if we can push those limits a bit.
162
435160
1620
07:27
And I think this starts with probably
your physical body and fitness
your physical body and fitness
163
436804
3372
07:30
more than anything,
because we can control that.
because we can control that.
164
440200
2536
07:33
If you don't think you can run a mile,
165
442760
1616
07:34
you show yourself
you can run a mile or two,
you can run a mile or two,
166
444400
2056
07:36
or a marathon, or lose five pounds,
or whatever it is,
or whatever it is,
167
446480
2536
07:39
you realize that confidence compounds
168
449040
2496
07:41
and can be transferred
into the rest of your world.
into the rest of your world.
169
451560
2496
07:44
And I've actually gotten into the habit
of this a little bit with my friends.
of this a little bit with my friends.
170
454080
3656
07:48
We have this little group.
We go on physical adventures,
We go on physical adventures,
171
457760
2736
07:50
and recently, I found myself
in a kind of precarious spot.
in a kind of precarious spot.
172
460520
3096
07:54
I'm terrified of deep, dark, blue water.
173
463640
3016
07:57
I don't know if anyone's ever had
that same fear
that same fear
174
466680
2016
07:59
ever since they watched
Jaws 1, 2, 3 and 4 like six times
Jaws 1, 2, 3 and 4 like six times
175
468720
2599
08:01
when I was a kid.
176
471344
1152
08:02
But anything above here, if it's murky,
I can already feel it right now.
I can already feel it right now.
177
472520
4536
08:07
I swear there's something in there.
178
477080
1776
08:09
Even if it's Lake Tahoe,
it's fresh water, totally unfounded fear,
it's fresh water, totally unfounded fear,
179
478880
3136
08:12
ridiculous, but it's there.
180
482040
1656
08:14
Anyway, three years ago
I find myself on this tugboat
I find myself on this tugboat
181
483720
2496
08:16
right down here in the San Francisco Bay.
182
486240
1976
08:18
It's a rainy, stormy, windy day,
and people are getting sick on the boat,
and people are getting sick on the boat,
183
488240
3456
08:22
and I'm sitting there wearing a wetsuit,
and I'm looking out the window
and I'm looking out the window
184
491720
3334
08:25
in pure terror thinking
I'm about to swim to my death.
I'm about to swim to my death.
185
495078
2978
08:28
I'm going to try to swim
across the Golden Gate.
across the Golden Gate.
186
498080
2256
08:30
And my guess is some people in this room
might have done that before.
might have done that before.
187
500360
3816
08:34
I'm sitting there, and my buddy Jonathan,
who had talked me into it,
who had talked me into it,
188
504200
3216
08:37
he comes up to me
and he could see the state I was in.
and he could see the state I was in.
189
507440
2256
08:40
And he says, "Scott, hey man,
what's the worst that could happen?
what's the worst that could happen?
190
509720
2736
08:42
You're wearing a wetsuit.
You're not going to sink.
You're not going to sink.
191
512480
2136
08:45
And If you can't make it,
just hop on one of the 20 kayaks.
just hop on one of the 20 kayaks.
192
514640
2816
08:47
Plus, if there's a shark attack,
why are they going to pick you
why are they going to pick you
193
517480
2816
08:50
over the 80 people in the water?"
So thanks, that helps.
So thanks, that helps.
194
520320
2620
08:53
He's like, "But really,
just have fun with this. Good luck."
just have fun with this. Good luck."
195
522964
2856
08:56
And he dives in, swims off. OK.
196
525844
2492
08:58
Turns out, the pep talk totally worked,
and I felt this total feeling of calm,
and I felt this total feeling of calm,
197
528360
4376
09:03
and I think it was because
Jonathan was 13 years old.
Jonathan was 13 years old.
198
532760
2936
09:06
(Laughter)
199
535720
1936
09:08
And of the 80 people swimming that day,
200
537680
2696
09:10
65 of them were between
the ages of nine and 13.
the ages of nine and 13.
201
540400
2816
09:13
Think how you would have approached
your world differently
your world differently
202
543240
2736
09:16
if at nine years old you found out
you could swim a mile and a half
you could swim a mile and a half
203
546000
3176
09:19
in 56-degree water
from Alcatraz to San Francisco.
from Alcatraz to San Francisco.
204
549200
2696
09:22
What would you have said yes to?
205
551920
1416
09:23
What would you have not given up on?
What would you have tried?
What would you have tried?
206
553360
2856
09:26
As I'm finishing this swim,
I get to Aquatic Park,
I get to Aquatic Park,
207
556240
2096
09:28
and I'm getting out of the water
208
558360
1376
09:30
and of course half the kids
are already finished,
are already finished,
209
559760
2096
09:32
so they're cheering me on
and they're all excited.
and they're all excited.
210
561880
2334
09:34
And I got total popsicle head,
if anyone's ever swam in the Bay,
if anyone's ever swam in the Bay,
211
564238
3016
09:37
and I'm trying to just thaw my face out,
and I'm watching people finish.
and I'm watching people finish.
212
567278
3498
09:41
And I see this one kid,
something didn't look right.
something didn't look right.
213
570810
3016
09:44
And he's just flailing like this.
214
573840
2016
09:46
And he's barely able to sip some air
before he slams his head back down.
before he slams his head back down.
215
575880
3416
09:49
And I notice other parents
were watching too,
were watching too,
216
579320
2216
09:51
and I swear they were thinking
the same thing I was:
the same thing I was:
217
581560
2456
09:54
this is why you don't let nine-year-olds
swim from Alcatraz.
swim from Alcatraz.
218
584040
3936
09:58
This was not fatigue.
219
588000
1216
09:59
All of a sudden, two parents
run up and grab him,
run up and grab him,
220
589240
2296
10:01
and they put him on their shoulders,
and they're dragging him like this,
and they're dragging him like this,
221
591560
3776
10:05
totally limp.
222
595360
1856
10:07
And then all of a sudden
they walk a few more feet
they walk a few more feet
223
597240
2336
10:10
and they plop him down in his wheelchair.
224
599600
1976
10:12
And he puts his fists up in the most
insane show of victory I've ever seen.
insane show of victory I've ever seen.
225
601600
3536
10:15
I can still feel the warmth
and the energy on this guy
and the energy on this guy
226
605160
2656
10:18
when he made this accomplishment.
227
607840
1576
10:19
I had seen him earlier that day
in his wheelchair.
in his wheelchair.
228
609440
2976
10:22
I just had no idea he was going to swim.
229
612440
1976
10:24
I mean, where is he
going to be in 20 years?
going to be in 20 years?
230
614440
3096
10:27
How many people told him he couldn't
do that, that he would die if tried that?
do that, that he would die if tried that?
231
617560
3416
10:31
You prove people wrong,
you prove yourself wrong,
you prove yourself wrong,
232
621000
2136
10:33
that you can make
little incremental pushes
little incremental pushes
233
623160
1816
10:35
of what you believe is possible.
234
625000
1536
10:36
You don't have to be
the fastest marathoner in the world,
the fastest marathoner in the world,
235
626560
2416
10:39
just your own impossibilities,
to accomplish those,
to accomplish those,
236
629000
2381
10:41
and it starts with little bitty steps.
237
631405
1976
10:43
And the best way to do this
238
633405
2331
10:46
is to surround yourself
with passionate people.
with passionate people.
239
635760
2216
10:48
The fastest things to do things
you don't think can be done
you don't think can be done
240
638000
2762
10:51
is to surround yourself
with people already doing them.
with people already doing them.
241
640786
2572
10:53
There's this quote by Jim Rohn and it says.
242
643382
2434
10:56
"You are the average of the five people
you spend the most time with."
you spend the most time with."
243
645840
3376
10:59
And there is no bigger lifehack
in the history of the world
in the history of the world
244
649240
3296
11:02
from getting where you are today
to where you want to be
to where you want to be
245
652560
3056
11:06
than the people you choose
to put in your corner.
to put in your corner.
246
655640
2896
11:08
They change everything,
and it's a proven fact.
and it's a proven fact.
247
658560
2296
11:11
In 1898, Norman Triplett did this study
with a bunch of cyclists,
with a bunch of cyclists,
248
660880
4296
11:15
and he would measure their times
around the track in a group,
around the track in a group,
249
665200
2800
11:18
and also individually.
250
668025
1151
11:19
And he found that every time the cyclists
in the group would cycle faster.
in the group would cycle faster.
251
669200
3696
11:23
And it's been repeated
in all kinds of walks of life since then,
in all kinds of walks of life since then,
252
672920
2816
11:26
and it proves the same thing over again,
253
675760
1896
11:28
that the people around you matter,
and environment is everything.
and environment is everything.
254
677680
2856
11:30
But it's on you to control it,
because it can go both ways.
because it can go both ways.
255
680560
2576
11:33
With 80 percent of people
who don't like the work they do,
who don't like the work they do,
256
683160
2576
11:36
that means most people around us,
not in this room, but everywhere else,
not in this room, but everywhere else,
257
685760
3176
11:39
are encouraging complacency and keeping us
from pursuing the things that matter to us
from pursuing the things that matter to us
258
688960
3656
11:43
so we have to manage those surroundings.
259
692640
2056
11:45
I found myself in this situation --
260
694720
2000
11:49
personal example, a couple years ago.
261
698680
2896
11:52
Has anyone ever had a hobby or a passion
they poured their heart and soul into,
they poured their heart and soul into,
262
701600
4176
11:56
unbelievable amount of time, and they
so badly want to call it a business,
so badly want to call it a business,
263
705800
3496
11:59
but no one's paying attention
and it doesn't make a dime?
and it doesn't make a dime?
264
709320
4136
12:03
OK, I was there for four years trying
to build this Live Your Legend movement
to build this Live Your Legend movement
265
713480
4096
12:08
to help people do work that they genuinely
cared about and that inspired them,
cared about and that inspired them,
266
717600
3336
12:11
and I was doing all I could,
267
720960
1336
12:12
and there were only
three people paying attention,
three people paying attention,
268
722320
2176
12:14
and they're all right there:
my mother, father and my wife, Chelsea.
my mother, father and my wife, Chelsea.
269
724520
3239
12:18
Thank you guys for the support.
270
727783
1496
12:19
(Applause)
271
729303
1473
12:21
And this is how badly I wanted it,
it grew at zero percent for four years,
it grew at zero percent for four years,
272
730800
4696
12:25
and I was about to shut it down,
273
735520
1976
12:27
and right about then,
274
737520
1696
12:29
I moved to San Francisco and started
to meet some pretty interesting people
to meet some pretty interesting people
275
739240
3536
12:33
who had these crazy
lifestyles of adventure,
lifestyles of adventure,
276
742800
2216
12:35
of businesses and websites and blogs
277
745040
2016
12:37
that surrounded their passions
and helped people in a meaningful way.
and helped people in a meaningful way.
278
747080
3256
12:40
And one of my friends,
now, he has a family of eight,
now, he has a family of eight,
279
750360
2656
12:43
and he supports his whole family
280
753040
2336
12:45
with a blog that he
writes for twice a week.
writes for twice a week.
281
755400
2856
12:48
They just came back from a month
in Europe, all of them together.
in Europe, all of them together.
282
758280
3048
12:51
This blew my mind.
How does this even exist?
How does this even exist?
283
761352
2064
12:53
And I got unbelievably inspired
by seeing this,
by seeing this,
284
763440
3496
12:57
and instead of shutting it down,
I decided, let's take it seriously.
I decided, let's take it seriously.
285
766960
2976
13:00
And I did everything I could
to spend my time,
to spend my time,
286
769960
1976
13:02
every waking hour possible
trying to hound these guys,
trying to hound these guys,
287
771960
2496
13:04
hanging out and having beers
and workouts, whatever it was.
and workouts, whatever it was.
288
774480
2776
13:07
And after four years of zero growth,
289
777280
1736
13:09
within six months
of hanging around these people,
of hanging around these people,
290
779040
2336
13:11
the community at Live Your Legend
grew by 10 times.
grew by 10 times.
291
781400
2696
13:14
In another 12 months,
it grew by 160 times.
it grew by 160 times.
292
784120
3856
13:18
And today over 30,000 people
from 158 countries
from 158 countries
293
788000
3056
13:21
use our career and connection tools
on a monthly basis.
on a monthly basis.
294
791080
3096
13:24
And those people have made up
that community of passionate folks
that community of passionate folks
295
794200
4376
13:29
who inspired that possibility
that I dreamed of
that I dreamed of
296
798600
2216
13:31
for Live Your Legend so many years back.
297
800840
3176
13:34
The people change everything,
and this is why --
and this is why --
298
804040
2256
13:36
you know, you ask what was going on.
299
806320
2216
13:38
Well, for four years,
I knew nobody in this space,
I knew nobody in this space,
300
808560
2456
13:41
and I didn't even know it existed,
that people could do this stuff,
that people could do this stuff,
301
811040
3496
13:44
that you could have movements like this.
302
814560
1976
13:46
And then I'm over here in San Francisco,
and everyone around me was doing it.
and everyone around me was doing it.
303
816560
3656
13:50
It became normal, so my thinking went
from how could I possibly do this
from how could I possibly do this
304
820240
4096
13:54
to how could I possibly not.
305
824360
1816
13:56
And right then, when that happens,
that switch goes on in your head,
that switch goes on in your head,
306
826200
3216
13:59
it ripples across your whole world.
307
829440
1667
14:01
And without even trying,
your standards go from here to here.
your standards go from here to here.
308
831131
2925
14:04
You don't need to change your goals.
You just need to change your surroundings.
You just need to change your surroundings.
309
834080
3715
14:08
That's it, and that's why I love
being around this whole group of people,
being around this whole group of people,
310
837819
4357
14:12
why I go to every TED event I can,
311
842200
1620
14:14
and watch them on my iPad
on the way to work, whatever it is.
on the way to work, whatever it is.
312
843844
2932
14:17
Because this is the group of people
that inspires possibility.
that inspires possibility.
313
846800
3416
14:20
We have a whole day
to spend together and plenty more.
to spend together and plenty more.
314
850240
3016
14:23
To sum things up,
in terms of these three pillars,
in terms of these three pillars,
315
853280
3456
14:27
they all have one thing in common
more than anything else.
more than anything else.
316
856760
3936
14:31
They are 100 percent in our control.
317
860720
2456
14:33
No one can tell you
you can't learn about yourself.
you can't learn about yourself.
318
863200
3056
14:36
No one can tell you
you can't push your limits
you can't push your limits
319
866280
2143
14:38
and learn your own impossible
and push that.
and push that.
320
868447
2289
14:41
No one can tell you you can't
surround yourself with inspiring people
surround yourself with inspiring people
321
870760
2936
14:44
or get away from the people
who bring you down.
who bring you down.
322
873720
2191
14:46
You can't control a recession.
323
875935
1429
14:47
You can't control getting fired
or getting in a car accident.
or getting in a car accident.
324
877388
3188
14:51
Most things are totally out of our hands.
325
880600
2096
14:53
These three things are totally on us,
326
882720
2360
14:57
and they can change our whole world
if we decide to do something about it.
if we decide to do something about it.
327
887000
4150
15:02
And the thing is, it's starting to happen
on a widespread level.
on a widespread level.
328
892080
3000
15:05
I just read in Forbes, the US Government
reported for the first time
reported for the first time
329
895104
3191
15:08
in a month where more people
had quit their jobs
had quit their jobs
330
898319
2697
15:11
than had been laid off.
331
901040
1336
15:12
They thought this was an anomaly,
but it's happened three months straight.
but it's happened three months straight.
332
902400
3216
15:16
In a time where people claim
it's kind of a tough environment,
it's kind of a tough environment,
333
905640
2696
15:18
people are giving a middle finger
to this scripted life,
to this scripted life,
334
908360
2336
15:21
the things that people
say you're supposed to do,
say you're supposed to do,
335
910720
2056
15:23
in exchange for things that matter to them
and do the things that inspire them.
and do the things that inspire them.
336
912800
3736
15:26
And the thing is, people
are waking up to this possibility,
are waking up to this possibility,
337
916560
2776
15:29
that really the only thing that limits
possibility now is imagination.
possibility now is imagination.
338
919360
5976
15:35
That's not a cliché anymore.
339
925360
1976
15:37
I don't care what it is that you're into,
what passion, what hobby.
what passion, what hobby.
340
927360
3176
15:40
If you're into knitting, you can find
someone who is killing it knitting,
someone who is killing it knitting,
341
930560
3456
15:44
and you can learn from them. It's wild.
342
934040
2336
15:46
And that's what this whole day is about,
to learn from the folks speaking,
to learn from the folks speaking,
343
936400
3496
15:50
and we profile these people
on Live Your Legend every day,
on Live Your Legend every day,
344
939920
3416
15:53
because when ordinary people
are doing the extraordinary,
are doing the extraordinary,
345
943360
2696
15:56
and we can be around that,
346
946080
1776
15:58
it becomes normal.
347
947880
1736
16:00
And this isn't about being Gandhi
or Steve Jobs, doing something crazy.
or Steve Jobs, doing something crazy.
348
949640
4096
16:04
It's just about doing something
that matters to you,
that matters to you,
349
953760
2429
16:06
and makes an impact
that only you can make.
that only you can make.
350
956213
2040
16:10
Speaking of Gandhi,
he was a recovering lawyer,
he was a recovering lawyer,
351
959600
3656
16:13
as I've heard the term,
352
963280
1336
16:15
and he was called to a greater cause,
something that mattered to him,
something that mattered to him,
353
964640
3256
16:18
he couldn't not do.
354
967920
1216
16:19
And he has this quote
that I absolutely live by.
that I absolutely live by.
355
969160
2239
16:21
"First they ignore you,
then they laugh at you,
then they laugh at you,
356
971423
2313
16:24
then they fight you, then you win."
357
973760
2120
16:28
Everything was impossible
until somebody did it.
until somebody did it.
358
977960
2656
16:31
You can either hang around the people
who tell you it can't be done
who tell you it can't be done
359
980640
3176
16:34
and tell you you're stupid for trying,
360
983840
1816
16:36
or surround yourself with the people
who inspire possibility,
who inspire possibility,
361
985680
3296
16:39
the people who are in this room.
362
989000
1600
16:42
Because I see it as our responsibility
to show the world
to show the world
363
991600
3896
16:45
that what's seen as impossible
can become that new normal.
can become that new normal.
364
995520
3416
16:49
And that's already starting to happen.
365
998960
2176
16:51
First, do the things that inspire us,
366
1001160
2696
16:54
so we can inspire other people
to do the things that inspire them.
to do the things that inspire them.
367
1003880
3696
16:58
But we can't find that
368
1007600
1640
17:00
unless we know what we're looking for.
369
1010200
2056
17:02
We have to do our work on ourself,
370
1012280
2096
17:04
be intentional about that,
and make those discoveries.
and make those discoveries.
371
1014400
2576
17:07
Because I imagine a world where 80 percent
of people love the work they do.
of people love the work they do.
372
1017000
3524
17:10
What would that look like?
373
1020548
1308
17:12
What would the innovation be like?
How would you treat the people around you?
How would you treat the people around you?
374
1021880
4016
17:16
Things would start to change.
375
1025920
1380
17:19
And as we finish up,
I have just one question to ask you guys,
I have just one question to ask you guys,
376
1028800
3216
17:22
and I think it's the only
question that matters.
question that matters.
377
1032040
2736
17:25
And it's what is the work
you can't not do?
you can't not do?
378
1034800
2600
17:28
Discover that, live it,
379
1038480
2256
17:31
not just for you,
but for everybody around you,
but for everybody around you,
380
1040760
2680
17:34
because that is what starts
to change the world.
to change the world.
381
1044400
2856
17:37
What is the work you can't not do?
382
1047280
2320
17:40
Thank you guys.
383
1050400
1216
17:42
(Applause)
384
1051640
2520
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Scott Dinsmore - Writer, travelerScott Dinsmore founded Live Your Legend, a career and connection platform to inspire people to find their passion.
Why you should listen
Entrepreneur Scott Dinsmore left life at a Fortune 500 company to help others do work that they love. After researching what thousands of employees truly wanted out of life, he founded the organization Live Your Legend. As the Chief Experimenter, he not only supplied practical career tools but connected more than 100,000 people worldwide to encourage each other's dreams -- putting community at the center of success. Dinsmore died in September 2015 while on a year-long trek around the world. His legacy will live on through his passion, dedication and strong community of dreamers and doers.
Scott Dinsmore | Speaker | TED.com