hey guys I'm here today to talk to you
hey guys I'm here today to talk to you
hey guys I'm here today to talk to you
about the f word uh you've all said it
about the f word uh you've all said it
about the f word uh you've all said it
you probably said it earlier today once
you probably said it earlier today once
you probably said it earlier today once
or twice if you're me maybe 20 times uh
or twice if you're me maybe 20 times uh
or twice if you're me maybe 20 times uh
you've probably said it to your friends
you've probably said it to your friends
you've probably said it to your friends
your friends have said it to you uh
your friends have said it to you uh
your friends have said it to you uh
you'd be surprised if youve said it to
you'd be surprised if youve said it to
you'd be surprised if youve said it to
your parents your parents have said it
your parents your parents have said it
your parents your parents have said it
to you and this academic institution
to you and this academic institution
to you and this academic institution
that we're sitting in today has taught
that we're sitting in today has taught
that we're sitting in today has taught
you to fear it that word is in fact f u
you to fear it that word is in fact f u
you to fear it that word is in fact f u
n
n
n
Fun that was a good one
Fun that was a good one
Fun that was a good one
um I'm glad you guys are interactive so
um I'm glad you guys are interactive so
um I'm glad you guys are interactive so
in all honesty today I'm actually
in all honesty today I'm actually
in all honesty today I'm actually
talking to you about failure that was
talking to you about failure that was
talking to you about failure that was
kind of given in the preemptive um
kind of given in the preemptive um
kind of given in the preemptive um
failure is a terrible thing everybody
failure is a terrible thing everybody
failure is a terrible thing everybody
experiences it you will experience it
experiences it you will experience it
experiences it you will experience it
you experience it academically
you experience it academically
you experience it academically
career-wise so I did what any good
career-wise so I did what any good
career-wise so I did what any good
speaker who hasn't really done much
speaker who hasn't really done much
speaker who hasn't really done much
speaking would do and I googled the word
speaking would do and I googled the word
speaking would do and I googled the word
and I was going to do a definition thing
and I was going to do a definition thing
and I was going to do a definition thing
but everybody hates those and so I did
but everybody hates those and so I did
but everybody hates those and so I did
something else I found there was 543
something else I found there was 543
something else I found there was 543
million data points on the internet's
million data points on the internet's
million data points on the internet's
about failure that's a lot of numbers
about failure that's a lot of numbers
about failure that's a lot of numbers
and Google found that for me in about
and Google found that for me in about
and Google found that for me in about
0.23 seconds that's a lot of information
0.23 seconds that's a lot of information
0.23 seconds that's a lot of information
very fast people obviously care about
very fast people obviously care about
very fast people obviously care about
failure so I pretended that I was an
failure so I pretended that I was an
failure so I pretended that I was an
alien from outer space and I was coming
alien from outer space and I was coming
alien from outer space and I was coming
to Earth after a nuclear apocalypse and
to Earth after a nuclear apocalypse and
to Earth after a nuclear apocalypse and
the only thing left was Mother Google
the only thing left was Mother Google
the only thing left was Mother Google
servers and I had to piece together
servers and I had to piece together
servers and I had to piece together
humanity and so I Googled failure and I
humanity and so I Googled failure and I
humanity and so I Googled failure and I
found this it's an epic fail I found
found this it's an epic fail I found
found this it's an epic fail I found
this it's an absolutely epic
this it's an absolutely epic
this it's an absolutely epic
fail this
fail this
fail this
guy it
guy it
guy it
hurts and finally the most epic fail of
hurts and finally the most epic fail of
hurts and finally the most epic fail of
all and so I thought about what this
all and so I thought about what this
all and so I thought about what this
would mean to society in all honesty
would mean to society in all honesty
would mean to society in all honesty
that's not what my talk is about my talk
that's not what my talk is about my talk
that's not what my talk is about my talk
is about the fact that you will fail to
is about the fact that you will fail to
is about the fact that you will fail to
have a great career and this obviously
have a great career and this obviously
have a great career and this obviously
pulls on a fantastic txw talk of past
pulls on a fantastic txw talk of past
pulls on a fantastic txw talk of past
from Larry Smith and his talk was
from Larry Smith and his talk was
from Larry Smith and his talk was
deserves
Applause and his talk was you will fail
Applause and his talk was you will fail
Applause and his talk was you will fail
to have a great
to have a great
to have a great
career
career
career
unless and in typical Larry fashion he
unless and in typical Larry fashion he
unless and in typical Larry fashion he
left unless as this loow hanging fruit
left unless as this loow hanging fruit
left unless as this loow hanging fruit
and it was dang in front of you and all
and it was dang in front of you and all
and it was dang in front of you and all
you had to do is reach out and grab it
you had to do is reach out and grab it
you had to do is reach out and grab it
but you really didn't know what it was
but you really didn't know what it was
but you really didn't know what it was
and he left it to you to make your own
and he left it to you to make your own
and he left it to you to make your own
conclusions I'm an engineer and I want
conclusions I'm an engineer and I want
conclusions I'm an engineer and I want
to make it easier for you to understand
to make it easier for you to understand
to make it easier for you to understand
what that unless is through my own
what that unless is through my own
what that unless is through my own
experiences so this is an optical
experiences so this is an optical
experiences so this is an optical
illusion you've all seen this optical
illusion you've all seen this optical
illusion you've all seen this optical
illusion before and you know what to
illusion before and you know what to
illusion before and you know what to
think about optical illusions so which
think about optical illusions so which
think about optical illusions so which
line is
longer yell it out yell it out the top
longer yell it out yell it out the top
longer yell it out yell it out the top
one right okay so everybody's saying
one right okay so everybody's saying
one right okay so everybody's saying
that it is the
that it is the
that it is the
same at least most people are saying
same at least most people are saying
same at least most people are saying
it's the
it's the
it's the
same you're trained okay you're trained
same you're trained okay you're trained
same you're trained okay you're trained
to
to
to
believe that these lines are actually
believe that these lines are actually
believe that these lines are actually
the same and some of you are smart and
the same and some of you are smart and
the same and some of you are smart and
should keep your mouth shut I'm just
should keep your mouth shut I'm just
should keep your mouth shut I'm just
kidding
kidding
kidding
um but you're taught to believe that
um but you're taught to believe that
um but you're taught to believe that
they're actually the same length it's an
they're actually the same length it's an
they're actually the same length it's an
optical illusion I must be tricking you
optical illusion I must be tricking you
optical illusion I must be tricking you
therefore they're the same length
therefore they're the same length
therefore they're the same length
because I asked you which line is longer
because I asked you which line is longer
because I asked you which line is longer
so those of you that yelled out the same
so those of you that yelled out the same
so those of you that yelled out the same
you're actually wrong because I changed
you're actually wrong because I changed
you're actually wrong because I changed
it
it
it
the top line is longer and so those of
the top line is longer and so those of
the top line is longer and so those of
you who are like the same the
you who are like the same the
you who are like the same the
same you probably feel a little foolish
same you probably feel a little foolish
same you probably feel a little foolish
cuz the guy next to you who thought it
cuz the guy next to you who thought it
cuz the guy next to you who thought it
but didn't say it is now just chilling
but didn't say it is now just chilling
but didn't say it is now just chilling
and he's
like that's right and if you're Malcolm
like that's right and if you're Malcolm
like that's right and if you're Malcolm
you love it because you got it right and
you love it because you got it right and
you love it because you got it right and
you somehow can calculate distances with
you somehow can calculate distances with
you somehow can calculate distances with
your brain um but that feeling you have
your brain um but that feeling you have
your brain um but that feeling you have
inside of you right now is the feeling
inside of you right now is the feeling
inside of you right now is the feeling
of failure you shouldn't have shut it
of failure you shouldn't have shut it
of failure you shouldn't have shut it
out you shouldn't have commented you
out you shouldn't have commented you
out you shouldn't have commented you
shouldn't have made that step you
shouldn't have made that step you
shouldn't have made that step you
shouldn't have followed your gut
shouldn't have followed your gut
shouldn't have followed your gut
instinct and you'll learn from that and
instinct and you'll learn from that and
instinct and you'll learn from that and
what I want to teach you is how to learn
what I want to teach you is how to learn
what I want to teach you is how to learn
from that and so story time in secondy
from that and so story time in secondy
from that and so story time in secondy
year university I started a company
year university I started a company
year university I started a company
called lit energies that is not a jar of
called lit energies that is not a jar of
called lit energies that is not a jar of
my urine that is a jar of biodiesel and
my urine that is a jar of biodiesel and
my urine that is a jar of biodiesel and
my brother and I wanted to produce
my brother and I wanted to produce
my brother and I wanted to produce
biodiesel in GF and sell it to companies
biodiesel in GF and sell it to companies
biodiesel in GF and sell it to companies
all over the world but mostly in
all over the world but mostly in
all over the world but mostly in
Canada petrochem petrochemical companies
Canada petrochem petrochemical companies
Canada petrochem petrochemical companies
had not committed to producing biodiesel
had not committed to producing biodiesel
had not committed to producing biodiesel
yet and the greater Transit the greater
yet and the greater Transit the greater
yet and the greater Transit the greater
transit authority of the greater Toronto
transit authority of the greater Toronto
transit authority of the greater Toronto
area GTA squared was going to be buying
area GTA squared was going to be buying
area GTA squared was going to be buying
biodiesel from small producers because
biodiesel from small producers because
biodiesel from small producers because
the government wanted all fleets to run
the government wanted all fleets to run
the government wanted all fleets to run
biodiesel so I traveled all over
biodiesel so I traveled all over
biodiesel so I traveled all over
Southwestern Ontario with this little
Southwestern Ontario with this little
Southwestern Ontario with this little
jar of
jar of
jar of
biodiesel trying to sell it to these
biodiesel trying to sell it to these
biodiesel trying to sell it to these
companies and we needed to sell 5
companies and we needed to sell 5
companies and we needed to sell 5
million lers of biodiesel or to raise $5
million lers of biodiesel or to raise $5
million lers of biodiesel or to raise $5
million in cash to build this refinery
million in cash to build this refinery
million in cash to build this refinery
in galf it was a lofty goal and this one
in galf it was a lofty goal and this one
in galf it was a lofty goal and this one
particular incident and this is the
particular incident and this is the
particular incident and this is the
actual jar I kept it in my glove box and
actual jar I kept it in my glove box and
actual jar I kept it in my glove box and
it was a very cold January day and the
it was a very cold January day and the
it was a very cold January day and the
fear around biodiesel specifically in
fear around biodiesel specifically in
fear around biodiesel specifically in
Canada is that it freezes at a
Canada is that it freezes at a
Canada is that it freezes at a
temperature that's higher than regular
temperature that's higher than regular
temperature that's higher than regular
diesel fuel that's a big issue in a cold
diesel fuel that's a big issue in a cold
diesel fuel that's a big issue in a cold
climate my car was old it didn't have a
climate my car was old it didn't have a
climate my car was old it didn't have a
heating core I was running it on 1%
heating core I was running it on 1%
heating core I was running it on 1%
biodiesel to make a point could barely
biodiesel to make a point could barely
biodiesel to make a point could barely
started in the
started in the
started in the
morning and I drove all the way to
morning and I drove all the way to
morning and I drove all the way to
Toronto with this jar of biodiesel in
Toronto with this jar of biodiesel in
Toronto with this jar of biodiesel in
the glove box I was 10 minutes early and
the glove box I was 10 minutes early and
the glove box I was 10 minutes early and
this was a meeting with the greater
this was a meeting with the greater
this was a meeting with the greater
transit authority of the greater Toronto
transit authority of the greater Toronto
transit authority of the greater Toronto
area big meeting 42 floor get out of my
area big meeting 42 floor get out of my
area big meeting 42 floor get out of my
car 10 minutes early reach into the
car 10 minutes early reach into the
car 10 minutes early reach into the
glove box and I find a biodiesel
glove box and I find a biodiesel
glove box and I find a biodiesel
popsicle and you can imagine how
popsicle and you can imagine how
popsicle and you can imagine how
difficult this sale was going to be
difficult this sale was going to be
difficult this sale was going to be
because you need to have a product like
because you need to have a product like
because you need to have a product like
this that's tangible for people to buy
this that's tangible for people to buy
this that's tangible for people to buy
into it especially when there's fear so
into it especially when there's fear so
into it especially when there's fear so
I pull out this Popsicle which is now
I pull out this Popsicle which is now
I pull out this Popsicle which is now
leaking on me and I get into the
leaking on me and I get into the
leaking on me and I get into the
elevator 42 floors 2 and 1/2 minutes
elevator 42 floors 2 and 1/2 minutes
elevator 42 floors 2 and 1/2 minutes
feels like 18 years and I rub this jar
feels like 18 years and I rub this jar
feels like 18 years and I rub this jar
between my
between my
between my
legs this is the feeling of
failure so I get to the floor I check in
failure so I get to the floor I check in
failure so I get to the floor I check in
my hands are shaking I go to the
my hands are shaking I go to the
my hands are shaking I go to the
bathroom I open the top and I hold it
bathroom I open the top and I hold it
bathroom I open the top and I hold it
underneath the hand dryer 2 and a half
underneath the hand dryer 2 and a half
underneath the hand dryer 2 and a half
minutes feels like 18 years and I start
minutes feels like 18 years and I start
minutes feels like 18 years and I start
to see it slowly Tha I go sit in the
to see it slowly Tha I go sit in the
to see it slowly Tha I go sit in the
waiting room I find a vent on the floor
waiting room I find a vent on the floor
waiting room I find a vent on the floor
I put my bag on top of the vent and I'm
I put my bag on top of the vent and I'm
I put my bag on top of the vent and I'm
believing that this vent is going to
believing that this vent is going to
believing that this vent is going to
melt the biodiesel and I'm watching it
melt the biodiesel and I'm watching it
melt the biodiesel and I'm watching it
I'm watching it and the lady behind the
I'm watching it and the lady behind the
I'm watching it and the lady behind the
counter sees me looking at my bag and
counter sees me looking at my bag and
counter sees me looking at my bag and
she's probably worried that I've got
she's probably worried that I've got
she's probably worried that I've got
like a bomb or a weapon in there meeting
like a bomb or a weapon in there meeting
like a bomb or a weapon in there meeting
gets delayed probably because of that
gets delayed probably because of that
gets delayed probably because of that
and I finally go in the room and so
and I finally go in the room and so
and I finally go in the room and so
everybody knew I had this jar everybody
everybody knew I had this jar everybody
everybody knew I had this jar everybody
wanted to see it and what I would do is
wanted to see it and what I would do is
wanted to see it and what I would do is
I'd pour it into a wine glass people
I'd pour it into a wine glass people
I'd pour it into a wine glass people
could touch it feel it I wouldn't touch
could touch it feel it I wouldn't touch
could touch it feel it I wouldn't touch
the stuff myself um some guys would
the stuff myself um some guys would
the stuff myself um some guys would
drink it because they believed in the
drink it because they believed in the
drink it because they believed in the
capabilities of this product have the
capabilities of this product have the
capabilities of this product have the
meeting where's the biod we really want
meeting where's the biod we really want
meeting where's the biod we really want
to see it because we had produce this
to see it because we had produce this
to see it because we had produce this
ourselves in our
ourselves in our
ourselves in our
garage I have it but let's talk about
garage I have it but let's talk about
garage I have it but let's talk about
the environmental implications of the
the environmental implications of the
the environmental implications of the
product for a little while longer
product for a little while longer
product for a little while longer
where's the biod we want to see it I
where's the biod we want to see it I
where's the biod we want to see it I
have it but let's talk about being a a
have it but let's talk about being a a
have it but let's talk about being a a
clean feet a green Fleet for Canada
clean feet a green Fleet for Canada
clean feet a green Fleet for Canada
finally I could no longer wait and I
finally I could no longer wait and I
finally I could no longer wait and I
looked into the bag and I saw
looked into the bag and I saw
looked into the bag and I saw
this wonderfully clear golden liquid and
this wonderfully clear golden liquid and
this wonderfully clear golden liquid and
it had Tha and I reached in pulled it
it had Tha and I reached in pulled it
it had Tha and I reached in pulled it
out uprighted it and thk 80%
out uprighted it and thk 80%
out uprighted it and thk 80%
ice and that was the end of the
ice and that was the end of the
ice and that was the end of the
meeting and that feeling is a feeling a
meeting and that feeling is a feeling a
meeting and that feeling is a feeling a
failure and I remember instinctively
failure and I remember instinctively
failure and I remember instinctively
thinking to myself which is a comical
thinking to myself which is a comical
thinking to myself which is a comical
thought that I was literally selling ice
thought that I was literally selling ice
thought that I was literally selling ice
to
to
to
Eskimos and it could have been more true
Eskimos and it could have been more true
Eskimos and it could have been more true
we failed to build lead energies it was
we failed to build lead energies it was
we failed to build lead energies it was
not a success
not a success
not a success
not only did we fail to build lit
not only did we fail to build lit
not only did we fail to build lit
energies but this was my second year at
energies but this was my second year at
energies but this was my second year at
University this is even before the two3
University this is even before the two3
University this is even before the two3
point 2A wasn't even to be or not to be
point 2A wasn't even to be or not to be
point 2A wasn't even to be or not to be
I tried to build this
I tried to build this
I tried to build this
business and I failed that term in
business and I failed that term in
business and I failed that term in
school as well and so if you can imagine
school as well and so if you can imagine
school as well and so if you can imagine
you start a business you're crazy
you start a business you're crazy
you start a business you're crazy
everybody thinks you're insane and they
everybody thinks you're insane and they
everybody thinks you're insane and they
all think that you're going to
fail and then you fail your term in
fail and then you fail your term in
fail and then you fail your term in
school and all the people that thought
school and all the people that thought
school and all the people that thought
you're going to fail now rubbing in
you're going to fail now rubbing in
you're going to fail now rubbing in
because your friends are moving on in
because your friends are moving on in
because your friends are moving on in
Academia and you've got a year of your
Academia and you've got a year of your
Academia and you've got a year of your
life with nothing to do because your
life with nothing to do because your
life with nothing to do because your
business failed there's no way to sell
business failed there's no way to sell
business failed there's no way to sell
this product there's no money from
this product there's no money from
this product there's no money from
investors and you don't even have an
investors and you don't even have an
investors and you don't even have an
academic
academic
academic
career so I did what everybody else does
career so I did what everybody else does
career so I did what everybody else does
and I went and worked at a big software
and I went and worked at a big software
and I went and worked at a big software
company in town and I learned how to
company in town and I learned how to
company in town and I learned how to
write code and I bettered myself through
write code and I bettered myself through
write code and I bettered myself through
the process but digging myself up from
the process but digging myself up from
the process but digging myself up from
that wall dusting myself off and moving
that wall dusting myself off and moving
that wall dusting myself off and moving
forward was very very difficult again my
forward was very very difficult again my
forward was very very difficult again my
best friends in the world were no longer
best friends in the world were no longer
best friends in the world were no longer
going to be going through an education
going to be going through an education
going to be going through an education
with me and I watched as they did I
with me and I watched as they did I
with me and I watched as they did I
learned from that and so I have another
learned from that and so I have another
learned from that and so I have another
optical
optical
optical
illusion which line is
longer the difference is that
longer the difference is that
longer the difference is that
everybody's a lot
everybody's a lot
everybody's a lot
quieter because I told you that you
quieter because I told you that you
quieter because I told you that you
failed the first time and that's the
failed the first time and that's the
failed the first time and that's the
wrong lesson to learn even though you
wrong lesson to learn even though you
wrong lesson to learn even though you
were wrong and I still hear people
were wrong and I still hear people
were wrong and I still hear people
mumbling it doesn't even matter and I'm
mumbling it doesn't even matter and I'm
mumbling it doesn't even matter and I'm
not going to tell you the answer and if
not going to tell you the answer and if
not going to tell you the answer and if
you find me after I can show you but you
you find me after I can show you but you
you find me after I can show you but you
should still still be willing to shout
should still still be willing to shout
should still still be willing to shout
something out even if you're wrong who
something out even if you're wrong who
something out even if you're wrong who
cares what that guy next to you thinks
cares what that guy next to you thinks
cares what that guy next to you thinks
who cares what your friends think who
who cares what your friends think who
who cares what your friends think who
cares what your parents
cares what your parents
cares what your parents
think you will fail to have a great
think you will fail to have a great
think you will fail to have a great
career unless you fail to have a great
career unless you fail to have a great
career unless you fail to have a great
career it's an oxy and it's ridiculous
career it's an oxy and it's ridiculous
career it's an oxy and it's ridiculous
but it makes sense right so again you
but it makes sense right so again you
but it makes sense right so again you
will fail to have a great career unless
will fail to have a great career unless
will fail to have a great career unless
you fail to have a great career don't
you fail to have a great career don't
you fail to have a great career don't
listen to your friends don't listen to
listen to your friends don't listen to
listen to your friends don't listen to
your parents parents don't listen to
your parents parents don't listen to
your parents parents don't listen to
academic institutions that make you fear
academic institutions that make you fear
academic institutions that make you fear
the concept of failure failing that
the concept of failure failing that
the concept of failure failing that
academic ter term and failing at
academic ter term and failing at
academic ter term and failing at
building lit energies was the best thing
building lit energies was the best thing
building lit energies was the best thing
that ever happened to me if you want to
that ever happened to me if you want to
that ever happened to me if you want to
find out more about that I'll stick
find out more about that I'll stick
find out more about that I'll stick
around and talk to you about it remember
around and talk to you about it remember
around and talk to you about it remember
be somebody or be somebody's fool thank
be somebody or be somebody's fool thank
be somebody or be somebody's fool thank
you