Lecture Notes: The Power of Resilience

Introduction

• Speaker reflects on being a twin and early experiences with intelligence tests.
• Emphasis on taking control of one's destiny regardless of early assessments of intelligence.

The Four R's of Success

1. Reading
2. Writing
3. Arithmetic
4. Resilience
   • Resilience is crucial for success; it's not about being the smartest or having the highest IQ.

Importance of Resilience

• Failure is essential for mastering resilience.
• Personal anecdote from childhood:
  • Father's question: "What's the worst thing that happened to you today?"
  • Purpose: to build resilience.

Personal Journey of Failure and Success

• At 23, speaker faced major setbacks:
  • Worked for an internet startup that failed, leading to job loss and financial struggles.
  • Felt broke, unemployed, and devastated.
• Realization of the need to get up and keep moving forward.
• Sought a loan from grandma to start anew, emphasizing belief in the internet despite hardships.

Start-Up Experience

• Moved to Hawaii to work on a new venture.
• Faced distractions and challenges in a non-ideal work environment.
• Eventually succeeded, growing the company to $100 million, sold in 2008, and again in 2014 for $235 million.

The Ultimate Test of Resilience

• Personal story of trying to conceive and the emotional rollercoaster of pregnancy.
  • Successfully became pregnant through surrogacy but faced complications leading to premature delivery at 24 weeks.
• Challenges in the NICU:
  • Babies weighed less than a pound, health complications (brain bleeding, heart hole).
• Acknowledges the weight of responsibility: balancing business success with family health.

Redefining Success

• After overcoming challenges with twins, defines success differently:
  • Moving from a business-centric view to valuing personal resilience and family.
• Final message:
  • "If you fail, learn from it; if you fall, get back up; if it feels impossible, keep going."

Conclusion

• Applause and gratitude from the audience.