0:00:10.161,0:00:14.161 Six years ago, I walked away[br]from my six-figure dream job, 0:00:15.161,0:00:19.369 a job that I readily invested[br]60-70 hours a week in, 0:00:19.369,0:00:22.529 consistently over the course[br]of almost five years. 0:00:24.399,0:00:27.779 I had my conscious reasons[br]for doing so at the time, 0:00:28.419,0:00:31.559 but I also had other reasons[br]that I couldn't quite articulate. 0:00:32.679,0:00:35.730 Nowadays, I would say[br]that I had a deep knowing, 0:00:36.400,0:00:41.750 and only now do I feel in a position[br]where I can explain it. 0:00:41.750,0:00:43.453 But first in order to do so, 0:00:43.458,0:00:46.650 I need to tell you about a few things [br]I've learned in the meantime 0:00:46.650,0:00:49.510 about both ants and humans. 0:00:51.330,0:00:54.108 So as a social entrepreneur[br]and social innovator, 0:00:54.108,0:00:58.409 I spend a lot of time thinking[br]about co-opetition in the service economy. 0:00:58.409,0:01:04.798 In other words, how we can help each other[br]thrive more efficiently and effectively. 0:01:06.008,0:01:09.043 It's this interest that led me[br]to ant research 0:01:09.043,0:01:11.199 because ants work together. 0:01:11.199,0:01:14.850 And by no stretch of the imagination[br]am I a myrmecologist, 0:01:14.850,0:01:18.419 which is the type of scientist[br]that studies ants, 0:01:18.419,0:01:22.089 but I do find their research [br]really intriguing and valuable, 0:01:22.089,0:01:26.529 and I think that it has vast implications[br]for both us and our systems. 0:01:28.969,0:01:32.959 So let me drop [br]a few heavy ant stats on you. 0:01:34.449,0:01:39.007 So, ants have been around [br]for a hundred million years, 0:01:39.007,0:01:40.827 since the time of the dinosaurs. 0:01:41.297,0:01:44.927 Arguably, they are one of the most [br]successful species in history, 0:01:45.447,0:01:47.685 and for those of you keeping score, 0:01:47.905,0:01:51.177 dinosaurs: zero, ants: one, 0:01:51.177,0:01:53.639 so they know something about surviving. 0:01:56.969,0:02:00.840 Ants actually constitute a quarter [br]or more of the animal biomass 0:02:00.840,0:02:02.540 on the whole planet, 0:02:02.540,0:02:05.930 which given the fact that[br]they're a millionth the size of a human 0:02:05.930,0:02:07.512 is pretty amazing. 0:02:08.662,0:02:11.800 In fact, if you rewind[br]the clock just 250 years, 0:02:12.280,0:02:14.951 ants and humans[br]literally weighed the same, 0:02:14.951,0:02:17.229 they counterbalanced us on the planet. 0:02:17.229,0:02:20.701 And still today, even though[br]we've gotten better at procreating, 0:02:22.491,0:02:24.340 that's still largely true. 0:02:24.340,0:02:26.984 So while we're having[br]environmental impacts 0:02:26.984,0:02:30.641 and other sorts of things[br]that we might not have intended, 0:02:30.641,0:02:32.684 ants are quietly working [br]behind the scenes, 0:02:32.684,0:02:35.481 repairing forest floors, [br]that sort of thing. 0:02:37.221,0:02:40.761 Ants can lift between 50 and 200 times[br]their own weight 0:02:40.761,0:02:44.011 and withstand between[br]3,000 and 5,000 times 0:02:44.011,0:02:45.537 their own weight in pressure. 0:02:46.172,0:02:50.489 But there's three specific lessons[br]that I think we can look to ants for 0:02:50.489,0:02:53.105 that we can practically [br]apply in our own lives. 0:02:54.145,0:02:57.665 The first is working together[br]to overcome obstacles 0:02:57.665,0:03:01.410 and particularly obstacles[br]that we can't overcome on our own. 0:03:04.460,0:03:08.030 This is a picture of fire ants,[br]and before I go any further 0:03:09.260,0:03:12.529 anybody who knows fire ants[br]or may have been bitten by a fire ant 0:03:12.529,0:03:14.891 might say, "Fire ants are jerks!" 0:03:15.901,0:03:18.340 And, you know, probably you're right. 0:03:18.340,0:03:21.787 But there are 14,000 known species of ants 0:03:21.787,0:03:24.999 and many thousands more[br]that haven't yet been classified. 0:03:29.687,0:03:32.255 Maybe sometimes, but so are some humans, 0:03:33.169,0:03:35.921 so don't paint them all[br]with the same brush. 0:03:35.921,0:03:37.296 (Laughter) 0:03:37.461,0:03:40.185 And with that, I will tell you[br]what this is a picture of. 0:03:40.185,0:03:42.912 This is a fire ant raft 0:03:42.912,0:03:46.039 during Hurricane Harvey[br]in Pearland, Texas. 0:03:47.109,0:03:50.122 As you might expect,[br]a flood is pretty threatening for ants, 0:03:51.132,0:03:55.722 and if they don't do something,[br]they'll obviously drown. 0:03:55.722,0:03:57.901 So what they do is they build a raft, 0:03:57.901,0:04:00.541 and all the other fire ants[br]can pile on top, 0:04:00.541,0:04:07.102 and it's sustainable for between[br]one and three weeks. 0:04:08.162,0:04:09.930 If they tried to individually swim, 0:04:09.930,0:04:12.359 they're not going to swim[br]for a week or three weeks, 0:04:12.359,0:04:16.902 and so by banding together,[br]they can survive the flood, literally. 0:04:17.844,0:04:20.852 Here's another example[br]from a type of army ant. 0:04:20.852,0:04:25.571 When these ants encounter [br]a chasm that they can't cross, 0:04:25.571,0:04:30.092 they form a living bridge with each other, 0:04:30.092,0:04:33.898 and the rest of the ants[br]can walk over the bridge and back 0:04:33.898,0:04:36.091 and accomplish whatever [br]they were trying to do 0:04:36.091,0:04:37.965 more effectively and efficiently. 0:04:39.725,0:04:42.382 In terms of practical applications for us, 0:04:42.382,0:04:46.353 I think the problems that we feel[br]most powerless to solve 0:04:46.353,0:04:49.996 are the ones where this comes into play. 0:04:50.276,0:04:52.373 They are systemic, structural problems, 0:04:52.373,0:04:54.624 environmental problems, [br]political problems, 0:04:54.624,0:04:57.212 social problems, economic problems. 0:04:57.622,0:05:00.421 And it's only through working together 0:05:00.421,0:05:02.660 that we can actually[br]do something about those. 0:05:04.310,0:05:10.372 The second lesson is on leadership[br]and redefining our idea of leadership. 0:05:10.632,0:05:17.027 I'm just going to show you a video now [br]of an ant known as the longhorn crazy ant. 0:05:17.901,0:05:19.530 They are carrying this Cheerio. 0:05:19.530,0:05:22.813 Eight or nine of them are carrying[br]this Cheerio in a certain direction 0:05:22.813,0:05:24.927 and suddenly this one ant zips in 0:05:24.927,0:05:27.612 and they start pulling it[br]in a different direction. 0:05:28.186,0:05:32.902 Obviously, that ant is not as strong[br]as the other nine ants put together, 0:05:33.232,0:05:36.803 but they're confident and assured,[br]and they come in and they know something. 0:05:36.803,0:05:39.243 They start pulling[br]in that direction with conviction 0:05:39.243,0:05:40.995 and the other ants follow them. 0:05:41.815,0:05:43.682 This video and the following video 0:05:43.682,0:05:47.601 are from Prof. Ofer Feinerman [br]at the Weizmann Institute of Science 0:05:47.601,0:05:48.541 and his colleagues, 0:05:48.541,0:05:51.908 and he has a couple things to say[br]in particular about leadership 0:05:51.908,0:05:53.623 in the context of this video. 0:05:54.653,0:05:58.708 One is, "This leader that comes along,[br]she doesn't have to introduce herself, 0:05:58.708,0:06:01.137 she doesn't have to be stronger[br]than the rest - 0:06:01.137,0:06:03.975 she just has to pull[br]in the correct direction." 0:06:04.957,0:06:07.308 And "As far as we can tell, 0:06:07.308,0:06:09.559 the scout is no different[br]to the other ants. 0:06:09.559,0:06:11.408 No one designates the leader. 0:06:11.408,0:06:12.634 She designates herself 0:06:12.634,0:06:15.747 because she has current knowledge[br]about the correct direction." 0:06:17.317,0:06:19.410 I think this lesson is most applicable 0:06:19.410,0:06:24.450 to those of you who work or volunteer 0:06:24.450,0:06:27.935 in roles that wouldn't traditionally[br]be considered leadership positions. 0:06:29.415,0:06:33.818 My challenge for you is to think about,[br]is there something that you know, 0:06:33.818,0:06:38.694 a better way, a more efficient [br]or effective path where you can show up, 0:06:38.694,0:06:41.030 and just start leading [br]in the right direction 0:06:41.030,0:06:42.565 and have people follow you? 0:06:44.786,0:06:48.607 The third lesson is making sure[br]there's enough for everyone. 0:06:49.627,0:06:55.244 This is a video of a type of carpenter ant[br]and a process called ant trophallaxis. 0:06:55.701,0:06:59.102 It's fluorescent food,[br]so you can see where the food's going. 0:06:59.582,0:07:01.911 Two ants go, and they look for food. 0:07:01.911,0:07:04.686 What you'll see is one ant [br]finds pretty much all the food, 0:07:04.686,0:07:07.063 and the other ant doesn't find[br]very much food. 0:07:07.063,0:07:11.596 Through this process of trophallaxis[br]that you're seeing right here, 0:07:12.086,0:07:13.274 they share the food. 0:07:13.274,0:07:15.321 Something that you might[br]not know about ants 0:07:15.321,0:07:17.228 is they actually have two stomachs. 0:07:17.234,0:07:20.422 They have their own stomach,[br]and they have a social stomach. 0:07:21.272,0:07:23.864 The purpose of the social stomach is - 0:07:23.864,0:07:25.686 this is not really a typical example - 0:07:25.686,0:07:28.757 it would be that only certain ants[br]go out and get food, 0:07:28.757,0:07:34.264 and other ants are back at their colony,[br]raising young, taking care of operations. 0:07:35.074,0:07:38.735 So they will bring the food back [br]and have enough for everybody 0:07:38.735,0:07:40.236 through their social stomach. 0:07:40.936,0:07:44.361 In our context, our social stomach[br]is our tax system, 0:07:44.361,0:07:47.346 where we pay more, or we pay into 0:07:47.346,0:07:49.121 to provide for the needs of everyone, 0:07:49.121,0:07:50.537 not just ourselves. 0:07:50.537,0:07:53.305 And this afternoon, there's going [br]to be a really good talk 0:07:53.305,0:07:54.644 about universal basic income 0:07:54.644,0:07:57.615 as a potential way[br]to reform our tax system. 0:07:57.615,0:08:02.010 So I will leave it to Floyd[br]to talk to you all about that. 0:08:04.040,0:08:06.270 The next lesson is about humans 0:08:06.270,0:08:10.424 and that humans can also think[br]in the ways that ants do. 0:08:12.546,0:08:14.722 "Umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu" 0:08:14.722,0:08:18.812 is a saying from the Xhosa[br]language of South Africa, 0:08:18.812,0:08:20.240 which essentially means, 0:08:20.240,0:08:23.918 "I am because you are,[br]and you are because we are." 0:08:24.183,0:08:26.893 In other words, no person is an island. 0:08:26.893,0:08:29.794 We define ourselves[br]in relation to one another 0:08:29.794,0:08:33.869 and better ourselves[br]through our acts of service 0:08:33.869,0:08:36.654 and how we serve one another. 0:08:37.824,0:08:39.056 There's a quote. 0:08:39.056,0:08:41.629 You may have heard this concept[br]under a different term, 0:08:41.629,0:08:44.519 which is "ubuntu,"[br]which is a lot more widely known. 0:08:45.089,0:08:46.291 Audrey Tang says 0:08:46.291,0:08:49.571 that ubuntu "implies that everyone[br]has different skills and strengths; 0:08:49.571,0:08:50.815 people are not isolated, 0:08:50.815,0:08:52.107 and through mutual support, 0:08:52.107,0:08:54.604 they can help each other[br]to complete themselves." 0:08:55.804,0:08:57.636 This is the closest human worldview 0:08:57.636,0:09:02.208 to what I like to believe ants think[br]and how they operate, 0:09:02.208,0:09:04.629 which is basically what an ethos means, 0:09:04.629,0:09:06.461 and how we, as humans, 0:09:06.461,0:09:11.061 could really start embodying more[br]of how ants work. 0:09:13.071,0:09:16.161 But in order to do that,[br]I think it's time for a firmware upgrade. 0:09:16.161,0:09:18.162 If you don't know what firmware is, 0:09:18.162,0:09:21.320 it's a little bit of software[br]that runs on a motherboard like that. 0:09:21.320,0:09:23.954 You might be most familiar with it[br]from your cell phone. 0:09:23.954,0:09:28.719 If you've ever updated your Android[br]or iOS phone, done a system update, 0:09:28.719,0:09:31.668 it allows you to do,[br]express, or build things 0:09:31.668,0:09:33.988 that you couldn't do before. 0:09:33.988,0:09:36.642 A most practical example[br]is about once a year 0:09:36.642,0:09:39.575 you do a system update[br]and you have new emojis. 0:09:40.505,0:09:42.249 (Laughter) 0:09:43.369,0:09:46.270 But the firmware upgrade[br]that's needed for us 0:09:46.270,0:09:51.007 is to do the inner work. 0:09:51.357,0:09:54.648 Our firmware -[br]I'll move to the next slide - 0:09:54.648,0:10:00.608 our firmware is passed down [br]over generations, millennia, 0:10:00.608,0:10:02.404 and there's a lot of things in there. 0:10:02.404,0:10:04.178 The firmware, just to be clear, 0:10:04.178,0:10:06.497 is the software that runs[br]between our ears. 0:10:07.469,0:10:09.306 A lot of the things passed down 0:10:09.306,0:10:11.949 are no longer relevant,[br]they're not useful. 0:10:11.949,0:10:14.629 Let's just say there are a lot[br]of bugs in the system - 0:10:14.629,0:10:15.649 (Laughter) 0:10:15.649,0:10:17.660 pun moderately intended. 0:10:18.650,0:10:22.517 The way that we can work on getting [br]those bugs out is through inner work, 0:10:22.517,0:10:26.538 and that's working on how we think,[br]and on our hearts, 0:10:26.538,0:10:29.418 and how we perceive the world. 0:10:29.418,0:10:30.448 I'm really encouraged 0:10:30.448,0:10:32.839 that there are thousands[br]of people stepping forward 0:10:32.839,0:10:34.102 to help do that work, 0:10:34.102,0:10:37.690 because much like the Cheerio,[br]we can't lift the heavy rocks ourselves. 0:10:37.690,0:10:38.887 And those are heavy rocks 0:10:38.887,0:10:42.180 that are revisiting basic programming[br]that we don't even think of 0:10:42.180,0:10:45.755 that has us operate day in and day out. 0:10:45.755,0:10:48.709 But I think, specifically, [br]we're in need of a "reoriANTation," 0:10:48.709,0:10:50.351 if you'll allow me that, 0:10:50.821,0:10:53.328 to move away from something[br]towards something. 0:10:53.768,0:10:57.386 What to need to move away from[br]is the basic way of thinking of, 0:10:57.386,0:11:02.268 how can I get the most value for me,[br]or for me and mine right now, 0:11:02.268,0:11:03.760 and move towards? 0:11:04.390,0:11:07.802 How can I add the most value[br]for all of us right now? 0:11:08.530,0:11:11.511 So with that said,[br]I can now tell you in a better way 0:11:11.511,0:11:16.149 why I walked away[br]from my six-figure dream job 0:11:16.149,0:11:17.430 six years ago. 0:11:18.545,0:11:21.891 Essentially, I realized[br]I had this deep knowing 0:11:21.891,0:11:25.568 that while what I was doing was valuable, 0:11:25.568,0:11:31.347 and I was working extremely hard at it,[br]I wasn't showing up as my whole self. 0:11:31.347,0:11:34.988 I wasn't showing up with all the value[br]I could bring to the world. 0:11:34.988,0:11:38.873 And this is a question that I have [br]really unpacked over the last six years, 0:11:38.873,0:11:42.327 which has seen me start and found [br]not one, not two, 0:11:42.327,0:11:44.274 but three very different businesses. 0:11:44.274,0:11:45.958 The best way I could explain that 0:11:45.958,0:11:50.117 is that one represents the most value[br]I can bring to the world 0:11:50.117,0:11:51.627 with the left side of my brain; 0:11:51.627,0:11:54.718 one is the most value I can bring[br]with the right side of my brain; 0:11:54.718,0:11:57.159 and one is the most value[br]I can bring with my heart. 0:11:57.159,0:11:59.951 And a lot of people don't understand that, 0:11:59.951,0:12:02.386 and I'm not necessarily [br]looking for them to. 0:12:02.386,0:12:05.411 I'm not looking[br]for their permission or approval. 0:12:05.411,0:12:07.289 I know that what I'm doing is valuable, 0:12:07.289,0:12:09.146 and much like the ant with the Cheerio, 0:12:09.146,0:12:13.189 I'm just pulling with all my focus[br]and energy in that direction, 0:12:13.189,0:12:14.768 or in those directions. 0:12:16.448,0:12:19.794 My question for you is,[br]what are you leaving on the table? 0:12:19.794,0:12:23.215 What parts of yourself[br]are you not bringing to the world? 0:12:24.275,0:12:27.537 How can you add the most value[br]for all of us right now? 0:12:30.324,0:12:34.506 This is basically doing more[br]than you need to do. 0:12:34.506,0:12:36.879 So, rather than working[br]your nine to five job, 0:12:36.879,0:12:39.516 and then playing Candy Crush,[br]or binge-watching Netflix, 0:12:39.516,0:12:42.177 or scrolling social media for five hours, 0:12:42.177,0:12:44.968 or if you're like me,[br]maybe more than one of those things, 0:12:46.148,0:12:47.839 take some of that time 0:12:47.839,0:12:51.296 and devote it to creating value for others 0:12:51.296,0:12:55.039 instead of simply consuming the value[br]that other people have created. 0:12:55.039,0:12:56.738 There's a saying which is, 0:12:56.738,0:12:59.082 how we spend our days[br]is how we spend our lives. 0:12:59.082,0:13:01.082 And just for some context, 0:13:01.082,0:13:03.783 assuming that you've got about [br]16 hours a day to use 0:13:03.783,0:13:05.757 and that you sleep sometimes, 0:13:05.757,0:13:08.480 if you spend an hour a day[br]on social media for a year, 0:13:08.480,0:13:10.499 that's three weeks of your year. 0:13:10.889,0:13:13.339 Two hours is one and a half months. 0:13:15.939,0:13:18.230 The one thing we can't get is more time. 0:13:18.230,0:13:22.616 So I hope that that inspires you to take[br]at least 5 minutes or 15 minutes 0:13:22.616,0:13:23.768 of one of those hours 0:13:23.768,0:13:26.558 and contribute it [br]to what I'm talking about. 0:13:27.043,0:13:29.722 So there's one other person [br]who's talked about "ubuntu," 0:13:29.722,0:13:33.800 and his name's Nelson Mandela -[br]you might have heard of him. 0:13:35.000,0:13:38.569 And he says, "Ubuntu does not mean[br]that people should not enrich themselves. 0:13:38.569,0:13:40.122 The question therefore is, 0:13:40.122,0:13:43.266 are you going to do so in order[br]to enable the community around you 0:13:43.266,0:13:45.368 and to enable it to improve?" 0:13:45.368,0:13:48.662 I like to believe that he meant[br]enrich in the broadest sense: 0:13:48.662,0:13:52.506 physically, mentally, [br]spiritually, financially. 0:13:53.026,0:13:54.948 But there's something missing: 0:13:54.948,0:13:56.490 a way to make this practical 0:13:56.490,0:13:59.099 and an easy way to remember[br]in our daily lives 0:13:59.719,0:14:03.629 because ubuntu is not necessarily[br]a concept that floats around here. 0:14:04.369,0:14:06.719 So bear with me, I'm going[br]to go off for a second, 0:14:06.719,0:14:09.581 but I promise I'll connect[br]the dots in a few slides. 0:14:09.581,0:14:11.960 The word that came to mind[br]for me is "ante," 0:14:11.960,0:14:15.254 and for anybody that plays poker,[br]it comes from there 0:14:15.254,0:14:20.090 where each round of the card game,[br]everybody has to pay a certain amount. 0:14:20.090,0:14:22.979 I think we need[br]a new definition of "ante," 0:14:22.979,0:14:26.979 which rather than a small amount of money[br]from every player that goes into the pot, 0:14:26.979,0:14:31.996 a small amount of value from every human 0:14:31.996,0:14:33.713 that has contributed to the world. 0:14:37.569,0:14:44.390 Another phrase is "ante up,"[br]which means to do one's part, 0:14:44.390,0:14:47.653 and that's really what I want[br]to leave you with 0:14:47.653,0:14:50.914 is to think of what it is to do your part. 0:14:50.914,0:14:54.247 To me, that's choosing to do more[br]than you absolutely need to do. 0:14:54.247,0:14:57.644 So, in other words,[br]start doing what you know has value 0:14:57.644,0:15:00.302 on top of what the world[br]tells you has value, 0:15:00.302,0:15:03.502 even if other people[br]don't necessarily appreciate it yet. 0:15:03.502,0:15:06.003 And a fair question that you might ask is, 0:15:06.353,0:15:08.224 "Well, how do I know what that is?" 0:15:08.854,0:15:13.972 What I would say is I believe everybody[br]has the same deep knowing 0:15:13.972,0:15:17.363 and that if you quiet your mind [br]and sit with yourself, 0:15:17.363,0:15:20.572 there's something inside you, [br]a small voice that you can listen to 0:15:20.572,0:15:22.563 that will tell you what that is. 0:15:22.563,0:15:25.706 And if you don't hear it,[br]listen even more intently. 0:15:26.987,0:15:30.438 As a hint, if there's something[br]that you always wished that you could do, 0:15:30.438,0:15:32.373 or known you could do but aren't doing, 0:15:32.373,0:15:33.744 go and do some of that. 0:15:34.674,0:15:38.542 Just quickly, as a mental hook here, 0:15:38.542,0:15:40.833 I was thinking about ants and energy, 0:15:40.833,0:15:43.487 and Einstein had E = MC2 for energy, 0:15:43.487,0:15:46.849 so I think of "ante" as "ant energy." 0:15:46.849,0:15:49.957 And it's not enough[br]just to believe in what I'm saying, 0:15:49.957,0:15:54.975 but also Gandhi said, "Be the change [br]you want to see in the world." 0:15:54.975,0:15:57.601 To me, that is about embodying this. 0:15:57.601,0:15:59.484 How do you embody ant energy? 0:16:00.784,0:16:04.803 And so, we face some[br]pretty significant problems today, 0:16:04.803,0:16:06.913 ones that are seemingly intractable 0:16:06.913,0:16:11.545 and I believe need us to bring[br]our full selves to the table. 0:16:13.305,0:16:18.223 The "ante" is already being upped[br]in the poker chips kind of game. 0:16:18.223,0:16:21.843 The world is getting more complex,[br]and the problems are getting more complex. 0:16:21.843,0:16:25.783 I think it's time for us to up[br]the ant energy to match that. 0:16:26.403,0:16:28.752 And so the question[br]I'm leaving you with is, 0:16:28.752,0:16:31.582 how are you going to "ante" up?