10/4/14 TEDx Kamuela experience once in a lifetime
-Written by KC
Weather you think you CAN, or weather you think you CAN'T, you're right. -Henry Ford
TED Talks is our own backyard!
For those of you unfamiliar with TED Talks, as I was up until a couple weeks ago they are a traveling lecture series meant to share ideas worth spreading. When I first learned that the TEDx (the independently organized version of TED) would be coming to our town I immediately wanted to be involved because I had always heard so many great things about TED but didn't know quite what it was. I offered to volunteer to help out at the event which I was told was the only way we could actually get to see the talks because only 100 people were allowed to be at the event due to TED rules. I was pleasantly surprised when they replied back to me that they didn't want me to volunteer they wanted me to SPEAK! "OK, even though I've not done something like that before, let's DO THIS!"
Game Changers
The theme for the TEDx Talk was 'Game Changers'. I was asked to speak about fitness, but for most people that conversation tends to stop short of talking about movement, lifestyle habits, or nutrition...with weight loss usually being the primary topic. My talk, however was more about the mind and believing in yourself! Because no matter how many tools you have....treadmill, workout CDs, workout equipment, gym membership, or even a trainer you'll never realize your greatest potential until you get your own mind in the game and think positivly about yourself and who you are. Money doesn't buy you health, your mind does! How you think about yourself and what you're capable of doing is a greater factor than you might think. And for most of us, our capabilities are far bayong what we percieve them to be.
My Definition of Fitness
I live and breath CrossFit, and my entire life is that fitness model. But whatever it is that you want to do weather it's running, yoga, hiking, biking, or any form of exercise we all face challenges. What happens when you can't even take the first step and get started?
I've come up with a formula based on my observations of working with a wide variety of the population to explain HOW I DO IT. My formula is meant to help myself, and others with the obstacles that prevent most people from even getting started. And the fact of the matter is that ironically that obstacle is usually our own mind and what we tell ourselves each new day!
Image slide from KC Stallsmith, Believe you Can and you Will, TEDx Kamuela. All rights reserved
TEDX Experience
What a amazing experience to be part of this outstandignevent! Lynn Herkes manifested the event and was the lead instigator in bringing the event to our island. She also did the organizing, communication, fundraising and logistics along with her husband Bob Herkes. They did an outstanding job and I felt honored to be able to speak. Everything from the logistics and release forms, to tips from TED on how to give a meaningful talk, to the dress rehearsal and finally the main event...these guys totally ROCKED IT!!! It was outstanding to be involved in the TEDx Kamuela event. My experience was a once in a lifetime dream I never knew I wanted, but was blessed to have it once I did it!
The other speakers = GAME CHANGERS!
I got to watch nearly all of the other speakers at the TEDx Kamuela talk. Chike Ukaegbu came out all the way from New York to present first with his talk, "Entrepreneurship: Embracing The Side Hustle" where he shared about his work with 'disconnected youth' generally menaing youth that have little education and no jobs. His goal is to empower youth with entrepenureship and education. He organized a non-profit called RE:life Inc to help teach disconnected youth about business and take all the creaticvity these youth have to manifest it into new business models for the youth of today.
Another outstanding speaker was Jamie Borromeo who recently wrote a book called "Young, Educated & Broke". Her powerful message was based around the definition of 'Millennial' and where she found herself at her college graduation with large debdt, no job, and a generations of baby boomers before her that left behind lots of problems. Jamie is a well spoken author, entrepreneur, and activist that also maintains a blog called Millennial Musings. I just subscribed to her blog and i'm excited to follow what she has to say! Below: Jamie had us all take a SELFIE which is SO MILLENNIAL and post to Instagram and #youngeducatedandbroke
Mahalo
Thanks to Elin Kalaniopio, Josh Stallsmith, and Kelsey Ownes who were there to help support me! And thanks to EVERYONE in my life that supports me in doing exaclty what I love to do!
Some of the other presenters from Left: Financial Advisor Michael Kramer, Author Jamie Borromeo and her partner, Educator Chike Ukaegbu, and me (Fitness motivator KC Stallsmith)
And MORE AMAZING NEWS....
Later that night when I was out celebrating with my family I got word that CrossFit Inc. had finally posted the longer full story version of the KUPUNA VIDEO!!! This has been about 6 months in the making and it was finally done and posted on the CrossFit Mainpage!!! Please check it out below!
TO TOP IT ALL OFF....
I ended the evening with my closest friends watching the GRID finals with Cheryl Brost who had been gone since July after the CrossFit Games. She's a very special person to me and to be able to watch the semi-final and final matches with her right there was so special!!! Being with friends and enjoying time together and each other's successes is the greatest blessing! LOVE!
