Connections Keynote copy - swced.org€¢ Paula D. Browning (Interpreter Guild!) ... • Steve Jobs Co-founded Apple at 21

Purposeful IgnitionWink, NIC Master

www.WinkASL.comwww.YouTube.com/WinkASL

What is the meaning of life?

“Be a yardstick of quality. Some people aren't used to an environment where excellence is expected.”

- Steve Jobs

How Did I Get Here?

Odds

•No Formal Education

• Intelligence constantly in question

• Prodigious dearth of English vernacular utterances (English�me�not�good�at)

• >introverted< (Hearing World)

• Was bad at everything, music, sports ball, testosterone

• Insecure

• Poor

How Did I Get Here• My parents libidos

• Anne Bird (Momma Bird, Oklahoma)

• Stephanie Nicolas (Agency Owner, Oklahoma)

• Keith Wann (Performer, Florida)

• Peter Cook (Performer, Poet God, Chicago)

• Paula D. Browning (Interpreter Guild!)

• Myself... (Passion, Devotion, Willingness, My Sun Kissed Tan.)

What They Gave Me• Showed me my passion for language and

Deaf equality

• Showed me how to harness my passion into devotion

• Showed me that I am a quick learner and once I have a grasp on something I can teach it

• Showed me that Peter Cook can pull off a beard and mustache, I cannot.

How Did You Get Here?

• List the people who have educated you

• List what they have shown/given you

• List your previous odds that they have helped you overcome

Readdress this list through

out the week

Secret of Life - Steve Jobs

Ignored Groups In Our Profession

• Deaf Community

• Minorities

• Our Sages who do not hold degrees

• Educational Interpreters

• Youth

Note, this can be cross ignored

Now, wait a second son! The youth should learn

from us!

Agreed, but

• Youth are eager to be at the table

• Youth bring outside new connections

• Youth also bring something incredibly valuable to the table:

FREE LABOR!

In addition:

• Facebook was created by Mark Zuckerberg when he was 19

• Bill Gates co-founded Microsoft when he was 19, Paul Alan was 21

• Steve Jobs Co-founded Apple at 21

• Charlie Chaplin created the Tramp at 25

Young People Listen Up ...Or Watch Up, I dunno...

(INSERT ASL EQUIVALENT)

Listen, parse, confer, decide

• …. innovation comes from people meeting up in the hallways or calling each other at 10:30 at night with a new idea or because they realized something that shoots holes in how we've been thinking about a problem. It's ad hoc meetings of six people called by someone who thinks he has figured out the coolest new thing ever and who wants to know what other people think of his idea. - Steve Jobs

Deaf Heart

Ally?

• Is a verb

• Determine to what groups you are an Ally

• What do you want to do for these causes?

Without Deaf Heart,

That’s all I have to say about that.

We are doomed.

Working Alone

• What is the greatest predator of the sea?

• - Tonic Immobility

Passion

I think there is a difference between motivation and passion. Motivation is akin to fuel, but it can run its course. Passion is like a star that burns inside you and is seen from the greatest of distance, it won't be extinguished till you pass. Hopefully by then you'll find others who burn as bright as you so that you can share and form a constellation of passion. 

Passion Leads to Creativity

Passion Challenges the Rules

What Are the Odds in Your Profession?

How Can You Be the Connection?

Deliberate Practice

• List your current odds

• List who you think can help you overcome them (Ahem, don’t forget Deaf People)

• List ways you can overcome them yourself

• List the current odds of the profession and how you can fill them or with whom

My List

• Language Equality

• Domestic Violence

• People who don’t have Deaf Hearts

• Interpreter Training

• Equal Access

• Slow to response

• Research and support

• Provide funding and awareness

• Educate and listen

• Create resources

• Provide Resources

• Get involved

Odds Connections

Point!

• I believe strongly in giving back and reciprocity

• When I die, only the thoughts that I shared will be archived

The Math!

• 8 hours a day x 7 days a week x 25 Years =

• 67,200 hours = 7.67 Years

• Choose your path wisely

1908 - 1989

• 81 years - 20 years = 61 years

• Carry over previous math = 18.71

The Time You Have (In JellyBeans)

How Much Time?• Expected age of death

• Subtract current age

• Determine time you can invest per week

• X 52

• X years left

• Divide by 24 hours, divide 365 days in a year

• 25 years. 4 hours a day x 7, x 4, x 12, x 25 years. Divide 24 divide 365. Result is years

Terms

• Connections - What you have and your resources

• Contribution - What you do to give back

• Consuming - What we take

• Macro - Micro Contribution

I'm pretty sure this has already been thought of, but meh here I go. I think the question "what's the meaning of life." Is superfluous to answer, it elicits a search, a definition of some abstract concept that anyone will refute regardless of the answer you may discover. I propose to reframe the question.

"What meaning can you give life?"

This is much more significant to answer in my eyes. It's also actually possible to answer compared to the former. It's something you must identify within you, is something you can relatively control. This is the closest I've gotten to a tangible answer, I plan to contribute meaningful gifts to life,

therefore I have a purpose in life.

Thank You!Wink, NIC Master

www.WinkASL.com