0:00:06.903,0:00:08.708 Today, I want to ask you:[br] 0:00:08.708,0:00:11.633 what does it mean to live free? 0:00:11.633,0:00:14.838 Here in America we all live free. Right? 0:00:14.838,0:00:18.031 We have the freedom of speech,[br]freedom of religion, 0:00:18.031,0:00:20.630 right to a fair trial, 0:00:20.630,0:00:25.139 but is that all that really exists[br]to living free? 0:00:25.139,0:00:29.930 For me, it's not.[br]There's a whole lot more to it. 0:00:29.930,0:00:34.829 It means living your life[br]pursuing your passion. 0:00:34.829,0:00:38.587 It means living a life[br]that makes you truly happy, 0:00:38.587,0:00:41.021 Not one that makes your friends happy, 0:00:41.021,0:00:42.877 the celebrities happy, 0:00:42.877,0:00:46.724 one that makes you happy. 0:00:47.524,0:00:49.643 It means not letting the small setbacks[br] 0:00:49.643,0:00:51.342 that are bound to happen 0:00:51.342,0:00:54.001 get in the way of your day-to-day life. 0:00:54.001,0:00:56.909 It means not wishing your days away 0:00:56.909,0:00:59.433 just to get to the weekend. 0:00:59.433,0:01:04.155 I think that a lot of us[br]aren't living free. 0:01:04.155,0:01:07.208 We let the day-to-day negativities 0:01:07.208,0:01:12.105 get in the way of pursuing[br]our dreams and our happiness. 0:01:12.105,0:01:14.963 I was fortunate enough just recently 0:01:14.963,0:01:19.472 to be pushed into[br]the lifestyle of living free. 0:01:19.472,0:01:21.353 It was a very roundabout manner,[br] 0:01:21.353,0:01:24.794 it was a very inopportune situation, 0:01:24.794,0:01:26.765 but I'm grateful for it. 0:01:26.765,0:01:29.949 And I want to share[br]with you today the story 0:01:29.949,0:01:34.974 of how I was able to break down[br]internal boundaries 0:01:34.974,0:01:37.521 and build connections with people[br]who supported me 0:01:37.521,0:01:40.177 and wanted to see me reach my dreams, 0:01:40.177,0:01:43.255 in order to start living free. 0:01:43.255,0:01:45.863 It's January 21st 2013, 0:01:45.863,0:01:48.845 and I've just successfully defended[br]my Ph.D. in chemistry, 0:01:48.845,0:01:51.788 at Duke University[br]to a roomful of people. 0:01:51.788,0:01:55.632 As you can imagine I was pretty much[br]on cloud nine then. 0:01:55.632,0:01:57.962 5 years of 6.5 day workweeks, 0:01:57.962,0:01:59.722 long hours, and I will admit, 0:01:59.722,0:02:03.973 a few tears along the way,[br]were finally over. 0:02:03.973,0:02:06.782 And not only were they over,[br]but I was proud. 0:02:06.782,0:02:09.021 I was proud of the work[br]that I had completed, 0:02:09.021,0:02:10.569 I felt like I had made a contribution[br] 0:02:10.569,0:02:13.107 to the scientific community. 0:02:13.107,0:02:15.916 Also, I had a job lined up, 0:02:15.916,0:02:17.981 which is becoming more and more [br]rare these days 0:02:17.981,0:02:19.256 with an advanced degree, 0:02:19.256,0:02:21.863 but that's another topic for another day. 0:02:22.833,0:02:24.929 In mid-February, I was starting a job[br] 0:02:24.929,0:02:27.025 at Redstone Arsenal with the army. 0:02:27.025,0:02:29.122 And I was excited. 0:02:29.122,0:02:32.365 I was going to be pursuing[br]what I thought was my dream 0:02:32.365,0:02:36.595 in helping our nation defend itself. 0:02:38.581,0:02:40.601 I had everything set for my transition[br] 0:02:40.601,0:02:43.361 from graduate school to the real world. 0:02:43.361,0:02:45.753 We sold our house in North Carolina, 0:02:45.753,0:02:48.126 and my husband, Taylor, [br]was able to find a new job, 0:02:48.126,0:02:51.897 here in Huntsville, [br]with a financial institution. 0:02:51.897,0:02:54.168 We made the move,[br]we got settled in 0:02:54.168,0:02:57.248 in our little rental house[br]here in Huntsville. 0:02:57.248,0:02:59.516 Now it's Friday, and I'm set to start work[br] 0:02:59.516,0:03:01.874 first thing early Monday morning. 0:03:01.874,0:03:04.172 Now, mind you, this is mid-February,[br] 0:03:04.172,0:03:06.480 you guys know what was going on, 0:03:06.480,0:03:09.940 when an email pops up and it reads, 0:03:09.940,0:03:13.661 "We're sorry, your start date[br]has been delayed. 0:03:13.661,0:03:15.844 and at this time, we are unsure 0:03:15.844,0:03:19.317 as to when we'll be able to hire you." 0:03:20.157,0:03:23.901 Wait a minute, you're kidding, right? 0:03:23.901,0:03:26.439 The job that brought us to Huntsville, 0:03:26.439,0:03:29.405 the only reason that we moved here,[br] 0:03:29.405,0:03:31.771 has now fallen through. 0:03:31.771,0:03:34.439 And I'm left unemployed. 0:03:34.439,0:03:36.743 What do we do? 0:03:36.743,0:03:39.145 We could go back to North Carolina,[br] 0:03:39.145,0:03:40.867 we have our friends there. 0:03:40.867,0:03:44.640 But we have no house, we have no jobs, 0:03:44.640,0:03:47.784 wherever we go, we have to start over. 0:03:47.784,0:03:49.804 In our short amount of time[br]here in Huntsville, 0:03:49.804,0:03:51.966 we realized that we liked the city, 0:03:51.966,0:03:53.902 and we thought that[br]we could really enjoy it here 0:03:53.902,0:03:56.418 and make this a home. 0:03:56.418,0:03:58.608 So, we decided, "We're young, 0:03:58.608,0:04:01.312 why not stay, give it a try?" 0:04:01.312,0:04:03.037 Fortunately, Taylor had a job here[br] 0:04:03.037,0:04:05.212 and so we had some income coming in 0:04:05.212,0:04:06.748 to support us for a while,[br] 0:04:06.748,0:04:09.694 until I figured out [br]what I was going to do. 0:04:10.984,0:04:13.601 I enjoyed, initially, staying at home, 0:04:13.601,0:04:16.069 the house was clean,[br]dinner was on the table every night. 0:04:16.069,0:04:19.180 It was very different[br]from graduate school life. 0:04:19.180,0:04:24.225 I enjoyed relaxing --[br]for about two weeks. 0:04:25.169,0:04:26.892 I found out that staying at home[br] 0:04:26.892,0:04:29.835 does not suit my personality very well. 0:04:30.535,0:04:33.460 I needed to have a purpose. 0:04:33.460,0:04:35.906 I needed to be challenged. 0:04:35.906,0:04:40.935 I needed to be happy,[br]and I needed to be free. 0:04:40.935,0:04:43.094 So, what did I do? 0:04:43.094,0:04:45.506 I started a business. 0:04:45.506,0:04:47.879 Now, if you ask any of our friends[br]back in North Carolina 0:04:47.879,0:04:49.357 if I was the type of person 0:04:49.357,0:04:52.035 to ever launch out [br]and start my own business, 0:04:52.035,0:04:55.883 they would laugh,[br]probably pretty hysterically. 0:04:55.883,0:04:59.016 Not that I'm not creative or driven; 0:04:59.016,0:05:01.591 I am not a risk taker. 0:05:01.591,0:05:04.668 I have a huge fear of the unknown, 0:05:05.498,0:05:08.162 and I like to micromanage,[br] 0:05:08.162,0:05:10.966 I like to have everything planned out, 0:05:10.966,0:05:12.652 know all the steps along the way.[br] 0:05:12.652,0:05:15.428 I am a chemist, after all. 0:05:16.298,0:05:20.615 Launching a new business[br]requires substantial risk, 0:05:20.615,0:05:24.149 and this just wasn't any business -- 0:05:24.149,0:05:27.539 I wanted to open[br]a dedicated gluten-free bakery, 0:05:27.539,0:05:31.350 here in Huntsville, Alabama, 0:05:31.350,0:05:35.320 in the South, home of fried food. 0:05:35.320,0:05:39.810 Hmm, let's see, that might not[br]go over so well. 0:05:39.810,0:05:42.256 Having a severe [br]gluten sensitivity myself,[br] 0:05:42.256,0:05:44.892 I was surprised with how little awareness, 0:05:44.892,0:05:48.689 and how many baked goods there were 0:05:48.689,0:05:51.750 available here in Huntsville. 0:05:51.750,0:05:53.780 I've always loved to bake, 0:05:53.780,0:05:57.437 and my husband's always[br]dreamed of owning a business. 0:05:57.437,0:06:01.776 Now a bakery, probably,[br]had never crossed his mind -- 0:06:01.776,0:06:05.590 but the things you do[br]for the people you love, right? 0:06:05.590,0:06:09.859 So, I knew that in order[br]to launch this business, 0:06:09.859,0:06:12.402 I needed to take a risk. 0:06:12.402,0:06:15.405 Sometimes I think that [br]the biggest boundaries that we face 0:06:15.405,0:06:18.944 are the ones that we set for ourselves. 0:06:18.944,0:06:22.419 We build up walls that limit us, 0:06:22.419,0:06:26.168 and they're completely self-imposed. 0:06:26.168,0:06:28.180 Since I like to micromanage, 0:06:28.180,0:06:31.983 Taylor and I sat down and started[br]looking at all the numbers. 0:06:31.983,0:06:35.874 We looked at, you know,[br]the sales that we would have to do 0:06:35.874,0:06:39.223 to simply pay rent[br]on a commercial kitchen, 0:06:39.223,0:06:44.693 let alone equipment, utilities,[br]insurance, all of the other stuff. 0:06:44.693,0:06:46.164 I said, "There's no way. 0:06:46.164,0:06:49.035 There can't be [br]that many people in Huntsville 0:06:49.035,0:06:50.778 that either need to be gluten-free [br] 0:06:50.778,0:06:53.971 or are interested in a cleaner lifestyle." 0:06:54.581,0:06:56.636 I wanted to throw in the towel. 0:06:56.636,0:06:59.345 I said, "There's no way, it won't work." 0:06:59.345,0:07:01.866 My fear of the unknown[br]was getting in the way. 0:07:01.866,0:07:04.600 I wasn't willing to take that risk. 0:07:05.937,0:07:09.844 One of the other crucial pieces[br]to living free, 0:07:09.844,0:07:12.827 besides breaking your own boundaries, 0:07:12.827,0:07:15.414 is building connections with people 0:07:15.414,0:07:19.124 who support you and help build you up. 0:07:19.124,0:07:21.055 Taylor, my husband, 0:07:21.055,0:07:24.316 he knew that this would make me happy, 0:07:24.316,0:07:27.708 he knew that it was one of my dreams. 0:07:27.708,0:07:29.873 He said, "Let's do it." 0:07:29.873,0:07:33.234 I resisted, I resisted for a long time. 0:07:34.508,0:07:37.431 He said, "No, let's do it.[br]Let's give it a shot. 0:07:37.431,0:07:42.145 If it fails, it fails.[br]We can say that we tried." 0:07:42.145,0:07:43.740 And so we did. 0:07:43.740,0:07:45.325 We started out small,[br] 0:07:45.325,0:07:47.630 within the means that I was comfortable, 0:07:47.630,0:07:49.576 started out the farmers' markets, 0:07:49.576,0:07:52.615 to kind of gauge the interest in the area, 0:07:52.615,0:07:54.777 before we launched a full storefront. 0:07:54.777,0:07:56.837 We got great feedback, 0:07:56.837,0:07:59.074 everything was going well, 0:07:59.074,0:08:03.115 we were planning for the opening[br]of our storefront, 0:08:03.115,0:08:05.284 when I get a phone call: 0:08:06.699,0:08:10.410 "Your job has become re-available, 0:08:10.410,0:08:13.557 and you're required to take it." 0:08:13.557,0:08:17.043 I was under a service[br]for scholarship contract, 0:08:17.043,0:08:19.751 and, even though I have been left[br]unemployed for 6 months, 0:08:19.751,0:08:23.157 I was required to come back[br]and take the job. 0:08:24.407,0:08:28.438 We're at a crossroads again.[br]What do we do? 0:08:28.438,0:08:32.846 I'm happy, I'm loving the bakery,[br]I've found my passion, 0:08:32.846,0:08:36.999 I am living my dream,[br]I am living free. 0:08:39.179,0:08:42.566 I didn't know what to do.[br]I thought we had to walk away. 0:08:42.566,0:08:46.560 How can I run a bakery and work full-time? 0:08:46.560,0:08:50.769 At the time, my husband,[br]he wasn't really happy with his job. 0:08:50.769,0:08:55.103 It wasn't fulfilling him.[br]He wasn't living free. 0:08:57.399,0:09:00.775 Here comes Superman again,[br]saving the day. 0:09:00.775,0:09:04.523 He says, "I'll quit my job, 0:09:04.523,0:09:07.776 I'll run the bakery." 0:09:07.776,0:09:11.417 "You, baking cupcakes!?" 0:09:12.337,0:09:14.315 You're Superman at home, you wear a cape. 0:09:14.315,0:09:17.287 But wearing an apron,[br]that's a whole nother thing. 0:09:18.047,0:09:20.620 He says, "I know it makes you happy. 0:09:20.620,0:09:22.785 I'm not happy right now. 0:09:22.785,0:09:25.866 Maybe I can find[br]the same passion that you have. 0:09:25.866,0:09:29.209 Maybe I can start living free." 0:09:29.209,0:09:31.555 So, he quits his job. 0:09:31.555,0:09:33.327 Me, not being a risk taker, 0:09:33.327,0:09:35.538 it's a lot of sleepless nights. 0:09:36.950,0:09:41.331 Now, for six months in to the business, 0:09:41.331,0:09:43.337 things are going great. 0:09:43.337,0:09:45.980 Taylor's running the bakery[br]during the day. 0:09:45.980,0:09:47.921 I work the early shift on the Arsenal, 0:09:47.921,0:09:51.648 and then go and bake in the evenings. 0:09:51.648,0:09:54.236 We're happy. 0:09:54.236,0:09:56.685 Are we where we thought we would be? 0:09:56.685,0:10:01.245 If you would have asked us this[br]a year ago, well, no. 0:10:01.245,0:10:03.016 Are we making the money 0:10:03.016,0:10:05.649 that we had planned on making[br]here in Huntsville? 0:10:05.649,0:10:08.752 Oh, by no means, no. 0:10:08.752,0:10:13.904 But does that matter?[br]Because we're happy, 0:10:13.904,0:10:16.142 and we're living free. 0:10:16.142,0:10:17.854 Taylor will tell you he gets up[br] 0:10:17.854,0:10:20.306 every morning over two hours earlier, 0:10:20.306,0:10:23.560 but he's excited to start his day. 0:10:23.560,0:10:27.979 That passion, that excitement,[br]that's how we should live 0:10:27.979,0:10:30.649 every day of our life. 0:10:31.759,0:10:34.200 So, I want to ask you: 0:10:34.200,0:10:36.504 Are you living free? 0:10:37.074,0:10:39.514 A lot of the speakers [br]that have been up here today, 0:10:39.514,0:10:41.014 I can tell that they are. 0:10:41.014,0:10:42.995 You can see the passion, 0:10:42.995,0:10:46.266 you can feel the joy of what they do, 0:10:46.266,0:10:49.489 and that joy is contagious. 0:10:49.489,0:10:52.720 So, if you are living free, I commend you, 0:10:52.720,0:10:57.130 keep up the good work[br]and continue spreading the joy. 0:10:58.330,0:11:02.320 But if you're not, I challenge you. 0:11:03.290,0:11:06.769 It's going to require breaking[br]some of your boundaries. 0:11:06.769,0:11:09.319 You have to find your passion,[br] 0:11:09.319,0:11:12.409 and it might require taking a risk. 0:11:13.169,0:11:16.970 But build connections with those[br]that build you up, 0:11:16.970,0:11:19.960 and that support your dreams, 0:11:20.620,0:11:23.360 and start living free. 0:11:23.360,0:11:25.968 Tomorrow is almost here. 0:11:26.678,0:11:29.048 Do you want to waste another day? 0:11:29.838,0:11:31.465 Thank you. 0:11:31.465,0:11:33.465 (Applause)