Building a Path Towards Being Extraordinary

The capacity to learn is a gift; the ability to learn is a skill; the willingness to learn is a choice ~ Brian Herbert

Richard Feynman is among the greatest scientists to ever have lived. In 1965, he was joint-winner of the Nobel Prize in Physics, and was also involved in the famous Manhattan Project under the guidance of the legendary J. Robert Oppenheimer.

The brilliant mind of Feynman produced remarkable work in areas including quantum mechanics and the theory of quantum electrodynamics, and his appetite and curiosity for learning is still considered unparalleled, continuing to inspire millions of people around the world.

Richard Feynman died in 1988 and people who discover his interviews on YouTube today are struck first by his heavy New York accent and his down-to-earth manner. Here, we see one of the world's greatest scientific minds and he seems so...ordinary. And that's exactly how he described himself:

I was an ordinary person who studied hard. There are no miracle people. It happens they get interested in this thing and they learn all this stuff, but they’re just people.

This week, we enter the first leg of the Bounce Back Summit and it made me think about what it means to learn, to be educated, to realise our potential. These words are thrown around a lot, but how do we come to be transformed and grow in the direction of our best selves?

As I was reflecting on the words of Richard Feynman, I realised a major factor that leads us to learn – and keep on learning – is the inspiration of others. I defy anyone to watch the short clips of Feynman – seated in a comfortable chair, expressing at ease his views on several topics – and not feel a desire to learn something purely for the joy of learning.

Great teachers and great speakers not only impart knowledge, they also instill a sense of belief in us that we really can understand anything if we set our minds to it. If someone like Richard Feynman can describe his abilities as 'ordinary' and mean it, we intuitively get the message that the only limits we have are those we place on ourselves, lasting only as long as we choose to hold onto them.

Develop a passion for learning. If you do, you will never cease to grow. ~ Anthony J. D'Angelo

On November 10, we started our free, pre-summit sessions as we warmed up to deliver some of the best speakers in the business. Registration for the Bounce Back Summit is currently open, and you can even gift an Event Pass to someone you think would love to be part of this extraordinary event.

I'll be joined alongside Scott Friedman and Justin Cohen as we get ready to welcome a feast of storytellers who have faced the toughest adversity and come, transformed and thriving, through the other side. Some of the speakers include: Jamie Andrew – amputee mountaineer and motivational speaker; Yossi Ghinsberg – adventurer, survivor, entrepreneur and humanitarian; and John Register, Paralympic medalist, global influencer, and bestselling author.

What makes the Bounce Back Summit unique is the blend of 'ordinary people' we've brought together who have faced extraordinary circumstances, pushed through the odds, and won. Their stories aren't just about success. Their stories take us through many different challenges – some of the greatest adversities any human could ever encounter – and explain how they took the heavy odds stacked against them and built a path from trial and tribulation to tenacity and triumph.

Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world. ~ Nelson Mandela

Throughout history, education (from the Latin word 'to nourish, bring up; lead froth, to draw out') has come from the inspiration of storytellers. From Confucius to Cicero to Mandela, people have learned best from those who are able to draw potential from those who are inspired by stories that are shared and the wisdom they impart. All good educators awaken the parts of ourselves that contain our greatness and they encourage us to open up to the best version of ourselves.



Over the past few weeks, we have been building up to the Bounce Back Summit – an event that is not only building a community of learners, but is also helping numerous charities and community initiatives throughout Southeast Asia in the process. We want to add to our learning community and to help as many people as possible to realise their potential and gain life-changing insights from ordinary people who have achieved the extraordinary through their own learning experience.

It's said that it's impossible to know where an educator's influence begins and ends. When we come together and learn from each other, the possibilities are also endless. As we continue to learn, we continue to grow, and as we grow, there is nothing we can't achieve when we set our sights on it, even in the face of adversity. We can truly be extraordinary.