1 00:00:01,140 --> 00:00:04,380 I want you to think for a minute about that dream 2 00:00:04,380 --> 00:00:08,460 job or career that you have always imagined, you 3 00:00:08,460 --> 00:00:11,940 know, the one you're afraid to say out loud to 4 00:00:11,940 --> 00:00:16,610 another conscious human being the. Or Kery that 5 00:00:16,610 --> 00:00:19,850 you see and you feel is you're cooling something 6 00:00:19,850 --> 00:00:23,870 you're designed to do or be and the ID won't leave 7 00:00:23,870 --> 00:00:28,350 your mind no matter how much time passes. Telling 8 00:00:28,350 --> 00:00:31,440 the plant, the windowsill or the dog or cats a 9 00:00:31,440 --> 00:00:35,300 fantastic start, but it won't move you forwards 10 00:00:35,310 --> 00:00:37,710 towards the future self that you imagine. 11 00:00:40,070 --> 00:00:43,490 Next time you take a selfie, I challenge you to 12 00:00:43,490 --> 00:00:45,890 send it to yourself with a message that says 13 00:00:46,040 --> 00:00:50,570 Future astronaut, future pharmacy or whatever that 14 00:00:50,570 --> 00:00:53,540 dream, career or job is, it might be future can't 15 00:00:53,540 --> 00:00:58,370 be. It's the first step to making it a reality. 16 00:00:59,360 --> 00:01:02,390 And I never thought I would say what I felt was my 17 00:01:02,390 --> 00:01:05,540 calling or my future career at that to anybody, 18 00:01:06,320 --> 00:01:09,860 because it seemed ridiculous to me for two reasons. 19 00:01:11,210 --> 00:01:14,180 Number one, I lived in a small regional 20 00:01:14,180 --> 00:01:18,410 Australians raising two children and was trained 21 00:01:18,410 --> 00:01:23,060 in a different field. And number two, I just lost 22 00:01:23,060 --> 00:01:25,670 my job as a research scientist through a 23 00:01:25,670 --> 00:01:29,360 redundancy, along with two hundred other technical 24 00:01:29,360 --> 00:01:33,440 people in a mining company technology team back at 25 00:01:33,440 --> 00:01:36,230 the end of two thousand eight, just in time for 26 00:01:36,230 --> 00:01:39,780 Christmas. And that's probably more than two 27 00:01:39,780 --> 00:01:43,260 reasons, but you get the picture. I was worried 28 00:01:43,260 --> 00:01:45,450 that I wouldn't be able to find another job, let 29 00:01:45,450 --> 00:01:50,880 alone change my career. But here I am today saying 30 00:01:50,880 --> 00:01:54,210 that Draine career out loud and living in the 31 00:01:54,210 --> 00:01:58,560 career that I felt was my calling, even though my 32 00:01:58,560 --> 00:02:03,020 rational mind thought it was unattainable. And 33 00:02:03,020 --> 00:02:04,670 therefore, ridiculous. 34 00:02:07,010 --> 00:02:11,840 I have the kind of job that makes people laugh out 35 00:02:11,840 --> 00:02:14,960 loud and think that I'm joking when I tell them 36 00:02:15,200 --> 00:02:19,490 that I am an attorney who specializes in 37 00:02:19,490 --> 00:02:23,030 international and domestic laws related to space 38 00:02:23,030 --> 00:02:28,280 missions, sometimes just a space lawyer, but not 39 00:02:28,280 --> 00:02:32,310 this kind of space law. And as well as that, I'm a 40 00:02:32,310 --> 00:02:36,260 scientist, astronaut Kane, today. And I will be 41 00:02:36,260 --> 00:02:39,470 qualified to conduct scientific research during 42 00:02:39,470 --> 00:02:43,100 suborbital space flight later this year. Now, I 43 00:02:43,100 --> 00:02:46,940 know that probably raises more questions than it 44 00:02:46,940 --> 00:02:50,630 answers, so I want to spend a little time to 45 00:02:50,630 --> 00:02:54,600 expand a little on that and show you how I arrived. 46 00:02:55,430 --> 00:02:59,020 And it started with a question when I lost my job, 47 00:02:59,660 --> 00:03:02,870 what would you be or do if you could be or do 48 00:03:02,870 --> 00:03:03,320 anything? 49 00:03:06,630 --> 00:03:09,030 Today, I want to talk to you about what it takes 50 00:03:09,030 --> 00:03:12,960 to turn that dream, that career that you're afraid 51 00:03:12,960 --> 00:03:17,870 to say out loud that Stachel into reality. I want 52 00:03:17,870 --> 00:03:21,470 to share the story of the idea that my world was 53 00:03:21,470 --> 00:03:24,290 transformed by and demonstrate that you have the 54 00:03:24,290 --> 00:03:27,980 power to create your own launch pad to the stars, 55 00:03:27,980 --> 00:03:32,600 whatever stars represent for you, whether you're 56 00:03:32,600 --> 00:03:35,640 just starting a career because you're young and 57 00:03:35,900 --> 00:03:41,420 lucky you or restarting a career. Today, I want to 58 00:03:41,420 --> 00:03:44,780 share that idea and belief that central to my 59 00:03:44,780 --> 00:03:49,430 career transformation from unemployed to a career 60 00:03:49,430 --> 00:03:51,440 that went far beyond anything I could have 61 00:03:51,440 --> 00:03:56,120 imagined, the simple idea and belief allowed me to 62 00:03:56,120 --> 00:04:00,080 create my own head to the stars to relaunch my 63 00:04:00,080 --> 00:04:03,770 career. And I know you can use this idea to 64 00:04:03,770 --> 00:04:08,500 transform your career to. And that idea, it's very 65 00:04:08,500 --> 00:04:12,840 simple that your opposition is your opportunity. 66 00:04:15,000 --> 00:04:19,290 This idea has transformed the way I approach 67 00:04:19,290 --> 00:04:23,510 everything. And has enabled the growth of my 68 00:04:23,510 --> 00:04:26,990 business and development of an ongoing number of 69 00:04:26,990 --> 00:04:31,580 amazing opportunities working with space agencies, 70 00:04:31,580 --> 00:04:35,030 commercial space businesses, universities and 71 00:04:35,030 --> 00:04:39,020 individuals around the world. So far, I've 72 00:04:39,020 --> 00:04:41,840 traveled and worked with astronauts, delivered 73 00:04:41,840 --> 00:04:45,530 programs, the space industry professionals in the 74 00:04:45,530 --> 00:04:51,320 United States, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, 75 00:04:51,530 --> 00:04:54,680 the Netherlands and Australia, and created 76 00:04:54,680 --> 00:04:58,130 educational programs for undergraduates and 77 00:04:58,130 --> 00:05:00,920 postgraduates in the higher education sector. 78 00:05:03,100 --> 00:05:06,850 So come with me on a little journey where I share 79 00:05:06,850 --> 00:05:10,450 the highlights of my career right now and how 80 00:05:10,450 --> 00:05:14,620 opposition created opportunity for me. I'm so 81 00:05:14,620 --> 00:05:17,530 grateful for the opportunities which led me here 82 00:05:17,860 --> 00:05:22,060 and the people who took a chance on me and allowed 83 00:05:22,060 --> 00:05:25,450 me to show my ability. Many of the opportunities I 84 00:05:25,450 --> 00:05:27,940 had in the beginning when I was making this 85 00:05:27,940 --> 00:05:31,480 transformation were unfunded. And I had to 86 00:05:31,480 --> 00:05:34,510 resource them by seeking out scholarships and 87 00:05:34,510 --> 00:05:38,550 sponsorships and putting myself out there on radio, 88 00:05:38,680 --> 00:05:42,010 television, speaking at lunches, dinners and a 89 00:05:42,010 --> 00:05:46,730 host of different events, honestly. The most 90 00:05:46,730 --> 00:05:52,130 opposition that I received from any place, any one 91 00:05:52,130 --> 00:05:57,710 place was the opposition. That presented itself in 92 00:05:57,710 --> 00:06:00,350 the form of my own lack of self-confidence and 93 00:06:00,350 --> 00:06:03,200 self belief that I could actually do the things 94 00:06:03,200 --> 00:06:06,950 that I dreamed of. But just like going to the gym 95 00:06:07,610 --> 00:06:10,610 builds muscle through continuous exercise, your 96 00:06:10,610 --> 00:06:14,660 tolerance to opposition grows as you become more 97 00:06:14,660 --> 00:06:17,600 resilient and adaptable and continue to move 98 00:06:17,600 --> 00:06:20,900 forward regardless of that internal opposition 99 00:06:20,900 --> 00:06:24,410 that you're feeling or your lack of self belief. I 100 00:06:24,410 --> 00:06:29,660 began to ask myself. What happens if you can't do 101 00:06:29,660 --> 00:06:36,110 it? So what what happens if you can do it so I 102 00:06:36,110 --> 00:06:39,680 spent time building my self-confidence, exercising 103 00:06:39,680 --> 00:06:43,040 that muscle and belief to a point where I no 104 00:06:43,040 --> 00:06:45,950 longer felt afraid of having an application 105 00:06:45,950 --> 00:06:50,360 rejected or a proposal shot down. If you keep 106 00:06:50,360 --> 00:06:53,480 working and moving forwards, it doesn't matter how 107 00:06:53,480 --> 00:06:56,780 many no's you receive because statistically, 108 00:06:57,590 --> 00:06:59,870 eventually you're going to get a yes. 109 00:07:02,380 --> 00:07:05,920 I received a yes to my application to become a 110 00:07:05,920 --> 00:07:10,180 scientist astronaut candidate in 2019, and 111 00:07:10,180 --> 00:07:14,560 currently I'm training in the United States in a 112 00:07:14,560 --> 00:07:17,080 program which will see me authorized with the 113 00:07:17,080 --> 00:07:20,890 Federal Aviation Administration or the FAA as a 114 00:07:20,890 --> 00:07:23,770 space flight crew member for suborbital space 115 00:07:23,770 --> 00:07:28,270 flight. The atmospheric research program, which 116 00:07:28,270 --> 00:07:32,590 uses next generation spacecraft to study the upper 117 00:07:32,590 --> 00:07:35,980 atmosphere, has a really cool acronym. In my 118 00:07:35,980 --> 00:07:40,720 opinion, it's Possum, which is a really cute 119 00:07:40,720 --> 00:07:43,990 little creature, but it stands for Polar 120 00:07:44,110 --> 00:07:48,470 Suborbital Science in the upper Mississippi. It's 121 00:07:48,490 --> 00:07:53,520 hypothesized that the Earth's atmosphere. Effects 122 00:07:53,520 --> 00:07:56,670 and the effects of changes in our upper atmosphere 123 00:07:57,000 --> 00:07:58,650 affect the Earth's climate. 124 00:08:00,710 --> 00:08:03,410 And this training qualifies me to fly aboard 125 00:08:03,410 --> 00:08:07,640 Virgin Galactic Spaceship Two, Blue Origin's New 126 00:08:07,640 --> 00:08:10,870 Shepard vehicle, or the proposed Sierra Nevada 127 00:08:10,970 --> 00:08:14,750 dream chaser as a crew member conducting research, 128 00:08:16,160 --> 00:08:19,610 learning how to conduct research during parabolic 129 00:08:19,610 --> 00:08:20,150 flight. 130 00:08:23,610 --> 00:08:28,100 Using the suborbital space flight simulator. Is a 131 00:08:28,100 --> 00:08:31,190 key component to the training, and I'm looking 132 00:08:31,190 --> 00:08:34,940 forward to to boarding the sub, the parabolic 133 00:08:35,630 --> 00:08:40,250 aircraft, to undertake those big parabolas that 134 00:08:40,250 --> 00:08:43,730 we're going to have to do to to test how ready we 135 00:08:43,730 --> 00:08:47,690 are for suborbital flight. I know my stomach's 136 00:08:47,690 --> 00:08:50,060 probably going to offer some opposition to this 137 00:08:50,060 --> 00:08:53,240 part of the training, but I've been told that they 138 00:08:53,240 --> 00:08:55,730 have some good drugs for us to deal with that. 139 00:08:58,040 --> 00:09:00,920 The opposition created by the atmosphere and 140 00:09:00,920 --> 00:09:05,300 gravity during launch creates conditions that crew 141 00:09:05,300 --> 00:09:08,840 members must learn to mitigate those mitigation 142 00:09:08,840 --> 00:09:11,840 techniques, reduce the effects of acceleration on 143 00:09:11,840 --> 00:09:15,680 the human body to prevent gravity induced loss of 144 00:09:15,680 --> 00:09:20,100 consciousness. Conducting what is called an A.G. 145 00:09:20,100 --> 00:09:23,370 straining maneuver, let me say that again, it's a 146 00:09:23,370 --> 00:09:29,040 lot of words and A.J. straining maneuver or exam 147 00:09:29,700 --> 00:09:32,730 by both in large muscle groups and their 148 00:09:32,730 --> 00:09:36,240 respiratory system allows astronauts to tolerate G 149 00:09:36,240 --> 00:09:39,780 forces experienced during launch and reentry. You 150 00:09:39,780 --> 00:09:42,750 can apply this to what happens when you're moving 151 00:09:42,780 --> 00:09:46,770 or accelerating towards your desired career and 152 00:09:46,770 --> 00:09:51,270 making changes in the trajectory of your life. You 153 00:09:51,270 --> 00:09:54,420 will experience all sorts of feelings and that 154 00:09:54,420 --> 00:09:59,290 opposition to you making changes. This is natural 155 00:09:59,620 --> 00:10:04,420 and it's the direct result of the change you can 156 00:10:04,420 --> 00:10:08,990 develop your old A.G.. Estranging maneuver for 157 00:10:08,990 --> 00:10:11,570 your world, which will allow you to continue on 158 00:10:11,570 --> 00:10:14,660 your new trajectory. This can be as simple as 159 00:10:14,660 --> 00:10:19,010 saying no, no, no, no to projects that don't 160 00:10:19,460 --> 00:10:22,910 advance you towards your desired career. 161 00:10:25,230 --> 00:10:29,700 Oh, let me go back, I'm nearly there. My role with 162 00:10:29,730 --> 00:10:33,690 the Center for Astrophysics and Supercomputing at 163 00:10:33,690 --> 00:10:36,600 Swinburne University in Victoria sees me leading 164 00:10:36,600 --> 00:10:39,900 the space technology discipline for undergraduate 165 00:10:39,900 --> 00:10:44,270 programs in the higher education sector. And I 166 00:10:44,270 --> 00:10:48,410 also facilitate compliance with the regulatory 167 00:10:48,410 --> 00:10:51,800 obligations that the Australian Space Agency sets 168 00:10:51,800 --> 00:10:56,030 out for research projects which have flown to the 169 00:10:56,030 --> 00:10:59,180 International Space Station and our university 170 00:10:59,420 --> 00:11:02,630 floors had so far has flown for four years to the 171 00:11:02,630 --> 00:11:07,040 International Space Station. It's been my honor to 172 00:11:07,040 --> 00:11:11,360 lead the introduction of an innovative new suite 173 00:11:11,360 --> 00:11:15,050 of space technology education programs, and when I 174 00:11:15,050 --> 00:11:18,020 first started in this role, there was great 175 00:11:18,020 --> 00:11:21,680 opposition to space technology as a separate 176 00:11:21,680 --> 00:11:24,770 discipline within Australian universities, since 177 00:11:24,770 --> 00:11:27,470 Australia didn't even have a space agency at that 178 00:11:27,470 --> 00:11:32,670 stage or even much of a space industry. But being 179 00:11:32,670 --> 00:11:36,510 resilient and adaptable in your approach, in the 180 00:11:36,510 --> 00:11:40,620 face of opposition or obstacles might not be easy, 181 00:11:40,830 --> 00:11:44,910 but it is absolutely worth it. Now, space is at 182 00:11:44,910 --> 00:11:48,120 the top of everyone's agenda in Australia and our 183 00:11:48,120 --> 00:11:52,910 university. And we finally have a space agency so 184 00:11:53,330 --> 00:11:56,350 the future can only bring more opportunities. 185 00:11:58,900 --> 00:12:02,290 My role with the International Space University as 186 00:12:02,290 --> 00:12:06,490 an adjunct faculty member has allowed me to grow 187 00:12:06,490 --> 00:12:09,910 as an academic and an individual, landing a 188 00:12:09,910 --> 00:12:13,810 position as a department chair or a lecturer is a 189 00:12:13,810 --> 00:12:17,230 highly competitive process and depends on your 190 00:12:17,230 --> 00:12:20,800 ability to communicate ideas while lobbying that 191 00:12:20,800 --> 00:12:23,230 you are the best fit. As part of an international 192 00:12:23,230 --> 00:12:27,910 team, he is the international team that all 193 00:12:27,910 --> 00:12:32,230 gathered at the Kennedy Space Center in 2012 for 194 00:12:32,230 --> 00:12:37,500 the Space Studies Program. Similarly, my role as 195 00:12:37,500 --> 00:12:39,870 the director of an Australian private company 196 00:12:39,900 --> 00:12:42,330 allows me to work with government agencies, 197 00:12:42,660 --> 00:12:46,840 commercial space, business and governments. Around 198 00:12:46,840 --> 00:12:53,440 the world as a consultant. And that. Is a 199 00:12:53,440 --> 00:12:57,520 competitive process, applying for new jobs and new 200 00:12:57,520 --> 00:13:01,270 consulting roles? It is constantly there's this 201 00:13:01,270 --> 00:13:05,510 opposition. But ultimately, my transition from an 202 00:13:05,530 --> 00:13:08,470 unemployed research scientist at a mining company 203 00:13:09,370 --> 00:13:13,330 to having my dream role and career that I was 204 00:13:13,330 --> 00:13:17,830 afraid to say out loud, took 12 years with many 205 00:13:17,830 --> 00:13:22,000 bumps and turns along the way, raising my two boys 206 00:13:22,000 --> 00:13:24,790 who are now in their 20s, took up quite a bit of 207 00:13:24,790 --> 00:13:28,780 that time to I wouldn't have arrived if I didn't 208 00:13:28,780 --> 00:13:32,170 view opposition as my opportunity and say every 209 00:13:32,170 --> 00:13:35,310 obstacle as a chance to ask a different question. 210 00:13:36,470 --> 00:13:39,260 What is the opportunity hidden in the opposition 211 00:13:39,260 --> 00:13:43,950 or obstacle? Of course, 12 years sounds like a 212 00:13:43,950 --> 00:13:44,880 long time. 213 00:13:47,780 --> 00:13:50,960 And anything worth doing means you have to put in 214 00:13:50,960 --> 00:13:55,270 the work. It might not take as much time for you 215 00:13:55,270 --> 00:13:58,750 to transform your career. It's all a product of 216 00:13:58,750 --> 00:14:01,160 the mindset and the work you're prepared to put in. 217 00:14:02,170 --> 00:14:06,250 The great philosopher Kevin Hart has a chant that 218 00:14:06,250 --> 00:14:09,670 he uses with his comedy crew before he goes out on 219 00:14:09,670 --> 00:14:12,880 stage to perform his award winning and usually 220 00:14:12,880 --> 00:14:16,420 sold out stand up comedy performances. And that is 221 00:14:17,050 --> 00:14:19,600 everybody wants to be a star, but no one wants to 222 00:14:19,600 --> 00:14:20,410 put in the work. 223 00:14:24,670 --> 00:14:27,820 The work will happen whether you're shooting for 224 00:14:27,820 --> 00:14:31,480 the stars or not. So you might as well make it 225 00:14:31,480 --> 00:14:34,630 your star shot. Though it might be easier to think 226 00:14:34,630 --> 00:14:37,270 of your transformation in terms of one dupatta 227 00:14:37,270 --> 00:14:41,740 year. This massive gastronome orbits the sun in 12 228 00:14:41,740 --> 00:14:45,370 years or four thousand three hundred and thirty 229 00:14:45,370 --> 00:14:49,720 three days. So tell yourself that in one year you 230 00:14:49,720 --> 00:14:52,660 can complete another degree or restart your career 231 00:14:52,690 --> 00:14:54,910 in a different field or land the dream job or 232 00:14:54,910 --> 00:14:59,230 career that you want. I know because I did it. So 233 00:14:59,230 --> 00:15:01,780 I want to leave you with just one thought and one 234 00:15:01,780 --> 00:15:06,670 question. Fast forward to the year 20 30 for 12 235 00:15:06,670 --> 00:15:10,120 years from now where the pandemic is a distant 236 00:15:10,120 --> 00:15:13,510 memory and Jupiter has completed another orbit 237 00:15:13,510 --> 00:15:16,820 around our sun. Where will you be?