Daniel Flynn - Chapter One: You have the power to change stuff

2016, Daniel Flynn

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information or retrieval, without prior permission in writing from the publisher. Under the Australian Copyright Act 1968 (the Act), a maximum of one chapter or 10 per cent of the book, whichever is the greater, may be photocopied by any educational institution for its educational purposes provided that the education institution (or the body that administers it) has given a remuneration notice to Copyright Agency Limited (CAL) under the Act.

Any views and opinions expressed herein are strictly the authors own and do not represent those of The Messenger Group.

A CIP catalogue of this book is available from the National Library of Australia.

Flynn, Daniel
Chapter One

ISBN 9780994310972 (pbk)

ISBN 9781925281675 (ebk)

Published and project managed by The Messenger Group Pty Ltd PO Box H241, Australia Square NSW 1215

Editing by Sarah Megginson, Tara Francis, Hannah Easton and Sarah Prescott

Proofreading by Jen Taylor

Book Design by Tia le Clercq and Wesley Rodricks

Photography by Kim Cartmell, Jason Lau, Sebastian Avila and Shelley Morris

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eBook edition distributed by
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DEDICATION

This book is dedicated to you. On behalf of the Thankyou team, I want to offer our sincerest gratitude for your contribution to impacting global poverty.

Its unusual to find a book dedicated to you, isnt it? Surely this book cant be dedicated to all of the readers, can it? Is it just an obvious attempt at flattery? Far from it. Without the support of every single person who has participated in Thankyous journey whether youve bought one bottle of water, stocked your cupboards full of our products or invested in this book we have you to thank.

You may have been part of building this story with us for many years, or you may have just recently joined us. Either way, we are so pleased to have you on board as we embark on an epic journey together. This dedication isnt flattery. Its our small attempt to honour you all, because this book has been written with you, by you and about you and for that, we thank you.

Thanks Justine, Jarryd, Sarah, Hannah, Wesley, Jan-Lee, Bethany and The Messenger Group for your work in putting together a world-first book concept.

Daniel Flynn

CONTENTS

The Game Just Changed

The Journey Begins

Turning Stumbling Blocks Into Stepping Stones

The Why Behind What You Do

High-Five The Status Quo In The Face With A Chair

Build A Great Team To Achieve A Great Dream

Facing The Giants

The Campaign That Changed It All

Money Doesnt Change Everything

The Four-Letter Word: Fear

Partnering With Dreamers, Believers And Haters

Playing Hide-And-Seek In The Dark

Choose Remarkable

BEFORE WE GET INTO IT...

I thought you should know that theres another way to read this book - the wrong way up...

The hardcopy version of this book is printed in landscape format and read top to bottom, instead of left to right. Ill explain why we took the risk to challenge the traditional book and why its important that we did it in chapter 1.1.

I realise youre probably a diehard e-book kinda person, thats cool, but right now if theres a spark of curiosity and a bit of FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out) in you and you feel like todays the day to change it up and get a little uncomfortable, you can purchase a physical copy of Chapter One, in its game-changing format, at a pay what you want price from www.thankyou.co and experience this book the wrong way up in a few short days.

Cheers,
Daniel Flynn

I want to introduce you to something that youve most likely never seen before.

RIGHT WAY OR WRONG WAY UP?

On the surface the printed version of this book appears like its written and formatted the wrong way around. Now, if that were all there was to it, this design would be nothing more than an annoying gimmick. But I promise that once you read a little further youll understand why this book had to be printed like this, and youll also discover that the minute you purchased this book you became part of a movement that I believe will change the world we live in. I hope youre ready to read on.

I write this book knowing full well that our world doesnt need another book. There are already enough inspirational, motivational and educational books available, many written by well-respected and highly credible authors. Readers are spoilt for choice and another story for the sake of another story cluttering the shelf simply isnt needed.

So, you might be wondering, Why this book, then?

Our world doesnt need another book, but it does need us to wake up to the realisation that we have the power to change everything. This is a world-first book concept that will stretch you and challenge you in ways books havent before.

For seven years now, Ive been invited to speak publicly about a little idea I had at the age of 19. Ive walked into schools, universities and corporate offices to share the story with different people from all walks of life. Many times when Ive arrived to speak to grade one or two students, Ive felt apprehensive that the story wouldnt resonate or that the ideas and concepts would be too complex for them to understand. But I left those engagements stunned and surprised as these kids responded to the Thankyou story with statements like, One day I want to work with you and One day I want to change the world.

Ive walked into high schools where the teachers warned, These kids wont respond, so dont let it throw you. I would begin the Thankyou story and watch as these non-responsive kids sat wide-eyed, right on the edge of their chairs, and throughout my talk they would laugh, smile, some would even cry, leaving their teachers speechless at how the tale of our journey held their attention.

I have found myself in front of university students, wondering if its going to matter when they find out I havent actually got a degree. I remember walking in to speak to some of our nations most elite sporting personalities, having made an unfounded assumption that they might not relate to my talk. I was a little star-struck by some of the people in the room, and even more surprised later to hear that their overwhelming response to the story was that it was the best talk theyd ever had at the club.

Speaking at corporate conferences in Australia, New Zealand and around the world, alongside founders and CEOs of billion-dollar empires, Olympians, TV personalities and some of the most inspiring people youd ever meet, I have felt like I didnt fit in with this crowd. Did I really have that much to offer, to share the stage with this calibre of people? As I reflected on these things one day, I asked myself: In what room does this story fail? A short time later, I was convinced I had found that room.

On my way to deliver a keynote presentation, I stood in the lift in my skinny jeans, T-shirt and blazer my standard speaking attire. I looked at the other people in the lift with me and wondered where they all might be going. They were dressed in bow ties and ballgowns. A little dressy for a Thursday evening, I thought. The lift arrived at the floor I had been directed to and to my horror, as I exited, the bow tie-clad, ballgown-wearing folk followed my lead. Right at that point it felt like my heart stopped.