James Keyes

And a guy named Robert Goddard, like the father of modern rocketry, grew up in this town not too far from where I grew up. So I was kind of inspired by him. And I said, I'm going to work on my own rocket. So I took an old flashlight and I put some fins on it and a nose cone on it. I had the body of the flashlight and I took a baggie and I put gas in it.

And a guy named Robert Goddard, like the father of modern rocketry, grew up in this town not too far from where I grew up. So I was kind of inspired by him. And I said, I'm going to work on my own rocket. So I took an old flashlight and I put some fins on it and a nose cone on it. I had the body of the flashlight and I took a baggie and I put gas in it.

I thought, well, if I put gas in it and if I control the flow of gas, I maybe make it fly. Pretty silly. I was like seven years old or eight years old, something like that. So, I set this thing off, almost blew myself up, didn't manage to get off the ground but it did create quite a little fire.

I thought, well, if I put gas in it and if I control the flow of gas, I maybe make it fly. Pretty silly. I was like seven years old or eight years old, something like that. So, I set this thing off, almost blew myself up, didn't manage to get off the ground but it did create quite a little fire.

So, I snuffed out the fire and then left, came back and discovered I had nearly burned down half the neighborhood. Fire took off. So, here's a kid trying to learn, trying to be a rocket scientist and I was dubbed a bad kid in the neighborhood because I almost burned the place down.

So, I snuffed out the fire and then left, came back and discovered I had nearly burned down half the neighborhood. Fire took off. So, here's a kid trying to learn, trying to be a rocket scientist and I was dubbed a bad kid in the neighborhood because I almost burned the place down.

I am a commercially rated pilot. I don't fly commercial airlines. I fly a Citation, which is I'm at 40 to 45,000 feet above most of the commercial airlines. Wow. Without a need for a co-pilot.

I am a commercially rated pilot. I don't fly commercial airlines. I fly a Citation, which is I'm at 40 to 45,000 feet above most of the commercial airlines. Wow. Without a need for a co-pilot.

Yeah, it's curiosity. Creativity, interestingly. Einstein called creativity intelligence having fun. Yeah. And it's so true. I mean, think about it. Playing music is actually a form of mathematics. People don't think about it that way, but if you look at a score, it is mathematically correct in terms of beats and notes and structure and the way it comes together.

Yeah, it's curiosity. Creativity, interestingly. Einstein called creativity intelligence having fun. Yeah. And it's so true. I mean, think about it. Playing music is actually a form of mathematics. People don't think about it that way, but if you look at a score, it is mathematically correct in terms of beats and notes and structure and the way it comes together.

It's almost a subliminal use of mathematics when you learn how to play an instrument, but it's also fun. And so it's kind of, it makes learning fun. And curiosity is that innate. that we all have as children. I mean, how many kids do you know that don't run around asking why? And they're just curious about everything because their minds are just developing and they just can't get enough.

It's almost a subliminal use of mathematics when you learn how to play an instrument, but it's also fun. And so it's kind of, it makes learning fun. And curiosity is that innate. that we all have as children. I mean, how many kids do you know that don't run around asking why? And they're just curious about everything because their minds are just developing and they just can't get enough.

Want to learn more and more and more. And if we can learn as adults also to keep asking why, there's just so much more richness that we can enjoy. Why just look at art? Why not practice it? And then the next time you go to a museum after you had a canvas and played around with some paint and mixing colors, the next time you go to a museum, you look at a great masterpiece.

Want to learn more and more and more. And if we can learn as adults also to keep asking why, there's just so much more richness that we can enjoy. Why just look at art? Why not practice it? And then the next time you go to a museum after you had a canvas and played around with some paint and mixing colors, the next time you go to a museum, you look at a great masterpiece.

It's so much more meaningful when you've actually done it yourself.

It's so much more meaningful when you've actually done it yourself.

Well, I'll share a story with you. I use this story sparingly because honestly, it sounds a little flaky. Shortly after being named CEO, I ended up with a dream. Now you see why I don't tell the story very often. But it was an incredibly powerful dream.

Well, I'll share a story with you. I use this story sparingly because honestly, it sounds a little flaky. Shortly after being named CEO, I ended up with a dream. Now you see why I don't tell the story very often. But it was an incredibly powerful dream.

And I was probably having that natural hesitation that we all have, maybe a little imposter syndrome, whatever it is that says, oh my gosh, I'm the dog that caught the car. Now I... Worked my whole career to try to be a CEO. Now I am one. Am I able to do this? Am I capable of doing this? And in this dream, I was told I was going to get a gift.

And I was probably having that natural hesitation that we all have, maybe a little imposter syndrome, whatever it is that says, oh my gosh, I'm the dog that caught the car. Now I... Worked my whole career to try to be a CEO. Now I am one. Am I able to do this? Am I capable of doing this? And in this dream, I was told I was going to get a gift.