Power of Bucket Lists | Sebastian Terry #621

Discover the transformative power of living intentionally with Sebastian Terry, the inspiring founder of 100 Things, as he shares how bucket lists can lead to profound personal fulfillment. From setting goals to embracing the unexpected, our conversation challenges the often commercialized view of bucket lists and reveals their true potential for personal growth and meaningful connections. Get ready to hear tales of adventure, like crashing the Cannes Film Festival red carpet and surviving on a deserted island, that highlight the joy and discovery found when living life by your own design.

Chapters

• 0:00 The Power of Bucket Lists
• 12:35 Exploring Life's Meaning Through Bucket Lists
• 17:26 Journey to Self-Discovery
• 20:41 The Power of Choice and Action
• 32:31 Influential Figures Inspiring Passion and Change
• 37:37 Australian Spirit of Resilience and Inspiration
• 43:14 Sharing Bucket List Success Stories

Transcript

Lachlan Stuart: 0:00

Goals are the vehicle for individual and collective change. Today's guest, sebastian Terry, lives his life by this. This conversation was very inspiring and my energy just went through the roof and I've even set myself a bucket list item which I will be ticking off tomorrow and I'll tell you more about that. Or if you follow along on my Instagram, you'll see what I'm getting up to. But when I first came across Seb on Instagram good old Instagram works an absolute treat for finding incredible people and I reached out, flicked him a message. I was like mate, I love what you're up to. Your content is inspiring. I watched your TED Talk. I've set myself a list and I found meaning and purpose through that and I would love you to come on and share your story with you. Guys listening and the legend he is jumped on and said perfect. I'm in so very grateful to Seb for giving up his expertise and just his life story on this one. We speak about finding meaning and purpose through setting goals and building and creating a list of things that you would love to experience, have and the legacy that you want to leave behind. Before we dive in, I do want to remind you that we have four spaces left for our Men's Mind mindful workshop up in Toowoomba in Queensland. We are going to be teaching you leadership skills, giving you incredible experiences that help you build more leadership, more resilience and show yourself what you're truly bloody capable of. To find out more information about that, just slide into my emails.

Lachlan Stuart: 1:41

The Strongman of Value Academy we're jacking the price up. It is going up. I've spoken about it the last couple of episodes and we're doing that because the value is continuing to just go through the roof. Right, we provide insane program to help you become the most physically fit version of yourself, and we tie that in with an incredible network of men who are thriving in so many areas of their life that you get access to, right Along with all the mindfulness tool, the toolkit, really all the tools and strategies to help you be the most mentally fit version of yourself as well. Now this is going to be capped.

Lachlan Stuart: 2:21

As I've said, it's been capped. We've broken through that cap, we've opened more spaces and now we've just been adding so much more to it that it's like, okay, here we go Price increase, let's add more value, let's get more committed men like those of you who are listening and just keep growing. Keep helping more men like you. Be the best version of themselves, do something today to be better for tomorrow. And this could be that. If you're tuning in for the first time, make sure you hit that follow button, leave a review. It's all extremely helpful and great to see all the reviews that are coming through. They're flying through at the moment, which is phenomenal. Thank you, gentlemen. That is enough for me. Let's dive into today's episode with Sebastian Terry. The man that Can Project podcast, a podcast empowering career-driven men to live more fulfilling lives. We are here to challenge your beliefs, redefine success and talk about the important stuff in a relatable way. Don't forget to subscribe and leave a review. My name's Lockie Stewart. Let's get into it.

Seb Terry: 3:30

So I'm 41 and I ride a skateboard and I was skating to go to work out of a coffee shop here which is, you know, the done thing here in Venice Beach, la thing here in Venice Beach, la and I slipped up on a sandy bit of the path and fell over which is so humiliating and humbling in front of this lady and I felt so stupid. I was on my back like a turtle and I looked at her. I didn't know what to say and I just said to her are you okay? And she looked at me weirdly and said I'm fine, fine, are you okay? Like you're the guy on the ground. And and then I I thought nothing of it got to the cafe, limped to the cafe, opened up my laptop and only half of it worked and I thought, like the screen was completely broken and uh.

Seb Terry: 4:15

So I went to the apple store to get a new, uh, mac, or actually for them to fix it, and they were great salesmen. They said, well, you could spend700 on this getting fixed, but it's 2016. The new Air is here and you'd only have to spend a little bit. You know that whole thing. So, yes, today's great quality of sound and video is brought to you by an expensive laptop.

Lachlan Stuart: 4:38

What a great mistake. It's all like it all just happened for this moment. Yeah, it did. You probably don't see it that way, but I'm like this is fantastic, Mate, but you're living the dream. I can't remember how I came across you, but I came across you about six months ago and what you're doing with your bucket listing.

Lachlan Stuart: 4:58

And then I watched your TED talk and have been following you and shooting you random messages, which has been awesome and I've even looked through your bucket list and you've done some wild things, some things that you know I was like. I actually have never really thought about a bucket list.

Seb Terry: 5:14

Yeah.

Lachlan Stuart: 5:15

But during your TED Talk you started talking about how it gave you purpose and meaning and connection and all these incredible things, and I was like, well, that's a space that I'm spending a lot of time in, but you just really simplified it and did it in such a way where it's like you're so focused on living your best life and inspiring others to do that. For me, I was like that sounds like exactly where I want to go.

Seb Terry: 5:38

Yeah Well, I really appreciate you reaching out and for the support and nice words. It's funny, I think the term bucket list has been so commercialized over the years, and you know we think about things to do before we die and you know our minds go straight to jumping out of planes or climbing mountains, which, of course, are fantastic goals. But I don't think that is that's not it. There's much more to it. You know, I think a list of things is essentially bucket list, if you want to call it a bucket list. It's a list of priorities in our lives which are important, and a list if really reminding me and encouraging me to commit to things that are important to me. And goals don't have to be just wild and adrenaline-fueled I think some of them should be, by the way, but they can very much be timid and simple, and professional goals as well, goals for other people. It's amazing, once you start looking into it, what a list actually stands for, how did like.

Lachlan Stuart: 6:50

What sort of set it off for you to start doing this?

Seb Terry: 6:55

Well, I finished school in Barron Joey Avalon on Sydney's northern beaches, and I had no idea what I wanted to do. My career advisor said go to uni, get a degree. So I did, baron joey avalon, on sydney's northern beaches, and I had no idea what I wanted to do. My career advisor said go to uni, get a degree. So I did, came out of that degree feeling just as lost as I did at the beginning, but in more debt. And then I went backpacking overseas and whilst overseas I got a phone call, uh, from a friend in sydney and he broke the news to me that one of my close childhood friends growing up, a guy called Chris, who I'd gone to school with and played rugby with and had lots of beers with Chris, had died, just died overnight. It was a shock to the community. It was, of course, a tragic loss for his family, to all his friends.

Seb Terry: 7:42

He just really was an absolute legend and I think death sparks reflection, you know, um, and first of his life for me and then of my life, and I remember just thinking about his life. He was 24 years old when he, when he passed, and I remember thinking if he could do it all again if he had another 24 years, would he change anything? And I just thought about his life and his way of being, and I don't think he would have changed anything. He was very comfortable in his skin. He did all the things that genuinely made him happy, rightly or wrongly, by anyone else's code, he lived a life that was values driven, essentially.

Seb Terry: 8:19

And then I turned that question that hypothetical on myself and I just wondered, well, if today was my last day I was 25 at that point, you know, could I look back and say that I wouldn't change anything?

Seb Terry: 8:30

Because, you know, in a similar way, I was just living in a very authentic values-driven life, and it was the first time I'd ever looked at my life from that perspective before. And I realized instantly oh my gosh, I would change all of this. And so I decided to take it a step further and go well, what would I change? So I got a piece of paper and pen, and that was the beginning of a list of things that I thought would make me smile more if I actually prioritize them, and onto this paper spilled one thing, 10 things, 20, 50, 100 things, and, yeah, like a lightning bolt, like that aha moment that you'll often hear people refer to. I remember thinking, well, this is my opportunity to be happy because I'm not right now, and I thought what could be more important than dropping everything in my life to pursue this? And so that is eventually what happened. That was the beginning of my list.

Lachlan Stuart: 9:32

That's unreal and I love the power of, I guess, reviewing and checking on where you're at within your life. Often we're so busy and so focused on where we're going. I don't have time to just sit there for 10 minutes and meditate or write down what's going on in my head. But it's that slow down to speed up approach where you can gather your thoughts around what's important and where you want to go. Mate, rip into that food. Don't let me hold you back on that.

Seb Terry: 9:52

I simply cannot eat a salad whilst we talk. Come on.

Lachlan Stuart: 9:55

And I'll tell you if you get anything in your teeth.

Seb Terry: 9:58

All right, I'll have one bite though.

Lachlan Stuart: 10:01

But a lot of people talk about doing this right. Many people see people like yourself or various other people that they may follow on social media or within their own communities living incredible lives, doing what they say they're going to do. But then there's also the flip side of the pressure of getting a good job, having the house, the family, all of that sort of stuff For you. What do you believe separated you from that to go? Look, I am going to start ticking this list off.

Seb Terry: 10:30

Well, I don't think the two are necessarily mutually exclusive to each other. As I said, I think a list, a proper list, a meaningful list of goals, should reflect every aspect that you consider important in your life, and I think if people aren't thinking about what they're doing for work, there's a big miss. You know, having a job which makes you feel good is crucial. Of course, you know it might sound a little bit idealist, but we have a choice, and so I think you know work. I think having a house is the same as jumping out of a plane or, you know, going on a trek or singing the national anthem on a sporting field. You know, I I think that all things it should be given equal weight. Um, so I, of course. Now, 13 years on from starting this, by the way, this is obviously grown into something I never could have thought of, and so we, I do a lot of speaking and you know I have books and stuff, and I'm somewhat of a uh, this is going to sound so obnoxious but somewhat of an authority in this world of goal-setting, goal-striving, community-building, being happy, helping people, whatever. So the way that we would teach this, well, the foundation of this, I should say, is this thing called a wheel of life, and if you imagine a bicycle wheel, the spokes give it structure and allow it to spin and be, you know, function essentially. If you then imagine that that wheel represents your life, the question I think is really important, before what's on your bucket list, is what are your spokes, what are the core aspects of your life that without you simply wouldn't be yourself, you would feel empty. There's a few ways to get to that point and I won't bore everyone now, but if you can identify your spokes, that is a starting point.

Seb Terry: 12:11

Now, having done a lot of, we developed a live your list program for individuals and organizations and we found over two years that there were 12 commonly shared spokes. So there is travel and adventure, romantic love, key relationships, creativity, volunteering, slash impact, but there is also professional development, emotional wellness. You know there's a myriad of things. You don't have to have 12. In fact, we find that there are between seven and eight on average per person. But yeah, on, there is professional goals. On. There is family. On, there is professional goals. On there is family on. There is financial security, and so when you talk about buying houses or, you know, starting a family or having a job? Yeah, it's in the same space, it's in the same conversation as doing a marathon or starting a I don't know a garden. They're know a garden. They're the same, they're the same things. They all make us feel good. That's what I have found over time.

Lachlan Stuart: 13:11

Sorry for rambling here, but that's what I found is true I found that we're all the same.

Seb Terry: 13:16

We all want to feel good. We all want to feel a sense of meaning and purpose in our life. We want to be doing things that matter. So, whether that is, yeah, buying a house or whether that is learning to play Sudoku, identify what your goals are and go for them.

Lachlan Stuart: 13:36

That's awesome. It's definitely all I guess, leaning upon each other that the impact that you have by or sorry, the satisfaction of completing a marathon or jumping out of a plane then gives you a certain level of satisfaction and fulfillment. Then, when you walk into the office on Monday, for example, you're like just did this awesome stuff, now let's crush it at work in something that I'm extremely passionate about and really enjoying and loving. So there's a key takeaway there. For those who aren't aware of maybe, what your spokes could be, head over to your website, which I'll put in the links to go through that process. But make sure you don't just listen to this. Give yourself 30 minutes minimum I'd say 15 to 30 minutes to sit down and actually start doing this stuff. It will change your life. I know you've got on the red carpet. You've done some wild stuff. You can actually view your list on the website as well. What's been one of the most hilarious stories you've got from the whole bucket list experience? I'm not going to say the bucket list.

Seb Terry: 14:39

Sorry, oh, mate, I mean honestly a million. I have a million. I haven't done all the hundred things, by the way. I've done 76. I've still got 24 to go. But oh, mate, well, I did stand up comedy. I'd love to think that was hilarious. It was all right. Oh, dude, I, I, I don't even know where to begin with that question. I mean, I crashed the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival. I lived with a tribe in Kenya for a week, a tribe who had never seen white people before. I lived on a deserted island by myself for a week, surrounded by sharks.

Lachlan Stuart: 15:13

Every night, what was that deserted island? Like I did see a little snippet of that, talk me through that experience.

Seb Terry: 15:20

It was absolutely idyllic and exactly how you would picture living on a deserted island to be Like. If you think you know that question, if you took three things to a desert island, what would they be? I had to consider that. It was great. It didn't end up being. Well, I did take a ukulele, you did. Yeah, I wrote a song on there because I was there for a week. So I tried to do something different every day. So day one was about exploring the island. Day two was about foraging for things to make a costume, an outfit for me. So I wanted to keep my mind busy. Day three was what was day three? Oh, send a message in a bottle. So I bought a bottle of wine. I drank it. I drank it on the island. I had one hell of an evening. I drank it on the island. I had one hell of an evening.

Seb Terry: 16:04

And then the next day I then got a. I brought a notebook and a pen, wrote a message, put it in there. I also bought some like glittery, shiny, reflective gold paper to throw in the bottle as well, so it would sort of shimmer. And then I put the cork back in, threw this bottle in the water. By the way it was in, I was off the coast of New Caledonia, so I was like two hours on a very fast Coast Guard boat. I think it was about 55 kilometers off the coast. I mean, really, I couldn't see any other land. It was phenomenal and I had images of. For those who don't know New Caledonia, it's sort of like in between. Well, it's only three hours off Australia, right Off of Brisbane, on the East Coast, and yeah, I had images of it like getting to Russia or you know, floating somehow to Japan or you know, miraculously making it to the Faroe Islands. And anyway, on my note, I left my email and I said I'd love to take you out for a beer. Whoever finds this.

Seb Terry: 17:02

I got an email about a month later I think, yeah, and it was from someone who had found it caught up on a reef about three miles from where I had dropped it off. And unfortunately, I never got to catch up with that person, but anyway, so I was just doing different stuff every day on that Island and it was. It was incredible. It took me about 15 minutes to walk around. You know, it was great. It was such a good experience.

Lachlan Stuart: 17:26

What's been one of the biggest or most important things that you've learnt about yourself over the last 13 years, since you know really living out your values and your purpose through these incredible, I guess experiences that you're deciding for yourself.

Seb Terry: 17:47

I've discovered, with anyone I've spoken to who has sort of followed their heart, the same thing that they do, and that is, I'm entirely capable of doing anything I want, and that's it. I think. As humans, unfortunately, we have this default condition which I had for 25 years of my life, which is I'm not good enough or I couldn't do that, or I was just fraught with, you know, fear and anxiety at the idea of trying something that I might fail at, and all I did was try. I just finally tried. I gave myself permission to think about what I wanted to do to, you know, to reflect and analyze how I was doing, and from that was able to say, well, I'm not going in a great direction here and I chose to do a couple of things you know 100.

Seb Terry: 18:34

And everyone's list is different, by the way. Don't need 100. You can have one thing, but if you just try, if you just focus on one thing and you try, you'll surprise yourself. If you just focus on one thing and you try, you'll surprise yourself, and whether it's an out and out victory or whether you even just nudge yourself slightly further out of your comfort zone, you realize that we all are radically accountable for what we do in our lives Can't control everything, of course, but you can respond and if you're willing to take a punt on yourself, you will realize ah, I can do this, and that's what I've continually done for 13 years.

Seb Terry: 19:05

So I, you know, I you know, I think ultimately, yes, I've done tons of stuff from my list. It's great and there's some funny stories in there and what have you. But really what I've been able to do is just sort of uncover or get a little bit closer to realizing you know who I am, and that's the secret. I think that not that you asked me, but if you were to ask me what I think the secret to happiness is my answer. Whether it's right or wrong, I don't know, but I believe it to be true. My answer is if you're able to get closer to understanding who you are, and then you can unabashedly just be yourself in every single situation you're doing well and that's it, Mate that was going to be my next question, Seb.

Seb Terry: 19:49

It was awesome.

Lachlan Stuart: 19:50

It's like you were just picking up my mind, it's so true, though. Have you had moments throughout that 13 years and I know you've made, I guess you know you're speaking and you've got a whole lifestyle and business and everything built off the back of it, but prior to that, did you ever have moments where you're like, oh, maybe I need to go back to the traditional way of living, get a job and do all that sort of stuff? Or, once you got started, did you just never look back?

Seb Terry: 20:18

Yeah, it's really interesting. It wasn't for me. Well, it's really interesting, it wasn't for me. I never saw it as stepping away from something that was safe. I just realized the way I had been living wasn't keeping me happy, so it really wasn't. Well, I'm just going to put a pin in this for a second and I've got this as an option to come back. I genuinely left just wanting to be happy.

Seb Terry: 20:41

I never thought anyone would know about what I was doing. I never thought I'd be on like a podcast, right. I never thought I'd have a reality show. I never thought that would happen. I never thought anyone would care. And it still actually doesn't matter is actually the beautiful truth of it. But, yeah, no, I did it because I genuinely was curious about what else was there. There must be something else that fills me with a feeling that's more um, uplifting than what I currently have. So I just went for it.

Seb Terry: 21:06

I've never, ever, I mean genuinely I've never thought oh no, what am I gonna do next? Oh, I'm gonna have to go back. I've never thought that and I and it's kept on going. Um, you know, I I'm not the sharpest tool in the shed. I'm I'm not the best looking bloke out there. I'm not the most athletic, you know, like I'm not lucky, I'm not. I'm not the best looking bloke out there. I'm not the most athletic, you know, like I'm not lucky, I'm not brave, I'm not.

Seb Terry: 21:30

I just think there is something out there for everyone If you're willing to actually have a good look at yourself in the mirror. And you know it might mean a drastic change, as it was for me, or it might just be a little 1% change, but as long as you know that's the most important thing. You know the shame of it is, I'll ask a lot of people what's on your list? What would you do if you could do anything? If nothing was impossible? What would you do? And the majority of the time people say I've never really thought about that and I used to be like that too. So a lot of people don't even know what it is. They would rather. And unfortunately, we live in a world where so much is just put before us that if we don't think for ourselves, others will, and you will end up just following the blueprint of life that someone else expects of you. In fact, there's a book called Regrets of the Dying by Bronnie Ware.

Seb Terry: 22:12

I'm reading that at the moment. Yeah, oh, how are you enjoying it?

Lachlan Stuart: 22:15

Love it. I sent her a message the other day because it is just yeah, it's a beautiful book, really beautiful book.

Seb Terry: 22:22

Yeah, I sent her a message too, actually. So she, for anyone who doesn't know, she was a palliative care nurse and she would interview everyone right who was coming to the end of their life and she would always ask them what's your biggest regret? And she basically came up with the five most common regrets of the dying and the number one. Do you know what number one was?

Lachlan Stuart: 22:44

Yeah, I do even have the book somewhere around here. But yeah, sorry, carry on.

Seb Terry: 22:48

Well, I think number one was the biggest regret of the dying, according to Bronnie Ware was living a life. I never lived a life true to myself. I lived a life others expected of me, and that's kind of what I'm alluding to with this. You know, it certainly was my story. I was just doing the things that people wanted me to do my career advisor, go and get a degree. I did All my friends, you should go backpacking now. So I did. I even started a company, just because that was kind of expected.

Lachlan Stuart: 23:17

So I did, and then I thought well, hang on, what about me? What do I want to do?

Seb Terry: 23:21

So that's interesting and for those who are interested, have you got that up now? I feel like you've just-.

Lachlan Stuart: 23:26

Yeah, I just Googled it. Yeah, what are the?

Seb Terry: 23:28

other I don't want this to be a monologue, me reciting I like it.

Lachlan Stuart: 23:34

Just come up with a book title. Okay, so the five regrets, or the top five regrets, regrets are. I wish I'd had the courage to live a life true to myself and not the life that others expected of me. This next one is what I'm sort of going through the process in my own life and company at the moment. I wish I hadn't worked so hard.

Lachlan Stuart: 23:58

I think we live in that hustle culture and for me it's funny. I was reflecting on my company 18 months ago and when I got to the point that I've been at for a fair while now, I was like, when I'm doing that, I'm going to be surfing, I'm going to be traveling more, I'm going to be doing all these exceptional things, and all I've been doing is working more and trying to get to the next level. The next level, the next level and I think to your point, a lot of that has come off the back of I'm living for other people and their perception of me and what I should be doing next. Rather than slowing down and going, life's fucking good, what else do you want to do to sort of support your, I guess, success or drive in and throughout your career?

Lachlan Stuart: 24:40

The third one. I wish I'd had the courage to express my feelings. It's a big one. I wish I'd stayed. So this is where I'm up to. I haven't read this chapter yet. I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends and I wish that I had let myself be happier.

Seb Terry: 24:58

Yeah, and the remarkable thing for me is, as you read those, every single one of those is just a choice. You know it's not well. With a bit of luck happens, those things will fall into place. Everyone's a choice. If you listen to the language, I wish I'd let myself be happier. That is a choice, you know. To go down that path. I wish I'd worked less or less hard. It's an absolute choice.

Seb Terry: 25:23

On that point, by the way, I think like that can sometimes misinterpreted Like I just shouldn't work. I again, I do believe if you, if you enjoy what you do, you I mean not to sound too cliche, but you never work a day in your life. Maybe that's not quite true, but but but I think having meaning in your work, in your professional life, is important. I wish I'd had the courage, as you said to begin with, to live a life true to myself. It's a choice. You just go for it. That you don't have to wait for anyone to suggest anything or do anything for you, that's a choice. I wish I'd express myself more, my feelings more. That's something that's really common with men. I think we tend not to women too, but I think men, specifically the percentage of men who don't express their feelings is far higher than women.

Seb Terry: 26:08

Um, uh, what was the other one? Oh, stay in touch with friends again, the all choices, and so you know the thing you can learn from that as well. Hey, if these are the five most common regrets of the dying, take, take notes. This is how you avoid it and you, you those things by. You can make a list right now of right, who are my closest three friends. I'm going to organize a beer with all of them, or whatever. For me, it goes all back to simple, goal-setting practice.

Lachlan Stuart: 26:37

Yeah, and actually setting the goal and intention. It's very, very, even on my iPhone, the beautiful thing about iPhones you can set your favorites list and intention. It's very, very. You know, even on my iPhone, the beautiful thing about iPhones you can set your favorites list and stuff. So I have my top eight mates that I'll make sure I message and call every week and now we book all of these things. And so I got married last October but we did a week long festival. It was amazing.

Lachlan Stuart: 26:58

And then everyone at the festivals, at the wedding sorry, it's like, oh, we should do this every year. If we all put in x amount and just do this, I'm like fucking oath. But the chance of it actually happening is very low because life gets in the way, unless it's like a wedding or a funeral. We don't necessarily prioritize catch-ups because once again we're so busy. But if we can slow down and think forward you know, if I want to catch up with my good mates every quarter or whatever let's book something now rather than just getting to march and going. Oh, we should try and catch up and everyone's already booked doing certain other things yeah, completely, and and it, yeah, it's all choices.

Seb Terry: 27:36

I mean I, I, I don't know it's it, I sound silly saying this, but it I just feel it just needs to be absorbed by anyone. You know, it's just all. A decision, take an action step. You know that is as simple as picking up your phone, texting one of your besties. You know you tell me and say, hey, let's catch up. That takes three seconds. Yet we tend to put that off. And I'm not perfect. I still do this stuff, I still have procrastination, et cetera.

Lachlan Stuart: 28:05

But yeah, it's empowering if you suddenly realize oh, it's all up to me how great. I agree. What was something that sprung to mind there for me was thinking about oh sorry, moving to, I guess taking action was one thing that you said it's important. Just looking at that action step, you've got a big American flag behind you there. Obviously, you grew up in the northern beaches of Australia.

Seb Terry: 28:33

Yeah.

Lachlan Stuart: 28:34

What took you over to America and why?

Seb Terry: 28:37

Well, a TV show actually. So I was doing talks over here and so I fly out from Australia, from Sydney, and then I gave a talk one year at this incredible summit called PTOW P-T-T-O-W. It was a marketing summit and I got on stage and I gave my keynote and then at the end a producer came up to me and said oh hey, we want to make a show about what you're up to. And I said, oh, that's cool. And I was very flase, I sort of didn't follow up with it. And then the next year I got invited back to speak again at the same summit and the guy his name is Keith was there still and he said where'd you go? What happened? And I said oh, I didn't think you were serious. And he's like I am, let's talk.

Seb Terry: 29:25

So we ended up signing a deal to do a TV show, a reality show. And he said you know, what do you want it to be about? And I said well, I think I should help people with their goals. And so we did the shows 26 episodes based all out of America. So I came over here to film that. It was an incredible experience. And then I realized that so America has so much opportunity and the market is a lot bigger than Australia. For anyone really who's interested in kind of expanding what they're doing that's at least what I thought we're doing a lot of corporate wellness slash staff development programming out here, which certainly lends itself to being, you know, in the US again, because it's just a lot bigger right.

Lachlan Stuart: 30:16

Yeah.

Seb Terry: 30:16

Yeah, and I have another few ideas that I've sort of voiced before around connecting people to engage in acts of kindness, and I think this could be a really good place to do that. So you know, and also not to forget, I just love adventure and I love living life, and it just felt like an exciting throw of the dice to be here. So I'm five years into being based in LA.

Lachlan Stuart: 30:43

I love it. I think it's so cool to hear you say that, because when we're exchanging voice notes, you're probably one of the only people to voice note me back. I always voice note and people just text back. I'm like come on, let me hear what you sound like A bit creepy Because yeah, we're in the process of moving to Nashville going through that whole visa process and everything like that, which is exciting.

Lachlan Stuart: 31:07

But there was a bit of resistance originally around, like but then when we were over in Nashville, just a bit of resistance originally around, like, oh, but then when we were over in nashville just a couple of months ago and my wife heads back over in two, three weeks, it's just like the, the opportunity there and the way people supported us when we were there and introduced us to certain people.

Lachlan Stuart: 31:24

I was just like. This is incredible, like as an individual, I'm going to get to experience so much. I'm going to be able to learn from incredible people such as yourself. I look up to and aspire to have similar things and achieve similar things. Australia is always going to be here for me. I just take a little adventure and see what comes of it.

Seb Terry: 31:49

Yeah, I the. There's a guy called ryan campbell who you should have on your podcast. He's um, he was the youngest person to ever circumnavigate the globe in a plane by himself and I think he was 16 and he he's australian, um, and then he had a plane crash and became a paraplegic, then relearned how to walk and now is a flight instructor and he does kit. I know from from keynoting, from speaking, uh, but he's based out of nashville so I'd love to connect you uh, that would be amazing over there yeah, really good guy yeah well, it'll be good.

Lachlan Stuart: 32:23

Uh, I'll uh hit you up as well for a beer or a coffee when I head to. La as well, which will be amazing.

Seb Terry: 32:30

Yeah.

Lachlan Stuart: 32:31

Wanted to as well ask a question, because I'm always curious about people who've had impacts on people like yourself, who are doing amazing things. I'd love to hear, I guess, two to three people who've been the most influential on you and how their influence has impacted you.

Seb Terry: 32:49

Yeah, it's such a great question. I always feel kind of like undergunned for this question, because I always just think that I just sort of did this, you know, and I feel you know, I did kind of thing.

Seb Terry: 33:08

It wasn't because of anything or any well, it wasn't because of anyone's advice in the first place. But with that said, I'm realizing that's probably less true. You know, I think you know, like even you know my dad, for example. He used to have this saying it better to live one day as a wolf than a thousand as a sheep. And I was like, oh, that's cool. I remember picking that up at a young age.

Seb Terry: 33:30

And then I also remember my mum showing me a letter, uh, that she had kept my dad, my dad's british, and he had written to the um english prime minister at the time back in I don't, I don't know when, the 60s or something, saying I like my dad's sort of like unathletic and you know he's like an engineer, and he wrote a letter saying hey, I want to propose to be the first solo uh rower across the atlantic, uh, from uh england, from southampton to new york, and the the british prime minister wrote back to him and said we're not interested in sponsoring or being involved because someone's already done that from new york back to uh southampton in the other direction.

Seb Terry: 34:11

And I was was just like what, what dad did that. So I think it was definitely some kind of of course influence there. I've always been really inspired, just you know, in the same way most of us are, I'm sure, by hearing these incredible journeys that people take on. Not necessarily, you know, of course, like you think of, like Muhammad Ali, or you know, richard Branson, or you know, of course, like you think of like.

Seb Terry: 34:34

Muhammad Ali, or you know Richard Branson or you know anyone, but I just like the, the, I don't know I get really inspired by just everyday people who might not have done the greatest thing in the planet I haven't cured cancer but they, they've taken on a personal challenge themselves and I just love to hear that. I I'm really like, I'm very inspired by people who are passionate about what they do, incredibly inspired. I love it when I talk to people and it could be anybody in the street who is just pursuing their passion and you can just see it's full of life about whatever it is they're doing. And for me, it's those little things along the way, like those interactions and those people, that really inspire me.

Seb Terry: 35:11

Uh yeah, cause I think there's a ripple effect to this. There's a ripple effect to to to passion. If you speak to someone who's really passionate about what they do, you can't help but feel inspired and you walk away going, well, what do I want to be passionate about? Um, and then you know, of course you're like, well, how can I help them? So I, and so I really think in that sense, passion inspires passion, and you don't have to get it from a famous person, you can get it from anyone.

Lachlan Stuart: 35:35

I love that outlook and when I originally started this podcast, I didn't go looking for celebrities or famous people, et cetera, because, very similar approach, every person in my life has something that they're an expert in or something that they, when you get them talking, it's like they'll never stop and you, yeah, feed off that energy and I think it's very important for, especially in today's society, look, definitely have your people you aspire to be, like, maybe on social platforms or doing amazing things, but look in your own local network and like, champion those people as well. Like, if you can get them and continue to remind them to talk about and express what they're passionate about, it only influences and, as you said, has that ripple effect through your community which, once again, it's going to come back to you as well when you may be having a flat day or, yeah, like that, because we don't always get time to speak to cricketers or those people that we want, but we have the opportunity to speak to those closest to us.

Seb Terry: 36:42

I've never said this before publicly. By the way, it's nothing profound, but I watched this documentary last night called I think it was called, the Greatest Race on Earth maybe it's a Netflix doco on the time that Australia won back the America's Cup, the sailing cup, from the Americans. I think they had won it for 132 years straight and I do. You know this?

Lachlan Stuart: 37:05

No, I've not heard about it.

Seb Terry: 37:07

So there's a sailing race which to this day, is turned into that. You know the super fast yachts with hydrofoils and what have you. But back in the day, I think it started in the 1800s and America had started it out of Newport, rhode Island, on the east coast of the US, and they won against Australia. Every year they won 132. I think it's every year, but they won 132 times. Year they won 132, I think it's every year, but they, they won 132 times. So basically, the documentary follows the story of how australia won it back. I was going to say ragtag bunch of guys. That's not true. They're actually, you know, very smart. Some were very skilled sailors, but there was a certain spirit about these australians I think it might have been 12, 15 of them who made up this crew, who designed this new keel. They were very innovative. They thought outside the box. They had that real Aussie like mongrel. You know, I was so inspired watching this documentary about what these guys did.

Seb Terry: 38:02

It was a best of seven series. The Americans tried to sabotage their boat. They tried to get them thrown out. They created stories because Australia had won I think we had won the first race 1-0 and they were. The Americans were scared. And then the Americans came back and suddenly it was 3-1 and all they needed to do was win one more, to win the series.

Seb Terry: 38:20

And Australia through being Australians because we are that cattle dog, you know, we are the. We are the rich red earth that is Australia. We are the like, the rats of Tobruk. We are the rich red earth that is Australia. We are the rats of Tobruk. We have that mongrel in our psyche that I don't think everyone has and I think that's something for those Australians listening.

Seb Terry: 38:38

I hope this resonates, and maybe I sound like a crazy person, but I feel we have that as a default, that extra gear where we can go, you know what, against all odds. I don't care if I'm the underdog, I don't care if this looks very unlikely, I'm you know what, against all odds, I don't care if I'm the underdog, I don't care if this looks very unlikely, I'm gonna have a crack and more often times than not, when we as people have a crack, we get there, um, and learn something along the way and maybe pivot in another direction. But anyway, um, that is a great documentary and of course, the end of that story is it was three all in the end that it was the last race to win, the seventh race of this series and Australia won. We were behind the whole race and then we zipped past them in the end because we're Australians and, oh my God, it was good. So, yeah, I get inspired by things like that.

Lachlan Stuart: 39:24

I'm going to watch that, for sure.

Seb Terry: 39:25

Yeah, it's really good, really good story.

Lachlan Stuart: 39:27

Yeah, and the way you told it, mate, I was like this is perfect. This is a a question for myself.

Seb Terry: 39:40

Have you speak so well? Have you ever like done?

Lachlan Stuart: 39:41

any training around it, or have you just?

Seb Terry: 39:42

oh, no, well, thanks so much. What do you mean? Do I come across like I'm speaking well? Is that how you mean? Yeah?

Lachlan Stuart: 39:45

like, yeah, very engaging. The only reason why I say this is I'm doing vocal coaching at the moment because I tend to mumble and speak to a whole heap of things. So every time I hear people who I'm like this is super engaging. I'm like are you just a natural at it?

Seb Terry: 40:02

Oh, again, this sounds so obnoxious. I've never had training, so I guess it's come naturally. What I have discovered is that I do enjoy storytelling. I do really enjoy relaying a point of view or you know, a thought or a story, but it's got better over the years. I've been very lucky. I've been speaking on stages for 11 years, so you know you have to get the repetition in, as with anything, to get better at it. So I've definitely got better, but I haven't had any training, although I repetition, and, as with anything, to get better at it. So I've definitely got better, but I I haven't had any training, although I I bumped into well, not although. Side note, I had a conversation with a guy called vin yang the other day.

Lachlan Stuart: 40:40

I don't know have you heard of vin yang no, I've never I.

Seb Terry: 40:42

So this almost goes back to your other question of who inspires me. Um, I speak to tons of people in this world of, you know, quote unquote motivational speaking and, um, you know, they're all just normal people, which is great, which is, thankfully. That's why I'm here. I'm normal. But I spoke to this guy, vin. He's an australian magician who is an incredible, a formidable speaker on stage and he talks about the power of the, of the voice and the throat and how it's your tool for relaying and communication, and I did a bit of research on him. I got in touch with him just because I was so impressed, and he does a lot of this voice training and speaking training. For anyone who's out there listening or if you're even interested, you should hit him up. He is an incredible, incredible orator. But I thank you for saying that I'm all right too. It's nice.

Lachlan Stuart: 41:30

No, I'm just curious because I'm always looking to see what people are doing to improve certain things and obviously, as a podcaster and you're a speaker like our voice is extremely important and I want to use it to, you know, be more engaging and more influential with how I tell story and what I talk about. So you're very good at that. So I was just curious, which is epic. A final one if you could be remembered and I have an idea or an assumption of what this may be, but if you could be remembered for one thing, what would it be?

Seb Terry: 42:07

Well, this is going to sound very controversial.

Lachlan Stuart: 42:08

I don't care.

Seb Terry: 42:11

Yeah, it's none of my business. I don't worry about that. Yeah.

Seb Terry: 42:16

Yeah, I mean, if I had, hopefully something positive, you know, which I think might be the case. But yeah, I don't know, I don't really worry. I mean in line with, of course, like I have a great, deeply rooted desire to help and support other people be the best version of themselves. And you know, I've sort of dedicated and crafted my life in a way, which is that that's what I do, you know, whether I'm speaking, or my book or this reality show or documentary or whatever these things are that I do. The point of it, the absolute point, is to just get people along for this incredible ride that every one of us should be having. And so I suppose, if I wasn't here and I had to be remembered, hopefully it would be. Whatever the specifics of it would be, hopefully it would be something that would catalyze a bit of motivation or action in a positive way for people.

Lachlan Stuart: 43:12

That would be it Awesome. And where can people you know find out about where you're speaking next or follow your TV show and all of those sorts of things?

Seb Terry: 43:23

You can go to SebastianTerrycom, which is my speaking site. You know, we, yeah, or 100thingscom. Yeah, or 100 thingscom, 100 thingscom. Uh, if anyone is interested in kind of taking on that journey of you know, actually looking to put a list together and learning some tools of how to do that properly and then how to action, that we have, um, this, an eight-step process called the live your list process. Uh, if you know, for any listener of yours, I'm very, if anyone wants to write to me and they're interested, I'll give you it at half price. It's only a hundred bucks to start with, but yeah, I mean yeah, if anyone wants to, let me know Instagram Seb100things yeah.

Lachlan Stuart: 44:05

I'll put all of those links in the description below for everyone. But, seb, thanks so much for making the time. It's been a pleasure and I look forward to it. Oh, one thing I was going to share. I was, after I watched the TED Talk, going back to when you said you asked people what's on your list and most people say I haven't thought about it. That was me as well. I would not thought of things outside of work. I was like what's something that could be a little bit naughty for me and like outside of my comfort zone.

Lachlan Stuart: 44:36

For me it was. I'm flying down to melbourne midweek to hit up the wave park, because I, you know, travel for work and all of that, or I'll go on a monday or friday make it a long weekend. But I was like, if I go midweek, that really, you know, ruins the flow of how I run my life and I'm purely going down to surf at the wave park, get a few sessions in and flying back. So that's one thing that's happening in the next couple of weeks.

Seb Terry: 44:59

Oh, amazing Is that at Urban?

Lachlan Stuart: 45:00

Yeah, at Urban.

Seb Terry: 45:02

Oh, that's great, that is fantastic. Good on you, mate. It must be cold over there right now, though, right, it's freezing, mate. That's why my hair's all frizzled, because I, as I was walking back from my last meeting, it was stormy, it was just bucketing down. Oh no, mate, I I surfed, uh, I surfed urban, the one in melbourne, uh, in winter. What, uh, no, I tell a lie. I surfed the same technology, the wave garden. I surfed it in bristol, england, in winter, and I was gonna, yeah, and it was. It was just ridiculous. I couldn't feel my feet, I couldn't take off, I couldn't stand up towards the end of it, which was disappointing. But you'll have a ball, it won't be as cold as that I got that right?

Lachlan Stuart: 45:39

I hope not. I'll wear some booties if needed. I'll just put the booties and the hood on.

Seb Terry: 45:43

Yeah, yeah, yeah.