Last PIRATE Summit, I realized a yearlong dream of mine: I finally got an opera singer to perform right before the Burn.

The mood was a bit different from what we had planned. Everybody was hyped up and ready to party, and I had a 12-minute speech prepared. 🤷‍♀️

I wanted to talk about “No BS” our third house rule.

It’s the key to understanding why we started PIRATE Summit in the first place, and a catalyst for creating meaningful connections.

Not a topic that easily goes with a party crowd. Luckily, Kay - the opera singer - was prepared and powerfully set the mood.

Check out the video to see what happened. 👇

Thanks to our friends from Interactive Pioneers for putting together the video.

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Here is the transcript, slightly edited and shortened for better readability.

🎙️

How are you?

The question, “how are you?” is something we hear all the time, and we give general answers like, “I'm fine,” “I'm doing alright,” “I'm well,” etc.

It’s not really a genuine question or a genuine answer; it's more like a social dance or a social ritual.

However, two and a half years ago, when the pandemic hit, we introduced a slight modification to the question into our weekly Monday meetings.

Instead of asking, “How are you?” we asked, “How are you, really?”

That subtle difference made all the difference.

Suddenly, the person asking showed genuine care, and the person answering had a safe space to provide a real answer.

I would like to conduct a short experiment with you.

Take five seconds to reflect on the question, “How are you really?”

It's a simple question, but not easy to answer. It requires us to turn inward and reflect for a moment, to experience our whole being, our body, mind, and soul.

Are we tired, sad, calm, angry?

What is our energy like?

It requires us to look inward and connect with ourselves.

Connecting with ourselves is not easy, but there are techniques or tricks to make it easier. One such technique, I found, is music, because it opens the heart.

So, for the next three minutes, I would like you to listen, feel, be aware, and be in this moment.

{music moment - check out the video of one of my PIRATE Summit dreams come true, if you haven’t already}

Watch and listen to Kay sing

People who have worked with me know that I have been dreaming of something like this for seven or eight years.

How did that make you feel?

What happened inside of you when you heard that?

Why am I talking about this? 🤔

Well, ten years ago, we set out to create an event where we could create meaningful connections. A unique location, a curated crowd, and authenticity were the ingredients we used.

To create connection, we need to be authentic because nobody wants to connect with fake.

The second House rule is “no BS, no bullshit.”

We don't want to pretend that entrepreneurship is easy. It isn’t. It's hard, it's lonely, and it's a constant roller coaster.

We also know that sometimes we need to play a role, wear a mask, and fake it till we make it.

But we also need a place to connect authentically, and Pirate Summit was designed to be that place.

Integrity means that who we are, what we think, say, and do are aligned.

Every time we aren't our true selves, we drop a drop into the bucket of shame.

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An Epidemic of Disconnection

From Brené Brown, we know that shame is fear of disconnection.

We all know that feeling inside of us when we don't feel good enough or worthy of connection.

When we get that feeling, we start to pretend, play a role, and put on a mask because we don't want to lose that connection, that craving for attention, that craving to be liked and loved.

But this can only go on for so long.

Either the emptiness of not being our true selves will erode us from inside, or the disconnection that we are so desperately holding onto will require a full reset.

We currently have an epidemic of disconnection. An epidemic of shame. An epidemic of not being good enough.

Authenticity is the antidote

It’s the only way to truly connect with ourselves and others. And the good part: Authenticity has a multiplying effect.

Just like kindness begets kindness, authenticity begets authenticity.

So be more open, be more real towards somebody else, and they will feel relieved and do the same.

I ask you to be real. I ask you to take that leap of faith and be yourself.

You are the captain of your life, and life is what you make of it.

That's why this year's theme is 'Raise Yourself.'

At Pirate Summit, you can truly be yourself.

So, how are you, really?

Like every PIRATE Summit, we are igniting a fire this evening.

Fire is a symbol for rebirth, hope, and purification. Let these flames be a symbol for everything that holds you back from connecting with your true self.

Let everything burn. Take off your masks. Stop pretending. Let all layers go. Be you.

And when you look into these flames, be ready to answer from the bottom of your heart:

How are you, really?

Let it burn!

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🏴‍☠️

Thanks for reading this far. 🙏🏽

Did what I said resonate? Tell me what you think about the Burn speech. Did you like the opera singer?

I read every mail and try to answer all of them (sometimes it takes me some time to do so).

🏴‍☠️

Be safe, be healthy, and be kind. 🙏🏽

Manuel

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🏴‍☠️ How are you, really?