How To Make Change With Six Bucks | John Borders IV | TEDxBoston

Quick Overview

John Borders IV asserts that purpose is inherently accessible to everyone, comparing it to physical money like a dollar or a five, and uses the biblical story of Peter walking on water to illustrate that one must have faith over fear and respond courageously to purpose's call, even amid adversity, ultimately challenging the audience to realize the collective power they hold, stating, "I just changed somebody's life with six bucks. Imagine what we can do together."

Key Points: The speaker begins by demonstrating inherent human wiring to recognize value using dollar bills, equating this instinct to recognizing purpose. Purpose, defined as a noun (reason for existence) or a verb (intention/objective), is something the divine created and everyone has access to. Borders draws parallels to the story of Peter walking on water, noting that when Peter saw the wind and took his eyes off purpose, he began to sink, emphasizing that failing happens when one shifts focus from purpose to adversity. The call to action, "Come," which purpose extended to Peter, was thrown out to anyone willing to respond, not just Peter, demanding courage to respond to one's purpose. He challenges the audience to overcome adversity, whether it stems from being a non-native English speaker, socioeconomic status, or trauma, because "Purpose doesn't wait until the winds are calm." Borders connects this theme to Boston's history as a beacon of hope, citing Crispus Attucks as the first person to die for the American Revolution and Martha's Vineyard as a place where Black people could own property passed down generations. The ultimate conclusion is that purpose is always close enough to catch you when you are in despair, and collective action based on this shared purpose can achieve significant change, demonstrated by the claim, "I just changed somebody's life with six bucks."

Context: John Borders IV delivers a motivational speech at TEDxBoston, using physical currency and the biblical narrative of Peter walking on water to explore the concept of personal purpose. He argues that purpose is an innate human drive, comparing the immediate desire for money to the call of one's life mission, and challenges the audience, particularly in the context of Boston's historical significance and current identity struggles, to actively respond to this inherent calling despite surrounding difficulties and fear.