TED Community » Bill Burns

More About Me

I'm passionate about

creating more happiness through less debt.. Sustainable finance for families and communities. The Genius Formula. Empowering People. Hunting down and capturing one's passion.

An idea worth spreading

"Debt is the slavery of the free." Publius Syrius.

Changing the world by healing the debt disease. Creating more happiness by shrinking debt. Unbanking.


Families living stable, happy lives is my vision.
Couples sending children to college is my vision.
Couples prepared for retirement is in my vision.
Less stress and more happy marriages is a big part of my vision.

Talk to me about

Debt, Student Loans, Real Estate Debt, Speech Coaching, Public Speaking

People don't know that I'm good at

Public speaking. Speech coaching. Ice hockey and golf. (Okay, I lied about those last two.)

My TED Story

Successful business man and single father. A "life event" caused me to lose most everything. I began meditating to lessen severe anxiety. I ended up rediscovering myself and my passion.

Comments

• TEDCred score: +2.40 TEDCred reflects your contribution to the TED community.

• +1

  A comment on Conversation: Now That We Know, What can We Do?

  Nov 16 2011: Fabulous question! And I think its worth saying that it is THE question for people who have figured out who they are and what their passion and mission really is. With global communications and community building social media etc, it is now more possible than ever for people to actually effect real and positive change. So what to do?
  
  What ever your field or industry Be a thought leader! Be a real scholar and disciplined thinker and know the problems of that field.
  
  Be a leader! To me this means Creating a Vision for The Future and then COMMUNICATING that vision. It means being a great communicator and teacher. It means giving yourself to it and realizing that the vision is bigger than just you, its your whole field or industry that is with you. It means being very visible in your community and in your field. It means being at the cutting edge of innovation and being willing to think outside your box and look at new even "weird" solutions in an academically disciplined way.
  
  I'm in the US and in the finance end of the housing industry. We have tremendous problems. Many families in a form of debt slavery. Yet there is new knowledge and technology of how people can manage and reduce debt 2 to 5 times faster than ever before. For many people it can easily be done.
  
  So what can I DO? Just what I said before. Be a thought leader, a communicator, a teacher.
  
  So for whatever a person is passionate about - go do it and be a thought leader. Create new visions.
  
  Thanks for THE great question!

• A reply on Conversation: If you have discovered something you are passionate about, how did you discover that thing?

  Nov 12 2011: Well we love you!! And I still subscribe to Obama's message of hope in these challenging times!

• A comment on Conversation: Do we follow our passions or money? What do you recommend to a student today?

  Nov 9 2011: And Teddy - always be thinking about how you can craft an income from what you love. Life is not a freeway with signs marking the way. Its a twisty turny path and only you can find the right way.
  
  Who knows what career or income you will have but your heart already has a good home.
• +1

  A comment on Conversation: Do we follow our passions or money? What do you recommend to a student today?

  Nov 8 2011: Hi Teddy,
  
  I'm 58 and I never did what I loved until recently. My passion unveiled itself just a couple years ago. I love public speaking and changing paradigms which we are doing in the world of finance and debt. However, I lived a somewhat mundane work a day life. Had wife & mortgage, kid & cancer and sometimes made really good money but still struggled at times.
  
  I became more and more unhappy and unfulfilled in my work. Stress grew and it affected my marriage. Then my marriage ended suddenly and I found myself a full time single dad to a 14 yr old girl. I went into a severe depression and quit my job. Rock bottom for me.
  
  I got some help and began to rediscover who I really was, my true self that eroded away thru the years. Then my passion surfaced and now I do training, teaching and public speaking in the professional world of finance. I reinvented myself in my passion!
  
  So you get my point right? You must realize that the world is wash in money. Find your passion, follow it and figure out
  how to make money doing it.
  
  
  And Teddy, when the shit hits the fan, it really helps if you are able to meditate.
  
  My best,
  
  Bill

• A reply on Conversation: If you have discovered something you are passionate about, how did you discover that thing?

  Nov 7 2011: Yes Dan - they say we are far more capable and powerful and that we only use a small part of our intelligence. It would follow that we would easily get bored. Personally, I think boredom is a good thing and can be a source of creativity and invention.
  
  Thanks for sharing,
  
  Bill

• A reply on Conversation: If you have discovered something you are passionate about, how did you discover that thing?

  Nov 7 2011: Thanks Emil,
  
  Boy I sure get it about timing and people. I try to create a sense of wonder in life by asking myself, "what interesting and amazing person am I going to meet this week and what wonderful collaboration might come from it?"
  
  Is it a wonderful world? It is but only if there's wonder in you.
  
  Thanks my friend.

• A reply on Conversation: If you have discovered something you are passionate about, how did you discover that thing?

  Nov 6 2011: I will forward him you website. He is a terrific person. And I am one American who loves the French. I know you are in Montreal but I just had to say that as many here make fun of and disparage the French.
  
  "Bien sur! Every man has two countries: his own and France".
  Thomas Jefferson, the day after the Battle of Yorktown, the final battle in our revolutionary war. In that battle French warships prevented the powerful British navy from shelling American troops enabling them to defeat the British. Without the French - no victory.
  
  And one more thing, there is nothing more attractive that a woman with a French accent.
  
  Blessing to you too.

• A comment on Conversation: Will we ever find the true meaning of life?

  Nov 6 2011: Hi Marcus,
  
  Maybe the question should be to each and every person as an individual, "will you ever find the true meaning of your life?"
  It is up to each individual to create the meaning for their own life. Yes?
  
  Bill
• +3

  A reply on Conversation: If you have discovered something you are passionate about, how did you discover that thing?

  Nov 6 2011: Yes you are right! Seems like my passion was always there. It was just hidden under the decaying leaves of too many autumns. (ewww - that's kind of a dark and dismal image isn't it? ;)
  
  I think I know what you mean which is the joy of living and being "of service" to others. It is its own reward.
  
  Now you mentioned entertaining. What did you mean by that?
  
  Bill

• A reply on Conversation: If you have discovered something you are passionate about, how did you discover that thing?

  Nov 6 2011: What a great route for the Victoria marathon! I have been to Victoria on holiday and toured all around where you ran. Just beautiful. Both Victoria and Vancouver are such beautiful cities and people.
  
  Great pictures on your blog!