How A NASA Scientist, TEDx Speaker, Author and Nerd chose to deal with Asperger's Syndrome. by Tom Dutta

February 29, 2020 at around 8am I was in the green room at the Bell Centre for Performing Arts preparing to deliver a TEDx talk. With adrenaline masking my anxiety I stood in the corner of the room watching the TV on the wall playing live the opening festivities of TEDx Bear Creek Park's.

I noticed Peter Scott my new friend and first speaker on the program of 14 speakers pacing and doing weird things with his mouth. Like face yoga he was going through the paces of some speaking ritual I had never seen before. With my usual curiosity I went over to Peter and suggested he and I get something to eat. His reply was, "I don't eat for two days before I speak".

It just got weirder. Was he kidding? A NASA scientist, Futurist, TEDx speaker, Author was first on the speaking slate and I managed to come second. Now I must tell you that the order or speakers was in no way based on ability or anything that would dishonour my other TEDx friends' talks. But I kept pinching myself that I was worthy of following up a man who had done incredible things in his career.

Peter left the greenroom moments later and at the same time I saw the MC walk on the stage and his words of welcome came through the TV screen speaker. Before I knew it Peter Scott was walking out on stage in front of 1000 people to deliver his talk of a lifetime.

Watch Peter Scott's TEDx Talk

Shortly after Peter gave his TEDx talk I asked him to come on The Quiet Warrior Internet Radio Show to talk with me about that day and well...just about anything. We became friends that day and I felt something pass between us. No I am not a psychic with special powers but I am someone who has the gift of feeling someone's emotions when I am around them and for some reason Peter connected to my soul. I knew there was more to his story.

CALL TO ACTION: Please honour Peter's TEDx talk by Watching it full, tag it with LIKE and a comment about what you liked and share it with others. This helps YouTube recommend his talk on their platform.

Peter and I had a conversation on my show and he revealed the real back story behind his success. It wasn't what I expected. It was more than what I expected. This man was heroic and I knew in my gut there was something special about him. You'll find the links to both interviews later in this article. But I still wanted more from Peter to understand his story and I got it.

I told Peter that I was going to write this Linked In Article to feature his story. I asked him to contribute to it with 350 words that would be so compelling to the reader it would make them Think, Feel and Do something that could shift their thinking about the world around them. Here is what Peter sent me:

I grew up as the weird kid. Everyone else seemed to belong to a different species. The weirdness was Asperger’s Syndrome, but that term hadn’t been invented then. Not that it would have helped much in Britain in the 1970s. Asperger’s is on the autism spectrum, characterized by obsession with details, difficulty reading emotional cues, and high intelligence. If someone asks you to list the traits least likely to make you popular in high school, start with those ones. There were bullies around every corner. Kids that I thought were friends turned out to have said that only to set me up for humiliation.

I spent a lot of that time on my own. When it feels like everyone else is not letting you in on a secret, it’s exhausting to keep trying to break into a club you don’t belong in in the first place. Years of coming to understand myself was like the Battle of the Somme, every little advance earned with blood and tears. The socializing that came naturally to so many people was like an Olympic event for me. “Oh, I have the same problem,” said many of them, not having a clue what I was talking about but going for empathy anyway.

Where I ended up ten years ago was not a bad place, but it certainly didn’t say Inspirational Speaker on the door. But then I had children. And I had discovered a purpose, on which their future depended – to teach people what to do about technology. I was in no way ready to do that. I didn’t check the boxes of Charismatic Thought Leader. But my big realization was: Too freaking bad. No one asks if you’re ready to become a father, either. Like my girls call out in their games: Ready or not, here I come. And it turned out that having a purpose was all it took. Well, that and ten years of intense training (hello, Toastmasters) and ruthless coaching (hello, Tania).

I’m still the odd one out. But the world lets me make a difference anyway. That’s enough.

Wow are you inspired as much as I am reading Peter's words? Time to get down to the truth. Peter Scott is a wonderful human being, father and mentor to others. When the world around him told him that he was weird, not worthy, not capable of speaking he didn't let it slide. No he chose to weaponize it and make it his purpose in life. His desire to make a difference came with him when he was born and the greatness within him is why he has accomplished what he has. He's stayed out of his own pain of the past by creating a legacy and make a difference.

To all the weird kids in the world...take note! You are enough and the world needs you to know that you can make a difference if you believe in yourself like Peter Scott did. Peter's work at NASA and his passion for helping us have a positive relationship with Artificial Intelligence is inspiring to me. Overcoming adversity and becoming a thought leader makes him authentic and one to follow.

I highly recommend listening to the two interviews that were just released on The Quiet Warrior Show. Quiet Warrior Show Press Kit

INTERVIEW PART 1: PART 1 Nerdism to the Future of AI with Peter Scott

INTERVIEW PART 2: PART 2 Nerdism to the Future of AI with Peter Scott

Not long after my interviews with Peter I learned that he started his own podcast. I have listened to it and highly recommend it. Through my career in business I sought knowledge to keep up with the changing trends that I thought would have a significant impact on business performance. Please subscribe to Peter's Podcast if you want to advance your knowledge about Artificial Intelligence (AI) and how to stay relevant in a world that will require a relationship between humans and AI.

About Peter Scott:

 Peter Scott is a futurist, author, and technology expert.

A Master’s degree from Cambridge University led to thirty years of working on enterprise computing for NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and a parallel career in business coaching added a uniquely valuable perspective on the implications of artificial intelligence development.

His Next Wave Institute teaches how to thrive through technological disruption. He’s given TEDx talks and spoken before a British Parliamentary group on the impact of AI. He has stepped further into his passion for public speaking by hosting his new Podcast AI and You.

ABOUT TOM DUTTA

Tom Dutta Website

Tom Dutta is an award-winning CEO, Best Selling author and Radio/Film Producer.

Transforming leaders and companies worldwide, Tom believes real change starts at the top.

He is dedicated to changing our view of mental health in the workplace by breaking the silence, telling his story of struggle, and being a leader by example.

WATCH TOMS TEDx Talk and find the common threads in his and Peter's talks.

Join Peter Scott and Tom Dutta LIVE STREAM to learn more about Artificial Intelligence and the impact it will have on the future.

Watch Peter and Tom's Social Media feeds for event announcements.