Ben Nemtin has known the depths of despair. How he overcame it is a story he hopes will inspire others.  

“I was crippled by this depression,” which led him to drop out of college, said Nemtin, co-author of “What Do You Want to Do Before You Die?” a New York Times No. 1 bestseller, and host of the MTV series “The Buried Life.” Nemtin will be the opening keynote speaker for Smarter Faster Payments 2023, taking place April 16-19 in Las Vegas. The keynote is graciously sponsored by Visa. 

Along with the help of a therapist, a major step toward recovery included writing a bucket list of things he really wanted to do. With a group of friends, Nemtin set out in 2006 on a two-week road trip “that ended up lasting a decade,” as even the seemingly most impossible items were check marked as done. That included playing basketball at the White House with President Obama. 

“I started to question why don’t more people go after their dreams, because I don’t think it’s as hard as we think,” said Nemtin.

The hard part, he acknowledges, is getting started, because for most people “you’re never going to feel like it’s the right time,” Nemtin told Nacha’s Payments SmartCast podcast. “You just have to start. And that starts with writing it down.” Nemtin’s “Bucket List Journal” outlines the steps.  

A key theme Nemtin reiterates is the importance of “following your true original course,” which means living the life you want, not the one other people want. “When you are who you truly are you’re more powerful, you make a bigger impact, you can show up for those around you in a greater way, and—more importantly—you’re happier.” 

You can listen to the complete podcast here. Learn more about Ben Nemtin on his website and visit the Smarter Faster Payments 2023 website for more conference information and registration.