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>> UM, MY PRESENTATION IS UP HERE,
AND I HEARD A COUPLE OF PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT
HOW THEY READ THE POEM,
AND LOOKING AT EACH STANZA.
SO, ACTUALLY, THAT'S WHAT I DID, TOO.
SO, EACH OF MY PIECES OF MY PRESENTATION ACTUALLY HAS--
LOOKS AT EACH OF THE STANZAS.
SO, IF I-- IF MY PRESENTATION DOES WHAT I WANTED TO DO HERE--
SO, HERE'S THE FIRST STANZA OF THAT POEM.
SO, "OUT OF THE NIGHT THAT COVERS ME,
"BLACK AS THE PIT FROM POLE TO POLE,
"I THANK WHATEVER GODS MAY BE FOR MY UNCONQUERABLE SOUL."
AND THIS IS A PICTURE OF MY HIGH SCHOOL,
WHICH DOESN'T EXIST ANYMORE.
THEY TORE IT DOWN AND REBUILT A BRAND-NEW HIGH SCHOOL,
AND CHANGED THE NAME, AND ALL THAT JAZZ,
AND IT JUST OPENED THIS...
THIS YEAR.
SO, WHAT I DID WAS I THINK ABOUT "INVICTUS" MOMENT THAT, FOR ME,
WHAT I THINK ABOUT IN THIS POEM ARE THESE MOMENTS IN YOUR LIFE
WHERE YOU EITHER KNOW-- SOMETIMES UNKNOWINGLY
TAKE CHARGE AND MAKE DECISIONS.
SO, ONE OF THE WAYS I INTERPRET THIS FIRST PART IS I EXPLAINED
MY FAMILY MOVED AROUND A LOT WHEN I WAS GROWING UP.
SO, BETWEEN 2nd AND 11th GRADE,
WE MOVED AT LEAST NINE TIMES AROUND THE CITY OF DETROIT,
SO BY THE TIME I GOT TO THE 11th GRADE,
I DECIDED I WAS NOT GOING TO CHANGE SCHOOLS ANYMORE.
I DIDN'T CARE WHERE THEY MOVED--
I WAS NOT GOING TO CHANGE SCHOOLS.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I EXPERIENCED THAT GETS ME TO THIS DAY
IS WHEN PEOPLE ASK ME WHERE I'M FROM, I SAY,
"I'M FROM DETROIT," AND THEY ASK ME WHERE,
AND I TELL THEM, "EVERYWHERE." (audience chuckling)
"I AM FROM THE CITY OF DETROIT." (chuckling)
SO, THE OTHER THING THAT DECISION--
WHEN I SAID THAT I MADE THAT DECISION--
AND THE REASON I MADE THAT DECISION IS
BECAUSE WHAT I FOUND OUT IS THAT IN 11th GRADE,
I WAS TOO CLOSE TO SOMETHING DIFFERENT.
I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THAT WAS, BUT IT WAS SOMETHING.
SO, I WAS TOO CLOSE TO SOMETHING DIFFERENT TO LET THE ROUTINE OF RIGHT HERE--
URBAN, INNER-CITY, (indistinct) LIFE--
KEEP ME RUNNING IN CIRCLES.
SO, I DECIDED, "NO"-- NOT ANYBODY OUT LOUD OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT,
I JUST DECIDED ONCE WE MOVED AGAIN,
I JUST WOULDN'T MOVE SCHOOLS,
AND I JUST GET TO SCHOOL HOWEVER AND FROM WHEREVER I COULD.
SO, FOR ME, THAT WAS ONE OF THOSE MOMENTS
THAT I'M NOW CALLING "INVICTUS MOMENTS"
THAT I MADE A DECISION...
AND THEN, EVERYTHING THAT CAME AFTER THAT DECISION,
I HADN'T THOUGHT THROUGH AT ALL.
I JUST-- I KNEW WHAT I WAS NOT GOING TO DO ANYMORE.
AND...
THEN, LOOKING AT THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF WHERE I WAS.
SO, THAT'S HOW I KIND OF INTERPRET THAT FIRST PART
OF THE POEM.
ANYBODY ELSE WANT TO SHARE ANYTHING ABOUT THEIR FIRST IMPRESSIONS,
OR HOW THEY MAY HAVE-- WHAT IT MEANS TO THEM?
IS IT MAKING SENSE, WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT?
THESE MOMENTS THAT YOU-- YES?
I WILL GIVE THE MIC RIGHT TO-- I GET TO BE, LIKE, TALK SHOW HOST.
(audience laughing)
>> NO, MY INTERPRETATION, THOUGH, ISN'T THAT.
I THOUGHT ABOUT HOW MY LIFE HAD CHANGED FROM DAY TO NIGHT,
THAT AT ONE TIME, I WAS LIVING A REAL CRAZY LIFE,
BUT WHEN I GOT INTO SCHOOL, THINGS CHANGED.
MY ATTITUDES CHANGED, MY PERCEPTION OF LIFE CHANGED,
THE THINGS THAT I CONTINUED TO DO CHANGED,
AND IT CHANGED THE PEOPLE AROUND ME AS WELL.
>> THANK YOU... ANY OTHER SHARERS?
OKAY, AND THIS IS WHY I DIDN'T WORK-OUT THIS MORNING
BECAUSE I FIGURED I'D WALK AROUND THE ROOM BRISKLY,
HANDING THE MIC OVER.
>> WELL, MY INTERPRETATION OF THE FIRST STANZA
WAS SOMEWHAT SIMILAR TO YOURS...
WHEN IT CAME TO DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCES
THAT ARE SOMETIMES BEYOND OUR CONTROL IN LIFE,
SUCH AS FAMILY MATTERS-- CHILDREN MAY COME INTO PLAY--
THE ABSENCE OF PARENTS.
THINGS THAT A CHILD WOULDN'T NECESSARILY HAVE CONTROL OVER--
PERSONALLY, I WASN'T RAISED BY MY MOTHER OR FATHER.
I WAS RAISED BY MY GRANDMOTHER.
AND UNDER CIRCUMSTANCES JUST LIKE THAT,
I HAD NO CONTROL OVER WHAT MY MOM OR DAD DID--
I WAS A LITTLE BITTY KID--
AND STUFF LIKE THAT MADE MY LIFE DIFFERENT
BECAUSE IT FORCED MY GRANDMOTHER TO BEGIN TO SHAPE ME
IN DIFFERENT FORMS AND FASHION
AND BEGAN TO MOLD DIFFERENT THINGS TO COME OUT OF ME
THAT NECESSARILY WOULDN'T HAVE
IF I WAS RAISED BY MY MOTHER AND FATHER.
SO, THOSE "INVICTUS" MOMENTS LIKE THAT WHEN LIFE JUST SEEMS TO TAKE PLACE,
AND YOU HAVE NO CONTROL OVER IT,
BUT YOU HAVE TO FLOW WITH IT, AND HOPEFULLY, THAT YOU COME OUT
WITH SOME TYPE OF POSITIVE RESULT AT THE END OF IT.
SO, THAT'S HOW I FEEL ABOUT IT-- THE FIRST STANZA.
>> ALL RIGHT, AND AGAIN, TO TRY TO TIE THIS BACK TO
OUR HOPE TO GETTING ENGAGED IN THE COMMUNITY
IN A WAY THAT WHATEVER OUR SERVICE ENDS UP BEING
AT THE END OF THIS ACADEMIC SCHOOL YEAR,
HOPEFULLY WILL INSPIRE SOME OF THE MOMENTS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
IN THE PEOPLE THAT WE ENGAGE WITH THROUGH THAT SERVICE.
ALL RIGHT, SO CIRCUMSTANCES-- I TOOK, BASICALLY,
WORDS FROM EACH OF THE STANZAS-- AND AGAIN,
IF THIS STANZA WAY OF TALKING ABOUT IT DOESN'T WORK FOR YOU
AND YOU WANT TO SAY SOMETHING,
THERE'S REALLY NO ORDER THAT YOU HAVE TO--
YOU CAN ENGAGE HOW YOU WANT TO.
SO, THAT SECOND STANZA-- "IN THE FELL OF CLUTCH OF CIRCUMSTANCE,
"I HAVE NOT WINCED NOR CRIED ALOUD
"UNDER THE BLUDGEONINGS OF CHANCE,
"MY HEAD IS BLOODY, BUT UNBOWED."
AND...
AGAIN, I'M SORT OF STAYING IN THAT SAME SORTA AREA--
THIS IS HOW I INTERPRET THAT-- CONTINUING MY SORT OF--
THAT DECISION I MADE THAT I WASN'T GOING TO CHANGE SCHOOLS ANYMORE?
WELL, THAT MEANT THAT AT SOME POINT,
I HAD TO TAKE THREE DIFFERENT BUSES TO GET TO SCHOOL...
AND WHAT I REMEMBER ABOUT THAT TIME THE MOST
WAS IN THE WINTERTIME
WHEN I HAD TO TAKE THREE BUSES TO GET TO SCHOOL,
AND HOW JUST TERRIFYING THAT TRIP WAS, YOU KNOW?
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT 1985-- HOW TERRIFYING THAT TRIP WAS FOR ME
TO HAVE TO GET UP IN THE DARK AND WALK TO THE BUS STOP--
THAT FIRST OF MANY BUS STOPS.
I DON'T THINK DETROIT HAS EVER, IN MY LIFETIME,
HAD ALL FUNCTIONING STREETLIGHTS-- LIKE, EVER.
(audience chuckling) SO, HAVING A TRIP WAS REALLY--
IT WAS A SCARY THING AT 16 YEARS OLD, AND HAVING TO--
IT DOESN'T SEEM THAT SCARY,
BUT MANY THINGS HAPPENED THAT WE DIDN'T TALK ABOUT
TRYING TO GET FROM YOUR HOUSE TO SCHOOL.
SO, THAT WAS ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT I WAS DETERMINED,
AND I DID IT, AND I DID IT FOR A WHILE UNTIL MY MOM
COULD GO SOMEPLACE CLOSER TO THE SCHOOL
'CAUSE SHE SAW THAT I WAS NOT GOING TO CHANGE HIGH SCHOOLS.
(laughing) BECAUSE IT WAS JUST TOO CLOSE.
AND THIS IS NOT A REAL PICTURE OF DETROIT.
THIS WAS JUST THE MOST CREEPIEST PICTURE I COULD FIND...
(audience laughing) TO SORTA DISPLAY...
DISPLAY MY WALK TO SCHOOL TO THE BUS.
SO, THIS IDEA OF MAKING DECISIONS,
AND ANOTHER-- TO CONTINUE THAT--
THESE MOMENTS OF HAVING TO FIND MYSELF AND WHO I AM.
LIKE WHEN I MADE THAT DECISION, I HAD NO IDEA THAT,
AT ONE POINT, I'D BE WALKING IN THE DARK OF WINTER
TRYING TO GET TO SCHOOL...
BUT THAT'S WHERE I WAS AND THAT'S WHAT I DID.
BECAUSE IT WAS-- WELL, WHAT CAN I SAY--
IT WAS... EASIER NOT TO,
BUT I HAD SO MANY EXAMPLES OF PEOPLE NOT DOING THINGS,
THAT IT WAS TIME THAT I WANTED TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT.
SO, ANY OTHER-- ANYBODY WANT TO--
OR I CAN KEEP WITH MY PRESENTATION?
IF SOMEONE WANTS TO CHIME IN...
DOES IT MAKE YOU WANT TO SHARE ANYTHING?
OR DO YOU WANT ME TO KEEP GOING?
>> IN THE BACK. >> OKAY.
>> I MEAN, UM-- AND IT'S SO FUNNY,
BECAUSE I'M A REAL BELIEVER IN NOT GIVING UP ON YOURSELF.
SOMETIMES IN LIFE, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU'RE TALKING--
NOT TO BE OFFENSIVE TO ANYONE--
BUT WHEN YOU'RE TALKING TO A MINORITY GROUP OF YOUNG MEN,
SOMETIMES WHEN WE MAKE MISTAKES AS YOUNGER BROTHERS GROWING UP,
A LOT OF TIME, SOCIETY WILL DEEM THAT WE HAVE NO CHANCE
AT GETTING IT RIGHT.
YOU MAY EVEN HAVE THE CLOSEST PEOPLE TO YOU
THAT'S SEEM TO TELL YOU THAT YOU CAN GET IT RIGHT,
SO WITH THAT LAST-- I BELIEVE WHAT THAT LAST LINE,
WHEN HE SAID "MY HEAD IS BLOODY, BUT STILL UNBOWED,"
THAT SPEAKS SO MANY VOLUMES, BECAUSE YOU CAN'T CONTROL
SOME OF THE BLOWS THAT'S GOING TO COME YOUR WAY,
BUT I THINK US, AS YOUNG MEN,
WE JUST NEED TO REALIZE THAT WE CAN STILL TAKE IT
AND STILL HOLD OUR HEAD HIGH, FIX OUR TIE, FIX OUR TROUSERS,
AND WE CAN STILL WALK TOWARDS THE PATH THAT WE NEED TO WALK TO.
NO ONE'S SAYING THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE PERFECT.
I'M NOT SAYING GO COMMIT CRAZY CRIMES,
THINKING THAT'S OKAY, SAYING "THAT'S A MISTAKE"...
BUT MISSING A HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT-- GET IT TOGETHER.
NOT THAT BIG OF A DEAL.
NO NEED TO DROP OUT.
NOT COMPLETING A CLASS SUCCESSFULLY THE FIRST TIME--
DON'T GIVE UP-- TRY IT AGAIN.
SEE WHAT I MEAN?
SO, I FEEL LIKE EVEN THOUGH WE'RE GOING TO TAKE THOSE BLOODY BLOWS,
WE GOT TO KEEP OUR HEAD UP
AND KEEP MOVING TOWARDS THE MARK, OKAY?
(applause)
>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
SO, THAT THIRD STANZA-- "BEYOND THIS PLACE OF WRATH AND TEARS
"LOOM BUT THE HORROR OF THE SHADE,
"AND LET THE MENACE OF THE YEARS
"FINDS AND SHALL FIND ME UNAFRAID."
MY INTERPRETATION OF THAT-- HERE'S A PICTURE OF MY FAMILY.
I'M THE LITTLE GIRL IN THE BLUE.
UM... SO...
CONTINUING THAT SAME THOUGHT...
SO, THAT'S MY MOM, THAT'S ME, AND I'M NUMBER 12 OF-- NO--
YEAH, I'M 12 OF 13 KIDS.
SO, I HAVE A BROTHER WHO'S, LIKE,
JUST A FEW MONTHS YOUNGER THAN ME I GUESS.
(laughing) SO, CONTINUING THE THOUGHT,
THINKING ABOUT THESE MOMENTS--
MAKING THAT DECISION AND THOSE BUS RIDES.
AND I'M GONNA READ THIS ONE STRAIGHT OFF,
SO THE ONLY THING THAT MADE BY MIDNIGHT WINTER MORNING BUS STOP WALK
MORE WORRISOME WERE THE DAYS MY MOTHER DECIDED
I WOULD BE SAFER IF SHE WALKED WITH ME.
THOSE DAYS OF NO CELL PHONES AND OCCASIONAL--
OCCASIONAL HOME SERVICE GOT TO BE--
I GOT TO BE FRIGHTENED FOR MYSELF TILL I MADE IT TO SCHOOL,
AND FRIGHTENED FOR MY MOM UNTIL I MADE IT HOME
AT THE END OF DAY, TO KNOW THAT SHE MADE IT HOME.
BUT I DID NOT CHANGE SCHOOLS. (chuckling)
BECAUSE-- AND THIS TAKES US TO THE LAST STANZA.
"I MASTER MY FATE, I CAPTAIN MY SOUL."
SO, AS YOU SEE, I'M JUST SNATCHING PIECES OF THE POEM
AS I GO THROUGH.
ANYBODY HAS-- THERE YOU GO-- OH, I'M GOING TO COME--
SINCE HE'S SO CLOSE, I'LL GO-- THEN COME OVER HERE.
>> SO, THIS ONE ACTUALLY MEANS A LOT TO ME, ACTUALLY.
JUST BECAUSE THE WAY I SEE IT IS--
WELL, IF YOU WANT TO DO SOMETHING IN LIFE,
YOU HAVE A DREAM, YOU HAVE TO GO AFTER IT.
NO ONE ELSE IS GONNA TELL YOU WHAT TO DO,
OR NO ONE ELSE IS GOING TO BE ABLE TO STOP YOU, REALLY,
IF YOU REALLY WANT TO GO AFTER IT.
BUT I DON'T KNOW-- I'M NOT A REALLY GOOD PUBLIC SPEAKER,
SO I'LL JUST HAND THIS OFF TO THE NEXT PERSON.
(audience laughing)
>> (indistinct speaking). >> OH, NO, I'M GOOD, MAN.
THAT WAS MY WHOLE POINT. (audience chuckling)
>> ALL RIGHT, I'LL COME OVER...
>> NOW, I'M JUST GONNA READ WHAT I WROTE AT THAT PARTICULAR TIME.
I KIND OF HAD ONE OF THOSE MOMENTS AT 3 O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING, TOO,
WHEN I HAD TO GET UP AND WRITE THIS,
BUT THE LAST STANZA TO ME SAYS, "NO MATTER--"
IT SAYS, "IT MATTERS NOT THE DIRECTION THAT I TRAVEL,
"OR HOW I MAINTAIN MY PEACE WITH MYSELF OR WITH OTHERS AROUND ME.
"NO MATTER WHAT GOVERNMENT, COURTS, OR WHAT PEOPLE SAY,
"I AM THE ONE WHO JUDGES MY RIGHTS OR WRONGS,
"THE ONE WHO DEEMS MY CONSEQUENCES.
"I'M THE ONE WHO HAS TO ACCEPT HOW I LIVE, WITH THE OUTCOME,
"OF THIS CALL ON MY LIFE."
>> AMEN. >> WELL SAID.
>> THANK YOU.
(applause)
>> I'LL TRY TO BE VERY BRIEF.
I'M DAVE SELMON, AND I'M THE DIRECTOR OF LEARNING CORNERS
OF THE EDUCATION HERE AT THE COLLEGE,
AND I ALSO COACHED BASKETBALL FOR 20 YEARS,
AND I JUST FEEL THAT THIS IS A TIME THAT I MUST SAY THIS...
IS THAT PEOPLE TALK ABOUT-- PEOPLE ALWAYS TELL ME, "DAVE"--
YOU KNOW, ALL MY FRIENDS THAT ARE LAID OFF RIGHT NOW
AND THAT ARE NOT THE BE DOING AS WELL AS I'M DOING RIGHT NOW.
AND WHEN I THINK ABOUT THIS...
WHEN THEY WERE SITTING AT HOME IN THEIR APARTMENTS--
BECAUSE I CAME HERE 30-SOME YEARS AGO,
I WAS GOING TO SCHOOL, OKAY?
WE HAD TO WALK-- I WAS RECRUITED TO PLAY BASKETBALL
FOR MANSFIELD, OHIO.
WE HAD TO WALK OVER SEVEN, EIGHT MILES TO GET TO SCHOOL
IF THE BUS WAS RUNNING.
IF THE BUS WAS RUNNING, OF COURSE WE TOOK THE BUS.
BUT THERE WAS TIMES THAT I SACRIFICED, OKAY--
I SACRIFICED BECAUSE I WANTED TO DRESS NICELY.
I WANTED TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE FOR MY FAMILY.
I WANTED TO BE ABLE TO DO ALL THESE THINGS.
AND THE MOMENT THAT YOU GUYS ARE IN RIGHT NOW...
IS CRUCIAL.
YOU CAN UNDERESTIMATE THIS IF YOU WANT.
YOUR ABILITY TO MAKE MONEY FIVE OR SIX YEARS FROM NOW
WILL ALL DEPEND ON WHAT YOU DO RIGHT NOW.
FOR PEOPLE THAT DON'T HAVE A DEGREE,
THEY'RE PREDICTING THAT YOU WILL MAKE $800,000
OVER YOUR 30-YEAR WORKING CAREER OR 40-YEAR WORKING CAREER.
PEOPLE THAT HAVE ONE WILL MAKE $1.8 MILLION.
WHAT AM I SAYING TO YOU?
IT'S WORTH $1 MILLION TO YOU TO GET YOUR DEGREE,
WHAT YOU'RE DOING RIGHT NOW.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE I SAID THIS TO YOU BEFORE I LEFT TODAY...
BECAUSE I SEE YOU...
I SEE ME SITTING DOWN RIGHT NOW WHERE YOU GUYS WERE.
TRUST ME-- GET IT DONE.
GET IT DONE.
(applause)
>> ALL RIGHT, SO MY...
INTERPRETATION FOR THIS LAST PART WAS JUST A REMINDER.
SO, THIS IS THE END OF MY LITTLE NARRATIVE OF MY STORY,
MY "INVICTUS MOMENT," IS WHEN I WAS 16,
I DECIDED I WOULD NOT SWITCH HIGH SCHOOLS
AND INCREASE MY CHANCES OF BECOMING THE MASTER OF MY FATE
AND THE CAPTAIN OF MY SOUL.
SO, THAT'S WHAT I-- IN READING THIS POEM
AND ASKING YOU TO DO IT--
I THINK ONE OTHER THING IS ONCE I SAT DOWN
AND I THOUGHT IN THAT EXPERIENCE AND THAT DECISION
CAME TO MY MIND,
I STARTED TO SEE ALL THESE OTHER DECISIONS THAT CAME TO MY MIND,
SO AGAIN, THINKING ABOUT STRINGING THESE MOMENTS OF VICTORY TOGETHER,
NO MATTER HOW SMALL THEY MAY BE,
AND TAKING A SECOND AND LOOKING AT THEM,
MIGHT ACTUALLY HELP YOU MAKE THE NEXT DECISION
A LITTLE EASIER, A LITTLE BETTER,
AND A LITTLE MORE POSITIVE AS YOU START TO STRING THOSE PIECES TOGETHER.
AND THEN, THE LAST THING I FOUND,
WHICH I THOUGHT WAS REALLY CREATIVE HERE,
IS ANOTHER VERSION OF "INVICTUS,"
AND MY MUSICIAN FRIEND MIGHT APPRECIATE THIS.
>> (indistinct speaking).
(guitar music)
(singing) ♪ OOH ♪
♪ OUT OF THE NIGHT THAT COVERS ME ♪
♪ BLACK AS THE PIT FROM POLE TO POLE ♪
♪ I THANK WHATEVER GODS MAY BE ♪
♪ FOR MY UNCONQUERABLE SOUL ♪
(guitar music)
♪ IN THE FELL CLUTCH OF CIRCUMSTANCE ♪
♪ I HAVE NOT WINCED NOR CRIED ALOUD ♪
(guitar music)
♪ UNDER THE BLUDGEONINGS OF CHANCE ♪
♪ MY HEAD IS BLOODY BUT UNBOWED ♪
(guitar music)
♪ OOH ♪
(guitar music)
♪ BEYOND THIS PLACE OF WRATH AND TEARS ♪
♪ LOOMS BUT THE HORROR OF THE SHADE ♪
♪ AND YET THE MENACE OF THE YEARS ♪
♪ FINDS AND SHALL FIND ME UNAFRAID ♪
♪ OOH ♪
♪ IT MATTERS NOT HOW STRAIT THE GATE ♪
♪ HOW CHARGED WITH PUNISHMENTS THE SCROLL ♪
♪ I AM THE MASTER OF MY FATE ♪
♪ I AM THE CAPTAIN OF MY SOUL ♪
♪ I AM THE MASTER OF MY FATE ♪
♪ I AM THE CAPTAIN OF MY SOUL ♪
♪ OOH ♪
(guitar music)
>> THAT WAS ACTUALLY REALLY NICE.
>> THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU LOOK FOR THINGS ON THE INTERNET
AND YOU FIND SOMETHING GOOD.
ALL RIGHT, SO-- AND I THOUGHT, YOU KNOW, MORGAN FREEMAN
AT THE BEGINNING, A SONG AT THE END.
WE HAD MY INTERPRETATION, AND THANKS EVERYONE WHO DID SHARE,
BECAUSE THE THING IS, IS THAT IT IS A NARRATIVE
AND IT IS A STORY...
AND IT CAN BE TOLD IN A WHOLE BUNCH OF DIFFERENT WAYS,
BUT BEFORE YOU CAN TELL IT,
YOU HAVE TO THINK ABOUT IT AND YOU HAVE TO FIND IT
AND YOU HAVE TO BE WILLING TO CONSIDER WHAT IT MEANS.
SO, "INVICTUS MOMENTS"-- THEY LEAD TO CONNECTIONS,
THOSE CONNECTIONS LEAD US TO ENGAGEMENT,
AND THESE ARE SOME THINGS THAT I THINK THAT WE REALLY NEED
TO THINK ABOUT AS WE PREPARE FOR WHATEVER THAT CIVIC ENGAGEMENT,
AND ONCE WE SAY, "WE'RE GOING TO GO OUT TO THE COMMUNITY
"AND DO WHATEVER IT IS WE'RE GOING TO DO."
THINK HERE FIRST BEFORE WE CAN THINK OUT THERE.
SO, I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO TAKE THE DAY'S DISCUSSION,
AND PLEASE FEEL FREE TO GO TO BLACKBOARD
AND UPLOAD ANY OF YOUR COMMENTS AT ANY POINT.
BUT BY THE TIME I SEE YOU,
OUR NEXT MEETING IS GOING TO BE IN JANUARY
AND THEN WE'LL GET BACK TO TALKING ABOUT SPECIFIC WAYS
AND WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO IN THE COMMUNITY.
SO, THANK YOU.
(applause)
>> AND I APPRECIATE MURSALATA BEING HERE
AND SHARING, AND THE THING THAT I WANT YOU TO TAKE TO HEART
IS WHAT SHE'S DRIVING YOU TO DO IS TO DO REFLECTIVE THINKING...
AND SOMETIMES, THAT'S NOT EASY TO DO.
WHEN YOU DO REFLECTIVE THINKING, YOU NOT ONLY SEE THE GOOD,
YOU SEE THE BAD.
YOU KNOW, BUT YOU HAVE TO SEE THE BAD
BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT'S--
YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT TO FIX, YOU KNOW?
IF YOU DON'T SPEND SOME TIME DOING SOME SELF-REFLECTIONS.
AND THE OTHER THING I LIKE ABOUT THIS POEM--
THE POEM, TO ME, TALKS ABOUT "FAILURE'S NOT AN OPTION."
YOU KNOW, LIFE HITS US-- SO WHAT?
YOU KNOW, THE BOTTOM LINE IS WHEN LIFE COMES, YOU KNOW,
WE WILL RISE TO THE CHALLENGE...
AND THAT'S PART OF WHAT WE TALK ABOUT IN THIS PROGRAM HERE.
A LOT OF THINGS WILL HIT US, YOU KNOW, UNEXPECTEDLY--
THINGS WE NEVER THOUGHT WE'D HAVE TO ENCOUNTER.
SO WHAT?
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO REBOUND ANYWAY AND MAKE IT ANYWAY.
YOU GENTLEMEN-- YOU GENTLEMEN OF THE FIRST CLASS OF A.B.O.,
AND FROM NOW ON, OTHER YOUNG MEN WILL BE COMING IN THIS PROGRAM
LOOKING TO THE EXAMPLE THAT YOU SET.
YOU KNOW, AND YOU ALL DIDN'T REALIZE Y'ALL WAS SETTING YOURSELF UP FOR ALL THAT,
BUT YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHAT YOU ARE.
YOU KNOW, CHARLES BARKLEY MADE A COMMENT, YOU KNOW,
ABOUT NOT BEING THE EXAMPLE, AND I DISAGREE WITH THAT.
I THINK WE ALL ARE EXAMPLES.
WE DON'T HAVE THE OPTION OF CHOOSING NOT TO BE THE EXAMPLE
OR THE MODEL, YOU KNOW?
WE ARE THE MODEL, AND WE'RE SETTING THE MODE RIGHT NOW.
I HAVE A SPECIAL FRIEND-- GENTLEMAN--
I WANT TO INTRODUCE TO YOU RIGHT NOW,
AND DR. DAMON ARNOLD,
AND I'M GOING TO READ JUST HIS BIOGRAPHY,
BUT HE'S GOING TO SPEND SOME TIME WITH US,
AND I THINK YOU'LL FIND HIM ENGAGING,
AND I'VE ASKED HIM TO CHALLENGE YOU...
AND THERE WILL BE SOME Q&A AT THE END--
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS HE WILL ENGAGE YOU IN.
I CHALLENGE YOU TO CHALLENGE HIM.
YOU KNOW, (indistinct), YOU KNOW?
(audience laughing)
YOU KNOW, AND SO CHALLENGE HIM BACK, OKAY?
LET ME TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT DR. ARNOLD.
WHAT DID I DO WITH MY GLASSES?
HOLD THIS RIGHT THERE.
NAH, I'M JUST TEASING. (audience laughing)
I HAVE GLASSES SOMEWHERE.
I'M SORRY-- YOU GOT MY BACK?
AS A MATTER OF FACT, I'M GONNA LET ANDRE READ THIS,
SINCE HE'S GOT MY BACK.
>> (indistinct speaking). (audience laughing)
>> I SPOKE TOO SOON, RIGHT?
OKAY, MR. DR. DAMON ARNOLD--
I'M GONNA READ IT RIGHT OFF THE PAPER.
>> (whispering) DON'T READ IT ALL.
>> DON'T READ IT ALL-- OKAY, I'LL KEEP IT BRIEF.
>> DON'T READ IT ALL-- THEY DON'T NEED TO KNOW THIS STUFF.
>> OKAY.
DR. ARNOLD IS A NATIVE OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.
HE IS AN AUTHOR, CONSULTANT, AND MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER.
HE PROVIDES TRAINING AND LEADERSHIP AND MOTIVATION
TO A WIDE RANGE OF GROUPS, INCLUDING PROFESSIONALS,
EXECUTIVES, ATHLETES, STUDENTS, AND INDIVIDUALS
ACROSS THE UNITED STATES.
AND SO-- I DON'T WANT TO READ THE REST-- I WILL SAY THIS--
WHEN I HEARD HIS BIO ONLINE, THE THING THAT STOOD OUT TO ME
WAS THAT HE HAD A GREAT UNDERSTANDING OF THE PSYCHOLOGY OF SUCCESS
AND THE PSYCHOLOGY OF FAILURE.
AND WHETHER YOU ARE A SUCCESS OR A FAILURE IN THIS CULTURE,
IN THIS COUNTRY, IS GONNA BE DETERMINED ON HOW YOU THINK,
AND HOW YOU THINK ABOUT YOURSELF,
HOW YOU THINK ABOUT LIFE, AND HOW YOU THINK ABOUT YOUR FUTURE.
SO, WHEN HE'S GIVING HIS MESSAGE,
I WANT YOU GUYS TO KIND OF FILTER IT THROUGH THAT "HOW DO I NEED TO THINK?"
AS NOT ONLY A STUDENT, BUT ALSO AS A BLACK MAN.
"HOW DO I NEED TO THINK IN THIS COUNTRY IN ORDER
"TO ENSURE MY SUCCESS?"
SO, I'M SURE HE'S GOING TO GIVE A RELEVANT WORD.
PUT YOUR HANDS TOGETHER FOR DR. ARNOLD.
(applause)
>> CAN Y'ALL HEAR ME?
ALL RIGHT, I GOT TWO SPEECHES.
I GOT THE ONE THAT'S "DR. DAMON ARNOLD"...
OR I GOT...
"I'M DAMON, LET'S TALK."
WHICH ONE Y'ALL WANT? >> (all) "DAMON, LET'S TALK."
>> BECAUSE I AIN'T REALLY HAVE ONE OVER THERE.
(audience laughing) I DON'T REALLY HAVE THAT ONE.
SOMEDAY, SOMEBODY GOING TO SAY, "NO, I WANT TO HEAR THAT ONE."
I'M GONNA BE LIKE, "WHOO..." (audience laughing)
I CAN PUT THAT ONE ON, TOO.
SO, I LIKE TO HAVE FUN WHEN I'M GIVING MY PRESENTATIONS,
WHEN I'M TALKING, BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE I CAN'T BE THIS DR. DAMON ARNOLD GUY
WITHOUT TELLING YOU WHO I AM.
SO, A LITTLE BIT ABOUT ME--
I GOT KICKED OUT OF TWO DIFFERENT HIGH SCHOOLS,
I GRADUATED FROM AN ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL,
I WENT TO A COMMUNITY COLLEGE.
SO, I DIDN'T KNOW THIS "DR. DAMON ARNOLD" EXISTED INSIDE OF ME.
SO, I DON'T REALLY GET OFF FROM THAT.
NOW UNDERSTAND, IT'S DIFFERENT TIMES
WHEN YOU GOTTA PUT A DIFFERENT SET OF LENSES ON.
I WORK AT GRAND VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY.
I WORK WITH STUDENT ATHLETES.
AND SO, ME AND MY STUDENT ATHLETES--
WE HAVE A GOOD RELATIONSHIP...
BUT THEY ARE COMING TO SEE DR. DAMON ARNOLD.
THEY NOT DOING THAT.
WE NEED TO HAVE A CONVERSATION.
SO, WE'RE CONVERSING, THEY'RE COMING TO SEE DAMON,
AND WE HAVE REAL TALK.
BUT ONE THING I CHALLENGE THEM IS...
WE GONNA TAKE YOU TO THE LEVEL WHERE YOU NEED TO BE,
BUT I'M GOING TO MEET YOU WHERE YOU ARE,
BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE THAT'S THE JOB AS EDUCATORS.
SO, WITH THAT SAID, I TALK TO THEM
ABOUT PUTTING A DIFFERENT SET OF LENSES ON.
YOU'VE GOT TO TALK DIFFERENTLY IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS.
YOU CAN'T TALK THE SAME ALL THE TIME...
DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? >> (all) YES.
>> DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? >> (all) YES.
>> BECAUSE YOU CAN'T BE THAT PERSON-- REMEMBER DAVE CHAPELLE,
WHEN HE HAD "KEEPING IT REAL GONE WRONG"?
>> (all) YEAH. >> Y'ALL REMEMBER THAT?
YEAH!
"KEEPING IT REAL GONE WRONG."
YOU CAN'T KEEP IT REAL ALL THE TIME.
(audience chuckling)
SOMETIMES, YOU HAVE TO PLAY THE GAME.
YOU HAVE TO PLAY THE GAME.
ALL RIGHT, SO I GOT KICKED OUT OF TWO DIFFERENT HIGH SCHOOLS--
YOU LEAVING, MAN-- YOU AIN'T LEAVING, ARE YOU?
'CAUSE IT'S ABOUT TO GET KINDA HOT IN HERE!
>> I DIDN'T WANT TO INTERRUPT YOU,
BUT I WAS TRYING TO GET A CUP.
>> HOLD ON-- HERE YOU GO, MAN.
(audience laughing) GIVE MY MAN A CUP.
THAT'S ALL HE WANTED WAS A CUP.
HE CAME OVER THERE LOOKING FOR A CUP-- HERE YOU GO.
ALL RIGHT, SO LET'S HAVE SOME FUN.
SO, FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO SHOW YOU THIS VIDEO, ALL RIGHT?
I'M GONNA SHOW YOU THIS VIDEO,
AND THIS IS A VIDEO OF HOW THEY TRAIN FLEAS, OKAY?
SO, HOW THEY TRAIN FLEAS...
AND IT'S CRAZY.
WHEN I FIRST SAW THIS VIDEO, I WAS LIKE, "MAN!"
ALL RIGHT, SO CHECK THIS OUT.
>> TRAINING FLEAS REQUIRES A GLASS JAR WITH A LID.
THE FLEAS ARE PLACED INSIDE THE JAR, AND THE LID IS THEN SEALED.
THEY ARE LEFT UNDISTURBED FOR THREE DAYS.
THEN, WHEN THE JAR IS OPENED, THE FLEAS WILL NOT JUMP OUT.
IN FACT, THE FLEAS WILL NEVER JUMP HIGHER THAN THE LEVEL
SET BY THE LID.
THEIR BEHAVIOR IS NOW SET FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES.
AND WHEN THESE FLEAS REPRODUCE,
THEIR OFFSPRING WILL AUTOMATICALLY FOLLOW THEIR EXAMPLE.
(general chatter)
>> SO, YOU MEAN TO TELL ME... YOU HAVE FLEAS THAT CAN JUMP,
BUT BECAUSE THEY PUT THAT LID ON--
BECAUSE THEY PUT THAT LID ON,
THEY DON'T JUMP ANY HIGHER THAN THAT LID.
AND WHAT HAPPENS IS, THE OFFSPRING--
IF Y'ALL HEARD THAT PART--
THEY'RE WATCHING THEIR MOM AND DAD JUMP TO THAT LID
AND GET THEIR HEAD HIT.
SO, THEY'RE THINKING, "DANG, I DON'T WANT TO JUMP HIGHER THAN THAT,
"BECAUSE I'M GONNA GET MY HEAD HIT."
SO, ALL OF A SUDDEN, WHEN THEY LEARN TO JUMP,
THEY ONLY JUMP SO HIGH.
SO, I GREW UP IN A SINGLE-PARENT HOUSEHOLD WITH JUST MY MOTHER.
SO, MY MOTHER UNDERSTOOD--
AND SHE WAS THE ONLY ONE IN MY FAMILY,
'CAUSE I'M THE ONLY ONE IN MY FAMILY TO THIS DAY
TO GO TO COLLEGE AND GRADUATE-- AND SO, MY MOTHER ALWAYS SAID,
"ALL RIGHT, BOY, EDUCATION... EDUCATION."
THAT'S WHAT SHE TOLD-- I HAD THAT ONE PERSON
WHO WAS IN MY HEAD TALKING ABOUT "EDUCATION...
"EDUCATION."
BUT I WAS STILL GETTING IN ALL KINDS OF TROUBLE,
BECAUSE REMEMBER, MY MOTHER CROSSED A DIFFERENT BRIDGE
THAN THE BRIDGE I NEEDED TO GO ACROSS.
SHE CAN TEACH ME HOW TO GO ACROSS THAT BRIDGE INTO MANHOOD.
SHE COULDN'T, BECAUSE SHE WENT ACROSS A TOTALLY DIFFERENT BRIDGE.
SO, I HAD TO PIECE TOGETHER WHAT A MAN WAS
THROUGH ALL MY FRIENDS AND EVERYTHING...
BUT ONE THING I DIDN'T DO... IS I NEVER GAVE UP.
I NEVER GAVE UP.
EVEN THOUGH I WAS GETTING IN ALL THIS TROUBLE, I NEVER GAVE UP...
AND THAT ONE PERSON WHO NEVER GAVE UP ON ME WAS MY MOTHER.
SO ALL Y'ALL IN THIS ROOM GOT ONE PERSON.
EVERYBODY IN THIS ROOM GOT ONE PERSON.
AND YOU MAY SAY, "NO, I DON'T."
YES, YOU DO, BECAUSE YOU GOT YOU.
YOU GOT YOU.
AND YOU HAVE TO MAKE A CHOICE NOT TO GIVE UP... ON YOU.
SO, IF YOU AIN'T GOT NOBODY ELSE,
YOU BE THAT ONE PERSON.
IT'S UP TO YOU.
BECAUSE SUCCESS IS TRULY IN YOUR HANDS.
HOW THE HECK DID I GET KICKED OUT OF TWO DIFFERENT HIGH SCHOOLS
AND GRADUATE FROM A CONTINUATION SCHOOL,
AND, ALL OF A SUDDEN, I'M "DR. DAMON ARNOLD"?
(audience chuckling) I MEAN, IT ONLY HAPPENS
THROUGH PERSEVERANCE.
I WASN'T A 4.0 STUDENT.
I WASN'T.
I WAS TERRIBLE AT SCHOOL.
BUT WHAT'S CRAZY IS...
I DON'T LIKE MATH TO THIS DAY.
I DON'T LIKE SCIENCE TO THIS DAY.
BUT IN ORDER TO GET MY DEGREES, I HAD TO DO THOSE SUBJECTS.
BUT WHAT HAPPENED WAS I STARTED ASKING FOR HELP.
I STARTED ASKING FOR HELP.
AND THEN, I FOUND OUT SOME PEOPLE LIKE MATH.
THEY CRAZY, BUT THEY LIKE MATH. (audience laughing)
I ALSO DON'T LIKE SCIENCE...
BUT WHAT I FOUND OUT WAS SOME PEOPLE LIKE SCIENCE.
SO, I STARTED PUTTING MYSELF AROUND THOSE PEOPLE
WHO COULD HELP ME WITH MY DEFICIENCIES.
AND WHAT'S INTERESTING IS IT WAS SOME THINGS
THAT I WAS GOOD AT, THAT THEY WEREN'T THAT...
AND I WAS ABLE TO HELP THEM.
WE SHARED AN EXPERIENCE TOGETHER,
BUT IT WAS BECAUSE I OPENED MY MOUTH.
SO, IT WAS KIND OF LIKE LITTLE BOY-- LITTLE BOY--
OH, BEFORE I CAN GET YOU THE STORY OF THE LITTLE BOY--
HOLD ON-- I'VE GOT TO SHOW YOU ALL SOMETHING,
'CAUSE I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DON'T DO THIS.
I GONNA SHOW YOU ALL SOMETHING RIGHT QUICK.
ALL RIGHT, SO WHENEVER I DO THESE PRESENTATIONS, RIGHT?
WHENEVER YOU DO THESE PRESENTATIONS,
I ALWAYS GOTTA TALK ABOUT-- BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE, YOU KNOW,
WE GOTTA BE FAMILY, ALL RIGHT?
CAN WE BE FAMILY-- CAN WE BE FAMILY?
SO, I'M TO INTRODUCE Y'ALL TO MY FAMILY,
BUT EVERYTHING WE SAY STAYS IN THE ROOM, ALL RIGHT?
'CAUSE ME AND MY WIFE, WHEN I TELL YOU A COUPLE STORIES--
WE HAD TO GO TO COUNSELING OVER SOME STUFF, ALL RIGHT?
SO, IT STAYS IN THE ROOM, COOL?
WE GOOD-- ALL RIGHT, COOL.
WHO THE HECK IN THE ROOM IS GOING TO TELL?
ANYBODY?
OKAY, COOL-- THAT'S WHAT I LIKE TO HEAR.
WHOOP, DADDY. (audience laughing)
ALWAYS GOTTA BE ONE. (audience laughing)
ALL RIGHT, SO FIRST PERSON I WANT TO INTRODUCE Y'ALL TO...
IS MY WIFE, SHIRELLE ARNOLD.
ME AND SHIRELLE HAVE BEEN MARRIED 14 LONG, LONG--
OH SHOOT, GOOD YEARS, BABY.
GOOD YEARS-- 14 GOOD YEARS.
ALL RIGHT, SO 14 GOOD YEARS.
NEXT PERSON I GOT TO INTRODUCE Y'ALL TO IS THIS PERSONAL HERE...
(audience laughing) HOLD ON, TIME-OUT--
WHY Y'ALL LAUGHING? (audience laughing)
SEE, IT KILLED ME WHEN I SHOW THAT PICTURE
AND PEOPLE BE LAUGHING,
BECAUSE I'D BE LIKE, "WHAT IF THAT WAS HIS REAL TEETH?"
(audience laughing) THAT KIND OF HURT MY FEELINGS!
BUT THAT'S D.J., SO I'M GONNA TELL YOU SOME STORIES ABOUT D.J.
BECAUSE MY KIDS HELPED ME BECOME THE PERSON I AM TODAY.
IT'S PEOPLE WHO WILL PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE
IN WHO YOU ARE TODAY.
ALL RIGHT, SO THE LAST PERSON I GOTTA INTRODUCE Y'ALL TO
IS THIS GIRL RIGHT HERE.
THAT'S ALONI.
YES, SHE DOES GOT CORN FLAKES IN HER HAIR,
BUT THAT'S OF A START OF A HOUSE RIGHT THERE.
THAT'S MY BABY.
LET ME GIVE A BETTER PICTURE-- SO THAT'S ALONI.
SO, THAT'S MY FAMILY.
SO, FIRST STORY I GOT TO TELL YOU IS ABOUT THIS LITTLE BOY
AND HE WAS WALKING DOWN THE STREET--
LITTLE BOY PROBABLY ABOUT NINE YEARS OLD,
THE SAME AGE AS MY SON.
ABOUT NINE YEARS OLD, AND THEY'RE WALKING DOWN THE STREET, RIGHT?
AND THE FATHER SAYS TO THE SON--
HE SAYS, "SON, YOU SEE THAT BIG OLD ROCK RIGHT THERE?
"SON, YOU CAN MOVE THAT ROCK."
AND THE SON LOOKS BACK AT HIS DADDY-- HE'S ONLY NINE YEARS OLD--
AND HE'S LIKE, "I CAN'T MOVE THAT ROCK!"
HE WAS LIKE, "SON, YOU CAN MOVE THAT ROCK."
HE WAS LIKE, "I CAN'T MOVE THAT ROCK, DADDY."
"SON, YOU CAN MOVE THAT ROCK."
SO, THE SON GO OVER TO THE ROCK AND HE START PUSHING,
"UNGGGHHHH!
"I CAN'T MOVE IT."
SO, HE DO IT AGAIN-- HE LIKE, "ALL RIGHT,
"MY DADDY SAID I COULD MOVE IT, SO I MUST CAN MOVE IT,
"BECAUSE MY DADDY SAID I CAN MOVE IT."
SO, YOU GO TO THE ROCK AGAIN, "UNGGHHH!"
ROCK STILL AIN'T MOVING.
AND SO HE STOP-- HE SAY, "DADDY, SEE, I TOLD YOU!
"I COULDN'T MOVE THAT ROCK!"
AND THE FATHER SAID, "STOP, STOP, STOP, SON.
"YOU COULD MOVE THAT ROCK, YOU JUST DIDN'T TRY EVERYTHING."
HE'S LIKE, "DADDY, I DID!
"I TRIED EVERYTHING-- I PUSHED REAL HARD!"
HE WAS LIKE, "SON, STOP.
"YOU DIDN'T TRY EVERYTHING."
HE WAS LIKE, "ALL RIGHT, WELL, MAYBE I DIDN'T TRY EVERYTHING.
"I GOTTA BEND MY KNEES-- I GOTTA BEND MY KNEES."
HE GO BACK OVER, "UNGGHHH!"
PUSHING-- ROCK AIN'T MOVING.
HE'S PUSHING NOW WITH ALL HIS-- HE JUST, "UNNGGHHHH!"
AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, HE STARTS CRYING.
PUSHING-- HE'S JUST CRYING.
AND THE FATHER'S OVER LOOKING AT HIS SON,
AND THE FATHER'S LOOKING, AND THE FATHER STARTS TO CRY
A LITTLE BIT, TOO, BECAUSE THE SON IS JUST--
YOU CAN TELL HE'S GETTING FRUSTRATED AND EVERYTHING,
AND HE JUST GIVES UP AND HE STOPS,
AND HE LOOKS AT HIS FATHER WITH TEARS JUST RUNNING DOWN HIS FACE.
HE SAID, "DADDY, SEE, I TOLD YOU.
"I COULDN'T MOVE THAT ROCK."
AND THE FATHER SAID, AS HE WIPED HIS EYES-- HE SAID,
"SON-- SON, STOP CRYING.
"YOU COULD MOVE THAT ROCK, SON.
"YOU COULD'VE MOVED IT."
HE WAS LIKE, "NO, I COULDN'T, DADDY!
"I TOLD YOU I COULDN'T!"
HE SAID, "SON, STOP!
"YOU COULD HAVE MOVED THAT ROCK!"
HE SAID, "SON, YOU DIDN'T TRY EVERYTHING!"
"I DID TRY EVERYTHING!" "NO, YOU DIDN'T!
"SON, I'M STANDING RIGHT HERE,
"AND YOU DIDN'T ASK ME TO HELP YOU.
"I WOULD HAVE HELPED YOU MOVE THAT ROCK, SON,
"BUT YOU DIDN'T ASK ME."
MEN, YOU CAN'T BE SO PRIDEFUL THAT YOU'RE NOT ASKING FOR HELP.
YOU HAVE TO ASK FOR HELP.
IF YOU ASK FOR HELP, PEOPLE AT THIS UNIVERSITY WILL HELP YOU.
THEY WILL HELP YOU...
BECAUSE THEY NEEDED HELP.
YOU KNOW, I SAY A LOT OF TIMES,
WHEN I GO SPEAK TO DIFFERENT PEOPLE AT--
DEPENDING ON WHAT I'M SPEAKING ABOUT--
IF YOU THINK ABOUT ALL OF THE SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE,
THEY'RE SUCCESSFUL BECAUSE THEY ASKED FOR HELP.
SOMEONE HELPED THEM ALONG THE WAY.
I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S SOME JORDAN FANS OR SOME COLBY FANS--
I DON'T KNOW WHO IN THE ROOM, BUT THEY ALL GOT COACHES.
THEY ALL HAD PEOPLE TO HELP THEM.
IF YOU WANT TO MOVE ROCKS, IF YOU WANT TO MOVE OBSTACLES,
IF YOU WANT TO MOVE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT WILL GET IN YOUR WAY--
BECAUSE THAT'S ALL LIFE IS.
LIFE IS GOING TO TEST TO SEE IF YOU REALLY WANT IT.
NOBODY'S IMMUNE TO IT.
EVERYBODY'S GOING TO GO THROUGH SOMETHING.
NOBODY'S IMMUNE TO IT.
BUT WHO ARE YOU GOING TO ASK TO HELP YOU GO THROUGH IT?
BECAUSE REMEMBER, IF EVERYBODY'S GOING THROUGH SOMETHING.
WHY DO YOU FEEL LIKE IT'S JUST YOU?
AND WHY MAKE A DECISION BASED ON WHAT YOU'RE GOING THROUGH RIGHT NOW?
BECAUSE WHO YOU ARE RIGHT NOW IS NOT GOING TO BE WHO YOU WILL BE
IN THE FUTURE.
DECISIONS AND CHOICES, MEN.
YOU GOTTA CONTINUOUSLY MAKE BETTER ONES.
DECISIONS AND CHOICES-- CONTINUOUSLY MAKE BETTER ONES,
AND YOU'RE GOING TO BE ALL RIGHT.
DOES THAT STORY MAKE SENSE? >> (all) MMM-HMM.
>> ALL RIGHT.
(applause)
I'M GETTING WARMED UP.
I'M GETTING WARMED UP. (audience laughing)
AND YOU, RIGHT HERE, WITH THE LITTLE-- I LIKE Y'ALL.
Y'ALL REALLY FLY RIGHT NOW, TOO.
AND TELL THE TRUTH-- DO Y'ALL FEEL DIFFERENTLY
WHEN Y'ALL GOT YOUR TIES ON? >> (all) OH, YEAH.
>> ALL RIGHT, THIS WASN'T EVEN ON THE SCRIPT,
BUT I REMEMBER WHEN I FIRST STARTED--
BECAUSE MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY, I GOT SUITS ON.
I'D BE SUITED AND BOOTED.
BUT THEN, ON FRIDAY, AND WHEN I GO TO SPEAK,
I LIKE TO WEAR JUST A SPORTS COAT AND SOME JEANS,
'CAUSE I LIKE TO PUT MY SWAG LIKE THIS, YOU KNOW?
AND SO, I REMEMBER WHEN I FIRST WORE A SUIT, AND FIRST OF ALL,
I BELIEVE PEOPLE WILL HELP YOU BASED ON YOU ASKING FOR HELP,
AND I BELIEVE PEOPLE WILL HELP YOU BASED ON WHO YOU ARE
AND WHAT YOU'RE EXHIBITING.
PEOPLE LIKE POSITIVE PEOPLE.
PEOPLE DON'T LIKE TO BE AROUND NEGATIVE PEOPLE.
AND SO, I REMEMBER WEARING A SUIT-- MY FIRST SUIT--
I WAS WORKING FOR THIS UNIVERSITY,
AND I WAS ABOUT TO GO RECRUIT,
AND I WAS ABOUT TO GO RECRUIT STUDENTS TO COME UP TO UNIVERSITY,
AND I HAD THIS SUIT ON, AND...
IT WAS A WHITE MAN NAMED DR. SCOTT WHO CHANGED MY LIFE.
IT WAS AN ASIAN MAN WHO CHANGED MY LIFE.
THEY DIDN'T LOOK LIKE ME, BUT THEY CHANGED MY LIFE.
SO, THE WHOLE RACE THING-- I DON'T REALLY GET OFF ON THAT,
BECAUSE I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT BEING ON THIS EARTH
IS THE HUMAN BEING, AND I BELIEVE PEOPLE WILL HELP YOU.
NO MATTER HOW YOU LOOK AND HOW THEY LOOK.
IT'S ABOUT YOUR SPIRIT, WHAT YOU PROJECT.
SO, I HAD MY SUIT ON, AND I WAS FEELING REAL CLEAN,
AND I REMEMBER THIS WHITE GENTLEMAN OPENED UP THE DOOR
AND SAID, "HERE YOU GO, SIR."
I WAS LIKE, "OH, SHOOT. (audience chuckling)
"HE CALLED ME 'SIR,' BECAUSE I HAD A SUIT ON."
BECAUSE YOU CAN IMAGINE IF MY PANTS WAS HANGING DOWN,
IT WOULD'VE BEEN A TOTALLY DIFFERENT CONVERSATION.
RIGHT, WRONG, OR INDIFFERENT--
IT'S A TOTALLY DIFFERENT CONVERSATION.
UNDERSTAND THAT, GENTLEMEN.
YOU'RE BEING BASED AND LOOKED AT ON HOW YOU DRESS SOMETIMES.
I MEAN, COME ON-- Y'ALL SEE IT NOW,
'CAUSE YOU'RE ALL OLDER IN THE ROOM.
YOU'RE ALL OLDER IN THE ROOM.
Y'ALL NOT AS YOUNG AS Y'ALL ONCE WAS.
I KNOW WE STILL GOT THAT DREAM OF PLAYING IN THE N.B.A.
AND IN THE FIELD, BUT...
LET IT GO, BABY, LET IT GO. (audience laughing)
(applause)
AND I AIN'T TRYING TO CRUSH NONE OF Y'ALL,
BECAUSE I STILL WAIT FOR THE CALL FROM THE LIONS.
I'M STILL WAITING! (audience laughing)
SO I FEEL YOU, BUT...
I CAN'T STAND IT WHEN I'M WALKING DOWN THE STREET NOW...
AND DUDES GOT THEIR PANTS JUST--
BECAUSE I GOT A NINE-YEAR-OLD IN THE CAR
WHO'S TRYING TO FIGURE THIS WHOLE THING OUT.
"WELL, DADDY SAID THAT'S NOT COOL,
"BUT THAT'D KINDA BE COOL 'CAUSE ALL THE BOYS IS WEARING
"THEIR PANTS DOWN HERE."
WELL, YOU HAVE TO DECIDE WHAT'S COOL,
BASED ON WHAT YOU THINK IS COOL.
HERE GOES MY FIRST STORY I GOT TO TELL YOU.
ALL RIGHT, SO HERE WE GO.
SO, I'M A BIG JORDAN FAN.
WHEN I FOUND OUT I WAS HAVING A LITTLE BOY--
ANYBODY GOT KIDS IN THE ROOM?
ANYBODY GOT KIDS IN THE ROOM?
OKAY, SO Y'ALL KNOW HOW IT FEEL,
BUT I'M GONNA BRING Y'ALL THAT DON'T HAVE KIDS--
I'M GOING TO BRING Y'ALL UP TO HOW I WAS FEELING.
SO, MY WIFE TOLD ME WE WAS HAVING A LITTLE BOY.
ALL RIGHT, SO I WAS ABOUT TO HAVE MY LITTLE MINI-ME.
I WAS ABOUT TO HAVE A BOY!
SHOOT!
HE ABOUT TO BE SHARP, BOY! (audience chuckling)
HE ABOUT TO BE TIGHT, MY LITTLE BOY.
SO, THE FIRST DAY TO MAKE MY LITTLE BOY TIGHT,
WHEN I FOUND OUT I WAS HAVING A LITTLE BOY,
'CAUSE NINE YEARS AGO, I SAID, "MAN, I GO HOME
"AND I GOT JUST BOXES-- SEVEN BOXES-- FULL OF JORDANS..."
'CAUSE JORDANS WAS THE SHOE OF CHOICE.
I DON'T KNOW ABOUT NOW, BUT PSHT!
NINE YEARS AGO, IF YOU HAD JORDANS ON, YOU WAS IT!
AND SO, MY SON HAD TO HAVE JORDANS,
BECAUSE JORDANS ARE COOL.
SO, I COME HOME WITH SEVEN BOXES,
AND MY WIFE JUST LOOKED AT ME AND LAUGHED,
AND 'CAUSE I BOUGHT THEM AT THE FOOT LOCKER ON CLEARANCE,
AT FOOT LOCKER OUTLET.
SO, I WAS GETTING A JORDANS FOR LIKE $10, $15, OKAY?
'CAUSE THEY WERE ON CLEARANCE.
SO, I GET HOME AND SHE'S JUST LAUGHING LIKE...
AND I'M LIKE, "HEY, MY SON HAS GOTTA HAVE JORDANS,
"BECAUSE HE GOTTA BE COOL."
BECAUSE I WANTED TO BE IN THE MALL, WALKING WITH MY SON,
AND PEOPLE BE LIKE, "OOOOH... (audience laughing)
"LOOK HOW CUTE HE IS.
"OH, AND LOOK AT HIS LITTLE JORDANS."
IT MADE ME FEEL REAL GOOD-- I DON'T KNOW ABOUT Y'ALL.
THAT MADE ME FEEL GOOD, LIKE I WAS DADDY OF THE YEAR.
SO, WHEN HE WAS ALMOST TWO,
HE DIDN'T HAVE A PAIR OF JORDANS TO FIT HIM,
AND SO I TOLD MY WIFE-- I SAID, "HEY-HEY-HEY, TOMORROW,
"WE GOTTA WAKE UP AND GO GET MY SON SOME JORDANS,
"BECAUSE JORDANS ARE COOL."
SO, WE WAKE UP, GET HIM UP IN THE MORNING--
HE ABOUT TO BE TWO.
SO, WE WAKE UP, PUT HIM IN THE BACKSEAT
BECAUSE WE GOT A NAVIGATOR-- I AIN'T GOT NO MINIVAN.
(audience laughing) SO, I HAD A LITTLE NAVIGATOR,
SO HE IN THE BACK, WE GET HIM TO THE MALL,
AND WE PUT HIM IN A STROLLER.
SO, HE IN A STROLLER, AND YOU KNOW HE'S ABOUT TO BE TWO--
AND YOU KNOW AT TWO, THEY AIN'T REALLY GOT CONTROL OF THEIR NECKS,
SO HE JUST-- DOING THAT.
THAT PART AIN'T COOL, ALL RIGHT?
'CAUSE HE BE DROOLING-- I CAN'T STAND THAT RIGHT THERE!
ALL RIGHT, SO WE GET-- WE GOT THAT STROLLER,
AND WE GO TO FOOT LOCKER, RIGHT?
BECAUSE BEFORE, I BOUGHT THEM AT FOOT LOCKER OUTLET,
SO I GOT TO GO GET MY SON SOME JORDANS.
SO, I ASKED THE GIRL-- I SAY, "HEY, WHERE'S THE JORDANS TO FIT MY SON?"
SHE WAS LIKE, "OH, SIR, THEY'RE OVER THERE."
SO, I GO OVER THERE AND I'M LIKE, "YEAH.
"YOU ABOUT TO BE TIGHT, BOY."
HE WAS LIKE... HE DON'T KNOW. (audience chuckling)
SO, I GET THE JORDANS, I PICK 'EM UP,
I'M LIKE-- THEY'RE ABOUT THAT BIG--
I'M LIKE, "OOH!"
$50!
YEAH, I KNOW THAT! (audience laughing)
I BOUGHT 'EM FOR CLEARANCE!
I LIKE, "OOH!"
SO, I'M THINKING I'M THE JORDANS SPECIALIST.
HE AIN'T TWO-- HE AIN'T JUMPING THAT HIGH RIGHT NOW.
AND SO, I'M LIKE-- I'M LIKE, "ALL RIGHT,
"SO LET ME GET A DIFFERENT PAIR OF JORDANS.
"LET ME GET THESE."
SO, I SAID, "THESE CLEAN, TOO,"
AND I GET 'EM AND I'M LIKE, "OOH!"
$55! (audience laughing)
AND I'M LOOKING AT MY BOY, AND HE'S JUST...
(audience laughing) DUDE, HE AIN'T GOT NO JOB.
I'M NOT ABOUT TO SPEND $55 ON SOMEBODY WHO AIN'T GOT NO JOB.
AND SO, MY WIFE-- AND THIS IS WHY I SAY "IT STAYS IN THE ROOM"
BECAUSE WE HAD TO GO TO COUNSELING.
SO, MY WIFE LOOK AT ME-- SHE SEE ME, LIKE, JUST COMPLEX.
AND SHE SAID THE WORDS THAT I NEVER WANTED TO HEAR,
AND THEY STAY IN THE ROOM, OKAY?
I HAD TO GO TO COUNSELING.
SHE LOOKED AT ME AND SHE SAID,
"BABY, LET'S JUST GO TO PAYLESS!"
"AH, HECK NO!
"MY SON AIN'T WEARING NO PAYLESS SHOES!
"I WISH I WOULD HAVE MY SON WALKING AROUND HERE
"IN SOME PAYLESS SHOES."
SO, AS WE TOOK OUR STROLLER ON OUR WAY TO PAYLESS...
(audience laughing)
YEAH, YEAH, YEAH, CALL IT WHAT YOU WANT.
(general chatter) YOU'LL SEE, YOU'LL SEE.
SO, WE GET TO PAYLESS, RIGHT?
AND I ASK THE LADY-- AND I'M MAD-- AND HE DON'T KNOW
THAT HE ABOUT TO GET BEAT UP TOMORROW AT SCHOOL
WITH PAYLESS SHOES ON-- HE DON'T EVEN KNOW.
AND SO, I ASK THE GIRL-- AND NOW I GOT AN ATTITUDE--
AND I'M LIKE, "HEY, WHERE THE SHOES THAT FIT HIM?"
"OH, SIR, THEY'RE OVER THERE."
AND SO, I GO OVER THERE.
AND SO, I'M LOOKING AND I'M LIKE, "DANG."
AND MY SON WAS LIKE... (giggling)
"DADDY, DADDY!"
AND I'M LIKE, "WHAT'S GOING ON WITH YOU?"
HE WOULDN'T SAY.
HE WAS LOOKING UP-- MY SON'S FAVORITE CARTOON
AT THE TIME WAS "SPIDERMAN."
MY SON WAS LOOKING UP AT A PAIR OF SPIDERMAN SHOES.
HE WAS LIKE, "DADDY, LOOK! (giggling)
"LOOK, DADDY-- SPIDERMAN!"
ZOOM!
THAT'S SPIDERMAN THERE, LIKE-- ZOOM!
AND SO, I PULL THEM DOWN-- MY SON IS JUST EXCITED.
SO, I PUT THEM ON HIS FOOT, AND SO-- BY THE WAY,
IF Y'ALL DON'T KNOW-- SOME OF Y'ALL MAY KNOW,
SOME OF Y'ALL MIGHT NOT KNOW-- IT WAS B.O.G.O.
"BUY ONE, GET ONE HALF OFF," OKAY?
SO WE GOT INCREDIBLE HULKS, TOO. (audience laughing)
SO, WE LEAVE.
SO, WE LEAVE.
AND SO, I'M LIKE DYING, BECAUSE HE'S ALL EXCITED-- (giggling)
HE'S JUST IN HIS STROLLER, JUST SPRAYING WEBS
OVER ALL THE PEOPLES' HEADS AND EVERYTHING.
(audience laughing)
JUST EXCITED-- SO, I PUT HIM IN THE BACKSEAT,
SO HE'S IN THE SEAT, AND I'M LOOKING BACK AT HIM
IN THE REARVIEW, AND I'M LIKE, "DANG, IS HE EXCITED."
I'M FEELING ALL GOOD AND WHATNOT.
THEN, ALL OF A SUDDEN,
HIS FOOT HIT THE BACK OF MY WIFE'S CHAIR...
AND IT LIT UP.
HE WAS LIKE, "DADDY-- LIGHTS! (giggling)
"LIGHTS, DADDY!" (audience laughing)
MY SON WAS ABOUT TO BE TWO THEN.
MY SON IS NINE NOW.
IT WAS JUST SEVEN YEARS AGO THAT I LEARNED
IT'S NOT WHAT YOU WEAR,
BUT IT'S HOW YOU WEAR IT.
SO, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO DRESS UP EVERY SINGLE DAY.
ONE DAY, YOU WILL.
BUT RIGHT NOW, YOU MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO...
BUT YOU GOT TO FEEL GOOD ABOUT YOU.
YOU FEEL GOOD ABOUT YOU AND WHAT YOU BRING TO THE TABLE,
AND NO ONE ELSE CAN TELL YOU ANYTHING.
FEEL GOOD ABOUT YOU!
FEEL GOOD ABOUT THE DECISIONS THAT YOU'RE MAKING
IF THEY'RE POSITIVE.
BECAUSE WHAT WILL HAPPEN IS-- YOU WILL HAVE PEOPLE
WHO WILL TELL YOU WHAT YOU CAN'T DO.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU EXPERIENCED THAT ALREADY,
BUT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE PEOPLE IN YOUR LIFE THAT TELL YOU,
"YOU CAN'T."
AND YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION WHETHER TO BELIEVE THEM...
OR TO BELIEVE WHAT YOU KNOW IS TRUE.
I WAS TALKING TO THIS LITTLE GUY THE OTHER DAY,
AND I WAS DOING A PRESENTATION,
AND THE DUDE HAD TO BE LIKE 14 YEARS OLD--
I ASKED HIM, "YOU KNOW, WHO'S YOUR FAVORITE TEAM?"
AND HE SAID, "YOU KNOW, I LIKE THE TIGERS."
AND I SAID, "WELL, WHO WOULD YOU LIKE ON THE TIGERS?"
AND HE TOLD ME WHO HE LIKED-- I SAID, "SO, TELL ME THIS--"
I SAID, "SO, YOU MEAN TO TELL ME--
"WHAT ABOUT IN THE SUMMERTIME IF YOU WENT TO A DETROIT TIGERS CAMP,
"AND YOU SEEN THAT GUY WHO YOU LIKE,
"AND YOU WENT UP TO HIM AND YOU SAID, 'MAN, WHEN I GET OLDER,
"'I WANT TO PLAY BASEBALL JUST LIKE YOU.'
"WHAT DO YOU THINK THAT GUY IS GOING TO TELL YOU?"
HE SAID, "HE'D PROBABLY TELL ME THAT I CAN DO IT."
I SAID, "HE PROBABLY WILL.
"HE'LL PROBABLY SAY, 'YOU CAN DO IT-- YOU GOTTA JUST STICK IN THERE.'"
BUT WHAT WILL HAPPEN IS YOU'LL GO HOME--
AND THIS LITTLE AFRICAN-AMERICAN KID--
I SAID, "YOU'LL GO HOME AND YOU'LL GET AROUND PEOPLE
"AND YOU'LL TELL 'EM,
"'MAN, I JUST WENT TO THIS CAMP, AND I TALKED TO SUCH AND SUCH,
"'AND HE TOLD ME I COULD BE A BASEBALL PLAYER,'
"AND YOUR FRIENDS WILL SAY, 'MAN, YOU CAN'T DO THAT.
"'MAN-- MAN, YOU CAN'T--'"
BUT YOU MEAN TO TELL ME THAT SOMEBODY WHO'S DOING IT SAYS YOU CAN,
AND YOUR FRIEND WHO'S NOT DOING IT SAYS YOU CAN'T,
AND YOU'VE GOT TO BELIEVE ONE OR THE OTHER.
WHO ARE YOU GOING TO BELIEVE?
YOU'VE GOT PEOPLE AROUND THIS ROOM, IN THIS PROGRAM,
WHO ARE HELPING YOU,
WHO ARE TELLING YOU YOU HAVE GREATNESS INSIDE OF YOU,
AND YOUR FUTURE IS GOING TO BE GREAT,
BUT THEN, YOU GO HOME-- WE ALL GOT 'EM--
AND YOU'VE GOT PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO TELL YOU
YOU CAN'T DO IT.
SO, THEN YOU'VE GOT TO MAKE A DECISION--
ARE YOU GOING TO BELIEVE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE GETTING IT DONE,
WHO YOU'RE AROUND...
OR ARE YOU GOING TO BELIEVE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE STILL
A PART OF YOUR CIRCLE?
SEE, ONE OF THE HARDEST DECISIONS I HAD TO MAKE, MAN--
AND YOU DO WITH IT WHAT YOU WILL,
BECAUSE I HAD TO DECIDE WHO I WAS GOING TO ALLOW IN MY CIRCLE.
ONE OF THE HARDEST DECISIONS I HAD TO MAKE.
BECAUSE ONCE I STARTED MAKING THAT DECISION--
AND IT WASN'T A DECISION WHERE I JUST SAID,
"HEY MAN, THIS SCHOOL STUFF IS HARD.
"BUT COME ON, MAN, WE CAN DO IT TOGETHER."
BUT ALL THEY WANTED TO DO WAS THE OTHER STUFF.
AND SO, I STARTED SEPARATING MYSELF...
AND THESE WERE SUPPOSED TO BE MY FRIENDS.
BUT THEN, I STARTED HEARING FROM THE ONES WHO WERE MY FRIENDS,
"OH, MAN, DID YOU KNOW SUCH-AND-SUCH WAS TALKING ABOUT YOU?
"OH, MAN, YOU KNOW THEY WERE SAYING THIS."
I REMEMBER WORKING ON MY THESIS--
AND I'M NOT A GOOD WRITER,
BUT I WAS WORKING ON MY THESIS, AND I STOPPED GOING TO PARTIES
AND ALL THAT, BECAUSE I JUST WANTED SOMETHING MORE.
I HAD THIS BURNING THAT I WANTED SOMETHING MORE.
I WAS SUPPOSED TO BE DOING SOMETHING MORE.
I HAD MESSED UP LONG ENOUGH.
I HAD MESSED UP SO MANY TIMES AND I WAS TIRED.
I WAS LIKE, "THERE GOT TO BE SOMETHING MORE,
"BECAUSE I'M LOOKING OUTSIDE AND I'M SEEING PEOPLE
"DRIVING IN THE CARS THAT I WANT TO HAVE."
(general murmuring)
AND I'M STARTING TO THINK IN MY HEAD LIKE,
"IF THEY CAN DO IT, WHY CAN'T I?"
SO, I'M SITTING UP AND I'M WRITING AND I'M WRITING AND I'M--
GOD, I'M TIRED.
SO, I GO TO TAKE A BREAK, AND I DRIVE DOWN THE STREET,
AND I SEE ONE OF MY FRIENDS STANDING OUTSIDE A PARTY.
SO, I MAKE A U-TURN AND I GO TO HOLLER AT HIM--
HE WITH ABOUT FOUR OR FIVE PEOPLE,
AND I GO HOLLER AT HIM AND I'M LIKE,
"MAN-- MAN, WHAT'S UP?
"IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU."
HE WAS LIKE, "DAVE, COME HERE, MAN."
AND HE PULLED ME TO THE SIDE.
HE SAID, "MAN, THEN SAME DUDES JUST SAID 'WHAT'S UP' TO YOU--
"WHEN YOU WAS DRIVING BY, THEY WAS LIKE,
"'MAN, D. THINKS HE'S BETTER THAN US.'"
I SAID, "DAWG, WHEN I SEEN YOU,
"THAT'S THE REASON WHY I CAME BACK."
BECAUSE HE WAS LIKE, "MAN, I'M ABOUT TO--"
HE WASN'T READY TO FIGHT THEM DUDES.
I'M LIKE, "MAN, YOU AIN'T GOTTA DO THAT."
I SAID, "I JUST WANT SOMETHING DIFFERENT."
I SAID, "SO IT'S ALL GOOD, MAN.
"HAVE FUN-- BE SAFE."
AND I LEFT.
I STARTED TO UNDERSTAND THAT EVERYBODY WHO CALLS THEIRSELF YOUR FRIEND,
THEY ARE NOT YOUR FRIENDS.
THEY'RE NOT YOUR FRIENDS.
AND THAT'S CIRCLE THAT I TALKED ABOUT?
YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO START GETTING RID OF SOME PEOPLE.
YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO START SHAKING SOME PEOPLE OFF.
AND IT'S NOT THAT YOU'RE BETTER THAN THEM,
BECAUSE NONE OF US IS BETTER THAN ANYONE...
WE JUST CHOOSE, AT SOME POINT IN OUR LIFE,
TO START MAKING BETTER DECISIONS.
AND RIGHT NOW, YOU'RE MAKING A CHOICE TO MAKE BETTER DECISIONS.
SO, DON'T CONTINUE TO GO BACK TO THE OLD DECISIONS
THAT YOU'VE MADE BEFORE.
YOU'VE BEEN DOWN THAT ROAD.
IT'S LIKE THE STORY THAT THE LADY WHO--
SHE WALKING DOWN THE STREET-- SHE'S WALKING DOWN THE STREET,
AND SHE KEEP GOING DOWN THAT SAME STREET,
AND SHE KEEPS FALLING DOWN A POTHOLE.
THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, SHE GO DOWN THE SAME STREET AGAIN,
AND SHE FALL DOWN THE SAME POTHOLE.
AND THEN, THE NEXT DAY, SHE GO DOWN THE SAME STREET,
AND SHE FALL DOWN THE SAME POTHOLE.
AND SO, FINALLY, WHEN SHE DECIDES TO GO DOWN A DIFFERENT STREET,
THINGS CHANGE.
BECAUSE SHE DECIDED TO GO DOWN A DIFFERENT STREET.
WHAT'S CRAZY ABOUT IT IS,
SHE WENT DOWN THAT STREET THREE TIMES
AND SHE FELL DOWN THAT SAME POTHOLE.
WE'VE GOT TO STOP FALLING DOWN THE SAME POTHOLES.
BUT IF WE DO, GET UP.
GET UP OUT THE POTHOLE.
THERE'S SOMETHING BETTER.
THERE'S SOMETHING BETTER THAT YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING.
THERE IS.
THERE IS.
THERE'S SOMETHING BETTER THAT'S INSIDE OF YOU,
THAT IS SPECIAL ABOUT YOU
THAT MAYBE YOUR FRIENDS HAVEN'T FIGURED OUT YET.
AND SO, WHAT HAPPENS IS EVERYBODY'S RUNNING THE RACE.
EVERYBODY'S RUNNING A RACE.
AND PEOPLE ARE GOING TO DIFFERENT DESTINATIONS.
AND SO, IF YOU'RE HANGING AROUND THE DUDES
AND RUNNING THEIR RACE,
THEN YOU'RE GOING TO WIND UP AT THEIR DESTINATION
AND NOT YOUR DESTINATION.
RUN YOUR OWN RACE. (murmurs of approval)
RUN YOUR OWN RACE.
SO, THIS GOES BACK TO WHAT I WAS SAYING ABOUT HOW PEOPLE
WHO LOOK LIKE YOU...
MIGHT NOT ALWAYS BE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO HELP YOU.
YOU MIGHT HAVE TO GET AROUND SOME DIFFERENT PEOPLE
THAT WILL HELP YOU.
DR. SCOTT-- DR. SCOTT ALLOWED ME AND TWO OF MY FRIENDS
INTO GRAD SCHOOL.
MY ONE FRIEND NAMED ***.
RON BROWN IS HIS REAL NAME, BUT WE ALL CALLED HIM ***.
SO, ***-- AND YOU SAID I COULD KEEP IT REAL, RIGHT?
I'M GONNA KEEP IT REAL WITH Y'ALL,
BECAUSE I DON'T WANT Y'ALL TO THINK-- 'CAUSE UNDERSTAND,
IF I COULD DO THIS, Y'ALL CAN DO IT.
SO, *** WAS ON CAMPUS--
THIS WAS WHEN WE WERE WORKING ON OUR BACHELOR'S DEGREE.
*** ON CAMPUS-- I SEE *** AND I SAY,
"***, WHAT'S UP, DAWG-- YOU HIGH?"
BECAUSE HE WAS SMILING A WHOLE LOT.
HE WAS LIKE, "NAH, I'M GOING TO GRAD SCHOOL."
AND I SAID, "WHAT-- YOU GOING TO GRAD SCHOOL?"
I TOLD ***-- I HAD *** FOR CLASSES.
*** WASN'T THAT SMART. (audience laughing)
HOW WAS *** GOING TO GRAD SCHOOL?!
HOW WAS *** GOING TO GRAD SCHOOL?!
I KNOW ***. (audience chuckling)
I THOUGHT GRAD SCHOOL WAS FOR REAL SMART PEOPLE.
*** SAID, "HEY, MAN, YOU GOTTA GO TALK TO THIS DUDE, MAN--
"DR. SCOTT-- HE LET ME INTO THIS PROGRAM
"THAT'S GOING TO BE DEVELOPING
"MENTORING PROGRAMS AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
"IT'S IN THE PSYCHOLOGY DEPARTMENT.
"BUT HE LET ME IN CONDITIONALLY.
"GO HOLLER AT HIM."
SO, I RUSHED OVER TO GO TALK TO DR. SCOTT--
DR. SCOTT WAS AN OLDER WHITE GENTLEMAN.
I GET IN HIS OFFICE AND DR. SCOTT SAID,
"HEY, I REMEMBER YOU.
"YOU WERE QUITE THE ATHLETE!"
I HAD TO THROW THAT PART IN THERE...
(audience laughing) HE DID SAY THAT, THOUGH--
HE DID SAY THAT... LIONS GONNA CALL.
(audience laughing) ALL RIGHT, SO LOOK...
SO HE SAID, "YOU WAS QUITE THE ATHLETE,
"AND WELL, *** TOLD YOU ABOUT THE PROGRAM--
"WELL, RON BROWN TOLD YOU ABOUT THE PROGRAM.
"WELL, I'LL LET YOU IN CONDITIONALLY,
"AS LONG AS YOU MAINTAIN A 'B' AVERAGE YOUR FIRST SEMESTER,
"AND THEN I'LL LET YOU IN UNCONDITIONALLY."
I HAD NEVER MAINTAINED A "B" AVERAGE IN MY LIFE.
I WAS A FOOTBALL PLAYER.
THAT'S ALL I DID-- FOOTBALL, AND WENT TO CLASS
BECAUSE THE COACHES MADE ME GO TO CLASS.
BUT I LEAVE HIS OFFICE AND I'M HAPPY.
I'M LIKE, "OH, I'M GOING TO GRAD SCHOOL!"
I DIDN'T KNOW NOTHING ABOUT GRAD SCHOOL.
I THOUGHT THAT WAS FOR EINSTEINS AND REAL SMART PEOPLE,
AND SO I WAS, "OH, I'M GOING TO GRAD SCHOOL!"
I SEE MY FRIEND NAMED BAXTER.
BAXTER IS LIKE, "D., WHAT'S UP, MAN?
"YOU HIGH?" (audience laughing)
I WAS LIKE, "NO..."
I WAS LIKE, "NO-- BAX, DAWG, I'M GOING TO GRAD SCHOOL."
BAXTER LOOKED AT ME LIKE I WAS CRAZY,
BECAUSE BAX TOOK CLASSES WITH ME.
BAX KNEW I WASN'T THAT SMART. (audience laughing)
GRAD SCHOOL WAS FOR SMART PEOPLE!
I WAS LIKE, "BAX, YOU GOTTA GO HOLLER AT DR. SCOTT."
SO, HE RUSHED OVER-- THE THREE OF US-- WE IN GRAD SCHOOL.
WE IN GRAD SCHOOL.
SO, BEFORE WE GET TO GRAD SCHOOL,
LET'S GO BACK IN THAT STORY A LITTLE BIT.
SO, AT THIS SCHOOL I GRADUATED FROM,
IT WAS CALLED CHICO STATE.
CHICO STATE WAS A PREDOMINANTLY WHITE INSTITUTION--
I'M UP THERE PLAYING FOOTBALL,
SO WHAT HAPPENED WAS WE HAD A SEPARATE GRADUATION
FOR ALL THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN STUDENTS, RIGHT?
SO WE WOULD HAVE THAT GRADUATION
RIGHT BEFORE THE MAIN GRADUATION.
SO, THIS AFRICAN-AMERICAN GRADUATION WAS HELD AT A CHURCH,
AND IT WAS THE DAY BEFORE GRADUATION.
AND SO, WHAT YOU DO IS YOU INVITE YOUR FAMILY,
YOUR FRIENDS TO COME TO THIS GRADUATION.
AND SO, ALL THE GRADUATES-- WE'RE SITTING ON THE STAGE,
WE'RE SITTING ON THE STAGE, AND I'M SITTING UP,
AND I'M ALL HAPPY AND WHATNOT, AND I'M ALL HAPPY
AND I SEE MY MOM OUT THERE,
AND EVERYBODY IS JUST CLAPPING.
AND SO, EVERY GRADUATE GETS A CHANCE TO GO UP TO THE MIC
AND THANK A PERSON WHO PLAYED A SIGNIFICANT ROLE
IN THEM GRADUATING.
SO, ME AND MY FRIENDS, INSTEAD OF ENJOYING THE DAY,
WE'RE SITTING UP BETTING ON WHO'S GOING TO CRY FIRST.
WE'RE LIKE, "OH, SHE'S GONNA CRY.
"SHE LOOKS LIKE A CRIER."
SO, THE FIRST PERSON TO GET UP...
AND SHE GOES TO THE MIC AND SHE SAYS,
"I JUST WANT TO THANK MY FAMILY WHO ARE WITH ME
"AND THEY BELIEVED IN ME, AND I GOT IT DONE,
"AND I JUST WANT TO THANK THEM."
AND SO EVERYONE STARTED CLAPPING.
SO, SHE GOES AND SHE SITS DOWN.
SO, THE NEXT PERSON WE LIKE, "OH, DAWG, SHE GONNA CRY.
"SHE LOOKS LIKE A CRIER.
"I BET YOU FIVE DOLLARS SHE'S GOING TO CRY."
SO THE NEXT PERSON GETS UP AND SHE GOES TO THE MIC...
AND SHE ALMOST STARTED CRYING, BUT THEN SHE SUCKED IT UP.
SHE WAS LIKE, "HEY, A LOT OF PEOPLE DIDN'T KNOW THIS BUT...
"I ALMOST DROPPED OUT MY FRESHMAN YEAR BECAUSE MY UNCLE
"WAS DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER.
"AND I SAID 'NO, I GOTTA COME HOME AND TAKE CARE OF YOU,'
"AND HE SAID, 'NO, BABY.
"'THERE'S NOTHING YOU CAN DO FOR ME.
"'YOU STAY UP THERE AND YOU GET IT DONE.'
"AND MY UNCLE IS HERE TODAY AND HE'S CANCER FREE."
AND SO, EVERYBODY'S GOING, "YEAH!"
SO SHE GOES AND SITS DOWN.
SO THE NEXT PERSON STANDS UP-- MY LAST NAME IS ARNOLD--
SO I GET UP, I GO TO THE MIC, I LOOK AT MY MOTHER
AND I START CRYING LIKE A LITTLE GIRL.
(audience laughing) OH, I'M CRYING-- I'M CRYING--
YOU KNOW, THERE'S SNOT AND EVERYTHING.
(audience laughing) I'M CRYING-- IT'S A WRAP.
I'M LOOKING AT MOM!
THE ONE PERSON WHO BELIEVED IN ME.
SHE AIN'T NEVER SEEN ME GRADUATE.
CONTINUATION SCHOOL DIDN'T HAVE GRADUATION CEREMONIES.
THIS WAS HER FIRST TIME SEEING ME GRADUATE.
SO, I'M LOOKING OUT AND I'M CRYING, AND I'M CRYING,
AND WE AT THE BLACK CHURCH, SO THEY'RE ALL LIKE,
"OH, IT'S OKAY, BABY!
"IT'S OKAY, BABY!" (audience chuckling)
AND SO, I TAKE MY ATTENTION FROM MY MOTHER...
AND I SAID-- BECAUSE I FOUND OUT THAT WEEK
AND I DIDN'T TELL MY MOTHER I WAS GOING TO GRAD SCHOOL,
BECAUSE THAT WAS THE WEEK I FOUND OUT-- AND SO, I SAID,
"YOU KNOW, I JUST WANT TO THANK MY MOTHER
"BECAUSE SHE HAS ALWAYS BEEN THERE FOR ME,
"AND ONE THING MY MOTHER DOESN'T KNOW
"AND I WANT TO SHARE IT WITH HER RIGHT NOW
"IS THAT NEXT SEMESTER,
"I'VE BEEN ACCEPTED TO GO TO GRAD SCHOOL."
AND ALL THE LADIES ARE LIKE, "OH!"
AND THEY ALL POINT AT THEIR DAUGHTERS, "GET HIM-- GET HIM!"
(audience laughing) SO, IN THE CEREMONY,
WE GO TO THE STAGE AND EVERYBODY ARE ALL HUGGING THEIR FAMILY
AND WHATNOT.
MY MOTHER RUSHES OVER TO ME-- SHE WAS LIKE,
"BOY, WE IN CHURCH-- YOU DON'T BE LYING IN CHURCH!
(audience laughing) "YOU AIN'T GOING TO NO GRAD SCHOOL!"
MY MOTHER KNEW MY GRADES.
SHE KNEW I WASN'T THAT SMART.
GRAD SCHOOL WAS FOR SMART PEOPLE.
I SAID, "MOMMA, I'M GOING TO GRAD SCHOOL.
"DR. SCOTT LET ME IN.
"I JUST HAVE TO MAINTAIN A 'B' AVERAGE."
MY MOTHER STARTED CRYING.
SHE WAS LIKE, "REALLY, BABY?"
I WAS LIKE, "MOM, I'M GOING TO GRAD SCHOOL."
SO, FAST FORWARD.
ME AND MY FRIENDS ARE IN GRAD SCHOOL.
EVERY DAY, WE'RE PUSHING EACH OTHER.
WE'RE PUSHING EACH OTHER, BECAUSE WE AIN'T KNOW NOTHING
ABOUT GRAD SCHOOL.
ALL THREE OF US THOUGHT IT WAS FOR REAL SMART PEOPLE,
BUT IF IT IS, WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE WE SMART.
WE ARE GOING TO MAKE SURE WE GET IT DONE
WHAT WE NEED TO GET DONE.
AND MORE THAN ANYTHING, WE'RE GOING TO PUSH EACH OTHER...
BECAUSE IT'S JUST US THREE.
IT'S JUST US THREE.
WE'RE PUSHING EACH OTHER, WE'RE CALLING EACH OTHER.
WE'RE CALLING EACH OTHER!
WE'RE SAYING, "HEY, DAMON, YOU GET THAT STUFF DONE?
"YOU KNOW WE HAVE TO SPEAK TONIGHT."
BECAUSE GRAD SCHOOL CLASSES WERE DURING THE EVENING TIME.
THEY'RE THREE-HOUR CLASSES.
IF YOU AIN'T GET YOUR STUFF DONE,
IT'S ONLY SO MANY TIMES-- YOU KNOW HOW YOU'RE IN CLASS
AND THE TEACHER'S ABOUT TO CALL ON SOMEBODY?
AND YOU'RE TRYING TO ACT LIKE YOU'RE INVISIBLE?
(audience laughing)
"HE DON'T SEE ME, HE DON'T SEE ME."
IT'S ONLY SO MANY TIMES THAT YOU CAN DO THAT.
AND SO, "HEY, MAN, NO-- I DIDN'T GET IT DONE, DAWG."
"HEY, COME ON, MAN-- I GOT AN EXTRA BOOK FROM THE LIBRARY.
"COME ON-- JUST COME OVER TO THE HOUSE, DAWG.
"LET'S MAKE SOME EGGS--" I USED TO MAKE EGGS, THAT WAS MY THING.
"LET'S MAKE SOME EGGS, AND LET'S GET IT DONE."
WE WOULD GET IT DONE, WE WOULD GET IT DONE.
SO WE WAS PUSHING EACH OTHER.
WE WAS PUSHING EACH OTHER, AND WE WAS PUSHING EACH OTHER.
ARE YOU ALL PUSHING EACH OTHER?
WE WAS HOLDING EACH OTHER ACCOUNTABLE.
IT WAS MANY TIMES-- I AIN'T GOING TO LIE TO YOU--
I WOULDN'T GET STUFF DONE.
"NO, DAWG, YOU GOT TO GET IT DONE.
"AIN'T NO EXCUSE.
"WE GOT TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.
"COME ON, MAN."
IS THAT WHAT YOU ALL ARE SAYING TO EACH OTHER?
"COME ON, MAN.
"COME ON, MAN, COME ON, MAN.
"I GOT THIS COAT ON-- COME ON, MAN.
"WE'RE PART OF THIS PROGRAM-- COME ON, MAN!
"WE SAID WE ARE GOING TO GET A 3.0-- COME ON, MAN!
"WE'RE CAPABLE!
"WE CAN DO IT!
"MAN, WE HEARD THAT ONE DUDE TALK-- HE GOT HIS PhD.
"DAWG, WE COULD DO IT!
"HE'S SAYING WE COULD DO IT!"
"MAN, I JUST GOT FROM THE HOUSE, MAN.
"DAWG, YOU KNOW SOME CRAZY STUFF HAPPENED."
CRAZY STUFF IS ALWAYS GOING TO HAPPEN ALL THE TIME!
UNDERSTAND THAT, MAN-- YOU ALWAYS ARE GOING TO GO
THROUGH SOMETHING.
IT'S GONNA SEEM LIKE EVERY TIME YOU FEEL
LIKE STUFF IS JUST GOOD, STUFF IS GOING TO HAPPEN.
THIS SEMESTER, RAISE YOUR HAND IF SOMETHING WENT CRAZY.
PUT YOUR HANDS DOWN.
THIS YEAR, RAISE YOUR HAND IF SOMETHING WENT CRAZY.
PUT YOUR HANDS DOWN.
YESTERDAY, RAISE YOUR HAND IF SOMETHING WENT CRAZY.
(audience laughing) THAT'S LIFE.
THAT'S LIFE-- I'VE GOT THIS BOOK THAT I WROTE
AND IT'S CALLED "IT'S NOT A SECRET, IT'S JUST LIFE!!!"
BECAUSE IT WAS THIS LADY--
BECAUSE I READ ALL THE POSITIVE MOTIVATING STUFF
BECAUSE I GOTTA HAVE IT.
I GOTTA HAVE IT-- I GOTTA HAVE THAT POSITIVITY IN MY LIFE.
SO, I READ THOSE BOOKS ON THAT.
THERE'S THIS ONE LADY NAMED RHONDA BYRNE.
SHE WROTE THIS BOOK CALLED "IT'S A SECRET."
I DON'T KNOW IF Y'ALL HEARD ABOUT IT-- "IT'S A SECRET."
AND SO, I'M LIKE-- BECAUSE YOU KNOW, I'VE GOT TO HUSTLE,
SO I WROTE THIS BOOK AND...
WE NEED TO GET IT FOR YOU GENTLEMEN.
I WROTE THIS BOOK-- (indistinct speaking).
(audience laughing) SO I WROTE THIS BOOK
AND IT'S CALLED "IT'S NOT A SECRET, IT'S JUST LIFE!!!"
IT'S JUST LIFE.
STUFF IS GOING TO HAPPEN TO SEE IF YOU WANT IT.
AND THAT'S THE THING ABOUT THE SECRET-- THE SECRET WAS LIKE,
"OH, JUST MEDITATE ON IT."
SO, IF YOU OUTSIDE AND YOU'RE LOOKING AT YOUR YARD
AND IT GOT WEEDS, "OH, JUST MEDITATE-- THE WEEDS ARE GONE."
(audience laughing) NO, THE WEEDS IS THERE...
AND THEY'RE ABOUT TO TEAR YOUR YARD UP!
(audience laughing) I DON'T CARE HOW MUCH MEDITATION
YOU'RE GOING TO DO, BUT THEY'RE GOING TO TEAR IT UP.
YEAH, YOU CAN'T MEDITATE ON IT.
SO, MY BOOK TALKS ABOUT ACTION STEPS.
STUFF IS GONNA HAPPEN...
ACTION STEPS.
SEE, THAT'S THE DIFFERENCE.
WHEN YOU START TURNING, "I SHOULD DO THIS,
"I SHOULD DO THAT, I SHOULD'VE DONE THIS," INTO "MUST."
THAT'S WHEN YOU'RE GOING TO BE TIGHT.
BECAUSE PEOPLE "SHOULD" ALL OVER THEMSELVES ALL THE TIME.
THAT'S WHAT THEY DO-- THEY "SHOULD" ALL OVER THEMSELVES.
THEY ALWAYS TALK ABOUT WHAT THEY "SHOULD" DO.
TURN IT INTO A "MUST."
I STARTED THIS PROGRAM "I MUST GET IT DONE."
I MUST GET IT DONE.
I MUST GET IT DONE-- SO WE'RE ON STAGE AGAIN.
WE'RE ON STAGE BECAUSE PEOPLE WHO GET THEIR MASTERS
GRADUATE WITH THE PEOPLE WHO GET THEIR BACHELOR'S.
AND SO WE ARE ON STAGE, AND I'M FEELING REALLY GOOD.
I GOT MY MASTER'S DEGREE, SO WE'RE SITTING UP,
I GOT MY GUYS ARE BETTING WHO'S GONNA CRY.
"DUDE, YOU KNOW YOU'RE GETTING CRY."
I'M LIKE, "YUP, I'M GONNA CRY."
I'M ABOUT TO LET IT GO. (audience laughing)
I AIN'T EVEN GOT TO MAN UP AT THAT POINT.
I'M GOOD-- I KNOW I'M GONNA CRY, BECAUSE THAT LADY RIGHT THERE,
SITTING RIGHT THERE, THAT LADY IS HAPPY AS I DON'T KNOW WHAT
BECAUSE MY LIFE IS CHANGING.
MY LIFE IS CHANGING.
BARACK OBAMA SAID, "THE GREAT EQUALIZER IS EDUCATION."
AND SO, WHAT HE'S SAYING IS, "THAT IS WHAT IS GOING
"TO HELP YOU BE ON THE SAME PLAYING FIELD."
SEE, I DON'T EVER BRAG ABOUT MY PhD AND ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF
BECAUSE ONCE I GOT MY MASTERS, IT WAS A WRAP.
IT WAS LIKE, "OH, I GET IT.
"ALL I CAN DO IS ASK FOR HELP,
"ALL I GOT TO DO IS ASK MY PROFESSORS
"WHEN I DON'T GET SOMETHING."
SO, WHAT'S DIFFERENT ABOUT ME HAVING MY PhD,
AND THE ONLY THING THAT I CAN SAY I ENJOY ABOUT--
BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS I ENJOY ABOUT IT,
BUT ONE OF THE MAIN THINGS IS THIS...
I SIT AT THE TABLE.
SAY WHAT YOU WANT, BUT I SIT AT THE TABLE.
SO, WHEN YOU'RE ABOUT TO MAKE A DECISION
THAT'S GONNA AFFECT PEOPLE WHO PEOPLE LOOK AT ME,
YOU SAY, "WE LOVE YOU ALL
"BECAUSE WE'RE LOOKING IN THE MIRROR."
WHEN I'M LOOKING IN THE MIRROR, I'M SEEING ME.
I'M SEEING ME!
AND SO, YOU MEAN TO TELL ME YOU'RE ABOUT TO MAKE A DECISION
THAT'S GONNA AFFECT THIS MAN?
OH, NO, NO, NO.
I'M HERE TO SAY, "NO, WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO THAT.
"I GET TO SIT AT THE TABLE."
WHAT TABLES ARE YOU GOING TO SIT AT BECAUSE OF YOUR EDUCATION?
WHAT TABLES DO YOU CHOOSE TO SIT AT,
BECAUSE THEN IT BECOMES A CHOICE.
SEE, THAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HAVING AN EDUCATION
AND NOT HAVING AN EDUCATION.
WHEN YOU HAVE AN EDUCATION, YOU CAN CHOOSE WHAT YOU WANT TO DO.
YOU GET TIRED OF YOUR JOB-- YOU LIKE, "PSH, DEUCES!
(audience laughing) IF YOU DON'T HAVE AN EDUCATION,
YOU'RE LIKE... (audience laughing)
"WHAT TIME I GOTTA BE HERE IN THE MORNING?
(audience laughing)
"5 O'CLOCK? (audience laughing)
"WELL, YOU KNOW I GOT EIGHT OTHER JOBS,
"BUT I'LL BE HERE AT 5 O'CLOCK!"
(audience laughing)
THAT'S THE DIFFERENCE!
THAT'S THE DIFFERENCE.
DEUCES OR-- SO, WE SITTING ON THAT STAGE,
TELLING THEM I'M ABOUT TO CRY.
SO, I GO THERE AND ABOUT TO CRY-- I'M ABOUT TO--
AND THEN, I STOP...
AND I SAY THIS, "YOU KNOW, SOME OF YOU ALL WERE HERE LAST TIME
"OR SOME OF Y'ALL MIGHT HAVE HEARD THAT I WAS BOO-HOOING LAST TIME
"I GRADUATED WITH MY BACHELOR'S DEGREE,
"AND THE REASON WHY I WAS BECAUSE MY MOTHER WAS SITTING
"RIGHT IN FRONT, AND I LET HER DOWN SO MUCH...
"AND IT GOT TO THE POINT WHERE SHE SAID, 'BABY,
"'IT'S NOT JUST ME YOU LETTIN' DOWN.
"'MORE IMPORTANTLY, YOU LETTIN' DOWN TO YOU.'
"SHE SAID, 'BABY, AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU EVEN UNDERSTAND
"'THAT YOU LETTIN' DOWN GENERATIONS.
"'LET ME TELL YOU HOW DEEP THAT IS.
"'YOU WILL HAVE KIDS,
"'YOUR KIDS WILL HAVE KIDS, THEIR KIDS WILL HAVE KIDS,
"'THEIR KIDS WILL HAVE KIDS...
"'GENERATIONS WILL DEPEND ON THE DECISIONS THAT YOU ARE MAKING.'"
DANG, I'M GETTING THAT, I UNDERSTAND THAT.
I HAVE TWO KIDS THAT WILL HAVE KIDS, THEIR KIDS WILL HAVE KIDS,
AND I WANT THEM TO SAY, "GRANDPA DAMON--
"I REMEMBER HE WAS A DOCTOR"
SEE, THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE WAY MY KIDS ARE GROWING UP RIGHT NOW
IS IT'S NOT A MATTER OF "IF THEY'RE GOING TO COLLEGE,"
IT'S "WHAT COLLEGE ARE THEY GOING TO."
SEE, THAT "SHOULD" AIN'T A PART OF MY LIFE.
IT'S A "MUST."
SO, I TELL THEM-- I SAID, "YOU KNOW,
"MY MOTHER DROPPED ME OFF AT COLLEGE,
"AND TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH, WHEN SHE DROPPED ME OFF,
"MY MOTHER LEFT.
"SHE LEFT, AND I WAS HURT, MAN.
"I WAS CRYING, I WAS CRYING."
BUT THEN, WHEN I GOT WITH MY ROOMMATES
WHO WAS ON THE FOOTBALL TEAM AND I WAS LIKE, "MAN,
"I CAN'T CRY IN FRONT OF THEM," SO I HAD TO MAN IT UP--
(snuffling) (audience laughing)
REAL QUICK, BECAUSE I MOVED MY STUFF HERE.
(audience laughing) BECAUSE YOU KNOW, I WAS CRYING.
I GOT ON THE PHONE THAT NIGHT,
(crying) "YOU LEFT ME HERE."
MY MOMMA JUST DROPPED ME OFF.
MY MAMA LATER ON TOLD ME THAT SHE CRIED--
IT WAS A NINE HOUR RIDE-- SHE CRIED ALL THE WAY HOME,
BUT SHE KNEW THAT THAT'S WHAT SHE HAD TO DO
BECAUSE SHE COULDN'T TAKE ME ACROSS THAT BRIDGE TO MANHOOD
BUT THAT WAS HER WAY OF DROPPING ME OFF TO BECOME A MAN.
SO, IT WAS ON ME.
IT WAS ON ME.
SO, TELLING THE STORY, I REMEMBER GOING SHOPPING
FOR THE FIRST TIME-- YOU KNOW, I GOT MY FINANCIAL AID CHECK,
I GOT MY REFUND MONEY FOR FOOTBALL,
SO ME AND MY TWO ROOMMATES WENT GROCERY SHOPPING.
AND SO, THEY WENT THEIR WAY, I WENT MY WAY.
SO I'M THINKING-- BECAUSE I HAVE A POCKET FULL OF MONEY--
"I'M ABOUT TO EAT REAL GOOD, DAWG.
"IT'S ABOUT TO BE ON."
I WENT SHOPPING FOR THE FIRST TIME BY MYSELF.
IT'S A WRAP.
GROWING UP, MY MOTHER USED TO GET WHEAT BREAD--
I CAN'T STAND WHEAT BREAD TO THIS DAY.
I LIKE WONDER WHITE BREAD--
THAT STUFF THAT'S GOOEY IN YOUR MOUTH-- I LIKE THAT.
(audience laughing) AND SO, I GO
AND I GO DOWN THE FIRST AISLE AND I GET TWO LOAVES.
I'M LIKE, "YEAH, THAT'S GOOD..."
SO, I GO DOWN THE NEXT AISLE
AND THIS IS THE AISLE THAT CHANGED MY LIFE.
I GO DOWN THE NEXT AISLE-- CEREAL AISLE.
MY FAVORITE CEREAL TO THIS DAY IS CAP'N CRUNCH BERRIES.
(murmurs of approval)
MAN, I'M HUNGRY RIGHT NOW. (audience laughing)
CAP'N CRUNCH BERRIES-- THAT'S MY THING RIGHT THERE!
OOO, THAT'S MY THING!
SO, I GO DOWN THE SECOND AISLE, AND I GO, "OOO"--
BECAUSE MY MOTHER USED TO GET LIKE CHEERIOS AND RAISIN BRAN.
>> REESE'S PIECES?
>> THEY DIDN'T HAVE THAT BACK IN THE DAY.
(audience laughing) "REESE'S PIECES."
THERE'S ALWAYS GOT TO BE ONE.
(audience laughing) ALL RIGHT, SO...
I GO DOWN THE AISLE AND I'M LIKE,
"I'M GETTING SOME CAP'N CRUNCH.
"OOO!
"FOUR DOLLARS! (audience laughing)
"CAP'N CRUNCH IS $4?!"
I'M LIKE-- SO, I GOT TO GO TO PLAN B.
APPLE JACKS-- CINNAMON TOASTED, THAT'S WHERE IT'S AT.
SO, I GET SOME APPLE JACKS...
I LOOK, "FOUR DOLLARS?!"
SO DANG, AFTER I LEFT THE STORE
WITH MY BIG OLD BAG OF SERGEANT MUNCH...
(audience laughing) BIG OLD BAG OF SERGEANT MUNCH.
HE WASN'T A CAPTAIN, HE WAS A SERGEANT.
(audience laughing)
SO, I GO OUT AND I HAD TO CALL MY MAMA WHEN I GOT HOME
AND THIS IS WHAT I TOLD HER--
I CALLED UP MY MOM, AND I SAID, "MOM, I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU."
SHE WAS LIKE, "THANK ME FOR WHAT, BABY?"
I SAID, "YOU DIDN'T ALWAYS GET ME CAP'N CRUNCH--
"IT WAS MY FAVORITE CEREAL,
"BUT I DO REMEMBER TIMES WHEN YOU GOT IT FOR ME.
"I DIDN'T KNOW IT COST THAT MUCH."
SEE, THERE'S A COST TO SUCCESS.
THERE'S A COST TO SUCCESS, AND SOME PEOPLE ARE EITHER
WILLING TO PAY THE COST OR THEY'RE NOT.
YOU HAVE TO BE WILLING TO PAY THE COST.
I TALKED TO A LOT OF PEOPLE AND THEY SAY, "OH, MAN, DANG!
"IT TOOK YOU A LONG TIME, I BET, TO GET A PhD."
I SAY, "MAN, YEAH.
"TO GET A FOUR YEAR DEGREE OR A SIX-YEAR DEGREE
"OR EVEN A TWO-YEAR DEGREE, MAN, IT TAKES A LONG TIME.
"BUT I'LL TELL YOU WHAT,
"IGNORANCE WILL LAST A LOT LONGER."
IT WILL LAST A LOT LONGER.
SO, IT ALL GOES BACK TO THE DECISIONS THERE.
ARE YOU GONNA MAKE A DECISION TO MAKE IT HAPPEN
AND NOT ALLOW PEOPLE TO TELL YOU THAT YOU CAN'T?
YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION OF WHO YOU'RE GONNA BELIEVE--
THE PEOPLE WHO ARE GETTING IT DONE...
AND I'M GONNA TELL YOU WHAT--
I LIVE A GREAT LIFE, A PHENOMENAL LIFE.
I STILL GOT PROBLEMS, STILL GOT PROBLEMS,
BUT IT'S A GREAT LIFE AND IT'S BASED ON THE EDUCATION
THAT I WAS COMMITTED TO GETTING.
IT WAS BASED ON THE FRIENDS THAT I WAS COMMITTED
TO ASSOCIATING WITH.
YOU KNOW, THEY TALK ABOUT WHO YOU HANG AROUND,
IS WHO YOU'RE GONNA BECOME.
IT'S A GIVEN.
WHEN I FIRST STARTED GOING TO CHURCH,
AND THE PASTOR WAS TALKING ABOUT, "HANG AROUND THE SAME PEOPLE,"
AND I WAS LIKE, "I'LL HANG AROUND WHO I WANT TO HANG AROUND.
"WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT-- I'M GOOD, I'M GOOD."
AND I REMEMBER GOING AROUND HIM
AND HERE, I'M TRYING TO BETTER MYSELF
AND THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS AND THAT,
AND I FOUND MYSELF TALKING ABOUT THIS AND THAT...
BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS.
THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS.
BUT THINK ABOUT IF YOU'RE HANGING AROUND PEOPLE
WHO WANT SOMETHING OUT OF LIFE,
WHO EXPECT MORE OUT OF LIFE.
HOW IS THAT GOING TO RUB THEM?
THAT'S GONNA RUB OFF ON YOU.
YOU GONNA BE LIKE, "MAN."
I'VE GOT FIVE MENTORS THAT I MEET WITH.
MENTORS ARE IMPORTANT.
THEY'RE IMPORTANT, THEY'RE VITAL,
BECAUSE YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TIMES WHEN YOU GET DOWN.
I'VE GOT FIVE PEOPLE THAT I MEET WITH,
AND I ONLY MEET WITH THEM LIKE ONCE EVERY THREE MONTHS,
ONCE EVERY TWO MONTHS, BECAUSE THEY'RE REALLY BUSY.
ONE OF THE GENTLEMEN THAT I MEET WITH--
AND HE'S THE ONE NOW THAT'S CHANGING MY LIFE--
HIS NAME IS MARK MURRAY.
MARK MURRAY USED TO BE A FORMER PRESIDENT OF GRAND VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY.
MARK MURRAY IS NOW THE PRESIDENT OF MEIJER'S.
I MEET WITH THIS DUDE EVERY THREE MONTHS AT BIGGBY'S COFFEE,
AT 6:30 IN THE MORNING.
6:30 IN THE MORNING, WE MEET.
I'M THERE AT 6 O'CLOCK, READY, WITH A LIST OF THINGS
THAT I WANT TO ASK HIM ABOUT.
THAT BOOK I TOLD YOU I WROTE, IT WAS BECAUSE HE TOLD ME--
I TOLD HIM I WANTED TO GET INTO MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKING,
AND NOW I AM BLESSED.
I GET TO SPEAK AROUND THE COUNTRY.
I LOVE IT, AND WHAT'S CRAZY ABOUT IT IS
THIS IS WHAT I SPEAK ABOUT.
Y'ALL GOT STORIES THAT YOU CAN SPEAK ABOUT?
Y'ALL GOT STORIES THAT YOU CAN-- THIS IS WHAT IS CRAZY--
I'M GONNA KEEP IT AS REAL AS I CAN.
I'M GONNA KEEP IT AS REAL AS I CAN.
SO, ALL OF THE THINGS I'VE BEEN THROUGH
AND A SINGLE-PARENT HOUSEHOLD AND ALL THIS STUFF,
YOU MEAN TO TELL ME THAT I JUST TOLD YOU ALL ABOUT THAT--
I JUST TOLD YOU ALL ABOUT THAT,
I GO TELL OTHER PEOPLE ABOUT THAT,
AND THEY PAY ME TO DO THAT?
THEY PAY ME REAL GOOD, TOO.
WHAT'S CRAZY IS I WAS LIKE, "SHOOT, THAT'S TIGHT."
AND MY OTHER MENTOR-- HIS NAME IS LES BROWN.
Y'ALL FAMILIAR WITH LES BROWN?
LES BROWN, THE MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER?
SO, I GO TO THE SESSION WITH LES BROWN--
THIS WAS TWO YEARS AGO, WE'RE IN FLORIDA,
AND IT'S ABOUT 17 PEOPLE THAT'S MEETING WITH HIM.
AND HE COULDN'T COME ON THE FIRST DAY,
SO HIS PARTNER HAD TO DO THE FIRST DAY.
HE HAD TO DO THE SECOND DAY.
SO, HE COME IN AND LES-- I DON'T KNOW IF Y'ALL KNOW HIM,
HE'S JUST A BIG PERSON, JUST POSITIVITY EVERYTHING.
YOU COULD TELL WHEN HE CAME IN THE ROOM, AND FIRST OF ALL,
HE WALKS STRONG.
MAN, HOW YOU WALKING?
ARE YOU WALKING CONFIDENT?
OR ARE YOU WALKING DOWN?
HOW ARE YOU WALKING?
YOU'RE GREAT-- WALK CONFIDENT,
WALK WITH GREATNESS.
WALK LIKE YOU ARE THE MAN, BECAUSE YOU ARE.
YOU ARE.
SO, HE WALKED IN THE ROOM AND HE SAID,
"HEY, I JUST WANT TO APOLOGIZE TO YOU ALL.
"I KNOW I WAS SUPPOSED TO WORK WITH YOU ALL YESTERDAY,
"BUT I COULDN'T."
AND HE PULLED OUT THIS CHECK AND HE GAVE IT TO THIS YOUNG LADY
AND HE SAID, "DON'T SAY NOTHING YET."
HE SAID, "I HAD TO GO SPEAK AT SAM'S CLUB,
"AND MOST OF THE SPEECHES I DO, I GET $2,500,
"WHETHER IT'S 45 MINUTES OR WHETHER IT'S UP TO THREE HOURS.
"I GET $2,500."
SO, LES BROWN-- HE HELD THAT AND SAID,
"I SPOKE AT SAM'S CLUB FOR 20 MINUTES,"
BECAUSE WHEN I SAY THAT TO PEOPLE, THEY GO,
"MAN, YOU GET PAID THAT MUCH FOR 20 MINUTES?"
I'M LIKE, "YEAH, YEAH."
BUT THIS WILL CHANGE MY LIFE--
HANG AROUND PEOPLE WHO MAKE YOU SHARPER.
HE SAID, "GO AHEAD AND TELL THEM HOW MUCH I MADE
"IN THAT 20 MINUTES."
THE SAM'S CLUB CHECK PASSED AROUND THE ROOM.
$20,000.
$20,000!
ALL THAT LES BROWN TALK ABOUT-- AND I DON'T KNOW IF Y'ALL HEARD HIM,
BUT I NEED YOU ALL TO LOOK HIM UP ON YOUTUBE.
HE TELLS THE SAME STORY ABOUT HOW HE WAS BORN
IN AN ABANDONED BUILDING WITH HIS TWIN BROTHER,
AND HE'S MRS. MAMIE BROWN'S BABY BOY.
THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE GONNA HEAR HIM CONSTANTLY SAY.
HIS STORY IS PHENOMENAL!
AND HE FITS IT AROUND THE GROUPS THAT HE NEEDS TO SPEAK WITH.
$20,000.
NOW, I'M THINKING, "THAT'S A LOT."
I'M LIKE, "WOW!"
LES THEN SHARED-- PSHT, THIS GUY NAMED JOHN MAXWELL.
LOOK UP JOHN MAXWELL.
JOHN MAXWELL, IN TWO DAYS, MADE $250,000.
LES, AT THAT TIME, MADE $20,000.
SO, I'M THINKING LES IS TIGHT,
SOME PEOPLE I'M GONNA SPEAK TO THINK I'M TIGHT.
THEY MAKE MONEY EVERY DAY.
MONEY IS OUT THERE.
YOUR MINDSET IS WHAT HAS TO CHANGE ABOUT MONEY.
CHANGE YOUR MINDSET.
CHANGE YOUR MINDSET.
WHATEVER IT IS YOU CHOOSE TO DO, MAKE IT HAPPEN
AND BE THE BEST AT IT,
BECAUSE WHEN YOU BECOME THE BEST AT SOMETHING
AND WHEN YOU BEGIN TO UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE
OF SOLVING PROBLEMS--
AND I'LL CLOSE WITH THIS-- OF SOLVING PROBLEMS--
BECAUSE REMEMBER, THAT'S HOW PEOPLE GET TO BE MILLIONAIRES.
THINK ABOUT HOW MANY MILLIONAIRES THERE ARE IN THE ROOM,
AND I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT YOU RIGHT NOW
BECAUSE Y'ALL WILL BE MILLIONAIRES,
Y'ALL WILL BE WHATEVER YOU WANT TO,
BUT THINK ABOUT THE MILLIONAIRES IN THIS ROOM.
WOW, THEY MADE THIS REAL PRETTY.
SOMEBODY INVENTED THIS-- THEY'RE A MILLIONAIRE.
THEY SOLVED A PROBLEM.
YOU'VE GOT TO WIPE YOUR MOUTH AFTER YOU EAT.
THIS ISN'T A REGULAR NAPKIN-- THIS ISN'T A REGULAR NAPKIN.
THOSE COATS OVER THERE?
THEY'RE ON HANGERS-- MILLIONAIRES.
YOU HAD TO PUT SOMETHING ON YOUR COAT, RIGHT?
YOU'RE SITTING DOWN ON CHAIRS-- SOMEBODY INVENTED THAT CHAIR--
MILLIONAIRE.
YOU GOTTA SOLVE A PROBLEM.
YOU GOTTA SOLVE A PROBLEM.
AND YOU'RE GONNA HAVE PEOPLE WHO DON'T AGREE,
AND THIS IS MY LAST STORY.
YOU'RE GONNA HAVE PEOPLE WHO DON'T WANT TO SHARE,
AND YOU GOTTA REMEMBER, "DON'T WORRY ABOUT THEM."
THIS IS IT HERE, RIGHT HERE.
AND WHAT THAT BAG IS GONNA DO,
IS IT'S GOING TO GO AROUND THE CAN
SO YOU CAN PUT YOUR TRASH IN AND THEN YOU CAN JUST TAKE IT
TO THE DUMP WHERE THE TRASH GOES.
THEY WALKED AWAY, "MAN, THAT AIN'T NEVER GOING TO WORK."
YOU SAY, "YES IT IS, YES IT AS."
THEY MAKE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS BECAUSE HE CREATED THE BAG.
THE LAST PERSON-- THE STUDENT'S NAME IS BOB.
BOB WAS AN OLD COUNTRY BOY.
BOB SAID, "I GOT THIS IDEA, AND IT'S GONNA MAKE US
"A WHOLE LOT OF MONEY."
AND I SAID, "WELL, WHAT'S THE IDEA, BOB?"
HE SAID, "WELL, I'M GONNA CREATE THIS THING CALLED A TWISTY TIE.
"JUST A LITTLE PIECE OF CARDBOARD,
"AND WHAT WE GONNA DO WITH THE TWISTY TIE
"IS WE JUST GOING TO TIE IT AROUND THAT BAG,
"AND I'M GOING TO MAKE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, BOYS."
"MAN, AIN'T NOBODY GONNA BUY NO TWISTY TIE."
AND THEY WALKED AWAY FROM HIM, BUT HE STUCK WITH IT.
BEFORE THEY HAD THE NEW BAGS THAT YOU COULD TIE UP LIKE THAT,
WE USED TO HAVE TO PUT THEM ON TWISTY TIES.
TWISTY TIES-- A LITTLE CARDBOARD, LITTLE THING.
TWISTY TIES MADE MILLIONS.
THERE'S IDEAS THAT ARE INSIDE OF YOU THAT ARE GONNA MAKE YOU MILLIONS.
BUT DON'T BE LIKE THE RICHEST PLACE ON THIS EARTH,
WHICH IS THE CEMETERY.
THE RICHEST PLACE ON THIS EARTH-- THE CURE FOR CANCER,
THE CURE FOR AIDS, ALL THESE IDEAS THAT WOULD HAVE US
IN A DIFFERENT PLACE--
THE RICHEST PLACE ON EARTH IS THE CEMETERY.
DON'T TAKE THAT IDEA AND THAT DREAM OF YOURS
TO THE CEMETERY.
AND EVEN THOUGH PEOPLE WON'T BELIEVE
IN WHAT IT IS THAT YOU'VE THOUGHT UP--
BECAUSE EVERYTHING THAT'S DONE TODAY,
IT WAS AN IDEA.
BELIEVE IN YOU.
IT ALL GOES BACK TO THAT.
IF EVERYBODY ELSE DON'T BELIEVE IN YOU,
YOU BELIEVE IN YOU.
THAT MAKES SENSE, GENTLEMEN? >> (all) YES.
>> THAT ALL RIGHT? >> (all) YES, SIR.
>> ALL RIGHT, COOL-- WELL, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
(applause)
GIVE ME SOME QUESTIONS, GIVE ME SOME QUESTIONS.
YES, SIR?
>> EVERYTHING YOU SPOKE, I WANT DO THE SAME THING, BRO.
YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO BECOME--
A MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER.
BECAUSE YOU KNOW WHEN I WAS ABOUT 17 YEARS OLD,
I GOT OFF INTO THE STREETS BECAUSE I HAD DROPPED
OUT OF SCHOOL, I WENT OFF TO THE STREETS.
NEXT THING YOU KNOW, I GOT OFF INTO ALCOHOL AND DRUGS.
NOW, I'M 43 YEARS OLD.
YOU KNOW, I HAVE 16 MONTHS CLEAN TODAY.
>> CONGRATULATIONS.
(applause)
>> I KNOW WHAT YOU MEAN ABOUT HAVING SOMEBODY
IN YOUR CORNER TO STRING YOU ALONG,
BECAUSE I MET WOMAN-- SHE HAS 13 YEARS CLEAN,
AND SHE BROUGHT ME TO WHERE I AM TODAY.
BECAUSE YOU KNOW, AT FIRST, I WAS VERY CLOSED-MINDED
ABOUT ASKING FOR HELP.
AND WHEN THIS WOMAN CAME ALONG, YOU KNOW,
SHE GUIDED ME TO WHERE I AM TODAY.
AND YOU KNOW, AT FIRST, LIKE MY MOTHER--
YOU KNOW, MY MOTHER--
I PUT MY MOTHER THROUGH SO MUCH IN MY LIFE.
NOW TODAY, SHE'S VERY HAPPY
WHERE I'M GOING IN MY LIFE TODAY,
YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING?
BECAUSE I HAVE DONE SOME THINGS--
YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHY I WANT TO WORK IN THE JUVENILE DETENTION CENTER
BECAUSE YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN THROUGH THINGS IN MY LIFE.
YOU KNOW, AS LONG AS I SAVE ONE PERSON'S LIFE,
I'LL HAVE DONE MY JOB.
YOU KNOW, AND THAT'S WHERE I WANT TO COME IN AT AND HELP,
BECAUSE I'VE BEEN THROUGH--
YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE GOING INTO THAT FIELD.
THESE PEOPLE ARE GONNA BE LOOKING AT ME LIKE,
"YOU HAVEN'T BEEN THROUGH THIS SITUATION."
YES, I HAVE-- I HAVE A STORY TO TELL.
I HAVE A STORY TO TELL.
YOU KNOW, BECAUSE I DON'T GET EVERYTHING RIGHT,
BUT BY THE GRACE OF GOD, I'M HERE TODAY SITTING IN COLLEGE,
I'M DOING GOOD, GOT A GOOD WOMAN.
YOU KNOW, AND PEOPLE LOVE ME TODAY,
AND YOU KNOW, THOSE FRIENDS THAT I HAD OUT THERE,
THEY WEREN'T MY FRIENDS
BECAUSE AS SOON AS I GOT MYSELF TOGETHER, THEY WERE GONE,
THEY AIN'T NOWHERE.
THE ONLY ONE THAT COULD HAVE (indistinct) SOMETIMES, FELLAS,
IT CAN BE RIGHT IN YOUR FAMILY, TOO.
YOU KNOW, IT COULD BE RIGHT IN YOUR FAMILY.
BECAUSE LIKE MY STEPDAD--
YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK HE LIKED THE FACT THAT I JUMPED UP
AND GOT MYSELF TOGETHER.
YOU KNOW, MY OWN STEPDAD-- MY GIRLFRIEND GAVE ME
A ONE-YEAR CLEAN CELEBRATION PARTY
AND HE DIDN'T EVEN SHOW UP.
MAN, YOU KNOW WHAT I'VE BEEN THROUGH FOR THE LAST 20 YEARS
OF MY LIFE, AND YOU COULDN'T EVEN SHOW UP?
NOW, SEE, IT'S NOT JUST GOING TO BE YOUR FRIENDS--
IS GONNA BE THE PEOPLE IN YOUR FAMILIES, TOO.
BUT MY MOTHER IS THE ONLY ONE THAT WAS THERE FOR ME,
AND MY GIRL.
AND I CAN HONESTLY SAY-- >> YOU KNOW WHAT WAS CRAZY
ABOUT WHAT YOU SAID?
AND IT'S ALSO INTO THE DREAMS AND IDEAS IN THE CEMETERY.
I'M BLESSED THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE CAN HEAR MY VOICE,
BUT NOT EVERYONE'S GONNA HEAR MY VOICE.
IT'S OTHER VOICES THAT WILL RESONATE WITH OTHER SPIRITS.
AND SO, IF YOU DON'T DO
WHAT IT IS YOU WERE PLANNING ON THIS EARTH TO DO,
YOU'RE NOT LETTING DOWN ONLY YOURSELF,
YOU'RE LETTING DOWN YOUNG MEN, YOUNG WOMEN
WHO NEEDED TO HEAR YOUR VOICE.
SO, THANK YOU FOR SHARING THAT.
LET'S GO HERE, AND THEN GO HERE.
>> MY QUESTION WAS IN REGARDS TO-- HOW DID YOU--
YOU SAID YOU NAVIGATED WITH NETWORKING.
BUT I MEAN, HOW LONG DID THAT TAKE YOU?
>> MAN, I WAS IN TO GET MY ASSOCIATE'S DEGREE,
I WAS THERE TWO YEARS.
WHEN I WENT TO THE CONTINUATION SCHOOL,
I ENDED UP GRADUATING.
AND FOR ME-- AND UNDERSTAND THIS--
I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND THAT THE TRADITIONAL WAY
JUST DIDN'T WORK FOR ME.
GRAD SCHOOL-- I THINK THE REASON WHY I EXCELLED
IS BECAUSE JUST LIKE WITH THAT CONTINUATION SCHOOL,
IT WAS UP TO ME.
YOU KNOW, I COULD'VE SAT THERE--
I KNEW SOME PEOPLE WHO WERE JUST SITTING THERE
NOT DOING THEIR WORK, NOT DOING ANYTHING,
BUT I WAS LIKE, "YOU MEAN IF I READ THIS AND DO THIS,
"I EARN THIS CREDIT?
"OH, I'M SITTING UP THERE EVERY DAY!"
I MEAN, THEY'RE TRIPPING LIKE THINKING I'M--
I'M LIKE, "I'M NOT CHEATING.
"I'M JUST GETTING DONE WHAT I NEED TO GET DONE."
SO, I WAS THERE A LONG TIME, MAN.
I REALLY WAS.
I WAS TWO YEARS THERE AND IT TOOK ME FIVE YEARS
TO GET MY BACHELOR'S DEGREE, AND THEN MY MASTER'S.
AFTER THAT, IT STARTED CLICKING.
IT STARTED CLICKING.
WITH MY PhD, I WAS FORTUNATE THAT I WAS ABLE TO WORK FULL-TIME
AND THEN THEY ALLOWED ME TO WORK ON MY PhD AS WELL.
BUT THE KEY WAS-- I'M TELLING YOU, GENTLEMEN--
THE KEY WAS I GOT AROUND PEOPLE.
MY FRATERNITY BROTHER WAS WORKING ON HIS PhD,
AND I HAD MY MASTERS, BUT PhD--
COME ON, THAT'S A WHOLE 'NOTHER LEVEL!
BUT THEN, I HAVE THIS FRATERNITY BROTHER,
AND WE'RE SITTING IN MEETINGS TOGETHER-- FRATERNITY MEETINGS--
THIS DUDE IS WORKING ON HIS PhD.
HE'S THAT SMART!
"HOW DID YOU GET THIS-- DON'T TALK TO ME, MAN-- HOW DID YOU--"
"MAN, IT'S JUST LIKE YOUR MASTERS.
"THAT'S WHAT IT IS."
BUT ONCE AGAIN, IT TURNED INTO A "MUST."
I MUST MAKE IT HAPPEN, BECAUSE NOW PEOPLE ARE LIKE,
"MAN, YOU CAN'T DO THAT." "PSH, WATCH ME.
"THAT'S WHAT YOU ALL-- WATCH ME.
"WATCH ME, WATCH ME."
INSTEAD OF-- I GOT PEOPLE-- I CAN'T STAND PEOPLE--
EVERYBODY GOT HATERS?
WHO GOT HATERS IN THE ROOM? (audience laughing)
ALL RIGHT, EVERYBODY GOT HATERS.
ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT.
SO, GET THIS.
IF I LEAVE THIS ROOM RIGHT NOW AND I GO OUTSIDE
AND IT'S A BIRD RIGHT THERE, AND Y'ALL HEAR ME SAYING, "MAN,
"I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, THAT BIRD BETTER NOT FLY."
YOU ALL ARE GONNA THINK I'M CRAZY, RIGHT?
IF YOU ALL HEAR ME SAYING, "I'LL TELL YOU WHAT,
"THAT BIRD BETTER NOT FLY."
BECAUSE AS I GET CLOSER TO THE BIRD,
WHAT IS THE BIRD GOING TO DO? >> (all) FLY.
>> "AW, MAN-- I TOLD THAT BIRD NOT TO FLY!"
SO, I'M MAD BECAUSE THE BIRD FLEW, RIGHT?
SO, IF I GO TO AN AQUARIUM
AND I'M LOOKING AT THE FISH INSIDE THE AQUARIUM,
WHAT ARE THE FISH DOING?
SWIMMING, BECAUSE FISH DO WHAT? >> (all) SWIM.
>> BIRDS DO WHAT? >> (all) FLY.
>> FISH DO WHAT? >> (all) SWIM.
>> HATERS DO WHAT? >> (all) HATE.
>> SO, HOW THE HECK I WANT TO FIGHT A PERSON
WHO WAS DOING WHAT THEY NATURALLY DO?
SO, I'M JUST AS CRAZY AS THAT DUDE I SEE SAYING,
"THAT BIRD BETTER NOT FLY," AND THEN IT FLY.
UNDERSTAND THAT WHEN HATERS ARE HATING ON YOU,
IT'S JUST YOUR TURN.
HATERS HATE ON EVERYBODY, BUT NOW IT'S YOUR TURN.
SO DON'T GET MAD AND WANNA FIGHT--
"MAN, THEY HATING ON ME!"
THAT'S WHAT THEY DO.
Y'ALL TOLD ME BIRDS FLY, FISH SWIM, HATERS HATE.
MAKE SENSE-- ALL RIGHT, GO AHEAD.