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>> HOW IS EVERYBODY DOING TODAY? >> ALL RIGHT!
>> I'M GLAD I GOT TO MEET YOU GUYS OVER A LITTLE BIT OF FOOD,
YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY GET THE LITTLE NERVOUSNESS OUT OF THEM.
SO WE'RE GOING TO GO THROUGH A PRESENTATION TODAY.
SOME OF IT'S GOING TO BE OPEN DIALOGUE.
I'M GOING TO ASK YOU GUYS SOME QUESTIONS,
I'M GOING TO WANT SOME ANSWERS,
SOMETIMES THERE'S NOT, MAYBE IT WILL BE RHETORICAL.
JUST BE WATCHING OUT FOR THAT. (laughing)
ALSO, I'M GOING TO BE DANCING A LITTLE BIT,
SO YOU GUYS ARE GOING TO SEE SOME OF THAT--
I'M JUST GIVING YOU GUYS SOME EXPECTATIONS.
I WANT YOU GUYS TO COME UP WITH SOME QUESTIONS OF ME.
MAYBE YOU DON'T HAVE SOME PAPER WITH YOU OR NOT,
BUT IF YOU COME UP WITH A QUESTION,
PLEASE HOLD THAT TILL THE END
BECAUSE THERE IS A Q&A AT THE END
AND I REALLY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DELVE
INTO SOME SERIOUS DISCUSSION,
BECAUSE YOU CAN ALWAYS HAVE A CONVERSATION
BUT IT'S EASIER TO LEARN WHEN EVERYBODY
IS PUTTING SOMETHING IN IT, YOU KNOW?
YOU GET TO BOUNCE IDEAS OFF EACH OTHER.
SO WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED.
THE MAJORITY OF MEN MEET WITH FAILURE
BECAUSE OF THEIR LACK OF PERSISTENCE
IN CREATING NEW PLANS TO TAKE THE PLANS
OF THOSE WHICH HAVE FAILED.
AND WHAT I PLAN TO DO THROUGHOUT HIS PRESENTATION
IS SHOW YOU WHY PERSISTENCE IS IMPORTANT
AND KIND OF GIVE YOU SOME TOOLS TO GO ALONG
WITH CREATING A NEW PLAN IF YOU EVER WERE TO MEET WITH FAILURE,
WHICH I'M SURE A LOT OF US IN HERE WILL
BECAUSE IT'S INEVITABLE.
IT'S THE ONLY WAY WE GET TO SUCCESS.
SO JUST TO START OFF,
I'M GOING TO START YOU GUYS OFF WITH A VIDEO--
DANCESPIRE, "I AM LEGEND."
(birds chirping)
>> HEY, THAT'S REALLY A GREAT QUESTION.
DANCESPIRE DID START OFF AS A VISION.
AS A KID, I LOVED TO BE INSPIRED,
I ALWAYS WANTED TO INSPIRE, AND WITH A LOT OF SELF-REFLECTION
AND KNOWING MY REASON WHY,
IT'S BEEN MY MOTIVATION TO FUEL MY DEDICATION TO IT.
I JUST WANT TO SHOW PEOPLE THAT DREAMS AREN'T JUST DREAMS.
IT TAKES A LOT OF COURAGE IN THIS WORLD.
(music) I'VE HAD MANY PEOPLE HELP ME OUT
FROM HERE, FROM THERE...
(music)
>> ONLY THOSE WHO RISK GOING TOO FAR CAN POSSIBLY FIND OUT
HOW FAR ONE CAN GO.
CAN YOU HEAR ME?
ONLY THOSE WHO ARE WILLING TO RISK GOING TOO FAR
CAN POSSIBLY FIND OUT HOW FAR ONE CAN GO.
LOOK, YOU GOTTA WANT IT AS BAD AS YOU WANT TO BREATHE.
AND YOU CAN GO FARTHER THAN YOU THINK-- LISTEN TO ME--
YOU'RE IN THREE AND YOU'VE GOT SIX GEARS,
BUT YOU'RE ACCUSTOMED TO THREE,
YOU'RE ACCUSTOMED TO FOUR.
I CHALLENGE YOU-- I CHALLENGE YOU TO PUSH IT
TO ALL THE GEARS YOU'VE GOT.
GET IT EVERYTHING YOU'VE GOT-- LISTEN TO ME--
DO YOU THINK I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO WRITE A BOOK?
DO YOU THINK I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO BE AN AUTHOR?
DO YOU THINK I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO BE MARCHING
THIS YEAR WITH A PhD?
DO YOU THINK I THOUGHT I WOULD BE TRAVELING THE WORLD--
N.F.L., N.B.A.?
DO YOU THINK I THOUGHT I WOULD BE DOING THIS
AS A HIGH SCHOOL DROPOUT?
AS SOMEBODY THAT WAS HOMELESS?
DO YOU THINK I THOUGHT I WOULD GO THIS FAR?
BUT I PUSHED IT-- I SAID, "I WANT TO SEE HOW FAR I CAN GO.
"I WANT TO SEE WHAT I CAN ACCOMPLISH.
"I WANT TO SEE WHAT I CAN DO, WHAT I CAN BE, WHAT I CAN HAVE!
"I WANT TO SEE."
I DON'T WANT TO SEE WHAT I THINK I CAN DO,
I DON'T WANT TO SEE WHAT I THINK IS POSSIBLE.
I WANT TO SEE WHAT MY LIFE WOULD LOOK LIKE
IF I DIDN'T COUNT THE COST,
AND IF I WAS WILLING TO GO FURTHER THAN ANYBODY ELSE
WAS WILLING TO DO.
IF I HAD THE MENTALITY THAT, "ERIC, YOU'VE GOT TO WANT IT--
"YOU'VE GOT TO WANT IT AS BAD AS YOU WANT TO BREATHE,"
AND I WOKE UP, AND HERE I AM.
(music)
>> SO ONCE YOU'RE DONE HYPED UP ABOUT IT,
YOU'RE DONE TALKING ABOUT IT, YOU GET DONE WAKING UP,
YOUR DREAMS WON'T POP UP IN FRONT OF YOU--
LIKE, YOU WON'T WAKE UP LAYING NEXT TO YOUR DREAMS.
I FEEL LIKE ONLY YOU CAN DEFINE YOUR GREATNESS,
ONLY YOU CAN HAVE YOUR GREATNESS, AND ULTIMATELY,
ONLY YOU CAN STOP YOURSELF FROM YOUR GREATNESS.
THERE IS REALLY NO EXCUSE.
OLIVER HOLMES ONCE SAID, "GREATNESS IS NOT WHERE WE STAND
"BUT IT'S IN THE DIRECTION THAT WE'RE MOVING."
SO WITH EVERY NEW DAY, ASK YOURSELF,
"WHERE AM I MOVING TOWARDS?
"WHAT'S STOPPING ME?"
(Macklemore and Ryan Lewis's "Ten Thousand Hours")
>> (rapping) ♪ THIS IS MY WORLD ♪
♪ THIS IS MY ARENA ♪
♪ THE TV TOLD ME SOMETHING DIFFERENT ♪
♪ I DIDN'T BELIEVE IT ♪
♪ I STAND HERE IN FRONT OF YOU TODAY ♪
♪ ALL BECAUSE OF AN IDEA I COULD BE WHO I WANTED ♪
♪ IF I COULD SEE MY POTENTIAL ♪
♪ AND I KNOW THAT ONE DAY I'MA BE HIM ♪
♪ PUT THE GLOVES ON SPARRING WITH MY EGO ♪
♪ EVERYONE'S GREATEST OBSTACLE I BEAT HIM ♪
♪ CELEBRATE THAT ACHIEVEMENT ♪
♪ GOT SOME ATTACHMENTS SOME BAGGAGE ♪
♪ I'M ACTUALLY WORKING ON LEAVING ♪
♪ SEE I OBSERVED ESCHER I LOVE BASQUIAT ♪
♪ I WATCHED KEITH HARING ♪
♪ YOU SEE I STUDIED ART ♪
♪ THE GREATS WEREN'T GREAT ♪
♪ BECAUSE AT BIRTH THEY COULD PAINT ♪
♪ THE GREATS WERE GREAT BECAUSE THEY PAINT A LOT ♪
♪ I WILL NOT BE A STATISTIC JUST LET ME BE ♪
♪ NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND THAT'S THE AMERICAN SCHEME ♪
♪ I MAKE MY LIVING OFF OF WORDS AND DO WHAT I LOVE FOR WORK ♪
♪ AND GOT AROUND 980 ON MY S.A.T.s ♪
♪ TAKE THAT SYSTEM WHAT DID YOU EXPECT ♪
♪ GENERATION OF KIDS CHOOSING LOVE OVER A DESK ♪
♪ YOU PUT THOSE HOURS IN AND LOOK AT WHAT YOU GET ♪
♪ NOTHING THAT YOU CAN HOLD BUT EVERYTHING THAT IT IS ♪
♪ TEN THOUSAND ♪
>> (singing) ♪ 10,000 HOURS ♪
>> THANK YOU GUYS VERY MUCH.
SO WHEN I TRAVEL, I GO TO DIFFERENT SCHOOLS
AND I TALK AND I SPEAK AND I PERFORM.
THE NUMBER ONE QUESTION I GET IS, "WHAT IS DANCESPIRE?
"YOU KNOW, WHAT EXACTLY IS IT?
"I SEE WEAR A BRACELET, YOU WEAR A HOODIE, DEAVONDRE,
"WHAT EXACTLY IS IT?"
TO LET YOU GUYS KNOW, DANCESPIRE IS A COMBINATION
OF TWO OF MY PASSIONS,
AND THAT'S TO DANCE AND THAT'S TO INSPIRE,
AND THAT'S WHERE YOU GET THE DANCESPIRE.
AND IT CREATIVELY MIXES THE PERFORMING ARTS
AND MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKING TO DELIVER A PERSONAL MESSAGE,
BUT YET INSPIRATIONAL AT THE SAME TIME.
SO TO GIVE YOU LOGISTICS OF WHAT I MEAN,
LET'S TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE THINGS DANCESPIRE HAS DONE.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT DURING CHRISTMAS BREAK--
THIS PAST CHRISTMAS BREAK--
I ACTUALLY SAT DOWN AND I WAS LIKE,
"I NEED TO FIGURE OUT WHAT I WANT TO DO WITH MY LIFE.
"STUFF IS GETTING SERIOUS.
"EVERYTHING IS HITTING THE FAN.
"I'M GOING TO BE GRADUATING FROM 'CC IN ANOTHER YEAR.
"I NEED TO FIGURE OUT WHAT I WANT TO DO.
"I WANT TO GO ONTO A FOUR YEAR UNIVERSITY,
"AND THAT FOUR YEAR UNIVERSITY IS GOING TO ESTABLISH
"OR BE ONE OF THE STEPPING STONES TO WHAT I WANT TO DO.
"SO I NEED TO FIGURE THAT OUT."
SO DANCESPIRE IS WHAT I CAME UP WITH.
ABOUT TWO TO THREE MONTHS AGO, I WAS ABLE TO--
I WAS ASKED TO COME TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN,
AND THEY LET ME COME IN
AND PERFORM FOR THEIR N.A.A.C.P. AWARDS--
IT WAS THE BLACK IMAGE AWARDS.
AND THEY WERE GIVING AWARDS OUT TO ALL THEIR STUDENTS
WHO WERE INVOLVED-- AND ALSO FACULTY.
AND IT WAS A VERY HONORABLE, HONORABLE INVITATION.
SO THIS IS ONE OF THE PICTURES FROM THERE,
JUST SHOW YOU SOME OF THE NOTABLE PERFORMANCES.
ANOTHER ONE I WAS INVOLVED WITH WAS AT MICHIGAN STATE.
SO WITH THEM, THE LAST SIX TO SEVEN MONTHS OF WHAT I STARTED,
I'VE BEEN ASKED TO TWO OF THE TOP TEN BIG SCHOOLS
IN OUR STATE, TO COME IN AND DO A PERFORMANCE,
SO I'M GOING TO LET YOU WATCH
THE MICHIGAN STATE PERFORMANCE AS WELL.
(Kid Cudi's "Soundtrack 2 My Life")
>> (singing) ♪ AND ALL OF THESE EMOTIONS ♪
♪ ARE POURING OUT OF ME ♪
♪ I BRING THEM TO THE LIGHT FOR YOU ♪
♪ IT'S ONLY RIGHT ♪
♪ THIS IS THE SOUNDTRACK TO MY LIFE ♪
♪ THE SOUNDTRACK TO MY LIFE ♪
>> HEY, YO.
YO, IF I COULD DO ONE THING IN THIS WORLD...
IT WOULD BE TO AT LEAST INSPIRE ONE PERSON,
BECAUSE IT'S NOT ABOUT HOW BAD YOU WANT SOMETHING.
HOW BAD YOU WANT SOMETHING IS MEANINGLESS, IT'S POINTLESS,
IF HOW BAD YOU WANT TO WORK FOR THE THING YOU WANT
ISN'T TEN TIMES AS INTENSE AS HOW BAD YOU WANT IT.
I CAN'T SELL YOU DESIRE.
I CAN'T BOTTLE A PASSION AND GIVE IT TO YOU IN THE FORM
OF SOME MAGIC POTION.
THE ONLY THING THAT CAN QUENCH HUNGER IS MORE HUNGER,
AND EVERY TRIAL, EVERY TRIBULATION,
EVERYTHING YOU GO THROUGH IS NECESSARY IN LIFE
BECAUSE IT'S THE LESSONS THAT YOU GET FROM THOSE THINGS
THAT MOST PEOPLE CAN'T AND WILL NOT ENDURE.
EMBRACE IT.
I URGE YOU ALL TO EMBRACE IT,
BECAUSE IT'S THE ONE THING THAT WILL ALLOW YOU TO BECOME KING.
(applause, cheering)
(Kid Cudi's "Soundtrack 2 My Life")
>> (singing) ♪ I BRING THEM TO THE LIGHT ♪
♪ FOR YOU IT'S ONLY RIGHT ♪
♪ THIS IS THE SOUNDTRACK TO MY LIFE ♪
♪ THE SOUNDTRACK TO MY LIFE ♪
♪ I'M SUPER PARANOID ♪
♪ LIKE A 6th SENSE SINCE MY FATHER DIED ♪
♪ I AIN'T BEEN RIGHT SINCE ♪
♪ AND I TRIED TO PIECE THE PUZZLE OF THE UNIVERSE ♪
>> SO THE REASON WHY I'M SHOWING YOU GUYS THESE VIDEOS--
I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU DIDN'T GET THE IMPRESSION
THAT I JUST WOKE UP AND ANDRE WAS LIKE,
"D.J., YOU CAN DANCE, RIGHT?
"SO HOW ABOUT YOU TO COME SPEAK TO MY FELLAS?"
IT DIDN'T WORK OUT LIKE THAT.
SO DANCESPIRE IS SOMETHING-- IT'S THE SOUNDTRACK TO MY LIFE.
I'M SHOWING YOU WHAT I REALLY HAVE A PASSION FOR,
I'M SHOWING YOU WHAT I REALLY WANT TO DO.
SO THAT BRINGS ME TO MY NEXT QUESTION.
EVERYBODY SAY, WHEN I COME IN-- THEY'RE LIKE,
"YOU'RE DOING GREAT, DANCING IS COOL, IT'S CUTE.
"YOU KNOW, WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO WITH YOUR FUTURE?"
SO THEY ALWAYS ASK ME THAT QUESTION--
"WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO WITH YOUR FUTURE?"
AND I ALWAYS REFER BACK TO MYSELF.
I DON'T REALLY REFER TO DANCESPIRE
BECAUSE I DON'T WANT MY SELF-WORTH
OR THE DEFINITION OF MYSELF
TO BECOME SYNONYMOUS WITH SOMETHING EXTERNAL.
SO THE GOALS I KINDA HAVE IS I WANT TO PERFORM
IN FRONT OF MILLIONS OF PEOPLE, THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE.
THIS IS-- I START OFF HERE AND I WANT TO WORK UP TO THAT.
ONE OF MY BIGGEST GOALS IS TO PERFORM
AT THE MADISON SQUARE GARDEN.
BUT I'M A STEP UP FROM THERE.
I'M GONNA GIVE YOU ANOTHER ONE
THAT'S KIND OF PROBABLY OFF THE CHARTS.
I WANNA BE THE FIRST DANCER TO SELL OUT
THE MADISON SQUARE GARDEN.
I WANT TO BE ABLE TO HEADLINE AT MADISON SQUARE GARDEN.
AND WHEN I SAY THAT, YOU SHOULD SEE THE FACES IN THE AUDIENCE.
THEY LIKE, "ALL RIGHT, WE'RE GOING HOME
"BECAUSE THIS DUDE IS CRAZY.
(audience laughing) "WHAT IS HIS PROBLEM?"
THEY'RE LIKE LEGIT-- THEY'RE LIKE,
"HOW ARE YOU GOING TO DO THAT?"
NOW, I DON'T REALLY HAVE THE FORMAL WAY TO TELL YOU
HOW I'M GOING TO DO THAT,
BUT JUST KNOW IT'S GONNA HAPPEN.
AND THE REASON WHY I SAY THAT IS BECAUSE I HAVE TO TELL THEM
THAT IT WAS ONCE UPON A TIME WHERE NOW WAS THE FUTURE.
RIGHT, ONCE UPON A TIME WITH THIS RIGHT HERE--
THIS RIGHT HERE WAS THE FUTURE, AND NOW IT'S ACTUALLY HAPPENING.
EVERYTHING THAT'S HERE TODAY WASN'T HERE YESTERDAY.
THERE WAS A POINT IN TIME WHERE MY PASSIONS,
AS FAR AS DANCING AND INSPIRATION PUT TOGETHER--
THAT WAS JUST AN IDEA.
YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?
THERE WAS A TIME WHEN YOU PUT A, B, AND O NEXT TO EACH OTHER,
AND THEY WERE JUST THREE RANDOM LETTERS IN THE ALPHABET.
THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANY MEANING TO IT.
SO I HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU.
SO IF NOW IS THE FUTURE AND WE'RE STANDING HERE,
WHAT HAPPENED?
LIKE, WHAT HAPPENED THAT WE ARE HERE AND IT WAS JUST AN IDEA,
AND NOW THAT WE'RE HERE, IT'S ACTUALLY HAPPENED
AND I GET TO MEET YOU, WHO WANT TO BE A ROCKSTAR.
I GET TO MEET YOU, WHO WANT TO GO INTO SOCIAL WORK.
I GET TO MEET ANOTHER GUY WHO HAS COME FROM BENTON HARBOR
AND HE IS-- YOU KNOW, IT TOUCHED HIM AS WELL.
WHAT HAPPENED?
I'M GONNA TELL YOU WHAT HAPPENED.
WHOEVER WAS RIGHT HERE, THEY TOOK ACTION.
THAT'S WHAT THEY DID-- THEY TOOK ACTION.
IT'S A LOT OF PEOPLE-- IT'S A STATISTIC AND IT'S VERY LOW,
BECAUSE I HAVE THESE DAILY, BUT IT'S A STATISTIC THAT A PERSON,
ON AVERAGE, GETS FOUR IDEAS A YEAR.
BUT A LOT OF PEOPLE GET GREAT IDEAS ALL THE TIME,
BUT NOBODY EVER ACTS ON IT.
SOMEBODY SAT DOWN AND SAID, "YOU KNOW WHAT?
"THE PASSIONS THAT I HAVE, I'M GONNA SIT DOWN
"AND I'M GONNA TAKE LIFE SERIOUSLY
"AND WHERE I AM RIGHT NOW IS NOT GOING TO DETERMINE
"WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE.
"I'M GONNA MAKE MY FUTURE BECOME A 'NOW.'"
AND GUESS WHAT?
I MEAN, MAKE SURE YOU'RE NOT STAYING IN THE SAME SPOT.
LOOK WHERE WE ARE TODAY, ALL RIGHT?
IT WAS A GUY THAT SAT DOWN WITH HIS COLLEAGUES
AND SAID, "YOU KNOW WHAT?
"IT'S ONLY 26 PERCENT OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN MALES
"GRADUATING FROM GRCC.
"WE NEED TO MAKE SOMETHING HAPPEN."
SO THEY GOT A LITTLE GROUP TOGETHER, RIGHT?
THEY SAID, "WE NEED TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN."
THE GUY SAID, "YOU KNOW WHAT, ANDRE?
"I REALLY CAN'T TAKE THIS POSITION.
"I'VE GOT SOMETHING GOING ON."
ANDRE STEPPED UP AND SAID, "I'M GONNA MAKE IT HAPPEN."
ANDRE TOOK ACTION.
THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED.
YOU'VE GOT TO TAKE ACTION TO MAKE "NOW" HAPPEN.
THERE'S NEVER A PERFECT TIME.
YOU GET TWO GOOD GIFTS IN LIFE-- YOUR PRECIOUS GIFTS--
AND THAT'S YOUR TIME AND THAT'S YOUR MIND,
AND WHATEVER YOU DO WITH YOUR MIND
IS GOING TO PROBABLY DECIDE WHAT YOU DO WITH YOUR TIME.
AND YOU'VE GOT TO TAKE THOSE IDEAS
AND YOU'VE GOT TO PUT IT INTO ACTION,
SO THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED.
AND WE'RE GOING TO MAKE MADISON SQUARE GARDEN HAPPEN, TOO.
ALL RIGHT, SO IF I KEEP GOING--
I CALL YOU GUYS THE "EGALITARIAN BROTHERHOOD OF GRCC."
THAT'S MY LITTLE NICKNAME FOR YOU GUYS,
AND I WANT YOU GUYS TO WATCH THIS VIDEO
BECAUSE IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO SEE WHAT YOU SAID
BACK SOME MONTHS AGO, OR WHAT YOU SAID BACK SOME YEARS AGO.
THAT'S REALLY THE ONLY WAY YOU CAN DETERMINE
WHETHER YOU'RE SUCCESSFUL OR NOT, RIGHT?
YOU CAN'T REALLY-- WE DON'T HAVE A SET STANDARD--
YOU KNOW, DEAVONDRE RESUME, SOCIETY'S RESUME.
"DEAVONDRE, YOU'RE ALMOST A SUCCESS.
"YOU'RE ALMOST THERE."
WE DON'T HAVE THAT IN TODAY'S SOCIETY,
SO WHAT YOU WANT TO DO IN LIFE
AND YOU PUT THAT NEXT TO WHAT YOUR GOALS ARE
AND WHAT YOU HAVE DONE, AND THAT DETERMINES YOUR SUCCESS.
AT LEAST IT SHOULD BE LIKE THAT.
SO LET'S WATCH THIS VIDEO REALLY QUICK.
>> (with British accent) SO YOU WANT TO GET A DEGREE?
WHY?
LET ME TELL YOU WHAT SOCIETY WILL TELL YOU--
IT INCREASES YOUR CHANCES OF GETTING A JOB.
IT PROVIDES YOU WITH AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE SUCCESSFUL.
YOUR LIFE WILL BE A LOT LESS STRESSFUL.
EDUCATION IS THE KEY.
NOW, LET ME TELL YOU WHAT YOUR PARENTS WILL TELL YOU...
"MAKE ME PROUD.
"IT INCREASES YOUR CHANCES OF GETTING A JOB.
"IT PROVIDES YOU WITH AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE SUCCESSFUL.
"YOUR LIFE WILL BE A LOT LESS STRESSFUL.
"EDUCATION IS THE KEY."
NOW, LET'S LOOK AT THE STATISTICS.
STEVE JOBS, NET WORTH-- $7 BILLION.
R.I.P.
RICHARD BRANSON, NET WORTH-- $4.2 BILLION.
OPRAH WINFREY, NET WORTH-- $2.7 BILLION.
MARK ZUCKERBERG, HENRY FORD, STEVEN SPIELBERG, BILL GATES,
NOW HERE COMES THE COUP DE GRACE.
LOOKING AT THESE INDIVIDUALS, WHAT'S YOUR CONCLUSION?
NEITHER OF THEM, IN BEING SUCCESSFUL,
NEVER GRADUATED FROM A HIGHER LEARNING INSTITUTION.
NOW, SOME OF YOU WILL PROTEST, LIKE, "YOU KNOW,
"MONEY IS ONLY THE MEDIUM
"BY WHICH ONE MEASURES WORLDLY SUCCESS,"
AND SOME OF YOU WILL EVEN HAVE THE NERVE TO SAY,
"I DON'T DO IT FOR THE MONEY."
SO WHAT ARE YOU STUDYING FOR?
TO WORK FOR A CHARITY?
NEED MORE CLARITY?
LET'S LOOK AT THE STATISTICS.
JESUS, MUHAMMAD-- (indistinct)--
SOCRATES, MALCOLM X, MOTHER TERESA, SPIELBERG,
SHAKESPEARE, BEETHOVEN, JESSE OWENS, MOHAMMED ALI,
SHAWN CARTER, MICHAEL JEFFREY JORDAN,
MICHAEL JOSEPH JACKSON--
WERE EITHER OF THESE PEOPLE UNSUCCESSFUL?
OR UNEDUCATED?
ALL I'M SAYING IS THAT IF THERE WAS A FAMILY TREE,
HARD WORK AND EDUCATION WOULD BE RELATED,
BUT SCHOOL WOULD PROBABLY BE A DISTANT COUSIN.
BECAUSE EDUCATION IS THE KEY, THEN SCHOOL IS THE LOCK.
BECAUSE IT RARELY EVER DEVELOPS A MIND TO THE POINT
WHERE IT CAN PERCEIVE RED AS GREEN
AND CONTINUE TO GO WHEN SOMEONE ELSE SAID, "STOP."
BECAUSE AS LONG AS YOU FOLLOW THE RULES AND PASS THE EXAMS,
YOU'RE COOL.
BUT ARE YOU AWARE THAT EXAMINERS HAVE A CHECKLIST,
AND IF YOUR ANSWER IS SOMETHING OUTSIDE OF THE BOX,
THE AUTOMATIC RESPONSE IS A CROSS.
AND THEN, THEY CLAIM THAT SCHOOL EXPANDS YOUR HORIZONS
AND YOUR VISIONS.
WELL, TELL THAT TO MALCOLM X WHO DROPPED OUT OF SCHOOL
AND IS WORLD RENOWNED FOR WHAT HE LEARNED IN THE PRISON.
PROVERBS 17:16-- "IT DOES A FOOL NO GOOD
"TO SPEND MONEY ON EDUCATION."
WHY?
"BECAUSE HE HAS NO COMMON SENSE."
GEORGE BUSH... NEED I SAY MORE?
EDUCATION IS ABOUT INSPIRING ONE'S MIND,
NOT JUST FILLING THEIR HEAD.
AND TAKE THIS FROM ME BECAUSE I'M AN EDUCATED MAN MYSELF,
WHO ONLY CAME TO THIS REALIZATION
OF THE COUNTLESS NIGHTS IN THE LIBRARY
WITH A CAN OF RED BULL KEEPING ME AWAKE TILL DAWN
AND ANOTHER CAN IN THE MORN,
FALLING ASLEEP IN BETWEEN PILES OF BOOKS
WHICH PROBABLY EQUATED TO THE SAME AMOUNT
I HAD SPENT ON MY RENT,
MEMORIZING EQUATIONS, FACTS, AND DATES RIGHT DOWN TO THE LETTER,
HALF OF WHICH I'D NEVER REMEMBER
AND HALF OF WHICH I FORGET STRAIGHT AFTER THE EXAM
AND BEFORE THE START OF THE NEXT SEMESTER,
ASKING ANYONE IF THEY HAD NOTES FOR THE LAST LECTURE.
I OFTEN FOUND MYSELF RUNNING TO CLASS
JUST SO I COULD FIND A SPOT
ON WHICH I COULD REST MY HEAD AND FALL ASLEEP
WITHOUT MAKING A SCENE.
IRONIC...
BECAUSE THAT'S THE ONLY TIME I EVER SPENT IN UNIVERSITY,
CHASING MY DREAMS.
AND THEN AFTER NIGHTS WITH A DEAD-MIND,
I THEN FINDING MYSELF IN A QUEUE OF HALF AWAKE STUDENT ZOMBIES
WAITING TO HAND IN AN ASSIGNMENT--
MAYBE THAT'S WHY THEY CALLED IT A DEAD-LINE.
AND THEN, AFTER THREE YEARS OF MENTAL SUPPRESSION
AND FRUSTRATION,
MY PROUD MOTHER DIDN'T EVEN TURN UP TO MY GRADUATION.
NOW, I'M NOT SAYING THAT SCHOOL IS EVIL
AND THAT THERE'S NOTHING TO GAIN.
BUT ALL I'M SAYING IS UNDERSTAND YOUR MOTIVES
AND REASSESS YOUR AIMS.
BECAUSE IF YOU WANT A JOB WORKING FOR SOMEONE ELSE,
THEN HELP YOURSELF.
BUT THEN, THAT WOULD BE A CONTRADICTION
BECAUSE HE WOULDN'T REALLY BE HELPING YOURSELF,
YOU'D BE HELPING SOMEBODY ELSE.
THERE'S A SAYING THAT SAYS, "IF YOU DON'T BUILD YOUR DREAM,
"SOMEONE ELSE WILL HIRE YOU TO HELP BUILD THEIRS."
REDEFINE HOW YOU VIEW EDUCATION.
UNDERSTAND ITS TRUE MEANING.
EDUCATION IS NOT JUST ABOUT REGURGITATING FACTS FROM A BOOK
ON SOMEONE ELSE'S OPINION ON A SUBJECT TO PASS AN EXAM.
LOOK AT IT-- PICASSO WAS EDUCATED IN CREATING ART,
SHAKESPEARE WAS EDUCATED IN THE ART OF ALL THAT WAS WRITTEN,
COLONEL HARLAND SANDERS WAS EDUCATED IN THE ART
OF CREATING KENTUCKY FRIED CHICKEN.
I ONCE SAW DAVID BECKHAM TAKE A FREE KICK.
I WATCHED AS THE SIDE OF HIS ADIDAS-SPONSORED BOOT
HIT THE PATENT LEATHER OF THE BALL AT AN ANGLE
WHICH CAUSED IT TO TRAVEL TOWARDS THE SKIES
AS THOUGH IT WAS DESTINED FOR THE HEAVENS,
AND THEN AS IT REACHED THE PEAK OF ITS MOMENTUM,
AS THOUGH IT CHANGED ITS MIND, IT SWITCHED DIRECTIONS.
I WATCHED AS THE GOALKEEPER FROZE,
AS THOUGH RECITING TO HIMSELF THE LAWS OF PHYSICS
AND AS THOUGH HIS BRAIN WAS NEGOTIATING WITH HIS EYES
THAT WAS INDEED WITNESSING THE SPECTACLE OF THE LEATHER SWAN
THAT WAS SWEEPING TOWARDS IT,
AND THEN REACTED
BUT ONLY A FRACTION OF A MILLISECOND TOO LATE.
AND BEFORE THE NET OF THE GOAL EMBRACED THE F.I.F.A.-SPONSORED BALL
AS THOUGH IT WAS THE PRODIGAL SON RETURNING HOME
AND THE COUNTRY THAT I LIVE IN ERUPTED INTO CHEERS,
I LOOKED AT THE PLAY AND THOUGHT, "DAMN.
"LOOKING AT DAVID BECKHAM IS MORE THAN ONE WAY IN THIS WORLD
"TO BE AN EDUCATED MAN."
(music)
>> THAT, WHAT WE WERE JUST HEARING,
WAS "WHY I HATE SCHOOL BUT LOVE EDUCATION."
AND I COULDN'T HELP BUT TALK ABOUT THE DIFFERENCES.
IT'S THE BEST TIME, RIGHT?
WE ARE AT SCHOOL.
LET ME JUST TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT I DO
AND WHY I DO WHAT I DO.
I DIDN'T GET DANCE LESSONS WHEN I WAS YOUNGER.
MY MOM DIDN'T GIVE ME $500 AND WAS LIKE, "THIS RIGHT HERE
"IS THE REST OF YOUR MONEY FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR,
"SO YOU COULD GO UP THERE AND YOU CAN TAKE DANCE CLASSES."
I DIDN'T GET THAT.
SO WHERE DID I LEARN HOW TO DANCE?
I WATCHED YOUTUBE FOR PROBABLY LIKE THREE HOURS,
THEN I WOULD DANCE FOR TWO HOURS,
AND THEN I WOULD WATCH YOUTUBE AGAIN FOR ANOTHER TWO HOURS,
AND THEN I WOULD DANCE FOR ANOTHER TWO HOURS,
THEN I DRUNK A WHOLE BUNCH OF WATER,
THEN I WENT BACK OUTSIDE AND DANCED AGAIN.
THAT'S HOW I DANCED, THAT'S HOW I LEARNED, YOU KNOW?
AND WHEN IT COMES TO SPEAKING, DURING HIGH SCHOOL,
I WAS IN THIS PROGRAM CALLED "I'M SAVING MYSELF,"
AND WHAT WE WOULD DO IS WE WOULD TRAVEL ALL AROUND
THE NATION-- MINNESOTA, L.A., NEW YORK--
VERY SELDOM, THOUGH, WE STAYED INSIDE OF MICHIGAN,
BUT I WOULD HAVE TO GET UP IN AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS AND SPEAK.
YOU KNOW, TELL JOKES, HA HA, HEE HEE,
DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE THAT.
SO I DIDN'T REALLY LEARN HOW TO PUBLIC SPEAK IN SCHOOL,
BUT WHEN I TRAVELED,
I MAKE MONEY FOR DANCING AND SPEAKING.
SO WHAT DID I LEARN AT SCHOOL?
I'M NOT SAYING THAT I DIDN'T LEARN ANYTHING AT SCHOOL,
BUT I AM TELLING YOU WHEN IT COMES TO CERTAIN SITUATIONS,
THERE'S A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SCHOOL AND EDUCATION.
WITH MY EDUCATION, WITH MY ASSOCIATE'S OF ARTS--
I BRING IT IN HERE-- IT'S JUST SAYING THAT YOU AND I,
IF YOU HAVE AN ASSOCIATE'S,
WE LEARNED THE EXACT SAME THING.
OR MAYBE THIS IS A COMMON GROUND BETWEEN US.
IT'S KIND OF LIKE MONEY-- MONEY ISN'T REAL,
BUT IT'S A COMMON GROUND.
YOU GIVE ME A DOLLAR, I GIVE YOU A DOLLAR.
IT'S THE SAME VALUE SYSTEM,
BUT YOU CAN'T REALLY PUT A PRICE TAG ON EDUCATION.
I STUDY-- DID ANYBODY HEAR THAT I STUDIED SOCIOLOGY?
HOW DO I STUDY SOCIOLOGY
IF I DON'T GO TO SCHOOL FOR SOCIOLOGY?
IT'S BECAUSE I HAVE REFERENCE BOOKS AT HOME.
I HAVE LIKE MALCOLM GLADWELL,
OTHER SOCIOLOGISTS IN MY BEDROOM THAT I READ BOOKS ON.
I'M EDUCATING MYSELF-- I READ DEEPER.
OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM ONLY TEACHES YOU THE SHALLOW DEPTH
OF ALL OF THESE SUBJECTS.
SO REALLY, IT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SCHOOL AND EDUCATION,
AND THAT'S ALL I'M TRYING TO SAY.
SO MALCOLM GLADWELL'S OUTLIER, AND WITH THAT BEING SAID,
WE ARE ON A TIME CONSTRAINT SO I'M NOT GOING
TO GO THROUGH THIS EXAMPLE HERE.
WE'RE GOING TO MOVE RIGHT ALONG WITH THIS ONE.
BUT WHAT I DO WANT TO TALK ABOUT IS--
LET ME GO BACK REALLY QUICK...
IS OUR CULTURE.
OUR CULTURE.
IF YOU WERE ABLE TO SUM UP OUR CULTURE AS ONE WORD
OR A SENTENCE OR TWO--
GIVE ME A WORD OR A SENTENCE.
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT OUR CULTURE?
IN AMERICA?
>> (indistinct speaking). >> YEAH-- YO, WHAT?
JUST SAY WHATEVER'S ON YOUR MIND.
>> (indistinct speaking). >> NO MOTIVATION?
OKAY.
CAN WE GET IT TO A ROOT OF WHAT "NO MOTIVATION" MAY BE?
>> (indistinct speaking). >> NO ENCOURAGEMENT, GOTCHA.
NO GOALS MAYBE?
>> (indistinct speaking). >> OKAY, WE'RE SHEEPLE.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO ELABORATE?
>> (indistinct speaking). >> OKAY.
>> (indistinct speaking). >> MONKEY SEE, MONKEY DO, RIGHT?
OKAY, SO HE'S SAYING THAT WE JUST FOLLOW ALONG
WITH WHAT GOES HAND-IN-HAND.
OKAY, WE FOLLOW.
>> (indistinct speaking). >> "UNLEARNED."
YOU WANT TO EXPLAIN A LITTLE?
>> (indistinct speaking).
>> OKAY.
LAST ONE HERE, YEAH.
>> (indistinct speaking)...
...(indistinct speaking)...
(indistinct speaking).
>> I LIKE EVERYTHING-- SHEEP PEOPLE-- I LIKE THAT ONE.
I LIKE YOUR EXAMPLE AS WELL.
I'M HERE TO JUST PROVOKE THOUGHTS.
THAT'S ALL I'M TRYING TO DO IS JUST PROVOKE A THOUGHT
OUT OF YOU.
SO IF I HAD TO SUM IT UP IN ONE WORD, THIS IS COMING WAY BACK
FROM SINCE WE GOT HERE.
THE WAY THE EXCHANGE CERTAIN GOODS AND SERVICES--
I'LL SAY "CONSUMERISM."
(Macklemore and Ryan Lewis's "Wings")
>> (rapping) ♪ I WAS SEVEN YEARS OLD ♪
♪ WHEN I GOT MY FIRST PAIR AND I STEPPED OUTSIDE ♪
♪ AND I WAS LIKE MOMMA THIS AIR BUBBLE RIGHT HERE ♪
♪ IT'S GONNA MAKE ME FLY ♪
♪ I HIT THAT COURT AND WHEN I JUMPED ♪
♪ I JUMPED I SWEAR I GOT SO HIGH ♪
♪ I TOUCHED THE NET ♪
♪ MOM I TOUCHED THE NET ♪
♪ THIS IS THE BEST DAY OF MY LIFE ♪
♪ AIR MAXES WERE NEXT THAT AIR BUBBLE THAT MESH ♪
♪ THE BOX THE SMELL THE STUFFING THE TREAD ♪
♪ IN SCHOOL I WAS SO COOL ♪
♪ I KNEW THAT I COULDN'T CREASE 'EM ♪
♪ MY FRIENDS COULDN'T AFFORD 'EM FOUR STRIPES ON THEIR ADIDAS ♪
♪ ON THE COURT I WASN'T THE BEST ♪
♪ BUT MY KICKS WERE LIKE THE PROS ♪
♪ YO I STICK OUT MY TONGUE ♪
♪ SO EVERYONE COULD SEE THAT LOGO ♪
♪ NIKE AIR FLIGHT BOOK BAG WAS SO DOPE ♪
♪ AND THEN MY FRIEND CARLOS' BROTHER ♪
♪ GOT MURDERED FOR HIS FOURS ♪
♪ WHOA ♪
♪ SEE HE JUST WANTED A JUMP SHOT ♪
♪ BUT THEY WANTED HIS STARTER COAT THOUGH ♪
♪ DIDN'T WANNA GET CAUGHT FROM GENESEE PARK TO OTHELLO ♪
♪ YOU'D GET CLOWNED FOR THOSE PRO WINGS ♪
♪ WITH THE VELCRO THOSE WERE NOT TIGHT ♪
♪ I WAS TRYING TO FLY ♪
♪ WITHOUT LEAVING THE GROUND ♪
♪ 'CAUSE I WANTED TO BE LIKE MIKE RIGHT ♪
♪ WANTED TO BE HIM ♪
♪ I WANTED TO BE THAT GUY I WANTED TO TOUCH THE RIM ♪
♪ I WANTED TO BE COOL AND I WANTED TO FIT IN ♪
♪ I WANTED WHAT HE HAD AMERICA IT BEGINS ♪
>> (kids singing) ♪ I WANT TO FLY ♪
♪ CAN YOU TAKE ME FAR AWAY ♪
♪ GIVE ME A STAR ♪
♪ TO REACH FOR TELL ME WHAT IT TAKES ♪
♪ AND I'LL GO SO HIGH ♪
♪ I'LL GO SO HIGH ♪
♪ MY FEET WON'T TOUCH THE GROUND ♪
♪ 'CAUSE IT'S MY WINGS ♪
♪ THAT PULL THE STRINGS I BOUGHT THESE DREAMS ♪
♪ THAT ALL FALL DOWN ♪
>> (rapping) ♪ WE WANT WHAT WE CAN'T HAVE ♪
♪ COMMODITY MAKES US WANT IT ♪
♪ SO EXPENSIVE DAMN ♪
♪ I JUST GOT TO FLAUNT IT GOT TO SHOW 'EM ♪
♪ SO EXCLUSIVE THIS THAT NEW *** ♪
♪ A HUNDRED DOLLARS FOR A PAIR OF SHOES ♪
♪ I WOULD NEVER HOOP IN ♪
♪ LOOK AT ME LOOK AT ME ♪
♪ I'M A COOL KID I'M AN INDIVIDUAL ♪
♪ YEAH BUT I'M PART OF A MOVEMENT ♪
♪ MY MOVEMENT TOLD ME BE A CONSUMER AND I CONSUMED IT ♪
♪ THEY TOLD ME TO JUST DO IT ♪
♪ I LISTENED TO WHAT THAT SWOOSH SAID ♪
♪ LOOK AT WHAT THAT SWOOSH DID ♪
♪ SEE IT CONSUMED MY THOUGHTS ♪
♪ ARE YOU STUPID DON'T CREASE 'EM ♪
♪ JUST LEAVE 'EM IN THAT BOX ♪
♪ STRANGLED BY THESE LACES ♪
♪ LACES I CAN BARELY TALK THAT'S MY AIR BUBBLE ♪
♪ AND I'M LOST IF IT POPS ♪
♪ WE ARE WHAT WE WEAR WE WEAR WHAT WE ARE ♪
♪ BUT SEE I LOOK INSIDE THE MIRROR ♪
♪ AND THINK PHIL KNIGHT TRICKED US ALL ♪
♪ WILL I STAND FOR CHANGE OR STAY IN MY BOX ♪
♪ THESE NIKES HELP ME DEFINE ME ♪
♪ BUT I'M TRYING TO TAKE MINE ♪
♪ OFF ♪
(music)
(music)
(music)
>> (kids singing) ♪ I WANT TO FLY ♪
♪ CAN YOU TAKE ME FAR AWAY ♪
♪ GIVE ME A STAR TO REACH FOR ♪
♪ TELL ME WHAT IT TAKES ♪
♪ AND I'LL GO SO HIGH I'LL GO SO HIGH ♪
♪ MY FEET WON'T TOUCH THE GROUND ♪
♪ 'CAUSE IT'S MY WINGS ♪
♪ THAT PULL THE STRINGS I BOUGHT THESE DREAMS ♪
♪ THAT ALL FALL DOWN ♪
(music)
>> (rapping) ♪ THEY STARTED OUT ♪
♪ WITH WHAT I WEAR TO SCHOOL ♪
♪ THAT FIRST DAY ♪
♪ LIKE THESE ARE WHAT MAKE YOU COOL ♪
♪ AND THIS PAIR THIS WOULD BE MY PARACHUTE ♪
♪ SO MUCH MORE THAN JUST A PAIR OF SHOES ♪
♪ NAH THIS IS WHAT I AM ♪
♪ WHAT I WORE THIS IS THE SOURCE OF MY YOUTH ♪
♪ THIS DREAM THAT THEY SOLD TO YOU ♪
♪ FOR A HUNDRED DOLLARS AND SOME CHANGE ♪
♪ CONSUMPTION IS IN THE VEINS ♪
♪ AND NOW I SEE IT'S JUST ANOTHER PAIR OF SHOES ♪
>> OKAY, ANYBODY FEEL LIKE THEY'RE GUILTY
OF THAT SONG MAYBE?
JUST A LITTLE?
ANYBODY?
JUST A LITTLE?
I MEAN, WE ALL CAN PLAY A LITTLE BIT OF A PART IN THAT SONG.
BY THE WAY, THIS IS NOT TO BE FUNNY BUT THAT WAS MACKLEMORE.
THAT WAS MACKLEMORE, YEAH.
A GIRL CAME UP TO ME AFTER I PERFORMED
IN ST. JOSEPH, MICHIGAN, LIKE A WEEK OR TWO BACK,
AND SHE WAS LIKE, "YOU KNOW, I CAN RELATE TO THE NIKE SONG.
"I JUST LOVE HEELS."
BUT I'M JUST SHOWING YOU THAT THERE'S RELATION WITH ANYBODY.
THERE WAS THIS GRANDPA WHO WAS JUST LIKE, "MY FAVORITE PART
"OF YOUR SHOW WAS DEFINITELY ABOUT THE SHOES."
BECAUSE, AS AMERICANS, THAT'S ALL WE--
WE ARE MARKETED FROM THE DAY WE GET UP
TO THE TIME WE GO TO SLEEP.
RADIO, TV, MUSIC, FRIENDS, E-MAILS, FACEBOOK.
>> (indistinct speaking).
>> THAT'S A GREAT POINT, THOUGH.
I MEAN, THAT DOESN'T MAKE YOU WRONG FOR THAT.
THAT'S JUST THE WAY OUR SOCIETY IS.
THE PASTOR GETS ON THE TV-- "ORDER THIS BIBLE FOR $9.99
"AND YOUR SINS WILL BE FORGIVEN."
"WEAR THIS FACE CREAM AND YOU WILL NEVER AGE."
WE'RE HUMANS-- WE'RE SUPPOSED TO AGE.
I'M A FAN OF HYGIENE, BUT PUT THE CANCER STICKS
UNDER YOUR ARM.
DOES NOT SMELL LIKE HUMANS ANYMORE.
HOW MUCH UNTIL YOU'RE NOT THE PERSON YOU ARE?
HOW MUCH MAKEUP FOR THE LADIES
OR HOW MUCH GEAR DO YOU HAVE TO PUT ON
UNTIL YOU ARE NOT WHO YOU ORIGINALLY WERE?
YOU'RE SOMEBODY ELSE.
YOU'RE TRYING TO BE SOMEBODY ELSE.
HOW MUCH OF THAT?
MOVING ON-- SO THERE'S THIS THING
CALLED THE "10,000 HOUR RULE," ALL RIGHT?
AND DR. K. ANDER-- NO, HIS NAME IS DR. K. ANDERS ERICSSON,
AND I'M A LITTLE BIT INTO THE PROJECT--
THE PROJECTOR HERE-- AND WHAT THEY DID IS THEY WENT TO THE...
ELITE SCHOOL OF MUSIC IN BERLIN, OVERSEAS,
AND THEY PUT ALL THE VIOLINS--
ALL THE VIOLINISTS IN THREE GROUPS.
AND THE THREE GROUPS WERE-- THE FIRST GROUP WAS THE EXPERTS,
THE PEOPLE THAT THEY THOUGHT WERE GOING TO CREATE SEMINAL WORK,
WHO ARE GOING TO BE VERY INFLUENTIAL IN THE FUTURE.
AND THE SECOND GROUP WAS A GROUP OF MUSICIANS
THAT THEY THOUGHT WERE VERY GOOD,
THEY HAD POTENTIAL TO BE SOMETHING GREAT IN LIFE.
AND THE THIRD GROUP WERE PEOPLE WHO THEY THOUGHT
WERE JUST GOING TO BE TEACHERS.
SO WE'VE GOT THE EXPERTS, WE'VE GOT THE POTENTIAL,
AND WE'VE GOT THE TEACHERS.
SO THEY SAT ALL OF THEM DOWN AND THEY SAID,
"AT WHAT AGE DID YOU PICK UP AN INSTRUMENT,
"AND SINCE YOU'VE PICKED UP THAT INSTRUMENT,
"HOW LONG HAVE YOU PRACTICED?"
AND EVERYBODY STARTED OFF AROUND THE SAME AGE--
THEY STARTED OFF AROUND THE AGE OF FIVE.
THE AGE OF FIVE.
AND THEY ALL PRACTICED AROUND THE SAME AMOUNT OF TIME.
BUT ONCE THEY GOT TO THE AGE OF EIGHT,
THEY STARTED TO SEE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THESE THREE GROUPS.
THE EXPERTS WERE PRACTICING FOUR HOURS MORE
THAN EVERYBODY ELSE BY THE TIME THEY WERE EIGHT.
WELL, BY THE TIME THEY WERE 12,
THE EXPERTS WERE PRACTICING MORE THAN EVERYBODY ELSE
BY THE AVERAGE OF EIGHT HOURS.
THEN, THIS HAPPENED AROUND THE TIME THEY WERE 15--
EVERYBODY'S 15-- THE EXPERTS ARE PRACTICING
MORE THAN EVERYBODY ELSE BY ABOUT 14 HOURS.
BY THE AGE OF 20-- IT KEPT CONTINUING-- BY THE AGE OF 20,
THE EXPERTS WERE PRACTICING MORE THAN THE OTHER TWO GROUPS
BY 20 HOURS.
SO WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
SO THEIR FINDINGS WAS THAT THERE WERE NO NATURALS IN THIS GROUP,
THERE WAS NO ONE WHO WAS JUST INNATELY TALENTED
AND THEY WERE JUST SO NATURAL AT IT
AND THEY HAD TO DO JUST A FRACTION OF THAT PRACTICE
TO GET TO THE "EXPERTS."
THERE WAS NOBODY WHO-- THEY CALL THEM "GRINDS"--
THERE WAS NOBODY WHO WORKED THEIR BUTT OFF
WHO GOT THE MAGIC NUMBER THAT I'M ABOUT TO TELL YOU
AND THEY DIDN'T SUCCEED.
SO BY THE TIME THE EXPERTS WERE 20,
THEY AVERAGED OUT TO 10,000 HOURS.
THEY AVERAGED OUT AT 10,000 HOURS.
THIS IS THE SECOND GROUP AVERAGED OUT TO 8,000 HOURS.
AND THE THIRD GROUP AVERAGED OUT TO ABOUT
RIGHT UNDER 4,000 HOURS.
SO THIS "10,000 HOUR RULE" BECAME THE NEW MASTERY
OF WHATEVER IT IS THAT YOU WANTED TO DO IN LIFE.
THEY SAID, "IF YOU WANTED TO MASTER SOMETHING,
"YOU HAVE TO DO IT FOR 10,000 HOURS."
YOU CAN LOOK IT UP.
AND THE FINDINGS WERE REALLY GOOD TO ME
BECAUSE THE CONCLUSIVE PART OF IT WAS THAT ONCE A MUSICIAN
GOT INTO THE TOP SCHOOL IN THE WORLD,
THE ONLY THING THAT WOULD DIFFERENTIATE HIMSELF
FROM A DIFFERENT PERFORMER WAS HOW HARD HE WORKED.
AND IT WASN'T JUST HOW HARD HE WORKED,
IT WAS HOW MUCH HARDER HE WORKED.
HE DIDN'T JUST WORK HARD.
HE DIDN'T WORK JUST THE 8:00 TO 9:00
OR IN CLASS FOR FOUR HOURS AND THAT WAS IT.
HE WORKED MUCH, MUCH HARDER.
HE WAS PUTTING IN OVERTIME.
HE WAS PUTTING IN A LOT OF WORK, YOU KNOW?
HE WAS DOING IT WHEN NOBODY ELSE TOLD HIM TO DO IT.
NOBODY TOLD HIM TO READ A BOOK.
HE WAS AT HOME, STUDYING.
WHEN NOBODY ELSE TOLD HIM TO PLAY HIS INSTRUMENT,
HE WAS AT HOME, PUTTING IN THAT WORK.
IT WAS 10,000 HOURS.
SO, I FEEL IT'S A THRESHOLD.
IT WAS KIND OF LIKE ME COMING FROM BENTON HARBOR.
IN BENTON HARBOR, YEAH, I MAY BE ON TOP AND EVERYTHING,
BUT ONCE I PASSED THAT THRESHOLD WHERE EVERYBODY ELSE
IS IN COLLEGE,
THE ONLY THING THAT'S GONNA DIFFERENTIATE MYSELF FROM THEM
IS HOW HARD I WORK.
I'M BACK IN ANOTHER LEVEL PLAYING FIELD.
IT LOOKS LIKE WHEN YOU GET A CERTAIN LEVEL OF INCOME--
ONCE YOU PASS A CERTAIN BRACKET, YOU PAY MORE TAXES.
>> (indistinct speaking). >> RIGHT?
YOU PAY MORE TAXES.
IT'S THE SAME THING-- AFTER YOU PASS A THRESHOLD,
WHAT YOU DID BEFORE IS NO LONGER APPLICABLE.
WHAT YOU DID-- NO LONGER WHEN YOU WERE IN GRAND RAPIDS
OR BEFORE YOU GOT TO GRCC IS NOT APPLICABLE.
YOU CAN'T GO OFF OF YESTERDAY.
YOU CAN'T TALK ABOUT WHEN YOU HAD THE IDEA.
"YOU KNOW, DEAVONDRE, HE'S DANCING AND TALKING.
"YOU KNOW, I HAD THAT IDEA ABOUT FIVE YEARS AGO?"
WHO ACTUALLY TOOK ACTION?
WHO ACTUALLY PUT IN THE WORK?
WHO ACTUALLY PUT IN THE 10,000 HOURS INTO IT?
SO THAT BROUGHT ME TO MY NEXT SEGMENT HERE--
AND WHERE IS THE MOUSE?
HERE IT IS.
IT BROUGHT ME TO MY NEXT ONE,
AND IT SAYS, "THE ONLY DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ORDINARY
"AND EXTRAORDINARY IS A LITTLE EXTRA."
A LITTLE EXTRA.
SO I WANT YOU TO THINK ABOUT THE STUFF YOU SAID
YOU WANTED TO DO-- A ROCKSTAR,
YOU WANTED TO GO BE A SOCIAL WORKER, THINGS LIKE THAT.
YOU'RE GOING TO SCHOOL, YOU'RE DOING WHAT YOU NEED TO DO,
YOU'RE DOING THE ORDINARY.
POINT OUT THE "EXTRA."
ARE YOU DOING ANYTHING EXTRA?
WHEN YOU WAKE UP, ARE YOU DOING SOMETHING
AS SOON AS YOU WAKE UP?
ARE YOU THINKING ABOUT IT MORE THAN YOU SHOULD BE?
ARE YOU BREATHING IT, ARE YOU LIVING IT?
BECAUSE YOU'VE GOT TO BE PASSIONATE ABOUT IT.
IF YOU'RE TRYING TO BE EXTRAORDINARY--
NOTHING IS WRONG WITH ORDINARY, LIKE I SAID,
BUT IF YOU WANT TO BE EXTRAORDINARY,
YOU GOTTA PUT IN THAT LITTLE EXTRA.
YOU CAN'T JUST SAY--
YOU CAN'T JUST HAVE THE IDEAL AND NOT TAKE ACTION.
SO THE QUESTION IS-- WHEN YOU GUYS WALK OUT OF HERE,
I WANT YOU TO ASK YOURSELF, "DO I DESERVE IT?"
THINK ABOUT THIS-- "DO I DESERVE IT?"
LOOK AT YOURSELF IN THE MIRROR AND BE TRUTHFUL WITH YOURSELF.
LOOK YOURSELF IN THE MIRROR-- I DO IT ALL THE TIME--
AND LOOK AT YOURSELF AND SAY, "DO I DESERVE IT?
"HAVE I PUT IN THE WORK FOR THAT?"
IF SOMEBODY CAME IN HERE WITH A CONTRACT AND SAID,
"LOOK, I'VE GOT $5 MILLION, I'VE GOT COMPANY BEHIND ME,
"I GOT A MARKETING COMPANY,
"I HAVE PEOPLE THAT GO ON THE ROAD WITH YOU.
"I CAN MAKE THE MADISON SQUARE GARDEN WORK."
WHAT I'M GONNA SAY-- I'M GONNA SAY, "YEAH."
YOU WANT TO KNOW WHY?
BECAUSE I PUT IN THAT WORK.
I'M NOT SCARED, I'M NOT ILL-PREPARED,
I'M KNOWLEDGEABLE,
I'VE GOT ALL MY SKILLS DOWN, I KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT,
I KNOW WHERE I'M GOING...
IT'S BECAUSE I'VE WORKED FOR IT.
SO YOU GOTTA ASK YOURSELF, "I WANT TO BE THIS,
"I WANT TO DO THAT IN THE FUTURE.
"DO I DESERVE IT?"
AND BE TRUTHFUL-- "AM I LAZY?"
WE TALKED ABOUT OUR CULTURE, RIGHT?
"AM I LAZY?
"AM I NOT DOING WHAT I SHOULD BE DOING?
"AM I PLAYING AROUND WHEN I SHOULD BE WORKING?
"AM I IN CLASS FOR FOUR HOURS BUT I'M ONLY PAYING ATTENTION
"FOR TWO OF THE HOURS?
"AM I SUPPOSED TO BE DOING SOMETHING ON THE SCHOOL COMPUTER
"BUT I'M ON FACEBOOK, I'M ON TWITTER?
"AM I LAZY?
"AM I NOT WORKING AS HARD AS I SHOULD BE?
"DO I HAVE SIX GEARS IN ME BUT I'M ONLY PUTTING IN THREE
"OF THE GEARS?
"I'LL SAVE THE THREE GEARS FOR LATER
"WHEN I ACTUALLY GET THE OPPORTUNITY."
SO THIS NEXT ONE-- I JUST WANT TO TELL YOU GUYS IS THAT MY MAN,
HE WAS IN HERE, AND (indistinct) WAS HERE, AND WE ALL WITNESS--
AND I WON'T SAY "WITNESS,"
BUT WE'VE EXPERIENCED SOMETHING IN BENTON HARBOR, RIGHT?
AND THAT'S NOT THE MAGIC FORMULA.
YOU WOULDN'T GO THERE AND SAY,
"YOU HAVE TO GO TO BENTON HARBOR TO SUCCEED.
"THAT'S THE MAGIC FORMULA."
YOU WON'T SAY THAT.
BUT I WANT TO LET YOU GUYS KNOW YOU HAVE A LOT OF THE COMPONENTS
IN THE MAGIC FORMULA THAT YOU NEED TO SUCCEED.
ONE, YOU'RE IN SCHOOL.
TWO, YOU'RE IN THIS BROTHERHOOD HERE.
THREE, YOU'VE GOT LIKE-MINDED PEOPLE AROUND YOU,
AND YOU'RE ONE OF THE TOP C.C.s IN THE NATION
THAT HAS ABUNDANCE OF SOURCES.
YOU HAVE A LOT OF THE COMPONENTS TO SUCCEED.
SO I'M TELLING YOU,
IF THERE'S SOMETHING THAT YOU WANT TO DO THAT'S GREAT,
GREATNESS IS UP ON YOU, RIGHT NOW.
IT'S HERE.
THE TIME IS HERE.
BUT WHAT YOU GOTTA DO IS YOU'VE GOT TO ACT LIKE IT.
YOU CAN'T TALK ABOUT IT AND NOT BE ABOUT IT.
SO I'M GONNA SHOW YOU WHAT I MEAN.
(music)
>> ALL RIGHT, SO ME AND COACH WAS TALKING, RIGHT?
AND I AIN'T PROUD OF IT, BUT I'M JUST LIKE TO KEEP IT 100.
I'M A HIGH SCHOOL DROPOUT.
I AIN'T PROUD OF IT-- I DROPPED OUT MY SENIOR YEAR OF HIGH SCHOOL.
AND I'M JUST KEEPING IT REAL-- IT WAS BECAUSE I WAS DUMB.
IT WAS BECAUSE I LEFT HOME AT AN EARLY AGE,
AND I DIDN'T HAVE ANY OTHER WAY TO SAY IT--
COACHES, FORGIVE ME-- BUT MY BOYS WAS ON THE BLOCK.
SO WHILE I'M AT SCHOOL FROM 8:00 TILL 3:00,
THEY ARE GETTING IT IN.
SO THEY'RE PICKING ME UP IN A MUSTANG 5.0.
THEY'RE PICKING ME UP IN A JEEP WITH THE TOP OFF--
AND THE SEAT-- THEY BLEW THE BACK SEAT OFF--
NO BACKSEAT NOW.
THEY JUST GOT THE EIGHT AND TENS IN THE BACK, JUST...
AND I'M COMING OUT OF CLASS, GETTING IN THE CAR.
THEY COME RIGHT UP TO HENRY FORD-- I'M FROM DETROIT, 8 MILE.
THEY COME RIGHT UP, GRAB ME, (indistinct), I'M GETTING IN THE ROD--
I LIKE, "WHY AM I STILL GOING TO SCHOOL?"
THEY'RE LIKE (indistinct).
AND SO, I DROPPED OUT OF SCHOOL, BUT GUESS WHAT?
DO YOU KNOW WHY IT WAS SO EASY FOR ME TO DROP OUT OF SCHOOL?
BECAUSE MY FATHER DROPPED OUT OF SCHOOL.
MY FATHER HAD FIVE KIDS BY FIVE DIFFERENT WOMEN,
AND WHY WAS IT EASY FOR HIM TO DROP OUT?
BECAUSE MY GRANDFATHER DROPPED OUT OF SCHOOL...
(music)
BUT I DID SOMETHING UNIQUE-- I WENT AND GOT MY G.E.D.,
GOT MY FOUR YEAR DEGREE, GOT MY MASTER'S DEGREE,
AND I'M A DISSERTATION AWAY FROM MY PhD, AND I HATE SCHOOL.
SO SOMEBODY SAID, "YOU HATE SCHOOL SO MUCH,
"WHY DID YOU GET A PhD?"
(music)
BECAUSE I FIGURE IF I GET A PhD, I'M GOING TO CREATE SOMETHING
IN MY FAMILY AND MY SON IS GOING TO HAVE
TO AT LEAST GRADUATE FROM WHAT?
COME ON, COME ON!
IF YOUR DADDY GOT A PhD, YOU COULD AT LEAST DO WHAT?
YOU COULD AT LEAST GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL--
LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING I TOLD MY SON--
"I AIN'T TRYING TO PUT NO PRESSURE ON YOU,
"BUT IT'S BEEN 60 YEARS SINCE THE MEN OF MY FAMILY
"HAVE GRADUATED FROM HIGH SCHOOL,
"SO I'M GONNA NEED YOU TO TAKE YOUR SCHOOLING SERIOUS.
"WE'VE GOT A LOT RIDING ON YOU.
"AND I'M TELLING YOU, THE LEGACY IS HERE,
"GREATNESS IS HERE."
BUT IT AIN'T ON (indistinct) SHOULDERS NO MORE,
IT AIN'T ON (indistinct) SHOULDERS NO MORE,
IT AIN'T ON BO JACKSON'S SHOULDERS NO MORE.
(indistinct speaking).
THAT'S WHY I WAKE UP EVERY MORNING AT 2 O'CLOCK, 2:30,
BECAUSE I'VE GOT MY MAMA COUNTING ON ME,
I'VE GOT MY SISTER COUNTING ON ME,
I'VE GOT MY SON AND MY DAUGHTER COUNTING ON ME.
(music)
I'VE GOT A WORLD THAT GETS UP EVERY MORNING
AND WATCHES ME.
(music)
I'VE GOT LITTLE KIDS WHO DON'T BELIEVE THEY CAN DO IT.
WHEN THEY SAW ME, THEY THOUGHT NOW THEY CAN DO IT.
SO I GET UP EVERY MORNING AT 2:30, 3 O'CLOCK-- WHY?
BECAUSE GREATNESS WAS UPON ME!
IT'S NOT GONNA KEEP ME DOWN.
MALCOLM X IS DEAD-- I'M THE NEW GUY!
I'M THAT NEW INSPIRATION!
I'M THE GUY YOU LOOK AT WHEN YOUR DADDY AIN'T IN YOUR LIFE,
WHEN YOUR DADDY IS IN PRISON.
I'M THAT GUY THAT COMES TO YOUR HIGH SCHOOL
AND TELLS YOU THAT YOU CAN MAKE IT HAPPEN.
GREATNESS, GREATNESS, G-G-G-G-G-GREATNESS IS UPON YOU
AND YOU BETTER ACT LIKE IT!
>> MAESTRO MUSIC.
>> OKAY, I CAN'T BELIEVE "TWILIGHT"
IS GETTING THE SAME RESPONSE THAT "STAR TREK" DID.
AND THE REASON WHY IS BECAUSE IT WAS SO PHILOSOPHICAL,
IT HAD ALL THESE GREAT MEANINGS TO IT,
AND HAD ALL THESE STORYLINES,
AND THEY WERE-- "STAR TREK" WAS ONE OF THE FIRST MOVIES
TO GET THAT BIG RESPONSE EVERY SINGLE MOVIE.
THIS WAS THE MOST GROSS INCOME OF ALL THE OTHER MOVIES
AT THE TIME.
SO LET ME TELL YOU REALLY QUICK--
THERE WAS THIS CHARACTER CALLED "SYBOK," ALL RIGHT?
AND SYBOK-- HE WAS ABLE TO GET HIS ALLIES OR FRIENDS, PER SE--
EVERYBODY HE ENCOUNTERED,
HE WANTED THEM TO SHARE THEIR PAIN WITH HIM.
AND WHAT HE WOULD DO
IS HE WOULD USE THESE TELEPATHIC POWERS, RIGHT?
HE WOULD USE THESE POWERS THAT HE GOT FROM HIS FAMILY
AND HE WOULD HELP THEM RELIVE SOME OF THE PAST REGRETS
OR SOMETHING THAT THEY HAD IN THEIR LIVES,
AND THROUGH THIS SPECIAL POWER,
THEY WOULD BE VERY THANKFUL AND GRATEFUL FOR IT
BECAUSE HE HAS HELPED THEM FACE OR CONQUER SOME FEAR
OR DEEP REGRET OR ANYTHING THAT WAS VERY PAINFUL TO THEM
BACK IN THEIR TIME, RIGHT?
SO THERE WAS THIS ONE--
NOW I GAVE YOU THE BACKGROUND OF SYBOK.
THERE IS THIS ONE EPISODE, AND ACTUALLY IT WAS THIS MOVIE,
AND IT WAS KIND OF TOWARDS THE MIDDLE,
AND SYBOK WALKS IN AND SPOCK IS STANDING THERE--
THERE'S THIS GUY NAMED SPOCK--
AND HE KIND OF SQUARES HIS SHOULDERS UP
AND HE LOOKS AT HIM,
AND HE'S LIKE, "EACH MAN'S PAIN IS UNIQUE."
AND SPOCK LOOKS BACK AT HIM-- AND SPOCK,
HE'S NOT INTIMIDATED, RIGHT?
SPOCK IS LOOKING BACK AND HE IS LIKE, "I HIDE NO PAIN."
SO SYBOK-- HE'S WALKING AROUND-- SYBOK WAS A MANIPULATOR.
SYBOK IS WALKING AROUND WITH THIS SLY GRIN AND HE'S LIKE,
"I KNOW YOU BETTER THAN THAT."
SO SPOCK-- HE'S STILL STANDING THERE-- SPOCK DIDN'T MOVE,
AND HE'S LIKE A ROCK.
HE'S NOT MOVING.
AND SPOCK LOOKED AT HIM AND SAID, "OH, DO YOU?"
AND THAT "OH, DO YOU" WAS AN INVITATION LIKE,
"WHAT YOU GONNA DO ABOUT IT?"
THERE'S THE CHALLENGE.
LIKE "SHOW ME WHAT YOU KNOW ABOUT ME
"THAT I DON'T KNOW ABOUT MYSELF," RIGHT?
SO WHEN HE SAID "OH, DO YOU," THERE WAS THIS BIG REVELATION
THAT CAME UP, AND IT WAS SPOCK BEING BORN.
AND SOMETIMES-- I FORGOT TO TELL YOU THIS,
BUT HIS POWERS ARE SO INTENSE
THAT EVERYBODY CAN SEE THIS MEMORY, ALL RIGHT?
SO HE'S LOOKING AT HIM-- EVERYBODY--
THERE IS TWO BYSTANDERS, BY THE WAY.
SO SPOCK IS BEING BORN, IT'S HIS MOTHER,
SHE'S GONNA LIKE THIS ROCK, AND SHE'S BARE,
SHE'S BIRTHING SPOCK,
AND THERE'S THIS BEAUTIFUL BLACK LADY WHO IS HELPING,
NURSING THE BABY,
AND SHE HAS ON THIS BEAUTIFUL GOLD GARMENT,
AND SHE'S NURSING THE BABY, AND EVERYBODY IS WATCHING,
AND THEN YOU HEAR SPOCK LIKE, "AHHH!"
HE COMES OUT, RIGHT?
AND YOU SEE THE SHADOW--
SHE'S HOLDING SPOCK IN THIS VERY ROYAL POSITION.
SHE HOLDS HIM UP KIND OF LIKE SIMBA ON "THE LION KING."
SHE'S HOLDING HIM UP AND SHE UNSOUNDLY WALKS OVER
TO HIS DAD-- HIS NAME IS SAREK.
NOW, LET ME GIVE YOU THE BACKGROUND REALLY QUICK.
SAREK IS A VULCAN, AND HE MARRIED A HUMAN WOMAN.
SO THIS BABY IS A HYBRID.
HE'S NOT FULLY VULCAN.
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED.
SO SHE COMES OVER AND IN HER MAJESTIC VOICE,
SHE'S LIKE, "SAREK, HERE'S YOUR SON."
SO SAREK TAKES THE BABY AND IMMEDIATELY, LIKE WITH DISGUST,
HE LOOKS AT THE BABY AND HE'S LIKE, "IT'S SO HUMAN,"
AND KIND OF JUST SHOVES SPOCK BACK INTO HER ARMS.
AND EVERYBODY ELSE IS WATCHING THIS
AND EVERYBODY'S LIKE, "OH, MY GOD."
BECAUSE WHEN THE FATHER FIRST SEES HIS NEWBORN CHILD,
THAT'S LIKE A MAGIC MOMENT, RIGHT?
YOU LOOK IN THE BABY'S EYES AND YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE
JUST OVERWHELMED WITH LOVE AND ALL THIS EXTRA GOOEY STUFF,
AND HE WAS JUST LIKE HARD-CORE LIKE, "IT'S SO HUMAN.
"I DON'T EVEN WANT TO TOUCH IT."
AND SO, SPOCK-- HE'S WATCHING THIS, AND SPOCK WALKS OFF.
TYPICALLY, PEOPLE CONFORM TO SYBOK-- THEY'RE LIKE,
"YEAH, I'M GONNA FOLLOW YOU, MAN.
"THANKS FOR SHOWING ME THAT.
"I APPRECIATE IT."
AND SPOCK WALKS OFF LIKE, "I'M NOT MOVED BY THIS."
SO THE OTHER TWO GUYS ARE JUST STARING LIKE,
"YO, WHAT JUST HAPPENED HERE?
"I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT HAPPENED."
THAT'S HOW THEY'RE LOOKING AT IT, RIGHT?
SO SYBOK WALKS UP TO ONE OF THE BYSTANDERS AND HE'S LIKE,
"WOULD YOU LIKE TO SHARE YOUR PAIN?"
AND THE GUY LOOKS BACK AT HIM AND HE WAS LIKE, "NO."
SO THE OTHER GUY-- HE WAS ONE OF SYBOK'S FOLLOWERS--
HE WAS LIKE, "COME ON, MAN.
"WHY DON'T YOU JUST LIGHTEN UP AND LISTEN TO HIM A LITTLE BIT."
AND HE LOOKED BACK AT HIM AND HE SAID, "ARE YOU CRAZY?"
HE WAS LIKE, "I DON'T WANT MY PAIN TAKEN AWAY.
"I NEED MY PAIN.
"I NEED MY PAIN."
AND WHEN HE SAID THAT, IT JUST STARTED RINGING.
YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT TO GET TO SUCCESS,
PAIN IS PART OF THE PROGRESS.
WITHOUT NO PAIN, THERE'S NO PROGRESS.
EVERY SINGLE THING THAT YOU GO THROUGH IN LIFE,
YOU'RE GOING TO NEED YOUR PAIN.
I NEEDED THE FACT THAT I CAME FROM A SMALL-TOWN COMMUNITY
WHERE HAVING A BACHELOR'S WAS UNDER TWO PERCENT,
BEING A PROFESSIONAL IN THIS COMMUNITY WAS UNDER TWO PERCENT.
I NEEDED TO COME FROM A TOWN WHERE THE AVERAGE INCOME
WAS ONLY LESS THAN $16,000.
I NEEDED MY MOM TO NOT BE A HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE.
I NEEDED THE FACT THAT MY DAD DIDN'T WANT TO PARTICIPATE
IN THE MAJORITY OF MY LIFE.
I NEEDED TO GET TO COLLEGE ON MY OWN
SO I COULD BE IN FRONT OF YOU GUYS SAYING THIS AND DOING THIS.
YOU NEED YOUR PAIN.
YOU NEED IT.
SO FOR THOSE OF YOU-- WHEN YOU ENCOUNTER SOMETHING IN LIFE
THAT YOU ARE WALKING AWAY FROM IT, YOU'RE RUNNING,
YOU'RE SCARED, THE OPPORTUNITY IS THERE BUT ALL YOU GOT TO DO
IS JUST TO GO THROUGH THAT PAIN AND GET IT.
YOU'VE GOT TO STOP IT, MAN.
WE TALK ABOUT GLOBAL WARMING, BUT WE'VE GOT ALL THIS
GLOBAL WHINING GOING ON. (audience laughing)
YOU GOTTA STOP WITH ALL THIS GLOBAL WHINING, ALL RIGHT?
YOU'VE GOT TO UNDERSTAND THAT YOU NEED YOUR PAIN.
IT'S A PART OF THE PROCESS.
THERE'S NO WAY TO GET THERE.
THE CATERPILLAR KNOWS HE'S GOT TO BALL UP
INTO A LITTLE COCOON FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS OR MONTHS,
HOWEVER LONG IT TAKES-- WHOEVER'S IN SCIENCE OVER HERE--
AND KNOW THAT ON THE OTHER SIDE,
HE'S GONNA COME OUT AS A BUTTERFLY.
YOU'VE GOT TO KNOW THAT.
SO JUST TO GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE REALLY QUICK.
I WANT YOU TO, AFTER THIS NEXT SEGMENT
THAT I'M ABOUT TO SHOW YOU-- IT'S ONE OF MY FAVORITES.
HIS NAME IS ERIC THOMAS.
HE'S A PHENOMENAL SPEAKER, AND WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT PAIN,
THAT GUY'S BEEN THROUGH IT ALL.
HE WENT FROM HOMELESS TO PhD, AND IT'S JUST A DRASTIC CHANGE.
I WANT YOU TO ASK YOURSELF, "HOW AM I DEALING WITH MY PAIN?
"DO I BLAME OTHERS?
"DO I FOCUS ON THIS FINGER THAT'S POINTING THERE
"AND NOT FOCUS ON THOSE THREE THAT'S POINTING BACK AT ME?
"HOW DO I DEAL WITH MY PAIN?
"HOW DO I DEAL WITH SOMETHING THAT'S CONFLICTING WITHIN ME?
"DO I LIE?
"DO I JUST PASS IT ON?"
WE'RE NOT GOING TO TALK ABOUT BEING VIRTUOUS, THOUGH.
I'M NOT GOING TO GET YOU WITH THAT ONE.
>> I'M TELLING YOU THAT YOU HAVE GOT TO HIT LIFE HARD
ONE GOOD TIME, IN THE MOUTH...
AND IT WILL NEVER CHALLENGE YOU THE WAY IT CHALLENGED YOU BEFORE.
BATMAN-- I LOVE IT, I LOVE IT, BATMAN.
(audience laughing)
THE DARK KNIGHT, THE DARK KNIGHT,
BATMAN-- YOU KNOW, "I'M BATMAN." (audience laughing)
AND BANE GOES, "HA HA HA!" (audience laughing)
NO, FOR REAL, SOME OF YOU THINK THAT BECAUSE OF WHO YOU ARE--
YOUR LITTLE GRADES, YOUR LITTLE LIFE--
THAT YOU'RE GONNA JUST PUT ALL THE STUFF DOWN AND GO TO LIFE
AND SAY, "I AM ERIC THOMAS." (audience laughing)
AND BANE LAUGHS.
AND BATMAN STARTS TO SWING AND SWING AND SWING,
AND BATMAN THROWS THE STRONGEST PUNCH,
AND BANE GRABS IT AND HE SAYS, "VICTORY, I HAVE DEFEATED YOU."
NOW, LISTEN TO WHAT I JUST SAID.
HE TOLD BATMAN, BECAUSE BATMAN-- BRUCE WAYNE, MILLIONAIRE,
TRILLIONAIRE.
HE SAYS, "YOUR SUCCESS-- VICTORY HAS DEFEATED YOU."
AND THEN HE TOOK BATMAN AND POW, POW, BOOM.
(audience laughing)
AND SO, BATMAN ALL OF A SUDDEN TAKES HIS LITTLE BAT-GUN OUT, RIGHT?
AND HE'S GOING TO PSHU, PSHU, PSHU!
CUTTING ALL THE LIGHTS OFF.
BECAUSE HE'S BATMAN, HE THINKS HE HAS AN ADVANTAGE IN THE DARK.
AND BANE SAYS, "HA HA HA!" (audience laughing)
HE SAYS, "BATMAN-- THE DARK?
"THE DARK?"
YOU'VE GOT A LOOK AT LIFE WHEN LIFE KNOCKS YOU DOWN AND SAY,
"IS THIS ALL YOU GOT?
"THE DARK?
"IS THIS IT?"
BANE LOOKS AT BATMAN AND HE SAYS, "BATMAN, BATMAN,
"YOU TRAINED IN THE DARK, YOU ADAPTED IN THE DARK,
"YOU ADOPTED THE DARK.
"I WAS BORN IN THE DARK, SHAPED IN THE DARK, MOLDED BY THE DARK.
"I WILL BREAK YOU BECAUSE I'VE LIVED IN THE DARK,
"I'VE TRAINED IN THE DARK, I BECAME THIS PERSON IN THE DARK."
I SAW A YOUNG LADY IN THE LAST SESSION-- SHE SAID TO ME,
"ERIC, I'VE LOST MY DREAMS.
"I HAVE A SICKNESS NOW.
"I'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO BE IN POLICE FORCE, I HAVE A SICKNESS
"AND IT WON'T ALLOW ME TO DO IT."
SHE SAID, "WHAT DO I DO?"
I SAID, "TAKE YOUR PAIN, USE YOUR PAIN TO PUSH YOU PAST
"WHATEVER YOU CAN DREAM OF." (music)
TAKE YOUR PAIN, HIGH SCHOOL DROPOUTS!
TAKE YOUR PAIN!
TAKE THE FACT THAT YOUR FATHER WASN'T IN YOUR LIFE!
TAKE THE FACT THAT IT TOOK YOU 12 YEARS
TO GET A FOUR-YEAR DEGREE,
TAKE THE FACT THAT YOU STARTED WITH NOTHING--
YOU TAKE THAT PAIN AND YOU TURN THAT PAIN INTO A BOOK!
YOU RECYCLE YOUR PAIN!
YOU USE YOUR PAIN!
YOU TAKE YOUR PAIN AND LET YOUR PAIN PUSH YOU TO ANOTHER LEVEL,
PUSH YOU PAST WHAT YOU EVER THOUGHT YOU COULD DO,
WHAT YOU EVER THOUGHT YOU COULD BE,
WHAT YOU EVER THOUGHT YOU COULD HAVE.
YOU USE YOUR PAIN.
YOU RECYCLE IT.
>> YOU MERELY ADOPTED THE DARK.
I WAS BORN IN IT, MOLDED BY IT.
(music)
>> EACH MAN'S PAIN IS UNIQUE, RIGHT?
EACH MAN'S PAIN IS UNIQUE.
WHAT YOU GO THROUGH IS DIFFERENT.
I DON'T SLEEP WITH YOU EVERY NIGHT,
I HAVEN'T GONE THROUGH WHAT YOU'VE GONE THROUGH,
I HAVEN'T COME OUT THE SAME WOMAN AS YOU,
I HAVEN'T WENT THROUGH THE SAME EXPERIENCES AS YOU,
I HAVEN'T WENT TO THE SAME SCHOOL AS YOU,
I HAVEN'T HAD THE SAME KIDS, LIFESTYLE, ANYTHING LIKE YOU.
NOBODY HAS HAD THAT BUT YOU.
EACH MAN'S PAIN IS UNIQUE.
BUT IT'S HOW YOU DEAL WITH THAT PAIN IS GONNA GET YOU
TO WHERE YOU'RE TRYING TO GO.
SO WHAT I WANT TO TALK ABOUT--
AND WE'RE COMING UP ON OUR LAST SUBJECT--
IS "WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?"
OR BETTER YET, "HOW CAN WE GET THROUGH THIS?"
THERE'S TEN FORMS OF WEALTH.
THERE'S THIS GUY NAMED DR. DENNIS KIMBRO,
AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU KNOW THIS GUY BUT, AS A YOUNG GUY,
HE WENT AND STUDIED ALL THE BLACK MILLIONAIRES
IN THE WORLD.
ANY BLACK MILLIONAIRE YOU CAN NAME, HE STUDIED THEM.
AND THIS IS HIS TEN FORMS OF WEALTH.
IN THE FIRST ONE IS "KNOWLEDGE," OF COURSE.
YOU'VE GOT TO KNOW THE GAME TO WIN THE GAME.
THINK ABOUT IT-- WHEN YOU PLAY BASKETBALL, WHEN YOU PLAY CHESS,
WHEN YOU PLAY TENNIS,
YOU AIN'T GOING TO WIN THE GAME IF YOU DON'T KNOW THE GAME.
IF YOU DON'T KNOW THE RULES TO THE GAME,
HOW DO YOU EXPECT TO COME OUT ON TOP?
YOU GET WHAT I'M SAYING?
HOW DO YOU EXPECT TO COME OUT ON TOP?
SO HOW DO YOU EXPECT TO NOT HAVE SOME KNOWLEDGE,
BUT STILL GO DO EVERYTHING YOU GOTTA DO?
YOU KNOW THAT YOU GOT TO GO GET MORE KNOWLEDGE.
THAT'S NUMBER ONE-- LET'S KEEP GOING.
NUMBER TWO, "WORK HABITS."
REMEMBER WE TALKED ABOUT BEING LAZY.
I'M GIVING YOU SOME OF THE ANSWERS RIGHT HERE.
THERE'S A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BEING EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT.
IT SEEMS LIKE, AS A SOCIETY, WE LIKE TO BE MORE EFFICIENT
THAN EFFECTIVE, RIGHT?
"I WANT SOME FOOD, LET'S TEAR OPEN A BAG,
"POP THAT (indistinct) IN THE MICROWAVE,
"GO GET SOME FAST FOOD, AND THERE WE ARE.
"I WANT TO HAVE A CONVERSATION--
"I'M GONNA SHOOT THIS GIRL A TEXT.
"I WANT SOME ENTERTAINMENT, I'M GONNA TURN ON THE TELEVISION.
"I WANT TO BUY A $400 TV AT 4:00 IN THE MORNING, AMAZON.COM."
YOU GET WHAT I'M SAYING?
IT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE.
YOU PICK WHICH ONE.
"MONEY"-- YOU ALL KNOW THIS.
"MULTIPLE STREAMS OF INCOME" IS NUMBER THREE.
NUMBER FOUR, "CONTACTS."
GO TO A PARTY-- AND I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT A G.V.S.U. PARTY.
I'M TALKING ABOUT A PARTY IN CHICAGO IN A LOUNGE
OR ONE OF YOUR BUSINESS FRIENDS ARE HAVING A GATHERING.
YOU'RE GOING TO SEE THE "HAVES" AND THE "HAVE-NOTS."
THE "HAVE-NOTS" ARE GOING TO BE OVER THERE AROUND THE TABLE
LIKE, "YEAH, LET'S PUT THIS ORANGE JUICE
"WITH THIS WHATEVER."
AND THE "HAVES" ARE GOING TO BE NETWORKING,
THEY'RE GOING TO BE HAVING MEANINGFUL CONVERSATIONS.
BECAUSE THE THING ABOUT NETWORKING-- WHAT YOU DON'T KNOW
IS THAT IT'S NOT JUST WHO YOU KNOW OR WHAT YOU KNOW,
IT'S WHAT YOU KNOW ABOUT WHO YOU KNOW.
I KNEW ANDRE.
EVERYBODY-- A LOT OF PEOPLE KNOW ANDRE.
I KNOW ANDRE HAD AN ORGANIZATION CALLED ALPHA BETA OMEGA.
YOU GET WHAT I'M SAYING?
IT'S ALWAYS ABOUT WHAT YOU KNOW ABOUT WHO YOU KNOW.
SO IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT HAVING A MASS AMOUNT OF PEOPLE.
IT'S BEING EFFECTIVE WITH THOSE PEOPLE.
"CREATIVITY"-- BUSINESS IS A TALENT SHOW.
ALL YOU GOTTA DO IS DISPLAY YOUR CREATIVE GIFTS.
LET ME MAKE SURE EVERYBODY CAN SEE ME.
AM I NOT STANDING HERE DANCING AND TALKING TO YOU GUYS?
IT'S A DISPLAY OF CREATIVITY.
ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE HONING
ON WHATEVER GIFTS YOU HAVE
AND HONE THOSE INTO WHATEVER YOU NEED.
THE NEXT ONE IS "PERSISTENCE."
WE JUST TALKED ABOUT PERSISTENCE--
THE LACK OF PERSISTENCE.
PERSISTENCE IS WHAT'S GOING TO KEEP YOU GOING--
WHEN YOU DON'T FEEL LIKE GETTING UP IN THE MORNING,
IT'S WHAT'S GOING TO GET YOU UP.
YOU GOT TO KNOW YOUR "WHY."
WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS?
WHY ARE YOU HERE IN SCHOOL?
THAT'S ONE OF THE HARDEST QUESTIONS.
ONCE I GOT TO FIGURING OUT WHAT MY "WHY" WAS,
THE "WHAT" AND THE "WHO" STARTED TO COME BY ITSELF
BUT YOU'VE GOT TO FIGURE OUT WHY YOU'RE DOING WHAT YOU'RE DOING.
WHY ARE YOU SITTING HERE?
WHY ARE YOU LISTENING TO ME?
WHY ARE YOU HANGING OUT WITH ANDRE?
WHY ARE YOU HANGING AROUND THESE OTHER PROFESSIONALS?
WHAT YOU KNOW ABOUT THEM, BY THE WAY?
NETWORKING.
THESE ARE EASY CONTACTS RIGHT HERE.
THE NEXT ONE-- "CONFIDENCE AND CHARISMA."
THAT JUST GOES HAND-IN-HAND.
YOU'VE JUST GOTTA BE CONFIDENT IN YOURSELF.
YOU'VE GOT TO KNOW THAT ONCE YOU GET THOSE 10,000 HOURS DOWN,
YOU'RE GONNA BE CONFIDENT IN WHO YOU ARE
AND HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF CHARISMA ABOUT IT.
THE NEXT ONE IS "LUCK."
SOME PEOPLE DON'T BELIEVE IN LUCK-- I CALL THEM "BLESSINGS,"
BUT THE HARDER YOU WORK, THE LUCKIER YOU GET.
THE MORE WORK YOU PUT INTO IT, THE LUCKIER YOU'RE GOING TO GET.
THE NEXT ONE IS "ENERGY."
ALBERT EINSTEIN-- HE SAID, "THERE'S TWO TYPES OF ENERGY.
"THERE IS HIGH AND LOW, THERE'S FAST AND SLOW."
LOOK AT THE WEALTHY.
ANYBODY YOU THINK WHO'S GOING TO BE WEALTHY
IN THE FUTURE, WHAT ARE THEY?
HIGH AND FAST.
"I SEE YOU TOMORROW, MAN.
"I'LL SEND YOU AN E-MAIL.
"I'LL SHOOT YOU A TEXT.
"I PROMISE, YES, I GOT YOU."
ANYBODY WHO'S NOT REALLY DOING TOO MUCH--
"YO, YOU WANT TO GO PLAY THE 360-- LET'S GO DO THIS."
THEY GOT TIME.
THEY'VE GOT NOTHING BUT TIME ON THEIR HANDS.
THE NEXT ONE IS "CHOOSING THE RIGHT LOCATION."
ARE YOU WHERE YOU NEED TO BE TO GET TO WHERE YOU WANT TO GO?
YOU SAY I WAS IN THE WRONG PLACE AT THE WRONG TIME.
HE HAD A STAT-- THE NUMBER ONE REASON
WHY BLACK AFRICAN-AMERICAN MALES
LEAVE CORPORATE IS BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO DISPLAY
THEIR CREATIVITY.
THE NUMBER ONE REASON WHY AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMEN
LEAVE CORPORATE IS BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT APPRECIATED
WHAT THEY GIVE.
IT'S ALL ABOUT LOCATION AS WELL.
IS GRCC GOING TO GET YOU TO WHERE YOU NEED TO GO?
IS GRCC LOCATED TO WHERE YOU NEED TO BE?
DO YOU HAVE OTHER RESOURCES?
IT'S THE TEN FORMS OF WEALTH.
I CAN GET YOU GUYS CITATIONS AT THE END, IF YOU WANT, AS WELL.
LIKE I SAID, YOU HAVE TO KNOW THE GAME
TO WIN THE GAME, PEOPLE.
AND I'M GONNA LEAVE IT AT THAT.
LET'S GO TO APPLICATION.
THIS IS JUST A REVIEW OF EVERYTHING WE TALKED ABOUT TODAY.
IN THE BEGINNING, I TOLD YOU, "NOW WAS ONCE THE FUTURE."
US TALKING, THIS WHOLE EXCHANGE, ME DOING THIS WHOLE PRESENTATION
WAS ONCE THE FUTURE, AND SOMEBODY TOOK ACTION.
THAT'S HOW WE MADE IT HAPPEN.
NUMBER TWO IS YOU'VE GOT TO QUESTION YOURSELF EVERY DAY,
"DO I DESERVE IT?
"HAVE I PUT IN THE TIME, HAVE I PUT IN THAT WORK?"
AND YOU'VE GOT TO BE TRUTHFUL WITH YOURSELF.
THAT'S THE ONLY WAY YOU'RE GOING TO GET TO WHERE YOU NEED TO GO.
AND THE LAST ONE-- THE NEXT ONE, I MEAN--
EXCUSES CREATE AN "ALMOST" LIFE.
"I ALMOST WON A CHAMPIONSHIP, BUT I DIDN'T PRACTICE ENOUGH.
"I ALMOST WON THE STATE FINALS IN TRACK
"BUT MY ANKLE WAS BROKE."
THAT'S THE "ALMOST" LIFE.
YOU LIVING VICARIOUSLY THROUGH SOMEONE YOU'VE NEVER BEEN.
SELF-FULFILLING PHILOSOPHY.
YOU NEED YOUR PAIN-- YOU'VE GOT TO FACE IT,
YOU GOTTA EMBRACE IT, AND YOU'VE GOT TO RECYCLE IT.
THERE'S NO "IF, AND, BUTS" ABOUT THAT ONE.
IN THE LAST ONE IS KNOW THE GAME, THE TEN FORMS OF WEALTH.
YOU'VE GOT TO KNOW IT.
I'M DONE, YOU GUYS.
I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU GUYS TAKING THIS TIME OUT
AND LISTENING.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S VERY DEAR TO ME.
EVERY TIME I GO AND I PERFORM,
JUST KNOW THAT I'VE PUT SO MANY HOURS INTO PREPARATION FOR IT,
CHOOSING WHICH SONGS TO GO WHERE AND WHAT INFORMATION
I'M GONNA SHARE, HOW AM GOING TO DO IT, AND WHO I TALK TO.
LIKE I SAID, I WHOLEHEARTEDLY APPRECIATE YOU GUYS.
I WISH THE BEST FOR EVERYBODY IN HERE,
AND ANDRE, I'M JUST GONNA TURN IT OVER TO YOU FROM HERE.
COOL?
ALL RIGHT, MAN.
(applause)