 I played nine years in NFL and was able to walk away on my own terms. I was fired six times I was rejected. I was demoted. I was stuck in the friend zone Anybody ever been stuck in the friend zone? Don't raise your hand. Just blink. Just blink real fast. Okay. I see one I see two. I see three. I Don't mean it like that I mean like I was constantly on teams that say Justin we'd like you but we don't love you not in that way They didn't want to commit to me. So I bounced around the first couple of years but I Was able to stay because I excelled at the controllers in the shadows My attitude my effort my preparation But how many you know even in the if you excel at the controllables life can still be tough When you're in the shadows so the second thing you need to do in the shadows You need to build a huddle you need to have a group of people in your life that you can do life with People that can point to you people that can encourage you people in your circle that add value Give me some more energy in the back. I need some more energy in the back. I feel it right here I feel it right here. I feel it in this section, but back here. I need to fill it. I said good morning There we go, you know, I'm a football player So I like coming into a place that feels like a stadium, right? I like that and who's in charge of the music in here Man, this is the like the best pregame music. Who's in charge? Where's the DJ? Did you oh, there we go. Yeah Yeah, you're bringing the heat this morning. You're bringing the heat Now I know most of you guys are looking at me right now. I was like man this guy played an NFL for nine years. I Know I look like a weird combination between Kevin Hart and 50 cent but Yes, I played an NFL for nine years is something that you could Google and you'll find me there But man, I'm so I'm so honored to be here with you guys man 2020 has been something else and To be here on stage to make it here to be with you guys is a blessing within itself. So thank you for having me Thank you guys for showing up. It's an honor to be here with you guys. All right Let's get into it Let's get into it man. So I want to go right back to the year 2013 It was a year for me personally that was filled with so much promise and hope I Just signed my biggest contract to date with the Jacksonville Jaguars I Felt like the stars that were aligning for me I was going back to my home state in Florida My family could drive up and see me or play on Sundays It was my sixth year in an NFL getting my biggest payday And end up being the darkest moment of my life It was a year filled and riddled with setback opposition rejection you name it Went through it that season it was tough and It first started off on The first day of training camp Everyone's excited finally putting on the pads and helmets showing what you can do They started off. I get a routine handoff from my quarterback. I take the ball. I go through the line of scrimmage I make a move on the safety and put my foot in the ground instantly I got what they know what they call now is turf toe, which is a severe sprain of my big toe on my right foot Now it's out for the rest of training camp Couldn't play any of the preseason games, but had in my mind. I was like, this is my opportunity I cannot miss this. This is someone taking a chance on me. I wanted to make sure I put my best foot for it So I got to be ready for the season opener, right? So I'm rehabbing I'm doing everything that I could to get back to week one for week one for my team and for myself And I get the week one season opener kicks off instantly I see That my reps are limited on the field It's like, okay, just staying there. Maybe next week will be different the next week I see a even more of my workload decreased The following week I see that I've been demoted a couple weeks later I see myself being on the inactive roster, which means that I'm on practice squad essentially. I'm a scout team running back and On Sundays, I'm dressed in street clothes like I am now, but I'm on the sideline watching the game like a fan This is my six year in NFL at age 28 When everything was supposed to be coming together for me It was riddled with all this adversity and setback and during that time I remember Going back to the coaches and because I was like man, I can't go out like this I'm not gonna go out without a fight So I was begging and pleading my case I was going to the the coaches the general manager anybody would listen. I'll say let's just give me a chance If I fail, it's on me. I'm okay with that Just give me a chance an opportunity At the point I was like Man with a Jacksonville Jaguars We have won any games right now. What's the worst that could happen? What's the worst that could happen? so a Few weeks went by and I'm still on the inactive roster and I'm still begging and pleading my case and working hard and finally around week 12. They say Justin You're gonna be up this week It's go time I'm preparing all week doing everything that I need to do Preparing my body of my mind make sure I'm on my place. I know the schemes Sunday arrives and we're playing the Houston Texans in Houston and That was I was excited because that was the team I played with prior to coming to Jacksonville So I'm going back playing some other friends and I get my opportunity to show what I could do So I could show the Jaguar. It's like you made a mistake You didn't give me an opportunity now. I'm gonna prove you wrong So I remember at that time I was a third down running back So that means I was playing mostly special teams and I will come in on third down Kickoff happens at Reliance Stadium and The first series we get the ball the first possession First now goes by second down goes by Third down comes and I'm waiting. I'm over there anxious ready to get out on the field ready for them to call my name They don't call my name We don't convert we punt on fourth down And I'm waiting I'm trying to stand again trying to stay locked in ready for my moment my opportunity when it comes Then the next series comes First down come second down third down. They say force it get in the game. I remember running into her I sprinted in there. I lined up in the huddle have my Mercedes Lewis my tight end to my left I have my quarterback playing gap with the pride of Missouri right there right by my side He gives him the play. I'm listening to the huddle intently He says Far trip's right 23 scat all go half back choice that I mean absolutely nothing to you guys But it means everything to me because he's essentially clearing out the defense for me half back choice He's called my name. That means more than likely. I'm getting the football here It's third and five. I break the huddle. I'm lost at Blaine is to my right Prada, Missouri I'm all set to him and I'm looking at my I'm looking at the defense. I'm looking at the linebacker. I'm looking my chops He's right where I need him to be Blaine goes through the cadence. Why did he why did he? See I take my offset off step Running to the linebacker Fast as I can I make a move on a stick my foot in the ground. I turn my head as soon as I turn my head Ball hits me in my chest like a bullet. I catch it. I'm running. I'm off to the races 10 yards 15 yards 20 25 30 40 I'm going outfield crowd is going crazy all three Jacksonville Jaguars fans. That was in the crowd They were going crazy Right When blowing through my helmet, I can hear the sounds and cheers My adrenaline is pumping. I get tackled boom Get tackled down feel Heart is racing Beating so fast I'm so pumped feels like my heart is outside of my chest Something doesn't feel right. I roll over and it feels I feel something. I never felt before I Feel that There's a campfire in my shoe in my cleat that moment I roll over Medical staff is standing over me I had just broken my foot. I was heartbroken. I Remember looking up Laying on my back looking up at that dome in Houston Thinking to myself, this is the last time I'm going to be able to Provide for my family by playing football. This is the end of a dream This is it a few weeks later. I was placed on injured reserve a Few moments down the road I Was fired Writing was on the wall This was my third time being fired at that at that point And when I look back At my time and I experienced that season in a dark place and Me begging and pleading for an opportunity for a chance going to management going to the coaches Going to the organization And I recall them telling me six words over and over again These six words were things I heard and some form of fashion my entire life Asked them for an opportunity They would give me this six words. No six words where we know what you can do We know what you See there Were labeling me they were limiting me they were placing me in this box They had this one idea of who they thought I was and they couldn't get over it You see I've always felt like I was on the plus side of good But it wasn't until my seventh year in NFL when I got my breakthrough and a chance to really show who I knew I was all along Ladies and gentlemen, I know if you're in this room today You're on the plus side of good And I know you're not getting ready for an NFL season But how many of you ever ever faced adversity ever felt ever felt undervalued underappreciated raise your hands Been there. It doesn't feel good But my question to you even if you're going through the midst of that right now How are you responding how are you responding in the midst of adversity are You allowing it to cause you to soak are you allowing it to push you to success? How are you responding when you wake up in the morning and you look in the mirror and you think to yourself? Man, I should be a lot further than where I am when you wake up in the morning and the world is flipped upside down How are you responding? When it feels like life is giving you its best punches How are you responding when you're having trouble breaking through the mezzanine? And I love this illustration of a mezzanine because normally in a nice hotel like this You have your top floors and your bottom floors and it's normally separated by the mezzanine Maybe in your career and in your life you feel right now You're at the bottom floors and all you need is just one opportunity To show what you can do to bust through the mezzanine and make it up to the top To the elite where you know you deserve to be how are you responding in the midst of adversity? Today I'm gonna share with you a little bit my story And I'm a chat with you about how better to think about your time when you're waiting on your breakthrough So what I've come to know over the course of my life is That greatness grows best in the shadows if you don't get anything else from me here today I want you to get this I Want you to own this I want this to soak soak down into your bones into your soul So I want you to repeat after me Greatness Come on now. I need energy grows best In the shadows All right now I want you to own this now. I want you to stand up I want you to stand up and I want you to own this because like I said if you don't get anything else From me here today. I want you to get this in this time in 2020. I wanted to let you know that greatness grows best in the shadows repeat after me Greatness grows best in the shadows. Let's go one more time On this on this greatness Come on stick your chest out with it put your shoulders back greatness grows best in the shadows All right sit down. That's good right there. I like that. I like that energy what I mean by that is We do not get our greatest gains when we're at the top of the mountain We get our greatest gains on our time on our climb and our pursuit to the top Those moments when we're being challenged when we're facing adversity when we're constantly being pulled and stretched And we have to dig deep within ourselves and put out something that we didn't even know existed in order to take us to The next level in life Greatness does not happen overnight It's developed in the mud grows best in the shadows See most of my life. I was in the shadows and obscurity Wasn't in the limelight. I wasn't in the forefront I was the underdog having to do all the work behind the scenes had to embrace those moments of adversity and challenge Being in the shadows, I've learned a lot along the way one of the things I I I come to know Over the course of my life while being in the shadows, there's a few things that you need to do The first thing is when you're in the shadows and you're waiting on breakthrough. You must excel at what you can't control. I Know most people will tell you must control what you can't control in life But I'm here to tell you today that you must excel at what you can't control because those things will keep you until you get Your breakthrough. I realized at a young age that there was a lot out of my control. I Grew up in a small town in Mulberry, Florida Town of 3,000 people now our people make it out to accomplish their goals and dreams and aspirations in life. I couldn't control that You graduate from high school. You go into the false faith mining industry or you go work for the Published grocery store that was headquartered in the town next to us didn't control those things. I Grew up in a family of three boys with two parents in the household. I was the middle child. I Had my internal demons I was fighting as a middle child Never really felt that I got the best always feeling left out not having a place or position How many older similes we got here who got me in here are the oldest? Okay Okay, I see you in there. I respect you but You guys are spoiled as well Y'all we gotta do the cool things first What about the babies? What are babies that in here? And stand you it's nothing you can do wrong. You're probably still getting treated like babies now at Thanksgiving. They're serving you See you over there, but I was battling my own internal demons Then externally my family We had our own struggles Financially unstable most of my childhood never owned anything bouncing around from place to place Remember taking baths with bottled waters At our very lowest because we couldn't pay a water bill I remember doing my homework by candlelight Reading my RL style and goose bumps books by candlelight because we couldn't afford to pay the light bill. I Remember moments running from the repo man My only one ever had interactions with the repo man or I Remember because we couldn't pay our car note We're parking our car blocks down the street and walking home because we don't want to get our car repossessed Then at our very lowest Remember being Homeless living out of a motel. I still remember it like it was yesterday Still see the room the door room 108 Remember walking in and seeing the blue green vomit looking carpet on the floor The two full-sized beds To fit all five of us See the huge window overlooking the main highway that went through our city Begging and pleading my dad dad, please park in the back. I don't want my classmates to see us in this situation So 12 year old kid. I couldn't control those things But what I could control was how I thought about those things how I was determined that day Not allowed those moments of adversity to define me but refine me I made a declaration as that 12 year old That my kids will never have to deal with those things that I was dealing with my way out my vehicle out Easy came for me a Sunday afternoon Watch the guy Name Barry Sanders with the Detroit Lions. He wasn't a big guy Wasn't necessarily the fastest but he was dynamic. I Watched somebody that looked like me Dip and dash through defenses. I watched him raise the crowds to their feet. I watched him dazzle every Sunday on a terrible team No offense to any Lions fans in here. I was like, man, I'm gonna do that one day So I knew I had the faith and the belief but I had to put in the work I had to put in the time Soon as I stepped out on a football field. I start hearing critics right away You're too short you're too slow you to this you to that you'll never make it. This is too big for you You're gonna get hurt Or hear those themes my entire life Too short too small Always freakishly good-looking I would always say that but I had to put in the time Start to grow in my craft. I remember even visualizing my success because how many of you know It's one thing to just think about and dream about success But you have to visualize it you have to see yourself doing it day in and day out You have to believe that thing Remember sitting countless nights on my parents water bed looking out the window. Don't judge me You had a waterbed somebody in your family had a waterbed at one point Thinking about the success that I wanted to achieve So I continued to work I grew up the ranks middle school high school Comes hearing those same things too short too small Start having some success early in high school my parents decide hey Justin We're gonna uproot the family We're gonna try to get you in a better situation so you can go to college and actually get a scholarship somewhere So we moved to Arlington, Texas Yes, let me have some people from Arlington So moved Arlington, Texas and as soon as I got off the plane I Still heard the doubts and criticism This is Texas football here, man The guys are a little bit bigger. There's something in the cornbread and in the water here They got full beards. They got kids already is different football here In Texas, I don't know if you're gonna last But I continue to excel at what I could control The work the preparation Why everybody else was partying and drinking in high school I was doing a thousand push-ups and sit-ups a night thinking about my craft a purpose I had a vision for my life. I wasn't gonna let anything stand in the way. I Would read books and watch videos of people that made it out of situations like mine people like Herschel Walker people like Jim Abbott people like Wilma Rudolph They had laid the blueprint down for me. So I just need to follow that Sundays after the game watching the Cowboys play. I was a Cowboys fan going up not so much now take it easy It's all about the Ravens But uh After the games, I remember I would go out and I was sprint in the middle of Texas heat Training my body and my mind doing sprints up and down the field sweat blood tears Just me Motivated by room 108 those those times of adversity being rejected Being told that I wouldn't make it Those things fueling me and pushing me closer to my dream high school I wasn't You know a highly touted player But I was having success. I was being productive my junior senior year over five thousand Russian yards my two years here in Texas two state championships things were going great, but then the college coaches came down to see me They would say ah He's doing okay, but he's too short. He's too small. He's too busy to that We know what guys like him can do So after my all-star game in my senior year with no scholarship offers The one I did had they reneged on it Nor the name comes into the picture And they say Justin we want to offer you a scholarship. I was excited. I said nor the name This is what it's supposed to be I'm thinking golden Domer. I'm thinking touchdown Jesus. I'm thinking Rudy I'm like, I'm the black Rudy. It just makes sense that I'm going to know today Right and I'm excited my family excited. We're buying up nor the name merchandise when I'm playing in my basketball games They're introducing me as a starting shooter guard Justin for said Notre Dame commit I'm excited family's excited And then a week before signing day, I got some terrible news My dad got a call from Notre Dame and they said Justin we don't need you anymore a week before signing day 17 year old kid I was crushed Remember running down into my basement climb my eyes out Getting on my knees and praying and not knowing what to do Overwhelmed as a 17 year old kid being disappointed being rejected being frustrated Was doing everything right? Remember after that time down in that basement I dust myself off and I remember if I remember gonna make it out of this thing I got to excel at the controllables I Got to stay focused. I got to say locked in I Got to be committed to the process. I have to embrace the shadows few months down the road Well into the spring when people were telling me man, just go to a junior college just try to do something else just Put yourself out there and we're still sitting tapes out all over the country And then all of a sudden we get a call from UC Berkeley and my dad gets the call and he says man Cal UC Berkeley wants to offer you a scholarship son. I was like what you see Berkeley wants to offer me a scholarship Where is UC Berkeley? I'm like man. I grew up in the south Florida, Texas. We watch it in Florida Florida State Miami, Texas and Em Oklahoma those are the teams. I'm right. I knew enough. I knew nothing about Cal But I knew they gave me an opportunity They believed in me they gave me that shot so I go there and As soon as I got off the plane, it's too short It's a lot shorter than we thought a lot smaller than what we thought And I get it man guys. I'm a short guy. I Looked into knee surgery to extend my knees to make me taller and the science has science hasn't caught up yet But I knew if I excel at the controllables, I'll be alright. If I trust the process, I'll be alright So I played there. I went there my freshman year. I was determined to get on the field and play right away Playing with guys named Aaron Rodgers is my quarterback. We're ranked number 15 in the country at the time We're number one public at Institute in the world I played and came in with another running back the same year freshman my roommate a guy named Marshawn Lynch Ended up being sort of a big deal and I remember I was committed to playing So I was gonna do whatever it took to make sure that I put myself in the best position position possible to succeed So when right before training camp they allow the players to go home and I went home and normally we do a paper route as a family We as a family and I was in high school. We're driving around with deliveries Nice papers to these luxurious hotels throughout the Metroplex So I'm riding around at 3 a.m. With my family and we're riding in our PT cruiser and dropping off these papers And I had in my back while I wasn't delivering I had my playbook open with my flashlight reading and studying my plays because I knew the preparation was Key for my success. So when I got there I was able to dominate and I was able to put myself in the best position possible Fast forward I ended up playing that year first three years of my college experience was great I was playing Sharon in backfield with Marshawn Lynch and then my senior year I got a chance to start and be the future running back for Cal Break records. I Had a great season It's one step closer to my dream getting ready for the NFL draft Supposed to go in the third round ended up falling to pick 233 To the Seattle Seahawks. I Played nine years in NFL and was able to walk away on my own terms. I Was fired six times. I was rejected. I was demoted. I was stuck in the friend zone Anybody ever been stuck in a friend zone? Don't raise your hand. Just blink. Just blink real fast. Okay. I see one I see two I see three I Don't mean it like that I mean like I was constantly on teams that say Justin we'd like you but we don't love you not in that way They didn't want to commit to me. So I bounced around the first couple of years But I was able to stay because I excelled at the controllables in the shadows My attitude my effort my preparation But how many of you know even in the if you excelled at controllables life can still be tough When you're in the shadows, so the second thing you need to do in the shadows you need to build a huddle You need to have a group of people in your life that you can do life with People that can point to you people that can encourage you people in your circle that add value And if you're the only person in your circle to add value, then it's not a circle. It's a prison You need to leave that circle immediately and find a new group You need people that are building you back up people that allow you to be open and transparent and vulnerable because vulnerability leads to growth When I got in the huddle with Peyton Manning when I was with the coats, he would give me three things He would give me warning. He would give me encouragement and he would give me instruction We now only need that in the playing field, but we need that in our day-to-day life Here in 2020 you need to do life with some people you need to lock arms with some people that can that can sharpen you and mold you Not yes, man, but people are gonna tell you when to push and when to pivot people that allow you to be yourself When the critics and the doubt comes into your mind and you hear the gossip about you These are people are gonna remind you who you are They're gonna allow you they're gonna they're gonna keep you accountable They're gonna allow you to be successful Because they're gonna remind you that you're not in it by yourself The next thing you need to do while you're in the shadows is you need to serve I Understand that you're thinking like man, just if I'm battling adversity if I'm going through my own things if I'm going through struggles Why would I help someone else? Because serving shifts the perspective Serving lifts the weight of that burden Serving shifts the perspective from being me driven to purpose driven See, I believe all of us in here were created for impact and greatness. It lives inside of us And if you create it for impact and greatness, it does not fluctuate on your circumstance Whether you're having a good season or bad season Whether you're having a good time or bad time in life when you're going through obstacles Or you're going through peaks or valleys in life. It doesn't matter. You're called for impact. It should flow out of you You need to serve And sometimes when we're battling adversity and we're in the shadows of life Sometimes we just need a reason to smile We just need a reason to split us put a smile on our face And there's no greater way to do that than to serve your fellow man They say the Chinese proverb if you want happiness for an hour take a nap If you want happiness for a day go fishing if you want happiness for a month Get married. Don't tell my wife. I said that all right If you want happiness for a year Inherit wealth, but if you want happiness for a lifetime Serve somebody it is better to give than receive ladies and gentlemen If you're going through a dark time in life Serving is the currency to elevation if you want to grow if you want to be more you want to do more Serve and if you're a leader, it's an imperative It's a non-negotiable if you're leading your family your workplace your community You must serve and if you feel that you're too big to serve then you're too small to lead If you feel that you are too big to serve then you are simply too small to lead so serve and Embrace the shadows embrace the obstacles embrace the adversity It took me 15 years of doing the same things over and over again until I got my breakthrough 15 years of commitment and discipline rejection the motion Of doing the same things over and over again being consistent Embracing those moments. You see everybody wants a breakthrough But nobody wants to be broken Everybody wants the breakthrough, but nobody wants to be broken But sometimes in order to to achieve success. We got to go through a season of brokenness Because those things are refining us We're carving out things in our life that don't belong that can't that can't stay with us in order to take us to the next level in life We have to embrace those moments because those moments are preparing us for our opportunity Those moments are shaping us for our opportunity Preparing us and there's a difference between being ready and being prepared You see I believe that being ready is just an emotional state But being prepared is being physically spiritually and mentally positioned to seize a moment A couple years back I was in Baltimore. I live in a three-story town home and In the middle of the night around 2 a.m. My security system goes off and I'm laying bare with my wife and I see the wake up and I see the lights flashing the sirens going off and I turn to my wife and say get up somebody's trying to get into our House right now. I remember she was wiping the crest out of her eyes. She said babe Why would anybody be trying to get into our house right now? I was like that's the wrong question to be asking right now Go get the kids protect them stay upstairs. I'll be back I went downstairs my heart is racing. I'm pumping. I'm sweating I go to the first floor The lights are on I'm like Okay, the coast is clear. Nobody's down here. I'll go to the kitchen. I was like Let me grab something grab a knife It was a butter knife. You know what I'm saying I'm in trouble, but I went to I thought I was like, okay if somebody's about to break in here I'm most susceptible downstairs because I have a sliding glass door in the back. That's probably where the intruder got in So I'm going down the steps. My heart is racing. I'm thinking about the underarmor commercial. We must protect this house I get down to The light switching about the turn on the light and I'm about to try to do my best Steven Seagal with this butter knife and I had an epiphany And I thought to myself This guy might have a gun And I have a butter knife I'm ready But I'm not prepared There's a difference Now in that instance, there was no intruder My wife had left a crack in the door and it flew open the wind blew it open The security system went off But I wanted to encourage you tonight, but today that There's a difference between being ready and being prepared Those moments in the shadows are preparing you For your opportunity when it comes because we don't know when it's going to come So we have to be prepared at all times 2014 The year prior 2013 with the Jacksonville Jaguars. I didn't know if I ever played football again I figured if I can't play for the Jaguars, who can I play for? I get the call from 2014 from the Baltimore Ravens Had an issue with their running back started running back. So I was thrust into the lineup. They signed me. We're gonna give you a shot Thrust into the lineup and starting lineup And I run with it Had my best season to date I was five. I was top five rusher I was a top 100 player going through the middle of that season having all that success around week 12 for week 10 We were scheduled to play the Jacksonville Jaguars And I was thinking to myself all week. I was just like Justin Just stay in the moment a lot of game to come to you. Don't get too emotional because These were the same people that counted me out These were the same people that left me out to dry left me for dead didn't give me opportunity to even provide for my family I say Justin just stay in the moment It was very emotional and we'll get to Sunday and I remember like it was yesterday It was an overcast day in Baltimore, Maryland At mnt banks stadium I remember going out getting out for warm-ups and Taking the field and seeing my old teammates with the jacks and they're coming up to me and say just a man We're hugging me. We're so happy for you You made it to the other side And I'm going around shaking hands and I I finish up my stretching and my warm-up getting the sweat in Before I get ready to go into the locker room and right when I was going into the locker room I got stopped by a coach A former coach for the jaguars. He says one of the coaches he said Justin I'm excited for you man. I'm happy for you And he says everyone is trying to figure out why you're having so much success right now You're 29 years old You're still short What's happening? And he says we're having staff meetings about it and and when I'm what I'm telling the staff is that man You're finally in the right system And I remember hearing that and boiling up on the inside I said all right coach. Thank you I was boiling up on the inside because he was not giving credit to my hard work and discipline He wasn't giving credit to my ability to excel at what I could control He wasn't giving the credit to my ability to build a huddle to make people better around me to serve those around me in need He was giving credit to a system It had nothing to do with me in his mind I went to that locker room and I'm still boiling up on the inside and I'm not an emotional guy. I sit down to my locker And I'm overwhelmed with emotion Tears are streaming down my face My fullback looks over to me. Kyle you check at the time. He says man, are you okay? I said, I'm all right. I'm gonna be all right. And as I'm sitting down there with my head down and listening to my music I'm starting to think about all the things I had to overcome to get to this moment That room 108 That rejection from Notre Dame those times when I had to take baths with bottled waters That moment in that hotel room that motel room at the edge of town Start being overwhelmed. I cried five times in my life. Ladies and gentlemen Four of those times were lifetime movies I'm a sucker. I'm a sucker for drama. You know, don't don't judge me. So I'm at my locker and I'm still emotional and now normally coach hardball when we're in the locker room He does two things so we do a team prayer and then we do a pep talk We go through the team prayer and we get to our pep talk and before we go out and take the field and Tears are still streaming down my face as I'm locked on with my brothers in that locker room And when I was looking for it, I see a teammate that locks eyes with me His name is Steven And he sears sees the the tears streaming down my face And he gives me a head nod As if he understood what I was going through Coach finished his pep talk and we took the field and as I'm going to my locker Steven comes over to me and I'll never forget what Steven did Steven wrapped his arms around me. He said bro We got you We love you man. We're here for you. We believe And at that moment, I realized that I wasn't in this thing by myself I didn't get to this moment by myself. I had people that believed in me. I had a support system And I knew at that moment that I was of value No matter what happened to me no matter my performance on that field It was something deeper Ladies and gentlemen, I don't know what you're going through in your life right now. I know it's tough out there 2020 has thrown us its best shots You're having to you're being forced to rethink how you do work There's a new normal You may be facing rejection The paychecks ain't coming in like they used to You're not traveling like you're used to You have to do zoom meetings and skype meetings and microsoft team meetings You're getting out of your comfort zone You're in the shadows of life right now. Maybe you've lost some loved ones The economy is upside down It's a pandemic going on. There's racial injustices going on. There's social unrest going on I want to encourage you right now To embrace those moments in the shadows And I want to remind you like steven reminded me That you are loved You have value And it's not based on your performance I want to encourage you That to embrace the shadows Because Greatness is not Developed overnight It's developed in the mud I don't know if you noticed outside it's muddy out there And where there's mud there's opportunity Where there's shadows there's opportunity For growth for development For efficiency So I want to encourage you today to excel at what you can't control To build a huddle and to serve I'ma leave you with this last passage that I love It says do not grow weary and doing good works For in due season you will reap a harvest if you do not give up 8% nation Excelling what you can't control build a huddle lock arms with men and women in this room Serve your fellow man But remember this most of all do not give up That's my time Hey if you enjoyed this I got another one you're gonna love it's right there click on it See you next I have four boards up here. We don't have that much time today And I love to talk by the way talk all day. So on one side you have the inner world Which represents all the things that happen up here between your ears before you