Learning Courage from The Greatest – Muhammad Ali

The recent passing of boxing legend Muhammad Ali stirred up a great deal of emotion within me and caused me to reflect on my interaction with him several years ago.

It was one of the more surreal moments in my life: I was just finishing up an autograph signing with Muhammad Ali at his hotel room in 2011, along with his wife, Lonnie, and his manager.  We sat for hours as Muhammad signed piece after piece of art. I couldn’t help but wonder why, with his physical condition, he would still take the time to sign artwork for fans.  As Lonnie relaxed and read her book, she simply put it, “He still loves it.”

Muhammad rarely picked up his head or took a break. It was difficult for me to comprehend—until the moment when he finished the very last piece. Then I saw the pay-off: He looked up and gave us that famous Ali, bigger-than-life smile. You could see he indeed enjoyed what he was doing very much.

When it was over, I was asked to help the champ to his car. What an honor and a privilege! As I walked and helped support Muhammad’s body, I could feel the power and strength he still had. He wasn’t what he once was, but his life’s spirit was still easily felt. Over the years, whenever I have had the opportunity to be with Muhammad, I have always found him to be warm, generous and insightful—always looking to accommodate others.

The Greatest
Muhammad Ali (born Cassius Marcellus Clay, Jr., on January 17, 1942) earned his nickname, “The Greatest” by becoming one of the greatest boxers ever to fight. In his career, Ali fought several historic boxing matches against other boxing greats: Sonny Liston, Joe Frazier, Floyd Patterson, Ken Norton, George Foreman and Larry Holmes, to name a few. He won gold in the 1960 Rome Olympic Games, and when he was only 22 years old, he won his first heavyweight championship against Liston. He went on to become the first three-time World Heavyweight Champion in history.  Ali’s pre-match hype with fighters and sports journalist Howard Cosell were priceless. Who could ever forget the way in which he described his fighting style:  “I float like a butterfly and sting like a bee!”  Ali had a career like none other; he was crowned “Sportsman of the Century” by Sports Illustrated, and is one of the few athletes that crossed over from sports figure to world icon.

Willing to Sacrifice
At one point in our lives, all of us need to decide—and possibly risk much for—what we believe.  Too often we back down because of uncertainty regarding the outcome, or because of the personal price we may have to pay.  My limited words and experiences offer some useful insights, but I think we can learn much more by focusing on what Ali was willing to sacrifice and lose for the principles and values he held so closely.  A villain to some and idolized by others, he was willing to go to jail and give up one of the most coveted awards:  the World’s Heavyweight Boxing Championship.

The Outspoken Muhammad Ali
He was a polarizing and controversial figure, particularly early in his career.  He came to the forefront of boxing during one of the most tumultuous eras in modern history: The 1960’s will forever be remembered for the counterculture and hippie movements.  Activism was full in swing.  Student protests focused on civil rights, women’s rights and the Vietnam War.  Daily headlines featured wide-ranging, controversial stories and figures, like burning draft cards, the “British Invasion” led by the Beatles, the assassinations of President Kennedy, Malcolm X and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., whose “I Have a Dream”speech characterized a decade like no other.

Cassius Clay to Muhammad Ali
Cassius Clay changed his name after joining the Nation of Islam in 1964. Then in 1967 the heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali refused induction into the US Army in Houston, Texas, on the grounds that he was a “conscientious objector” to the war in Vietnam.  Ali was not alone in his rejection of the American military action in Vietnam.  Ali was one of the first to take a stand for what he believed in. His opposition to the Vietnam War and his support of civil rights were loud and strong:  “No, I am not going 10,000 miles to help murder, kill, and burn.”

Arrested for Draft Evasion
He was arrested and found guilty of draft evasion.  He barely avoided a prison sentence, but he was stripped of his title, had his boxing license suspended and did not fight again for over three years. His appeal worked its way up to the U.S. Supreme Court where 1971 the Justices overturned Ali’s conviction in an 8-0 decision.
Seven years after his title was taken away, he knocked out George Foreman to become heavyweight world champion once again.  Quite an accomplishment for a young boy from Louisville, Kentucky, who started boxing in 1954 as an 89-pound, twelve-year-old—after his bicycle was stolen.

International Boxing Hall of Fame
In 1984 he was diagnosed Parkinson’s disease. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame and was the recipient of the Arthur Ashe Courage Award in 1997.  His boxing gloves are preserved in the Smithsonian Institution National Museum of American History.  Since retiring from boxing, Ali has devoted himself to humanitarian efforts around the world. Now he fights world hunger and poverty; he supports education efforts. It is estimated that he has helped to provide more than 22 million meals to feed the hungry.

In your efforts to fight through adversity and to reach your own potential, consider the following Muhammad Ali quotes:

• “He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing.”
• “I hated every minute of training, but I said, ‘Don’t quit. Suffer now.”
• “He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life.”
• “Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth.”

Rest in peace champ…

Read more him and other champions and outstanding people in my international best-selling book, THE COMMON THREAD OF OVERCOMING ADVERSITY AND LIVING YOUR DREAMS.

Copyright 2016 Jerry Gladstone

Family Guy Creator Seth MacFarlane on Dedication and Innovation

In May 2016, Fox Studios not only renewed Family Guy for its 14th season, Fox executives announced that Seth MacFarlane will create, produce and star in a new live action sci-fi series in 2017.

MacFarlane continues to wow the entertainment industry with his zany, hilarious, and sometimes controversial humor. It is no surprise that many consider him to be an innovator. Through his story, we can learn not only how to be innovators, but also how to follow through with our visions and achieve them through dedication, creativity and commitment.

 

Looking back, I’m still somewhat amazed that my company had the opportunity to do the first in-person art-signing gallery event through the Fox Animation Art Program with Family Guy creator Seth. At the time, he was only twenty-four, and was television’s youngest executive producer. Family Guy was still in its infancy.

Family Guy was new to primetime, and despite good fan support it was struggling due to its constantly changing time slot. We had a great relationship with Fox Studios, representing their Simpsons artwork. Fox had asked us if we were interested in hosting a Family Guy art event with Seth. The answer was an easy yes—we believed that what we saw in Family Guy’s “fanatic” fan base would outlast the naysayers and all the controversy to become a success.

 

While out to dinner with Seth, I asked him about his youth and about how he was handling all the peaks and valleys of the animated series. As he spoke, I could immediately sense his calm confidence:

“I really don’t let the ups and downs bother me. I believe in what we are doing. We have a great group of writers, voice talent, and animators. I always wanted to be on primetime, and Fox seems to be the perfect fit. My goal was always about making the characters like real people with all their imperfections.”

 

Seth understood the frustration his fans experienced over the series being moved from Sunday to Thursday nights. He explained, “I think Fox may have been a little too aggressive. We were on Sunday nights after The Simpsons, and within a few months they changed our time to go against the highly rated sitcom Friends on Thursday nights. People had a hard time finding us.” Moving a time slot can equal a death sentence for a TV series; however, Seth’s confidence and optimism were never in doubt.

Soon after he graduated from the Rhode Island School of Design, where he studied animation, Seth joined the legendary animation studio Hanna-Barbera. He was still working with Hanna-Barbera when he had the idea for Family Guy, and confidentially approached the Fox Broadcasting Company.

They told Seth, “If you can do a pilot for us for like, fifty thousand dollars, we’ll give you a shot at a series.” (Typically, costs to produce a half-hour episode for a primetime animated show can exceed one million dollars.)

“Obviously I said, ‘Yeah, I’ll do it,’ not knowing whether I could or not. I spent about six months with no sleep and no life—just drawing like crazy in my kitchen and doing this pilot.”

 At the end of the six months, Seth presented the show to Fox executives and they loved it. They ordered thirteen episodes of Family Guy. Seth’s style, talent, innovation, and dedication resulted in his becoming television’s youngest executive producer.

 

The success of Family Guy has led to many outside projects for MacFarlane including American Dad!, and The Cleveland Show, as well as writing, directing, and producing his first live-action feature film, Ted (2012), starring Mark Wahlberg as a grown man who hangs around with his talking childhood teddy bear.  Ted is the highest-grossing original R-rated comedy of all time. The film also received an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song.  Universal Studios released a sequel titled Ted 2 in 2015.

 

Seth’s dedication, innovation and commitment to his work are the qualities that helped push him towards success. He did not let any defeats or detours get in the way of going after what he believed was worth the fight—these tenacious habits no doubt contribute to his role as a contemporary innovator. We can use his life, and brilliant mind, as examples for how we too can turn our greatest innovations into realities.  As Seth MacFarlane did, work to always be on the forefront of whatever you do, innovating and functioning to be on the cutting edge of what’s to come.

Copyright 2016 Jerry Gladstone

Learn About Character and Courage from Holocaust Survivor Ann Rosenheck

April 29th marks the anniversary of the the day American troops liberated the Nazi concentration camp Dachau in 1945. Among those freed was Ann Rosenheck, a woman of great courage and moral character. I had the honor and privilege of interviewing Ann while writing the international best-selling book, The Common Thread of Overcoming Adversity and Living Your Dreams. Her full story can be found in the book, but in the meantime here are some excerpts that will inspire you.

Character is defined as “the mental and moral qualities distinctive of an individual.”  We all hope to live a life that is saturated in high grades of character, but the truth is that not all character is created equal.  There are some people that just have a special set of qualities that define their inner-fabric and set them apart from the rest. Holocaust survivor Ann Rosenheck is one of those people.

She has had to live with the grief and guilt associated with surviving a tragedy that took over ninety family members, including her mother, father, grandmother, brother and sister. It takes an incredible strength of character to deal with such an experience. We can gain a lifetime of wisdom from Ann and her dynamic life.

Ann was thirteen years old when the Nazis marched in to occupy her small Czechoslovakian town nestled in the Carpathian Mountains. It was 1944, and she was the youngest of five children when her entire family was removed from their home and forced into the ghetto. Shortly thereafter, they were on their way to the infamous concentration camp at Auschwitz. She recalled:

“Josef Mengele, the notorious Angel of Death, told me to go left and directed the rest of my family to go to the right. I walked to the left—to the barracks—but my family was led straight into the gas chamber.”

While at Auschwitz, Ann remembers “waking up every day and thanking God for letting me live through another night.”

The Nazis eventually moved Ann to Dachau, another infamous death camp, where she was forced to work in a munitions plant until American forces liberated the camp on April 29, 1945.

“I remember when I saw that first American soldier—then I knew what it meant to be liberated.” Within a few years, Ann immigrated to the United States, where she lived with an aunt and uncle.

Six million European Jewish people lost their lives in World War II at the hands of Adolf Hitler and his Nazi regime. Over one million children, two million women, and three million Jewish men were murdered. But it didn’t stop there. The total number of Holocaust victims was between eleven million and seventeen million people, including Soviet prisoners of war, Polish and Soviet civilians, homosexuals, people with disabilities, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and other political and religious opponents of Hitler.

Ann Rosenheck has seen the worst of humanity and survived. Her incredible strength, character and inspiration can benefit all of us as we face our own daily challenges. She is a wonderful, caring woman with a perspective and attitude that are nothing less than inspiring.

At our interview, Ann explained why she agreed to meet with me:

“Too many survivors never forgive themselves or others. But bitterness is very ugly; you need to get over things in life. You can’t just hold onto them. What has happened yesterday happened yesterday. If you let yourself, there is always a way to find happiness and peace.”

 “I lost my parents as a child—I miss their love. But when I came to America and, at eighteen, married a man I knew as a child, and was reunited with my brother, I began to go on with my life, and it was a beautiful life.”

On dealing with adversity Ann emphasizes, “Believe in something. Believe in God—today may be bad—but God will help you tomorrow.”

Today, Ann remains as optimistic as ever. Currently, she is working with the Foundation for the Holocaust Education Projects to continue bringing Holocaust education and awareness to many communities across the U.S. To learn more, visit holocausteducationprojects.org.

Ann’s strength of character is truly incredible, and her ability to let go of the past and enjoy the present is positively inspiring.

Copyright 2016 Jerry Gladstone

Baseball Hall of Fame Legend Shares How to Overcome Being Average

UNDATED: Brooks Robinson #5 of the Baltimore Orioles poses for a portrait. Robinson played for the Orioles from 1955-1977. (Photo by Louis Requena/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

Spring Training is in full swing here in Florida. It’s an exciting time when fans can watch not only games, but training, work-out sessions and practices of their favorite teams. It is often a time when hard work, and not skill alone, can earn you a spot on the regular season roster.

When I was writing The Common Thread of Overcoming Adversity and Living Your Dreams, I had the pleasure of interviewing Baseball Hall of Fame legend Brooks Robinson. We can all learn from his experience how hard work and passion override ability when it comes to success.

“When I was signed in 1955, I was not a great player. I had average speed and was average all around. No one saw me as a great prospect. But I loved the game of baseball and always believed that I could make it,” he said. “I am in the Hall of Fame not because of my ability—it was my love of the game that overrode everything else.” 

Robinson played his entire 23-year major league career for the Baltimore Orioles—from 1955 to 1977. Nicknamed “The Human Vacuum Cleaner,” he is broadly considered to be the greatest defensive third baseman in major league history. He won 16 consecutive Gold Glove Awards, played in four World Series (winning against the LA Dodgers in 1966) and was selected for the All-Star Team 15 consecutive years (1960-74). In 1964, Brooks was named the American League MVP—beating out Mickey Mantle.

Over his baseball career, Brooks accumulated 2,848 hits, 268 home runs and 1,357 runs batted in. His number 5 was retired by the Baltimore Orioles in 1977, and he was elected to the Major League Baseball All-Century Team.

Here is some more of the wisdom he shared…

“My mindset was always to perform at a high level each and every day. Motivated by baseball history, I constantly needed to prove myself not only to others, but to myself as well.

“Ball players, and anybody who wants to have success, should keep in mind that the love of the game should be your most important thing. Professional athletes and successful people have a lot in common—they both started with an early drive for success and a love what they do. That’s what it takes: love and drive.

“The way I see it, it’s important to do the things you don’t want to do—whatever is hard for you to do—for the love and the joy success can bring.

“In the big leagues, I went to bat more than 11,000 times. During the playoffs and the World Series, I was a pretty good clutch hitter. My sense of concentration was enhanced because of all my experience. The problem I see these days is that people want to start at the top. They need to understand that you must pay your dues, learn the business, and put in the time to learn the ropes.

“I would tell up-and-coming players that they should not be afraid to practice and play all positions. This can give you a great overall feeling for and understanding of the game.

“You will not just somehow get better; nobody will give you anything. You need to work overtime to get better and better no matter what you do in life.”

“If you’re not practicing, somebody else is—somewhere, and he’ll be ready to take your job.” 

 Are you practicing your passion? Are you putting your full effort into what you do? Put a plan into place today to get you working toward fulfilling your dreams and being the best you can be.

2016 Jerry Gladstone

NBA’s Keith Askins on Mindset, Values and Work Ethics

Just this weekend, the NBA held it’s 65th annual All Star game. The skill, dedication and mindset the players brought to the game caused me to think back to the interview I did with the Miami Heat’s Keith Askins while writing The Common Thread of Overcoming Adversity and Living Your Dreams.

I was able to sit with Keith right after the Heat’s storybook 2012-13 NBA Championship season. They celebrated 66 wins with only 16 defeats with a record of 15 and 1 in their own division. The Heat put together the second longest winning streak in NBA history with 27 wins that season, second only to the 1971-72 Los Angeles Lakers, who still hold the record with 33 straight victories.

Dedication and Positive Mindset
The best word to describe Keith Askins is resilient. Keith is all about positive beliefs, optimism, developing your problem-solving skills and cultivating a strong social network. His accomplishments could never have been achieved without his dedication and positive mindset.

Six-foot-seven-inch Keith Askins played basketball for the University of Alabama where his coach, Winfrey “Wimp” Sanderson told him, “I won’t guarantee you will play, but I will guarantee you a good education.”  “That was fine with me,” recalls Keith. Keith never expected to play in the NBA—he wasn’t drafted like most NBA players. But in 1990 he was picked up by the Miami Heat. “To be honest, not being drafted had very little impact on me because I had plenty of job opportunities outside of basketball.”

Miami Heat three-time NBA Champion
However, Keith’s aggressive play and long-range shooting proved attractive to the newly formed Miami Heat franchise team, the Miami Heat. He thought it just might be a good fit for me. He told me, ‘You are young and athletic—it just may work—and I went down to Miami. And now here I am, in my twenty-fourth year with the Heat, as both a player and an assistant coach!” Askins served as the Heat’s Captain for four straight seasons, from 1995 through 1999. The club awarded him the team’s Leadership Award in both the 1994-95 and 1995-96 seasons.

Volunteer Coach
Immediately after he retired from the NBA, the Heat management demonstrated their respect and confidence in Keith by asking him to serve as an unpaid, volunteer coach. They knew he still had much to contribute to the organization. Keith worked and interacted with some of the most successful players and coaches of all time, including Pat Riley and Erik Spoelstra, and players LeBron James and Dwayne Wade while winning three world championships. Askins first joined the coaching staff under Riley halfway through the 1999-2000 season and was promoted to a full-time position a few months later, at the start of the following season.

He now serves as the organization’s Director of College and Pro Scouting.

Grandfather Was His Role Model
Keith’s parents were divorced when he was only six. So his grandfather became his role model and a mentor, he worked as a janitor for General Motors. I remember him coming home from work and still getting on the tractor to cut the grass and take care of the pigs and goats he had.  He was the kind of man who, if he said he would do something—believe me—he would do it! He never missed a day of work until the day he was diagnosed with cancer. I believe the fact that he could not work bothered him more than the illness itself.”

A Common Thread?
I asked Keith if he could see THE COMMON THREAD running through the success of NBA stars with LeBron James or others he has worked with during his 25+ years in the business. He did not hesitate in his response: You have to be very competitive and committed to the cause.  Everyone needs a good network of people surrounding them, helping them aim to do better. Success breeds success.
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Keith’s Great Advice
“You need to be able to defend yourself with the right values and work ethics. Many give up too early. Often they’ve failed to surround themselves with the right people. We all need help—someone to give us an opportunity. But we need to take the opportunity and run with it ourselves.”

• “You need to be thankful, and to appreciate what is in front of you. “You need to be prepared and be willing to take on whatever comes your way, believing you can do it.”
• “Everybody is born with something special about them. But it’s up to each person individually to develop it. I have never met a truly successful person who has not worked for it. Talent can be wasted if you don’t have the right mindset.”

“We have one mindset, and that mindset is winning!” — Keith Askins.

How can Keith’s advice help you to develop your special skills?  Do you have the right mindset to be prepared and be willing to take on whatever comes your way?

Copyright 2016 Jerry Gladstone

Discover How Gloria Gaynor Survived and Thrived on Faith and Discipline

 

Faith is a little word with a pretty big meaning.  Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.” Faith isn’t blind reliance, but it does require you to put one step in front of the other without knowing what lies ahead.  We are all intrinsically wired to have faith.  But as we experience life, we often forget to believe and lose this important trait.  But for some, faith becomes second nature; a breath of fresh air that blows through when needed the most.

Superstar recording artist and “The Queen of Disco,” Gloria Gaynor, told me, “One of the benefits of having little in life is that it makes it easier to be grateful for all you have.”  And an attitude like that is what helps to build great faith.  Faith in the ability to succeed, overcome, and achieve even when life seems utterly impossible.

Fresh out of high school in 1978, I worked as a bouncer in a wide range of establishments—from local dives to upscale clubs. I was a classic rock fan, with no use for the new dance music that was invading my world.  Then I heard the disco song “I Will Survive” by Gloria Gaynor. As it did with so many others, the song struck an emotional chord deep down inside of me. That song became somewhat of an internal anthem that I played in my head when facing my own challenges and obstacles.

At our most desperate moments those three words, I will survive, can get us through situations that may feel like the end of the world.  Now—more than thirty years later—I had the opportunity to interview Gloria about the meaning behind the song and her insights on life. What an inspiration!

Born in Newark, New Jersey, Gloria came from a relatively poor family, but she describes life at home as a “house filled with laughter and happiness.”  She said, “My dad was an absentee father; my mom dropped out of school by the seventh grade. Growing up we had limited means, but being poor made me appreciate all we did get that much more.”

Gloria loved music from an early age, and music was in her family. Her father played the nightclub circuit and her brothers sang Gospel music. Although she participated in school choirs, Gloria wasn’t noticed for musical ability. But still, her real dream was to have a singing career.

 

Gloria sang with a jazz/pop group, the Soul Satisfiers, in the 1960s and recorded a few solo singles for a small Chicago label. She sang at nightclubs. One night a producer caught her show. That producer arranged a meeting for Gloria with the president of Columbia Records, Clive Davis, who signed her to a record deal. She released her first album, Never Can Say Good-Bye, in 1975.

Gloria’s success was moderate as she released two more albums, but in 1978 her career skyrocketed when the album Love Tracks came out—and its “I Will Survive” climbed to the top of the charts.  In 1980, the song won the Grammy Award for Best Disco Recording. It has since been recognized as one of Billboard magazine’s “All-Time Hot 100” songs and Rolling Stone magazine included it in its list of “500 Greatest Songs of All Time.”

Gloria recognizes a deeper truth behind her greatest hit, however. A woman of deep faith and conviction, she says, “Without faith, inspiration, and encouragement, ‘I Will Survive’ is little more than an empty catchphrase.”

She has had her share of naysayers and negative people who have criticized her. Some sounded almost jubilant as they pronounced the demise of disco and cruelly proclaimed of her, “The Queen is dead!” But she responds: “I have learned that when people criticize you, they are really talking about themselves. They have limited belief in what they can do. Filled with self-doubt, they want to feel important. If they can’t do it in a productive and positive way, they will do it in a negative and harmful way—and they don’t care if they hurt others.  But I’ve learned that even if I get hurt for a minute, it does not change who I am. My value comes from God and what He placed in me. We all have God-given talents, abilities, and gifts. Each and every one of us should use them: Nobody is destined to fail!  God has made me unique—he has made each of us unique. I will do some things better than others, and others will do some things better than I can. This means that if you use these gifts, it will make you like nobody else.  I will not let anybody but myself define who I am.” 

 

Gloria continued with some timeless advice for us all …“Discipline is the only bridge between thought and accomplishment, because consistency is key to accomplishing your goals. Procrastination is a thief, because it steals your choices, opportunities, and time.  Overall, surrender to the truth. Don’t try to go around it or over it—just deal with it. The truth is what it is. Don’t try to change it and you will thrive.”

 

Faith has always remained a supporting pillar for Gloria.  No doubt about it, she is completely dedicated to her strong belief and faith in that which has yet to come.  Even when she was told, time and time again, that she wasn’t good enough or her music wasn’t catchy enough, faith always prevailed.  It acted as a guiding light, moving her through the torrential waters and toward safe shores.  Remember, a little bit of faith can go a long way.

What can you do today to move closer to achieving your dreams? 

Support your faith and support your truth. Distance yourself from people who do not move you in the right direction.  Your faith should be tended to like a garden.  Overall, surrender to the truth. Don’t try to go around it or over it—just deal with it. The truth is what it is. Don’t try to change it and you will thrive.

Remain disciplined. Discipline is the only bridge between thought and accomplishment, because consistency is key to accomplishing your goals. Procrastination is a thief, because it steals your choices, opportunities, and time.

(c) 2016 Jerry Gladstone

Learn How Herschel Walker Used His Uniqueness to Influence Others

Last weekend, the 2015 NFL Hall of Fame induction ceremonies were held and as always, the speeches from the inductees were inspiring. The NFL has so many great stories of men who have defeated the odds, men who overcame hardship and adversity and men who use their success to help others.

When you talk about great athletes who have a great story, you can’t leave Herschel Walker out of the mix.  He is not only one of the greatest Running Backs in college and professional history, Herschel is remembered as a physical specimen with guts, heart and skills – all of which played a pivotal role in his success on and off the football field.

I grew up watching Number 34 play for the Georgia Bulldogs and hearing the legendary stories of the way he worked out. I was very fortunate to go out to dinner after a UFC fight in Las Vegas, along with a few friends, including TapouT president Dan “Punkass” Caldwell.

We spoke about how he trained; he explained that growing up in a poor family of seven children, he did not have access to weights. He was overweight, had speech problems, and was bullied. But Herschel was not going to be stopped by a lack of opportunities.

He described his daily routine of doing twenty-five hundred sit-ups, two thousand pushups, and fifteen hundred pull-ups. He made it sound somewhat easy as he explained, “It’s not what you think. I constantly change my arm positions for the exercises and often do it while watching TV.”   In my mind, that would not make that much of a difference, but then again I am not Herschel Walker.

“Working out like that started young for me. I was always desperate to be a great athlete; it made me feel good inside.”

At the University of Georgia, he and his team won the Sugar Bowl and the NCAA Championship. Herschel earned the 1982 Heisman Trophy, was named All-American three times and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.

In the NFL, Herschel’s twelve-year records included rushing for more than eight thousand yards and scoring sixty-one touchdowns. But Herschel loved athletics beyond the football field.  He competed in the 1992 Winter Olympics in the two-man bobsled and has pursued yet another sports career in MMA.

Despite his great success as an athlete, Herschel recalled in his memoir, Breaking Free: My Life with Dissociative Identity Disorder, that “[his] life, at times, was simply out of control.” He often felt angry and self-destructive.

 

“To me, whenever I stepped onto the football field, the track, the bobsled run, or even playing a video game with my son, what I was participating in was a matter of life-and-death seriousness. I was that competitive.  When the doctors explained to me that I had developed other personalities (alters) to help me cope with and survive the pain and alienation I experienced as a child and adolescent, I was skeptical. There may have been as many as 12 of these alters that enabled me to cope with my reality.  The diagnosis was Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), a mental disorder previously known as multiple personality disorder.”

 Herschel’s understanding of this disorder has helped him better understand himself:

“The truth also is that for most of my life from childhood onward, I had a form of mental illness that enabled me to simultaneously be a fierce competitor consumed by a desire to be the best and dominate in a quiet, unassuming man who let his actions do the talking.”

It may be what Herschel decided to do off the field that was the greatest display of his guts.  Herschel didn’t have to share his personal battles with anybody, but he did—and he sees himself as an advocate for others. While some might have taken this diagnosis as a setback, Herschel used the same strength and inner human spirit to overcome the challenge.

“[I took] it on as my life’s mission—not only to understand DID for my personal benefit, but also to understand it to help other people enrich their lives, lessen their level of pain, and find comfort in knowing that …[we] are not alone.”

 Herschel’s spiritual side—like many of the individuals in this book—shines through:

“When God repairs our lives, we become the person He created us to be, with the ability to transform other lives we touch. Unless we allow God to repair us, we will never know the uniqueness of ourselves and the abilities we have to offer mankind.”

What makes you unique? How can you use your uniqueness to positively impact others?Have the guts and willingness to exit your comfort zone to make a difference in your life and the lives of others.

(c) 2015 Jerry Gladstone

 

 

Jimmy Kimmel Shares about Believing in Yourself

It is not always easy to believe in yourself, but when you do, great things can happen. Just ask late night TV talk show host Jimmy Kimmel. His ability to believe in himself has resulted in his show becoming the longest running late-night talk show in ABC’s history. Recent guests include Jennifer Lopez, Liam Neeson, Kurt Russell, Kevin Hart and President Barack Obama. Learn how Jimmy Kimmel overcame some of the obstacles he faced in his career and how you can too.

Life often creates plenty of noise that can overpower the inner-voice that tells you to keep going and reassures you that you absolutely will succeed, but there should never be a louder voice than the one in your own heart and soul.  It should keep you moving, determined, and dedicated to your dreams.

“I do not like anybody else telling me what I am capable or not capable of doing. That can be very inspirational, because you run into a lot of people who will tell you what you can’t do in life. And it’s fun to prove those people wrong,” said Jimmy Kimmel.

Kimmel actually began his show business career in the radio industry as a college DJ. He turned pro at twenty-one, working his way into bigger and bigger radio markets before arriving at LA’s legendary station KROQ, where he was “Jimmy the Sports Guy” on The Kevin and Bean Show.

In 1997, he made the leap from radio to TV as host of the game show Win Ben Stein’s Money. He eventually became a member of the elite club of late-night talk show hosts when ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live! hit the air in 2003.

Jimmy was eager to share his experiences on his journey to the top:

“The biggest obstacle I have had to overcome in my career is being pigeonholed. And that’s not just true in television. It’s been true going back to my days when I was on the radio. I remember when I was starting out in radio there would be certain program directors and general managers who felt that I should just be a behind-the-scenes guy or maybe a writer.  They felt that I shouldn’t be “on-the-air talent.” They felt that I would be more suited toward a support role to other people who were—in their minds—more talented. I was even let go from a couple of radio jobs.”

“It’s weird that the way I was able to overcome that sort of stuff was by just moving from one radio station to another. It’s sort of like going to a different high school and being able to “reinvent yourself,” for lack of a better phrase. But in a way, it enabled me to sort of start over each time, and to try and be seen the way that I wanted to be seen.”

Self-belief is a crucial trait to possess, especially when you are trying to accomplish tasks and goals that others might not support.  There will always be naysayers and non-supporters, along with people that simply cannot see what you see.  But if you have a strong inner-voice, and actually take the time to listen to it, you’ll be amazed by how far that will get you on your journey through your personal and professional life.

What is your inner voice saying to you today?

by Jerry Gladstone

Going the extra mile with NY Ranger legend Ron Greschner

There are only a few more weeks left in the 2014-15 hockey season, and you can be sure legendary defenseman Ron Greschner has been enjoying watching his beloved NY Rangers this year who just became the first this season to clinch a playoff berth.

What made Ron the legend he became?  Going the extra mile.  This week, I am pleased to share with you the insight and wisdom of Ron Greschner.

Ron Greschner had a love of hockey from an early age.  If you have found what you love, and want to take it to the next level, you are going to have to go the extra mile to achieve your dreams.  That is what Ron did.  Coming from a very small town of only 150 people, he had to work extra hard to get noticed.

Ron Greschner played 16 years with the New York Rangers as a defenseman and a leader. Ron played 982 games with the Rangers, and scored 179 goals, 431 assists, and 610 points. He is without a doubt one of the brightest and most likeable stars in NHL history.  And his popularity has not waned since his retirement in 1990.  Ron will be one of the stars on this year’s NY Rangers Legends Cruise in July.

“Gresch,” as he is fondly called by friends and fans, told me:

“To get into the NHL takes a certain amount of natural ability, but then it comes down to how much you really want it. I was the 32nd overall player selected by the Rangers in 1974.”

“The hardest thing about the NHL is staying in the NHL; you have to prove yourself every day, every month, and every year.”

“Every game I ever played I was nervous—not scared. I had to play and perform each time I was on the ice. I loved the game; I didn’t want to screw up.”

“I had tunnel vision and stayed focused on each shift. To prepare, I always studied film of the guys I was facing, and it gave me a competitive edge.”

“Believe me I had plenty of weaknesses. But instead of accepting a weakness, I did my best to turn it around. Speed was always an issue; most guys were faster than me. So I learned to play smarter. I learned to play the angles. I was able to read plays developing from either end of the ice and to be in the right spot at the right time.”

“The way I see it, if you get a chance to do something, do it the best you can and it’s likely you can achieve plenty in life. People need to know that almost every day you will need to overcome something on your way to success. You have to approach it all with an attitude that says, ‘I will not be defeated!’”

Reflecting on how people fail to meet their goals and achieve their dreams, Ron believes a fear of failure stops most people:

“They are concerned and afraid that people will look down on them if they fail. My advice is this: what other people think doesn’t matter! You need to focus on your play. Do it the best you can, and don’t let what others say interfere with your mindset or how you feel about yourself.”

Ron advises up-and-coming players that there is no replacement for hard work. He plainly tells them:

“Dedicate yourself to working hard, and stay away from drugs. Whether you agree with your coaches or not, listen to them. The teams that I played with in the seventies could not compete with today’s teams, due to the new training methods. If you don’t train, you will not be able to compete.”

Hockey is a tough sport requiring a lot of drive, determination, and heart:

“I had lots of injuries over my career: broken hand, broken feet—I broke my nose six times! I’ve had all my teeth knocked out. The way I saw it, a hurt ankle or knocked-out teeth are far from your heart. So even with all my teeth knocked out I would get up and get back on this ice—I never missed a shift. I don’t say that to prove I was a tough guy. It’s just that if you want to go big-time, you need to have a big heart.”

Ron’s story shows us that going the extra mile is a way to ensure success. In your pursuit of your dreams, figure out what you can do to dramatically increase the odds of achievement by going the extra mile.

Jerry Gladstone

Baseball Hall of Fame Pitcher Dennis Eckersley Shares Tremendous Insight

Major League Baseball Spring Training is in full swing.  That is always an exciting time for baseball fans.  But, have you ever thought about the men behind the uniforms and the fears and obstacles they had to overcome to make it in the big leagues?

Oakland A’s legendary Dennis Eckersley is one who had to overcome some serious trials and we can gain tremendous insight from from this Hall of Fame pitcher.

I grew up a New York Mets fan, but Dennis Eckersley commanded a lot of attention from baseball fans everywhere.

Eckersley was simply one of the most dominating closers ever to have stepped on the mound. You couldn’t help but respect and admire his skills—even as you felt that sickening feeling as you watched him step in as a reliever to stop your favorite team in its tracks.

“Eck” was a natural.  Drafted right out of high school, he made it to the big leagues by the time he was 20. His 23-year career (1975 – 1998) found him playing for the Cleveland Indians, the Boston Red Sox, the Chicago Cubs, the Oakland Athletics and the St. Louis Cardinals.

His accolades include American League Rookie Pitcher of the Year in 1975, a no-hitter against the California Angels in 1977, four saves in the Oakland A’s 1988 sweep of the Red Sox in the ALCS, a save in the final game to sweep the San Francisco Giants in the 1989 World Series, a season ERA of 0.61 in 1990, 1992 American League Cy Young Award and the League’s Most Valuable Player the same year.  He was the first of only two pitchers in all of Major League Baseball history to record both a 20-win season and a 50-save season in the same career.  Dennis was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2004.

Interviewing a baseball star with a résumé like that was a great honor for me. Even as he spoke, I remembered watching this lanky, long-haired pitcher throw that signature “live” fastball that shut down hitter after hitter. But now, in his fifties, Dennis provided one of the most open and candid interviews I conducted.

Telling his story gave Dennis more than a chance to vent. More importantly, he wanted to relate his experiences in a way that offered hope to others that they, too, could overcome.

He spoke honestly about the dark times he lived through and how he finally moved forward into a much more peaceful sense of being.

Dennis recognized the importance of his father’s involvement at the beginning:

“I wasn’t a great player early on, but dad took the time to play with us. He was very involved and took the time to teach us. I always wanted to keep up with my older brother. That turned out to be a real benefit, because we had instant competition.”

He spoke openly about his personal life and how it affected him both off and on the field:

“I was married at 18, and it helped keep me in line—it kept me out of trouble. But when I was 22, things really got bad for me. I was traded to the Boston Red Sox and my wife left me for another player.

“I have to be honest with you: I was personally devastated. I was crushed when my marriage ended—so I put all my energy into my profession.”

He found his motivation and the drive to keep going in spite of his failed marriage:

“I had a little girl only two years old. I had to keep focused for her and her wellbeing.

“I tried to use what happened to me and turn it around to something positive. I kept a chip on my shoulder—and that helped keep me focused each day.

“I could have gone real bad, but I would not let it defeat me—no way, not me!”

With this same kind of remarkable honesty, Dennis shared his insights about his struggles with alcohol:

“I hit bottom shortly before the Cubs traded me to Oakland. I was in complete denial about my alcohol abuse. Believe me when I tell you self-denial is a killer!

“But I knew I had to do something different—alcoholism runs in my family I needed to get sober. My turning point was when I finally accepted the fact that I was an alcoholic.

“I was scared, but I turned to Alcoholics Anonymous and went into rehab for a while. So when I went to Oakland I was clean and sober.”

Gaining control over his drinking helped prepare Dennis to accept a major change in his career at Oakland.

 “I had been a starter for twelve years, but my manager Tony La Russa and my pitching coach Dave Duncan convinced me to become a reliever. I accepted what they wanted me to do, and it was like being reborn.”

Dennis reflected on what made the difference in his life—how he was able to overcome the obstacles and become a big-league sensation. He spoke about his passion and drive, and how he turned fear into a positive force:

“I always had the passion for the game because I wanted to be the best I could. Therefore, doing the necessary things to prepare for the game was easy for me. I had that extra drive that separates successful people from others.

“I don’t know any great athlete who doesn’t have drive and a major passion—it’s a must.

“Being a relief pitcher is like always having to jump out of the plane to continue to prove yourself. I was a very anxious guy as a closer. The fear I felt came across as confidence, but deep down inside I was afraid to fail. Even highly talented people question themselves.

“People are held back from reaching their goals because of their fear of failure. They get tentative—and that doesn’t work. You have to truly believe in yourself. You can’t fake it.

“Fear motivated me. Fear made me better. The thought of not doing well got my attention, so I always kept the pressure on myself. Even when I was inducted into the hall of fame, I didn’t think I deserved it.”

But others did. In 2005, the Oakland Athletics officially retired Dennis Eckersley’s uniform number (43). Fremont, California’s Washington High School, his alma mater, renamed its baseball field in his honor. He was named to the Major League Baseball All-Century Team, and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in January 2004.

Upon retirement Dennis had appeared in more games (1,071) than any previous pitcher in MLB history, recording 390 saves.

Dennis is one of those remarkable successful people who picked up the pieces and rebuilt his life on more than one occasion. And as we finished up our conversation, I thanked him for his openness and honesty in sharing his life story. He offered his parting thoughts about his message of hope and overcoming:

“Beyond your goals, enjoy the memories of your life and appreciate the moment.

“The way to live is to be honest within yourself so you can make clear decisions.

“My advice to others is about acceptance in your life. When things happen to you, do all you need to do so you’ll have no regrets. No half-steps, go all in. Give it all you have.”

What areas in your life are holding you back from being the best you can be?

 by Jerry Gladstone