because I’m gonna ask you what is greatness
greatness
greatness you know greatness greatness is one of
you know greatness greatness is one of
you know greatness greatness is one of those things that you know it’s
those things that you know it’s
those things that you know it’s invisible but all of us can can feel it
invisible but all of us can can feel it
invisible but all of us can can feel it it’s very tangible when you experience
it’s very tangible when you experience
it’s very tangible when you experience greatness you know it have you ever
greatness you know it have you ever
greatness you know it have you ever wondered to yourself or thought to
wondered to yourself or thought to
wondered to yourself or thought to yourself like what created a mother
yourself like what created a mother
yourself like what created a mother Teresa should I say now Saint Teresa as
Teresa should I say now Saint Teresa as
Teresa should I say now Saint Teresa as a few weeks ago confirmative the same to
a few weeks ago confirmative the same to
a few weeks ago confirmative the same to go into the depth of Calcutta and touch
go into the depth of Calcutta and touch
go into the depth of Calcutta and touch the untouchables or what what created a
the untouchables or what what created a
the untouchables or what what created a Steve Jobs of Apple or jakmob Alibaba
Steve Jobs of Apple or jakmob Alibaba
Steve Jobs of Apple or jakmob Alibaba men who saw the world not as it was but
men who saw the world not as it was but
men who saw the world not as it was but as it could be you know what what
as it could be you know what what
as it could be you know what what created a Nelson Mandela a man although
created a Nelson Mandela a man although
created a Nelson Mandela a man although while in jail not he didn’t see his
while in jail not he didn’t see his
while in jail not he didn’t see his country as divided but saw it as United
country as divided but saw it as United
country as divided but saw it as United or from my home my home country dr.
or from my home my home country dr.
or from my home my home country dr. Martin Luther King jr. a man who
Martin Luther King jr. a man who
Martin Luther King jr. a man who although his house was bombed and his
although his house was bombed and his
although his house was bombed and his family put in jeopardy he still believed
family put in jeopardy he still believed
family put in jeopardy he still believed in the dream you know some people may
in the dream you know some people may
in the dream you know some people may say yeah it’s David it’s because they
say yeah it’s David it’s because they
say yeah it’s David it’s because they they found their passion and some others
they found their passion and some others
they found their passion and some others say well it’s because they look they
say well it’s because they look they
say well it’s because they look they were just incredibly gifted or you could
were just incredibly gifted or you could
were just incredibly gifted or you could say it was because that was their their
say it was because that was their their
say it was because that was their their birthright they were born to do such a
birthright they were born to do such a
birthright they were born to do such a thing
thing
thing well no it’s not because they found
well no it’s not because they found
well no it’s not because they found their passion it’s not because they were
their passion it’s not because they were
their passion it’s not because they were born to do it or that they were
born to do it or that they were
born to do it or that they were especially gifted I don’t believe that
especially gifted I don’t believe that
especially gifted I don’t believe that what I believe that they did something
what I believe that they did something
what I believe that they did something that all of us can do they created
that all of us can do they created
that all of us can do they created something that all of us can create they
something that all of us can create they
something that all of us can create they created a life of passion because they
created a life of passion because they
created a life of passion because they created a life
created a life
created a life with a mission they create a life with a
with a mission they create a life with a
with a mission they create a life with a mission now when you think about mission
mission now when you think about mission
mission now when you think about mission right we when we think about Michigan we
right we when we think about Michigan we
right we when we think about Michigan we we think about it in a way where you may
we think about it in a way where you may
we think about it in a way where you may say what they did the passion and
say what they did the passion and
say what they did the passion and mission aren’t they the are they the
mission aren’t they the are they the
mission aren’t they the are they the same
same
same no I submit to you that that a
no I submit to you that that a
no I submit to you that that a passionate organization is usually a
passionate organization is usually a
passionate organization is usually a result of a mission organization a
result of a mission organization a
result of a mission organization a passionate individual that you find is
passionate individual that you find is
passionate individual that you find is usually a result of a mission individual
usually a result of a mission individual
usually a result of a mission individual the problem is is that we usually only
the problem is is that we usually only
the problem is is that we usually only think about mission in the context of an
think about mission in the context of an
think about mission in the context of an organization apple for instance right
organization apple for instance right
organization apple for instance right what was their mission to think
what was their mission to think
what was their mission to think differently or if you look at IKEA their
differently or if you look at IKEA their
differently or if you look at IKEA their mission is that we’re going to create a
mission is that we’re going to create a
mission is that we’re going to create a better everyday right for the mini or or
better everyday right for the mini or or
better everyday right for the mini or or Mazda right to simply be the best or
Mazda right to simply be the best or
Mazda right to simply be the best or what I love is a salesforce.com
what I love is a salesforce.com
what I love is a salesforce.com so forth that calm says that their
so forth that calm says that their
so forth that calm says that their mission was to put an end to software so
mission was to put an end to software so
mission was to put an end to software so if companies can have these inspiring
if companies can have these inspiring
if companies can have these inspiring missions I believe that you and I are
missions I believe that you and I are
missions I believe that you and I are worth more than a corporation I believe
worth more than a corporation I believe
worth more than a corporation I believe you and I we are worth more than an
you and I we are worth more than an
you and I we are worth more than an organization and you and I can live life
organization and you and I can live life
organization and you and I can live life on mission you know I I grew up in the
on mission you know I I grew up in the
on mission you know I I grew up in the great city of Chicago Chicago is known
great city of Chicago Chicago is known
great city of Chicago Chicago is known for The Oprah Winfrey Show yeah Michael
for The Oprah Winfrey Show yeah Michael
for The Oprah Winfrey Show yeah Michael Jordan
and you know what else we have some
and you know what else we have some really good deep-dish pizza
really good deep-dish pizza
really good deep-dish pizza let me tell you you haven’t had pizza
let me tell you you haven’t had pizza
let me tell you you haven’t had pizza until you’ve been to Chicago and while
until you’ve been to Chicago and while
until you’ve been to Chicago and while Chicago is a great city
Chicago is a great city
Chicago is a great city uh-huh I grew up in a part of Chicago
uh-huh I grew up in a part of Chicago
uh-huh I grew up in a part of Chicago that wasn’t so great like my mom my mom
that wasn’t so great like my mom my mom
that wasn’t so great like my mom my mom and dad and you know they were great
and dad and you know they were great
and dad and you know they were great people they did the best that they could
people they did the best that they could
people they did the best that they could they were uneducated but they were great
they were uneducated but they were great
they were uneducated but they were great people and like many of us in our
people and like many of us in our
people and like many of us in our family’s life circumstances just
family’s life circumstances just
family’s life circumstances just happened
happened
happened it wrecked our family no malicious
it wrecked our family no malicious
it wrecked our family no malicious intent it was just life circumstances
intent it was just life circumstances
intent it was just life circumstances when I was about five years old my
when I was about five years old my
when I was about five years old my mother contracted a severe case Wow
mother contracted a severe case Wow
mother contracted a severe case Wow undiagnosed a severe case of paranoia
undiagnosed a severe case of paranoia
undiagnosed a severe case of paranoia schizophrenia and she became a very
schizophrenia and she became a very
schizophrenia and she became a very abusive person I I removed my dad going
abusive person I I removed my dad going
abusive person I I removed my dad going through some of the abuse and I received
through some of the abuse and I received
through some of the abuse and I received some of it this illness it just tore our
some of it this illness it just tore our
some of it this illness it just tore our family apart my family my parents got
family apart my family my parents got
family apart my family my parents got divorced and my brother sister and I
divorced and my brother sister and I
divorced and my brother sister and I were left to just just pick up all the
were left to just just pick up all the
were left to just just pick up all the pieces it was about that time that uh
pieces it was about that time that uh
pieces it was about that time that uh that I found the mission and I want you
that I found the mission and I want you
that I found the mission and I want you to want to share with you today
to want to share with you today
to want to share with you today this repeat after me okay everyone
this repeat after me okay everyone
this repeat after me okay everyone everyone everyone say I pledge
everyone everyone say I pledge
everyone everyone say I pledge allegiance one more town with the more
allegiance one more town with the more
allegiance one more town with the more energy I pledge allegiance
energy I pledge allegiance
energy I pledge allegiance to my success I pledge allegiance to do
to my success I pledge allegiance to do
to my success I pledge allegiance to do my very best
my very best
my very best I do believe I will succeed nothing will
I do believe I will succeed nothing will
I do believe I will succeed nothing will stop me nothing will drop me I have a
stop me nothing will drop me I have a
stop me nothing will drop me I have a purpose to fulfill I have a future
purpose to fulfill I have a future
purpose to fulfill I have a future that’s very real no matter what happens
that’s very real no matter what happens
that’s very real no matter what happens or goes on around me I will not sink it
or goes on around me I will not sink it
or goes on around me I will not sink it will not drown me I pledge allegiance to
will not drown me I pledge allegiance to
will not drown me I pledge allegiance to my success I pledge allegiance to do my
my success I pledge allegiance to do my
my success I pledge allegiance to do my very best
very best
very best now give yourselves a hand
you know what’s interesting is that
you know what’s interesting is that companies when they asked companies you
companies when they asked companies you
companies when they asked companies you know over the past five years how many
know over the past five years how many
know over the past five years how many of you all have used the mission how
of you all have used the mission how
of you all have used the mission how many what percentage the number was was
many what percentage the number was was
many what percentage the number was was 90% 90% see I created that mission when
90% 90% see I created that mission when
90% 90% see I created that mission when I was 19 years old I was 19 years old
I was 19 years old I was 19 years old
I was 19 years old I was 19 years old and see life circumstances from my
and see life circumstances from my
and see life circumstances from my childhood to adulthood
childhood to adulthood
childhood to adulthood didn’t get easier I’m 19 years old by
didn’t get easier I’m 19 years old by
didn’t get easier I’m 19 years old by that time I had about 12 childhood
that time I had about 12 childhood
that time I had about 12 childhood friends who had all died due to gun
friends who had all died due to gun
friends who had all died due to gun violence I was in the midst of the poor
violence I was in the midst of the poor
violence I was in the midst of the poor part of Chicago high crime rates and my
part of Chicago high crime rates and my
part of Chicago high crime rates and my brother and sister were now preteens I
brother and sister were now preteens I
brother and sister were now preteens I had dropped out of college because of
had dropped out of college because of
had dropped out of college because of the financial situation and I had no
the financial situation and I had no
the financial situation and I had no connections little money and on top of
connections little money and on top of
connections little money and on top of everything else my mother came down with
everything else my mother came down with
everything else my mother came down with leukemia blood cancer on top of the
leukemia blood cancer on top of the
leukemia blood cancer on top of the schizophrenia and now I’m the caretaker
schizophrenia and now I’m the caretaker
schizophrenia and now I’m the caretaker to say the least this was not a recipe
to say the least this was not a recipe
to say the least this was not a recipe for success but I could not get bitter I
for success but I could not get bitter I
for success but I could not get bitter I had to get better so I started reading
had to get better so I started reading
had to get better so I started reading and I started reading about 10 to 15
and I started reading about 10 to 15
and I started reading about 10 to 15 books a month and I started to see this
books a month and I started to see this
books a month and I started to see this trend the trend that I saw was that as I
trend the trend that I saw was that as I
trend the trend that I saw was that as I was doing my reading all of these
was doing my reading all of these
was doing my reading all of these companies and individuals that were
companies and individuals that were
companies and individuals that were successful they they all had lived life
successful they they all had lived life
successful they they all had lived life in
in
in but it was because they had a mission
but it was because they had a mission
but it was because they had a mission and so I said what the heck i sat down
and so I said what the heck i sat down
and so I said what the heck i sat down and I I wrote that first mission see I
and I I wrote that first mission see I
and I I wrote that first mission see I remember I remember when my mother had a
remember I remember when my mother had a
remember I remember when my mother had a very severe schizophrenic episode in and
very severe schizophrenic episode in and
very severe schizophrenic episode in and she says some things that really heard
she says some things that really heard
she says some things that really heard in it went kind of crazy and I had to
in it went kind of crazy and I had to
in it went kind of crazy and I had to collect myself and I said I pledge
collect myself and I said I pledge
collect myself and I said I pledge allegiance to my success I pledge
allegiance to my success I pledge
allegiance to my success I pledge allegiance to do my very best I remember
allegiance to do my very best I remember
allegiance to do my very best I remember with my sister my sister was in eighth
with my sister my sister was in eighth
with my sister my sister was in eighth grade but she was reading on a fourth
grade but she was reading on a fourth
grade but she was reading on a fourth and fifth grade level and so to be
and fifth grade level and so to be
and fifth grade level and so to be committed and they hope her he’s up to
committed and they hope her he’s up to
committed and they hope her he’s up to speed I was traveling two hours one way
speed I was traveling two hours one way
speed I was traveling two hours one way to go to these odd jobs and part-time
to go to these odd jobs and part-time
to go to these odd jobs and part-time jobs here in the air and I was getting
jobs here in the air and I was getting
jobs here in the air and I was getting home at 11 or 12 o’clock at night and I
home at 11 or 12 o’clock at night and I
home at 11 or 12 o’clock at night and I was stay up to check her homework and
was stay up to check her homework and
was stay up to check her homework and try to get up to speed on speaking
try to get up to speed on speaking
try to get up to speed on speaking English correctly and everything else
English correctly and everything else
English correctly and everything else and she looked at me one day and she
and she looked at me one day and she
and she looked at me one day and she said David will I ever can i but I won’t
said David will I ever can i but I won’t
said David will I ever can i but I won’t listen and be able to read and I said to
listen and be able to read and I said to
listen and be able to read and I said to her I don’t I’m not concerned with
her I don’t I’m not concerned with
her I don’t I’m not concerned with whether or not you get an A or great
whether or not you get an A or great
whether or not you get an A or great grades what I’m concerned about is
grades what I’m concerned about is
grades what I’m concerned about is whether you do your very best because
whether you do your very best because
whether you do your very best because I’ve pledged allegiance to your success
I’ve pledged allegiance to your success
I’ve pledged allegiance to your success I remember I remember when you know we
I remember I remember when you know we
I remember I remember when you know we all have those those silent choices
all have those those silent choices
all have those those silent choices right the choices that nobody sees like
right the choices that nobody sees like
right the choices that nobody sees like what you’re doing when no one’s looking
what you’re doing when no one’s looking
what you’re doing when no one’s looking and I had to choose between do I follow
and I had to choose between do I follow
and I had to choose between do I follow the the path of resistance although it
the the path of resistance although it
the the path of resistance although it would make me better or do I follow the
would make me better or do I follow the
would make me better or do I follow the path of least resistance I remember when
path of least resistance I remember when
path of least resistance I remember when I met my wife and I didn’t have that
I met my wife and I didn’t have that
I met my wife and I didn’t have that much to give her I didn’t have material
much to give her I didn’t have material
much to give her I didn’t have material cause that’s anything like that but but
cause that’s anything like that but but
cause that’s anything like that but but I had a mission that I shared with her
I had a mission that I shared with her
I had a mission that I shared with her and I remember
and I remember
and I remember when I almost gave up I told god I look
when I almost gave up I told god I look
when I almost gave up I told god I look at God I said God I’m just tired it’s
at God I said God I’m just tired it’s
at God I said God I’m just tired it’s too much and too young I can’t carry
too much and too young I can’t carry
too much and too young I can’t carry this type of weight and I said and I
this type of weight and I said and I
this type of weight and I said and I said you no matter what’s going on
said you no matter what’s going on
said you no matter what’s going on around me I will not sink it will not
around me I will not sink it will not
around me I will not sink it will not drown me I pledge allegiance to my
drown me I pledge allegiance to my
drown me I pledge allegiance to my success and I pledge allegiance to do my
success and I pledge allegiance to do my
success and I pledge allegiance to do my very best fast forward some tissue
very best fast forward some tissue
very best fast forward some tissue please
please
please fast forward today well my brother and
fast forward today well my brother and
fast forward today well my brother and my sister finished high school nun got
my sister finished high school nun got
my sister finished high school nun got on drugs and no teenage pregnancies one
on drugs and no teenage pregnancies one
on drugs and no teenage pregnancies one went off to college and the other one
went off to college and the other one
went off to college and the other one thank you the other one is a budding
thank you the other one is a budding
thank you the other one is a budding entrepreneur my father my father we
entrepreneur my father my father we
entrepreneur my father my father we married and we rekindled and rebuilt our
married and we rekindled and rebuilt our
married and we rekindled and rebuilt our relationship and now he’s a proud
relationship and now he’s a proud
relationship and now he’s a proud grandfather my mother my mother will we
grandfather my mother my mother will we
grandfather my mother my mother will we beat cancer and she’s been now in
beat cancer and she’s been now in
beat cancer and she’s been now in remission for over 10 years and her
remission for over 10 years and her
remission for over 10 years and her schizophrenia is a lot more manageable
schizophrenia is a lot more manageable
schizophrenia is a lot more manageable and me well I don’t know I’ve done okay
and me well I don’t know I’ve done okay
and me well I don’t know I’ve done okay I’m now a best-selling author I’m a
I’m now a best-selling author I’m a
I’m now a best-selling author I’m a global businessman I do stuff around the
global businessman I do stuff around the
global businessman I do stuff around the world and I’ve worked at the heights of
world and I’ve worked at the heights of
world and I’ve worked at the heights of finance and I’ve raced the halls of
finance and I’ve raced the halls of
finance and I’ve raced the halls of Harvard and yeah I I had opportunity to
Harvard and yeah I I had opportunity to
Harvard and yeah I I had opportunity to work at the White House for the first
work at the White House for the first
work at the White House for the first black president of the United States of
black president of the United States of
black president of the United States of America President Barack Obama
you may be thinking what what do i
you may be thinking what what do i atribute the success outside of the
atribute the success outside of the
atribute the success outside of the grace of God it was the power of that
grace of God it was the power of that
grace of God it was the power of that mission it was the power of that mission
mission it was the power of that mission
mission it was the power of that mission see in this life you can’t thrive
see in this life you can’t thrive
see in this life you can’t thrive without mission you can’t survive but
without mission you can’t survive but
without mission you can’t survive but you can’t thrive companies companies
you can’t thrive companies companies
you can’t thrive companies companies they can’t thrive really thrive without
they can’t thrive really thrive without
they can’t thrive really thrive without mission they can survive but not thrive
mission they can survive but not thrive
mission they can survive but not thrive even as some of our in our relationships
even as some of our in our relationships
even as some of our in our relationships romantic ones especially right yummy
romantic ones especially right yummy
romantic ones especially right yummy you’ve been there right you can’t thrive
you’ve been there right you can’t thrive
you’ve been there right you can’t thrive without mission you can survive but not
without mission you can survive but not
without mission you can survive but not see we spend all this time and
see we spend all this time and
see we spend all this time and organizations building these great
organizations building these great
organizations building these great mission and vision statements spend
mission and vision statements spend
mission and vision statements spend millions of dollars and it’s nothing
millions of dollars and it’s nothing
millions of dollars and it’s nothing wrong with that
wrong with that
wrong with that but at the same time and all this
but at the same time and all this
but at the same time and all this activity the very people who are
activity the very people who are
activity the very people who are creating these missions these lofty
creating these missions these lofty
creating these missions these lofty things for these great organizations
things for these great organizations
things for these great organizations forget about having a mission for
forget about having a mission for
forget about having a mission for themselves asking a question what am I
themselves asking a question what am I
themselves asking a question what am I here for what am i to accomplish what am
here for what am i to accomplish what am
here for what am i to accomplish what am I to do and more importantly what was an
I to do and more importantly what was an
I to do and more importantly what was an in the next generation believe in see I
in the next generation believe in see I
in the next generation believe in see I believe that when you have corporate
believe that when you have corporate
believe that when you have corporate mission aligns with individual mission
mission aligns with individual mission
mission aligns with individual mission that equals mission plus mission and
that equals mission plus mission and
that equals mission plus mission and mission plus mission equals cult mission
mission plus mission equals cult mission
mission plus mission equals cult mission and when you have cold mission it will
and when you have cold mission it will
and when you have cold mission it will put you into position and when you are
put you into position and when you are
put you into position and when you are in position now you can create anything
in position now you can create anything
in position now you can create anything and put it into fruition Kol mission
and put it into fruition Kol mission
and put it into fruition Kol mission will put you in a position to make
will put you in a position to make
will put you in a position to make things into fruition
I am as I think back now over my life I
I am as I think back now over my life I think about this little girl that’s my
think about this little girl that’s my
think about this little girl that’s my daughter and one day she’s going to ask
daughter and one day she’s going to ask
daughter and one day she’s going to ask her dad that what am I supposed to do
her dad that what am I supposed to do
her dad that what am I supposed to do what’s what’s why am I here what’s my
what’s what’s why am I here what’s my
what’s what’s why am I here what’s my life supposed to be about and I’m going
life supposed to be about and I’m going
life supposed to be about and I’m going to be able to look at her and I’m gonna
to be able to look at her and I’m gonna
to be able to look at her and I’m gonna say to you the same thing I’m going to
say to you the same thing I’m going to
say to you the same thing I’m going to say to her I’m gonna say I pledge
say to her I’m gonna say I pledge
say to her I’m gonna say I pledge allegiance to your success and I pledge
allegiance to your success and I pledge
allegiance to your success and I pledge allegiance that you will do your very
”
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