[Applause] apparently I was at boarding school in
apparently I was at boarding school in
apparently I was at boarding school in England and this is what they hope I
England and this is what they hope I
England and this is what they hope I turn into the reality was a little
turn into the reality was a little
turn into the reality was a little different if you look to the far right
different if you look to the far right
different if you look to the far right that’s me with the red circle that was
that’s me with the red circle that was
that’s me with the red circle that was reality of boarding school in England
reality of boarding school in England
reality of boarding school in England there’s more like Lord of the Flies than
there’s more like Lord of the Flies than
there’s more like Lord of the Flies than gentlemen’s tennis you have three sports
gentlemen’s tennis you have three sports
gentlemen’s tennis you have three sports every year to choose to play it’s
every year to choose to play it’s
every year to choose to play it’s football cricket and field hockey so
football cricket and field hockey so
football cricket and field hockey so doing what they call spring term and
doing what they call spring term and
doing what they call spring term and spring is January through March you can
spring is January through March you can
spring is January through March you can imagine springtime in London cold rain
imagine springtime in London cold rain
imagine springtime in London cold rain cold fog cold mud it’s not very springy
cold fog cold mud it’s not very springy
cold fog cold mud it’s not very springy we were told to go out and play field
we were told to go out and play field
we were told to go out and play field hockey so we did I played it a couple
hockey so we did I played it a couple
hockey so we did I played it a couple times and I thought I was getting into
times and I thought I was getting into
times and I thought I was getting into this this is the reality of field hockey
this this is the reality of field hockey
this this is the reality of field hockey in England needless to say I wasn’t very
in England needless to say I wasn’t very
in England needless to say I wasn’t very motivated to stay out very long so I
motivated to stay out very long so I
motivated to stay out very long so I took up fencing not this kind this kind
took up fencing not this kind this kind
took up fencing not this kind this kind and I’ll come back to it and it’s
and I’ll come back to it and it’s
and I’ll come back to it and it’s interesting story i fenced here 20 years
interesting story i fenced here 20 years
interesting story i fenced here 20 years ago at the Helms Olympic bakery so it’s
ago at the Helms Olympic bakery so it’s
ago at the Helms Olympic bakery so it’s very easy to come back full circle here
very easy to come back full circle here
very easy to come back full circle here and be here in this wonderful place so
and be here in this wonderful place so
and be here in this wonderful place so for me fencing is my constant to say
for me fencing is my constant to say
for me fencing is my constant to say it’s a central and focal point of my
it’s a central and focal point of my
it’s a central and focal point of my life and it’s something that I’ve always
life and it’s something that I’ve always
life and it’s something that I’ve always been very determined to do and a little
been very determined to do and a little
been very determined to do and a little bit about what I’ve learned as a leader
bit about what I’ve learned as a leader
bit about what I’ve learned as a leader between motivation and determination for
between motivation and determination for
between motivation and determination for me largely motivation is a state of mind
me largely motivation is a state of mind
me largely motivation is a state of mind its emotive and expressive that’s why
its emotive and expressive that’s why
its emotive and expressive that’s why you’ve got great motivational speakers
you’ve got great motivational speakers
you’ve got great motivational speakers right all those posters I googled
right all those posters I googled
right all those posters I googled motivational speaking and all this came
motivational speaking and all this came
motivational speaking and all this came up determination is something internal
up determination is something internal
up determination is something internal and deeply personal haven’t heard of a
and deeply personal haven’t heard of a
and deeply personal haven’t heard of a determination on speaker yet but maybe
determination on speaker yet but maybe
determination on speaker yet but maybe someday somebody will create one I want
someday somebody will create one I want
someday somebody will create one I want to share a quote that I found very
to share a quote that I found very
to share a quote that I found very useful from John Lewis in his book
useful from John Lewis in his book
useful from John Lewis in his book walking with the wind some people like
walking with the wind some people like
walking with the wind some people like firecrackers kind of that that
firecrackers kind of that that
firecrackers kind of that that motivational type they come in to make a
motivational type they come in to make a
motivational type they come in to make a lot of noise and they leave a lot of
lot of noise and they leave a lot of
lot of noise and they leave a lot of ashes John Lewis went on to say I prefer
ashes John Lewis went on to say I prefer
ashes John Lewis went on to say I prefer a pilot light it’s nothing fancy but
a pilot light it’s nothing fancy but
a pilot light it’s nothing fancy but when it’s on it’s always lit it doesn’t
when it’s on it’s always lit it doesn’t
when it’s on it’s always lit it doesn’t go out
go out
go out so that really resonated with me and I
so that really resonated with me and I
so that really resonated with me and I researched a little bit more about John
researched a little bit more about John
researched a little bit more about John Lewis and I found two very moving
Lewis and I found two very moving
Lewis and I found two very moving pictures from him here he is in 1965 at
pictures from him here he is in 1965 at
pictures from him here he is in 1965 at the front of the march to Selma for a
the front of the march to Selma for a
the front of the march to Selma for a cause he believes in and here he is 51
cause he believes in and here he is 51
cause he believes in and here he is 51 years later sitting in for a cause he
years later sitting in for a cause he
years later sitting in for a cause he believes in imagine what his pilot light
believes in imagine what his pilot light
believes in imagine what his pilot light is like and how that still burns
is like and how that still burns
is like and how that still burns brightly and inspires others we all have
brightly and inspires others we all have
brightly and inspires others we all have that inside of us I’m going to share
that inside of us I’m going to share
that inside of us I’m going to share another story coming back to the fencing
another story coming back to the fencing
another story coming back to the fencing world and this is a person person who I
world and this is a person person who I
world and this is a person person who I compete with continuously we trained
compete with continuously we trained
compete with continuously we trained together Gerrard Moreno and Gerrard was
together Gerrard Moreno and Gerrard was
together Gerrard Moreno and Gerrard was a high school standout athletes in 1981
a high school standout athletes in 1981
a high school standout athletes in 1981 while he was protecting his family from
while he was protecting his family from
while he was protecting his family from a robbery he was shot point-blank in the
a robbery he was shot point-blank in the
a robbery he was shot point-blank in the chest
chest
chest when Gerrard woke up later he realized
when Gerrard woke up later he realized
when Gerrard woke up later he realized that he was paralyzed from the waist
that he was paralyzed from the waist
that he was paralyzed from the waist down and part of his right lung was
down and part of his right lung was
down and part of his right lung was missing after I can only imagine was a
missing after I can only imagine was a
missing after I can only imagine was a very dark and lonely time Sherrod
very dark and lonely time Sherrod
very dark and lonely time Sherrod decided to live his life on his own
decided to live his life on his own
decided to live his life on his own terms
terms
terms he started downhill skiing downhill
he started downhill skiing downhill
he started downhill skiing downhill racing scuba diving he rediscovered the
racing scuba diving he rediscovered the
racing scuba diving he rediscovered the sport of fencing started his own company
sport of fencing started his own company
sport of fencing started his own company and launched a nonprofit to help
and launched a nonprofit to help
and launched a nonprofit to help wheelchair athletes get more exposure
wheelchair athletes get more exposure
wheelchair athletes get more exposure determination this is where I trained
determination this is where I trained
determination this is where I trained laif see this is we move to the west
laif see this is we move to the west
laif see this is we move to the west side once this place closed down you can
side once this place closed down you can
side once this place closed down you can see it’s a big club lots of space lots
see it’s a big club lots of space lots
see it’s a big club lots of space lots of strips to choose from I can pretty
of strips to choose from I can pretty
of strips to choose from I can pretty much offense wherever I want if one air
much offense wherever I want if one air
much offense wherever I want if one air is crowded I go to the other side this
is crowded I go to the other side this
is crowded I go to the other side this is where Gerrard trains and trains and
is where Gerrard trains and trains and
is where Gerrard trains and trains and trains Gerrard changed so much that it
trains Gerrard changed so much that it
trains Gerrard changed so much that it took him to four Paralympic Games and
took him to four Paralympic Games and
took him to four Paralympic Games and five World Championships what I learned
five World Championships what I learned
five World Championships what I learned from Gerrard is that the right kind of
from Gerrard is that the right kind of
from Gerrard is that the right kind of motivation will strengthen your
motivation will strengthen your
motivation will strengthen your determination so as a result of changing
determination so as a result of changing
determination so as a result of changing with Gerrard I set my mind that I’m
with Gerrard I set my mind that I’m
with Gerrard I set my mind that I’m going to compete at the veteran World
going to compete at the veteran World
going to compete at the veteran World Championships first I have to make the
Championships first I have to make the
Championships first I have to make the team so in addition to fencing I also
team so in addition to fencing I also
team so in addition to fencing I also run and then when I turned 40 I ran a
run and then when I turned 40 I ran a
run and then when I turned 40 I ran a marathon great feeling and I don’t know
marathon great feeling and I don’t know
marathon great feeling and I don’t know if it was the lack of oxygen or
if it was the lack of oxygen or
if it was the lack of oxygen or something got to my brain I just said
something got to my brain I just said
something got to my brain I just said I’m going to
I’m going to
I’m going to ten before I turned 50 I was very
ten before I turned 50 I was very
ten before I turned 50 I was very motivated to do that after I ran my
motivated to do that after I ran my
motivated to do that after I ran my seventh and crossing that finish line
seventh and crossing that finish line
seventh and crossing that finish line with both my brothers and having our
with both my brothers and having our
with both my brothers and having our parents welcomed us with this sign my
parents welcomed us with this sign my
parents welcomed us with this sign my father’s very clever with words you’ll
father’s very clever with words you’ll
father’s very clever with words you’ll see and that desire was gone
see and that desire was gone
see and that desire was gone III no longer want to run marathons I
III no longer want to run marathons I
III no longer want to run marathons I said this was a moment it’s not gonna
said this was a moment it’s not gonna
said this was a moment it’s not gonna get any better than this I stopped so
get any better than this I stopped so
get any better than this I stopped so what’s next go back to fencing
what’s next go back to fencing
what’s next go back to fencing I found that discovering an inner drive
I found that discovering an inner drive
I found that discovering an inner drive and matching it with real-world
and matching it with real-world
and matching it with real-world activities and requires time and
activities and requires time and
activities and requires time and commitment and I wasn’t putting the time
commitment and I wasn’t putting the time
commitment and I wasn’t putting the time and commitment to run marathons and I
and commitment to run marathons and I
and commitment to run marathons and I want to go back to something that I was
want to go back to something that I was
want to go back to something that I was I was good at go back and play to my
I was good at go back and play to my
I was good at go back and play to my strengths so as part of a plan and part
strengths so as part of a plan and part
strengths so as part of a plan and part of chaining with Gerard was basically
of chaining with Gerard was basically
of chaining with Gerard was basically with a national championship on route to
with a national championship on route to
with a national championship on route to getting to the World Championship and
getting to the World Championship and
getting to the World Championship and it’s a little fuzzy there bad scam but
it’s a little fuzzy there bad scam but
it’s a little fuzzy there bad scam but anyway that was my plan one of several
anyway that was my plan one of several
anyway that was my plan one of several plans a year over year I put together
plans a year over year I put together
plans a year over year I put together I’m injured here I’m healthy here this
I’m injured here I’m healthy here this
I’m injured here I’m healthy here this works this doesn’t work and I just I
works this doesn’t work and I just I
works this doesn’t work and I just I just kept at it every year what I
just kept at it every year what I
just kept at it every year what I learned is that you have to set your
learned is that you have to set your
learned is that you have to set your intent you have to know what motivates
intent you have to know what motivates
intent you have to know what motivates you you have to understand your
you you have to understand your
you you have to understand your determination know why you’re doing it
determination know why you’re doing it
determination know why you’re doing it in the first place
in the first place
in the first place and then for me the link between the two
and then for me the link between the two
and then for me the link between the two is discipline this opinion is your link
is discipline this opinion is your link
is discipline this opinion is your link between motivation and determination
between motivation and determination
between motivation and determination because again discipline is emotional
because again discipline is emotional
because again discipline is emotional and determination is a set of mind if
and determination is a set of mind if
and determination is a set of mind if you set your mind to it then you can
you set your mind to it then you can
you set your mind to it then you can move forward these are the three things
move forward these are the three things
move forward these are the three things I can control every morning when I get
I can control every morning when I get
I can control every morning when I get up my mindset my energy and the time
up my mindset my energy and the time
up my mindset my energy and the time that I get up so that was part of my
that I get up so that was part of my
that I get up so that was part of my plan I went from getting up at 7:00 in
plan I went from getting up at 7:00 in
plan I went from getting up at 7:00 in the morning to 5:30 in the morning
the morning to 5:30 in the morning
the morning to 5:30 in the morning day after day month after month maybe
day after day month after month maybe
day after day month after month maybe not on Sundays I built a support team
not on Sundays I built a support team
not on Sundays I built a support team I became accountable to this support
I became accountable to this support
I became accountable to this support team and I shared my progress so my
team and I shared my progress so my
team and I shared my progress so my support team considered my mentor sports
support team considered my mentor sports
support team considered my mentor sports doctor my coach Okawa like care for him
doctor my coach Okawa like care for him
doctor my coach Okawa like care for him greatly great man
greatly great man
greatly great man my fencing club the CEO group I belong
my fencing club the CEO group I belong
my fencing club the CEO group I belong to my family and my spouse I said my a
to my family and my spouse I said my a
to my family and my spouse I said my a lot because I own the experience it was
lot because I own the experience it was
lot because I own the experience it was my ownership I’m a
my ownership I’m a
my ownership I’m a accountable to these people and talking
accountable to these people and talking
accountable to these people and talking about motivation determination I just
about motivation determination I just
about motivation determination I just want to give a quick shout out to the
want to give a quick shout out to the
want to give a quick shout out to the American sensors that are going to Rio
American sensors that are going to Rio
American sensors that are going to Rio next week imagine putting everything on
next week imagine putting everything on
next week imagine putting everything on hold for one day
hold for one day
hold for one day that’s determination that’s motivation
that’s determination that’s motivation
that’s determination that’s motivation that’s accountability and I just want to
that’s accountability and I just want to
that’s accountability and I just want to wish them the best and I’m actually
wish them the best and I’m actually
wish them the best and I’m actually going there to watch them fence in a
going there to watch them fence in a
going there to watch them fence in a couple of days so one of those items
couple of days so one of those items
couple of days so one of those items that if you’re determined go and support
that if you’re determined go and support
that if you’re determined go and support people that take you along their journey
people that take you along their journey
people that take you along their journey with them so for me it took a few more
with them so for me it took a few more
with them so for me it took a few more than it took more than a few attempts to
than it took more than a few attempts to
than it took more than a few attempts to to get to this national championship
to get to this national championship
to get to this national championship from 2009 to 2014 I went to every single
from 2009 to 2014 I went to every single
from 2009 to 2014 I went to every single major tournament for the over 50 I fence
major tournament for the over 50 I fence
major tournament for the over 50 I fence in every single national championship I
in every single national championship I
in every single national championship I went from a low of 17 to a high of
went from a low of 17 to a high of
went from a low of 17 to a high of second a couple of times and my pilot
second a couple of times and my pilot
second a couple of times and my pilot light was on I just kept going I just
light was on I just kept going I just
light was on I just kept going I just kept going I was determined what the
kept going I was determined what the
kept going I was determined what the lessons learned was basically accept and
lessons learned was basically accept and
lessons learned was basically accept and grow from your losses be determined just
grow from your losses be determined just
grow from your losses be determined just as determined the next time because for
as determined the next time because for
as determined the next time because for as long as you’re in there game in the
as long as you’re in there game in the
as long as you’re in there game in the game there’s always the next time so
game there’s always the next time so
game there’s always the next time so it’s July 1st 2015
it’s July 1st 2015
it’s July 1st 2015 I’ve made it to the gold medal bout it’s
I’ve made it to the gold medal bout it’s
I’ve made it to the gold medal bout it’s a big opponent he had just taken fifth
a big opponent he had just taken fifth
a big opponent he had just taken fifth in the World Championships where I had
in the World Championships where I had
in the World Championships where I had flamed out and taken 33rd and that World
flamed out and taken 33rd and that World
flamed out and taken 33rd and that World Championships that year and that gold
Championships that year and that gold
Championships that year and that gold medal bout in fencing you go to ten
medal bout in fencing you go to ten
medal bout in fencing you go to ten touches so I’m up for two two I blink
touches so I’m up for two two I blink
touches so I’m up for two two I blink I’m down six four at the break I’m down
I’m down six four at the break I’m down
I’m down six four at the break I’m down 86 so coach comes over says what’s going
86 so coach comes over says what’s going
86 so coach comes over says what’s going on where’s your mindset I that
on where’s your mindset I that
on where’s your mindset I that motivation was leaving me and I felt
motivation was leaving me and I felt
motivation was leaving me and I felt okay this is the time to come determined
okay this is the time to come determined
okay this is the time to come determined I’m gonna be determined more than
I’m gonna be determined more than
I’m gonna be determined more than motivated I tied the score at eight all
motivated I tied the score at eight all
motivated I tied the score at eight all he went up nine eight and I said this is
he went up nine eight and I said this is
he went up nine eight and I said this is it this is that moment that we all look
it this is that moment that we all look
it this is that moment that we all look for it’s not the Olympics it’s the over
for it’s not the Olympics it’s the over
for it’s not the Olympics it’s the over 50 national championships it’s 10:30 at
50 national championships it’s 10:30 at
50 national championships it’s 10:30 at night we start at 4:00 in the afternoon
night we start at 4:00 in the afternoon
night we start at 4:00 in the afternoon it’s probably 20 people watching us but
it’s probably 20 people watching us but
it’s probably 20 people watching us but it’s that moment that mattered we’ve all
it’s that moment that mattered we’ve all
it’s that moment that mattered we’ve all been there right so what happened next
been there right so what happened next
been there right so what happened next was I launched an attack at the attacker
was I launched an attack at the attacker
was I launched an attack at the attacker because I knew he’s an aggressive fencer
because I knew he’s an aggressive fencer
because I knew he’s an aggressive fencer he’s bigger than me tied the score up at
he’s bigger than me tied the score up at
he’s bigger than me tied the score up at 9 off
here’s the final touch it was over
here’s the final touch it was over Demitri me back needle dancing lesson
Demitri me back needle dancing lesson
Demitri me back needle dancing lesson for me next time but that’s all that
for me next time but that’s all that
for me next time but that’s all that mattered was that moment ten nine
mattered was that moment ten nine
mattered was that moment ten nine I was national championship champion
I was national championship champion
I was national championship champion finally what did I learn from that
finally what did I learn from that
finally what did I learn from that experience celebrate your wins and build
experience celebrate your wins and build
experience celebrate your wins and build on your wins good feeling huh not the
on your wins good feeling huh not the
on your wins good feeling huh not the same tournament but a great feeling and
same tournament but a great feeling and
same tournament but a great feeling and since there Nike shoes I think it’s got
since there Nike shoes I think it’s got
since there Nike shoes I think it’s got to be the shoes so basically build on
to be the shoes so basically build on
to be the shoes so basically build on your wins express gratitude recognize
your wins express gratitude recognize
your wins express gratitude recognize and thank those who have been with you
and thank those who have been with you
and thank those who have been with you along the journey when you’re motivated
along the journey when you’re motivated
along the journey when you’re motivated others are along for the ride when
others are along for the ride when
others are along for the ride when you’re determined they share the journey
you’re determined they share the journey
you’re determined they share the journey with you so the next year my parents we
with you so the next year my parents we
with you so the next year my parents we were in Hungary and there was my brother
were in Hungary and there was my brother
were in Hungary and there was my brother again and my wife took the picture she’s
again and my wife took the picture she’s
again and my wife took the picture she’s a great photographer that’s why she’s
a great photographer that’s why she’s
a great photographer that’s why she’s not in there in everything and we shared
not in there in everything and we shared
not in there in everything and we shared that journey together too in Hungary
that journey together too in Hungary
that journey together too in Hungary just a special moment so bring others
just a special moment so bring others
just a special moment so bring others along the journey with you and lastly
along the journey with you and lastly
along the journey with you and lastly imagine where the road less traveled
imagine where the road less traveled
imagine where the road less traveled will take you when you are determined
will take you when you are determined
will take you when you are determined and have the discipline thank you very
and have the discipline thank you very
and have the discipline thank you very much
”
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