I want to talk to you about the most important time in your life and that is
important time in your life and that is
important time in your life and that is right now right now this very moment I
right now right now this very moment I
right now right now this very moment I want you to understand the power of now
want you to understand the power of now
want you to understand the power of now how recognizing now moments in your life
how recognizing now moments in your life
how recognizing now moments in your life can change your life me learning the
can change your life me learning the
can change your life me learning the power of now has helped me get through
power of now has helped me get through
power of now has helped me get through some of life’s most difficult periods so
some of life’s most difficult periods so
some of life’s most difficult periods so I’m just gonna jump in and tell you my
I’m just gonna jump in and tell you my
I’m just gonna jump in and tell you my story I started my career I graduated
story I started my career I graduated
story I started my career I graduated from Morgan State University with a
from Morgan State University with a
from Morgan State University with a degree in communications and a desire to
degree in communications and a desire to
degree in communications and a desire to conquer the world of entertainment
conquer the world of entertainment
conquer the world of entertainment I took an unpaid internship and hustled
I took an unpaid internship and hustled
I took an unpaid internship and hustled my way to the position of music director
my way to the position of music director
my way to the position of music director of the radio station a music director
of the radio station a music director
of the radio station a music director gets to pick the music for the radio
gets to pick the music for the radio
gets to pick the music for the radio station and it’s a cool job you get lots
station and it’s a cool job you get lots
station and it’s a cool job you get lots of free stuff you get free music free
of free stuff you get free music free
of free stuff you get free music free concert tickets free lunches it’s a
concert tickets free lunches it’s a
concert tickets free lunches it’s a great job the next step in line after
great job the next step in line after
great job the next step in line after you become music director is to be
you become music director is to be
you become music director is to be assistant program director and then
assistant program director and then
assistant program director and then eventually program director where you’re
eventually program director where you’re
eventually program director where you’re running the station now meet me a music
running the station now meet me a music
running the station now meet me a music director I was next in line so in the
director I was next in line so in the
director I was next in line so in the position for assistant program director
position for assistant program director
position for assistant program director opened up my enters mutual aid I was
opened up my enters mutual aid I was
opened up my enters mutual aid I was excited I knew I had that job in the bag
excited I knew I had that job in the bag
excited I knew I had that job in the bag and I didn’t get it I thought my
and I didn’t get it I thought my
and I didn’t get it I thought my interview was a technicality but I
interview was a technicality but I
interview was a technicality but I didn’t get it the job went to an
didn’t get it the job went to an
didn’t get it the job went to an assistant who was in my department so
assistant who was in my department so
assistant who was in my department so someone was promoted over me into that
someone was promoted over me into that
someone was promoted over me into that position and I took it felt a little
position and I took it felt a little
position and I took it felt a little kind of way about it but I said you know
kind of way about it but I said you know
kind of way about it but I said you know I brush it off you know in time that
I brush it off you know in time that
I brush it off you know in time that position will open up again and I’ll
position will open up again and I’ll
position will open up again and I’ll ready and go down the road the position
ready and go down the road the position
ready and go down the road the position opened up again and this time I knew I
opened up again and this time I knew I
opened up again and this time I knew I had it in the bag see because I had
had it in the bag see because I had
had it in the bag see because I had relationships I had experience I had to
relationships I had experience I had to
relationships I had experience I had to know how I knew that job inside and out
know how I knew that job inside and out
know how I knew that job inside and out I was read baby and do you know what
I was read baby and do you know what
I was read baby and do you know what happened again that was twice someone
happened again that was twice someone
happened again that was twice someone was true and the best part was the
was true and the best part was the
was true and the best part was the person who got the job was an assistant
person who got the job was an assistant
person who got the job was an assistant who was promoted over me again that’s
who was promoted over me again that’s
who was promoted over me again that’s twice that’s two times that was passed
twice that’s two times that was passed
twice that’s two times that was passed over for a job by an assistant someone
over for a job by an assistant someone
over for a job by an assistant someone who was beneath me passed over for a
who was beneath me passed over for a
who was beneath me passed over for a promotion now I’m mad I’m upset and I’m
promotion now I’m mad I’m upset and I’m
promotion now I’m mad I’m upset and I’m hurt quite frankly like what’s wrong
hurt quite frankly like what’s wrong
hurt quite frankly like what’s wrong with me why am I not getting this
with me why am I not getting this
with me why am I not getting this promotion why am I being passed over
promotion why am I being passed over
promotion why am I being passed over constantly am i wack I’m starting to
constantly am i wack I’m starting to
constantly am i wack I’m starting to question myself and doubt myself and I
question myself and doubt myself and I
question myself and doubt myself and I got so mad I decided you know what I’ve
got so mad I decided you know what I’ve
got so mad I decided you know what I’ve had enough I decided I was gonna tell
had enough I decided I was gonna tell
had enough I decided I was gonna tell off my boss I was gonna tell him how I
off my boss I was gonna tell him how I
off my boss I was gonna tell him how I felt I wasn’t gonna watch into his
felt I wasn’t gonna watch into his
felt I wasn’t gonna watch into his office and tell him where to go and how
office and tell him where to go and how
office and tell him where to go and how to get there so the day I decide I’m
to get there so the day I decide I’m
to get there so the day I decide I’m gonna have this big confrontation right
gonna have this big confrontation right
gonna have this big confrontation right I get ready I’m marching out of halters
I get ready I’m marching out of halters
I get ready I’m marching out of halters office it’s a hip-hop station so I’m
office it’s a hip-hop station so I’m
office it’s a hip-hop station so I’m walking like this
and as I’m walking down the hallway
and as I’m walking down the hallway something fateful happened next to my
something fateful happened next to my
something fateful happened next to my boss’s office was another programmer who
boss’s office was another programmer who
boss’s office was another programmer who had become a bit of a mentor to me and
had become a bit of a mentor to me and
had become a bit of a mentor to me and she saw that I was upset she called me
she saw that I was upset she called me
she saw that I was upset she called me into her office and asked me what was
into her office and asked me what was
into her office and asked me what was wrong and of course you know when you
wrong and of course you know when you
wrong and of course you know when you feel you’ve been wronged you have to
feel you’ve been wronged you have to
feel you’ve been wronged you have to tell everybody so I tell him my story
tell everybody so I tell him my story
tell everybody so I tell him my story and after a while she listens to me
and after a while she listens to me
and after a while she listens to me and she asked me the question but do you
and she asked me the question but do you
and she asked me the question but do you want to be program director is that what
want to be program director is that what
want to be program director is that what you want is that what you really want to
you want is that what you really want to
you want is that what you really want to be a program director my answer was that
be a program director my answer was that
be a program director my answer was that silence you just heard I couldn’t answer
silence you just heard I couldn’t answer
silence you just heard I couldn’t answer the question
the question
the question I was stuck and then she pushed me
I was stuck and then she pushed me
I was stuck and then she pushed me further she said but since you can’t
further she said but since you can’t
further she said but since you can’t answer the question what do you want
answer the question what do you want
answer the question what do you want right now what is it that you want right
right now what is it that you want right
right now what is it that you want right now more than anything if you could be
now more than anything if you could be
now more than anything if you could be in the position that you wanted to be
in the position that you wanted to be
in the position that you wanted to be doing your dream job fulfilling what you
doing your dream job fulfilling what you
doing your dream job fulfilling what you think is your destiny right now what
think is your destiny right now what
think is your destiny right now what would you be doing and when I thought
would you be doing and when I thought
would you be doing and when I thought about it my answer was I think I want to
about it my answer was I think I want to
about it my answer was I think I want to be in comedy I think I want my own
be in comedy I think I want my own
be in comedy I think I want my own television show I’d like to be able to
television show I’d like to be able to
television show I’d like to be able to national stage I’d like to have my face
national stage I’d like to have my face
national stage I’d like to have my face on the side of a bus I want to be famous
on the side of a bus I want to be famous
on the side of a bus I want to be famous and none of those answers had anything
and none of those answers had anything
and none of those answers had anything to do with being a program director none
to do with being a program director none
to do with being a program director none of those answers had anything to do with
of those answers had anything to do with
of those answers had anything to do with even being in Baltimore but here I was
even being in Baltimore but here I was
even being in Baltimore but here I was ready to cuss up my boss and quit my job
ready to cuss up my boss and quit my job
ready to cuss up my boss and quit my job over being passed over for a promotion
over being passed over for a promotion
over being passed over for a promotion that I didn’t even want because I never
that I didn’t even want because I never
that I didn’t even want because I never asked myself what do I want right now
asked myself what do I want right now
asked myself what do I want right now and how many of us go through life just
and how many of us go through life just
and how many of us go through life just doing things because that’s what’s
doing things because that’s what’s
doing things because that’s what’s expected of us you stay in relationships
expected of us you stay in relationships
expected of us you stay in relationships he’s staying jobs for periods of time
he’s staying jobs for periods of time
he’s staying jobs for periods of time and if you find out later on that’s not
and if you find out later on that’s not
and if you find out later on that’s not even what she wanted he just did it cuz
even what she wanted he just did it cuz
even what she wanted he just did it cuz that was that’s what was expected of you
that was that’s what was expected of you
that was that’s what was expected of you and that’s when I learned about the
and that’s when I learned about the
and that’s when I learned about the power of asking myself what do you want
power of asking myself what do you want
power of asking myself what do you want right now and once I realized that and I
right now and once I realized that and I
right now and once I realized that and I started operating even now then I could
started operating even now then I could
started operating even now then I could actually work towards the things that I
actually work towards the things that I
actually work towards the things that I actually wanted and I never had that
actually wanted and I never had that
actually wanted and I never had that conversation with my boss I went back to
conversation with my boss I went back to
conversation with my boss I went back to work actually grateful I was grateful
work actually grateful I was grateful
work actually grateful I was grateful because I was in a position where I had
because I was in a position where I had
because I was in a position where I had access to all of the things that I
access to all of the things that I
access to all of the things that I wanted to do so I started doing comedy
wanted to do so I started doing comedy
wanted to do so I started doing comedy on the weekends and I started producing
on the weekends and I started producing
on the weekends and I started producing TV shows locally and hosting cable
TV shows locally and hosting cable
TV shows locally and hosting cable access and doing all the things that I
access and doing all the things that I
access and doing all the things that I wanted to do and enjoying the now
wanted to do and enjoying the now
wanted to do and enjoying the now moments of my life in this incredible
moments of my life in this incredible
moments of my life in this incredible position I had been placed in and a year
position I had been placed in and a year
position I had been placed in and a year later I was still in that job when I got
later I was still in that job when I got
later I was still in that job when I got a call from MTV and they asked me if I
a call from MTV and they asked me if I
a call from MTV and they asked me if I would consider interviewing for a
would consider interviewing for a
would consider interviewing for a position in their programming department
position in their programming department
position in their programming department when I interviewed with them and I got
when I interviewed with them and I got
when I interviewed with them and I got that job and that job moved me to New
that job and that job moved me to New
that job and that job moved me to New York and it changed my life but I never
York and it changed my life but I never
York and it changed my life but I never forgot about asking myself what do you
forgot about asking myself what do you
forgot about asking myself what do you want right now and so I was able to come
want right now and so I was able to come
want right now and so I was able to come into work every day understanding how
into work every day understanding how
into work every day understanding how blessed I was and I had an amazing time
blessed I was and I had an amazing time
blessed I was and I had an amazing time I created some incredible programming I
I created some incredible programming I
I created some incredible programming I launched the network I hosted a
launched the network I hosted a
launched the network I hosted a television show I created so much great
television show I created so much great
television show I created so much great programming people I idolized knew my
programming people I idolized knew my
programming people I idolized knew my name
name
name jay-z knows my name incredible and I was
jay-z knows my name incredible and I was
jay-z knows my name incredible and I was making so much money I was balling y’all
making so much money I was balling y’all
making so much money I was balling y’all ball laying and then about 2008 I lost
ball laying and then about 2008 I lost
ball laying and then about 2008 I lost that job along with millions of other
that job along with millions of other
that job along with millions of other people I lost that job and the power and
people I lost that job and the power and
people I lost that job and the power and understanding now moments really helped
understanding now moments really helped
understanding now moments really helped me get through that period you
me get through that period you
me get through that period you lose a job anybody ever hear relate to
lose a job anybody ever hear relate to
lose a job anybody ever hear relate to losing a job and you have those moments
losing a job and you have those moments
losing a job and you have those moments there’s the past moment where you’re all
there’s the past moment where you’re all
there’s the past moment where you’re all filled with regret you’re like oh my god
filled with regret you’re like oh my god
filled with regret you’re like oh my god I lost my job what did I do wrong why
I lost my job what did I do wrong why
I lost my job what did I do wrong why didn’t they like me why didn’t they keep
didn’t they like me why didn’t they keep
didn’t they like me why didn’t they keep me how did I mess that up what could I
me how did I mess that up what could I
me how did I mess that up what could I have done differently maybe if I had
have done differently maybe if I had
have done differently maybe if I had just taken less lunch breaks or or maybe
just taken less lunch breaks or or maybe
just taken less lunch breaks or or maybe if I had just kissed up to the
if I had just kissed up to the
if I had just kissed up to the receptionist a little bit more but maybe
receptionist a little bit more but maybe
receptionist a little bit more but maybe if I had just kissed one more ass I
if I had just kissed one more ass I
if I had just kissed one more ass I would still have my job or you have that
would still have my job or you have that
would still have my job or you have that anxiety about the future where
anxiety about the future where
anxiety about the future where everything is oh my god I lost my job I
everything is oh my god I lost my job I
everything is oh my god I lost my job I am going to be homeless I’m not gonna be
am going to be homeless I’m not gonna be
am going to be homeless I’m not gonna be able for it to pay my bills I’m not
able for it to pay my bills I’m not
able for it to pay my bills I’m not gonna be able to buy rent my
gonna be able to buy rent my
gonna be able to buy rent my girlfriend’s gonna leave me my
girlfriend’s gonna leave me my
girlfriend’s gonna leave me my boyfriend’s gonna leave me I can’t
boyfriend’s gonna leave me I can’t
boyfriend’s gonna leave me I can’t afford to feed my dog I’m gonna have to
afford to feed my dog I’m gonna have to
afford to feed my dog I’m gonna have to sell my dog you’re just in this place
sell my dog you’re just in this place
sell my dog you’re just in this place where life has you paralyzed because you
where life has you paralyzed because you
where life has you paralyzed because you got the past over here and you’re filled
got the past over here and you’re filled
got the past over here and you’re filled with regret and you have all this
with regret and you have all this
with regret and you have all this anxiety about the future let’s see this
anxiety about the future let’s see this
anxiety about the future let’s see this space right here that’s the DAO space
space right here that’s the DAO space
space right here that’s the DAO space and that’s where you take your power
and that’s where you take your power
and that’s where you take your power back that’s when you realize the most
back that’s when you realize the most
back that’s when you realize the most important things happen in those now
important things happen in those now
important things happen in those now moments of your life what are you gonna
moments of your life what are you gonna
moments of your life what are you gonna do about it right now and when I started
do about it right now and when I started
do about it right now and when I started thinking about that I realized that job
thinking about that I realized that job
thinking about that I realized that job is gone it’s not coming back the future
is gone it’s not coming back the future
is gone it’s not coming back the future I don’t have any control over that but
I don’t have any control over that but
I don’t have any control over that but what I can do right now is update my
what I can do right now is update my
what I can do right now is update my resume and I can start calling friends
resume and I can start calling friends
resume and I can start calling friends and finding out who’s hiring and I can
and finding out who’s hiring and I can
and finding out who’s hiring and I can do that now and I can look at my
do that now and I can look at my
do that now and I can look at my finances and see where’s my money what
finances and see where’s my money what
finances and see where’s my money what do I need to cut back on what do I need
do I need to cut back on what do I need
do I need to cut back on what do I need to stretch to make this last I need to
to stretch to make this last I need to
to stretch to make this last I need to do that right now your mental fortitude
do that right now your mental fortitude
do that right now your mental fortitude is developed in the now moments of your
is developed in the now moments of your
is developed in the now moments of your life so I was able to make it through
life so I was able to make it through
life so I was able to make it through and I got another job
and I got another job
and I got another job and I rolled the corporate wave for five
and I rolled the corporate wave for five
and I rolled the corporate wave for five years and it was great and then in 2015
years and it was great and then in 2015
years and it was great and then in 2015 I found myself on the bad side of a
I found myself on the bad side of a
I found myself on the bad side of a corporate reorganization in other words
corporate reorganization in other words
corporate reorganization in other words laid off so this time the now in my life
laid off so this time the now in my life
laid off so this time the now in my life told me that there was a dream that I
told me that there was a dream that I
told me that there was a dream that I had that I had delayed long enough and I
had that I had delayed long enough and I
had that I had delayed long enough and I decided to move to Hollywood to pursue
decided to move to Hollywood to pursue
decided to move to Hollywood to pursue my comedy which has always been my
my comedy which has always been my
my comedy which has always been my passion comedy and I decided I wasn’t
passion comedy and I decided I wasn’t
passion comedy and I decided I wasn’t going back into corporate America I was
going back into corporate America I was
going back into corporate America I was gonna go to Hollywood and so I gave up
gonna go to Hollywood and so I gave up
gonna go to Hollywood and so I gave up my apartment moved away from my friends
my apartment moved away from my friends
my apartment moved away from my friends left and went to LA and got all my
left and went to LA and got all my
left and went to LA and got all my comedy bride and when I tell you it is
comedy bride and when I tell you it is
comedy bride and when I tell you it is no joke when you go from making six
no joke when you go from making six
no joke when you go from making six figures with an assistant and expense
figures with an assistant and expense
figures with an assistant and expense account to performing in comedy clubs
account to performing in comedy clubs
account to performing in comedy clubs for free and sleeping on people’s
for free and sleeping on people’s
for free and sleeping on people’s couches being broke is some
couches being broke is some
couches being broke is some disrespectful stuff okay but that was my
disrespectful stuff okay but that was my
disrespectful stuff okay but that was my dream but see and I had a and in that
dream but see and I had a and in that
dream but see and I had a and in that year it was that year where you just
year it was that year where you just
year it was that year where you just feel like you’re getting kicked and
feel like you’re getting kicked and
feel like you’re getting kicked and punched and blows from everywhere and
punched and blows from everywhere and
punched and blows from everywhere and personal relationships and friendships
personal relationships and friendships
personal relationships and friendships were blowing up and things are happening
were blowing up and things are happening
were blowing up and things are happening and I had one advantage over my
and I had one advantage over my
and I had one advantage over my colleagues over the years in business I
colleagues over the years in business I
colleagues over the years in business I had access to these beautiful virgin
had access to these beautiful virgin
had access to these beautiful virgin islands so anytime I needed to recharge
islands so anytime I needed to recharge
islands so anytime I needed to recharge or get myself together I could come home
or get myself together I could come home
or get myself together I could come home so I made the decision that I was gonna
so I made the decision that I was gonna
so I made the decision that I was gonna come home from money and kind of just
come home from money and kind of just
come home from money and kind of just figure myself out and so when I was home
figure myself out and so when I was home
figure myself out and so when I was home I started to have these feelings these
I started to have these feelings these
I started to have these feelings these feelings of regret these feelings of
feelings of regret these feelings of
feelings of regret these feelings of maybe I’d fail wasn’t gonna make it was
maybe I’d fail wasn’t gonna make it was
maybe I’d fail wasn’t gonna make it was I good enough to make it in Hollywood
I good enough to make it in Hollywood
I good enough to make it in Hollywood what were people gonna think if I even
what were people gonna think if I even
what were people gonna think if I even left and stepped away from the comedy
left and stepped away from the comedy
left and stepped away from the comedy scene even for a month with that
scene even for a month with that
scene even for a month with that sacrifice killed my dream and then I
sacrifice killed my dream and then I
sacrifice killed my dream and then I started thinking about the now again
started thinking about the now again
started thinking about the now again and the thing about the power and the
and the thing about the power and the
and the thing about the power and the purpose of now is it forces you to sit
purpose of now is it forces you to sit
purpose of now is it forces you to sit in your stuff and deal with the choices
in your stuff and deal with the choices
in your stuff and deal with the choices that puts you in the situation that you
that puts you in the situation that you
that puts you in the situation that you are in versus hiding from it you know a
are in versus hiding from it you know a
are in versus hiding from it you know a lot of people will do anything to avoid
lot of people will do anything to avoid
lot of people will do anything to avoid something that they need to do right now
something that they need to do right now
something that they need to do right now they’ll do anything but once you’ve
they’ll do anything but once you’ve
they’ll do anything but once you’ve embraced and now in your life you can
embraced and now in your life you can
embraced and now in your life you can actually understand why certain things
actually understand why certain things
actually understand why certain things are happening and why you’re where you
are happening and why you’re where you
are happening and why you’re where you are why you’re where you are so when I
are why you’re where you are so when I
are why you’re where you are so when I started to think about that now in my
started to think about that now in my
started to think about that now in my life during my month at home it was only
life during my month at home it was only
life during my month at home it was only supposed to be a month I started
supposed to be a month I started
supposed to be a month I started thinking about my family I thought about
thinking about my family I thought about
thinking about my family I thought about how 20 years of pursuing a dream had
how 20 years of pursuing a dream had
how 20 years of pursuing a dream had disconnected me from the people that I
disconnected me from the people that I
disconnected me from the people that I love the most the people who love me the
love the most the people who love me the
love the most the people who love me the most and how much time I had spent away
most and how much time I had spent away
most and how much time I had spent away and how I really didn’t know these
and how I really didn’t know these
and how I really didn’t know these people and they really didn’t know me so
people and they really didn’t know me so
people and they really didn’t know me so instead of brooding about whatever it
instead of brooding about whatever it
instead of brooding about whatever it was I thought I had lost I understood
was I thought I had lost I understood
was I thought I had lost I understood what I had gained family community my
what I had gained family community my
what I had gained family community my people and then I started enjoying being
people and then I started enjoying being
people and then I started enjoying being home and I started taking my nephew to
home and I started taking my nephew to
home and I started taking my nephew to school every day and then I became uncle
school every day and then I became uncle
school every day and then I became uncle butter and uncle buddy is cool as hell
butter and uncle buddy is cool as hell
butter and uncle buddy is cool as hell and then I started working with my mom
and then I started working with my mom
and then I started working with my mom who’s diabetic and we started getting up
who’s diabetic and we started getting up
who’s diabetic and we started getting up in the morning and I made her breakfast
in the morning and I made her breakfast
in the morning and I made her breakfast and took a blood sugar and her blood
and took a blood sugar and her blood
and took a blood sugar and her blood pressure and we had these incredible
pressure and we had these incredible
pressure and we had these incredible moments and these amazing conversations
moments and these amazing conversations
moments and these amazing conversations where she’s gotten to know me as a grown
where she’s gotten to know me as a grown
where she’s gotten to know me as a grown man and not as the kid who went away
man and not as the kid who went away
man and not as the kid who went away many many years ago I understood my
many many years ago I understood my
many many years ago I understood my purpose for being there I needed my
purpose for being there I needed my
purpose for being there I needed my family and they needed me I started
family and they needed me I started
family and they needed me I started reaching out to the community again and
reaching out to the community again and
reaching out to the community again and I started doing comedy shows at home and
I started doing comedy shows at home and
I started doing comedy shows at home and producing them and understood that my
producing them and understood that my
producing them and understood that my passions could translate anywhere here
passions could translate anywhere here
passions could translate anywhere here America and through producing those
America and through producing those
America and through producing those comedy shows
comedy shows
comedy shows I got approached
I got approached
I got approached to do a TEDx talk and now here I am
to do a TEDx talk and now here I am
to do a TEDx talk and now here I am having this now moment with you
having this now moment with you
having this now moment with you everything that I’ve been through has
everything that I’ve been through has
everything that I’ve been through has gotten me right here with you in this
gotten me right here with you in this
gotten me right here with you in this now moment and when I tell you the now
now moment and when I tell you the now
now moment and when I tell you the now moments are where your blessings are
moments are where your blessings are
moments are where your blessings are most of your blessings occur in those
most of your blessings occur in those
most of your blessings occur in those now moments when I wake up in the
now moments when I wake up in the
now moments when I wake up in the morning that’s a blessing that’s a now
morning that’s a blessing that’s a now
morning that’s a blessing that’s a now moment when you can walk talk eat sleep
moment when you can walk talk eat sleep
moment when you can walk talk eat sleep breathe those are now moments when you
breathe those are now moments when you
breathe those are now moments when you can hug your loved ones versus talking
can hug your loved ones versus talking
can hug your loved ones versus talking to them on the phone and texting them
to them on the phone and texting them
to them on the phone and texting them those are now moments don’t let them
those are now moments don’t let them
those are now moments don’t let them pass you by thank you very much
pass you by thank you very much
pass you by thank you very much [Applause]
”
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