tedx the infamous or more famous red carpet right if there’s one thing that I
carpet right if there’s one thing that I
carpet right if there’s one thing that I recognize especially after Sharon got
recognize especially after Sharon got
recognize especially after Sharon got out of here this thing is not equally
out of here this thing is not equally
out of here this thing is not equally proportionate right she’s like five foot
proportionate right she’s like five foot
proportionate right she’s like five foot 120 I’m like 666 320 but I did find out
120 I’m like 666 320 but I did find out
120 I’m like 666 320 but I did find out how to remedy this thing though maybe
how to remedy this thing though maybe
how to remedy this thing though maybe guys one we could have thought about we
guys one we could have thought about we
guys one we could have thought about we thought about increasing the carpet and
thought about increasing the carpet and
thought about increasing the carpet and obviously that’s just not going to
obviously that’s just not going to
obviously that’s just not going to happen so my suggestion was I do have an
happen so my suggestion was I do have an
happen so my suggestion was I do have an allotted amount of time but to make this
allotted amount of time but to make this
allotted amount of time but to make this thing equally proportionate maybe I need
thing equally proportionate maybe I need
thing equally proportionate maybe I need to pick one of you guys out there to
to pick one of you guys out there to
to pick one of you guys out there to tacko or wrestle to give me some more
tacko or wrestle to give me some more
tacko or wrestle to give me some more thigh but guys more than recently in our
thigh but guys more than recently in our
thigh but guys more than recently in our in our national conversation we’ve all
in our national conversation we’ve all
in our national conversation we’ve all heard this thing about the participation
heard this thing about the participation
heard this thing about the participation trophies right you get some people on
trophies right you get some people on
trophies right you get some people on one side saying we shouldn’t give kids
one side saying we shouldn’t give kids
one side saying we shouldn’t give kids participation trophies because it’s not
participation trophies because it’s not
participation trophies because it’s not going to teach them the valuable lessons
going to teach them the valuable lessons
going to teach them the valuable lessons of that side and then you get the other
of that side and then you get the other
of that side and then you get the other side saying well you know what everyone
side saying well you know what everyone
side saying well you know what everyone should get a trophy for the values that
should get a trophy for the values that
should get a trophy for the values that those people on that side hold valuable
those people on that side hold valuable
those people on that side hold valuable and I stand in the middle and I say you
and I stand in the middle and I say you
and I stand in the middle and I say you know what I think there’s another part
know what I think there’s another part
know what I think there’s another part of this because I don’t think that the
of this because I don’t think that the
of this because I don’t think that the ultimate reward actually is a trophy see
ultimate reward actually is a trophy see
ultimate reward actually is a trophy see I honestly believe that the true measure
I honestly believe that the true measure
I honestly believe that the true measure of a man is not how he ends up in his
of a man is not how he ends up in his
of a man is not how he ends up in his journey but the true measure of a man is
journey but the true measure of a man is
journey but the true measure of a man is how he overcomes the obstacles on the
how he overcomes the obstacles on the
how he overcomes the obstacles on the way to that finish line see guys growing
way to that finish line see guys growing
way to that finish line see guys growing up born being born and raised and in
up born being born and raised and in
up born being born and raised and in Youngstown Ohio graduating from
Youngstown Ohio graduating from
Youngstown Ohio graduating from Youngstown Ursuline I did get a little
Youngstown Ursuline I did get a little
Youngstown Ursuline I did get a little bit of athletic prowess by the help of
bit of athletic prowess by the help of
bit of athletic prowess by the help of dick Angle and Rowland Smith and some
dick Angle and Rowland Smith and some
dick Angle and Rowland Smith and some other people that seen some potential in
other people that seen some potential in
other people that seen some potential in me I became a top defensive lineman in
me I became a top defensive lineman in
me I became a top defensive lineman in the entire country
the entire country
the entire country and you guys heard the stories right you
and you guys heard the stories right you
and you guys heard the stories right you get colleges coming from all over the
get colleges coming from all over the
get colleges coming from all over the country trying to
country trying to
country trying to Vince you and your family and your
Vince you and your family and your
Vince you and your family and your friends too to come to their school
friends too to come to their school
friends too to come to their school because of that potential well in high
because of that potential well in high
because of that potential well in high school my dream was actually to get my
school my dream was actually to get my
school my dream was actually to get my college degree through Ohio State
college degree through Ohio State
college degree through Ohio State University using athletics so in Ohio
University using athletics so in Ohio
University using athletics so in Ohio State ringing that doorbell guys listen
State ringing that doorbell guys listen
State ringing that doorbell guys listen I answered that thing I chose to go to
I answered that thing I chose to go to
I answered that thing I chose to go to the biggest and best university in my
the biggest and best university in my
the biggest and best university in my opinion in the entire world when I got
opinion in the entire world when I got
opinion in the entire world when I got there everything was perfect man it was
there everything was perfect man it was
there everything was perfect man it was almost like I just could have I couldn’t
almost like I just could have I couldn’t
almost like I just could have I couldn’t even imagine it to be any better for one
even imagine it to be any better for one
even imagine it to be any better for one week because after my first week there
week because after my first week there
week because after my first week there guys
guys
guys I found out that I tore up my knee I had
I found out that I tore up my knee I had
I found out that I tore up my knee I had to have an a reconstructive ACL surgery
to have an a reconstructive ACL surgery
to have an a reconstructive ACL surgery now the tragedy for me guys as a as a
now the tragedy for me guys as a as a
now the tragedy for me guys as a as a young adult wasn’t so much that I tore
young adult wasn’t so much that I tore
young adult wasn’t so much that I tore at my knee but the tragedy for me is
at my knee but the tragedy for me is
at my knee but the tragedy for me is that when I was at what I would have
that when I was at what I would have
that when I was at what I would have considered one of the lowest points of
considered one of the lowest points of
considered one of the lowest points of my life and I needed those people who
my life and I needed those people who
my life and I needed those people who promised me who sat in my living room
promised me who sat in my living room
promised me who sat in my living room and told my mom and my dad that they
and told my mom and my dad that they
and told my mom and my dad that they would be there for me through the good
would be there for me through the good
would be there for me through the good times and the bad times there were
times and the bad times there were
times and the bad times there were nowhere to be found it felt as if they
nowhere to be found it felt as if they
nowhere to be found it felt as if they kind of left me to fend for myself but
kind of left me to fend for myself but
kind of left me to fend for myself but what it did for me it helped me realize
what it did for me it helped me realize
what it did for me it helped me realize one of the most important lessons that I
one of the most important lessons that I
one of the most important lessons that I live with today and what that did for me
live with today and what that did for me
live with today and what that did for me is that that made me look in the mirror
is that that made me look in the mirror
is that that made me look in the mirror and say Jimmy you have to trust and
and say Jimmy you have to trust and
and say Jimmy you have to trust and believe in the most valuable person in
believe in the most valuable person in
believe in the most valuable person in your life every day and as a young adult
your life every day and as a young adult
your life every day and as a young adult I had to come to the conclusion that I
I had to come to the conclusion that I
I had to come to the conclusion that I was the most valuable person in my life
was the most valuable person in my life
was the most valuable person in my life every day because I was the only one who
every day because I was the only one who
every day because I was the only one who can make any of the choices and
can make any of the choices and
can make any of the choices and decisions that was going to make sure
decisions that was going to make sure
decisions that was going to make sure that I overcame those obstacles see guys
that I overcame those obstacles see guys
that I overcame those obstacles see guys what I understood is that I had the
what I understood is that I had the
what I understood is that I had the highest value and if I understood that I
highest value and if I understood that I
highest value and if I understood that I had that highest value then I became
had that highest value then I became
had that highest value then I became that invincible currency
that invincible currency
that invincible currency if I could understand that I was the
if I could understand that I was the
if I could understand that I was the invincible currency then it means that I
invincible currency then it means that I
invincible currency then it means that I had a right to make an exchange in my
had a right to make an exchange in my
had a right to make an exchange in my journey guys there were three tremendous
journey guys there were three tremendous
journey guys there were three tremendous exchanges that were made to help for me
exchanges that were made to help for me
exchanges that were made to help for me and I can still live with these
and I can still live with these
and I can still live with these exchanges every day the first exchange
exchanges every day the first exchange
exchanges every day the first exchange guys that I learned in my journey was to
guys that I learned in my journey was to
guys that I learned in my journey was to take responsibility for my legacy I have
take responsibility for my legacy I have
take responsibility for my legacy I have to learn to take responsibility for my
to learn to take responsibility for my
to learn to take responsibility for my own legacy see guys I believe our legacy
own legacy see guys I believe our legacy
own legacy see guys I believe our legacy is how well each and every one of us
is how well each and every one of us
is how well each and every one of us choose to be remembered for the rest of
choose to be remembered for the rest of
choose to be remembered for the rest of our lives
our lives
our lives how will we choose to be remembered
how will we choose to be remembered
how will we choose to be remembered according to our actions according to
according to our actions according to
according to our actions according to our activity and according to our
our activity and according to our
our activity and according to our attitude not based upon what other
attitude not based upon what other
attitude not based upon what other people make up I’m not talking about
people make up I’m not talking about
people make up I’m not talking about your misjudgment about me based upon my
your misjudgment about me based upon my
your misjudgment about me based upon my size where I’m from the color of my skin
size where I’m from the color of my skin
size where I’m from the color of my skin my ethnicity nah I’m talking about the
my ethnicity nah I’m talking about the
my ethnicity nah I’m talking about the honest interaction that I had with you
honest interaction that I had with you
honest interaction that I had with you that’s my legacy and the power behind my
that’s my legacy and the power behind my
that’s my legacy and the power behind my legacy is I’m the only one responsible
legacy is I’m the only one responsible
legacy is I’m the only one responsible for how I’ll choose to be remembered for
for how I’ll choose to be remembered for
for how I’ll choose to be remembered for the rest of my life the second exchange
the rest of my life the second exchange
the rest of my life the second exchange guys that I made in that journey is that
guys that I made in that journey is that
guys that I made in that journey is that I had to learn to fight for my journey I
I had to learn to fight for my journey I
I had to learn to fight for my journey I had to learn to fight for that dream one
had to learn to fight for that dream one
had to learn to fight for that dream one thing that I understood is that
thing that I understood is that
thing that I understood is that everything in that journey was not going
everything in that journey was not going
everything in that journey was not going to work out exactly the way that I
to work out exactly the way that I
to work out exactly the way that I wanted it to everything wasn’t gonna
wanted it to everything wasn’t gonna
wanted it to everything wasn’t gonna look exactly the way I thought it should
look exactly the way I thought it should
look exactly the way I thought it should look at any given time and honestly
look at any given time and honestly
look at any given time and honestly believe it or not the one I work on the
believe it or not the one I work on the
believe it or not the one I work on the most is listen I didn’t listen
most is listen I didn’t listen
most is listen I didn’t listen I don’t always have I don’t always
I don’t always have I don’t always
I don’t always have I don’t always believe I have what it takes to overcome
believe I have what it takes to overcome
believe I have what it takes to overcome those obstacles all the time but the
those obstacles all the time but the
those obstacles all the time but the exchange that I understood and I learned
exchange that I understood and I learned
exchange that I understood and I learned was that when things aren’t working the
was that when things aren’t working the
was that when things aren’t working the way that I want to when things aren’t
way that I want to when things aren’t
way that I want to when things aren’t looking away that I think they should
looking away that I think they should
looking away that I think they should look
look
look and when I’m also not so confident about
and when I’m also not so confident about
and when I’m also not so confident about things I’m still responsible for doing
things I’m still responsible for doing
things I’m still responsible for doing whatever it takes to make sure that I
whatever it takes to make sure that I
whatever it takes to make sure that I overcome those obstacles
you know guys one thing I’m not a bit
you know guys one thing I’m not a bit cliche guy at all but we’ve heard a
cliche guy at all but we’ve heard a
cliche guy at all but we’ve heard a couple of them right like like our life
couple of them right like like our life
couple of them right like like our life journey is is it like a hundred meter
journey is is it like a hundred meter
journey is is it like a hundred meter dash right we’ve heard that right
dash right we’ve heard that right
dash right we’ve heard that right our life journey guys is more like a
our life journey guys is more like a
our life journey guys is more like a marathon I say a shoe give me either one
marathon I say a shoe give me either one
marathon I say a shoe give me either one right because we know it’s a window our
right because we know it’s a window our
right because we know it’s a window our journeys are rough I said our lives
journeys are rough I said our lives
journeys are rough I said our lives already like either one our lives are
already like either one our lives are
already like either one our lives are more like a steeplechase right
more like a steeplechase right
more like a steeplechase right our life so more like a steeplechase we
our life so more like a steeplechase we
our life so more like a steeplechase we get into a journey we actually know what
get into a journey we actually know what
get into a journey we actually know what the finish line is but as we complete
the finish line is but as we complete
the finish line is but as we complete each lap we’re responsible for jumping
each lap we’re responsible for jumping
each lap we’re responsible for jumping over every single hurdle that we already
over every single hurdle that we already
over every single hurdle that we already know there’s gonna be there so you know
know there’s gonna be there so you know
know there’s gonna be there so you know what we wake up in the morning we’re not
what we wake up in the morning we’re not
what we wake up in the morning we’re not feeling good jump over the hurdle you
feeling good jump over the hurdle you
feeling good jump over the hurdle you know what I just don’t feel it today we
know what I just don’t feel it today we
know what I just don’t feel it today we jump over the hurdle you know what my my
jump over the hurdle you know what my my
jump over the hurdle you know what my my kids are getting on my nerves
kids are getting on my nerves
kids are getting on my nerves jump over the hurdle right how about I
jump over the hurdle right how about I
jump over the hurdle right how about I just weigh like I’d vertical jump over
just weigh like I’d vertical jump over
just weigh like I’d vertical jump over that thing with the kids right and then
that thing with the kids right and then
that thing with the kids right and then you get to the end of the lap and then
you get to the end of the lap and then
you get to the end of the lap and then you have the biggest obstacle it comes
you have the biggest obstacle it comes
you have the biggest obstacle it comes out to your life who knows what those
out to your life who knows what those
out to your life who knows what those obstacles could be before I got here I
obstacles could be before I got here I
obstacles could be before I got here I found out that one of the most prominent
found out that one of the most prominent
found out that one of the most prominent community leaders in this community
community leaders in this community
community leaders in this community ended up losing his life last night for
ended up losing his life last night for
ended up losing his life last night for someone that’s a major obstacle but for
someone that’s a major obstacle but for
someone that’s a major obstacle but for somebody they still have to find a way
somebody they still have to find a way
somebody they still have to find a way to get over that obstacle because check
to get over that obstacle because check
to get over that obstacle because check it out once they have the courage to
it out once they have the courage to
it out once they have the courage to even get over that major obstacle
even get over that major obstacle
even get over that major obstacle they’re going to be a little more
they’re going to be a little more
they’re going to be a little more irritated because they’re gonna find
irritated because they’re gonna find
irritated because they’re gonna find that maybe they have to fall into four
that maybe they have to fall into four
that maybe they have to fall into four feet of water if you guys know what the
feet of water if you guys know what the
feet of water if you guys know what the steeplechase is and I bet you I bet you
steeplechase is and I bet you I bet you
steeplechase is and I bet you I bet you that person still has the courage to
that person still has the courage to
that person still has the courage to come out of that water and continue
come out of that water and continue
come out of that water and continue running and then they have to overcome
running and then they have to overcome
running and then they have to overcome the fat
the fat
the fat that actually is a little harder because
that actually is a little harder because
that actually is a little harder because my feet are heavier because they’re
my feet are heavier because they’re
my feet are heavier because they’re waterlogged with probably two pounds
waterlogged with probably two pounds
waterlogged with probably two pounds more of water in each foot I feel like
more of water in each foot I feel like
more of water in each foot I feel like no hundred meter dash it’s not like a
no hundred meter dash it’s not like a
no hundred meter dash it’s not like a marathon life is like a steeplechase in
marathon life is like a steeplechase in
marathon life is like a steeplechase in the exchange is that we have a right to
the exchange is that we have a right to
the exchange is that we have a right to fight for that journey
fight for that journey
fight for that journey the third exchange guys that I got from
the third exchange guys that I got from
the third exchange guys that I got from my journey is that I learned to live my
my journey is that I learned to live my
my journey is that I learned to live my life with as light of a what-if bag as
life with as light of a what-if bag as
life with as light of a what-if bag as possible see guys for me the what-if bag
possible see guys for me the what-if bag
possible see guys for me the what-if bag are opportunities that I’ve come across
are opportunities that I’ve come across
are opportunities that I’ve come across in my life that I personally didn’t put
in my life that I personally didn’t put
in my life that I personally didn’t put everything into I didn’t put all of my
everything into I didn’t put all of my
everything into I didn’t put all of my heart into that opportunity one of the
heart into that opportunity one of the
heart into that opportunity one of the most notable ones guys would be totally
most notable ones guys would be totally
most notable ones guys would be totally honest she was my professional football
honest she was my professional football
honest she was my professional football career when I had the opportunity to
career when I had the opportunity to
career when I had the opportunity to live that dream just like every single
live that dream just like every single
live that dream just like every single one of you guys in this room will once
one of you guys in this room will once
one of you guys in this room will once or twice or many other times in your
or twice or many other times in your
or twice or many other times in your life you’ll have an opportunity one day
life you’ll have an opportunity one day
life you’ll have an opportunity one day to live that dream man to be honest with
to live that dream man to be honest with
to live that dream man to be honest with you I didn’t put everything into it
you I didn’t put everything into it
you I didn’t put everything into it I tried to do just the minimum to get by
I tried to do just the minimum to get by
I tried to do just the minimum to get by I actually thought doing just the
I actually thought doing just the
I actually thought doing just the minimum would be enough I found out
minimum would be enough I found out
minimum would be enough I found out early that doing just the minimum won’t
early that doing just the minimum won’t
early that doing just the minimum won’t get you a whole lot close to anything
get you a whole lot close to anything
get you a whole lot close to anything that you want to do in your life so now
that you want to do in your life so now
that you want to do in your life so now when I see my friends play football
when I see my friends play football
when I see my friends play football seasons cranking up on Sundays and
seasons cranking up on Sundays and
seasons cranking up on Sundays and Thursdays and in Mondays I say to myself
Thursdays and in Mondays I say to myself
Thursdays and in Mondays I say to myself man if you just would have put
man if you just would have put
man if you just would have put everything into that opportunity who
everything into that opportunity who
everything into that opportunity who knows how things would have ended up but
knows how things would have ended up but
knows how things would have ended up but you know what I don’t know now I
you know what I don’t know now I
you know what I don’t know now I understand guys the what-if back has
understand guys the what-if back has
understand guys the what-if back has nothing to do with how things are going
nothing to do with how things are going
nothing to do with how things are going to end up for us the what-if bag is your
to end up for us the what-if bag is your
to end up for us the what-if bag is your promise and commitment to yourself that
promise and commitment to yourself that
promise and commitment to yourself that you’re gonna put everything you have
you’re gonna put everything you have
you’re gonna put everything you have into any opportunity you choose and
into any opportunity you choose and
into any opportunity you choose and every opportunity that comes your way
guys the idea that I want you to
guys the idea that I want you to consider after today is to receive the
consider after today is to receive the
consider after today is to receive the fact that every single one of us in this
fact that every single one of us in this
fact that every single one of us in this room we’re our own invincible currency
room we’re our own invincible currency
room we’re our own invincible currency if we can believe that we’re our own
if we can believe that we’re our own
if we can believe that we’re our own invincible currency then we have a right
invincible currency then we have a right
invincible currency then we have a right to make those exchanges we have a right
to make those exchanges we have a right
to make those exchanges we have a right to take responsibility for our legacy we
to take responsibility for our legacy we
to take responsibility for our legacy we have a right to fight for that dream and
have a right to fight for that dream and
have a right to fight for that dream and fight for that journey and we have a
fight for that journey and we have a
fight for that journey and we have a right guys to live our lives with as
right guys to live our lives with as
right guys to live our lives with as light of a what if bag is possible
light of a what if bag is possible
light of a what if bag is possible TEDx thank you so much and God bless you
TEDx thank you so much and God bless you
TEDx thank you so much and God bless you [Applause]
”
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