all right before we get started I want to try something with with you guys real
to try something with with you guys real
to try something with with you guys real quick if you can everyone stand up I’m
quick if you can everyone stand up I’m
quick if you can everyone stand up I’m gonna ask you one simple question but
gonna ask you one simple question but
gonna ask you one simple question but first I want you to think about your
first I want you to think about your
first I want you to think about your lives currently whether it be your your
lives currently whether it be your your
lives currently whether it be your your careers your jobs your relationships and
careers your jobs your relationships and
careers your jobs your relationships and friendships your family anything and
friendships your family anything and
friendships your family anything and mainly I want you to think about your
mainly I want you to think about your
mainly I want you to think about your happiness and success or lack of due to
happiness and success or lack of due to
happiness and success or lack of due to those various aspects in your life so if
those various aspects in your life so if
those various aspects in your life so if you have a barrier of any kind that is
you have a barrier of any kind that is
you have a barrier of any kind that is holding you back or preventing you from
holding you back or preventing you from
holding you back or preventing you from where you want to be in life sit down
Congrats to everyone still standing that
Congrats to everyone still standing that means you have successfully figured out
means you have successfully figured out
means you have successfully figured out how to overcome your barriers or your
how to overcome your barriers or your
how to overcome your barriers or your lying I’m not gonna point fingers and to
lying I’m not gonna point fingers and to
lying I’m not gonna point fingers and to those who sat down this talk is for you
those who sat down this talk is for you
those who sat down this talk is for you if you’re still standing guard please be
if you’re still standing guard please be
if you’re still standing guard please be seated I’m going to prove to my own
seated I’m going to prove to my own
seated I’m going to prove to my own personal experiences that there’s no
personal experiences that there’s no
personal experiences that there’s no reason to let these barriers determine
reason to let these barriers determine
reason to let these barriers determine your happiness and success there’s no
your happiness and success there’s no
your happiness and success there’s no better time than now to break through
better time than now to break through
better time than now to break through them this isn’t going to be a TED talk
them this isn’t going to be a TED talk
them this isn’t going to be a TED talk with big words or have scientific
with big words or have scientific
with big words or have scientific research to back what I’m saying this
research to back what I’m saying this
research to back what I’m saying this talk comes straight from deep within my
talk comes straight from deep within my
talk comes straight from deep within my heart and soul and from my own personal
heart and soul and from my own personal
heart and soul and from my own personal trials and triumphs this talk is for the
trials and triumphs this talk is for the
trials and triumphs this talk is for the dreamers for the ones who not only need
dreamers for the ones who not only need
dreamers for the ones who not only need to hear it but to see it with their own
to hear it but to see it with their own
to hear it but to see it with their own two eyes to believe that yes anything is
two eyes to believe that yes anything is
two eyes to believe that yes anything is possible that yes if you go to sleep
possible that yes if you go to sleep
possible that yes if you go to sleep late if you wake up early if you eat
late if you wake up early if you eat
late if you wake up early if you eat your bowl of Wheaties for breakfast and
your bowl of Wheaties for breakfast and
your bowl of Wheaties for breakfast and you work hard every single day you too
you work hard every single day you too
you work hard every single day you too can achieve your goals and dreams and
can achieve your goals and dreams and
can achieve your goals and dreams and maybe just maybe this will be the push
maybe just maybe this will be the push
maybe just maybe this will be the push that makes you move my name is r.j.
that makes you move my name is r.j.
that makes you move my name is r.j. messenger I’m 29 years old and I was
messenger I’m 29 years old and I was
messenger I’m 29 years old and I was born and raised right here in Erie PA
born and raised right here in Erie PA
born and raised right here in Erie PA I’m the co-owner of a well known
I’m the co-owner of a well known
I’m the co-owner of a well known business here in the area that was
business here in the area that was
business here in the area that was started a little under three years ago
started a little under three years ago
started a little under three years ago called iron Empire clothing it’s a
called iron Empire clothing it’s a
called iron Empire clothing it’s a clothing brand that my wife at the time
clothing brand that my wife at the time
clothing brand that my wife at the time when I started right out of our house
when I started right out of our house
when I started right out of our house while we both worked good secure
while we both worked good secure
while we both worked good secure full-time jobs in less than a year and a
full-time jobs in less than a year and a
full-time jobs in less than a year and a half we were both fortunate enough to
half we were both fortunate enough to
half we were both fortunate enough to give up our careers to take it on
give up our careers to take it on
give up our careers to take it on full-time due to how quick and large we
full-time due to how quick and large we
full-time due to how quick and large we are growing but unfortunately this
are growing but unfortunately this
are growing but unfortunately this hasn’t always been in my life and well I
hasn’t always been in my life and well I
hasn’t always been in my life and well I haven’t always looked this good
haven’t always looked this good
haven’t always looked this good I grew up like any regular kid I had
I grew up like any regular kid I had
I grew up like any regular kid I had normal friends I was raised in a good
normal friends I was raised in a good
normal friends I was raised in a good neighborhood and with the Sacred Heart
neighborhood and with the Sacred Heart
neighborhood and with the Sacred Heart for grace alone was a typical Catholic
for grace alone was a typical Catholic
for grace alone was a typical Catholic school boy I even attended and graduated
school boy I even attended and graduated
school boy I even attended and graduated from Marcia’s Prep high school believe
from Marcia’s Prep high school believe
from Marcia’s Prep high school believe it or not that’s where things took a
it or not that’s where things took a
it or not that’s where things took a turn after being so normal and so
turn after being so normal and so
turn after being so normal and so average my entire life I realized that
average my entire life I realized that
average my entire life I realized that being average just wasn’t for me
being average just wasn’t for me
being average just wasn’t for me and if it was up to me that wouldn’t be
and if it was up to me that wouldn’t be
and if it was up to me that wouldn’t be the life that I would live the next few
the life that I would live the next few
the life that I would live the next few years I can easily say were some of the
years I can easily say were some of the
years I can easily say were some of the best of my life but at the same time I
best of my life but at the same time I
best of my life but at the same time I made some unfortunate choices over this
made some unfortunate choices over this
made some unfortunate choices over this timeframe that ultimately create
timeframe that ultimately create
timeframe that ultimately create barriers and my life to come one of
barriers and my life to come one of
barriers and my life to come one of those barriers being my tattoos I saw at
those barriers being my tattoos I saw at
those barriers being my tattoos I saw at the young age of 16 with my very first
the young age of 16 with my very first
the young age of 16 with my very first tattoo being my chest piece the more I
tattoo being my chest piece the more I
tattoo being my chest piece the more I got and the more I realized people
got and the more I realized people
got and the more I realized people treating me differently and looked at me
treating me differently and looked at me
treating me differently and looked at me differently the more I wanted to get is
differently the more I wanted to get is
differently the more I wanted to get is my way of standing out from the norm and
my way of standing out from the norm and
my way of standing out from the norm and living life different from the norm of
living life different from the norm of
living life different from the norm of how everyone else lived their lives
how everyone else lived their lives
how everyone else lived their lives there’s almost a sense of therapy for me
there’s almost a sense of therapy for me
there’s almost a sense of therapy for me a lot of my tattoos have personal means
a lot of my tattoos have personal means
a lot of my tattoos have personal means behind them but time I graduated high
behind them but time I graduated high
behind them but time I graduated high school I probably already had more
school I probably already had more
school I probably already had more tattoos than everyone on my school put
tattoos than everyone on my school put
tattoos than everyone on my school put together so that once I was legal and
together so that once I was legal and
together so that once I was legal and able you can say things got a little out
able you can say things got a little out
able you can say things got a little out of hand
of hand
of hand I now have tattoos over probably 80% of
I now have tattoos over probably 80% of
I now have tattoos over probably 80% of my body including my entire face and
my body including my entire face and
my body including my entire face and head at the time in my mind I thought I
head at the time in my mind I thought I
head at the time in my mind I thought I was probably being some sort of rebel
was probably being some sort of rebel
was probably being some sort of rebel and I knew they might cause some issues
and I knew they might cause some issues
and I knew they might cause some issues down the road but I told myself I would
down the road but I told myself I would
down the road but I told myself I would deal with that when the time came and to
deal with that when the time came and to
deal with that when the time came and to further separate myself from society for
further separate myself from society for
further separate myself from society for the first 25 years of my life I live an
the first 25 years of my life I live an
the first 25 years of my life I live an alternative lifestyle that people refer
alternative lifestyle that people refer
alternative lifestyle that people refer to as being straightedge by choice I
to as being straightedge by choice I
to as being straightedge by choice I refrained from any and all drugs tobacco
refrained from any and all drugs tobacco
refrained from any and all drugs tobacco and alcohol yes you heard that right I
and alcohol yes you heard that right I
and alcohol yes you heard that right I went through my entire high school
went through my entire high school
went through my entire high school career living a 100% completely sober
career living a 100% completely sober
career living a 100% completely sober lifestyle and yes that also means I felt
lifestyle and yes that also means I felt
lifestyle and yes that also means I felt every bit of pain and agony that came
every bit of pain and agony that came
every bit of pain and agony that came with my tattoos
so between the ages of 19 and 21 a lot
so between the ages of 19 and 21 a lot of additional life change situations
of additional life change situations
of additional life change situations happen I got some trouble with the law
happen I got some trouble with the law
happen I got some trouble with the law on two separate occasions both earning
on two separate occasions both earning
on two separate occasions both earning myself criminal records and felonies and
myself criminal records and felonies and
myself criminal records and felonies and not only one but two different countries
not only one but two different countries
not only one but two different countries but that’s another story for another
but that’s another story for another
but that’s another story for another time I do want to add in that before my
time I do want to add in that before my
time I do want to add in that before my second running with the law I was
second running with the law I was
second running with the law I was fortunate at the time to of laying a
fortunate at the time to of laying a
fortunate at the time to of laying a part-time job of looking the way I did
part-time job of looking the way I did
part-time job of looking the way I did with a criminal record with a city of
with a criminal record with a city of
with a criminal record with a city of your garbage Department alongside my
your garbage Department alongside my
your garbage Department alongside my father the good ol American Dream sorry
father the good ol American Dream sorry
father the good ol American Dream sorry dad
dad
dad and I’m even more fortunate enough that
and I’m even more fortunate enough that
and I’m even more fortunate enough that my boss see there must have seen my work
my boss see there must have seen my work
my boss see there must have seen my work ethic and drive or he just felt bad for
ethic and drive or he just felt bad for
ethic and drive or he just felt bad for me because he continued let me continue
me because he continued let me continue
me because he continued let me continue working with the city even after my
working with the city even after my
working with the city even after my second run-in with the law
second run-in with the law
second run-in with the law at this point in my life I realized that
at this point in my life I realized that
at this point in my life I realized that maybe I wasn’t meant to be different by
maybe I wasn’t meant to be different by
maybe I wasn’t meant to be different by having a ton of tattoos by having a
having a ton of tattoos by having a
having a ton of tattoos by having a criminal record and living some kind of
criminal record and living some kind of
criminal record and living some kind of outlaw lifestyle but maybe I was meant
outlaw lifestyle but maybe I was meant
outlaw lifestyle but maybe I was meant to be different by taking all my
to be different by taking all my
to be different by taking all my unfortunate circumstances and the
unfortunate circumstances and the
unfortunate circumstances and the choices I’ve made over the years and use
choices I’ve made over the years and use
choices I’ve made over the years and use them to my advantage
and I would attempt to break the
and I would attempt to break the stereotype that you can’t live a happy
stereotype that you can’t live a happy
stereotype that you can’t live a happy successful life after everything I’ve
successful life after everything I’ve
successful life after everything I’ve done and been through and I’ll also use
done and been through and I’ll also use
done and been through and I’ll also use my so called barriers as my building
my so called barriers as my building
my so called barriers as my building blocks to achieve things I never dreamed
blocks to achieve things I never dreamed
blocks to achieve things I never dreamed of having before so the next few years I
of having before so the next few years I
of having before so the next few years I took all my misfortune all of my
took all my misfortune all of my
took all my misfortune all of my misguided pain and anger all the events
misguided pain and anger all the events
misguided pain and anger all the events that have led up to that point in time
that have led up to that point in time
that have led up to that point in time along with my unique style and look and
along with my unique style and look and
along with my unique style and look and I use it to prove the underdogs and
I use it to prove the underdogs and
I use it to prove the underdogs and outcasts truly do have a place in this
outcasts truly do have a place in this
outcasts truly do have a place in this world it’s just we might have to work a
world it’s just we might have to work a
world it’s just we might have to work a little harder and a little longer to
little harder and a little longer to
little harder and a little longer to earn it so from 2007 to 2011 I worked my
earn it so from 2007 to 2011 I worked my
earn it so from 2007 to 2011 I worked my butt off every night behind the back of
butt off every night behind the back of
butt off every night behind the back of a garbage truck I’m talking throwing
a garbage truck I’m talking throwing
a garbage truck I’m talking throwing twenty thousand-plus pounds of garbage
twenty thousand-plus pounds of garbage
twenty thousand-plus pounds of garbage every night and any imagine whether you
every night and any imagine whether you
every night and any imagine whether you can think of after about three years I
can think of after about three years I
can think of after about three years I finally got the call that would change
finally got the call that would change
finally got the call that would change my life forever
my life forever
my life forever or so I thought I was offered a
or so I thought I was offered a
or so I thought I was offered a full-time position with the city of Erie
full-time position with the city of Erie
full-time position with the city of Erie 40 plus hours a week 23 dollars an hour
40 plus hours a week 23 dollars an hour
40 plus hours a week 23 dollars an hour at full rate pension
at full rate pension
at full rate pension benefits health insurance all of it a
benefits health insurance all of it a
benefits health insurance all of it a secured union job the real American
secured union job the real American
secured union job the real American dream right well I didn’t want to stop
dream right well I didn’t want to stop
dream right well I didn’t want to stop there I told myself if I’m able to
there I told myself if I’m able to
there I told myself if I’m able to secure a job that most people without
secure a job that most people without
secure a job that most people without face tattoos in the criminal record
face tattoos in the criminal record
face tattoos in the criminal record would kill for what else can I do so in
would kill for what else can I do so in
would kill for what else can I do so in 2009 my unique look and style landed me
2009 my unique look and style landed me
2009 my unique look and style landed me some pre amazing experiences the more
some pre amazing experiences the more
some pre amazing experiences the more notable ones are having a role in
notable ones are having a role in
notable ones are having a role in jay-z’s music video for his hit single
jay-z’s music video for his hit single
jay-z’s music video for his hit single run this town featuring Rihanna and
run this town featuring Rihanna and
run this town featuring Rihanna and Kanye West as well as a rolling
Kanye West as well as a rolling
Kanye West as well as a rolling Lionsgate films feature film warrior
Lionsgate films feature film warrior
Lionsgate films feature film warrior starring Tom Hardy Joel Edgerton and
starring Tom Hardy Joel Edgerton and
starring Tom Hardy Joel Edgerton and Nick Nolte I was actually hired to be an
Nick Nolte I was actually hired to be an
Nick Nolte I was actually hired to be an extra hidden in the background of some
extra hidden in the background of some
extra hidden in the background of some Jim scenes and it was only supposed to
Jim scenes and it was only supposed to
Jim scenes and it was only supposed to be a two-day shoot and within the first
be a two-day shoot and within the first
be a two-day shoot and within the first hour me being on set I was approached
hour me being on set I was approached
hour me being on set I was approached and asked if I would be able to stay in
and asked if I would be able to stay in
and asked if I would be able to stay in Pittsburgh for the next month and a half
Pittsburgh for the next month and a half
Pittsburgh for the next month and a half were filming as a featured extra playing
were filming as a featured extra playing
were filming as a featured extra playing along one of the main characters
along one of the main characters
along one of the main characters entourage my unique looking personality
entourage my unique looking personality
entourage my unique looking personality took me even one step further and I was
took me even one step further and I was
took me even one step further and I was given the opportunity to be involved and
given the opportunity to be involved and
given the opportunity to be involved and Lionsgate films marketing director Tim
Lionsgate films marketing director Tim
Lionsgate films marketing director Tim pounds photography book title men of
pounds photography book title men of
pounds photography book title men of Warrior I was spotted on set during
Warrior I was spotted on set during
Warrior I was spotted on set during filming by the production executive the
filming by the production executive the
filming by the production executive the movie if she suggested to Tim that I’d
movie if she suggested to Tim that I’d
movie if she suggested to Tim that I’d be involved in the book alongside the
be involved in the book alongside the
be involved in the book alongside the main characters in the movie tom hardy
main characters in the movie tom hardy
main characters in the movie tom hardy joel edgerton UFC fighter nate Marquart
joel edgerton UFC fighter nate Marquart
joel edgerton UFC fighter nate Marquart and erik apple mini warrior is a
and erik apple mini warrior is a
and erik apple mini warrior is a nationally published photography book
nationally published photography book
nationally published photography book and includes 128 pages of photos with
and includes 128 pages of photos with
and includes 128 pages of photos with each of us having our own section
each of us having our own section
each of us having our own section and due to my involvement with the movie
and due to my involvement with the movie
and due to my involvement with the movie in the book has actually given the
in the book has actually given the
in the book has actually given the opportunity to fly out to Hollywood in
opportunity to fly out to Hollywood in
opportunity to fly out to Hollywood in September of 2011 to take part in a
September of 2011 to take part in a
September of 2011 to take part in a red-carpet premiere so let’s fast
red-carpet premiere so let’s fast
red-carpet premiere so let’s fast forward a little 2015 well both my wife
forward a little 2015 well both my wife
forward a little 2015 well both my wife at the time and I were working full time
at the time and I were working full time
at the time and I were working full time jobs we had this crazy idea of starting
jobs we had this crazy idea of starting
jobs we had this crazy idea of starting a hobby and well I’ve always wanted a
a hobby and well I’ve always wanted a
a hobby and well I’ve always wanted a clothing line on my own so he came up
clothing line on my own so he came up
clothing line on my own so he came up with his name iron Empire and the
with his name iron Empire and the
with his name iron Empire and the meaning behind the name is that we were
meaning behind the name is that we were
meaning behind the name is that we were all trying to build the biggest
all trying to build the biggest
all trying to build the biggest strongest empire that we can with the
strongest empire that we can with the
strongest empire that we can with the tools and this thing that we call life
tools and this thing that we call life
tools and this thing that we call life and we do this by using our platform now
and we do this by using our platform now
and we do this by using our platform now to spread motivation inspiration and
to spread motivation inspiration and
to spread motivation inspiration and positivity throughout the unique
positivity throughout the unique
positivity throughout the unique messages and design
messages and design
messages and design on our clothing as well as our community
on our clothing as well as our community
on our clothing as well as our community engagement and charitable contributions
engagement and charitable contributions
engagement and charitable contributions throughout this city so we took the name
throughout this city so we took the name
throughout this city so we took the name our brands mission statement made some
our brands mission statement made some
our brands mission statement made some social media accounts and began selling
social media accounts and began selling
social media accounts and began selling online
online
online we took $300 of our hard-earned money
we took $300 of our hard-earned money
we took $300 of our hard-earned money and made as much inventory as we could
and made as much inventory as we could
and made as much inventory as we could with it then the first two weeks were
with it then the first two weeks were
with it then the first two weeks were sold out we turn all the sales in the
sold out we turn all the sales in the
sold out we turn all the sales in the profit from that and printed more as a
profit from that and printed more as a
profit from that and printed more as a few months of selling online or right
few months of selling online or right
few months of selling online or right out of our house we knew we were on to
out of our house we knew we were on to
out of our house we knew we were on to something
something
something by the end of the first year we were
by the end of the first year we were
by the end of the first year we were already in our first brick-and-mortar
already in our first brick-and-mortar
already in our first brick-and-mortar while still working full-time jobs the
while still working full-time jobs the
while still working full-time jobs the business was growing at such a rapid
business was growing at such a rapid
business was growing at such a rapid pace that we couldn’t keep up with it
pace that we couldn’t keep up with it
pace that we couldn’t keep up with it trying to balance our full-time jobs our
trying to balance our full-time jobs our
trying to balance our full-time jobs our personal lives and now this growing
personal lives and now this growing
personal lives and now this growing business so in April of 2016 I did the
business so in April of 2016 I did the
business so in April of 2016 I did the unimaginable I pulled my pension from
unimaginable I pulled my pension from
unimaginable I pulled my pension from the city
the city
the city I gave up my years of hard work I gave
I gave up my years of hard work I gave
I gave up my years of hard work I gave up my health insurance my benefits my
up my health insurance my benefits my
up my health insurance my benefits my secured paycheck every two weeks all of
secured paycheck every two weeks all of
secured paycheck every two weeks all of it to pursue the dream of
it to pursue the dream of
it to pursue the dream of entrepreneurship at the time I would say
entrepreneurship at the time I would say
entrepreneurship at the time I would say 99% of my friends my family and my
99% of my friends my family and my
99% of my friends my family and my co-workers thought it was crazy
co-workers thought it was crazy
co-workers thought it was crazy so my reply to them you’re just
so my reply to them you’re just
so my reply to them you’re just realizing that now now after almost
realizing that now now after almost
realizing that now now after almost three years we have since moved into a
three years we have since moved into a
three years we have since moved into a bigger better location and we now offer
bigger better location and we now offer
bigger better location and we now offer custom screen printing and design
custom screen printing and design
custom screen printing and design in-house and in our very first full
in-house and in our very first full
in-house and in our very first full calendar years year of sales in 2016 we
calendar years year of sales in 2016 we
calendar years year of sales in 2016 we grossed over $250,000 I now want to ask
grossed over $250,000 I now want to ask
grossed over $250,000 I now want to ask my friends my family and my ex coworkers
my friends my family and my ex coworkers
my friends my family and my ex coworkers do you still think I’m crazy so here we
do you still think I’m crazy so here we
do you still think I’m crazy so here we are now it’s my turn to use my
are now it’s my turn to use my
are now it’s my turn to use my scientific evidence to back the moral of
scientific evidence to back the moral of
scientific evidence to back the moral of the story it’s not an easy road to
the story it’s not an easy road to
the story it’s not an easy road to travel and it never will be but I
travel and it never will be but I
travel and it never will be but I promise you that’s worth every bit of
promise you that’s worth every bit of
promise you that’s worth every bit of struggle every bit of pain and every bit
struggle every bit of pain and every bit
struggle every bit of pain and every bit of emotion that you go through
of emotion that you go through
of emotion that you go through everything you want is on the other side
everything you want is on the other side
everything you want is on the other side of fear so don’t run away from your
of fear so don’t run away from your
of fear so don’t run away from your fears don’t run away from your obstacles
fears don’t run away from your obstacles
fears don’t run away from your obstacles and don’t run away from your pain
and don’t run away from your pain
and don’t run away from your pain embrace them embrace them with every
embrace them embrace them with every
embrace them embrace them with every fiber of your being
fiber of your being
fiber of your being because by taking those unfortunate
because by taking those unfortunate
because by taking those unfortunate circumstances and your life and using
circumstances and your life and using
circumstances and your life and using them as fuel to the fire the catapult
them as fuel to the fire the catapult
them as fuel to the fire the catapult your life into something more beautiful
your life into something more beautiful
your life into something more beautiful meaningful than you ever dreamed of
meaningful than you ever dreamed of
meaningful than you ever dreamed of having before will be what drives your
having before will be what drives your
having before will be what drives your life to the next level and if any of you
life to the next level and if any of you
life to the next level and if any of you have any doubt in your mind that you
have any doubt in your mind that you
have any doubt in your mind that you don’t have what it takes to win that
don’t have what it takes to win that
don’t have what it takes to win that fight every single person in this room
fight every single person in this room
fight every single person in this room has already won the greatest fight of
has already won the greatest fight of
has already won the greatest fight of their lifetime we all won the fight for
their lifetime we all won the fight for
their lifetime we all won the fight for survival to merely be born and you’re
survival to merely be born and you’re
survival to merely be born and you’re going to sit there and tell me that
going to sit there and tell me that
going to sit there and tell me that you’re ok with going through life the
you’re ok with going through life the
you’re ok with going through life the easy way to just get by not me I didn’t
easy way to just get by not me I didn’t
easy way to just get by not me I didn’t win that battle to be here to be born a
win that battle to be here to be born a
win that battle to be here to be born a normal healthy baby and to go through
normal healthy baby and to go through
normal healthy baby and to go through what I did as a child and young adult to
what I did as a child and young adult to
what I did as a child and young adult to just sit here and follow the so-called
just sit here and follow the so-called
just sit here and follow the so-called American dream just because that’s what
American dream just because that’s what
American dream just because that’s what we’re supposed to do but that’s my dream
we’re supposed to do but that’s my dream
we’re supposed to do but that’s my dream and this is my life from my own personal
and this is my life from my own personal
and this is my life from my own personal experience and experiences of others
experience and experiences of others
experience and experiences of others I’ve met over the years in similar
I’ve met over the years in similar
I’ve met over the years in similar situations as myself I found the common
situations as myself I found the common
situations as myself I found the common denominator of finding happiness and
denominator of finding happiness and
denominator of finding happiness and success its first believing in yourself
success its first believing in yourself
success its first believing in yourself before all else because then no barriers
before all else because then no barriers
before all else because then no barriers or obstacles will ever hold you back and
or obstacles will ever hold you back and
or obstacles will ever hold you back and you will live your life without
you will live your life without
you will live your life without restrictions or limitations if you don’t
restrictions or limitations if you don’t
restrictions or limitations if you don’t believe in yourself
believe in yourself
believe in yourself if you don’t feel confident how do you
if you don’t feel confident how do you
if you don’t feel confident how do you expect anyone else to have confidence in
expect anyone else to have confidence in
expect anyone else to have confidence in you and believe in you I have social
you and believe in you I have social
you and believe in you I have social anxiety it’s sometimes it still gets the
anxiety it’s sometimes it still gets the
anxiety it’s sometimes it still gets the best of me is it because I’m still a
best of me is it because I’m still a
best of me is it because I’m still a little uncomfortable in my own skin
little uncomfortable in my own skin
little uncomfortable in my own skin maybe I’m not really sure but standing
maybe I’m not really sure but standing
maybe I’m not really sure but standing up here today I can bet you never guess
up here today I can bet you never guess
up here today I can bet you never guess that me RJ messenger a tattooed business
that me RJ messenger a tattooed business
that me RJ messenger a tattooed business owner and self-professed badass and now
owner and self-professed badass and now
owner and self-professed badass and now a TEDx Erie speaker lives with social
a TEDx Erie speaker lives with social
a TEDx Erie speaker lives with social anxiety day by day and all I know is
anxiety day by day and all I know is
anxiety day by day and all I know is that when you start believing in
that when you start believing in
that when you start believing in yourself and having that kind of
yourself and having that kind of
yourself and having that kind of confidence even when you’re a little
confidence even when you’re a little
confidence even when you’re a little uncomfortable in your own skin it’s
uncomfortable in your own skin it’s
uncomfortable in your own skin it’s contagious we all finally realize that
contagious we all finally realize that
contagious we all finally realize that bridges are more than just an outlet for
bridges are more than just an outlet for
bridges are more than just an outlet for us to get over our own beer or beers our
us to get over our own beer or beers our
us to get over our own beer or beers our own fears our own fears and obstacles
own fears our own fears and obstacles
own fears our own fears and obstacles and that it’s actually a connection to
and that it’s actually a connection to
and that it’s actually a connection to help bring us together in a world full
help bring us together in a world full
help bring us together in a world full of negativity hatred doubt and
of negativity hatred doubt and
of negativity hatred doubt and uncertainty that kind of energy will be
uncertainty that kind of energy will be
uncertainty that kind of energy will be contagious as well we’re all different
contagious as well we’re all different
contagious as well we’re all different some of us may have different
some of us may have different
some of us may have different definitions of success and happiness and
definitions of success and happiness and
definitions of success and happiness and some of us probably have different
some of us probably have different
some of us probably have different barriers or obstacles that limit us from
barriers or obstacles that limit us from
barriers or obstacles that limit us from living to our fullest potential but the
living to our fullest potential but the
living to our fullest potential but the one thing we all have in common is that
one thing we all have in common is that
one thing we all have in common is that we are all consciously pursuing a better
we are all consciously pursuing a better
we are all consciously pursuing a better happier life the pursuit of happiness
happier life the pursuit of happiness
happier life the pursuit of happiness and they say nothing in life worth
and they say nothing in life worth
and they say nothing in life worth having comes easy so we’re all going to
having comes easy so we’re all going to
having comes easy so we’re all going to face barriers and obstacles throughout
face barriers and obstacles throughout
face barriers and obstacles throughout our lives in one way or another
our lives in one way or another
our lives in one way or another but how we face these barriers is what’s
but how we face these barriers is what’s
but how we face these barriers is what’s going to separate us you know the people
going to separate us you know the people
going to separate us you know the people who live the life that they want without
who live the life that they want without
who live the life that they want without letting anyone or anything get in their
letting anyone or anything get in their
letting anyone or anything get in their way and then you have the people who
way and then you have the people who
way and then you have the people who will deal with the cards that they’ve
will deal with the cards that they’ve
will deal with the cards that they’ve been dealt and be perfectly fine and
been dealt and be perfectly fine and
been dealt and be perfectly fine and okay with it we all have a story to be
okay with it we all have a story to be
okay with it we all have a story to be told a story that the world deserves to
told a story that the world deserves to
told a story that the world deserves to hear but it’s up to each and every one
hear but it’s up to each and every one
hear but it’s up to each and every one of us to decide if we’re going to tell
of us to decide if we’re going to tell
of us to decide if we’re going to tell it ourselves or let someone else tell it
it ourselves or let someone else tell it
it ourselves or let someone else tell it for us and I know for a fact that I’m
for us and I know for a fact that I’m
for us and I know for a fact that I’m going to be the narrator my own story
going to be the narrator my own story
going to be the narrator my own story now the question remains as you walk out
now the question remains as you walk out
now the question remains as you walk out of these doors today ask yourselves
of these doors today ask yourselves
of these doors today ask yourselves who’s going to be the narrator of yours
who’s going to be the narrator of yours
who’s going to be the narrator of yours thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
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