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Your Victory is Just Around the Corner | Rich Hopkins | TEDxColoradoSprings


when I was a boy there was a word my dad

when I was a boy there was a word my dad would use with me that left me

would use with me that left me

would use with me that left me disappointed confused sometimes even

disappointed confused sometimes even

disappointed confused sometimes even angry that word check mate and I love to

angry that word check mate and I love to

angry that word check mate and I love to play chess with my dad but I hated to

play chess with my dad but I hated to

play chess with my dad but I hated to lose but lose I did 347 straight times

lose but lose I did 347 straight times

lose but lose I did 347 straight times between the ages of 7 and 9 not that I

between the ages of 7 and 9 not that I

between the ages of 7 and 9 not that I was keeping track

was keeping track

was keeping track I finally got so upset

I finally got so upset

I finally got so upset I took desperate measures and I went to

I took desperate measures and I went to

I took desperate measures and I went to the library and found a secret weapon

the library and found a secret weapon

the library and found a secret weapon Bobby Fischer teaches chess don’t worry

Bobby Fischer teaches chess don’t worry

Bobby Fischer teaches chess don’t worry this is not that copy 300 pages filled

this is not that copy 300 pages filled

this is not that copy 300 pages filled with exercises designed to make me into

with exercises designed to make me into

with exercises designed to make me into an international chess grandmaster three

an international chess grandmaster three

an international chess grandmaster three months later and I turned the tables

months later and I turned the tables

months later and I turned the tables haha dad sorry

haha dad sorry

haha dad sorry checkmate alright I might be a little

checkmate alright I might be a little

checkmate alright I might be a little too competitive that might be hereditary

too competitive that might be hereditary

too competitive that might be hereditary or it might just be the fact that you

or it might just be the fact that you

or it might just be the fact that you and I live in a very competitive world

and I live in a very competitive world

and I live in a very competitive world it starts when we’re born we don’t even

it starts when we’re born we don’t even

it starts when we’re born we don’t even know what our parents are bragging about

know what our parents are bragging about

know what our parents are bragging about how long it took us to roll over look

how long it took us to roll over look

how long it took us to roll over look look at Billy next door he’s just laying

look at Billy next door he’s just laying

look at Billy next door he’s just laying there how quick sadly managed to pull up

there how quick sadly managed to pull up

there how quick sadly managed to pull up or oh how fast you learn to walk yeah my

or oh how fast you learn to walk yeah my

or oh how fast you learn to walk yeah my mom’s still waiting to brag about that

mom’s still waiting to brag about that

mom’s still waiting to brag about that one

you get older and teachers grade you and

you get older and teachers grade you and peers judge you even the lunch lady

peers judge you even the lunch lady

peers judge you even the lunch lady gives you that evil eye you sure you

gives you that evil eye you sure you

gives you that evil eye you sure you need that but then you grow up you get a

need that but then you grow up you get a

need that but then you grow up you get a job and you end up in a performance

job and you end up in a performance

job and you end up in a performance review not again you know much of our

review not again you know much of our

review not again you know much of our world is built on the fact that they

world is built on the fact that they

world is built on the fact that they think they win when they make you feel

think they win when they make you feel

think they win when they make you feel you’ve lost they tell us what winning

you’ve lost they tell us what winning

you’ve lost they tell us what winning and losing is and wealth power beauty

and losing is and wealth power beauty

and losing is and wealth power beauty they even tell us whether we smell like

they even tell us whether we smell like

they even tell us whether we smell like a winner or a loser well I guess they

a winner or a loser well I guess they

a winner or a loser well I guess they can fix that eat here wear this drive

can fix that eat here wear this drive

can fix that eat here wear this drive that we’re exposed to thousands of

that we’re exposed to thousands of

that we’re exposed to thousands of messages every day that either imply or

messages every day that either imply or

messages every day that either imply or outright declare that we are losers

outright declare that we are losers

outright declare that we are losers unless we do think and purchase what

unless we do think and purchase what

unless we do think and purchase what they tell us to do think and purchase

ask yourself are you who you always

ask yourself are you who you always wanted to be or who the world has told

wanted to be or who the world has told

wanted to be or who the world has told you to become now here’s the truth life

you to become now here’s the truth life

you to become now here’s the truth life is not a competition I want to hear you

is not a competition I want to hear you

is not a competition I want to hear you say that life is not a competition life

say that life is not a competition life

say that life is not a competition life is not a competition I know we’re

is not a competition I know we’re

is not a competition I know we’re programmed to think otherwise we think

programmed to think otherwise we think

programmed to think otherwise we think in terms of winning and losing and what

in terms of winning and losing and what

in terms of winning and losing and what the standards are in rankings and

the standards are in rankings and

the standards are in rankings and comparing ourselves to the thoughts of

comparing ourselves to the thoughts of

comparing ourselves to the thoughts of others but I don’t want to live in a

others but I don’t want to live in a

others but I don’t want to live in a world like that and you don’t need to

world like that and you don’t need to

world like that and you don’t need to either you could deserve better you

either you could deserve better you

either you could deserve better you deserve to be able to define your own

deserve to be able to define your own

deserve to be able to define your own victories to live a self-defined life to

victories to live a self-defined life to

victories to live a self-defined life to win anyway but what does that

win anyway but what does that

win anyway but what does that like let me take you back when I was

like let me take you back when I was

like let me take you back when I was nine years old my friend Jeff and I used

nine years old my friend Jeff and I used

nine years old my friend Jeff and I used to play superheroes

to play superheroes

to play superheroes I was always Batman and Jeff was always

I was always Batman and Jeff was always

I was always Batman and Jeff was always Superman because as he’s magically

Superman because as he’s magically

Superman because as he’s magically appeared has the glasses the saran shirt

appeared has the glasses the saran shirt

appeared has the glasses the saran shirt and the wonderful black hair to go with

and the wonderful black hair to go with

and the wonderful black hair to go with it when we weren’t playing superhero he

it when we weren’t playing superhero he

it when we weren’t playing superhero he was playing director his dad had bought

was playing director his dad had bought

was playing director his dad had bought him a super 8 movie camera that’s a

him a super 8 movie camera that’s a

him a super 8 movie camera that’s a really old movie camera that actually

really old movie camera that actually

really old movie camera that actually used film and he would make superhero

used film and he would make superhero

used film and he would make superhero movies not Superman or Batman but

movies not Superman or Batman but

movies not Superman or Batman but spider-man movies because his mom had

spider-man movies because his mom had

spider-man movies because his mom had made a spider-man outfit there you go on

made a spider-man outfit there you go on

made a spider-man outfit there you go on the roof believe it or not his friend

the roof believe it or not his friend

the roof believe it or not his friend Mike would pick play the superhero and I

Mike would pick play the superhero and I

Mike would pick play the superhero and I was always the villain supervillainess

was always the villain supervillainess

was always the villain supervillainess great smile I guess the limping guy

great smile I guess the limping guy

great smile I guess the limping guy always gets to be the bad guy I think it

always gets to be the bad guy I think it

always gets to be the bad guy I think it was profiling Jeff knew exactly what he

was profiling Jeff knew exactly what he

was profiling Jeff knew exactly what he wanted to be at 9 years old he carried

wanted to be at 9 years old he carried

wanted to be at 9 years old he carried his dream with him all the way to the

his dream with him all the way to the

his dream with him all the way to the University of Southern California where

University of Southern California where

University of Southern California where he went to the film school getting out

he went to the film school getting out

he went to the film school getting out of the film school even though but they

of the film school even though but they

of the film school even though but they say the odds are of actually becoming a

say the odds are of actually becoming a

say the odds are of actually becoming a director out of film school are slim to

director out of film school are slim to

director out of film school are slim to none he charged forward he worked on

none he charged forward he worked on

none he charged forward he worked on small films like things to do in Denver

small films like things to do in Denver

small films like things to do in Denver when you’re dead you got a break working

when you’re dead you got a break working

when you’re dead you got a break working on the film editing crew for as good as

on the film editing crew for as good as

on the film editing crew for as good as it gets with Jack Nicholson Helen Hunt

it gets with Jack Nicholson Helen Hunt

it gets with Jack Nicholson Helen Hunt then after years paying his dues he got

then after years paying his dues he got

then after years paying his dues he got a head honcho job as a film editor for a

a head honcho job as a film editor for a

a head honcho job as a film editor for a film nobody was really sure was going to

film nobody was really sure was going to

film nobody was really sure was going to work or not that movie Captain America

work or not that movie Captain America

work or not that movie Captain America 370 million dollars world

370 million dollars world

370 million dollars world and it launched the Avengers franchise

and it launched the Avengers franchise

and it launched the Avengers franchise in combination with Iron Man when I

in combination with Iron Man when I

in combination with Iron Man when I talked to him last week he was in

talked to him last week he was in

talked to him last week he was in Atlanta currently working on the new

Atlanta currently working on the new

Atlanta currently working on the new Avengers film but if he talked to the

Avengers film but if he talked to the

Avengers film but if he talked to the world Jeff is a loser remember he didn’t

world Jeff is a loser remember he didn’t

world Jeff is a loser remember he didn’t want to be a film editor he wanted to be

want to be a film editor he wanted to be

want to be a film editor he wanted to be a director he had devoted his entire

a director he had devoted his entire

a director he had devoted his entire life to one goal and fallen short

life to one goal and fallen short

life to one goal and fallen short checkmate but if you talk to him he

checkmate but if you talk to him he

checkmate but if you talk to him he doesn’t think he’s a loser huh Jeff when

doesn’t think he’s a loser huh Jeff when

doesn’t think he’s a loser huh Jeff when I asked him are you upset that you

I asked him are you upset that you

I asked him are you upset that you didn’t ever become a director he said no

didn’t ever become a director he said no

didn’t ever become a director he said no not really rich I get to do what I

not really rich I get to do what I

not really rich I get to do what I always thought I’d be getting to do as a

always thought I’d be getting to do as a

always thought I’d be getting to do as a director I get to make sure that the

director I get to make sure that the

director I get to make sure that the actors appear in the film in the best

actors appear in the film in the best

actors appear in the film in the best way possible I get to help control the

way possible I get to help control the

way possible I get to help control the shots and the flow of the movie and the

shots and the flow of the movie and the

shots and the flow of the movie and the energy I’m responsible and time in fact

energy I’m responsible and time in fact

energy I’m responsible and time in fact for the plot lines to a degree to get

for the plot lines to a degree to get

for the plot lines to a degree to get some input and I’m responsible for what

some input and I’m responsible for what

some input and I’m responsible for what finally ends up on the screen I’m having

finally ends up on the screen I’m having

finally ends up on the screen I’m having the time of my life I get to travel all

the time of my life I get to travel all

the time of my life I get to travel all over the world work with the best people

over the world work with the best people

over the world work with the best people and yet I don’t have to have all the

and yet I don’t have to have all the

and yet I don’t have to have all the responsibilities of a director Jeff in

responsibilities of a director Jeff in

responsibilities of a director Jeff in his own way without even realizing it

his own way without even realizing it

his own way without even realizing it was winning anyway is winning anyway

was winning anyway is winning anyway

was winning anyway is winning anyway now when you deconstruct what Jeff

now when you deconstruct what Jeff

now when you deconstruct what Jeff intuitively did you end up with a

intuitively did you end up with a

intuitively did you end up with a motivational speakers dream that is a

motivational speakers dream that is a

motivational speakers dream that is a magical formula for success yes a

magical formula for success yes a

magical formula for success yes a process for winning anyway first review

process for winning anyway first review

process for winning anyway first review where am I what have I done

where am I what have I done

where am I what have I done where am I in comparison to the goal

where am I in comparison to the goal

where am I in comparison to the goal that i said ii acknowledge i have

that i said ii acknowledge i have

that i said ii acknowledge i have achieved this i’ve fallen short here but

achieved this i’ve fallen short here but

achieved this i’ve fallen short here but i’ve managed to accomplish this this and

i’ve managed to accomplish this this and

i’ve managed to accomplish this this and this

this

this and then celebrate that celebrate what

and then celebrate that celebrate what

and then celebrate that celebrate what you’ve gotten to do how far you have

you’ve gotten to do how far you have

you’ve gotten to do how far you have come because you’re gonna need to

come because you’re gonna need to

come because you’re gonna need to celebrate to build up your energy and

celebrate to build up your energy and

celebrate to build up your energy and your self-esteem to move on to step

your self-esteem to move on to step

your self-esteem to move on to step three which is reset either figure out a

three which is reset either figure out a

three which is reset either figure out a new way to go after the same goal that

new way to go after the same goal that

new way to go after the same goal that you want to keep going after or like

you want to keep going after or like

you want to keep going after or like Jeff reformulate what you’re gonna do

Jeff reformulate what you’re gonna do

Jeff reformulate what you’re gonna do and go after a new goal and then fourth

and go after a new goal and then fourth

and go after a new goal and then fourth axe take action if you learn nothing

axe take action if you learn nothing

axe take action if you learn nothing from what all these other speakers do

from what all these other speakers do

from what all these other speakers do they have talked about you have to take

they have talked about you have to take

they have talked about you have to take action you can’t just think about it you

action you can’t just think about it you

action you can’t just think about it you have to do something but you’re thinking

have to do something but you’re thinking

have to do something but you’re thinking to yourself I know rich that’s great

to yourself I know rich that’s great

to yourself I know rich that’s great that’s great for somebody who’s worried

that’s great for somebody who’s worried

that’s great for somebody who’s worried about a career or money but I don’t care

about a career or money but I don’t care

about a career or money but I don’t care I don’t need to compare myself to

I don’t need to compare myself to

I don’t need to compare myself to anything I don’t care what the world

anything I don’t care what the world

anything I don’t care what the world thinks in my life still is bad my life

thinks in my life still is bad my life

thinks in my life still is bad my life has bad things happening you don’t

has bad things happening you don’t

has bad things happening you don’t understand me but I do bad things happen

understand me but I do bad things happen

understand me but I do bad things happen in my life bad things happen to my

in my life bad things happen to my

in my life bad things happen to my family bad things happen to my daughter

family bad things happen to my daughter

family bad things happen to my daughter Bailey Bailey was born with

Bailey Bailey was born with

Bailey Bailey was born with neurofibromatosis I don’t know how many

neurofibromatosis I don’t know how many

neurofibromatosis I don’t know how many of you in here have heard of that but

of you in here have heard of that but

of you in here have heard of that but I’m willing to bet it’s a very small

I’m willing to bet it’s a very small

I’m willing to bet it’s a very small percentage it is the least known most

percentage it is the least known most

percentage it is the least known most common genetic disorder there is it

common genetic disorder there is it

common genetic disorder there is it affects 1 in 3,000 people more than

affects 1 in 3,000 people more than

affects 1 in 3,000 people more than multiple sclerosis muscular dystrophy or

multiple sclerosis muscular dystrophy or

multiple sclerosis muscular dystrophy or cystic fibrosis but you’ve heard of all

cystic fibrosis but you’ve heard of all

cystic fibrosis but you’ve heard of all those it creates tumors at the end of

those it creates tumors at the end of

those it creates tumors at the end of your nerve endings that can be inside or

your nerve endings that can be inside or

your nerve endings that can be inside or they can be outside sometimes they’re

they can be outside sometimes they’re

they can be outside sometimes they’re just cosmetic sometimes they can be

just cosmetic sometimes they can be

just cosmetic sometimes they can be life-threatening and NF is a progressive

life-threatening and NF is a progressive

life-threatening and NF is a progressive disorder so no matter how you’re doing

disorder so no matter how you’re doing

disorder so no matter how you’re doing today you’re always waiting for tomorrow

today you’re always waiting for tomorrow

today you’re always waiting for tomorrow and next year to see where it takes you

and next year to see where it takes you

and next year to see where it takes you neurofibromatosis usually comes with

neurofibromatosis usually comes with

neurofibromatosis usually comes with Asperger’s or

Asperger’s or

Asperger’s or and autism somewhere on the autism

and autism somewhere on the autism

and autism somewhere on the autism spectrum sometimes with mental delays

spectrum sometimes with mental delays

spectrum sometimes with mental delays and other challenges Bayley suffers from

and other challenges Bayley suffers from

and other challenges Bayley suffers from those as well while she has no external

those as well while she has no external

those as well while she has no external tumors if she walked in the room right

tumors if she walked in the room right

tumors if she walked in the room right now you wouldn’t think anything was

now you wouldn’t think anything was

now you wouldn’t think anything was wrong with her when she was 15 we found

wrong with her when she was 15 we found

wrong with her when she was 15 we found out that she had an internal tumor right

out that she had an internal tumor right

out that she had an internal tumor right in the middle of her brain and it’s non

in the middle of her brain and it’s non

in the middle of her brain and it’s non cancerous but I can still grow and if it

cancerous but I can still grow and if it

cancerous but I can still grow and if it grows too much in that spot our mom and

grows too much in that spot our mom and

grows too much in that spot our mom and I took mediate action we knew we had to

I took mediate action we knew we had to

I took mediate action we knew we had to be aggressive with this and so we opted

be aggressive with this and so we opted

be aggressive with this and so we opted for chemotherapy after three months of

for chemotherapy after three months of

for chemotherapy after three months of chemo we were actually excited to go

chemo we were actually excited to go

chemo we were actually excited to go into the doctor to find out that we’d

into the doctor to find out that we’d

into the doctor to find out that we’d done the right thing at the tumor had

done the right thing at the tumor had

done the right thing at the tumor had shrunk and the Bailey was gonna get

shrunk and the Bailey was gonna get

shrunk and the Bailey was gonna get better when the doctor came in we could

better when the doctor came in we could

better when the doctor came in we could tell by the look on his face the tumor

tell by the look on his face the tumor

tell by the look on his face the tumor had doubled in size chemotherapy was

had doubled in size chemotherapy was

had doubled in size chemotherapy was going to have to continue I looked at

going to have to continue I looked at

going to have to continue I looked at Bailey do you know what this means she

Bailey do you know what this means she

Bailey do you know what this means she shrugged her shoulders so what do you

shrugged her shoulders so what do you

shrugged her shoulders so what do you want to do and I don’t know on the way

want to do and I don’t know on the way

want to do and I don’t know on the way home can we get a slushie what don’t you

home can we get a slushie what don’t you

home can we get a slushie what don’t you get it don’t you understand I thought

get it don’t you understand I thought

get it don’t you understand I thought this I did not say this because of

this I did not say this because of

this I did not say this because of course she understood she understood

course she understood she understood

course she understood she understood what she could control and what she

what she could control and what she

what she could control and what she couldn’t she could control whether or

couldn’t she could control whether or

couldn’t she could control whether or not we got a slushie on the way home and

not we got a slushie on the way home and

not we got a slushie on the way home and we did and she got a slushie with all

we did and she got a slushie with all

we did and she got a slushie with all the colors of the rainbow a few weeks

the colors of the rainbow a few weeks

the colors of the rainbow a few weeks later we were approaching her sweet 16

later we were approaching her sweet 16

later we were approaching her sweet 16 asked her what she wanted for her

asked her what she wanted for her

asked her what she wanted for her birthday she looked up and said dad I

birthday she looked up and said dad I

birthday she looked up and said dad I just want to know that I’m gonna turn 17

this year she turned 21 Bailey is living

this year she turned 21 Bailey is living life on her terms controlling what she

life on her terms controlling what she

life on her terms controlling what she can control whether it’s making hats for

can control whether it’s making hats for

can control whether it’s making hats for cancer patients cancer kids at

cancer patients cancer kids at

cancer patients cancer kids at Children’s Hospital or making plans with

Children’s Hospital or making plans with

Children’s Hospital or making plans with her boyfriend of 12 months she is

her boyfriend of 12 months she is

her boyfriend of 12 months she is winning anyway by living anyway now

winning anyway by living anyway now

winning anyway by living anyway now let’s go back review acknowledge reset

let’s go back review acknowledge reset

let’s go back review acknowledge reset and act if you think it’s a coincidence

and act if you think it’s a coincidence

and act if you think it’s a coincidence that the first letters of those words

that the first letters of those words

that the first letters of those words are ra ra yes I should do that for you

are ra ra yes I should do that for you

are ra ra yes I should do that for you ra ra rah-rah then you’ve never tried to

ra ra rah-rah then you’ve never tried to

ra ra rah-rah then you’ve never tried to be a motivational speaker before you

be a motivational speaker before you

be a motivational speaker before you need to cheer yourself on to victory

need to cheer yourself on to victory

need to cheer yourself on to victory your victory is your choice no matter

your victory is your choice no matter

your victory is your choice no matter what the world tells you no matter what

what the world tells you no matter what

what the world tells you no matter what they throw at you your goals are your

they throw at you your goals are your

they throw at you your goals are your choice your victories can be defined by

choice your victories can be defined by

choice your victories can be defined by you you can be whoever you want to be in

you you can be whoever you want to be in

you you can be whoever you want to be in life and you can tell the world to go to

life and you can tell the world to go to

life and you can tell the world to go to to go jump in a lake you can laugh

to go jump in a lake you can laugh

to go jump in a lake you can laugh anyway

anyway

anyway you can dance anyway you can live any

you can dance anyway you can live any

you can dance anyway you can live any way you can love anyway you can win

way you can love anyway you can win

way you can love anyway you can win anyway because your victory is just

anyway because your victory is just

anyway because your victory is just around the corner

”

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