means never ever ever give up Chicken Soup for the Soul was rejected by a
Soup for the Soul was rejected by a
Soup for the Soul was rejected by a hundred and forty-four publishers 144
hundred and forty-four publishers 144
hundred and forty-four publishers 144 publishers said we don’t want to publish
publishers said we don’t want to publish
publishers said we don’t want to publish a collection of short stories the title
a collection of short stories the title
a collection of short stories the title stupid chiken sisters a soul what does
stupid chiken sisters a soul what does
stupid chiken sisters a soul what does that mean people don’t buy collections
that mean people don’t buy collections
that mean people don’t buy collections of short stories has never been you know
of short stories has never been you know
of short stories has never been you know successful chain of doing that so
successful chain of doing that so
successful chain of doing that so literally we spent 14 months trying to
literally we spent 14 months trying to
literally we spent 14 months trying to find a publisher and we go to New York
find a publisher and we go to New York
find a publisher and we go to New York with our agent eventually our agent gave
with our agent eventually our agent gave
with our agent eventually our agent gave us the book back and said I can’t tell
us the book back and said I can’t tell
us the book back and said I can’t tell them so we went to the National
them so we went to the National
them so we went to the National booksellers Association convention down
booksellers Association convention down
booksellers Association convention down in Anaheim
in Anaheim
in Anaheim we went from booth to booth to booth
we went from booth to booth to booth
we went from booth to booth to booth three days and there were 4,000
three days and there were 4,000
three days and there were 4,000 publishers representative where we go
publishers representative where we go
publishers representative where we go with the publisher book would be
with the publisher book would be
with the publisher book would be published the book that he published a
published the book that he published a
published the book that he published a book and we got no no no no no it was
book and we got no no no no no it was
book and we got no no no no no it was late on the third day the world
late on the third day the world
late on the third day the world publishers from Florida after we’ve
publishers from Florida after we’ve
publishers from Florida after we’ve gotten over 144 rejection said we’ll
gotten over 144 rejection said we’ll
gotten over 144 rejection said we’ll read it and then they said we said well
read it and then they said we said well
read it and then they said we said well how many copies you think we’ll sell
how many copies you think we’ll sell
how many copies you think we’ll sell after they said go we’ll buy the
after they said go we’ll buy the
after they said go we’ll buy the complete series and we’ll publish it and
complete series and we’ll publish it and
complete series and we’ll publish it and we said we’ll maybe 20,000 if we’re
we said we’ll maybe 20,000 if we’re
we said we’ll maybe 20,000 if we’re lucky and we said we are going to sell a
lucky and we said we are going to sell a
lucky and we said we are going to sell a million that half of the year
million that half of the year
million that half of the year now if you ever told someone your dream
now if you ever told someone your dream
now if you ever told someone your dream and had them laugh out loud you now if
and had them laugh out loud you now if
and had them laugh out loud you now if we have given up after a hundred
we have given up after a hundred
we have given up after a hundred publishers had said no I wouldn’t be
publishers had said no I wouldn’t be
publishers had said no I wouldn’t be standing here today you know wouldn’t it
standing here today you know wouldn’t it
standing here today you know wouldn’t it happen and so you’ve got to be willing
happen and so you’ve got to be willing
happen and so you’ve got to be willing to persevere because we didn’t take no
to persevere because we didn’t take no
to persevere because we didn’t take no see when the world says no you say next
see when the world says no you say next
see when the world says no you say next so what we have is this endless
so what we have is this endless
so what we have is this endless possibility but you have to persevere
possibility but you have to persevere
possibility but you have to persevere it’s as if the universe tests our
it’s as if the universe tests our
it’s as if the universe tests our commitment and so today we have a
commitment and so today we have a
commitment and so today we have a hundred and forty seven titles in print
hundred and forty seven titles in print
hundred and forty seven titles in print we’ve sold over 115 million copies
we’ve sold over 115 million copies
we’ve sold over 115 million copies we’re in 47 languages and over a billion
we’re in 47 languages and over a billion
we’re in 47 languages and over a billion dollars worth of Chicken Soup for the
dollars worth of Chicken Soup for the
dollars worth of Chicken Soup for the Soul books have been sold worldwide so
Soul books have been sold worldwide so
Soul books have been sold worldwide so if you’re willing to decide what you
if you’re willing to decide what you
if you’re willing to decide what you want believe it’s possible consciously
want believe it’s possible consciously
want believe it’s possible consciously envision the future feel the feelings of
envision the future feel the feelings of
envision the future feel the feelings of what it would feel like if you would
what it would feel like if you would
what it would feel like if you would achieve this goal you can have anything
achieve this goal you can have anything
achieve this goal you can have anything and then you take action both obvious
and then you take action both obvious
and then you take action both obvious actions and inspired action you can do
actions and inspired action you can do
actions and inspired action you can do anything
you don’t pay a lot attention to reviews
you don’t pay a lot attention to reviews those kind of things
those kind of things
those kind of things well you know you’re always affected by
well you know you’re always affected by
well you know you’re always affected by opinion but the more opinions there are
opinion but the more opinions there are
opinion but the more opinions there are of users more the less I look at them
of users more the less I look at them
of users more the less I look at them because I just can’t live my life based
because I just can’t live my life based
because I just can’t live my life based upon what other people think about so I
upon what other people think about so I
upon what other people think about so I can’t concern myself too much with
can’t concern myself too much with
can’t concern myself too much with another piece of things just not healthy
another piece of things just not healthy
another piece of things just not healthy I don’t think I can I could continue to
I don’t think I can I could continue to
I don’t think I can I could continue to do what I do
do what I do
do what I do constantly learn about what somebody
constantly learn about what somebody
constantly learn about what somebody thought about it
you know every time you lose something
you know every time you lose something you’re one Supporter winning the next
you’re one Supporter winning the next
you’re one Supporter winning the next time the difference between successful
time the difference between successful
time the difference between successful people are not exactly
people are not exactly
people are not exactly other people didn’t but the hardest
other people didn’t but the hardest
other people didn’t but the hardest thing like to learn is to lose when you
thing like to learn is to lose when you
thing like to learn is to lose when you do when you’re happy you get a high five
do when you’re happy you get a high five
do when you’re happy you get a high five your friends are happy it’s your ability
your friends are happy it’s your ability
your friends are happy it’s your ability to take a loss get up the next day dust
to take a loss get up the next day dust
to take a loss get up the next day dust yourself off and keep going I have lost
yourself off and keep going I have lost
yourself off and keep going I have lost it everything you can imagine
it everything you can imagine
it everything you can imagine seriously we have I have been beat up
seriously we have I have been beat up
seriously we have I have been beat up and pushed down and everything that can
and pushed down and everything that can
and pushed down and everything that can go wrong has gone wrong for me but I
go wrong has gone wrong for me but I
go wrong has gone wrong for me but I just kept going
just kept going
just kept going [Music]
in the acting business you fail all the
in the acting business you fail all the time early on in my career I auditioned
time early on in my career I auditioned
time early on in my career I auditioned for a pardon Broadway
for a pardon Broadway
for a pardon Broadway perfect role for me I thought
but here’s the thing
but here’s the thing I didn’t quit
I didn’t fall back
I didn’t fall back I walked out of there to prepare for the
I walked out of there to prepare for the
I walked out of there to prepare for the next audition and the next audition and
next audition and the next audition and
next audition and the next audition and the next week I prayed I prayed and I
the next week I prayed I prayed and I
the next week I prayed I prayed and I prayed but I continued to fail and fail
so you will catch a break and I did
so you will catch a break and I did catch a break
catch a break
catch a break last year I did a play called fences on
last year I did a play called fences on
last year I did a play called fences on Broadway won the Tony Awards but here’s
Broadway won the Tony Awards but here’s
Broadway won the Tony Awards but here’s the kicker
the kicker
the kicker he was at the Court Theatre it was at
he was at the Court Theatre it was at
he was at the Court Theatre it was at the same theatre that I failed at first
the same theatre that I failed at first
the same theatre that I failed at first audition 30 years prior
which your ability to take a walk get up
which your ability to take a walk get up the next day dust yourself off and keep
the next day dust yourself off and keep
the next day dust yourself off and keep going I have lost that everything you
going I have lost that everything you
going I have lost that everything you can imagine
can imagine
can imagine seriously we have I am going beat up and
seriously we have I am going beat up and
seriously we have I am going beat up and put down and everything that can go
put down and everything that can go
put down and everything that can go wrong has gone wrong for me like I just
wrong has gone wrong for me like I just
wrong has gone wrong for me like I just opponent
opponent
opponent [Music]
for those of you that have experienced
for those of you that have experienced some hardships don’t give up on your
some hardships don’t give up on your
some hardships don’t give up on your dream no one could have convinced me by
dream no one could have convinced me by
dream no one could have convinced me by holding off by continuing to push
holding off by continuing to push
holding off by continuing to push forward by continuing to run toward my
forward by continuing to run toward my
forward by continuing to run toward my dream and one day I would have my own
dream and one day I would have my own
dream and one day I would have my own truck show it’s a longshot later the
truck show it’s a longshot later the
truck show it’s a longshot later the gentleman from Liberty fit in abandoned
gentleman from Liberty fit in abandoned
gentleman from Liberty fit in abandoned building Auto floor
building Auto floor
building Auto floor never knowing my mother father it’s a
never knowing my mother father it’s a
never knowing my mother father it’s a long shot being here with you today in
long shot being here with you today in
long shot being here with you today in this Dome in Atlanta – long shot no
this Dome in Atlanta – long shot no
this Dome in Atlanta – long shot no college training labeled educable
college training labeled educable
college training labeled educable mentally product but I kept ready to
mentally product but I kept ready to
mentally product but I kept ready to walk my dream
I think I was an insatiable appetite to
I think I was an insatiable appetite to make things ensure things of the world I
make things ensure things of the world I
make things ensure things of the world I have you know I’m compelled beyond a
have you know I’m compelled beyond a
have you know I’m compelled beyond a reasonable doubt to be like you I don’t
reasonable doubt to be like you I don’t
reasonable doubt to be like you I don’t think that it can be a reasonably
think that it can be a reasonably
think that it can be a reasonably logical choice I get a certain point you
logical choice I get a certain point you
logical choice I get a certain point you come
come
come and painful – brutal – the rock of half
and painful – brutal – the rock of half
and painful – brutal – the rock of half the state so I think that that
the state so I think that that
the state so I think that that compulsion has to be there has to be
compulsion has to be there has to be
compulsion has to be there has to be something that you you can doubt all the
something that you you can doubt all the
something that you you can doubt all the time but it be down the side you know
time but it be down the side you know
time but it be down the side you know that this is something you have to do
that this is something you have to do
that this is something you have to do and you know I think I’ve dealt with
and you know I think I’ve dealt with
and you know I think I’ve dealt with some of the adversity some of the
some of the adversity some of the
some of the adversity some of the challenges of which we’ve had many you
challenges of which we’ve had many you
challenges of which we’ve had many you know I started a band in the world
know I started a band in the world
know I started a band in the world laughed at me and we’ve had an
laughed at me and we’ve had an
laughed at me and we’ve had an incredible life as a result so if I have
incredible life as a result so if I have
incredible life as a result so if I have listened to the choir the chorus of
listened to the choir the chorus of
listened to the choir the chorus of everyone I would have stopped because
everyone I would have stopped because
everyone I would have stopped because that’s what people want you to do for
that’s what people want you to do for
that’s what people want you to do for some reason some people would rather
some reason some people would rather
some reason some people would rather kill your
kill your
kill your I don’t know what that is you know you
I don’t know what that is you know you
I don’t know what that is you know you know I think it’s important to be
know I think it’s important to be
know I think it’s important to be stubborn and to follow your dreams in
stubborn and to follow your dreams in
stubborn and to follow your dreams in that way
what do something has never done before
what do something has never done before and I don’t know how but I can imagine
and I don’t know how but I can imagine
and I don’t know how but I can imagine I want to engage in the unknown I
I want to engage in the unknown I
I want to engage in the unknown I truthfully want to pursue the unknown
truthfully want to pursue the unknown
truthfully want to pursue the unknown and in the pursuit of the unknown
and in the pursuit of the unknown
and in the pursuit of the unknown something else to represent and
something else to represent and
something else to represent and unmemorable here so when I set out to do
unmemorable here so when I set out to do
unmemorable here so when I set out to do what I set out to do I should have to be
what I set out to do I should have to be
what I set out to do I should have to be fast everybody told me you’re not you
fast everybody told me you’re not you
fast everybody told me you’re not you can’t do that you can’t do that and
can’t do that you can’t do that and
can’t do that you can’t do that and that’s also consistent with all
that’s also consistent with all
that’s also consistent with all entrepreneurs there’s always a legion of
entrepreneurs there’s always a legion of
entrepreneurs there’s always a legion of people who will tell them you can’t do
people who will tell them you can’t do
people who will tell them you can’t do that and even if you could lie with you
that and even if you could lie with you
that and even if you could lie with you there’s so many veterans
well the biggest struggle man was just
well the biggest struggle man was just getting around other people that would
getting around other people that would
getting around other people that would say I could do it that’s the biggest
say I could do it that’s the biggest
say I could do it that’s the biggest struggle just you get around one guy
struggle just you get around one guy
struggle just you get around one guy says yeah you can do it and then you
says yeah you can do it and then you
says yeah you can do it and then you talk to him tomorrow you guys validated
you know there’s so few people telling
you know there’s so few people telling you to do it you know if there is a lot
you to do it you know if there is a lot
you to do it you know if there is a lot of save your money protect yourself
of save your money protect yourself
of save your money protect yourself conserve don’t scream don’t take you
conserve don’t scream don’t take you
conserve don’t scream don’t take you taking risk is the new way to be risk
taking risk is the new way to be risk
taking risk is the new way to be risk averse so which is the biggest struggle
averse so which is the biggest struggle
averse so which is the biggest struggle for me with my family and the people
for me with my family and the people
for me with my family and the people closest to me with the biggest start
closest to me with the biggest start
closest to me with the biggest start every time I went out to do another deal
every time I went out to do another deal
every time I went out to do another deal everybody told me you don’t need to do
everybody told me you don’t need to do
everybody told me you don’t need to do that man it wants to be accelerated on
that man it wants to be accelerated on
that man it wants to be accelerated on and then you got somebody in the back
and then you got somebody in the back
and then you got somebody in the back seat say hey be careful nobody likes it
seat say hey be careful nobody likes it
seat say hey be careful nobody likes it back to the driver okay so they’re
back to the driver okay so they’re
back to the driver okay so they’re sitting there they’re putting their
sitting there they’re putting their
sitting there they’re putting their putting mental pressure on the brakes
putting mental pressure on the brakes
putting mental pressure on the brakes when you’re trying to accelerate
”
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