so thank you for the warm introduction my name is Frankie I’m 24 years old I I
my name is Frankie I’m 24 years old I I
my name is Frankie I’m 24 years old I I still live with my mom I live in the
still live with my mom I live in the
still live with my mom I live in the same small town that I grew up in never
same small town that I grew up in never
same small town that I grew up in never really been actually outside of Memphis
really been actually outside of Memphis
really been actually outside of Memphis for longer than six months reason why I
for longer than six months reason why I
for longer than six months reason why I wanted to tell you this when I was
wanted to tell you this when I was
wanted to tell you this when I was thinking through this talking what I was
thinking through this talking what I was
thinking through this talking what I was going to talk about I was trying to
going to talk about I was trying to
going to talk about I was trying to think through what I would have wanted
think through what I would have wanted
think through what I would have wanted to know when I was high phone one was
to know when I was high phone one was
to know when I was high phone one was still just iPhone I was graduating from
still just iPhone I was graduating from
still just iPhone I was graduating from high school and the question that you
high school and the question that you
high school and the question that you get during this stage of your life from
get during this stage of your life from
get during this stage of your life from pretty much everybody is what are you
pretty much everybody is what are you
pretty much everybody is what are you gonna do when I got that question seven
gonna do when I got that question seven
gonna do when I got that question seven years ago I remember telling people that
years ago I remember telling people that
years ago I remember telling people that uh I was on my way to college I was I
uh I was on my way to college I was I
uh I was on my way to college I was I was set to be a first-generation college
was set to be a first-generation college
was set to be a first-generation college student and that I was looking at law or
student and that I was looking at law or
student and that I was looking at law or finance and I want to travel the world
finance and I want to travel the world
finance and I want to travel the world obviously flash-forward seven years I’ve
obviously flash-forward seven years I’ve
obviously flash-forward seven years I’ve failed I don’t work in law or finance I
failed I don’t work in law or finance I
failed I don’t work in law or finance I still live in Millington Tennessee so
still live in Millington Tennessee so
still live in Millington Tennessee so you may be asking yourself why is he
you may be asking yourself why is he
you may be asking yourself why is he giving a TED talk you know he must have
giving a TED talk you know he must have
giving a TED talk you know he must have had some sort of success the truth is
had some sort of success the truth is
had some sort of success the truth is that not only was i lying to myself when
that not only was i lying to myself when
that not only was i lying to myself when I was telling people what I was gonna do
I was telling people what I was gonna do
I was telling people what I was gonna do when I grow up I was being irrational
when I grow up I was being irrational
when I grow up I was being irrational sixty-five percent of jobs that’ll be
sixty-five percent of jobs that’ll be
sixty-five percent of jobs that’ll be available to students entering primary
available to students entering primary
available to students entering primary school today aren’t even on our radar
school today aren’t even on our radar
school today aren’t even on our radar yet right now I have two jobs neither of
yet right now I have two jobs neither of
yet right now I have two jobs neither of which were available to me when I was
which were available to me when I was
which were available to me when I was graduating high school neither of them
graduating high school neither of them
graduating high school neither of them are in law or Finance so what do I do
are in law or Finance so what do I do
are in law or Finance so what do I do what was I going to do dope stuff and I
what was I going to do dope stuff and I
what was I going to do dope stuff and I do have an opportunity to you pretty
do have an opportunity to you pretty
do have an opportunity to you pretty dope stuff every day including this TED
dope stuff every day including this TED
dope stuff every day including this TED talk
talk
talk when I got to college I went to a small
when I got to college I went to a small
when I got to college I went to a small liberal arts college about 20 miles
liberal arts college about 20 miles
liberal arts college about 20 miles north of my hometown and I just like
north of my hometown and I just like
north of my hometown and I just like many first-generation college students I
many first-generation college students I
many first-generation college students I had no idea what I was gonna pursue or
had no idea what I was gonna pursue or
had no idea what I was gonna pursue or anything like that
anything like that
anything like that I ended up taking a couple classes in
I ended up taking a couple classes in
I ended up taking a couple classes in political science two years into my
political science two years into my
political science two years into my college career a little scandal happened
college career a little scandal happened
college career a little scandal happened back in my hometown right north and I
back in my hometown right north and I
back in my hometown right north and I went to a Board of Aldermen meeting so
went to a Board of Aldermen meeting so
went to a Board of Aldermen meeting so it’s like the City Council runs the city
it’s like the City Council runs the city
it’s like the City Council runs the city that type deal and what I realized was
that type deal and what I realized was
that type deal and what I realized was that’s nobody that was representing me
that’s nobody that was representing me
that’s nobody that was representing me in my hometown I didn’t know any of them
in my hometown I didn’t know any of them
in my hometown I didn’t know any of them I had been student government presidents
I had been student government presidents
I had been student government presidents like captain of a football team really
like captain of a football team really
like captain of a football team really successful high school career but I
successful high school career but I
successful high school career but I didn’t know any of these people so to me
didn’t know any of these people so to me
didn’t know any of these people so to me that was a problem one thing led to
that was a problem one thing led to
that was a problem one thing led to another and I decided there was an
another and I decided there was an
another and I decided there was an upcoming election that I was going to
upcoming election that I was going to
upcoming election that I was going to run for office at this time I was 19 and
run for office at this time I was 19 and
run for office at this time I was 19 and I had no obviously no political
I had no obviously no political
I had no obviously no political experience or anything like that there
experience or anything like that there
experience or anything like that there were seven positions that were open for
were seven positions that were open for
were seven positions that were open for election I was trying to decide who I
election I was trying to decide who I
election I was trying to decide who I was gonna run against so I think I made
was gonna run against so I think I made
was gonna run against so I think I made the right decision and you know the
the right decision and you know the
the right decision and you know the decision that had the most likely odds
decision that had the most likely odds
decision that had the most likely odds of success and I ran against the
of success and I ran against the
of success and I ran against the longest-serving incumbent on the board
longest-serving incumbent on the board
longest-serving incumbent on the board he had actually been on there for 16
he had actually been on there for 16
he had actually been on there for 16 years most of my life that’s my first
years most of my life that’s my first
years most of my life that’s my first job that wasn’t available to me when I
job that wasn’t available to me when I
job that wasn’t available to me when I was in high school
was in high school
was in high school long story short I got my friends
long story short I got my friends
long story short I got my friends together who I went to high school with
together who I went to high school with
together who I went to high school with and over a course of six months we ran a
and over a course of six months we ran a
and over a course of six months we ran a campaign we knocked on thousands of
campaign we knocked on thousands of
campaign we knocked on thousands of doors and by the end of the campaign I
doors and by the end of the campaign I
doors and by the end of the campaign I won with 59% of the vote against the
won with 59% of the vote against the
won with 59% of the vote against the longest-serving incumbent on the board
longest-serving incumbent on the board
longest-serving incumbent on the board and since then I’ve had my my first job
and since then I’ve had my my first job
and since then I’ve had my my first job alderman in Millington
nobody when I was asking people that
nobody when I was asking people that cared about me you know about how should
cared about me you know about how should
cared about me you know about how should I take this step forward should I run
I take this step forward should I run
I take this step forward should I run for office most people didn’t tell me
for office most people didn’t tell me
for office most people didn’t tell me yes the best-case scenario for them I
yes the best-case scenario for them I
yes the best-case scenario for them I lost and that way I wasn’t committed to
lost and that way I wasn’t committed to
lost and that way I wasn’t committed to four years in the same hometown that I
four years in the same hometown that I
four years in the same hometown that I grew up in and I guess worst-case
grew up in and I guess worst-case
grew up in and I guess worst-case scenario I won and then I was committed
scenario I won and then I was committed
scenario I won and then I was committed to four years in the same town that I
to four years in the same town that I
to four years in the same town that I grew up in and never got out of but for
grew up in and never got out of but for
grew up in and never got out of but for me it’s been a true gift ever since not
me it’s been a true gift ever since not
me it’s been a true gift ever since not only do I get to give TED talks like
only do I get to give TED talks like
only do I get to give TED talks like this but I get to cut ribbons with
this but I get to cut ribbons with
this but I get to cut ribbons with people twice my age you see how I’m
people twice my age you see how I’m
people twice my age you see how I’m trying to get in there that’s that’s a
trying to get in there that’s that’s a
trying to get in there that’s that’s a really a metaphor for how a young person
really a metaphor for how a young person
really a metaphor for how a young person in elected office has to perform I’ve
in elected office has to perform I’ve
in elected office has to perform I’ve been in that position now for five years
been in that position now for five years
been in that position now for five years but going back to my sophomore year
but going back to my sophomore year
but going back to my sophomore year college I come back my junior year after
college I come back my junior year after
college I come back my junior year after I had one-on-one my political office and
I had one-on-one my political office and
I had one-on-one my political office and really dove into my studies a year ahead
really dove into my studies a year ahead
really dove into my studies a year ahead of time I have an opportunity to travel
of time I have an opportunity to travel
of time I have an opportunity to travel across the country but I have to take a
across the country but I have to take a
across the country but I have to take a semester off from school I didn’t get
semester off from school I didn’t get
semester off from school I didn’t get this opportunity until two weeks before
this opportunity until two weeks before
this opportunity until two weeks before my senior year of college so as a
my senior year of college so as a
my senior year of college so as a first-generation college student going
first-generation college student going
first-generation college student going into your senior year means a lot to
into your senior year means a lot to
into your senior year means a lot to your to you and your family you’re like
your to you and your family you’re like
your to you and your family you’re like almost there so needless to say my
almost there so needless to say my
almost there so needless to say my parents and friends weren’t very happy
parents and friends weren’t very happy
parents and friends weren’t very happy when I told them that I was looking and
when I told them that I was looking and
when I told them that I was looking and taking a semester off to travel the
taking a semester off to travel the
taking a semester off to travel the country but for me I had never been
country but for me I had never been
country but for me I had never been further west in Arkansas I really want
further west in Arkansas I really want
further west in Arkansas I really want to accomplish my goal of traveling the
to accomplish my goal of traveling the
to accomplish my goal of traveling the world I guess I could start with our
world I guess I could start with our
world I guess I could start with our country so I didn’t take their advice
country so I didn’t take their advice
country so I didn’t take their advice and I did it this is me this is actually
and I did it this is me this is actually
and I did it this is me this is actually not in the United States this is an
not in the United States this is an
not in the United States this is an Israel a couple of new years ago but I
Israel a couple of new years ago but I
Israel a couple of new years ago but I just think it’s a dill picture so I put
just think it’s a dill picture so I put
just think it’s a dill picture so I put it up here but I got chance to travel
it up here but I got chance to travel
it up here but I got chance to travel the country and over the course of that
the country and over the course of that
the country and over the course of that I was a field organizer on a trip
I was a field organizer on a trip
I was a field organizer on a trip basically organizing a trip across the
basically organizing a trip across the
basically organizing a trip across the country to cities that I had only seen
country to cities that I had only seen
country to cities that I had only seen on TV that experience ended up being
on TV that experience ended up being
on TV that experience ended up being really one of the only reasons I got my
really one of the only reasons I got my
really one of the only reasons I got my second job which I’m about to tell you
second job which I’m about to tell you
second job which I’m about to tell you about
about
about so flash-forward couple years or one
so flash-forward couple years or one
so flash-forward couple years or one year I’m graduating from Rhodes College
year I’m graduating from Rhodes College
year I’m graduating from Rhodes College late because it took that semester and I
late because it took that semester and I
late because it took that semester and I was confronted with this question again
was confronted with this question again
was confronted with this question again what are you gonna do so me I had really
what are you gonna do so me I had really
what are you gonna do so me I had really two priorities for what I was gonna do
two priorities for what I was gonna do
two priorities for what I was gonna do next I wanted to stay in Memphis I love
next I wanted to stay in Memphis I love
next I wanted to stay in Memphis I love this area I was I was still elected to a
this area I was I was still elected to a
this area I was I was still elected to a role where I had two years left on my
role where I had two years left on my
role where I had two years left on my commitment and I wanted to work in
commitment and I wanted to work in
commitment and I wanted to work in public policy or economic development in
public policy or economic development in
public policy or economic development in somewhat the only problem was there’s
somewhat the only problem was there’s
somewhat the only problem was there’s really no jobs in that area for a recent
really no jobs in that area for a recent
really no jobs in that area for a recent college graduate that I could find but I
college graduate that I could find but I
college graduate that I could find but I did find one it was my dream job working
did find one it was my dream job working
did find one it was my dream job working for an organization focused on
for an organization focused on
for an organization focused on attracting and retaining talent and
attracting and retaining talent and
attracting and retaining talent and growing our economy through there the
growing our economy through there the
growing our economy through there the only problem was that I wasn’t qualified
only problem was that I wasn’t qualified
only problem was that I wasn’t qualified for the job at all not like not even a
for the job at all not like not even a
for the job at all not like not even a little bit required a master’s degree
little bit required a master’s degree
little bit required a master’s degree three or five years experience all that
three or five years experience all that
three or five years experience all that stuff long story short I I called
stuff long story short I I called
stuff long story short I I called everybody that was remotely related to
everybody that was remotely related to
everybody that was remotely related to the organization like if the my friends
the organization like if the my friends
the organization like if the my friends cousins auntie was an executive
cousins auntie was an executive
cousins auntie was an executive assessment assistant there she knew I
assessment assistant there she knew I
assessment assistant there she knew I was applying for that job that got me an
was applying for that job that got me an
was applying for that job that got me an interview got me in the front door I
interview got me in the front door I
interview got me in the front door I didn’t end up getting the job but I made
didn’t end up getting the job but I made
didn’t end up getting the job but I made a decent impression went back to the
a decent impression went back to the
a decent impression went back to the drawing board took a position working as
drawing board took a position working as
drawing board took a position working as a paralegal at a law firm for about six
a paralegal at a law firm for about six
a paralegal at a law firm for about six months and at this point in my life the
months and at this point in my life the
months and at this point in my life the same well-intentioned people that have
same well-intentioned people that have
same well-intentioned people that have been asking me what are you gonna do
been asking me what are you gonna do
been asking me what are you gonna do we’re saying you know well maybe you
we’re saying you know well maybe you
we’re saying you know well maybe you should just go to graduate school I
should just go to graduate school I
should just go to graduate school I opportunity I got a postgraduate
opportunity I got a postgraduate
opportunity I got a postgraduate fellowship walls and Rhodes College to
fellowship walls and Rhodes College to
fellowship walls and Rhodes College to fund my graduate school studies maybe
fund my graduate school studies maybe
fund my graduate school studies maybe you should do that just go ahead and get
you should do that just go ahead and get
you should do that just go ahead and get on the right path instead of taking this
on the right path instead of taking this
on the right path instead of taking this sort of temporary gig I didn’t listen to
sort of temporary gig I didn’t listen to
sort of temporary gig I didn’t listen to them I stayed in my role and I really do
them I stayed in my role and I really do
them I stayed in my role and I really do VIN I did with the work that I wanted to
VIN I did with the work that I wanted to
VIN I did with the work that I wanted to do an economic development in public
do an economic development in public
do an economic development in public policy but I did it for free six months
policy but I did it for free six months
policy but I did it for free six months down the road another job opens up at
down the road another job opens up at
down the road another job opens up at that organization first time this job
that organization first time this job
that organization first time this job has ever existed the organization has
has ever existed the organization has
has ever existed the organization has been around since 1979 it was a better
been around since 1979 it was a better
been around since 1979 it was a better fit for me
fit for me
fit for me I applied interviewed got the job two
I applied interviewed got the job two
I applied interviewed got the job two years later I’m still working at the
years later I’m still working at the
years later I’m still working at the organization
organization
organization and am now in a role that I’ve only been
and am now in a role that I’ve only been
and am now in a role that I’ve only been in for 11 months that was created for me
in for 11 months that was created for me
in for 11 months that was created for me so not only was this position that I
so not only was this position that I
so not only was this position that I hold now not available to me when I was
hold now not available to me when I was
hold now not available to me when I was graduating high school it wasn’t
graduating high school it wasn’t
graduating high school it wasn’t available 12 months ago so have I been
available 12 months ago so have I been
available 12 months ago so have I been successful by the terms that I define
successful by the terms that I define
successful by the terms that I define success when I was graduating from high
success when I was graduating from high
success when I was graduating from high school seven years ago absolutely not
school seven years ago absolutely not
school seven years ago absolutely not I failed on all accounts 24-year old
I failed on all accounts 24-year old
I failed on all accounts 24-year old dude still living in the same town
dude still living in the same town
dude still living in the same town living with my mom basically
living with my mom basically
living with my mom basically stereotypical millennial snowflake but
stereotypical millennial snowflake but
stereotypical millennial snowflake but that’s really only half the story I’m
that’s really only half the story I’m
that’s really only half the story I’m also a first generation college graduate
also a first generation college graduate
also a first generation college graduate last year I was 23 I bought my first
last year I was 23 I bought my first
last year I was 23 I bought my first house it’s my Jordan here for those of
house it’s my Jordan here for those of
house it’s my Jordan here for those of you that haven’t gotten to 23 yet it’s a
you that haven’t gotten to 23 yet it’s a
you that haven’t gotten to 23 yet it’s a Jordan year it’s a very important year
Jordan year it’s a very important year
Jordan year it’s a very important year I’m a recipient of the hairiest Truman
I’m a recipient of the hairiest Truman
I’m a recipient of the hairiest Truman fellowship for public service which is
fellowship for public service which is
fellowship for public service which is only given out to about 50 students
only given out to about 50 students
only given out to about 50 students every year just I mean yes if I can’t
every year just I mean yes if I can’t
every year just I mean yes if I can’t define success how I used to if I was
define success how I used to if I was
define success how I used to if I was going to define a success how other
going to define a success how other
going to define a success how other people define it for me just in the last
people define it for me just in the last
people define it for me just in the last week I was mentioned in the local media
week I was mentioned in the local media
week I was mentioned in the local media and reference to be a Power Ranger for
and reference to be a Power Ranger for
and reference to be a Power Ranger for my work at my current job which I
my work at my current job which I
my work at my current job which I obviously loved to hear that I was being
obviously loved to hear that I was being
obviously loved to hear that I was being compared to a Power Ranger and I opened
compared to a Power Ranger and I opened
compared to a Power Ranger and I opened up my browser about a week ago and got a
up my browser about a week ago and got a
up my browser about a week ago and got a positional reference in the national
positional reference in the national
positional reference in the national media at the hill where I was compared
media at the hill where I was compared
media at the hill where I was compared to Mayor Bill DeBlasio of New York
to Mayor Bill DeBlasio of New York
to Mayor Bill DeBlasio of New York Governor Missouri Chris Kuhn United
Governor Missouri Chris Kuhn United
Governor Missouri Chris Kuhn United States Senator and a host of other
States Senator and a host of other
States Senator and a host of other leaders basically I was like the butt
leaders basically I was like the butt
leaders basically I was like the butt end of that spectrum which is fine
end of that spectrum which is fine
end of that spectrum which is fine I was mentioned at least so success in
I was mentioned at least so success in
I was mentioned at least so success in terms of how other people view it
terms of how other people view it
terms of how other people view it perhaps so what do I do now I have two
perhaps so what do I do now I have two
perhaps so what do I do now I have two jobs neither of which were available to
jobs neither of which were available to
jobs neither of which were available to me seven years ago both of which and
me seven years ago both of which and
me seven years ago both of which and give me the opportunity to wake up every
give me the opportunity to wake up every
give me the opportunity to wake up every day and make a difference for the
day and make a difference for the
day and make a difference for the community that I grew up
community that I grew up
community that I grew up that I love also in my Jordan year I had
that I love also in my Jordan year I had
that I love also in my Jordan year I had a another decision to make that I was a
a another decision to make that I was a
a another decision to make that I was a really pivotal decision for me in my
really pivotal decision for me in my
really pivotal decision for me in my life my mother who raised me and he’s an
life my mother who raised me and he’s an
life my mother who raised me and he’s an amazing brilliant woman suffers from
amazing brilliant woman suffers from
amazing brilliant woman suffers from bipolar disorder and she has never had a
bipolar disorder and she has never had a
bipolar disorder and she has never had a stable home situation since her dad
stable home situation since her dad
stable home situation since her dad divorced back when I was a kid so I had
divorced back when I was a kid so I had
divorced back when I was a kid so I had a decision to make whether I was gonna
a decision to make whether I was gonna
a decision to make whether I was gonna ask my mom to come and live with me
ask my mom to come and live with me
ask my mom to come and live with me that’s 23 years old I’ve only been in
that’s 23 years old I’ve only been in
that’s 23 years old I’ve only been in the workforce for about a year everybody
the workforce for about a year everybody
the workforce for about a year everybody that I knew that really has you know
that I knew that really has you know
that I knew that really has you know their their heart out there for me told
their their heart out there for me told
their their heart out there for me told me that this wasn’t a good decision
me that this wasn’t a good decision
me that this wasn’t a good decision you know I’m too young to take on a
you know I’m too young to take on a
you know I’m too young to take on a burden take on a responsibility it’s
burden take on a responsibility it’s
burden take on a responsibility it’s been the best decision I’ve made in the
been the best decision I’ve made in the
been the best decision I’ve made in the last few years my mom makes me better
last few years my mom makes me better
last few years my mom makes me better and she makes me better for the work
and she makes me better for the work
and she makes me better for the work that I get to do every single day my
that I get to do every single day my
that I get to do every single day my point is that’s when I look back and
point is that’s when I look back and
point is that’s when I look back and what I get to do it’s not what I decided
what I get to do it’s not what I decided
what I get to do it’s not what I decided was gonna be successful for me seven
was gonna be successful for me seven
was gonna be successful for me seven years ago but I get to do some really
years ago but I get to do some really
years ago but I get to do some really dope stuff and it’s in and in terms of
dope stuff and it’s in and in terms of
dope stuff and it’s in and in terms of success for what really matters I’ve
success for what really matters I’ve
success for what really matters I’ve succeeded beyond my wildest dreams so
succeeded beyond my wildest dreams so
succeeded beyond my wildest dreams so far where do I go from here seven years
far where do I go from here seven years
far where do I go from here seven years from now who knows hopefully I’m still
from now who knows hopefully I’m still
from now who knows hopefully I’m still doing some dope stuff but I do want to
doing some dope stuff but I do want to
doing some dope stuff but I do want to leave you with this this is the only
leave you with this this is the only
leave you with this this is the only piece of advice that I’ve heard lately
piece of advice that I’ve heard lately
piece of advice that I’ve heard lately and trust me as a young person in
and trust me as a young person in
and trust me as a young person in government you hear lots of advice from
government you hear lots of advice from
government you hear lots of advice from people this is the only piece of advice
people this is the only piece of advice
people this is the only piece of advice that has really held any weight for me
that has really held any weight for me
that has really held any weight for me this is viola Street just turned 100
this is viola Street just turned 100
this is viola Street just turned 100 recently retired as a cafeteria lady
recently retired as a cafeteria lady
recently retired as a cafeteria lady after 35 years before that she held
after 35 years before that she held
after 35 years before that she held another position for 15 years and was a
another position for 15 years and was a
another position for 15 years and was a retired educator from Shelby County
retired educator from Shelby County
retired educator from Shelby County Schools she said stay busy help others
Schools she said stay busy help others
Schools she said stay busy help others don’t sit on your Fanny and think about
don’t sit on your Fanny and think about
don’t sit on your Fanny and think about what you can do or want to do get up and
what you can do or want to do get up and
what you can do or want to do get up and go do it so that’s all I’ll leave you
go do it so that’s all I’ll leave you
go do it so that’s all I’ll leave you with that’s the only really piece of
with that’s the only really piece of
with that’s the only really piece of advice that I’m gonna give this talk
advice that I’m gonna give this talk
advice that I’m gonna give this talk thank you
”
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