growing up I was always small for my age I don’t think you realize that you’re
I don’t think you realize that you’re
I don’t think you realize that you’re different from your peers till you hit a
different from your peers till you hit a
different from your peers till you hit a certain age for me that was sixth grade
certain age for me that was sixth grade
certain age for me that was sixth grade sixth grade was the year that I
sixth grade was the year that I
sixth grade was the year that I transferred schools it seemed like that
transferred schools it seemed like that
transferred schools it seemed like that summer everybody had a growth spurt and
summer everybody had a growth spurt and
summer everybody had a growth spurt and went through puberty everybody except
went through puberty everybody except
went through puberty everybody except for me it just felt I couldn’t connect
for me it just felt I couldn’t connect
for me it just felt I couldn’t connect with my peers classmates felt like I
with my peers classmates felt like I
with my peers classmates felt like I didn’t belong academically I was where I
didn’t belong academically I was where I
didn’t belong academically I was where I was supposed to be I had good grades but
was supposed to be I had good grades but
was supposed to be I had good grades but to be honest it just felt like everybody
to be honest it just felt like everybody
to be honest it just felt like everybody was always looking down at figuratively
was always looking down at figuratively
was always looking down at figuratively and literally physically I was so small
and literally physically I was so small
and literally physically I was so small that I hit the magic numbers of five
that I hit the magic numbers of five
that I hit the magic numbers of five feet tall and a hundred pounds when I
feet tall and a hundred pounds when I
feet tall and a hundred pounds when I hit pink grade smallest kid in my whole
hit pink grade smallest kid in my whole
hit pink grade smallest kid in my whole school for many years and as you can
school for many years and as you can
school for many years and as you can imagine I got picked on a lot
imagine I got picked on a lot
imagine I got picked on a lot athletically I had a hard time competing
athletically I had a hard time competing
athletically I had a hard time competing with other kids my age and that feelings
with other kids my age and that feelings
with other kids my age and that feelings of not being good enough translated to
of not being good enough translated to
of not being good enough translated to all other areas of my life I had trouble
all other areas of my life I had trouble
all other areas of my life I had trouble making friends I just really had low
making friends I just really had low
making friends I just really had low self confidence and of course my parents
self confidence and of course my parents
self confidence and of course my parents saw what I was going through and tried
saw what I was going through and tried
saw what I was going through and tried to do everything they could to help me
to do everything they could to help me
to do everything they could to help me we wanted to even to the doctor had my
we wanted to even to the doctor had my
we wanted to even to the doctor had my growth plates checked out we even talked
growth plates checked out we even talked
growth plates checked out we even talked about doing growth hormone therapy at
about doing growth hormone therapy at
about doing growth hormone therapy at one point we didn’t go that route but
one point we didn’t go that route but
one point we didn’t go that route but what we did do was get me involved in a
what we did do was get me involved in a
what we did do was get me involved in a martial art program called world class
martial art program called world class
martial art program called world class Taekwondo and I love Taekwondo I loved
Taekwondo and I love Taekwondo I loved
Taekwondo and I love Taekwondo I loved it because I wasn’t compared to other
it because I wasn’t compared to other
it because I wasn’t compared to other kids my age but I was taught to be my
kids my age but I was taught to be my
kids my age but I was taught to be my best taught to bring out my own
best taught to bring out my own
best taught to bring out my own individual potential the instructors
individual potential the instructors
individual potential the instructors were awesome they made me feel like I
were awesome they made me feel like I
were awesome they made me feel like I belonged in that school and I was part
belonged in that school and I was part
belonged in that school and I was part of something I trained I got my black
of something I trained I got my black
of something I trained I got my black belt when I was 15 years old
belt when I was 15 years old
belt when I was 15 years old and even before that I started teaching
and even before that I started teaching
and even before that I started teaching in classes and helping out in classes at
in classes and helping out in classes at
in classes and helping out in classes at age 14 and I did that all through high
age 14 and I did that all through high
age 14 and I did that all through high school and into college of course
school and into college of course
school and into college of course getting ready for college everyone
getting ready for college everyone
getting ready for college everyone starts thinking about careers and majors
starts thinking about careers and majors
starts thinking about careers and majors and according to the high school
and according to the high school
and according to the high school placement tests and the counselors
placement tests and the counselors
placement tests and the counselors because of my grades they told me I
because of my grades they told me I
because of my grades they told me I should look into becoming an engineer or
should look into becoming an engineer or
should look into becoming an engineer or a mathematician so in college I took
a mathematician so in college I took
a mathematician so in college I took those classes and I hated it I was good
those classes and I hated it I was good
those classes and I hated it I was good at them but I had no enjoyment from that
at them but I had no enjoyment from that
at them but I had no enjoyment from that at all it never even dawned on me to
at all it never even dawned on me to
at all it never even dawned on me to think about making Taekwondo a full-time
think about making Taekwondo a full-time
think about making Taekwondo a full-time career and it wasn’t until I joked with
career and it wasn’t until I joked with
career and it wasn’t until I joked with one of my instructors who was getting
one of my instructors who was getting
one of my instructors who was getting ready to leave and expand the
ready to leave and expand the
ready to leave and expand the world-class Taekwondo family to another
world-class Taekwondo family to another
world-class Taekwondo family to another part of the country and I joked with him
part of the country and I joked with him
part of the country and I joked with him about me leaving with him to help him
about me leaving with him to help him
about me leaving with him to help him build this new school and it was at that
build this new school and it was at that
build this new school and it was at that point that I realized that we need to
point that I realized that we need to
point that I realized that we need to find our passion and limit distraction
for me
for me Taekwondo was my passion as far as the
Taekwondo was my passion as far as the
Taekwondo was my passion as far as the distraction goes it was somewhat
distraction goes it was somewhat
distraction goes it was somewhat built-in for me that I was so shy I
built-in for me that I was so shy I
built-in for me that I was so shy I didn’t get involved in a lot of
didn’t get involved in a lot of
didn’t get involved in a lot of different things and I had a slightly
different things and I had a slightly
different things and I had a slightly overprotective mom that helped keep me
overprotective mom that helped keep me
overprotective mom that helped keep me on the right track and I think back and
on the right track and I think back and
on the right track and I think back and I’m so thankful that I was shy I’m so
I’m so thankful that I was shy I’m so
I’m so thankful that I was shy I’m so thankful that I had a mom that cared
thankful that I had a mom that cared
thankful that I had a mom that cared that much that kept me on the right path
that much that kept me on the right path
that much that kept me on the right path to be very honest I don’t believe I’d be
to be very honest I don’t believe I’d be
to be very honest I don’t believe I’d be where I am today if I did fit in like I
where I am today if I did fit in like I
where I am today if I did fit in like I wanted to in my teens at that time so at
wanted to in my teens at that time so at
wanted to in my teens at that time so at the age of 19 years old I moved from
the age of 19 years old I moved from
the age of 19 years old I moved from Buffalo New York a thousand miles south
Buffalo New York a thousand miles south
Buffalo New York a thousand miles south to Birmingham Alabama with just the hope
to Birmingham Alabama with just the hope
to Birmingham Alabama with just the hope that if I worked hard things would work
that if I worked hard things would work
that if I worked hard things would work out I came here with very little money I
out I came here with very little money I
out I came here with very little money I had no family and I came here with the
had no family and I came here with the
had no family and I came here with the understanding that I was going to live
understanding that I was going to live
understanding that I was going to live with my instructor and his family in
with my instructor and his family in
with my instructor and his family in their basement with no
their basement with no
their basement with no pay until we had students in our
pay until we had students in our
pay until we had students in our currently non existent school and they
currently non existent school and they
currently non existent school and they took good care of me of course but as
took good care of me of course but as
took good care of me of course but as you can imagine there was some tough
you can imagine there was some tough
you can imagine there was some tough times I remember one time my car broke
times I remember one time my car broke
times I remember one time my car broke down and the only car that I could use
down and the only car that I could use
down and the only car that I could use was their family minivan that had two
was their family minivan that had two
was their family minivan that had two car seats in the back and I remember
car seats in the back and I remember
car seats in the back and I remember driving thinking I am never gonna have a
driving thinking I am never gonna have a
driving thinking I am never gonna have a girlfriend driving this around and the
girlfriend driving this around and the
girlfriend driving this around and the things that got me through those tough
things that got me through those tough
things that got me through those tough times was really a mentality and stilled
times was really a mentality and stilled
times was really a mentality and stilled in me by my dad and better yet he
in me by my dad and better yet he
in me by my dad and better yet he personally lived out every day he would
personally lived out every day he would
personally lived out every day he would constantly tell me we need to only give
constantly tell me we need to only give
constantly tell me we need to only give ourselves two options we need to work
ourselves two options we need to work
ourselves two options we need to work hard or harder and that’s it not just
hard or harder and that’s it not just
hard or harder and that’s it not just for the things that we enjoy not for the
for the things that we enjoy not for the
for the things that we enjoy not for the things that we want to accomplish and
things that we want to accomplish and
things that we want to accomplish and achieve but put that into your
achieve but put that into your
achieve but put that into your personality into your DNA into
personality into your DNA into
personality into your DNA into everything that we do the neat thing
everything that we do the neat thing
everything that we do the neat thing about hard work is it’s satisfying even
about hard work is it’s satisfying even
about hard work is it’s satisfying even when things don’t work out the way you
when things don’t work out the way you
when things don’t work out the way you want them to when you know you give your
want them to when you know you give your
want them to when you know you give your heart your soul 100% effort even if it
heart your soul 100% effort even if it
heart your soul 100% effort even if it isn’t the result that you want there’s
isn’t the result that you want there’s
isn’t the result that you want there’s still that satisfaction but the times
still that satisfaction but the times
still that satisfaction but the times when it doesn’t work out and you didn’t
when it doesn’t work out and you didn’t
when it doesn’t work out and you didn’t give everything and you think what if I
give everything and you think what if I
give everything and you think what if I gave that extra five or 10% those
gave that extra five or 10% those
gave that extra five or 10% those what-ifs can be haunting with that
what-ifs can be haunting with that
what-ifs can be haunting with that mentality I worked hard to help open
mentality I worked hard to help open
mentality I worked hard to help open this school and then at the age of 25
this school and then at the age of 25
this school and then at the age of 25 years old I had the opportunity to
years old I had the opportunity to
years old I had the opportunity to purchase the school for my instructor
purchase the school for my instructor
purchase the school for my instructor and I went in debt with the right people
and I went in debt with the right people
and I went in debt with the right people to make it happen and I worked as hard
to make it happen and I worked as hard
to make it happen and I worked as hard as I could
as I could
as I could the phrase that comes to mind as I
the phrase that comes to mind as I
the phrase that comes to mind as I burned the candle from both engines and
burned the candle from both engines and
burned the candle from both engines and within one year of owning the school we
within one year of owning the school we
within one year of owning the school we almost tripled the amount of students
almost tripled the amount of students
almost tripled the amount of students that we had in our school and with that
that we had in our school and with that
that we had in our school and with that success I learned that we need to
success I learned that we need to
success I learned that we need to constantly be trying to upgrade our
constantly be trying to upgrade our
constantly be trying to upgrade our problems and with that there comes a
problems and with that there comes a
problems and with that there comes a certain understanding that we’re always
certain understanding that we’re always
certain understanding that we’re always going to have problems
going to have problems
going to have problems there’s always going to be challenges in
there’s always going to be challenges in
there’s always going to be challenges in our life there’s always going to be
our life there’s always going to be
our life there’s always going to be things that were stressed out about and
things that were stressed out about and
things that were stressed out about and we need to do everything in our power to
we need to do everything in our power to
we need to do everything in our power to overcome the things that are in front of
overcome the things that are in front of
overcome the things that are in front of us so we can get on to bigger and better
us so we can get on to bigger and better
us so we can get on to bigger and better problems for me when I took over the
problems for me when I took over the
problems for me when I took over the school I was stressed out at 25 years
school I was stressed out at 25 years
school I was stressed out at 25 years old having to pay a $7,000 a month rent
old having to pay a $7,000 a month rent
old having to pay a $7,000 a month rent check to the landlord I was stressed out
check to the landlord I was stressed out
check to the landlord I was stressed out about hiring two fifteen-year-old
about hiring two fifteen-year-old
about hiring two fifteen-year-old instructors and how I was gonna pay them
instructors and how I was gonna pay them
instructors and how I was gonna pay them now I’m still stressed out but I think
now I’m still stressed out but I think
now I’m still stressed out but I think about how I can provide for my team of
about how I can provide for my team of
about how I can provide for my team of 16 instructors to the best of my ability
16 instructors to the best of my ability
16 instructors to the best of my ability and now I get to stress out about where
and now I get to stress out about where
and now I get to stress out about where my second location is going to be for
my second location is going to be for
my second location is going to be for our students of the community so
our students of the community so
our students of the community so currently at the age of 32 years old me
currently at the age of 32 years old me
currently at the age of 32 years old me and my wife Jessica we own and operate
and my wife Jessica we own and operate
and my wife Jessica we own and operate one of the single largest martial arts
one of the single largest martial arts
one of the single largest martial arts schools in the entire country we teach
schools in the entire country we teach
schools in the entire country we teach 450 students in one facility and as much
450 students in one facility and as much
450 students in one facility and as much business success as I’ve had to me
business success as I’ve had to me
business success as I’ve had to me especially thinking back to the tiny kid
especially thinking back to the tiny kid
especially thinking back to the tiny kid with a bad haircut glasses stuttering
with a bad haircut glasses stuttering
with a bad haircut glasses stuttering problem with low self-esteem and
problem with low self-esteem and
problem with low self-esteem and thinking about the honor and opportunity
thinking about the honor and opportunity
thinking about the honor and opportunity that I have to work with students that
that I have to work with students that
that I have to work with students that come into my school and how I get to try
come into my school and how I get to try
come into my school and how I get to try to instill focus and confidence into the
to instill focus and confidence into the
to instill focus and confidence into the kids that might be getting bullied at
kids that might be getting bullied at
kids that might be getting bullied at school
school
school our diagnosed with ADHD have a variety
our diagnosed with ADHD have a variety
our diagnosed with ADHD have a variety of things that that are the reason why
of things that that are the reason why
of things that that are the reason why they come to us is true success so some
they come to us is true success so some
they come to us is true success so some of this philosophy very well one of my
of this philosophy very well one of my
of this philosophy very well one of my favorite authors Zig Ziglar has a quote
favorite authors Zig Ziglar has a quote
favorite authors Zig Ziglar has a quote that says we can have everything we want
that says we can have everything we want
that says we can have everything we want in our life as long as we help enough
in our life as long as we help enough
in our life as long as we help enough people achieve what they want for me the
people achieve what they want for me the
people achieve what they want for me the question that I would challenge everyone
question that I would challenge everyone
question that I would challenge everyone with is asking yourself are you
with is asking yourself are you
with is asking yourself are you impacting enough people the right way
impacting enough people the right way
impacting enough people the right way and if not what are we gonna do about it
and if not what are we gonna do about it
and if not what are we gonna do about it thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
”
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