so I’ll begin with by saying I’m here for you today
for you today
for you today I’m here to make a difference hopefully
I’m here to make a difference hopefully
I’m here to make a difference hopefully in your life I say that because I want
in your life I say that because I want
in your life I say that because I want to when we talk about building bridges
to when we talk about building bridges
to when we talk about building bridges bridges start with you the bridge starts
bridges start with you the bridge starts
bridges start with you the bridge starts from your head to your heart to your
from your head to your heart to your
from your head to your heart to your stomach to your feet can you think of
stomach to your feet can you think of
stomach to your feet can you think of the idea that’s going to change the
the idea that’s going to change the
the idea that’s going to change the world do you have the emotion to be able
world do you have the emotion to be able
world do you have the emotion to be able to deliver against it do you have a
to deliver against it do you have a
to deliver against it do you have a taste and a palate for it that helps you
taste and a palate for it that helps you
taste and a palate for it that helps you to stomach it day in and day out but
to stomach it day in and day out but
to stomach it day in and day out but most important are you going to use your
most important are you going to use your
most important are you going to use your feet to get it done so I say I love you
feet to get it done so I say I love you
feet to get it done so I say I love you and there’s nothing you can do about it
and there’s nothing you can do about it
and there’s nothing you can do about it I say that and my wife is in the back
I say that and my wife is in the back
I say that and my wife is in the back she said that’s very provocative for a
she said that’s very provocative for a
she said that’s very provocative for a group of women to say that but I say
group of women to say that but I say
group of women to say that but I say that for for a particular reason I said
that for for a particular reason I said
that for for a particular reason I said because I think the people that are
because I think the people that are
because I think the people that are sitting in this room when your feet hit
sitting in this room when your feet hit
sitting in this room when your feet hit the floor in the morning you’re excited
the floor in the morning you’re excited
the floor in the morning you’re excited about changing the world one place one
about changing the world one place one
about changing the world one place one space at a time so the space that we
space at a time so the space that we
space at a time so the space that we serve in and this is the space that we
serve in and this is the space that we
serve in and this is the space that we serve in when you walk through it you’re
serve in when you walk through it you’re
serve in when you walk through it you’re better in that space is better because
better in that space is better because
better in that space is better because you’re being all that you can be so
you’re being all that you can be so
you’re being all that you can be so again my goal today is helping you to be
again my goal today is helping you to be
again my goal today is helping you to be all that you can be so therefore I say
all that you can be so therefore I say
all that you can be so therefore I say again I love you and there’s nothing you
again I love you and there’s nothing you
again I love you and there’s nothing you can do about it but with that being said
can do about it but with that being said
can do about it but with that being said it’s going to take all of you to show up
it’s going to take all of you to show up
it’s going to take all of you to show up to be able to make it happen and to be
to be able to make it happen and to be
to be able to make it happen and to be able to do that every great leader has
able to do that every great leader has
able to do that every great leader has gone through a watershed moment every
gone through a watershed moment every
gone through a watershed moment every great leader has gone through a crucible
great leader has gone through a crucible
great leader has gone through a crucible that crucible we sometimes run from the
that crucible we sometimes run from the
that crucible we sometimes run from the thing I would say is embrace the
thing I would say is embrace the
thing I would say is embrace the crucible because that crucible helps you
crucible because that crucible helps you
crucible because that crucible helps you to be the best you that you possibly can
to be the best you that you possibly can
to be the best you that you possibly can be that crucible takes you to another
be that crucible takes you to another
be that crucible takes you to another level again building bridges you see as
level again building bridges you see as
level again building bridges you see as a child I grew up running I grew up
a child I grew up running I grew up
a child I grew up running I grew up sprinting I grew up sprinting through
sprinting I grew up sprinting through
sprinting I grew up sprinting through life I did it for two particular reasons
life I did it for two particular reasons
life I did it for two particular reasons one because I was good at it
one because I was good at it
one because I was good at it I had world-class speed it took me to
I had world-class speed it took me to
I had world-class speed it took me to college took me the university opened
college took me the university opened
college took me the university opened doors that I thought would never be open
doors that I thought would never be open
doors that I thought would never be open gave me opportunity
gave me opportunity
gave me opportunity gave me a wart and reward for being fast
gave me a wart and reward for being fast
gave me a wart and reward for being fast but the second reason that I was
but the second reason that I was
but the second reason that I was sprinting because I wanted that success
sprinting because I wanted that success
sprinting because I wanted that success I wanted to achieve success like my
I wanted to achieve success like my
I wanted to achieve success like my father had achieved like my mother had
father had achieved like my mother had
father had achieved like my mother had achieved and so I looked at them as role
achieved and so I looked at them as role
achieved and so I looked at them as role models and said this is what I want but
models and said this is what I want but
models and said this is what I want but when I want it I want it at 40 I I can’t
when I want it I want it at 40 I I can’t
when I want it I want it at 40 I I can’t wait I need to have that success at 40
wait I need to have that success at 40
wait I need to have that success at 40 and you asked why the why is my father
and you asked why the why is my father
and you asked why the why is my father passed when he was 42 so think about the
passed when he was 42 so think about the
passed when he was 42 so think about the burden on a ten-year-old child of a
burden on a ten-year-old child of a
burden on a ten-year-old child of a father that has success and at 42
father that has success and at 42
father that has success and at 42 passing away from exhaustion taking care
passing away from exhaustion taking care
passing away from exhaustion taking care of six kids with three jobs that’s what
of six kids with three jobs that’s what
of six kids with three jobs that’s what the burden that was placed on my
the burden that was placed on my
the burden that was placed on my shoulder so sometime we put burns on our
shoulder so sometime we put burns on our
shoulder so sometime we put burns on our shoulders that are unnecessary so I had
shoulders that are unnecessary so I had
shoulders that are unnecessary so I had to have success by 40 by 40 I
to have success by 40 by 40 I
to have success by 40 by 40 I accomplished a lot but I accomplished
accomplished a lot but I accomplished
accomplished a lot but I accomplished nothing because I sprinted from place to
nothing because I sprinted from place to
nothing because I sprinted from place to place trying to get this thing they call
place trying to get this thing they call
place trying to get this thing they call success but for you the thing I would
success but for you the thing I would
success but for you the thing I would come back in and say is success it’s not
come back in and say is success it’s not
come back in and say is success it’s not a destination but a journey so let’s
a destination but a journey so let’s
a destination but a journey so let’s enjoy the journey as we take the journey
enjoy the journey as we take the journey
enjoy the journey as we take the journey of what we’re calling life and building
of what we’re calling life and building
of what we’re calling life and building these bridges are you enjoying the
these bridges are you enjoying the
these bridges are you enjoying the journey are you making a difference in
journey are you making a difference in
journey are you making a difference in the space that you’re serving
the space that you’re serving
the space that you’re serving I had a life coaching and she told me
I had a life coaching and she told me
I had a life coaching and she told me she said you know the – is living you
she said you know the – is living you
she said you know the – is living you you’re not living the – and you’re going
you’re not living the – and you’re going
you’re not living the – and you’re going well what is the – see that – is
well what is the – see that – is
well what is the – see that – is something that we all have in common you
something that we all have in common you
something that we all have in common you may not realize it and it’s kind of
may not realize it and it’s kind of
may not realize it and it’s kind of morbid to say it but there’s a time of
morbid to say it but there’s a time of
morbid to say it but there’s a time of year that will say born this day pass
year that will say born this day pass
year that will say born this day pass this day in the middle there’s a – that
this day in the middle there’s a – that
this day in the middle there’s a – that – is going to define the legacy that we
– is going to define the legacy that we
– is going to define the legacy that we have and that we’re going to live – are
have and that we’re going to live – are
have and that we’re going to live – are we living to the legacy are we living
we living to the legacy are we living
we living to the legacy are we living the – and living our particular legacy
the – and living our particular legacy
the – and living our particular legacy with that being said the life coach said
with that being said the life coach said
with that being said the life coach said James you need to slow down your path
James you need to slow down your path
James you need to slow down your path you may not be able to tell it but I am
you may not be able to tell it but I am
you may not be able to tell it but I am way past 40 now you may not be able to
way past 40 now you may not be able to
way past 40 now you may not be able to see it on the face what you can’t tell
see it on the face what you can’t tell
see it on the face what you can’t tell I’m Way past 40 being past 40 she said
I’m Way past 40 being past 40 she said
I’m Way past 40 being past 40 she said you need to slow down and there are five
you need to slow down and there are five
you need to slow down and there are five events log this is the best that I need
events log this is the best that I need
events log this is the best that I need you to participate in that that will
you to participate in that that will
you to participate in that that will slow you down physically maybe not slow
slow you down physically maybe not slow
slow you down physically maybe not slow you down from a speed standpoint but
you down from a speed standpoint but
you down from a speed standpoint but from
from
from basically it will slow you down and the
basically it will slow you down and the
basically it will slow you down and the two things I want you to get out of this
two things I want you to get out of this
two things I want you to get out of this running these races the two things I
running these races the two things I
running these races the two things I want you to finish and I want you to
want you to finish and I want you to
want you to finish and I want you to allow your senses to come to life those
allow your senses to come to life those
allow your senses to come to life those five senses to come to life so I went
five senses to come to life so I went
five senses to come to life so I went through the first for the 3k the five to
through the first for the 3k the five to
through the first for the 3k the five to the 5k 10k to half marathon did very
the 5k 10k to half marathon did very
the 5k 10k to half marathon did very good in it finished it but my senses
good in it finished it but my senses
good in it finished it but my senses were horrible I felt the blisters that
were horrible I felt the blisters that
were horrible I felt the blisters that were on my feet the aches and pains that
were on my feet the aches and pains that
were on my feet the aches and pains that was there were in my body the stars that
was there were in my body the stars that
was there were in my body the stars that were floating around my head I saw
were floating around my head I saw
were floating around my head I saw nothing I didn’t even want to get up out
nothing I didn’t even want to get up out
nothing I didn’t even want to get up out of bed after running these particular
of bed after running these particular
of bed after running these particular races so I couldn’t tick the box of Wow
races so I couldn’t tick the box of Wow
races so I couldn’t tick the box of Wow in his senses to come to life the only
in his senses to come to life the only
in his senses to come to life the only race I had left was a marathon so my
race I had left was a marathon so my
race I had left was a marathon so my story around the crucible moment and
story around the crucible moment and
story around the crucible moment and helping you to build the bridge is this
helping you to build the bridge is this
helping you to build the bridge is this marathon so I started on the marathon
marathon so I started on the marathon
marathon so I started on the marathon and at the beginning that began with
and at the beginning that began with
and at the beginning that began with trouble to begin with see what they
trouble to begin with see what they
trouble to begin with see what they didn’t tell me is I would be running
didn’t tell me is I would be running
didn’t tell me is I would be running with thirty five thousand of my closest
with thirty five thousand of my closest
with thirty five thousand of my closest friends they didn’t tell me that the
friends they didn’t tell me that the
friends they didn’t tell me that the start line wasn’t the start line we had
start line wasn’t the start line we had
start line wasn’t the start line we had to start a mile and a half back before
to start a mile and a half back before
to start a mile and a half back before we got to the start line and so
we got to the start line and so
we got to the start line and so therefore I would say to you first
therefore I would say to you first
therefore I would say to you first recognizing your life where’s your start
recognizing your life where’s your start
recognizing your life where’s your start line is your start line where it needs
line is your start line where it needs
line is your start line where it needs to be because you can’t get to the
to be because you can’t get to the
to be because you can’t get to the finish line
finish line
finish line unless you understand what the start
unless you understand what the start
unless you understand what the start line is and also understand the
line is and also understand the
line is and also understand the environment that you serve in and
environment that you serve in and
environment that you serve in and because I was serving with 35,000 other
because I was serving with 35,000 other
because I was serving with 35,000 other people I couldn’t find my pace I
people I couldn’t find my pace I
people I couldn’t find my pace I couldn’t find my stride so by mile 10 I
couldn’t find my stride so by mile 10 I
couldn’t find my stride so by mile 10 I was completely exhausted have you ever
was completely exhausted have you ever
was completely exhausted have you ever been exhausted in your life where you
been exhausted in your life where you
been exhausted in your life where you said I’m giving up it doesn’t make a
said I’m giving up it doesn’t make a
said I’m giving up it doesn’t make a difference here I decided that I would
difference here I decided that I would
difference here I decided that I would go to mile 17 you acts while mile 17 and
go to mile 17 you acts while mile 17 and
go to mile 17 you acts while mile 17 and when I write my memoirs I’ll have a
when I write my memoirs I’ll have a
when I write my memoirs I’ll have a chapter that says mile 17 when I got to
chapter that says mile 17 when I got to
chapter that says mile 17 when I got to mile 17 my wife and I had made an
mile 17 my wife and I had made an
mile 17 my wife and I had made an agreement she would meet me at Mile 5
agreement she would meet me at Mile 5
agreement she would meet me at Mile 5 she would meet me at mile tennis she
she would meet me at mile tennis she
she would meet me at mile tennis she would meet me at mile 17 and she met me
would meet me at mile 17 and she met me
would meet me at mile 17 and she met me at mile 17 and I had made up in my mind
at mile 17 and I had made up in my mind
at mile 17 and I had made up in my mind that a mile 17 I was done I couldn’t
that a mile 17 I was done I couldn’t
that a mile 17 I was done I couldn’t finish I was mentally exhausted
finish I was mentally exhausted
finish I was mentally exhausted physically exhausted hams were torn up
physically exhausted hams were torn up
physically exhausted hams were torn up my mind where I was physically and
my mind where I was physically and
my mind where I was physically and mentally just distraught and couldn’t
mentally just distraught and couldn’t
mentally just distraught and couldn’t get to the place where I needed to be so
get to the place where I needed to be so
get to the place where I needed to be so we were going to grab hands kiss and
we were going to grab hands kiss and
we were going to grab hands kiss and walk off and go home and enjoy a nice
walk off and go home and enjoy a nice
walk off and go home and enjoy a nice bottle of wine
bottle of wine
bottle of wine she saw me and she saw that I was
she saw me and she saw that I was
she saw me and she saw that I was distraught when I got to mile 17 she
distraught when I got to mile 17 she
distraught when I got to mile 17 she said here’s some Gatorade you need to
said here’s some Gatorade you need to
said here’s some Gatorade you need to hydrate she said you got too many
hydrate she said you got too many
hydrate she said you got too many clothes on take the shirt off this under
clothes on take the shirt off this under
clothes on take the shirt off this under you and put the shirt back on and I said
you and put the shirt back on and I said
you and put the shirt back on and I said you know I’m really ready to go let’s
you know I’m really ready to go let’s
you know I’m really ready to go let’s let’s go head to the car she looked at
let’s go head to the car she looked at
let’s go head to the car she looked at me gave me a kiss looked at me and I and
me gave me a kiss looked at me and I and
me gave me a kiss looked at me and I and said I’ll see you at the finish and
said I’ll see you at the finish and
said I’ll see you at the finish and after I said a few choice words about
after I said a few choice words about
after I said a few choice words about her I had to make a decision on what it
her I had to make a decision on what it
her I had to make a decision on what it is that I would needed to do and for you
is that I would needed to do and for you
is that I would needed to do and for you this is what I would challenge you to
this is what I would challenge you to
this is what I would challenge you to think about when you get to the crucible
think about when you get to the crucible
think about when you get to the crucible moment first recognize that you’re at
moment first recognize that you’re at
moment first recognize that you’re at the crucible moment because you can’t
the crucible moment because you can’t
the crucible moment because you can’t solve it until you recognize that you’re
solve it until you recognize that you’re
solve it until you recognize that you’re sitting in the middle of it you can’t
sitting in the middle of it you can’t
sitting in the middle of it you can’t get out of a job an addiction a bad
get out of a job an addiction a bad
get out of a job an addiction a bad relationship until you really realize
relationship until you really realize
relationship until you really realize I’m in this particular crew scible
I’m in this particular crew scible
I’m in this particular crew scible moment be present in the crucible moment
moment be present in the crucible moment
moment be present in the crucible moment because again it makes you a better
because again it makes you a better
because again it makes you a better person it helps you to be laser-focused
person it helps you to be laser-focused
person it helps you to be laser-focused on delivering against what your legacy
on delivering against what your legacy
on delivering against what your legacy is going to be the second part is in
is going to be the second part is in
is going to be the second part is in your resilience it takes resilience to
your resilience it takes resilience to
your resilience it takes resilience to get you where you need to be you see I
get you where you need to be you see I
get you where you need to be you see I have prepared over 150 miles that I had
have prepared over 150 miles that I had
have prepared over 150 miles that I had run for this 24.6 mile race I had a
run for this 24.6 mile race I had a
run for this 24.6 mile race I had a personal coach that taught me how to
personal coach that taught me how to
personal coach that taught me how to hydrate I had a personal nutrition that
hydrate I had a personal nutrition that
hydrate I had a personal nutrition that taught me what I should be eating and
taught me what I should be eating and
taught me what I should be eating and for six months I trained to get through
for six months I trained to get through
for six months I trained to get through this marathon and here I was suffering
this marathon and here I was suffering
this marathon and here I was suffering at Mile 17 so have resilience through
at Mile 17 so have resilience through
at Mile 17 so have resilience through the crucible moment that you’re at and
the crucible moment that you’re at and
the crucible moment that you’re at and then to the feet respond for every
then to the feet respond for every
then to the feet respond for every action there’s a reaction what’s your
action there’s a reaction what’s your
action there’s a reaction what’s your reaction is the defeat retreat or did to
reaction is the defeat retreat or did to
reaction is the defeat retreat or did to go forward you have to make that
go forward you have to make that
go forward you have to make that decision after my wife walked off I
decision after my wife walked off I
decision after my wife walked off I decided to take one step towards the
decided to take one step towards the
decided to take one step towards the finish line you see that one step
finish line you see that one step
finish line you see that one step towards the finish line wasn’t me in my
towards the finish line wasn’t me in my
towards the finish line wasn’t me in my mind saying I’m going from mile 17 to my
mind saying I’m going from mile 17 to my
mind saying I’m going from mile 17 to my low 26
low 26
low 26 it was just saying take one step towards
it was just saying take one step towards
it was just saying take one step towards it I took one step again towards that
it I took one step again towards that
it I took one step again towards that finish line and I decided that it’s time
finish line and I decided that it’s time
finish line and I decided that it’s time to get up it’s time to move to making
to get up it’s time to move to making
to get up it’s time to move to making sure that I can cross the finish line
sure that I can cross the finish line
sure that I can cross the finish line and then something happened and that’s
and then something happened and that’s
and then something happened and that’s the second part of what that coaches
the second part of what that coaches
the second part of what that coaches said this census came alive I began to
said this census came alive I began to
said this census came alive I began to see I hear birds chirping in the
see I hear birds chirping in the
see I hear birds chirping in the background that I’d never heard before
background that I’d never heard before
background that I’d never heard before and a crowd cheering I was able to taste
and a crowd cheering I was able to taste
and a crowd cheering I was able to taste the air go
the air go
the air go to my lungs my feet were walking on
to my lungs my feet were walking on
to my lungs my feet were walking on clouds and like I wasn’t even moving and
clouds and like I wasn’t even moving and
clouds and like I wasn’t even moving and the next thing I did I looked up and I
the next thing I did I looked up and I
the next thing I did I looked up and I was crossing the finish line because I
was crossing the finish line because I
was crossing the finish line because I became in the zone have you ever been in
became in the zone have you ever been in
became in the zone have you ever been in the zone when you get things done you
the zone when you get things done you
the zone when you get things done you don’t know how you did it
don’t know how you did it
don’t know how you did it I crossed the finish line and my life
I crossed the finish line and my life
I crossed the finish line and my life has never been the same so I say to you
has never been the same so I say to you
has never been the same so I say to you if you want to make a different this is
if you want to make a different this is
if you want to make a different this is a great thing that’s it in this venue
a great thing that’s it in this venue
a great thing that’s it in this venue and have all the great people sitting
and have all the great people sitting
and have all the great people sitting around you hear great speeches but if
around you hear great speeches but if
around you hear great speeches but if you really want to make a difference
you really want to make a difference
you really want to make a difference understand and recognize that you’re in
understand and recognize that you’re in
understand and recognize that you’re in the crucible moment understand and be
the crucible moment understand and be
the crucible moment understand and be resilient through because your life
resilient through because your life
resilient through because your life lenses have allowed you to be successful
lenses have allowed you to be successful
lenses have allowed you to be successful in driving you through that you’ve been
in driving you through that you’ve been
in driving you through that you’ve been set up to succeed and the last piece of
set up to succeed and the last piece of
set up to succeed and the last piece of this respond put one foot in front of
this respond put one foot in front of
this respond put one foot in front of another go towards the finish line and
another go towards the finish line and
another go towards the finish line and achieve the great success that you would
achieve the great success that you would
achieve the great success that you would want to have with that being said I’ll
want to have with that being said I’ll
want to have with that being said I’ll see you at the top I’ll see you at the
see you at the top I’ll see you at the
see you at the top I’ll see you at the finish line but most important I love
finish line but most important I love
finish line but most important I love you and there’s nothing you can do about
you and there’s nothing you can do about
you and there’s nothing you can do about it
it
it [Applause]
”
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