Rhys what does it mean to rise it comes from the german word raison to mean to
from the german word raison to mean to
from the german word raison to mean to travel in 12th century england to rise
travel in 12th century england to rise
travel in 12th century england to rise meant to move from a lower position to a
meant to move from a lower position to a
meant to move from a lower position to a higher position and as I go through my
higher position and as I go through my
higher position and as I go through my talk today I want you to think about
talk today I want you to think about
talk today I want you to think about Rhys is referring to being more
Rhys is referring to being more
Rhys is referring to being more tomorrow’s than perhaps you are today as
tomorrow’s than perhaps you are today as
tomorrow’s than perhaps you are today as we’ve been preparing to the start of
we’ve been preparing to the start of
we’ve been preparing to the start of this wonderful event we’ve observed many
this wonderful event we’ve observed many
this wonderful event we’ve observed many Lindenwood students cross this stage
Lindenwood students cross this stage
Lindenwood students cross this stage many of them have worked for years to
many of them have worked for years to
many of them have worked for years to cultivate their unique talents now not
cultivate their unique talents now not
cultivate their unique talents now not all of us can bounce a ball on our head
all of us can bounce a ball on our head
all of us can bounce a ball on our head or walk across the stage on our hands or
or walk across the stage on our hands or
or walk across the stage on our hands or cough circles in stage and rollerskates
cough circles in stage and rollerskates
cough circles in stage and rollerskates in fact I probably would cause myself
in fact I probably would cause myself
in fact I probably would cause myself serious bodily harm to try any of that
serious bodily harm to try any of that
serious bodily harm to try any of that but we all have a capacity to rise to
but we all have a capacity to rise to
but we all have a capacity to rise to cultivate our own unique talent my
cultivate our own unique talent my
cultivate our own unique talent my challenge to each and every one of you
challenge to each and every one of you
challenge to each and every one of you today is to think about what is your
today is to think about what is your
today is to think about what is your unique talent what can you do to rise to
unique talent what can you do to rise to
unique talent what can you do to rise to your true potential
your true potential
your true potential sometimes our life just seems to happen
sometimes our life just seems to happen
sometimes our life just seems to happen to us we are constantly bombarded by
to us we are constantly bombarded by
to us we are constantly bombarded by expectations and stresses and financial
expectations and stresses and financial
expectations and stresses and financial hardships our life was not always that
hardships our life was not always that
hardships our life was not always that way
way
way when we were young we had teachers that
when we were young we had teachers that
when we were young we had teachers that asked us what will you be when you grow
asked us what will you be when you grow
asked us what will you be when you grow up and our answers explorers astronauts
up and our answers explorers astronauts
up and our answers explorers astronauts pirates superheroes supervillains
pirates superheroes supervillains
pirates superheroes supervillains maybe doctors nurses and some of us may
maybe doctors nurses and some of us may
maybe doctors nurses and some of us may be movie stars my question to all of you
be movie stars my question to all of you
be movie stars my question to all of you is this by show of hands how many of you
is this by show of hands how many of you
is this by show of hands how many of you are still living the life of your dreams
are still living the life of your dreams
are still living the life of your dreams that’s good
that’s good
that’s good buy another show of hands how many of us
buy another show of hands how many of us
buy another show of hands how many of us would like to still have a piece of that
would like to still have a piece of that
would like to still have a piece of that childhood dream ladies and gentlemen it
childhood dream ladies and gentlemen it
childhood dream ladies and gentlemen it is possible you see we are to a day we
is possible you see we are to a day we
is possible you see we are to a day we die
die
die Architects of our own destiny we are
Architects of our own destiny we are
Architects of our own destiny we are Admirals of our own starships and we
Admirals of our own starships and we
Admirals of our own starships and we have potential I remember when I was
have potential I remember when I was
have potential I remember when I was very young I had a coach who used to
very young I had a coach who used to
very young I had a coach who used to tell us that we should reach for the
tell us that we should reach for the
tell us that we should reach for the stars
stars
stars you see if we reach for the stars and
you see if we reach for the stars and
you see if we reach for the stars and the worst that could happen is we could
the worst that could happen is we could
the worst that could happen is we could end up in the trees and the view from
end up in the trees and the view from
end up in the trees and the view from there is much better from the ground
there is much better from the ground
there is much better from the ground when I was a little boy growing up in
when I was a little boy growing up in
when I was a little boy growing up in England
England
England I lived in a very small town we had one
I lived in a very small town we had one
I lived in a very small town we had one television set with just three channels
television set with just three channels
television set with just three channels but I do remember in 1984 tuning in to
but I do remember in 1984 tuning in to
but I do remember in 1984 tuning in to watch the opening ceremonies for the Los
watch the opening ceremonies for the Los
watch the opening ceremonies for the Los Angeles Olympic Games in 1984 dating
Angeles Olympic Games in 1984 dating
Angeles Olympic Games in 1984 dating myself a little I was so excited to
myself a little I was so excited to
myself a little I was so excited to watch these giants of athletics perform
watch these giants of athletics perform
watch these giants of athletics perform because they were my heroes in fact this
because they were my heroes in fact this
because they were my heroes in fact this is my first novel ladies and gentlemen
is my first novel ladies and gentlemen
is my first novel ladies and gentlemen written in 1984 recording the wonderful
written in 1984 recording the wonderful
written in 1984 recording the wonderful athletic performances of both Olympians
athletic performances of both Olympians
athletic performances of both Olympians I still remember today Mary Lou Retton
I still remember today Mary Lou Retton
I still remember today Mary Lou Retton winning the all-around gold medal in
winning the all-around gold medal in
winning the all-around gold medal in women’s gymnastics and the great rowdy
women’s gymnastics and the great rowdy
women’s gymnastics and the great rowdy Gaines three gold medals in swimming
Gaines three gold medals in swimming
Gaines three gold medals in swimming Carl Lewis four gold medals in track and
Carl Lewis four gold medals in track and
Carl Lewis four gold medals in track and field to replicate Jesse Owens from 1936
field to replicate Jesse Owens from 1936
field to replicate Jesse Owens from 1936 in the hundred to two hundred to four by
in the hundred to two hundred to four by
in the hundred to two hundred to four by one in the long jump I remember so well
one in the long jump I remember so well
one in the long jump I remember so well the four by one relay where America
the four by one relay where America
the four by one relay where America broke the world record and on that relay
broke the world record and on that relay
broke the world record and on that relay team there were two outstanding athletes
team there were two outstanding athletes
team there were two outstanding athletes Carl Lewis and the great Calvin Smith
Carl Lewis and the great Calvin Smith
Carl Lewis and the great Calvin Smith Calvin Smith former world record holder
Calvin Smith former world record holder
Calvin Smith former world record holder and 100-meter dash seven years later I
and 100-meter dash seven years later I
and 100-meter dash seven years later I was at the University of Alabama on a
was at the University of Alabama on a
was at the University of Alabama on a track and there was an unusual
track and there was an unusual
track and there was an unusual excitement because I was leaned up in
excitement because I was leaned up in
excitement because I was leaned up in the lane 5 and the excitement was not
the lane 5 and the excitement was not
the lane 5 and the excitement was not for me but in Lane 6 Calvin Smith was
for me but in Lane 6 Calvin Smith was
for me but in Lane 6 Calvin Smith was there while he proceeded to destroy me
there while he proceeded to destroy me
there while he proceeded to destroy me but I remember the excitement that I
but I remember the excitement that I
but I remember the excitement that I felt that day racing a great Olympian
felt that day racing a great Olympian
felt that day racing a great Olympian well going back to 1984 after watching
well going back to 1984 after watching
well going back to 1984 after watching those closing ceremonies I devoted my
those closing ceremonies I devoted my
those closing ceremonies I devoted my life to become an Olympian every choice
life to become an Olympian every choice
life to become an Olympian every choice I made as a child was related to the
I made as a child was related to the
I made as a child was related to the Olympic Games had a great career in
Olympic Games had a great career in
Olympic Games had a great career in England as a junior athlete and then I
England as a junior athlete and then I
England as a junior athlete and then I came to Clemson University in South
came to Clemson University in South
came to Clemson University in South Carolina to represent a university and
Carolina to represent a university and
Carolina to represent a university and compete in the NCAA Division one
compete in the NCAA Division one
compete in the NCAA Division one athletics after that I continued my
athletics after that I continued my
athletics after that I continued my athletic career and when all across the
athletic career and when all across the
athletic career and when all across the world competing as an elite athlete
world competing as an elite athlete
world competing as an elite athlete chasing my Olympic dream
chasing my Olympic dream
chasing my Olympic dream unfortunately injury upon injury led me
unfortunately injury upon injury led me
unfortunately injury upon injury led me to struggling to make Allan
to struggling to make Allan
to struggling to make Allan fifteen in 2000 I broke my leg in Kenya
fifteen in 2000 I broke my leg in Kenya
fifteen in 2000 I broke my leg in Kenya and had to admit that my Olympic dream
and had to admit that my Olympic dream
and had to admit that my Olympic dream was over at least as an athlete however
was over at least as an athlete however
was over at least as an athlete however years of practice training dedicated
years of practice training dedicated
years of practice training dedicated commitment and competition have prepared
commitment and competition have prepared
commitment and competition have prepared me very well to be a coach so I decided
me very well to be a coach so I decided
me very well to be a coach so I decided to change tacks and I challenged myself
to change tacks and I challenged myself
to change tacks and I challenged myself to try and help another make the same
to try and help another make the same
to try and help another make the same dream that I had aspired for I became an
dream that I had aspired for I became an
dream that I had aspired for I became an international coach and I traveled
international coach and I traveled
international coach and I traveled coaching across the country and across
coaching across the country and across
coaching across the country and across the world and I trained athletes so that
the world and I trained athletes so that
the world and I trained athletes so that they could go and achieve their own
they could go and achieve their own
they could go and achieve their own dreams in 2000 I was invited to carry
dreams in 2000 I was invited to carry
dreams in 2000 I was invited to carry the Olympic torch for the Winter Games
the Olympic torch for the Winter Games
the Olympic torch for the Winter Games in Salt Lake City Utah
in Salt Lake City Utah
in Salt Lake City Utah and it was an amazing experience and I
and it was an amazing experience and I
and it was an amazing experience and I still remember the Olympic dream burning
still remember the Olympic dream burning
still remember the Olympic dream burning deeply here inside me and I carried on
deeply here inside me and I carried on
deeply here inside me and I carried on coaching in 2010 I received another call
coaching in 2010 I received another call
coaching in 2010 I received another call to go to China I was invited to go be
to go to China I was invited to go be
to go to China I was invited to go be the Hong Kong national team coach so I
the Hong Kong national team coach so I
the Hong Kong national team coach so I moved my family across the globe and
moved my family across the globe and
moved my family across the globe and found myself in a very strange country
found myself in a very strange country
found myself in a very strange country preparing Hong Kong athletes for the
preparing Hong Kong athletes for the
preparing Hong Kong athletes for the Olympic Games in 2012 I arrived in
Olympic Games in 2012 I arrived in
Olympic Games in 2012 I arrived in London and stepped out onto the Olympic
London and stepped out onto the Olympic
London and stepped out onto the Olympic track in my hometown my life had gone
track in my hometown my life had gone
track in my hometown my life had gone full circle I had now after 28 years
full circle I had now after 28 years
full circle I had now after 28 years after watching the opening ceremonies of
after watching the opening ceremonies of
after watching the opening ceremonies of a 1984 Olympics I finally was now
a 1984 Olympics I finally was now
a 1984 Olympics I finally was now experiencing my dream of my very own
sometimes we give up just a little too
sometimes we give up just a little too quickly now I’m not saying wait 28 years
quickly now I’m not saying wait 28 years
quickly now I’m not saying wait 28 years I’m sure you all have dreams one of the
I’m sure you all have dreams one of the
I’m sure you all have dreams one of the things that inspires me is watching what
things that inspires me is watching what
things that inspires me is watching what our true potential really is I have a
our true potential really is I have a
our true potential really is I have a riddle I tell my students once upon a
riddle I tell my students once upon a
riddle I tell my students once upon a time there were five little frogs let’s
time there were five little frogs let’s
time there were five little frogs let’s see how you do those five little frogs
see how you do those five little frogs
see how you do those five little frogs was sitting in a lake on a log and it
was sitting in a lake on a log and it
was sitting in a lake on a log and it was really hot and it was sweating so
was really hot and it was sweating so
was really hot and it was sweating so all five frogs at the same time decide
all five frogs at the same time decide
all five frogs at the same time decide to jump into the water the question is
to jump into the water the question is
to jump into the water the question is how many frogs are now sound that log
how many frogs are now sound that log
how many frogs are now sound that log the answer might surprise you you see
the answer might surprise you you see
the answer might surprise you you see there are still five frogs sat on that
there are still five frogs sat on that
there are still five frogs sat on that log because the conundrum is but
log because the conundrum is but
log because the conundrum is but deciding is not the same as deciding do
deciding is not the same as deciding do
deciding is not the same as deciding do siding means we make a commitment to
siding means we make a commitment to
siding means we make a commitment to action how many of us are like those
action how many of us are like those
action how many of us are like those frogs still satting on the log waiting
frogs still satting on the log waiting
frogs still satting on the log waiting for the right time the right moment the
for the right time the right moment the
for the right time the right moment the right motivation or perhaps even the
right motivation or perhaps even the
right motivation or perhaps even the right push many of you in here have
right push many of you in here have
right push many of you in here have incredible talent but perhaps you don’t
incredible talent but perhaps you don’t
incredible talent but perhaps you don’t appreciate the talents you do have some
appreciate the talents you do have some
appreciate the talents you do have some of you are outstanding cooks some of you
of you are outstanding cooks some of you
of you are outstanding cooks some of you are probably great teachers great
are probably great teachers great
are probably great teachers great athletes great musicians some of you are
athletes great musicians some of you are
athletes great musicians some of you are perhaps good scrapbookers I know that
perhaps good scrapbookers I know that
perhaps good scrapbookers I know that many of you are great husbands wives
many of you are great husbands wives
many of you are great husbands wives sons and daughters boyfriends
sons and daughters boyfriends
sons and daughters boyfriends girlfriends we all have talent
girlfriends we all have talent
girlfriends we all have talent Matthew Sayyid a former Olympic table
Matthew Sayyid a former Olympic table
Matthew Sayyid a former Olympic table tennis player from Great Britain wrote a
tennis player from Great Britain wrote a
tennis player from Great Britain wrote a wonderful book entitled bounce the myth
wonderful book entitled bounce the myth
wonderful book entitled bounce the myth of talent and the power of practice in
of talent and the power of practice in
of talent and the power of practice in his book he claims that everybody has
his book he claims that everybody has
his book he claims that everybody has the unique capacity to be an expert at
the unique capacity to be an expert at
the unique capacity to be an expert at anything they choose if they choose to
anything they choose if they choose to
anything they choose if they choose to engage enough time and focused practice
engage enough time and focused practice
engage enough time and focused practice Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is considered to
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is considered to
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is considered to be one of the greatest composers of all
be one of the greatest composers of all
be one of the greatest composers of all time
time
time many believed that he was a childhood
many believed that he was a childhood
many believed that he was a childhood prodigy well that’s not the whole story
prodigy well that’s not the whole story
prodigy well that’s not the whole story you see Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart had a
you see Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart had a
you see Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart had a very famous father Leopold was a violin
very famous father Leopold was a violin
very famous father Leopold was a violin teacher one of the best in Europe he was
teacher one of the best in Europe he was
teacher one of the best in Europe he was also an obsessive father who made his
also an obsessive father who made his
also an obsessive father who made his son practice sometimes up to eight hours
son practice sometimes up to eight hours
son practice sometimes up to eight hours a day starting from the age of three now
a day starting from the age of three now
a day starting from the age of three now if that’s not child abuse I’m not sure
if that’s not child abuse I’m not sure
if that’s not child abuse I’m not sure what is but by the age of six Wolfgang
what is but by the age of six Wolfgang
what is but by the age of six Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart had accumulated almost
Amadeus Mozart had accumulated almost
Amadeus Mozart had accumulated almost 4,000 hours of practice is it any wonder
4,000 hours of practice is it any wonder
4,000 hours of practice is it any wonder by the age of 21 he was one of the
by the age of 21 he was one of the
by the age of 21 he was one of the foremost musicians in the world why
foremost musicians in the world why
foremost musicians in the world why because he had given more time to
because he had given more time to
because he had given more time to practice and perhaps anybody else
practice and perhaps anybody else
practice and perhaps anybody else I believe that again
I believe that again
I believe that again anybody can achieve great success if
anybody can achieve great success if
anybody can achieve great success if they commit themselves to practice
they commit themselves to practice
they commit themselves to practice you’ve probably noticed this wonderful
you’ve probably noticed this wonderful
you’ve probably noticed this wonderful young woman in the back this is my 14
young woman in the back this is my 14
young woman in the back this is my 14 year old daughter Misha Misha is a
year old daughter Misha Misha is a
year old daughter Misha Misha is a composer too
composer too
composer too she writes music three years ago she sat
she writes music three years ago she sat
she writes music three years ago she sat down at the keyboard and composed her
down at the keyboard and composed her
down at the keyboard and composed her first song a year later she cut a very
first song a year later she cut a very
first song a year later she cut a very first CD today she’s giving her very
first CD today she’s giving her very
first CD today she’s giving her very first concert and everything she is
first concert and everything she is
first concert and everything she is playing is a unique composition that she
playing is a unique composition that she
playing is a unique composition that she wrote you see Misha is deciding as I’ve
wrote you see Misha is deciding as I’ve
wrote you see Misha is deciding as I’ve worked with Olympic level athletes and
worked with Olympic level athletes and
worked with Olympic level athletes and Mischa’s I have found that there are
Mischa’s I have found that there are
Mischa’s I have found that there are five characteristics that shine in elite
five characteristics that shine in elite
five characteristics that shine in elite performance and we can use the acronym
performance and we can use the acronym
performance and we can use the acronym drive to understand that the D stands
drive to understand that the D stands
drive to understand that the D stands for dedication the R stands for
for dedication the R stands for
for dedication the R stands for repetition
repetition
repetition repeating a skill until we attain a
repeating a skill until we attain a
repeating a skill until we attain a certain level of proficiency I is for
certain level of proficiency I is for
certain level of proficiency I is for investment a significant investment of
investment a significant investment of
investment a significant investment of time and effort into our talent the vs
time and effort into our talent the vs
time and effort into our talent the vs with vision having the vision to see our
with vision having the vision to see our
with vision having the vision to see our potential in the future
potential in the future
potential in the future is for excellence this idea of reaching
is for excellence this idea of reaching
is for excellence this idea of reaching our true potential all successful people
our true potential all successful people
our true potential all successful people have the drive to be very best that they
have the drive to be very best that they
have the drive to be very best that they can be i want to indulge me for a second
can be i want to indulge me for a second
can be i want to indulge me for a second i would like to leave you with a little
i would like to leave you with a little
i would like to leave you with a little exercise please everybody put your right
exercise please everybody put your right
exercise please everybody put your right hand high in the air notice how high
hand high in the air notice how high
hand high in the air notice how high about hand is and on the count of three
about hand is and on the count of three
about hand is and on the count of three I want to reach just a little higher one
I want to reach just a little higher one
I want to reach just a little higher one two three and on the count of three once
two three and on the count of three once
two three and on the count of three once more reach even higher one two three
more reach even higher one two three
more reach even higher one two three what an interesting X plus four your
what an interesting X plus four your
what an interesting X plus four your hands down I know you’re tired what an
hands down I know you’re tired what an
hands down I know you’re tired what an interesting exercise I asked you to
interesting exercise I asked you to
interesting exercise I asked you to reach as high as you could and everybody
reach as high as you could and everybody
reach as high as you could and everybody reached high then I asked you to go a
reached high then I asked you to go a
reached high then I asked you to go a little higher and I saw the hands go a
little higher and I saw the hands go a
little higher and I saw the hands go a little higher then a third time go
little higher then a third time go
little higher then a third time go higher and still we found that extra a
higher and still we found that extra a
higher and still we found that extra a little bit more my deepest desire for
little bit more my deepest desire for
little bit more my deepest desire for everybody here today is to find
everybody here today is to find
everybody here today is to find something that’s meaningful in your life
something that’s meaningful in your life
something that’s meaningful in your life that you would rise for something that
that you would rise for something that
that you would rise for something that brings you joy and happiness and
brings you joy and happiness and
brings you joy and happiness and excitement
excitement
excitement ladies and gentlemen life is beautiful
ladies and gentlemen life is beautiful
ladies and gentlemen life is beautiful life is magical rise and be the very
life is magical rise and be the very
life is magical rise and be the very best that you all
best that you all
best that you all be ladies and gentlemen I want to thank
be ladies and gentlemen I want to thank
be ladies and gentlemen I want to thank you for allowing me to come share a
you for allowing me to come share a
you for allowing me to come share a little bit about talent and in the words
little bit about talent and in the words
little bit about talent and in the words of Ezra from chapter 10 verse 4 of the
of Ezra from chapter 10 verse 4 of the
of Ezra from chapter 10 verse 4 of the Old Testament
Old Testament
Old Testament it states arise be courageous
it states arise be courageous
it states arise be courageous and do it thank you
and do it thank you
and do it thank you [Applause]
”
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