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The Power of No | Rufus & Jenny Triplett | TEDxNormal


I know you wanna leave me but I refuse

I know you wanna leave me but I refuse to let you go if I have to beg and plead

to let you go if I have to beg and plead

to let you go if I have to beg and plead for your sympathy

for your sympathy

for your sympathy I don’t mind coz you mean that much to

I don’t mind coz you mean that much to

I don’t mind coz you mean that much to me ain’t too proud big sweet darling

me ain’t too proud big sweet darling

me ain’t too proud big sweet darling please don’t leave me girl imagine if

please don’t leave me girl imagine if

please don’t leave me girl imagine if you walked into an audition and sounded

you walked into an audition and sounded

you walked into an audition and sounded like this ain’t proud to please baby

like this ain’t proud to please baby

like this ain’t proud to please baby baby please don’t leave me girl not too

baby please don’t leave me girl not too

baby please don’t leave me girl not too bad if I do say so myself

bad if I do say so myself

bad if I do say so myself don’t say so but I may be a little bit

don’t say so but I may be a little bit

don’t say so but I may be a little bit biased okay so I definitely did that and

biased okay so I definitely did that and

biased okay so I definitely did that and then all of a sudden you hear these two

then all of a sudden you hear these two

then all of a sudden you hear these two little letters in this one little word

little letters in this one little word

little letters in this one little word no what would you do

no what would you do

no what would you do hopes dreams and aspirations crushed

hopes dreams and aspirations crushed

hopes dreams and aspirations crushed what would you do after I picked my face

what would you do after I picked my face

what would you do after I picked my face up off the floor that’s why we’re here

up off the floor that’s why we’re here

up off the floor that’s why we’re here y’all cuz I was giving that word no too

y’all cuz I was giving that word no too

y’all cuz I was giving that word no too much power

much power

much power let me explain I’m the second notice for

let me explain I’m the second notice for

let me explain I’m the second notice for six boys in my family and we all loved

six boys in my family and we all loved

six boys in my family and we all loved the singing a pretty big family yeah my

the singing a pretty big family yeah my

the singing a pretty big family yeah my grandmama told me I had over 200 first

grandmama told me I had over 200 first

grandmama told me I had over 200 first cousins bleedin

cousins bleedin

cousins bleedin but one day we was at home being my

but one day we was at home being my

but one day we was at home being my brother and we were at the dinner table

brother and we were at the dinner table

brother and we were at the dinner table playing around and singing some mom said

playing around and singing some mom said

playing around and singing some mom said hey y’all need to take that outside so

hey y’all need to take that outside so

hey y’all need to take that outside so that’s what we did

that’s what we did

that’s what we did we’ve been singing all around the town

we’ve been singing all around the town

we’ve been singing all around the town of Flint Michigan that’s where I’m from

of Flint Michigan that’s where I’m from

of Flint Michigan that’s where I’m from talent shows we won most of them I’m

talent shows we won most of them I’m

talent shows we won most of them I’m here to talk about them – I lost I’m

here to talk about them – I lost I’m

here to talk about them – I lost I’m talking about all the world we won and I

talking about all the world we won and I

talking about all the world we won and I got a first cousin that was in a group

got a first cousin that was in a group

got a first cousin that was in a group ready for the world back in the 80s

ready for the world back in the 80s

ready for the world back in the 80s there was a platinum-selling group had a

there was a platinum-selling group had a

there was a platinum-selling group had a couple number one hits Oh Sheila tonight

couple number one hits Oh Sheila tonight

couple number one hits Oh Sheila tonight love you down some of y’all may know

love you down some of y’all may know

love you down some of y’all may know some of y’all may not but he took us in

some of y’all may not but he took us in

some of y’all may not but he took us in the studio and we produced the demo we

the studio and we produced the demo we

the studio and we produced the demo we took that demo and drove all the way to

took that demo and drove all the way to

took that demo and drove all the way to New York when we got there we met with a

New York when we got there we met with a

New York when we got there we met with a big-time mute music mogul named Clive

big-time mute music mogul named Clive

big-time mute music mogul named Clive Davis Clive then produced some hits and

Davis Clive then produced some hits and

Davis Clive then produced some hits and some big name artists so we’re sitting

some big name artists so we’re sitting

some big name artists so we’re sitting in the office like we’re about to become

in the office like we’re about to become

in the office like we’re about to become the next Jackson fire that’s what we

the next Jackson fire that’s what we

the next Jackson fire that’s what we thought they took the demo they listened

thought they took the demo they listened

thought they took the demo they listened to it they came back to us they said hey

to it they came back to us they said hey

to it they came back to us they said hey we’re gonna get back with y’all so we

we’re gonna get back with y’all so we

we’re gonna get back with y’all so we turned the car around

turned the car around

turned the car around drove all the way back to Flint Michigan

when we got there we waited we started

when we got there we waited we started rehearsal started trying to groom in on

rehearsal started trying to groom in on

rehearsal started trying to groom in on our talents they called us maybe two

our talents they called us maybe two

our talents they called us maybe two three days later maybe even a week but

three days later maybe even a week but

three days later maybe even a week but they cost and told us them to letters

they cost and told us them to letters

they cost and told us them to letters and that one word y’all they told us not

and that one word y’all they told us not

and that one word y’all they told us not so I had to pivot

so I had to pivot

so I had to pivot which is how I got here now he didn’t

which is how I got here now he didn’t

which is how I got here now he didn’t get there by himself I got there too my

get there by himself I got there too my

get there by himself I got there too my family is not as much of a reality TV

family is not as much of a reality TV

family is not as much of a reality TV show as his is why do you got to talk

show as his is why do you got to talk

show as his is why do you got to talk about my family night but I’m just a

about my family night but I’m just a

about my family night but I’m just a little girl from a small town Saginaw

little girl from a small town Saginaw

little girl from a small town Saginaw Michigan that dare to dream I’m the

Michigan that dare to dream I’m the

Michigan that dare to dream I’m the youngest of three and one of my earliest

youngest of three and one of my earliest

youngest of three and one of my earliest aspirations was to be a lawyer

aspirations was to be a lawyer

aspirations was to be a lawyer not just any lawyer but an entertainment

not just any lawyer but an entertainment

not just any lawyer but an entertainment lawyer actually not because I like to

lawyer actually not because I like to

lawyer actually not because I like to argue girl you do art but I think I

argue girl you do art but I think I

argue girl you do art but I think I wanted to be the next Matlock and then I

wanted to be the next Matlock and then I

wanted to be the next Matlock and then I just aged myself by saying that maybe I

just aged myself by saying that maybe I

just aged myself by saying that maybe I should have said Johnnie Cochran okay

should have said Johnnie Cochran okay

should have said Johnnie Cochran okay anyway so I wanted to be a lawyer it was

anyway so I wanted to be a lawyer it was

anyway so I wanted to be a lawyer it was just something about that platform that

just something about that platform that

just something about that platform that intrigued me but when I heard that it

intrigued me but when I heard that it

intrigued me but when I heard that it was seven years of school it was those

was seven years of school it was those

was seven years of school it was those two little letters and that one little

two little letters and that one little

two little letters and that one little word in my head was like that would be

word in my head was like that would be

word in my head was like that would be enough for me

enough for me

enough for me that’s just not gonna work but what was

that’s just not gonna work but what was

that’s just not gonna work but what was I gonna do because I still wanted to be

I gonna do because I still wanted to be

I gonna do because I still wanted to be in the entertainment field I wanted to

in the entertainment field I wanted to

in the entertainment field I wanted to have the baddest wardrobe I wanted to

have the baddest wardrobe I wanted to

have the baddest wardrobe I wanted to fly around different cities be on a huge

fly around different cities be on a huge

fly around different cities be on a huge platform so what was I gonna do I could

platform so what was I gonna do I could

platform so what was I gonna do I could sing a little bit a little I’ll be about

sing a little bit a little I’ll be about

sing a little bit a little I’ll be about seen for these people I could act just a

seen for these people I could act just a

seen for these people I could act just a little bit you all right would act but

little bit you all right would act but

little bit you all right would act but what I could do really well was right I

what I could do really well was right I

what I could do really well was right I was a writer I was writing and winning

was a writer I was writing and winning

was a writer I was writing and winning awards from first grade my first grade

awards from first grade my first grade

awards from first grade my first grade teacher felt that I would be a great

teacher felt that I would be a great

teacher felt that I would be a great storyteller so that’s what I decided to

storyteller so that’s what I decided to

storyteller so that’s what I decided to do so how was I gonna mesh the

do so how was I gonna mesh the

do so how was I gonna mesh the entertainment field with writing so I

entertainment field with writing so I

entertainment field with writing so I decided to write scripts for TV shows I

decided to write scripts for TV shows I

decided to write scripts for TV shows I wrote for a little-known TV show that

wrote for a little-known TV show that

wrote for a little-known TV show that you guys might have heard of

you guys might have heard of

you guys might have heard of The Cosby Show things were going well I

The Cosby Show things were going well I

The Cosby Show things were going well I secured an agent I was told that I

secured an agent I was told that I

secured an agent I was told that I wasn’t gonna be able to do that but I

wasn’t gonna be able to do that but I

wasn’t gonna be able to do that but I did life was going good I was thinking I

did life was going good I was thinking I

did life was going good I was thinking I was on my way to Beverly Hills I was

was on my way to Beverly Hills I was

was on my way to Beverly Hills I was gonna pack it up and move to Beverly I

gonna pack it up and move to Beverly I

gonna pack it up and move to Beverly I sent in another script for another TV

sent in another script for another TV

sent in another script for another TV show a different world but this time

show a different world but this time

show a different world but this time things didn’t happen so good I got

things didn’t happen so good I got

things didn’t happen so good I got rejected and my hopes dreams and

rejected and my hopes dreams and

rejected and my hopes dreams and aspirations moving to Beverly driving

aspirations moving to Beverly driving

aspirations moving to Beverly driving down Rodeo having a baddest car the

down Rodeo having a baddest car the

down Rodeo having a baddest car the flyest wardrobe because I’m a black belt

flyest wardrobe because I’m a black belt

flyest wardrobe because I’m a black belt shopper it wasn’t gonna happen for me

shopper it wasn’t gonna happen for me

shopper it wasn’t gonna happen for me so what did I have to do I had to pivot

[Music]

[Music] I was raised here in this living hell so

I was raised here in this living hell so

I was raised here in this living hell so you don’t know my kind in your world

you don’t know my kind in your world

you don’t know my kind in your world [Music]

[Music]

[Music] family – time will tell I told y’all we

family – time will tell I told y’all we

family – time will tell I told y’all we like to sing yeah you’re singing again

like to sing yeah you’re singing again

like to sing yeah you’re singing again okay here we go again start my life out

okay here we go again start my life out

okay here we go again start my life out I got married I started having kids I

I got married I started having kids I

I got married I started having kids I moved to Atlanta Georgia but surely

moved to Atlanta Georgia but surely

moved to Atlanta Georgia but surely after I moved all my family had to come

after I moved all my family had to come

after I moved all my family had to come I’m talking about cousins brothers

I’m talking about cousins brothers

I’m talking about cousins brothers uncles auntie I looked up and everybody

uncles auntie I looked up and everybody

uncles auntie I looked up and everybody was there everybody yeah and I told you

was there everybody yeah and I told you

was there everybody yeah and I told you I me and my family liked the scene so we

I me and my family liked the scene so we

I me and my family liked the scene so we do little get-togethers and we start

do little get-togethers and we start

do little get-togethers and we start singing and harmonizing

singing and harmonizing

singing and harmonizing we got to get together down here in

we got to get together down here in

we got to get together down here in Atlanta Georgia and we were singing it

Atlanta Georgia and we were singing it

Atlanta Georgia and we were singing it was harmonizing we were feeling each

was harmonizing we were feeling each

was harmonizing we were feeling each other

other

other somebody said y’all to put a group

somebody said y’all to put a group

somebody said y’all to put a group together we thought about it we start

together we thought about it we start

together we thought about it we start singing again thought about it looked at

singing again thought about it looked at

singing again thought about it looked at each other and said let’s do this so we

each other and said let’s do this so we

each other and said let’s do this so we put this little group together in

put this little group together in

put this little group together in Atlanta Jordan we start performing all

Atlanta Jordan we start performing all

Atlanta Jordan we start performing all over the metro area in Atlanta just like

over the metro area in Atlanta just like

over the metro area in Atlanta just like we did in flea heard about this audition

we did in flea heard about this audition

we did in flea heard about this audition that was going on with this show called

that was going on with this show called

that was going on with this show called America’s Got Talent

America’s Got Talent

America’s Got Talent we went down since it was in Atlanta

we went down since it was in Atlanta

we went down since it was in Atlanta Georgia we went down to the audition got

Georgia we went down to the audition got

Georgia we went down to the audition got down there we harmonizing everybody

down there we harmonizing everybody

down there we harmonizing everybody feeling us they said we love you guys

feeling us they said we love you guys

feeling us they said we love you guys but we’d like for y’all to go audition

but we’d like for y’all to go audition

but we’d like for y’all to go audition in Miami so we did the same thing we did

in Miami so we did the same thing we did

in Miami so we did the same thing we did in New York we jumped in the car but

in New York we jumped in the car but

in New York we jumped in the car but this time it was a minivan had a family

this time it was a minivan had a family

this time it was a minivan had a family and thing

and thing

and thing and we jump in and we police it wasn’t

and we jump in and we police it wasn’t

and we jump in and we police it wasn’t pumping that much in the minivan

pumping that much in the minivan

pumping that much in the minivan oh so anywho we get down there and we

oh so anywho we get down there and we

oh so anywho we get down there and we audition in Miami Florida they love this

audition in Miami Florida they love this

audition in Miami Florida they love this these we thought they said well we’re

these we thought they said well we’re

these we thought they said well we’re gonna put y’all near rules and then we

gonna put y’all near rules and then we

gonna put y’all near rules and then we won’t come in and tell y’all whether you

won’t come in and tell y’all whether you

won’t come in and tell y’all whether you made it or not we sitting in there we

made it or not we sitting in there we

made it or not we sitting in there we waited they finally came in our room

waited they finally came in our room

waited they finally came in our room next we gave us them two letters and

next we gave us them two letters and

next we gave us them two letters and that one word that we really didn’t want

that one word that we really didn’t want

that one word that we really didn’t want to hear again and they told us no well

to hear again and they told us no well

to hear again and they told us no well throughout this journey of life and

throughout this journey of life and

throughout this journey of life and rejections we search for purpose we

rejections we search for purpose we

rejections we search for purpose we search for definition so we converted to

search for definition so we converted to

search for definition so we converted to Islam we started our company Dawa

Islam we started our company Dawa

Islam we started our company Dawa International LLC it’s a multimedia

International LLC it’s a multimedia

International LLC it’s a multimedia company and I wanted to continue my

company and I wanted to continue my

company and I wanted to continue my writing so we started publishing a

writing so we started publishing a

writing so we started publishing a magazine prison world magazine which was

magazine prison world magazine which was

magazine prison world magazine which was tailored for inmates and their families

tailored for inmates and their families

tailored for inmates and their families we found a way to merge entertainment

we found a way to merge entertainment

we found a way to merge entertainment and a message be informative and this is

and a message be informative and this is

and a message be informative and this is something that we did for ten years now

something that we did for ten years now

something that we did for ten years now doing these ten years we received an

doing these ten years we received an

doing these ten years we received an email from the editor of Ebony magazine

email from the editor of Ebony magazine

email from the editor of Ebony magazine I didn’t think anything about it because

I didn’t think anything about it because

I didn’t think anything about it because we’re already in medium evany magazine

we’re already in medium evany magazine

we’re already in medium evany magazine okay that’s you know that’s cool even

okay that’s you know that’s cool even

okay that’s you know that’s cool even though it’s the black belt Bible for

though it’s the black belt Bible for

though it’s the black belt Bible for black magazines you know grew up with it

black magazines you know grew up with it

black magazines you know grew up with it on our coffee table that’s fine

on our coffee table that’s fine

on our coffee table that’s fine and it was a long email asking about the

and it was a long email asking about the

and it was a long email asking about the dynamics of our marriage and about our

dynamics of our marriage and about our

dynamics of our marriage and about our community work I was like okay that’s

community work I was like okay that’s

community work I was like okay that’s cool I filled it out and I sent it back

cool I filled it out and I sent it back

cool I filled it out and I sent it back in that was in September of 2011

in that was in September of 2011

in that was in September of 2011 the Tuesday after Thanksgiving since we

the Tuesday after Thanksgiving since we

the Tuesday after Thanksgiving since we hadn’t heard anything we received a

hadn’t heard anything we received a

hadn’t heard anything we received a phone call it was the editor of evany

phone call it was the editor of evany

phone call it was the editor of evany magazine and she informed us that we

magazine and she informed us that we

magazine and she informed us that we were going to be there evany magazines

were going to be there evany magazines

were going to be there evany magazines couple of the year for 2012 so I felt

couple of the year for 2012 so I felt

couple of the year for 2012 so I felt the need to contact my husband says he

the need to contact my husband says he

the need to contact my husband says he wasn’t home and let him know something

wasn’t home and let him know something

wasn’t home and let him know something special was gonna be happening and this

special was gonna be happening and this

special was gonna be happening and this is a guy who really doesn’t get excited

is a guy who really doesn’t get excited

is a guy who really doesn’t get excited about anything pretty much so I gave him

about anything pretty much so I gave him

about anything pretty much so I gave him a call and explained to him and informed

a call and explained to him and informed

a call and explained to him and informed to him hey guess what’s going on

to him hey guess what’s going on

to him hey guess what’s going on you know something sweets about to

you know something sweets about to

you know something sweets about to happen here and what was your reaction I

happen here and what was your reaction I

happen here and what was your reaction I just wanted to know didn’t people know

just wanted to know didn’t people know

just wanted to know didn’t people know we were Muslim we covered up now I was

we were Muslim we covered up now I was

we were Muslim we covered up now I was just wondering did they really

just wondering did they really

just wondering did they really understand who they was talking about

understand who they was talking about

understand who they was talking about because we don’t get those type of

because we don’t get those type of

because we don’t get those type of honors we don’t get selected in that

honors we don’t get selected in that

honors we don’t get selected in that type of way and it wasn’t a competition

type of way and it wasn’t a competition

type of way and it wasn’t a competition or anything it was an honor for our

or anything it was an honor for our

or anything it was an honor for our marriage we were coming up on 20-some

marriage we were coming up on 20-some

marriage we were coming up on 20-some years of marriage at that time and

years of marriage at that time and

years of marriage at that time and because of our community work so now

because of our community work so now

because of our community work so now that our marriage has been thrown into

that our marriage has been thrown into

that our marriage has been thrown into the spotlight everybody wanted to know

the spotlight everybody wanted to know

the spotlight everybody wanted to know what’s the secret to marriage yeah you

what’s the secret to marriage yeah you

what’s the secret to marriage yeah you guys must have the keys it’s a marriage

guys must have the keys it’s a marriage

guys must have the keys it’s a marriage I’m still trying to figure out what

I’m still trying to figure out what

I’m still trying to figure out what secret they talking about y’all ain’t

secret they talking about y’all ain’t

secret they talking about y’all ain’t understand that question so we decided

understand that question so we decided

understand that question so we decided to put it in a book we wrote this book

to put it in a book we wrote this book

to put it in a book we wrote this book surviving marriage in the 21st century

surviving marriage in the 21st century

surviving marriage in the 21st century 13 easy tips to help you get to 20 years

13 easy tips to help you get to 20 years

13 easy tips to help you get to 20 years and beyond we self-published it in

and beyond we self-published it in

and beyond we self-published it in February of 2013 put it out there and

February of 2013 put it out there and

February of 2013 put it out there and from the time we put it out there it

from the time we put it out there it

from the time we put it out there it became a best-seller it stayed on

became a best-seller it stayed on

became a best-seller it stayed on Amazon bestsellers lists stayed on the

Amazon bestsellers lists stayed on the

Amazon bestsellers lists stayed on the Edmond Times bestsellers list it was

Edmond Times bestsellers list it was

Edmond Times bestsellers list it was like craziness move me away had never

like craziness move me away had never

like craziness move me away had never seen before but my first-grade teacher

seen before but my first-grade teacher

seen before but my first-grade teacher did say that I was a storyteller than I

did say that I was a storyteller than I

did say that I was a storyteller than I could write so I put that into play

could write so I put that into play

could write so I put that into play right Cody the very first year we did 16

right Cody the very first year we did 16

right Cody the very first year we did 16 cities across the country with book

cities across the country with book

cities across the country with book signings and marriage workshops we

signings and marriage workshops we

signings and marriage workshops we thought it was a fluke I thought you

thought it was a fluke I thought you

thought it was a fluke I thought you weren’t trying to wear me out

weren’t trying to wear me out

weren’t trying to wear me out I wouldn’t use all that trouble and then

I wouldn’t use all that trouble and then

I wouldn’t use all that trouble and then the next year we did 14 cities across

the next year we did 14 cities across

the next year we did 14 cities across the country with marriage workshops and

the country with marriage workshops and

the country with marriage workshops and book signings we thought this was crazy

book signings we thought this was crazy

book signings we thought this was crazy we had actually not done anything like

we had actually not done anything like

we had actually not done anything like this before and this book had

this before and this book had

this before and this book had transcended race religion gender ‘s

transcended race religion gender ‘s

transcended race religion gender ‘s demographic I don’t think there’s any

demographic I don’t think there’s any

demographic I don’t think there’s any religion that we’ve done not done giving

religion that we’ve done not done giving

religion that we’ve done not done giving marriage advice to all we’ve done

marriage advice to all we’ve done

marriage advice to all we’ve done tomorrow doc I even remember some

tomorrow doc I even remember some

tomorrow doc I even remember some Buddhists assumed something like that

Buddhists assumed something like that

Buddhists assumed something like that and it was at this time we were on a

and it was at this time we were on a

and it was at this time we were on a roll we were not hearing those two

roll we were not hearing those two

roll we were not hearing those two little letters in that one word one word

little letters in that one word one word

little letters in that one word one word anymore

anymore

anymore no boy I was so happy y’all we just

no boy I was so happy y’all we just

no boy I was so happy y’all we just thought everything was going what nobody

thought everything was going what nobody

thought everything was going what nobody telling me no so then we started finding

telling me no so then we started finding

telling me no so then we started finding ourselves in more media print radio

ourselves in more media print radio

ourselves in more media print radio television everything just really

television everything just really

television everything just really started happening for us we even started

started happening for us we even started

started happening for us we even started finding ourselves in tweets and more

finding ourselves in tweets and more

finding ourselves in tweets and more media book signings tweet me little over

media book signings tweet me little over

media book signings tweet me little over the country and we started speaking more

the country and we started speaking more

the country and we started speaking more we started speaking and we started

we started speaking and we started

we started speaking and we started giving our message we even found our way

giving our message we even found our way

giving our message we even found our way onto TLC with our own guide to love

onto TLC with our own guide to love

onto TLC with our own guide to love special

special

special it’s another shocker exactly so things

it’s another shocker exactly so things

it’s another shocker exactly so things were really roll it for us you would

were really roll it for us you would

were really roll it for us you would think that okay wow we’ve come up out of

think that okay wow we’ve come up out of

think that okay wow we’ve come up out of all this and things were really rolling

all this and things were really rolling

all this and things were really rolling but life always has that shock shock

but life always has that shock shock

but life always has that shock shock value for you in a different plan in

value for you in a different plan in

value for you in a different plan in November 2018 our oldest son Michael

November 2018 our oldest son Michael

November 2018 our oldest son Michael mikail

mikail

mikail as we like to refer to him passed away

as we like to refer to him passed away

as we like to refer to him passed away very suddenly

it was the biggest know that life threw

it was the biggest know that life threw at us but we knew we had to pivot we

at us but we knew we had to pivot we

at us but we knew we had to pivot we knew we couldn’t stay stuck once again

knew we couldn’t stay stuck once again

knew we couldn’t stay stuck once again that power of know you got to find a way

that power of know you got to find a way

that power of know you got to find a way to pivot

to pivot

to pivot exactly our faith teaches us that we

exactly our faith teaches us that we

exactly our faith teaches us that we have to pick ourselves up and we have to

have to pick ourselves up and we have to

have to pick ourselves up and we have to keep going so what do we do

keep going so what do we do

keep going so what do we do the very next month we sat down we made

the very next month we sat down we made

the very next month we sat down we made a vision board we talked about discussed

a vision board we talked about discussed

a vision board we talked about discussed our goals we’ve wrote it out we planned

our goals we’ve wrote it out we planned

our goals we’ve wrote it out we planned it in 2017 we started going after those

it in 2017 we started going after those

it in 2017 we started going after those goals that’s exactly what that no did

goals that’s exactly what that no did

goals that’s exactly what that no did for us we had to find a different

for us we had to find a different

for us we had to find a different direction so now in 2017 going on to be

direction so now in 2017 going on to be

direction so now in 2017 going on to be a great year we started finding

a great year we started finding

a great year we started finding ourselves in international destinations

ourselves in international destinations

ourselves in international destinations we’ve done book signings in Dubai we’ve

we’ve done book signings in Dubai we’ve

we’ve done book signings in Dubai we’ve been to Cuba and even last month we

been to Cuba and even last month we

been to Cuba and even last month we found ourselves in Bucharest but let me

found ourselves in Bucharest but let me

found ourselves in Bucharest but let me tell you all something ain’t no black

tell you all something ain’t no black

tell you all something ain’t no black people in Bucharest I think we made a

people in Bucharest I think we made a

people in Bucharest I think we made a two person black quota for the whole

two person black quota for the whole

two person black quota for the whole month in Romania might have been for the

month in Romania might have been for the

month in Romania might have been for the whole year we made they call that we

whole year we made they call that we

whole year we made they call that we were in Romania so our message has

were in Romania so our message has

were in Romania so our message has become even more powerful now you know

become even more powerful now you know

become even more powerful now you know we have been told no a lot we’ve been

we have been told no a lot we’ve been

we have been told no a lot we’ve been told no because we’re black we’ve been

told no because we’re black we’ve been

told no because we’re black we’ve been told no cuz we Muslim I’ve been told no

told no cuz we Muslim I’ve been told no

told no cuz we Muslim I’ve been told no because I’m a female but have you ever

because I’m a female but have you ever

because I’m a female but have you ever been told no because you’re

been told no because you’re

been told no because you’re african-american male Muslim no I’ve

african-american male Muslim no I’ve

african-american male Muslim no I’ve been told no well I have grown up wooden

been told no well I have grown up wooden

been told no well I have grown up wooden no that was nice not yet with that but

no that was nice not yet with that but

no that was nice not yet with that but we are the first african-american Muslim

we are the first african-american Muslim

we are the first african-american Muslim couple that appeared in Ebony magazine

couple that appeared in Ebony magazine

couple that appeared in Ebony magazine as a couple of the year we are the very

as a couple of the year we are the very

as a couple of the year we are the very first african-american Muslim couple

first african-american Muslim couple

first african-american Muslim couple that is appearing on these TED talk

that is appearing on these TED talk

that is appearing on these TED talk stages and we are finding now

stages and we are finding now

stages and we are finding now with all of our rejections and being

with all of our rejections and being

with all of our rejections and being told no it will make you reflect a real

told no it will make you reflect a real

told no it will make you reflect a real character sometimes being told Noah’s

character sometimes being told Noah’s

character sometimes being told Noah’s for you’re gonna build you it will also

for you’re gonna build you it will also

for you’re gonna build you it will also make you find out how to do it for

make you find out how to do it for

make you find out how to do it for yourself as we put our book out

yourself as we put our book out

yourself as we put our book out ourselves and we’ll also make you

ourselves and we’ll also make you

ourselves and we’ll also make you understand the power of yes and it would

understand the power of yes and it would

understand the power of yes and it would definitely make you pivot thank you

definitely make you pivot thank you

definitely make you pivot thank you [Applause]

”

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