hey friends so I have a confession a serious confession and I might even need
serious confession and I might even need
serious confession and I might even need an intervention the truth I’m a friend
an intervention the truth I’m a friend
an intervention the truth I’m a friend of holic I’m a friend of holic and I
of holic I’m a friend of holic and I
of holic I’m a friend of holic and I make friends everywhere on planes on
make friends everywhere on planes on
make friends everywhere on planes on trains and lines and while I dine I make
trains and lines and while I dine I make
trains and lines and while I dine I make friends simply walking down the street
friends simply walking down the street
friends simply walking down the street at the grocery store when shopping and
at the grocery store when shopping and
at the grocery store when shopping and even when I sleep yes friends I make
even when I sleep yes friends I make
even when I sleep yes friends I make friends in my dreams but I must admit I
friends in my dreams but I must admit I
friends in my dreams but I must admit I haven’t always been like this
haven’t always been like this
haven’t always been like this in fact the younger me was shy very shy
in fact the younger me was shy very shy
in fact the younger me was shy very shy when mama take me to daycare I would
when mama take me to daycare I would
when mama take me to daycare I would scream and cry and when family would
scream and cry and when family would
scream and cry and when family would come visit I would run in height but in
come visit I would run in height but in
come visit I would run in height but in 2009 I was forced to change and since
2009 I was forced to change and since
2009 I was forced to change and since 2009 I have not been the same on October
2009 I have not been the same on October
2009 I have not been the same on October 1st 2009 I was 25 and I had just earned
1st 2009 I was 25 and I had just earned
1st 2009 I was 25 and I had just earned my MBA which for many would be a thing
my MBA which for many would be a thing
my MBA which for many would be a thing to celebrate but not for me because when
to celebrate but not for me because when
to celebrate but not for me because when I went to bed that night I realized I
I went to bed that night I realized I
I went to bed that night I realized I was not where I want it to be actually
was not where I want it to be actually
was not where I want it to be actually I’m lying I was where I want it to be
I’m lying I was where I want it to be
I’m lying I was where I want it to be but society told me that at that age I
but society told me that at that age I
but society told me that at that age I needed to be married
needed to be married
needed to be married I needed to be established in my career
I needed to be established in my career
I needed to be established in my career and I needed to be with child and on
and I needed to be with child and on
and I needed to be with child and on October 1st at 25 I was none of those
October 1st at 25 I was none of those
October 1st at 25 I was none of those things I was lost and confused I didn’t
things I was lost and confused I didn’t
things I was lost and confused I didn’t know what I wanted to do or where I want
know what I wanted to do or where I want
know what I wanted to do or where I want it to be
it to be
it to be I couldn’t find a job so I had to move
I couldn’t find a job so I had to move
I couldn’t find a job so I had to move back home with my mom just to make ends
back home with my mom just to make ends
back home with my mom just to make ends meet and to add insult to injury my
meet and to add insult to injury my
meet and to add insult to injury my relationship of six years was felling
relationship of six years was felling
relationship of six years was felling and I was at the American Red Cross
and I was at the American Red Cross
and I was at the American Red Cross making thirteen dollars a day and ninety
making thirteen dollars a day and ninety
making thirteen dollars a day and ninety one dollars a week and before you start
one dollars a week and before you start
one dollars a week and before you start to think that the Red Cross was paying
to think that the Red Cross was paying
to think that the Red Cross was paying me illegally they weren’t they weren’t I
me illegally they weren’t they weren’t I
me illegally they weren’t they weren’t I was in AmeriCorps and although I chose
was in AmeriCorps and although I chose
was in AmeriCorps and although I chose AmeriCorps to serve my community
AmeriCorps to serve my community
AmeriCorps to serve my community AmeriCorps was my plan B and the Living
AmeriCorps was my plan B and the Living
AmeriCorps was my plan B and the Living Allowance
Allowance
Allowance was barely enough to eat speaking of
was barely enough to eat speaking of
was barely enough to eat speaking of eating did I mention I was on food
eating did I mention I was on food
eating did I mention I was on food stamps in AmeriCorps food stamps are
stamps in AmeriCorps food stamps are
stamps in AmeriCorps food stamps are offered as a perk to ease your financial
offered as a perk to ease your financial
offered as a perk to ease your financial burden but on October 1st food stamps
burden but on October 1st food stamps
burden but on October 1st food stamps were my burden and right there in front
were my burden and right there in front
were my burden and right there in front of the cabinet of health family and food
of the cabinet of health family and food
of the cabinet of health family and food stamp services i sat in my sob and
stamp services i sat in my sob and
stamp services i sat in my sob and sobbed eyeball jaw with snot and awe a
sobbed eyeball jaw with snot and awe a
sobbed eyeball jaw with snot and awe a lot of snot because life was not like my
lot of snot because life was not like my
lot of snot because life was not like my childhood dreams I hated
childhood dreams I hated
childhood dreams I hated adulting and the tears wouldn’t stop
adulting and the tears wouldn’t stop
adulting and the tears wouldn’t stop rolling it was agony and ecstasy
rolling it was agony and ecstasy
rolling it was agony and ecstasy defeating and cleansing in the beginning
defeating and cleansing in the beginning
defeating and cleansing in the beginning of my quarter life crisis and if you’ve
of my quarter life crisis and if you’ve
of my quarter life crisis and if you’ve been here you know exactly what I was
been here you know exactly what I was
been here you know exactly what I was feeling right you know the feeling
feeling right you know the feeling
feeling right you know the feeling in elementary they tell you to go to
in elementary they tell you to go to
in elementary they tell you to go to middle school in middle school they tell
middle school in middle school they tell
middle school in middle school they tell you go to high school in high school
you go to high school in high school
you go to high school in high school they tell you go to college and then
they tell you go to college and then
they tell you go to college and then after college they tell you to figure it
after college they tell you to figure it
after college they tell you to figure it out
out
out figure it out that makes no sense to me
figure it out that makes no sense to me
figure it out that makes no sense to me they say they say they say they say
they say they say they say they say
they say they say they say they say until you really need them to say and
until you really need them to say and
until you really need them to say and then they stop saying crazy and that’s
then they stop saying crazy and that’s
then they stop saying crazy and that’s the perfect word that sums up that year
the perfect word that sums up that year
the perfect word that sums up that year for me it was crazy
for me it was crazy
for me it was crazy and after much journaling much
and after much journaling much
and after much journaling much reflecting much roses knees crying and
reflecting much roses knees crying and
reflecting much roses knees crying and praying I had a decision to make I could
praying I had a decision to make I could
praying I had a decision to make I could continue to live and quarter life Drive
continue to live and quarter life Drive
continue to live and quarter life Drive or I could figure out this thing called
or I could figure out this thing called
or I could figure out this thing called life I chose the ladder I chose to step
life I chose the ladder I chose to step
life I chose the ladder I chose to step out of my millennial comfort zone and
out of my millennial comfort zone and
out of my millennial comfort zone and meet 100 people in 100 days the good
meet 100 people in 100 days the good
meet 100 people in 100 days the good old-fashioned way no technology no text
old-fashioned way no technology no text
old-fashioned way no technology no text just good Oh
just good Oh
just good Oh face-to-face connectedness I wanted to
face-to-face connectedness I wanted to
face-to-face connectedness I wanted to hear their stories I wanted to learn
hear their stories I wanted to learn
hear their stories I wanted to learn from their experiences and I wanted to
from their experiences and I wanted to
from their experiences and I wanted to follow their path to love leadership
follow their path to love leadership
follow their path to love leadership success and happiness and so on October
success and happiness and so on October
success and happiness and so on October 2nd my 100 people in 100 days commenced
2nd my 100 people in 100 days commenced
2nd my 100 people in 100 days commenced I started my journey by contacting my
I started my journey by contacting my
I started my journey by contacting my local Chamber of Commerce I figured with
local Chamber of Commerce I figured with
local Chamber of Commerce I figured with the reach of 15 counties in one point
the reach of 15 counties in one point
the reach of 15 counties in one point for a million peeps and they could tell
for a million peeps and they could tell
for a million peeps and they could tell me a thing or two about adulting and
me a thing or two about adulting and
me a thing or two about adulting and they did that year the chamber
they did that year the chamber
they did that year the chamber kick-started my 100 and 100 journey by
kick-started my 100 and 100 journey by
kick-started my 100 and 100 journey by inviting me to a two-day Leadership
inviting me to a two-day Leadership
inviting me to a two-day Leadership Conference the purpose of the conference
Conference the purpose of the conference
Conference the purpose of the conference was to help leavel create a vision for
was to help leavel create a vision for
was to help leavel create a vision for its future
its future
its future however Louisville was 231 years old at
however Louisville was 231 years old at
however Louisville was 231 years old at the time so I figured she’d be okay with
the time so I figured she’d be okay with
the time so I figured she’d be okay with me focusing less on her future and more
me focusing less on her future and more
me focusing less on her future and more on mine
and that’s exactly what I did for two
and that’s exactly what I did for two days I ran around that conference
days I ran around that conference
days I ran around that conference meeting as many people as I could meet
meeting as many people as I could meet
meeting as many people as I could meet and in a room full of 116 attendees I
and in a room full of 116 attendees I
and in a room full of 116 attendees I met more than 50 I met people like dr.
met more than 50 I met people like dr.
met more than 50 I met people like dr. Lance secretin ski enthusiasts quarter
Lance secretin ski enthusiasts quarter
Lance secretin ski enthusiasts quarter life strife genius and leadership
life strife genius and leadership
life strife genius and leadership theorists and he changed my life with
theorists and he changed my life with
theorists and he changed my life with three words why be do why are you here
three words why be do why are you here
three words why be do why are you here how will you be and what will you do to
how will you be and what will you do to
how will you be and what will you do to use your gifts and talents to serve
use your gifts and talents to serve
use your gifts and talents to serve after that conference I felt hi after
after that conference I felt hi after
after that conference I felt hi after two days of reflecting I didn’t have all
two days of reflecting I didn’t have all
two days of reflecting I didn’t have all three answers but I did have my why I am
three answers but I did have my why I am
three answers but I did have my why I am here to be a mentor for the mentor less
here to be a mentor for the mentor less
here to be a mentor for the mentor less hope for the hopeless and a friend for
hope for the hopeless and a friend for
hope for the hopeless and a friend for the friendless I am here to serve
the friendless I am here to serve
the friendless I am here to serve following that conference more than 50
following that conference more than 50
following that conference more than 50 bps and c-suites
bps and c-suites
bps and c-suites agreed to meet with me and they even
agreed to meet with me and they even
agreed to meet with me and they even suggested other people I should meet and
suggested other people I should meet and
suggested other people I should meet and each coffee each tea each lunch in each
each coffee each tea each lunch in each
each coffee each tea each lunch in each brunch got me one step closer to my why
brunch got me one step closer to my why
brunch got me one step closer to my why be do which brings me to connection
be do which brings me to connection
be do which brings me to connection number 22 Barbara Barbara was a mother
number 22 Barbara Barbara was a mother
number 22 Barbara Barbara was a mother of seven who grew up with humble
of seven who grew up with humble
of seven who grew up with humble beginnings as a child she would eat her
beginnings as a child she would eat her
beginnings as a child she would eat her favorite childhood meal of cabbage corn
favorite childhood meal of cabbage corn
favorite childhood meal of cabbage corn bread and navy beans and she would
bread and navy beans and she would
bread and navy beans and she would daydream about becoming a manager at
daydream about becoming a manager at
daydream about becoming a manager at Walgreens now fast-forward 20 years
Walgreens now fast-forward 20 years
Walgreens now fast-forward 20 years later Barbara had never worked at
later Barbara had never worked at
later Barbara had never worked at Walgreens but she did become a manager
Walgreens but she did become a manager
Walgreens but she did become a manager at Wendy’s then a radio personality a
at Wendy’s then a radio personality a
at Wendy’s then a radio personality a renowned blogger assault after speaker
renowned blogger assault after speaker
renowned blogger assault after speaker and a fearless leader who raised more
and a fearless leader who raised more
and a fearless leader who raised more than 200 million for children in our
than 200 million for children in our
than 200 million for children in our region I was so
region I was so
region I was so inspired by Barbara and after meeting
inspired by Barbara and after meeting
inspired by Barbara and after meeting with her I ran home to my mom and I
with her I ran home to my mom and I
with her I ran home to my mom and I asked her about my childhood dreams mom
asked her about my childhood dreams mom
asked her about my childhood dreams mom said that as a child I was always
said that as a child I was always
said that as a child I was always interested in problem solving and
interested in problem solving and
interested in problem solving and creativity and that I channeled this
creativity and that I channeled this
creativity and that I channeled this energy through fashion fashion fashion
energy through fashion fashion fashion
energy through fashion fashion fashion cooking and making things mom also told
cooking and making things mom also told
cooking and making things mom also told me but in the seventh grade I looked a
me but in the seventh grade I looked a
me but in the seventh grade I looked a CEO dead in his face and said I’m gonna
CEO dead in his face and said I’m gonna
CEO dead in his face and said I’m gonna have your job one day and that made me
have your job one day and that made me
have your job one day and that made me smile because moms always know what to
smile because moms always know what to
smile because moms always know what to say and right there in our living room
say and right there in our living room
say and right there in our living room mom gave me the fuel needed to continue
mom gave me the fuel needed to continue
mom gave me the fuel needed to continue my 100 and 100 pursuit connection number
my 100 and 100 pursuit connection number
my 100 and 100 pursuit connection number 47 NAT that was a professor at the
47 NAT that was a professor at the
47 NAT that was a professor at the University and he studied people like me
University and he studied people like me
University and he studied people like me he caught us rivals and he defined us as
he caught us rivals and he defined us as
he caught us rivals and he defined us as a new breed of african-americans with a
a new breed of african-americans with a
a new breed of african-americans with a globally tuned for it thinking No Limits
globally tuned for it thinking No Limits
globally tuned for it thinking No Limits approach to doing business NAT was also
approach to doing business NAT was also
approach to doing business NAT was also a futurist
a futurist
a futurist and in order to figure out my own future
and in order to figure out my own future
and in order to figure out my own future he recommended that I do four things in
he recommended that I do four things in
he recommended that I do four things in my present one find my voice to read
my present one find my voice to read
my present one find my voice to read everything three journal daily and four
everything three journal daily and four
everything three journal daily and four learn from people and learn from my past
learn from people and learn from my past
learn from people and learn from my past after meeting with NAT I read everything
after meeting with NAT I read everything
after meeting with NAT I read everything but two books come to mind Purpose
but two books come to mind Purpose
but two books come to mind Purpose Driven Life and what color is your
Driven Life and what color is your
Driven Life and what color is your parachute I even got into a daily
parachute I even got into a daily
parachute I even got into a daily routine of journaling and I started
routine of journaling and I started
routine of journaling and I started journaling every time I was happy the
journaling every time I was happy the
journaling every time I was happy the other thing I did I text 20 of my
other thing I did I text 20 of my
other thing I did I text 20 of my friends and asked if you could pick a
friends and asked if you could pick a
friends and asked if you could pick a career for me what would it be now most
career for me what would it be now most
career for me what would it be now most of them thought I was drunk texting but
of them thought I was drunk texting but
of them thought I was drunk texting but they still replied and surprisingly
they still replied and surprisingly
they still replied and surprisingly their answers were very aligned with
their answers were very aligned with
their answers were very aligned with mine that meeting with Matt and those
mine that meeting with Matt and those
mine that meeting with Matt and those activities got me one step closer to
activities got me one step closer to
activities got me one step closer to finding me and my one
finding me and my one
finding me and my one hundred in 100 passage pursued
hundred in 100 passage pursued
hundred in 100 passage pursued connection number 81 John at the time
connection number 81 John at the time
connection number 81 John at the time John did community outreach for the Ahly
John did community outreach for the Ahly
John did community outreach for the Ahly Center and he also did photography on
Center and he also did photography on
Center and he also did photography on the side and within minutes of us
the side and within minutes of us
the side and within minutes of us meeting John saw something in me and
meeting John saw something in me and
meeting John saw something in me and didn’t need a camera to see it smiling
didn’t need a camera to see it smiling
didn’t need a camera to see it smiling ear to ear and cheek to cheek John
ear to ear and cheek to cheek John
ear to ear and cheek to cheek John whispered you’re gonna be a brand one
whispered you’re gonna be a brand one
whispered you’re gonna be a brand one day so go ahead and purchase the domain
day so go ahead and purchase the domain
day so go ahead and purchase the domain and for the first time in my life I
and for the first time in my life I
and for the first time in my life I didn’t know what to say so I just sat
didn’t know what to say so I just sat
didn’t know what to say so I just sat and he continued it seemed like you
and he continued it seemed like you
and he continued it seemed like you liked business and it seems like you
liked business and it seems like you
liked business and it seems like you like mission so why don’t you just
like mission so why don’t you just
like mission so why don’t you just bridge the two and go into social
bridge the two and go into social
bridge the two and go into social innovation
innovation
innovation social what I exclaimed social
social what I exclaimed social
social what I exclaimed social innovation he explained and then he
innovation he explained and then he
innovation he explained and then he shared his dream of using art light and
shared his dream of using art light and
shared his dream of using art light and photography to end social inequality
photography to end social inequality
photography to end social inequality after my meeting with John I felt free I
after my meeting with John I felt free I
after my meeting with John I felt free I felt free because for the first time in
felt free because for the first time in
felt free because for the first time in my life someone had given name to the
my life someone had given name to the
my life someone had given name to the very thing I was seeking and within
very thing I was seeking and within
very thing I was seeking and within weeks of us meeting my one hundred and
weeks of us meeting my one hundred and
weeks of us meeting my one hundred and one hundred was complete my ybg was
one hundred was complete my ybg was
one hundred was complete my ybg was complete and I was moving to st. Louis
complete and I was moving to st. Louis
complete and I was moving to st. Louis Missouri to teach eighth grade science
Missouri to teach eighth grade science
Missouri to teach eighth grade science would Teach for America I landed in st.
would Teach for America I landed in st.
would Teach for America I landed in st. Louis July 15 2010 I had no family and
Louis July 15 2010 I had no family and
Louis July 15 2010 I had no family and no friends but I did remember a little
no friends but I did remember a little
no friends but I did remember a little thing that helped me achieve my last
thing that helped me achieve my last
thing that helped me achieve my last life goal and so my meet 100 people in
life goal and so my meet 100 people in
life goal and so my meet 100 people in 100 days the st. Louis way began and it
100 days the st. Louis way began and it
100 days the st. Louis way began and it was the best decision I ever made
was the best decision I ever made
was the best decision I ever made because those same people that I’ve met
because those same people that I’ve met
because those same people that I’ve met during those 100 days are these same
during those 100 days are these same
during those 100 days are these same people I depend on today they are my
people I depend on today they are my
people I depend on today they are my tribe my family in my community and some
tribe my family in my community and some
tribe my family in my community and some of them are in the audience today hey
of them are in the audience today hey
of them are in the audience today hey friends
friends
friends [Music]
[Music]
[Music] speaking of today I stand here before
speaking of today I stand here before
speaking of today I stand here before you on November 2nd 2017 and at this
you on November 2nd 2017 and at this
you on November 2nd 2017 and at this point in my life I’ve met 100 people in
point in my life I’ve met 100 people in
point in my life I’ve met 100 people in 100 days going on five times and here’s
100 days going on five times and here’s
100 days going on five times and here’s the irony all along I thought these
the irony all along I thought these
the irony all along I thought these meetings were supposed to help me find
meetings were supposed to help me find
meetings were supposed to help me find my purpose but all along these meetings
my purpose but all along these meetings
my purpose but all along these meetings were my purpose because we don’t connect
were my purpose because we don’t connect
were my purpose because we don’t connect for purpose our purpose is to connect
for purpose our purpose is to connect
for purpose our purpose is to connect did you catch that
did you catch that
did you catch that we don’t connect for jobs to get ahead
we don’t connect for jobs to get ahead
we don’t connect for jobs to get ahead or for success or at least we shouldn’t
or for success or at least we shouldn’t
or for success or at least we shouldn’t our purpose is to connect but research
our purpose is to connect but research
our purpose is to connect but research shows that we are spending less time
shows that we are spending less time
shows that we are spending less time with family making less friends and
with family making less friends and
with family making less friends and avoiding strangers at all costs and as a
avoiding strangers at all costs and as a
avoiding strangers at all costs and as a result we have increased memory loss
result we have increased memory loss
result we have increased memory loss loneliness stress and heart disease and
loneliness stress and heart disease and
loneliness stress and heart disease and there is one thing that can change
there is one thing that can change
there is one thing that can change everything one thing and that is human
everything one thing and that is human
everything one thing and that is human connection because humans need human
connection because humans need human
connection because humans need human connection and now I am challenging you
connection and now I am challenging you
connection and now I am challenging you I am challenging all of you to meet 100
I am challenging all of you to meet 100
I am challenging all of you to meet 100 people in 100 days which isn’t that hard
people in 100 days which isn’t that hard
people in 100 days which isn’t that hard to do considering most of us passed 60
to do considering most of us passed 60
to do considering most of us passed 60 to 70 people a day and know that when I
to 70 people a day and know that when I
to 70 people a day and know that when I say and suggest this I’m not asking you
say and suggest this I’m not asking you
say and suggest this I’m not asking you to be extroverts but I am asking you to
to be extroverts but I am asking you to
to be extroverts but I am asking you to convert to convert to human acknowledges
convert to convert to human acknowledges
convert to convert to human acknowledges to acknowledge the people standing in
to acknowledge the people standing in
to acknowledge the people standing in front of you and behind you in lines to
front of you and behind you in lines to
front of you and behind you in lines to acknowledge the people that wait on you
acknowledge the people that wait on you
acknowledge the people that wait on you while you die to acknowledge the people
while you die to acknowledge the people
while you die to acknowledge the people sitting next to you on planes and on
sitting next to you on planes and on
sitting next to you on planes and on trains to acknowledge the
trains to acknowledge the
trains to acknowledge the human beings standing on corners asking
human beings standing on corners asking
human beings standing on corners asking you for change I’m asking you to put
you for change I’m asking you to put
you for change I’m asking you to put down the technology and acknowledge
down the technology and acknowledge
down the technology and acknowledge humanity because there will always be
humanity because there will always be
humanity because there will always be one more email and there will always be
one more email and there will always be
one more email and there will always be one more tweet but we should never be
one more tweet but we should never be
one more tweet but we should never be too busy to acknowledge humanity humans
too busy to acknowledge humanity humans
too busy to acknowledge humanity humans need human connection
need human connection
need human connection so acknowledge your co-workers connect
so acknowledge your co-workers connect
so acknowledge your co-workers connect with your family hear a stranger’s story
with your family hear a stranger’s story
with your family hear a stranger’s story and share yours too because we can bring
and share yours too because we can bring
and share yours too because we can bring great meaning to each other’s lives and
great meaning to each other’s lives and
great meaning to each other’s lives and nearly 500 of you have brought great
nearly 500 of you have brought great
nearly 500 of you have brought great meaning to mine and now that I know my
meaning to mine and now that I know my
meaning to mine and now that I know my why no matter how I’ll be or what I’ll
why no matter how I’ll be or what I’ll
why no matter how I’ll be or what I’ll do next to use my gifts and talents to
do next to use my gifts and talents to
do next to use my gifts and talents to serve this is how I’ll get there 100
serve this is how I’ll get there 100
serve this is how I’ll get there 100 people 100 days at a time will you join
people 100 days at a time will you join
people 100 days at a time will you join me thank you
”
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