In 1987 Nike had $600 million in revenue. Phil Knight was stuck. The company was losing ground to Reebok, burning cash, and nobody inside could agree on what to do next.
He brought in Les Brown to speak to his executive team.
Brown was found abandoned in Miami at 6 weeks old. Labeled mentally retarded at age 9. Failed fifth grade twice. Had no degree, no connections, no money.
By 1987 he was the highest-paid motivational speaker in America. Marriott paid him. McDonald's paid him. General Electric paid him. Fortune 500 companies flew him in because one session with Les Brown changed how their people think.
Nike's revenue crossed $1 billion two years later.
Brown built all of it on one thing he learned by losing everything.
He made a promise to his adopted mother to buy her a house. Worked years to get the down payment. Found a home on the water in Miami. Signed without a title search.
A registered letter arrived weeks later. A $12,000 lien against the property. The previous owner's debt. 30 days to pay or lose the house.
He lost the house. Lost 23 pounds in the process. Packed his mother back into the old neighborhood while the same neighbors who watched them leave watched them return.
He stood in the driveway unloading furniture with his head down crying.
His mother said hold your head up. You have nothing to be ashamed of.
For weeks he couldn't move. Couldn't think. Couldn't plan.
He said the mind works like a gas pump. You cannot start pumping until the previous bill clears. Anger doesn't clear. Humiliation doesn't clear. They sit on the lever and nothing moves.
He told the story of a man everyone in Columbus called Chicken Man.
Woke up at 3am to a house on fire. Got out the window. Heard his wife and children screaming. Ran back. The flames were too hot. He could not get in.
The screaming stopped.
His brother-in-law arrived and started hitting him. Calling him a coward over and over.
When people pulled him off they asked if he was all right.
Chicken Man looked at them and started making the sounds of a chicken. He never spoke again. Drove around the city for the rest of his life with a toy chicken on his car and a photo of his wife in a baby carriage.
Brown said most people walking around are carrying something exactly like that. An event from years ago still running their entire life.
80% of the people you tell your story to don't care. The other 20% are glad it happened to you and not them.
The question is never what happened. The question is what are you going to do about it.
The lecture is free on YouTube. Just over an hour.
Almost nobody has watched it as a precise diagnosis of why capable people stay exactly where they are.
Home, again! Mission complete. I hope we glorified God, humanity, our families and our terrific teams a @NASA and @csa_asc. Time to share the good news!
Source: Former #Bengals WR Trenton Irwin is signing with the #Panthers practice squad, with a quick elevation to the 53-man roster the plan.
He reunites with OC Brad Idzik, who coached him at Stanford.
Can you blame Shreve... our giveaways are π₯ π₯ π₯
Giveawaysβ¬οΈ
TODAY: Hawaiian Shirt
7/13: Masyn Winn Bobble Head
7/19: Rope Hat
7/20: π Jersey
8/10: Red Sox Tumbler
8/23: Shield Glasses
8/24: Comic Book Jersey
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To the DP family:
I am excited and honored to be your Head Football Coach. We as a coaching staff will be highly motivated, committed, and passionate about the development of our student-athletes on and off the field. We are dedicated to the building of our community and honoring all our past Jaguars who have ever worn the Blue and Black. I would like to thank the administration and @ticorod39 for the opportunity to lead this historic program to new heights.
#Findaway #LL13 #DPP
@DP_JagsFootball
Ice Cubeβs A Threat To NBA But A Hero To Hoops Culture: Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Is Starting The Inaugural Ice Cube Impact Award https://t.co/eC2euXkl0b
Donβt even know what to say or where to start. Sending our prayers and condolences to your Mom, Dad, Peter, friends, and former teammates.
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