Are you facing challenges
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that seem to be in surmountable?
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Well, stay tuned to
meet Mr. I'm Possible.
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My name is Yvonne Lewis
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and you're
watching Urban Report.
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Hello. Welcome to Urban report.
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My guest today is Keith Brown,
also known as Mr. I'm Possible.
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Keith was named one
of the top 50 speakers
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and experts in education
today by Inside Publishing.
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And he's a professional
speaker, author and trainer.
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He's been featured
in national publications
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such as The Los Angeles
Times, Chicago Sun-Times,
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and New York Newsday.
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Welcome to Urban report, Keith.
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Well, good
afternoon, Yearning Yvonne.
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And let me say the
"Y" stands for "Yearning",
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the "V" stands for a "Vibrant,"
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the "O" stands for "Optimistic",
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the "N" for "Nurturing",
the other 'N" for "Noble"
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and the "E"
stands for "Empower."
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So it is my pleasure and
honor to be with you today,
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a renaissance woman of
purpose, passion and resilience.
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Come on now, brother.
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Come on.
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Yes, yes.
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Thank you.
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I've not had anybody spell
out my name an acronym before,
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so thank you.
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You are quite welcome.
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So you are known
as Mr. I'm Possible.
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Where did that come from?
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What's that about?
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Well, in our lives,
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we often face challenges
trials and tribulations.
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I'm a former special Ed student.
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I was labeled Special Ed.
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I was labeled at risk,
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I was labeled a
potential minister society.
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I grew up in a loving family.
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I grew up with
two mom's, two dad's,
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brothers and
sisters on both sides,
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so I grew up in
a blended family.
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I've lost a brother
to sickle cell anemia
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but I'm still here.
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I've lost a
sister to the AIDS virus.
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But I'm still standing.
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My wife and I
have lost two babies.
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But we have an
awesome 20-year-old son
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named Attorney Qian Jamal Brown.
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Now he is an honor student
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at the Savannah
State University,
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so people always say,
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"How is it possible
for him to be an attorney
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and still on the
undergraduate level?"
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And so I say it
sounds like an oxymoron
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but in our family we name it.
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We claim it, and we frame it.
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And so, we call him
Attorney Qian Jamal Brown
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now so...With all
that, I've been through,
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and all that I've gone
through, I'm still standing.
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And so that should
let your viewers know
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that all of the
impossibilities that they face,
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it is still I'm possible.
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So with him possible,
meaning our Lord and savior,
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with Him Possible, I'm possible.
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So as I've traveled the
globe over the last 15 years
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spreading this message,
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the listeners in every
audience, young people.
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I'm getting tweets every
day at KeithLBrown1911, saying,
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"Thank you, Mr. I'm possible."
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So it was birth in
me many, many years ago.
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Not impossible, I am possible.
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Yes, yes.
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I love that
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because this is the
Dare to Dream Network.
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So we, we want people to know,
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that there is
anything is possible with God.
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With God, all
things are possible, right?
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All things.
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Let's go back for a minute
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because, you
said something that,
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that really piqued my interest.
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You said, that you were
labeled a special, special Ed.
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You were labeled a
potential menace to society.
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Absolutely.
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What happened?
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Were you, did you
have learning disabilities?
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What happened that
made you get that label?
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While I was quite
hyperactive as I am now.
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And so, I know it was nothing
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but God's plan,
it was a foundation.
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I can remember early
on in the third grade.
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I can fondly recall
and I was in a class of 35.
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And imagine, Yvonne,
being in a class of 35.
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And every day, you pulled out
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and you're placed
into a class of five.
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And it was at that moment
that I thought I was small
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and I thought I was different.
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And I thought nobody
cared and nobody understood.
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But God had
those angels around me,
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those educators who nurtured me.
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Who told me
you're not special Ed
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you're special.
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You're not at risk.
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You are taking risks.
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And so, when you are
labeled as I was labeled,
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I always let
believers and nonbelievers alike
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know that all
labels are not bad labels.
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You see.
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The reason you love
your favorite cereal.
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is because it has a label
and you are able to read it.
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The reason we have
the Dare to Dream Network
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is because I now can
read and look you all up
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and get the
empowerment that I deserve.
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And so yes, I was
labeled special Ed early on
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but how ironic.
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How ironic is it that
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I speak at national
and global conferences
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on at risk youth who I
call, "Youth at promise."
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So, God was just setting me up.
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I guess you could say
every setback is a set up
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for a comeback and so I'm back.
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Yes.
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Absolutely. I love it.
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You have a sayings, I love it.
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So yes, what you went through
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was preparing you for
what you are doing now.
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Isn't that amazing
how you were before
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labeled "at risk," "special Ed,"
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and now, you're
talking to others
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who might have had
that label on them.
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And you're saying,
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"Look at where
God has brought me.
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Look at what God
has done in my life."
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So this is,
this is a great thing
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that you're doing.
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You are taking your journey
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and you're using that
to empower young people.
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What, what do you think
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was one of the most
transforming experiences
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that you've had growing up
with that, with that label?
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How did you come out of it?
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What was it that brought you
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into a real
knowledge of who you are?
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Well, once again, ironically
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the same label is that
which transformed my life.
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Because I was born
in Savannah, Georgia,
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raised in
Jamaica, Queens, New York.
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And so, most of
my formative years,
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those years on were
spent in Queens, New York,
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where I was a member
of the Black Spectrum film
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and theater company.
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And I was a
member of the debate team
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at Springfield
Gardens High School
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and, I did some athletics
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but I was more of not an athlete
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but I was more of a
talker on the field and so...
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Understand that when
I was on the debate team
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and when I was
in the drama club.
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And when I was
on student council
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as a special Ed student,
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and when I was at the
Black Spectrum theater,
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it was the same traits
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that I
exemplified in the fine arts
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in other areas of my life.
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They got me
labeled in the first place.
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The hyper activity.
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Not being able to
sit still long enough.
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You understand, and
so it actually served
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as a beacon of light in my life
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and that's why
audiences hire me today
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on a global level.
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That's why clients hire me today
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because I am relevant, I
am engaging, I am Energetic,
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I am hyped, I am loud.
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All of those things
that were seen as a problem.
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As a matter of fact, Yvonne,
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if I can share
this with your audience,
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I can remember
being in preschool.
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And I got my first report card
at the age of four years old.
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And I got E's and S's and G's
and high marks in everything.
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But I got one in I
on that report card,
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it's on my Facebook
page, one needs improvement.
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And it was for failure
to use indoor tone of voice,
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and guess what?
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I was four years
old then I'm 47 now.
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And I still
have that same issue.
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As a matter of fact,
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the North Carolina Head
start association conference
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was just held in
Raleigh, North Carolina,
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about two weeks ago.
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I was the keynote speaker
for thousands of individuals
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who empower
children in head start.
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And they were
just sending tweets
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to Keith Brown1911.
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They kept tweeting me
about you're still loud,
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you're still energetic,
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you're still the same
way you were as a child.
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And yes, God put
that energy in me.
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And so I just want
to say to your audience,
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it doesn't matter what man says.
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It's not what you're called
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is what you choose to answer to.
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So man labeled me special Ed,
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the system
labeled me special Ed,
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but God labeled
me a transformer,
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a servant leader
Mr. I'm possible.
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So I'm walking in my gift
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and I encourage
your studio audience
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and all of your
listeners to do the same.
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Walk in your gift.
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Yes, yes.
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And that's what is the
role of purpose in one's life?
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How does purpose
play into all of that?
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I'm glad you asked
that question, Yvonne,
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because I believe
there are two great days
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in your life.
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The day you were born.
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And the day you
discover why you were born.
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And the day you
discover why you will born,
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that's called purpose.
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That day you
discover why you will born,
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you live on a mission
and not in intermission.
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The day you
discover why you were born,
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you leap out of
bed every single day
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understanding
you're going to have
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trials and tribulations.
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But I say this to you,
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and I say this to
all of you listeners,
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being that you're going to have
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trials and
tribulations every day.
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The moment you
stand up out of bed,
00:10:01.50\00:10:03.47
just start clapping.
00:10:03.53\00:10:04.87
And people say, "Why
should I start clapping?"
00:10:04.90\00:10:07.04
And I say, "It might be
the only standing ovation
00:10:07.10\00:10:10.01
you receive all day."
00:10:10.07\00:10:11.74
So, if you can
wake up, thanking God,
00:10:11.77\00:10:13.74
if you can wake
up in expectancy.
00:10:13.78\00:10:15.78
If you can wake up,
and applaud yourself
00:10:15.81\00:10:17.81
and go out and live,
00:10:17.85\00:10:19.25
and live your authentic purpose.
00:10:19.28\00:10:21.82
I always say your
purpose is your "why."
00:10:21.85\00:10:24.52
And your "why"
should make you cry.
00:10:24.55\00:10:26.52
And when I think
about all of those
00:10:26.55\00:10:28.56
I've been called to liberate.
00:10:28.59\00:10:29.92
I cry, I' am humbled by that.
00:10:29.99\00:10:32.43
But I walk in my
why, I walk in my purpose,
00:10:32.46\00:10:35.73
and let me say this,
00:10:35.76\00:10:37.20
you must walk in
your purpose with passion.
00:10:37.23\00:10:40.37
And if we break
the word passion down,
00:10:40.40\00:10:42.70
It is P-A-S-S-I-O-N.
00:10:42.74\00:10:46.41
that simply means.
00:10:46.44\00:10:47.84
Pass- I-On.
00:10:47.88\00:10:50.18
Whoever you are,
00:10:50.21\00:10:51.55
you're passing
that on to others.
00:10:51.58\00:10:53.25
Whatever you do, you're
passing it on to others.
00:10:53.28\00:10:55.98
So purpose plays a vital role
00:10:56.02\00:10:58.79
because when one
knows his or her purpose,
00:10:58.82\00:11:01.49
that's when you
can step out on faith.
00:11:01.52\00:11:03.63
And that's when
you can walk in faith.
00:11:03.66\00:11:05.49
And when you're
walking in faith,
00:11:05.53\00:11:07.23
you're not relying on you,
00:11:07.30\00:11:08.93
you're relying
on the God in you.
00:11:08.96\00:11:10.73
And when you rely
on the God in you,
00:11:10.77\00:11:13.23
it's hard to lose
00:11:13.30\00:11:14.64
when you are
convinced you've already won.
00:11:14.67\00:11:16.24
I'm possible.
00:11:16.27\00:11:17.61
All right, all right.
00:11:17.64\00:11:18.97
So how did you
discover your purpose?
00:11:19.01\00:11:21.64
Early on, early on.
00:11:21.68\00:11:23.61
I was put in special Ed
because I talk too much.
00:11:23.65\00:11:26.31
My third grade teacher said,
00:11:26.35\00:11:28.02
"Keith L. Brown,
you talk too much."
00:11:28.05\00:11:30.19
And Yvonne, now
I get paid to talk.
00:11:30.25\00:11:31.92
Isn't that something?
00:11:31.95\00:11:33.42
Isn't that something?
00:11:33.46\00:11:34.79
I can, I can remember
being at family functions
00:11:34.82\00:11:38.83
and my siblings would
say, "Keith, stop showing off."
00:11:38.86\00:11:41.93
"Keith, you talk too much."
00:11:41.96\00:11:43.60
I can remember being in church
00:11:43.63\00:11:45.80
and I was always the first
one who did the Easter speech.
00:11:45.83\00:11:48.97
When they called on someone,
00:11:49.00\00:11:50.64
I jumped up to go
do my Easter speech.
00:11:50.67\00:11:53.21
I can just recall, Yvonne,
wherever I was, I was talking.
00:11:53.24\00:11:57.08
When I was in middle school,
00:11:57.11\00:11:58.45
and I was in special
Ed in Queens, New York,
00:11:58.48\00:12:00.85
I still won the
city-wide Speak Out contest.
00:12:00.92\00:12:05.02
When I was in high
school, in special Ed,
00:12:05.05\00:12:07.49
I was still reciting
speeches by Abraham Lincoln,
00:12:07.56\00:12:10.83
Dr Martin Luther
King Jr., John F. Kennedy.
00:12:10.86\00:12:13.90
So, imagine that.
00:12:13.93\00:12:16.00
All of this time
00:12:16.03\00:12:17.43
I've still been
walking in my gift.
00:12:17.47\00:12:19.27
I've still been
walking in my purpose.
00:12:19.30\00:12:21.64
And God use that now
to have me be a liberator
00:12:21.67\00:12:26.27
of so many hundreds
of thousands like me,
00:12:26.31\00:12:30.25
who have been labeled.
00:12:30.31\00:12:31.65
So I say with boldness,
"Not impossible, I'm Possible."
00:12:31.68\00:12:36.18
And can I say this?
00:12:36.22\00:12:37.55
You know the difference between
impossible And I'm possible?
00:12:37.59\00:12:41.52
An apostrophe.
00:12:41.56\00:12:43.49
Something as
small as an apostrophe.
00:12:43.53\00:12:45.99
If you take that apostrophe
00:12:46.03\00:12:48.03
and you put it
between the I and the M,
00:12:48.06\00:12:51.10
then impossible
becomes I'm possible.
00:12:51.13\00:12:53.70
So what am I saying
to your listeners today?
00:12:53.77\00:12:56.20
Take those little
things in your life.
00:12:56.24\00:12:58.67
Perhaps, you need
to pray a little more.
00:12:58.71\00:13:01.41
Perhaps, you need
to be more committed.
00:13:01.44\00:13:03.95
Perhaps, you need
to amp up your passion.
00:13:03.98\00:13:06.92
Perhaps, you just
need to spend more time
00:13:06.95\00:13:09.98
working on your gift
00:13:10.02\00:13:12.42
and less time
buying gifts for yourself.
00:13:12.45\00:13:14.76
How about that?
00:13:14.79\00:13:16.12
It is so real.
00:13:16.16\00:13:18.09
This is not rocket science,
it's real, it's I'm Possible.
00:13:18.13\00:13:21.70
Right, right.
00:13:21.73\00:13:23.06
So essentially
then you're saying that
00:13:23.10\00:13:25.70
you discovered your purpose
00:13:25.73\00:13:28.30
by actually kind of
honing in to your passion.
00:13:28.34\00:13:33.17
Absolutely.
00:13:33.21\00:13:34.54
Your passion was
speaking and, and,
00:13:34.58\00:13:38.25
and it also
sounds like your passion,
00:13:38.28\00:13:40.28
your passion is
building people up.
00:13:40.32\00:13:43.28
You have a... it
seems that you have a gift
00:13:43.35\00:13:45.95
for empowering people,
00:13:45.99\00:13:48.16
making them feel
good about themselves
00:13:48.19\00:13:50.29
and about their destiny.
00:13:50.33\00:13:52.33
Is...how do you help others
00:13:52.36\00:13:55.16
to discover their
purpose and their passion?
00:13:55.20\00:13:58.87
Every day I wake up,
when I meet individuals,
00:13:58.90\00:14:02.14
I treat them
like I'm meeting them
00:14:02.17\00:14:03.81
for the first
time or the last time.
00:14:03.84\00:14:06.41
Because it could be.
00:14:06.44\00:14:07.81
And if I treat them
00:14:07.84\00:14:09.18
as if I'm meeting
them for the first time.
00:14:09.21\00:14:11.21
I'm definitely
going to be polite,
00:14:11.25\00:14:13.72
I'm going to be kind,
00:14:13.75\00:14:15.08
I'm going to be full of purpose.
00:14:15.12\00:14:16.99
If I'm treating them
00:14:17.02\00:14:18.35
like I'm meeting
them for the last time,
00:14:18.39\00:14:20.16
I'm going to have
those same qualities.
00:14:20.19\00:14:22.76
So it is my goal,
my duty, my purpose
00:14:22.79\00:14:26.73
to uplift each and every day.
00:14:26.80\00:14:28.56
I always say, "I'm
lifting as I climb."
00:14:28.60\00:14:30.93
And Yvonne, I do that
00:14:30.97\00:14:32.53
through the I'm
Possible institute
00:14:32.57\00:14:35.04
that's located right here
in the Metro Atlanta area,
00:14:35.07\00:14:38.21
the I'm Possible institute
where we help individuals
00:14:38.24\00:14:42.21
enhance their
impact and their influence.
00:14:42.24\00:14:45.88
Increase their
intensity and their income,
00:14:45.91\00:14:48.88
not income to use
for selfish reasons
00:14:48.92\00:14:51.49
but income to put
back in the community,
00:14:51.52\00:14:54.29
to uplift others.
00:14:54.32\00:14:55.82
I always say
00:14:55.86\00:14:57.39
that I was just
called to be a servant leader
00:14:57.43\00:14:59.86
who gives back.
00:14:59.89\00:15:01.50
What greater testimony.
00:15:01.53\00:15:04.77
What greater
testimony can I give you today?
00:15:04.80\00:15:08.57
But to uplift
mankind and humankind,
00:15:08.60\00:15:12.24
I always say
that, we were born human
00:15:12.27\00:15:14.81
but it takes
effort to be humane.
00:15:14.84\00:15:17.08
And so God made me human
and so I live every day humane.
00:15:17.15\00:15:21.15
The I'm Possible institute
00:15:21.18\00:15:22.88
where I train and
I coach individuals
00:15:22.92\00:15:25.82
to reach they
have maximum potential
00:15:25.85\00:15:28.42
and so I do back
each and every day.
00:15:28.46\00:15:30.43
Give us an idea as to what...
00:15:30.46\00:15:33.80
let's come to the
I'm Possible institute.
00:15:33.83\00:15:36.26
First of all,
what ages do you serve?
00:15:36.30\00:15:38.73
And then, how do you
take them from not knowing
00:15:38.77\00:15:43.04
who they are and
where they're going
00:15:43.07\00:15:45.27
to having their
sense of purpose?
00:15:45.31\00:15:47.44
What's a typical kind of day
in the I'm Possible institute
00:15:47.48\00:15:51.65
and who do you serve?
00:15:51.68\00:15:53.01
Absolutely.
00:15:53.05\00:15:54.52
We serve primarily adults
in the I'm Possible institute,
00:15:54.55\00:15:57.82
but we also serve young people,
young scholars, young leaders
00:15:57.85\00:16:02.39
like the South
Fulton Arrow youth counsel,
00:16:02.42\00:16:04.76
for example,
that the organization
00:16:04.79\00:16:06.73
that I work with them.
00:16:06.76\00:16:08.06
Young servant leaders,
the Omega Mentoring Project,
00:16:08.10\00:16:11.77
we work with them through
the I'm Possible institute.
00:16:11.80\00:16:14.34
These young people of purpose,
these young people of passion.
00:16:14.37\00:16:17.91
And when we serve the adults,
we work primarily with adults
00:16:17.94\00:16:22.31
in boot camps and VIP days
00:16:22.34\00:16:25.25
who want to be
effective communicators, Yvonne,
00:16:25.28\00:16:28.25
who want to connect more
with the next generation,
00:16:28.28\00:16:32.02
who want to be relevant
and live relevant lives.
00:16:32.05\00:16:35.19
And so we coach them on
being effective communicators.
00:16:35.22\00:16:38.46
We coach them on being
00:16:38.49\00:16:40.20
kingdom builders
and entrepreneurs.
00:16:40.23\00:16:43.93
So you said that
you teach them to be
00:16:43.97\00:16:46.27
kingdom builders
and entrepreneurs.
00:16:46.30\00:16:48.84
Do you include faith
and any of this teaching?
00:16:48.87\00:16:53.34
Is this is this mostly about
financial literacy or what?
00:16:53.38\00:16:58.38
No, it's actually universal.
00:16:58.41\00:17:00.98
We have seminars on faith
00:17:01.02\00:17:03.25
that are more
geared towards faith.
00:17:03.28\00:17:05.05
We have seminars for
one purpose and empowerment.
00:17:05.09\00:17:08.52
We have seminars on how to
be an effective communicator.
00:17:08.56\00:17:11.93
So, it's
actually a universal sense
00:17:11.96\00:17:15.53
of building the entire
person the whole purpose.
00:17:15.56\00:17:18.90
The whole purpose of
the I'm Possible institute,
00:17:18.93\00:17:21.14
is to build a
legacy, to build a legacy.
00:17:21.17\00:17:24.04
And we do that
through the seminars,
00:17:24.11\00:17:26.78
through the teachings,
00:17:26.81\00:17:28.14
through
coaching and via training
00:17:28.18\00:17:29.71
because we all know.
00:17:29.74\00:17:31.58
People say talk is cheap,
but no, talk is not cheap.
00:17:31.61\00:17:35.02
Okay, talk is
expensive, all right?
00:17:35.05\00:17:38.55
Because when you can
spread the word of God,
00:17:38.59\00:17:41.09
and you can bring souls
to Christ, that's expensive.
00:17:41.12\00:17:44.76
What Christ did for us
is expensive, it costs.
00:17:44.79\00:17:48.26
So know people always say,
00:17:48.30\00:17:49.90
"Actions speak
louder than words,"
00:17:49.93\00:17:51.67
and that's true.
00:17:51.70\00:17:53.03
Actions speak louder than words
00:17:53.07\00:17:54.94
but it is words that
move people to action.
00:17:54.97\00:17:57.81
And so I'm very cognizant
00:17:57.84\00:18:00.31
that when I'm standing before
an audience of 10 or 10,000,
00:18:00.34\00:18:05.18
that I am going to
be held accountable
00:18:05.21\00:18:07.72
for the message
that I put forth.
00:18:07.75\00:18:10.22
And so, as Mr. I' am Possible,
00:18:10.25\00:18:12.39
I'm dealing with the
whole I'm Possible message.
00:18:12.42\00:18:15.29
I want those individuals
to walk out of that room
00:18:15.32\00:18:18.43
feeling empowered and ignited
00:18:18.46\00:18:20.93
not just motivated but inspired.
00:18:20.96\00:18:23.37
You know, people say
motivation doesn't last.
00:18:23.40\00:18:26.13
And I say, "You're
right motivation doesn't last,
00:18:26.17\00:18:28.80
and neither does taking a bath,
that's why we do it every day."
00:18:28.84\00:18:31.74
And so you got to be
motivated every single day
00:18:31.77\00:18:35.51
and then my goal is
that you are inspired,
00:18:35.54\00:18:38.05
because when you're
inspired, then you take action.
00:18:38.08\00:18:40.98
And so, that's the crux of
the whole I'm Possible message,
00:18:41.02\00:18:44.89
that not impossible,
I'm Possible message.
00:18:44.92\00:18:47.69
And we believe in
saying that every day.
00:18:47.72\00:18:49.76
We believe in using repetition
00:18:49.79\00:18:51.83
because we hear a lot
of negativity in society.
00:18:51.86\00:18:55.16
So we want to flip the script,
we want to change the paradigm.
00:18:55.20\00:18:58.87
And we have the power to
do that as people of faith.
00:18:58.90\00:19:02.17
Oh, that's great.
00:19:02.20\00:19:03.84
What would you say is a reason
because you've used this phrase
00:19:03.87\00:19:08.08
a couple of times since we've
been talking, "servant leader?"
00:19:08.11\00:19:11.05
Yes.
00:19:11.08\00:19:12.41
What is the importance
00:19:12.45\00:19:13.78
of a servant
leader in today's society?
00:19:13.85\00:19:16.42
The servant leader is
what we should all seek to be.
00:19:16.45\00:19:20.19
The servant leader is one
00:19:20.22\00:19:21.79
who lifts individuals who lives,
00:19:21.82\00:19:25.19
first of all you,
must lift yourself.
00:19:25.23\00:19:27.30
And you must
validate yourself every day.
00:19:27.36\00:19:29.40
And I want to
give your listeners
00:19:29.43\00:19:30.77
four affirmations to do that.
00:19:30.80\00:19:32.63
"I love myself. I
believe in myself.
00:19:32.67\00:19:37.14
I'm proud of myself.
00:19:37.21\00:19:39.34
And I'm a genius.
00:19:39.37\00:19:41.04
I love myself.
00:19:41.08\00:19:42.81
I believe in myself.
00:19:42.84\00:19:44.51
I'm proud of myself.
00:19:44.55\00:19:46.11
And I'm a genius."
00:19:46.15\00:19:47.52
And quite often,
Yvonne, young people will say.
00:19:47.55\00:19:50.62
"Well, Mr.
Brown, what do you mean,
00:19:50.69\00:19:52.19
when you say I'm a genius?"
00:19:52.22\00:19:53.86
And I say,
"There's a gene in us.
00:19:53.89\00:19:56.32
And that gene is call greatness,
00:19:56.36\00:19:58.46
and God placed it in us.
00:19:58.49\00:20:00.20
And all we have to do is
00:20:00.23\00:20:01.53
nurture that and water that",
00:20:01.56\00:20:03.23
and when we say
those four affirmations,
00:20:03.26\00:20:05.80
we can then serve
others, that's the bottom-line,
00:20:05.83\00:20:08.77
that we all call to serve.
00:20:08.80\00:20:11.27
And as servant
leaders, it goes together.
00:20:11.31\00:20:13.78
It goes together. A
servant leader, it's innate.
00:20:13.84\00:20:17.61
It takes effort to be hateful.
00:20:17.65\00:20:19.58
It takes effort not
to uplift each other.
00:20:19.61\00:20:22.22
It takes effort
not to speak to people.
00:20:22.25\00:20:24.85
Service is innate in you.
00:20:24.89\00:20:27.42
Christ was the greatest
servant leader of them all.
00:20:27.46\00:20:30.89
And we are a descendant,
and descendants of him.
00:20:30.93\00:20:35.36
So how can we not be
anything but servant leaders?
00:20:35.40\00:20:39.03
That's what we were call to be.
00:20:39.07\00:20:40.57
So when you say...
00:20:40.60\00:20:42.00
because some people
might feel uncomfortable,
00:20:42.04\00:20:44.07
"I'm proud of me.
00:20:44.14\00:20:45.54
I believe in me."
00:20:45.57\00:20:46.91
You're not saying to
the exclusion of God.
00:20:46.94\00:20:49.91
You're saying that
00:20:49.98\00:20:51.88
this is about self
confidence, not about pride.
00:20:51.91\00:20:54.95
Absolutely, absolutely.
00:20:54.98\00:20:57.22
It's about
confidence, not arrogance.
00:20:57.25\00:21:00.36
Not about being conceited,
it's about being convinced.
00:21:00.39\00:21:03.19
It's about being convinced
00:21:03.22\00:21:04.96
that you were
created for a purpose.
00:21:04.99\00:21:08.70
You were created
to spread the message.
00:21:08.73\00:21:12.17
You were created
to be missionaries.
00:21:12.20\00:21:14.40
You were created to
ride on those ships.
00:21:14.44\00:21:17.01
One of those ships sailing
on those ships like leadership,
00:21:17.07\00:21:21.11
and stewardship,
and discipleship.
00:21:21.14\00:21:24.55
And forming partnerships,
00:21:24.58\00:21:26.31
and daring to dream
in your friendships,
00:21:26.35\00:21:29.18
in your relationships.
00:21:29.22\00:21:30.65
And then you can
reduce some of the hardships.
00:21:30.69\00:21:32.89
So we must understand that
00:21:32.92\00:21:35.09
God does not mind
us edifying ourselves.
00:21:35.12\00:21:37.93
We just can't deify ourselves,
00:21:37.96\00:21:40.16
that we can
definitely edify ourselves
00:21:40.20\00:21:42.36
and that's what
the not impossible,
00:21:42.40\00:21:44.67
I'm Possible
message is all about.
00:21:44.70\00:21:47.07
Not deification but
definitely edification.
00:21:47.10\00:21:50.17
We must do that
as we come against
00:21:50.24\00:21:52.57
so many negative
forces in society today.
00:21:52.61\00:21:56.68
That's great.
00:21:56.71\00:21:58.05
What would you say have been
some of the biggest challenges
00:21:58.08\00:22:01.25
that you have faced in
trying to get this message out?
00:22:01.28\00:22:05.52
Some of the biggest
challenges I have faced is,
00:22:05.55\00:22:08.26
we live in a
generation that often thrives
00:22:08.29\00:22:12.19
and survives off
of negative messages.
00:22:12.23\00:22:15.20
We see those negative
messages on television
00:22:15.23\00:22:18.47
and primarily reality TV.
00:22:18.50\00:22:20.80
And when I'm talking to
scholars across the world,
00:22:20.84\00:22:23.91
I don't say
students, I say scholars,
00:22:23.97\00:22:25.87
because anybody can be a student
00:22:25.91\00:22:27.81
but it takes
effort to be a scholar.
00:22:27.84\00:22:29.81
And so when I'm
talking to these young people
00:22:29.84\00:22:31.65
and families, I remind them,
00:22:31.68\00:22:33.48
the reason you see those
negative images on television
00:22:33.52\00:22:36.48
and the reason
they call it television
00:22:36.52\00:22:38.49
is its telling of
vision it wants you to see
00:22:38.52\00:22:41.36
but it's not real.
00:22:41.39\00:22:42.82
Many times, Yvonne,
we live in the R-E-E-L
00:22:42.86\00:22:46.49
and we should be
living in the R-E-A-L.
00:22:46.53\00:22:49.16
A lot of times our message,
the positive gets swapped
00:22:49.20\00:22:53.97
and the positive gets eradicated
00:22:54.00\00:22:56.10
and cast aside
because people love drama.
00:22:56.14\00:23:00.18
People love the
negative messages.
00:23:00.21\00:23:02.51
Too much positive and
they feel uncomfortable.
00:23:02.54\00:23:05.28
And so those have
been my biggest challenges,
00:23:05.31\00:23:07.95
to shift the paradigm,
to shift the conversation,
00:23:07.98\00:23:11.82
from impossible to I'm possible,
00:23:11.85\00:23:14.26
so those have been some
of the biggest challenges,
00:23:14.29\00:23:16.83
just changing the
mindset of individuals.
00:23:16.86\00:23:19.86
Because you see it
every day on social media.
00:23:19.89\00:23:22.40
What has the most likes?
00:23:22.43\00:23:24.03
That which is negative.
00:23:24.07\00:23:25.43
Which, what has
the most comments?
00:23:25.47\00:23:27.34
That which is negative.
00:23:27.40\00:23:28.74
And so, it is my goal, my
duty, my dream, my vision,
00:23:28.77\00:23:32.21
my purpose to change the mindset
00:23:32.24\00:23:35.44
and the hearts of the viewers,
00:23:35.48\00:23:37.41
and the listeners
and I do that exclusively
00:23:37.45\00:23:40.68
through positive
messages that affect your life
00:23:40.72\00:23:43.85
and not infect your life.
00:23:43.89\00:23:46.29
That's good.
00:23:46.32\00:23:47.66
So tell us about a couple
of the students that have come
00:23:47.69\00:23:52.13
to the I'm Possible institute
00:23:52.16\00:23:54.46
and how it's
changed their lives.
00:23:54.46\00:23:56.16
Absolutely.
00:23:56.20\00:23:57.83
One of my
students, if I can name her,
00:23:57.87\00:24:00.84
if you don't mind,
00:24:00.87\00:24:02.20
Miss Brenda H2O Waters
00:24:02.24\00:24:04.31
is an individual who came
from a small town in Georgia.
00:24:04.34\00:24:08.31
And she's an individual who
I mentored through the years
00:24:08.34\00:24:11.61
and I'm proud to say
00:24:11.65\00:24:13.05
she went on to be a
powerful entrepreneur.
00:24:13.08\00:24:15.88
A powerful woman of
God and woman of purpose.
00:24:15.92\00:24:18.42
And she's now on
television as a salon owner
00:24:18.45\00:24:22.62
and a guru in the
hair care industry,
00:24:22.66\00:24:25.03
someone who is positive.
00:24:25.06\00:24:26.39
And I have just
watched her blossom.
00:24:26.43\00:24:28.53
I've watched her grow.
00:24:28.56\00:24:29.90
Another young man
that I'll call by name,
00:24:29.93\00:24:32.33
Attorney Reggie McClendon.
00:24:32.37\00:24:34.27
A young man who they
once said was a suspect.
00:24:34.30\00:24:37.51
And I told him,
"You are not a suspect.
00:24:37.57\00:24:40.24
We build prospects.
00:24:40.28\00:24:41.81
Not suspects",
that the young man
00:24:41.84\00:24:44.11
left the negative
influences of the community,
00:24:44.15\00:24:47.28
went on to college,
went on to law school
00:24:47.32\00:24:49.48
and now he's a
powerful practicing attorney.
00:24:49.52\00:24:52.12
I work with young
people as I told you,
00:24:52.15\00:24:53.96
in the South
Fulton Arrow youth counsel
00:24:54.02\00:24:56.32
right in the Metro Atlanta area.
00:24:56.36\00:24:58.13
A lot of young people that
we nurture each and every day.
00:24:58.16\00:25:01.56
You know, we tell
these young people,
00:25:01.60\00:25:03.00
you have to be off the
chains, and not in the chains.
00:25:03.03\00:25:06.10
We tell these young people,
00:25:06.13\00:25:07.47
you have to be people
of faith, people of focus.
00:25:07.54\00:25:09.40
Why?
00:25:09.44\00:25:10.81
Because we don't ever want
you to be property of the state.
00:25:10.84\00:25:13.48
We want you to own
property in the state.
00:25:13.51\00:25:15.84
You know,
Yvonne, I have a formula
00:25:15.88\00:25:17.55
that I share with young
people across the world.
00:25:17.58\00:25:20.22
We're going to need
reading over ringtones.
00:25:20.25\00:25:23.59
Text books, over text
messages, and less bling, bling
00:25:23.62\00:25:27.82
and some more graduation ring.
00:25:27.86\00:25:29.49
Let me tell you,
that resonates with them
00:25:29.52\00:25:31.73
about a tweet that
today at KeithLBrown1911,
00:25:31.76\00:25:35.80
I'm going to
send that tweet out,
00:25:35.83\00:25:37.17
I'm going to be
tweeting about this program,
00:25:37.23\00:25:39.27
the Dare to Dream Network.
00:25:39.30\00:25:40.80
I'm going to be
tweeting all day, because why?
00:25:40.84\00:25:43.07
Young people are
responding to my tweets.
00:25:43.10\00:25:45.41
Young people are
following me on Instagram
00:25:45.44\00:25:47.54
at KethiLBrown1911.
00:25:47.58\00:25:49.11
So wherever the
young people are,
00:25:49.14\00:25:51.55
that's where I am.
00:25:51.58\00:25:52.91
And that's what we do through
the I'm Possible institute
00:25:52.95\00:25:55.35
and 20-20 in the process.
00:25:55.38\00:25:57.15
We do that in schools.
00:25:57.19\00:25:58.69
We do that in
faith-based organizations.
00:25:58.72\00:26:01.22
We do that with
family advocacy agencies.
00:26:01.26\00:26:04.69
Wherever there are
young people and families,
00:26:04.73\00:26:06.73
you will find Keith L.
Brown, Mr. I'm Possible.
00:26:06.76\00:26:09.53
Wow! So how can
people reach you?
00:26:09.56\00:26:11.77
They want to reach you
00:26:11.80\00:26:13.13
to invite you to
come to their school
00:26:13.17\00:26:15.00
or to their
organization or whatever.
00:26:15.04\00:26:18.04
How can they reach you?
00:26:18.07\00:26:19.51
They can reach me
at Keith. L. Brown
00:26:19.54\00:26:22.04
1911, remember the L.
00:26:22.08\00:26:23.98
Keith L. Brown
1911. You understand that?
00:26:24.05\00:26:28.25
www.keithlbrown.com as well.
00:26:28.28\00:26:30.12
www.keithlbrown.com
00:26:30.19\00:26:31.72
and keithlbrown1911 on Twitter.
00:26:31.75\00:26:35.02
That's our Twitter
handle, keithlbrown 1911
00:26:35.06\00:26:37.36
and www.keithlbrown.com.
00:26:37.43\00:26:39.23
And they can definitely reach me
00:26:39.26\00:26:40.73
and I would love to
come to the school district
00:26:40.80\00:26:43.16
and promote the PEP
rally and PEP rally stands for
00:26:43.20\00:26:46.30
Pupils, Educators, and Parents.
00:26:46.33\00:26:49.14
Because we touch
all three facets.
00:26:49.17\00:26:50.87
We believe in, uplifting
those scholars, the pupils.
00:26:50.91\00:26:54.38
We believe in
professional development
00:26:54.41\00:26:56.38
with those educators,
making them more innovative,
00:26:56.41\00:26:59.25
and relevant in the
lives of the students
00:26:59.28\00:27:01.38
and scholars they serve.
00:27:01.42\00:27:02.75
And then the parents.
00:27:02.78\00:27:04.12
Because we have to
have parental involvement.
00:27:04.15\00:27:06.52
And we show parents
00:27:06.55\00:27:07.92
how to be more involved
primarily those fathers.
00:27:07.96\00:27:10.99
We teach men, to be fathers.
00:27:11.03\00:27:13.66
F-A-T-H-E-R-S.
00:27:13.73\00:27:16.33
Not F-A-R--T-H-E-R-S.
00:27:16.36\00:27:19.70
So we're bringing men
back to the schools and saying,
00:27:19.73\00:27:22.57
"Don't send your wives
00:27:22.60\00:27:23.94
or significant
others to the PTA meeting.
00:27:24.01\00:27:25.97
You go to the PTA. meeting.
00:27:26.01\00:27:27.78
You come on, man and get a boy."
00:27:27.81\00:27:30.58
Thank you so much,
Keith, for being with us.
00:27:30.65\00:27:34.02
You have been so insightful,
00:27:34.05\00:27:36.15
so passionate,
so full of purpose.
00:27:36.18\00:27:39.22
And what a blessing.
00:27:39.25\00:27:40.59
Thank you so very much
00:27:40.66\00:27:41.99
for sharing all that
you did with us today.
00:27:42.02\00:27:45.36
Thank you. We'll
have to have you back.
00:27:45.39\00:27:47.86
Absolutely, I'm possible.
00:27:47.86\00:27:49.80
You're possible,
Mr. I'm Possible.
00:27:49.83\00:27:52.33
And thank you so
much for joining in.
00:27:52.37\00:27:55.07
Please make sure
that you join us next time
00:27:55.10\00:27:57.47
because you know what?
00:27:57.51\00:27:58.84
It just wouldn't be
the same without you.
00:27:58.87\00:28:01.84