Finding Yourself Through Consistency | Jonathan Glenn | TEDxCentral Michigan University

Summary

Jonathan Glenn shares his inspiring journey from childhood struggles with a debilitating stutter to becoming Dr. Glenn. He reflects on how the labels placed on him by society and his stutter defined his identity until he challenged these labels, finding mentors who encouraged him to pursue his potential. Glenn emphasizes the importance of removing societal labels, embracing destiny, and setting audacious goals. He urges listeners to reassess their circle, sacrifice for their dreams, and embrace the discomfort necessary for growth. Ultimately, he encourages pursuing destiny with confidence and determination.

Takeaways

• 😊 Overcoming adversity: The speaker grew up with a severe stutter, which became a part of their identity and led to bullying and teasing.
• 🏠 Supportive family: Despite the stutter and external challenges, the speaker had a loving family and praying grandparents.
• 😔 Struggling with labels: The speaker accepted the negative labels given to them by society, which affected their self-esteem and academic performance.
• 🎨 Finding outlets: To cope, the speaker focused on non-verbal activities like sports, art, and music, where they felt more confident.
• 📖 The power of mentorship: In college, mentors recognized potential in the speaker and encouraged them to reject the negative labels and pursue their dreams.
• 💪 Breaking free: The speaker gradually shed the negative labels and gained confidence, ultimately overcoming their stutter without therapy or medication.
• 🔑 Importance of destiny: The speaker believes that destiny calls out to everyone and that embracing it is key to personal growth and success.
• 📝 Setting goals: The speaker emphasizes the importance of writing down goals and making them visible to stay focused on one’s dreams and aspirations.
• 🤝 Reassessing relationships: The journey toward fulfilling one's destiny requires sacrifice, including re-evaluating friendships and removing those who don't support growth.
• 🌟 Dreaming big: The speaker encourages dreaming audaciously and pursuing goals with determination, even when they seem intimidating.

Q & A

What personal challenge did the speaker face growing up?

The speaker faced a severe stutter growing up, which affected his ability to communicate and led to bullying and teasing.

How did the stutter impact the speaker's self-identity?

The stutter became a core part of the speaker's identity, and he adopted negative labels such as 'slow reader' and 'special ed,' which lowered his self-esteem and confidence.

How did the speaker cope with his challenges during middle and high school?

The speaker focused on playing sports, art, concert choir, and jazz band to cope, as these activities didn’t require him to speak in public. He also found that he didn’t stutter when singing.

What turning point occurred during the speaker’s time in college?

In college, the speaker began to receive mentorship from people who saw potential in him, which motivated him to challenge the negative labels and begin shedding them.

How did the speaker’s relationship with his stutter change?

As the speaker grew more confident and began rejecting the labels imposed on him, his stutter eventually disappeared by his senior year in college, without therapy or medication.

What does the speaker mean by ‘ripping off the coat of worldly labels’?

The speaker uses the metaphor of a coat to describe the process of shedding the negative labels and limiting beliefs that the world imposed on him, which kept him from realizing his potential.

What role did the speaker’s mentors play in his transformation?

The mentors in the speaker’s life encouraged him to pursue his dreams and helped him see a version of himself beyond the negative labels, giving him the confidence to excel academically and personally.

How does the speaker define destiny, and why is it important?

The speaker defines destiny as the calling or purpose that each person has, which is louder and more important than the labels the world assigns. He believes that walking in one’s destiny leads to fulfillment and success.

What advice does the speaker give about achieving goals?

The speaker advises writing down goals and making them visible daily, as this helps keep the focus on dreams. He emphasizes the importance of consistency and surrounding oneself with people who support one's journey.

What lesson does the speaker offer about the journey toward one's destiny?

The speaker stresses that the journey toward one’s destiny involves trials and sacrifices. He emphasizes that personal growth is found in discomfort, and it is necessary to reassess relationships and embrace challenges along the way.