Part One - Where Dreams and Reality Meet

Summary

The speaker recounts his challenging childhood in Pennsylvania, abandoned by parents and raised by grandparents. He found solace and a sense of belonging on the playground, where his passion for sports was ignited. Despite setbacks, he pursued his dream, eventually becoming an athletic trainer for the NBA's Philadelphia 76ers and later a creative consultant. He encourages others to find and chase their 'red rubber ball,' the source of joy and inspiration that can guide one's life and work.

Takeaways

• 🏠 The speaker was born in Pennsylvania in 1958 and experienced abandonment by his parents at a young age.
• 🚌 After being left alone by his mother, the speaker and his siblings sought help and were taken to Philadelphia by a stranger to live with their grandparents.
• 🏡 The speaker grew up in a contrasting environment of affluence and working-class families, which shaped his early life.
• 🤾‍♂️ Sports became a sanctuary for the speaker, providing a sense of belonging and a way to overcome feelings of inadequacy.
• 🏃‍♂️ The playground was a place where the speaker's natural speed and talent for sports were recognized, giving him confidence and a sense of purpose.
• 👵 The speaker's grandparents were supportive of his passion for sports, despite discouragement from others.
• 🎓 The speaker pursued higher education and became an athletic trainer, eventually working with professional sports teams.
• 🏆 He achieved his dream of working in the NBA as a head athletic trainer for the Philadelphia 76ers and became one of the NBA's first black athletic trainers.
• 👟 The speaker's passion for sports led him to a leadership role at Nike, where he inspired creativity and innovation.
• 🌟 He now works as an independent creative consultant, inspiring people around the world and collaborating with influential figures like Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
• 🔍 The script encourages the audience to find their 'red rubber ball'—a metaphor for one's passion and purpose in life—and to pursue it with courage and determination.

Q & A

Where was the speaker born and in what year?

The speaker was born in Pennsylvania in 1958.

What significant event happened when the speaker was three years old?

The speaker's father left before he turned three.

Why did the speaker's mother leave him and his brothers alone in a trailer?

The speaker's mother left them with instructions not to leave until she returned, but the reason for her leaving is not specified in the script.

How old were the speaker's brothers when they were left alone in the trailer?

The speaker's brothers were eight and three years old.

What did the speaker do after five days of being left alone with his brothers?

The speaker took charge and they sought help from a stranger in another trailer.

How did the speaker and his brothers end up in Philadelphia?

A stranger helped them by calling their grandparents and then taking them to the Greyhound bus station to go to Philadelphia.

What was the speaker's living situation like in Philadelphia?

The speaker lived with his grandparents in a modest house in a wealthy suburb of Philadelphia, surrounded by affluence, working-class families, and apathy.

How did the playground influence the speaker's life?

The playground became the speaker's sanctuary, a place where he felt he belonged, and where he discovered his passion for sports.

What was the nickname given to the speaker on the playground?

The speaker was called 'little fast kid' on the playground.

What did the speaker's grandmother write back to his elementary school teacher who discouraged his focus on sports?

The speaker's grandmother wrote back saying, 'If that's what he loves, so be it.'

What career did the speaker eventually achieve in the sports industry?

The speaker became the head athletic trainer for the Philadelphia 76ers and later held a leadership position at Nike.

What is the 'red rubber ball' metaphor in the speaker's narrative?

The 'red rubber ball' represents the speaker's dream and passion for sports, which guided him throughout his life and career.

What advice does the speaker give to others about finding and pursuing their dreams?

The speaker advises others to find their 'red rubber ball' (passion), and once found, to have the courage, strength, and imagination to follow it.