"I Went From 3rd Grade Dropout To ULTRA SUCCESSFUL" | Rick Rigsby
Summary
TLDRIn this heartfelt speech, the speaker reflects on the wisdom imparted by his father, a third-grade dropout, who taught him profound life lessons despite limited formal education. Through humor and personal anecdotes, he emphasizes the importance of excellence, kindness, humility, and resilience. The story of his wife's battle with cancer and the lessons learned from her passing highlight the power of wisdom found in unexpected places and the significance of living a life of purpose and integrity.
Takeaways
- π Education is not limited by formal schooling. The speaker's father was a third-grade dropout but continued to educate himself, emphasizing the importance of self-motivated learning.
- π§ Knowledge and wisdom are distinct; the father taught the value of combining both to make an impact, highlighting the difference between mere information and the application of understanding.
- π Success is not measured by titles or degrees. The speaker acknowledges that the wisest person they know is their father, who had no formal education beyond the third grade.
- π° Punctuality is a sign of excellence. The father's practice of leaving the house early to be 'in the act of excellence' illustrates the value of being early rather than late.
- π‘ Excellence should be a habit, not a one-time act. The speaker cites Aristotle to stress that what we repeatedly do defines us, reinforcing the importance of consistent effort towards excellence.
- π Kindness is crucial, even when facing tough situations. The speaker reminds us to always be kind, a lesson from his father that holds true in all aspects of life.
- π©βπ§βπ¦ Family matters. The speaker humorously notes the importance of keeping one's mother happy, as her happiness affects the entire family's well-being.
- 𧽠Humility and service are key to influence. The speaker shares a lesson from his father about having a 'servant's towel bigger than your ego', indicating the importance of serving others without arrogance.
- π Aiming high is encouraged, even if it means missing the mark occasionally. The father quoted Michelangelo to teach the importance of ambition and striving for the best.
- π¨ Find your 'broom' and do your job well. The speaker uses the metaphor of sweeping one's own gym floor to illustrate the idea that taking on humble tasks can lead to greater influence and impact.
- π Resilience in the face of adversity is a testament to character. The speaker's personal story of losing his wife to cancer and finding strength through his father's wisdom shows the power of perseverance.
Q & A
What is the paradoxical statement the speaker makes about the wisest person they've met?
-The speaker describes the wisest person they've met as a 'third-grade dropout,' which is paradoxical because wisdom is often associated with education, yet this individual is deemed the wisest despite having little formal education.
What does the speaker learn from the third-grade dropout about combining knowledge and wisdom?
-The speaker learns from their father, the third-grade dropout, that education doesn't stop when formal schooling ends. He taught himself to read and write and emphasized the importance of being the best version of oneself every day, combining knowledge with wisdom to make an impact.
How does the speaker's father embody the quote by Mark Twain mentioned in the script?
-The speaker's father embodies Mark Twain's quote, 'I've never allowed my schooling to get in the way of my education,' by continuing to educate himself after leaving school and challenging himself to be the best he could be despite societal constraints.
What impact did the speaker's father have on the speaker's and their brother's success?
-The speaker's father, despite being a third-grade dropout, had a profound impact on their success. His wisdom and teachings influenced the speaker to earn four degrees and their brother to become a judge, showing that they are not the smartest in the family but have been greatly influenced by their father's wisdom.
What lesson does the speaker's father impart about aiming high, referencing Michelangelo?
-The speaker's father quotes Michelangelo to teach the lesson that it's better to aim high and miss than to aim low and hit, encouraging the speaker and their brother to strive for excellence and not settle for mediocrity.
What advice does the speaker's father give about punctuality and how it was implemented in their household?
-The speaker's father advises that it's better to be an hour early than a minute late. This was implemented in their household by always having the clocks set ahead, ensuring that they were never late.
What does the speaker mean by 'make sure your servant's towel is bigger than your ego'?
-The speaker uses the metaphor of a servant's towel being bigger than one's ego to convey the message that humility and service to others are more important than self-importance or pride.
How does the speaker describe the influence of John Wooden on their philosophy of life?
-The speaker describes John Wooden as a person who, despite his success in basketball, was found sweeping his own gym floor, showing that influence comes from actions and humility, not just titles or achievements.
What personal story does the speaker share about their wife, Trina, and how it relates to the theme of wisdom?
-The speaker shares the story of their wife, Trina, who was diagnosed with breast cancer and passed away. This personal tragedy led the speaker to the wisdom imparted by his father about resilience and standing strong through adversity.
What final lesson does the speaker's father teach him at Trina's casket?
-The final lesson the speaker's father teaches him is to 'just stand,' emphasizing the importance of resilience and perseverance in the face of life's challenges, regardless of how difficult they may be.
What question does the speaker challenge the audience to ask themselves every day?
-The speaker challenges the audience to ask themselves, 'How am I living?' every day, encouraging self-reflection on their actions, choices, and the impact they are making.
Outlines
π§ Embracing Wisdom Beyond Formal Education
The speaker reflects on the concept of wisdom and its separation from formal education, using the example of his father, a third-grade dropout who became the wisest person he ever met. Despite leaving school early to support his family, the father was self-taught, embodying the idea that education is a lifelong pursuit. He imparted valuable life lessons to his children, emphasizing the importance of aiming high, being early, and maintaining kindness. The speaker also highlights the influence of other great thinkers like Aristotle, Michelangelo, and Henry Ford on his father's teachings, showing that wisdom can be found in the most unexpected places.
π Love, Loss, and the Resilience of Wisdom
The narrative shifts to a deeply personal story of love and loss. The speaker recounts meeting the woman who would become his wife, Trina Williams, and their journey together through college and marriage, culminating in the birth of their children. Tragedy strikes when Trina is diagnosed with breast cancer and eventually passes away, leaving the speaker and his sons to mourn her loss. In the face of this immense grief, the speaker finds solace and strength in the wisdom imparted by his father, who, despite his own sorrow, advises his son to 'just stand,' a lesson in resilience and perseverance. The speaker concludes by urging the audience to live with intention, seeking wisdom in everyday life and reflecting on their own existence by asking, 'How you livin'?'
Mindmap
Keywords
π‘Wisdom
π‘Oxymoron
π‘Education
π‘Influence
π‘Excellence
π‘Ego
π‘Failure
π‘Resilience
π‘Legacy
π‘Kindness
π‘Pride
Highlights
The speaker humorously juxtaposes wisdom with being a third-grade dropout, challenging conventional perceptions.
The importance of self-education is emphasized through the story of the speaker's father, a self-taught reader and writer.
The father's determination to be recognized as a man, not defined by race, during the Jim Crow era.
The value of aiming high, as illustrated by the father quoting Michelangelo to his sons.
The impact of the father's wisdom, despite having only a third-grade education, on the speaker's life and success.
The lesson that excellence should be a habit, not just an act, as per Aristotle's teachings.
The importance of kindness, as a core value instilled by the speaker's family.
The humorous anecdote about the speaker's mother's happiness being crucial for family harmony.
The advice to keep one's ego in check, using the metaphor of a servant's towel being larger than one's ego.
The story of John Wooden's humility and the lesson of making an impact through service.
The speaker's personal journey of resilience and growth after the loss of his wife to breast cancer.
The profound influence of the father's wisdom in helping the speaker navigate through grief and loss.
The final lesson from the father to 'just stand' as a metaphor for resilience and perseverance.
The speaker's wife's last words emphasizing the importance of the quality of life over its length.
The call to reflect on one's life by asking 'How am I living?' as a means of self-improvement.
The closing advice to seek wisdom, do the right thing, and make an impact on others' lives.
Transcripts
- The wisest person I ever met in my life,
a third grade dropout.
Wisest and dropout in the same sentence
is rather oxymoronic
like jumbo shrimp.
(audience laughing)
Mhmm.
(audience laughing)
Like fun run.
Ain't nothing fun about it.
(audience laughing)
Like Microsoft Works, y'all don't hear me.
(audience laughing)
I used to say, like country music
but I've lived in Texas so long
I love country music now.
(audience cheering)
Yeah.
I hunt, I fish, I have cowboy boots, and cowboy,
y'all, I'm a black neck redneck.
Do you hear what I'm saying to you?
(audience laughing)
No longer oxymoronic for me to say country music.
And it's not oxymoronic for me to say
third grade and dropout.
That third grade dropout,
the wisest person I ever met in my life
who taught me to combine knowledge and wisdom
to make an impact,
was my father.
A simple cook.
Wisest man I ever met in my life.
Just a simple cook.
Left school in the third grade
to help out on the family farm
but just because he left school
doesn't mean education stopped.
Mark Twain once said,
"I've never allowed my schooling
"to get in the way of my education."
My father taught himself how to read,
taught himself how to write.
Decided in the midst of Jim Crowism,
as America was breathing the last gasp of the Civil War,
my father decided he was gonna stand and be a man,
not a black man,
not a brown man, not a white man,
but a man.
He literally challenged himself to be the best that he could
all the days of his life.
I have four degrees,
my brother is a judge.
We're not the smartest ones in our family.
It's a third grade dropout daddy,
a third grade dropout daddy
who was quoting Michelangelo, saying to us,
"Boys, I won't have a problem if you aim high and miss
"but I'm gonna have a real issue
"if you aim low and hit."
A country mother quoting Henry Ford, saying,
"If you think you can or if you think you can't,
"you're right."
I learned that from a third grade drop, simple lessons.
Lessons like these.
"Son, you'd rather be an hour early
"than a minute late."
We never knew what time it was at my house
'cause the clocks were always ahead.
My mother said for nearly 30 years,
my father left the house at 3:45 in the morning.
One day she asked him, "Why, Daddy?"
He said, "Maybe one of my boys
"will catch me in the act of excellence."
I wanna share two things with you.
Aristotle said you are what you repeatedly do,
therefore excellence ought to be a habit not an act.
Don't ever forget that.
I know you're tough but always remember to be kind.
Always.
Don't ever forget that.
Never embarrass momma.
Mhmm.
(audience laughing)
Yeah, if momma ain't happy, ain't nobody happy.
If daddy ain't happy, don't nobody care but you know--
(audience laughing)
I tell you.
Next lesson,
lesson from a cook over there in the galley.
Son, make sure your servant's towel
is bigger than your ego.
Ego is the anesthesia that deadens the pain of stupidity.
Y'all might have a relative in mind
you wanna send that to.
Let me say it again.
(audience laughing)
Ego is the anesthesia that deadens the pain of stupidity.
Pride is the burden of a foolish person.
John Wooden coached basketball in UCLA for a living
but his calling was to impact people.
And with all those national championships,
guess what he was found doing in the middle of the week?
Going into the cupboard,
grabbing a broom and sweeping his own gym floor.
You wanna make an impact?
Find your broom.
Every day of your life,
you find your broom.
You grow your influence that way.
That way you're attracting people
so that you can impact them.
Final lesson.
"Son,
"you're gonna do a job,
"do it right."
I've always been told
how average I can be.
Always been criticized about being average
but I wanna tell you something.
I stand here before you,
before all of these people
not listening to those words
but telling myself every single day
to shoot for the stars,
to be the best that I can be.
Good enough isn't good enough
if it can be better.
And better isn't good enough
if it can be best.
Let me close with a very personal story
that I think will bring all this into focus.
Wisdom will come to you in the unlikeliest of sources.
A lot of times through failure.
When you hit rock bottom remember this,
while you're struggling,
rock bottom can also be a great foundation
on which to build
and on which to grow.
I'm not worried that you'll be successful.
I'm worried that you won't fail from time to time.
A person that gets up off the canvas and keeps growing,
that's the person
that will continue to grow their influence.
Back in the '70s,
to help me make this point,
let me introduce you to someone.
I met the finest woman I'd ever met in my life.
Mhmm.
(audience laughing)
Back in my day, we'd have called her a brick house.
(audience laughing)
This woman was the finest woman I'd ever seen in my life.
There's just one little problem.
Back then ladies didn't like big old line men.
The Blindside hadn't come out yet.
(audience laughing)
They liked quarterbacks and running backs.
We're at this dance
and I find out her name is Trina Williams
from Lompoc, California
and we were all dancing
and we're just excited
and I decide in the middle of dancing with her
that I would ask her for her phone number.
She, Trina was the first one,
Trina was the only woman in college
who gave me her real telephone number.
(audience laughing)
The next day we walked to Baskin and Robbins
ice cream parlor.
My friends couldn't believe it.
This has been 40 years ago
and my friends still can't believe it.
(audience laughing)
We go on a second date
and a third date
and a fourth date.
Mhmm.
(audience laughing)
We drive from Chico to Vallejo
so that she could meet my parents.
My father meets her.
My daddy, my hero, he meets her,
pulls me to the side and says, "Is she psycho?"
But anyway--
(audience laughing)
We go together for a year, two years,
three years, four years
by now Trina's a senior in college.
I'm still a freshman
but I'm working some things out.
(audience laughing)
I'm so glad I graduated in four terms.
Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan.
(audience laughing)
So now it's time to propose.
So I talked to her girlfriends
and it's California, it's in the '70s.
So it has to be outside,
have to have a candle and you have to have,
some chocolate.
Listen, I'm from the hood.
I had a bottle of Boone's Farm wine.
That's what I had.
(audience laughing)
She said yes!
That was the key.
I married the most beautiful woman
I'd ever seen in my--
'all ever been to a wedding
and even before the wedding starts you hear this.
"How in the world?"
(audience laughing)
And it was coming from my side of the family!
(audience laughing)
We get married, we have a few children.
Our lives are great.
One day Trina finds a lump in her left breast.
Breast cancer.
Six years after that diagnosis,
me and my two little boys walked up to mommy's casket
and for two years my heart didn't beat.
If it wasn't for my faith in God
I wouldn't be standing here today.
If it wasn't for those two little boys,
there'd have been no reason for which to go on.
I was completely lost.
That was rock bottom.
You know what sustained me?
The wisdom of a third grade dropout.
The wisdom of a simple cook.
We're at the casket.
I'd never seen my dad cry
but this time I saw my dad cry.
That was his daughter.
Trina was his daughter
not his daughter-in-law.
And I'm right behind my father
about to see her for the last time on this earth
and my father shared three words with me
that changed my life right there at the casket.
It would be the last lesson he would ever teach me.
He said, "Son,
"just stand.
"You keep standing.
"You keep standing.
"No matter how rough the sea, you keep standing.
"And I'm not talking about just water.
"You keep standing.
"No matter what, you don't give up."
And as clearly as I'm talking to you today,
these were some of her last words to me.
She looked me in the eye and she said,
"It doesn't matter to me any longer how long I live.
"What matters to me most
"is how I live."
I ask you all one question,
a question that I was asked all my life
by a third grade dropout.
"How you livin'?
"How you livin'?"
Everyday ask yourself that question.
How you livin'?
Here's, here's what a cook would suggest
you to live, this way.
That you would not judge,
that you would show up early,
that you'd be kind,
that you'd make sure that that servant's towel
is huge and used,
that if you're gonna do something,
you do it the right way.
That cook would tell you this,
that it's never wrong to do the right thing,
that how you do anything
is how you do everything.
And in that way you will grow your influence
to make an impact.
In that way you will honor all those
who have gone before you,
who have invested in you.
Look in those unlikeliest places for wisdom.
Enhance your life every day by seeking that wisdom
and asking yourself every night,
"How am I living?"
May God richly bless you all.
Thank you for having me.
(audience cheering and applauding)
(uplifting music)
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