A old man's advice

Bernard Albertson
17 May 201510:19

Summary

TLDRIn this inspiring video, an elderly man shares his life story of hardships and successes, emphasizing the importance of determination and learning. He encourages young people to rise above challenges, learn from libraries, and be the future leaders who will save the world. His message is one of hope and perseverance, urging never to quit.

Takeaways

  • πŸ˜€ The speaker encourages young people to overcome hardships and succeed despite tough times.
  • 🏠 The speaker shares his personal story of hardship, including living in the back of a car and working 90 hours a week at a Shell gas station.
  • 🍎 He mentions stealing food when hungry, indicating the desperation he faced in his youth.
  • πŸ“š The speaker emphasizes the importance of education and self-improvement, even teaching himself to read and write in the service.
  • πŸ“– He highlights the power of reading and learning, showing how it transformed his life and understanding.
  • πŸ’Ό The speaker discusses the high unemployment rates in the 1950s and how he managed to find work despite the odds.
  • 🌟 He believes that good and bad times are temporary, suggesting resilience and adaptability are key to success.
  • 🌱 The speaker urges young people to be the future leaders, recognizing their potential to change the world.
  • 🌳 He calls on the youth to save the environment, indicating a belief in their capacity to make a difference in global issues.
  • πŸ’ͺ The speaker stresses the importance of determination, inner will, and ambition in achieving success.
  • πŸ’– He expresses love and support for the youth, offering encouragement and a willingness to defend them.

Q & A

  • What was the speaker's situation when he was young?

    -The speaker quit school in the 10th grade and was left by his parents on a street corner, having to fend for himself and work at a Shell gas station for $1 an hour.

  • How many hours a week did the speaker work at the gas station?

    -The speaker worked 90 hours a week at the gas station.

  • Where did the speaker live during his early working years?

    -The speaker lived in the back of an old car during his early working years.

  • How did the speaker maintain his personal hygiene and cleanliness?

    -The speaker took baths in the gas station restroom and washed his clothes in the sink.

  • What did the speaker do when he was really hungry and had no money for food?

    -When really hungry, the speaker would occasionally go to the grocery store and take an apple or an orange without paying.

  • How did the speaker's life change when he joined the service at the age of 17?

    -In the service, the speaker taught himself to read and write, starting with a 196-page western book and using a dictionary to learn new words.

  • What is the speaker's view on the opportunities available to young people today?

    -The speaker believes that young people have opportunities despite the challenges and encourages them to learn and rise above the negative influences in the world.

  • What advice does the speaker give to young people regarding education and self-improvement?

    -The speaker advises young people to educate themselves, go to the library, and learn, emphasizing that determination and an inner will are more important than formal degrees.

  • What is the title of the speaker's latest book, and where can it be found?

    -The speaker's latest book is titled 'Copper Penny' and is available in paperback on Amazon.

  • How does the speaker describe the importance of young people to the world?

    -The speaker describes young people as the backbone of the world, the future leaders, and the ones who can make a difference by addressing issues like greed, waste, and environmental concerns.

  • What message does the speaker emphasize throughout the script?

    -The speaker emphasizes the message of never quitting, having determination, and believing in oneself to overcome challenges and succeed.

Outlines

00:00

🧳 Overcoming Early Life Challenges

The speaker begins by referencing a previous video about an old man's advice and acknowledges his need to trim his beard. He then shares his personal journey, starting with dropping out of school in the 10th grade and being left by his parents. He describes his early work life at a Shell filling station, where he worked 90 hours a week and lived in the back of an old car. Despite these hardships, he managed to bathe and wash his clothes in the station's restroom and occasionally stole food from a grocery store. He emphasizes that good and bad times are temporary and shares how he learned to read and write during his time in the service, starting with a 196-page book that he read with the help of a dictionary.

05:00

πŸ“š The Power of Education and Perseverance

Continuing his story, the speaker discusses the importance of education and self-improvement. He encourages young people not to be discouraged by the media's portrayal of the world and to use their minds to create opportunities. He stresses that they are the future leaders and the backbone of the world, capable of recognizing and addressing the issues of greed and waste in society. The speaker shares his own path of learning and writing, eventually earning a college education and authoring multiple books. He emphasizes the importance of determination, inner will, and ambition, and encourages young people to rise above frustration and strive for success.

10:01

πŸ’ͺ Never Give Up: A Message of Hope and Encouragement

In the final paragraph, the speaker reiterates his message of never giving up, regardless of the challenges faced. He shares his own experiences of running businesses and writing books, highlighting that success is possible even if not spectacular. He encourages young people to trust in themselves and God, and to keep moving forward. The speaker expresses his love for the younger generation and his willingness to defend them, emphasizing that they are the ones who can make a difference in the world by saving the environment and challenging the status quo.

Mindmap

Keywords

πŸ’‘Hardships

Hardships refer to difficult and challenging situations that one has to endure. In the video's context, the speaker describes his personal hardships, such as quitting school at the 10th grade, living in the back of a car, and working 90 hours a week at a Shell gas station. These hardships are integral to the video's theme of overcoming adversity and achieving success despite life's challenges.

πŸ’‘Successes

Successes are accomplishments or achievements that are considered positive and desirable. The speaker mentions his successes in the context of self-education, writing books, and building a decent retirement, which serves as an example of triumphing over the hardships he faced earlier in life. The video's theme of resilience and personal growth is highlighted through these successes.

πŸ’‘Determination

Determination is the quality of being resolute and firm in one's decisions and actions. The speaker emphasizes the importance of determination in achieving goals, stating that it is not the level of formal education but the inner will and desire that propels an individual to success. This concept is central to the video's message of self-improvement and perseverance.

πŸ’‘Education

Education is the process of acquiring knowledge, skills, and understanding. In the script, the speaker's self-education is highlighted as a key factor in his journey from hardship to success. He taught himself to read and write and eventually read multiple books at a time, illustrating the power of self-education in personal development and the video's overarching theme of self-empowerment.

πŸ’‘Opportunity

Opportunity refers to a set of circumstances that makes it possible to do something or a favorable juncture for action. The speaker encourages the audience to recognize the opportunities available to them despite the world's challenges. The video's message is that opportunities exist for those who seek to learn and improve themselves, aligning with the theme of hope and proactive change.

πŸ’‘Backbone

The term 'backbone' metaphorically refers to the essential support or foundation of something. In the video, the speaker calls the young people the 'backbone of the world,' emphasizing their importance as future leaders and change-makers. This concept ties into the video's theme of the youth's potential and responsibility to shape a better future.

πŸ’‘Frustration

Frustration is a feeling of dissatisfaction or annoyance, often caused by unmet expectations or a sense of failure. The speaker acknowledges the frustration of young people with the current state of affairs, such as economic hardships and societal injustices. This keyword is used to illustrate the emotional context that drives some individuals to act out, contrasting with the speaker's message of rising above such challenges.

πŸ’‘Rise Above

To 'rise above' means to overcome or go beyond a particular situation or feeling. The speaker uses this phrase to encourage the audience to transcend their frustrations and challenges, advocating for a positive and proactive approach to life's difficulties. This concept is central to the video's theme of resilience and personal growth.

πŸ’‘Innovation

Innovation refers to the introduction of new ideas, methods, or products. Although not explicitly mentioned, the concept of innovation is implied in the speaker's encouragement for the young to learn and educate themselves, suggesting that new ideas and solutions can come from the next generation's creativity and drive. This aligns with the video's theme of progress and the potential for positive change.

πŸ’‘Wealth and Power

Wealth and power are resources and influence that some individuals or groups possess. The speaker criticizes those in power who prioritize their wealth and power over the well-being of others. This concept is used to highlight the contrast between the self-centered motives of some and the selfless, caring attitude that the speaker advocates for in the video's message.

πŸ’‘Never Quit

The phrase 'never quit' is a call to perseverance and continuous effort despite setbacks. The speaker ends the video with this phrase, encapsulating the video's central message of resilience and the importance of not giving up in the face of adversity. It serves as a rallying cry for the audience to keep striving for their goals and dreams.

Highlights

The speaker quit school in 10th grade and had to fend for himself, working 90 hours a week at a Shell gas station.

He lived in the back of an old car, bathing and washing clothes at the gas station, and sometimes stealing food when hungry.

Despite high unemployment in the 1950s, he was able to find work by asking companies directly.

The speaker joined the service at age 17 and taught himself to read and write.

He read a 196-page book by Louis L'Amour, using a dictionary to learn new words, and eventually read multiple books at once.

The speaker emphasizes that a person's mind is incredible and that young people have opportunities despite current challenges.

He encourages young people not to believe negative media messages and to use their minds to learn and improve their lives.

The speaker shares his belief that young people are the backbone and future leaders of the world, with the power to see through greed and waste.

He acknowledges young people's frustration with the establishment but urges them to rise above it and not let it define them.

The speaker talks about his own journey of self-education and determination, even without a PhD or master's degree.

He has had businesses, written books, and encourages others to believe in themselves and take one step at a time.

The speaker, at 76 years old, still actively encourages young people because he loves and believes in them.

He emphasizes that young people must save the oceans and air, as those in power often prioritize wealth and power over others.

The speaker closes by expressing his love for young people and his willingness to defend them to his last breath.

Key takeaway: Never quit, no matter the circumstances or challenges faced.

Transcripts

play00:00

good

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morning I made a video not too long ago

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called an old man's

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advice

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wow looking at me I looks like I need to

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trim my beard a little

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bit but I

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received several

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requests to continue on with that and so

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I've decided to share a little bit about

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myself and my life and my

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hardships and my

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successes with

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you you know this this world today is

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tough it's tough for young

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people it's tough for people that for

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years have had jobs and security and

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made good money and been able to take

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care of their

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families and sometime ago as you

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know jobs were shipped overseas to

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improve the bottom line of big

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companies and I thought I'd tell you a

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little bit about myself

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I I quit school when I was in a 10th

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grade

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um my mother and father left me standing

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on on a street

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corner it's always up to me to make

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it and I had a job working at a Shell

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fing

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station and I went to the owner and I

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told him my

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situation and I was making a dollar an

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hour and I asked him if I could work

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more

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hours and so I began working 90 hours a

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week

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and during that

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time as I've said before my home was the

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back of an old

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car and I work my 90 hours a

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week and I took my baths in a ping

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station

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restroom and I wash my clothes my

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private clothes in the

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sink and once in a while when I was

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really

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hungry I would go to the grocery store

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and snitch an apple or an

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orange now this was in the

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50s things were a lot different than

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they are

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now and I'm convinced that the owner of

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the grocery store knew what I was doing

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because it was about a half a block away

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from where I worked and he knew

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me now I've said before that good things

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nor bad things last

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forever and that's

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true and I begin

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to learn different

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things I

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knew in my

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soul that if I had nothing to offer I

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was as far as I was going to

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go now now unemployment at that time was

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very

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high on the other

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hand in the

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50s you could go into a corporation and

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ask for a job and get

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it and after I'd worked 90 hours a week

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for a long

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time I went into the

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service I was 17

play04:00

in the

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service I taught myself to read and

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write the first book I picked

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up was a book written by Louis lore and

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had 196 pages in it I'll never forget

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it it was a cowboy story a

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western and there were words in there

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that I didn't know I didn't understand I

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I had no idea what they they

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were so I got a dictionary from the

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service

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library and as I would read if there was

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a word that I didn't understand I would

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look it up and I will tell you now it

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took me almost three weeks to read 196

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pages but I

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read and I continued to

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read and in several months

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I was reading two and three books at a

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time and I knew where I was in every

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single one of

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them so that's what you can

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do a person's mind is

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incredible your mind is as

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incredible as a young

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person regardless of what's happening in

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the world today you have opportunity and

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don't you believe for one single

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minute what they say in the

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media because if you aren't getting

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ahead and you need to get

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ahead position

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yourself to learn go to the library and

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learn you are the

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backbone of this

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world young people without you this

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world is

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nothing nothing

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you are the backbone of this world you

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are the Future Leaders of this world you

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are the ones that see the

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greed of the people that are running it

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now you the ones that see the waste of

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the people that are running it now we

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need you we need your minds we need your

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hearts we need your lives we need your

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loves we need you to care and and I know

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that you do care oh I see young people

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stepping on the flag and and throwing

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rocks and

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rioting that's frustration frustration

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it's frustration with the establishment

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and I understand it but that's not you

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don't let that be you rise above it

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you're better than that Rise Above It

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Anyway I got kind of off track there but

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anyway as I went on and I got out of the

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service I had begun to

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write

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and educate myself I got a little bit of

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college

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and I've continued

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on through my life with that and you can

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do the same thing you don't have to have

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a doctorate or a PhD PhD or a master's

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degree what you have to have is

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determination you have to have an inner

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will to get things done you have to have

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a desire and I know the desire is

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there because as I said before without

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your

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brains without your ambition without

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your

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drive this world will be nothing nothing

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because old people like me die

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off I have been successful not

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tremendously

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successful but I have a decent

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retirement I live with my lovely wife in

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in

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Arizona I've had financial problems

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everyone has

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those but you can't stop you can't quit

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you can't

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say I'm a failure you're not a failure

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you're not

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not you're a wonderful strong

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intelligent

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youngster take advantage of that trust

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in God trust in

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yourself and step forward put One Foot

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In Front Of Another let me give you an

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example I've had a couple of businesses

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they weren't tremendously successful but

play08:51

they were

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successful I've written books I have

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presently probably 13 or 14 books in a

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publication my latest is copper penny

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it's in paperback on

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Amazon look it up um so you can do it I

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did it you can do it I'm 76 and to the

play09:15

to my last breath I will encourage young

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people because I love

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them I will encourage young people

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because I know they are the future you

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are the ones that must save the ocean

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you are the ones that that must save the

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air because those that are in power the

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bottom line unfortunately for many many

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of those in power All Over The

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World Is

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wealth and power over others so I'm

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going to close this now but I just

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wanted you to know

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that people like me old

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Soldiers old people we

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understand and as old as I

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am I would pick up my can and defend you

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to my last breath because I love you so

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I'm going to stop now but just remember

play10:16

never quit never quit

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Related Tags
Life LessonsYouth EmpowermentHardship StoriesSuccess AdviceSelf-EducationDeterminationInspirationOld Man's AdviceRise AboveFuture Leaders