When times are tough we look around us for influence and leadership. It’s scary not to know what tomorrow will bring or what your next move will be. Your heart and gut may be telling you two different things and you just want to know that life will be better. Sometimes there are no immediate answers but if you have around you what is most important, you will succeed.

Everyone has a individual in their life that stands out where something was said so influential it was life changing. When Jimmy V gave his cancer speech at the ESPYs in 1993, I was moved. Jimmy knew he was months away from passing while he was speaking but that didn’t bother him one bit; he had an agenda and stuck with it. Along with most of America, I was so shocked by how energetic and gleaming his was with joy while speaking. I took his words to heart and was amazed at this individual and his character. I would love to live by his words and follow his accomplishments and to this day I try and apply my life philosophy behind these words that were said during the ESPY speech:

“I’m a very emotional and passionate man. I can’t help it. That’s being the son of Rocco and Angelina Valvano. It comes with the territory. We hug, we kiss, we love. When people say to me how do you get through life or each day, it’s the same thing. To me, there are three things we all should do every day. We should do this every day of our lives. Number one is laugh. You should laugh every day. Number two is think. You should spend some time in thought. Number three is, you should have your emotions moved to tears, could be happiness or joy. But think about it. If you laugh, you think, and you cry, that’s a full day. That’s a heck of a day. You do that seven days a week, you’re going to have something special.”

I read exerts of the speech at my grandmother’s funeral years ago. We were so close and she passed away from Dimensia, which is worse then Cancer; she was a warrior. Jimmy V was a warrior. They gave everything to what they believed in day in day out.

Jimmy grew up with nothing. He worked his way all the way up the food chain to coach the Wolfpack of the ACC in Tobacco Row during an era that produced some of the best basketball players of all time. He fought his way each year to get better and better and eventually won the national championship in dramatic style. His players believed in him. They respected him for everything the man stood up for. He was one of them in many ways. Jimmy was an amazing leader hands down but most importantly a better individual.

I watch the video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ePXlkqkFH6s) from time to time to keep myself in check. He is my motivational drive for excellence in my career and reminds me of how much I appreciate life day in day out.

Who is most influential speaker in your life…. please share :)

Joey