I think we can all agree, life is getting tough. It seems as if everything around us is collapsing, and crumbling before our very eyes. Many people are uncertain about the future, money, relationships, health, and careers. In fact, we are beginning to question the very nature of life itself.
In these uneasy times, even as a world-renown motivator, my advice is simply: When things go wrong, don’t go with them.
Have you watched the news lately? It’s quite depressing isn’t it? With all of this mess going on around us, you have to monitor your mind and mouth. I’m not oblivious to shocking headlines and a poor economy, but I can’t consume myself with it because, whatever you focus on the longest becomes the strongest.
Everyone has one friend who calls with nothing but bad news. I have to talk to people who see opportunities in the eye of the storm. Not the person who advises me to put my money under a mattress, or recommends taking self-defense classes because crime rates are increasing. I have to observe my surroundings for mental protection or else, I’d be afraid to live!
Elise Robinson said, “Things may happen around you and things may happen to you, but the only thing that matters is what happens in you.” In the midst of chaos, you have to brace yourself, build your faith, feed your mind with positive materials, and seek opportunities you’ve never considered before. You should be getting stronger, smarter, and strategizing to launch a new life, blindsiding everyone with your success and tenacity.
In times like these, we have to look for opportunities and act fast like never before. I agree with speaker Steve Duncan – “Opportunity stands by silently, waiting for us to recognize it.” And remember, opportunities may not come in cute, carefully wrapped packages. Opportunities may come in defeats, setbacks, and failures.
Dr. Robert Schuller once said, “Tough times never last, but tough people do.” Make no mistake about it, times are tough, but you are tougher. What are the odds of surviving 400 million sperm? Those are the odds you beat to get here!
You are resilient beyond your wildest imagination. Stop looking at the circumstances around you and as Tony Robbins would say, “bring out the Giant Within”.
Lastly, find your true self. We live within the conversations in our heads and the recommendations of others. For years, I operated as DT, which was my childhood nickname meaning the dumb twin. Believe it or not, I answered to it!
There was one person, my former teacher, who interrupted the years of negativity and low expectations for me by saying, “Never let someone’s opinion of you become your reality”.
As a renowned professional speaker, author and television personality, Les Brown has risen to national prominence by delivering a high energy message which tells people how to shake off mediocrity and live up to their greatness. It is a message Les Brown has learned from his own life and one he is helping others apply to their lives.
Born a twin in low-income Liberty City in Miami, Florida, Les and his twin brother, Wes, were adopted when they were six weeks old by Mrs. Mamie Brown. Mrs. Brown was a single woman who had very little education or financial means, but a very big heart. As a child Les' inattention to school work, his restless energy, and the failure of his teachers to recognize his true potential resulted in him being mislabeled as a slow learner. The label and the stigma stayed with him, damaging self-esteem to such an extent that it took several years to overcome.
Passion to Learn and His Hunger to Realize Greatness
Les has had no formal education beyond high school, but with persistence and determination he as initiated and continued a process of unending self-education which has distinguished him as an authority on harnessing human potential. Les Brown's passion to learn and his hunger to realize greatness in himself and others helped him to achieve greatness. He rose from a hip-talkin morning DJ to broadcast manager; from community activist to community leader; from political commentator to three-term legislator; and from a banquet and nightclub emcee to premier keynote speaker.
In 1986, Les entered the public speaking arena on a full-time basis and formed his own company, Les Brown Enterprises, Inc. The company provides motivational tapes and materials, workshops, and personal/professional development programs aimed at individuals, companies, and organizations.
Award Winning Speaker
In 1989, after only three years in the public speaking arena, Les Brown was the recipient of the National Speakers Association's highest honor: The Council of Peers Award of Excellence (CPAE). In addition, he was selected one of the World's Top Five Speakers for 1992 by Toastmasters international and recipient of the Golden Gavel Award.
In 1990, Les recorded his first in a series of speech presentations entitled You Deserve, which was awarded a Chicago-area Emmy, and became the leading fundraising program of its kind for pledges to PBS stations nationwide.
Over the years, Les Brown has spoken before many well acclaimed audiences. In 2007, he was the keynote speaker for the Million Dollar Round Table’s (MDRT) 80th Anniversary Dinner held in Denver, Colorado. Les was one of the very few persons selected to speak for a second time in MDRT’s 80 year history.
In addition to speaking on numerous occasions for Toastmaster’s International and the National Speakers Association, Les Brown is one of the most sought after speakers for the network marketing industry having spoken to such network marketing companies as: Prepaid Legal, Amway, Xango, Noni Juice, Masterguard, Veema and many more.
Best Selling Author and Celebrity
Les Brown is an internationally recognized speaker and CEO of Les Brown Enterprises, Inc., he is also the author of the highly acclaimed and successful books, Live Your Dreams and It's Not Over Until You Win. Les is the former host of The Les Brown Show, a nationally syndicated daily television talk show which focused on solutions rather than problems.
Les Brown is one of the nation's leading authorities in understanding and stimulating human potential. Utilizing powerful delivery and newly emerging insights Les' customized presentation will teach, inspire, and channel your audience to new levels of achievement.
Les, you covered so many truths that need to be heard and repeated again for those that don’t hear your messages. I so respect your truth and the truth we all live…aware or not. I don’t watch TV or the NEWS for many years now…the old saying you referred to “garbage-in and garbage-out”, my own personal take on it. I was dealing with my 19 yrs. son last night and he is struggling with his lack of self worth, lack of confidence, lack of self-love, unable to see anything good in himself. I won’t repeat all that we shared…I just hope he could feel the shift in his heart. I saw the first smile on his face in weeks. He struggles with living in societal norms…feels like a misfit…fluctuates with his feelings of self worth and confidence…we had a conversation about how joy, happiness, self worth are really all an inside job. I see his conflict at his young age…yet when he took a moment to “breathe” with me…I could see the shift in his calmness. He is not accepted by social norms which he tends to battle than let it be. Do you already know what his life struggle is at such a young age? Challenges!
This article is amazing! It arrived at just the right time in my life!! Thank you Les for sharing your wisdom.
I am going to paste this on my computer monitor: “When things go wrong, don’t go with them.” That truly is brilliance! Thank you, Les!
I am honoured and blessed to have Les as my Mentor. Over the last 20 odd years he has been a positive influence in my life and I am also full of gratitude to do more and become more because of this unique Giant not only in the speaking industry but in this world Full Stop!. Thank you Les. 🙂
I am blessed to read this article today morning. I will keep this article handy so that whenever I encounter tough time, I know where to go and how to handle it. Because I know it wont last for long. 🙂
Thank you once again.
Love your talks whether written or audio, thank you for this encouraging article. Wish there were more.
Thank you so much Les! This is just the message I needed. Simply wonderful and truly helpful.
Brilliant – as only Les Brown can be!
He sure packs a wallop in one short article! Thank you, Les…
Outstanding article. It help me a lots.
Well written😊❤👍.