A cardinal rule that I live by is to be the best at what you do you must learn from the best. That is why it was a great thrill for me to learn from Les Brown, one of the world’s top motivational speakers. Les was a speaker at an event that I attended last month in Chicago. I had the honor of speaking to Les one-on-one & learn from him.

In case you haven’t heard of Les Brown, I’ll fill you in on his inspiring story – As a baby Les & his twin brother were abandoned in a low-income part of Miami. They were adopted by a domestic worker, Mamie Brown, who had little education & very limited means. In school, Les failed the 4th grade & was labeled “educably mentally retarded” & was called ‘D.T’ by the other kids (the Dumb Twin). None of his teachers recognized his potential, except for one — Mr Washington — whose 1 sentence turned Les’s life around.

He said to Les:

“Someone’s opinion of you
does not have to become your reality.”

Les went on to become one of the World’s most well known & respected motivational speakers & speech coaches. Here is what I learned from Les – Directly from his mouth, to my newsletter to your eyes:

• You’re never too old to learn & never too young to teach.

• Nothing happens until it is spoken.

• Live full, die empty.

• Your history does not have to be your future.

• You will fail your way to success.

And my personal favorite: -

• Never let anybody tell you what you can’t do, especially if they haven’t done it.

Wise words. But perhaps the most important lesson Les reminded me of was that we all have a story – YOUR story is powerful.

Where you came from, what you have learned, the emotional struggles that you have overcome is indeed a powerful teaching tool for others.

As Les pointed out, your story uniquely speaks to groups of people that my story or his story never will. What is your story? Share it generously with others — Don’t be stingy — You never know who you can help.

Mary Cheyne
2009 World Championship of Public Speaking 1st Runner-up