I know you guys expect me to come up here and bitch, moan and give a speech about how hard my life has been because I was born with a disability but the truth is it hasn't. Everything I am today is because of two things, ridiculous work ethic and the greatest parents anybody could ask for.
Everybody thinks I was bullied in school. I never was. I don't know why, but it never happened. From kindergarten until fourth grade I had to walk with a walker and a bicycle helmet during school hours because the school couldn't be liable for me falling and busting my head open. Outside of school however, there was no walker or helmet. And I'd fall a lot.
My Dad at that time was really good friends with one of the high school's teachers, who later became my first mentor. He still reminds me until this day, my father and him were hanging out and I fell in front of them. He went to help me up and my Dad stopped him and said, "Let him get up on his own, handicapped people can struggle too". I had no idea of it then but that philosophy has been the foundation to my life.
In short, we as individuals are quick to make excuses for ourselves. I can never accomplish this because of that. I could never get a date with that girl because of some bullshit excuse. I am where I am because I make up my mind. Once I decide to do something its going to happen or I will spend my last breath trying.
I don't know why but I've always had a passion for technology. So, in high school I ran into my school's network administrator in the library who was my Dad's buddy back in the day. I approached him and said, "I'll work for free, just let me learn." He did. For two years I worked for free just learning everything I could from him. And to this day I will tell you that my time working for him was the best on the job training I have ever had.
I went to college. I started my own company when I was 19. And I don't mean I had a Facebook page, I mean I went down to the county office, filed a fictitious business name, opened a business checking account, got business cards and started pounding the pavement. I've had clients from here to New York City. But it hasn't all been easy. There were times where I had to choose between paying rent and keeping my business afloat and every single time I chose my business because it was the foundation to my future.
All of you are in a unique position. You're either about to go to college or you're about to enter the workforce. Let me leave you with three things:
Number one: Don't make excuses. Whether you have a disability or not, excuses are the number one killer of dreams. I have cerebral palsy and I run a technology company. What's your excuse?
Number two: Find what you love and go after it with everything you have. Don't let anybody tell you that you can't do something. The only person who determines what you can and can't do is you.
Number three: Work harder than everybody else. I don't care how talented you are, if someone is outworking you, they will eventually surpass you. Talent is great but work ethic is everything.
Thank you.