By
Viewed
5,804
Please choose the correct answer for each question below:
Questions: 0/273
Correct: 0
Translate:
[applause]
>> I had a great childhood.
Loving parents, a safe and supportive
home.
I went to a good school in a new
neighborhood.
I had every opportunity to succeed.
And I still made a series of bad
decisions that led me down a dangerous
path.
I was a good student
when I attended.
But with high school came challenges.
There was stress,
insecurities, and pressure to fit in.
And it left me questioning,
"Who am I?
Where do I belong?
What do I do after graduation?"
I didn't know.
I felt lost, overwhelmed, and
unprepared.
And that marked the beginning of my
relationship with negative coping
mechanisms.
I started skipping school,
drinking alcohol, and doing drugs almost
daily.
I didn't realize it then, but I was
losing control.
By 17, I'd been hospitalized twice after
two major car accidents.
And both involved drugs and alcohol.
And shortly after that,
I was arrested on drug charges.
My 20s were a series of small wins
followed by setbacks that left me
wondering, "What am I doing?"
I was in and out of school and bounced
from city to city.
I found work, got fired,
and started over more than once.
It was a decade of motion without
meaning.
Now, as a father of two young boys, I
look back in horror at what I put my
parents through.
The stress, sleepless nights, and
helplessness as they watched me
struggle.
When your child is caught in a downward
spiral,
there's no manual for how to save them.
You're left hoping,
wishing,
praying that something or someone
finally gets through to them.
And lucky for me, someone did.
My dad introduced me to his personal
trainer Donnie, and the direction of my
life completely changed.
And there's an old saying that when the
student is ready,
the teacher will appear.
And that's exactly what happened. Donnie
took me under his wing, sharing his
knowledge about life and business.
He became my mentor.
He talked about goals and positive
self-talk and surrounding yourself with
inspiring people.
And he had this knack for dropping
one-liners that made you rethink your
whole life.
Things like, "Uh, you can't fix what you
won't face."
Or,
"Well, if nothing changes,
nothing changes."
And little riddles like, "Small hinges
open big doors."
I still don't understand that one.
It felt like wisdom I was hearing for
the first time, even though I'm pretty
sure my parents have been saying the
same sort of thing for years.
Let's be honest. Advice from your
parents lands about as well as when your
spouse tells you how to load the
dishwasher properly.
You hear it. You just don't hear it.
But from a mentor, the same words take
on a whole new power.
It's like someone hands you a pair of
glasses, and suddenly you see things
better than ever before.
You see yourself
better than ever before.
Well, my mentor saw something and
believed in me before I had the ability
to believe in myself.
And today, I'm 5 years sober.
I'm 15 years drug-free.
>> [applause]
>> I'm a happy husband and proud father.
And for the last decade, I've worked to
help others transform their lives, too.
Now, I don't share that to impress you,
but to impress upon you what's possible
with mentorship and connection.
And we need both now more than ever.
My story shows that no one is immune to
feeling lost
or the consequences of poor decisions.
Struggle is universal and it can affect
anyone.
In fact, it is. And studies suggest that
we're witnessing a generation where many
young men are quietly struggling,
battling depression,
anxiety, substance abuse,
and even thoughts of suicide.
In 2024, the Canadian Men's Health
Foundation found that more than half of
all young men aged 19 to 29 reported
moderate to high anxiety, and 42% were
at risk of depression.
In the UK, the Lost Boys report
published by the Centre for Social
Justice stated that boys and young men
are in crisis.
Imagine waking up every day with an
invisible weight
that impacts every single aspect of
life.
Your ambition,
your education,
your relationships,
but most importantly, your hope for the
future.
Even worse, many young men often suffer
in silence, believing that it's not
manly to ask for help.
So, instead,
they often bottle up their emotions and
turn to negative coping mechanisms like
drugs,
alcohol, video games, or doom scrolling
social media to check out.
And when they feel lost, stuck, or
stressed,
it's often easier to escape reality than
actually deal with it.
But what if a mentor were to show up at
this critical time in a young man's
life?
Mentorship, it's not meant to replace
treatment or therapy,
but I believe it's part of the solution.
It's actionable,
it's effective, and it doesn't require a
billion-dollar budget.
Mentorship is valuable because it
provides something that everyone needs,
connection.
Someone who listens, someone who
reflects our strengths back to us, and
gently nudges us towards who we're
capable of becoming.
It builds confidence,
self-esteem,
and hope.
And mentorship's not a new concept, it's
as old as human history itself.
Historically, we relied on elders and
apprenticeship to survive.
Our ancestors,
they didn't make it on their own.
We evolved to thrive in connection.
And today, despite being connected
through social media and technology,
we're starved for genuine, meaningful
relationships.
Somewhere along the way we began
glorifying independence.
And look, independence is great,
unless of course you're struggling
alone.
Mentorship can uplift and empower. And
just as iron sharpens iron, supportive
connections leave us all feeling
stronger.
It's often said that everyone needs four
people in their life,
a coach,
a cheerleader, a friend, and a mentor.
And it's true.
But here's the twist,
it's also about being those people for
someone else.
Mentorship is a two-way street, and as a
mentor, you're called to embody the
values and the principles that you
teach.
And in doing so, you also find a
newfound sense of meaning and purpose.
Helping somebody to discover their
strengths is one of life's greatest
gifts.
Just ask Wally who mentors aspiring
entrepreneurs. He's known for his
community involvement and believes that
success is best when shared.
Or John who's mentored young men for
over 50 years and still does at the age
of 93.
He says it's probably what keeps him
feeling so young.
I imagine that each of you can recall
someone from your youth
who made such an impression on you that
you can still see their face or maybe
even hear their voice.
So, how do we restore mentorship?
With action.
First, we need to create spaces where
it's safe for young men to open up and
ask for feedback.
Places where they can connect through a
shared experience like a group hike,
learning a new skill, or bonding around
a bonfire rather than just bellying up
to the bar.
Second, we need to be intentional.
Pay attention and notice changes in
those around you. A simple, "Hey, do you
want to grab a coffee and go for a
walk?" can make a huge difference in the
life of a young man.
And third, we need to lead by example.
Actions speak louder than words, and
others are always watching whether you
realize it or not.
We all have young men in our life.
A son,
brother,
nephew, or neighbor. And when he's
thriving, it literally creates a ripple
effect through families and communities.
Young men have enormous potential.
Always have,
always will.
So, here's what I ask you to consider.
Can you be a mentor?
Who in your life needs you to be that
voice of encouragement or that catalyst
for change?
After all, it's about more than just
mentorship.
It's about finding meaning
and purpose
and being of service to others.
And I believe that deep down inside,
that's what everyone's searching for
anyway.
Young men need mentors now more than
ever.
Mentorship has the power to change
lives.
I know this because it changed mine.
Thank you.
>> [applause]
[applause]
Related Songs