I can tell you my story.
But it wouldn't really be my story.
Because I didn't get here alone.
There are dozens - probably hundreds - of people woven into my life who helped me get here.
Most will never have their names in a history book.
But they're part of my history.
And I wouldn't be here without them.
My Heroes Aren't Famous.
Yes, some of my heroes were teachers, friends, family, and coworkers.
People who knew me well.
But others barely knew me.
Our only interaction may have lasted two minutes.
They probably had no idea how much something they said or did mattered.
Some helped save my life without ever knowing it.
That's the thing about hidden heroes.
They don't always know they're heroes.
And every one of us has them.
We Were Taught a Lie.
We Bought Into It. And We're Paying the Price.
We were taught that strong people don't need help.
Figure it out. Keep going. Be independent. Have the answer. Don't burden anyone else with your problems.
And whatever you do, don't admit that you can't do it alone.
Except none of us actually got here alone.
The truth is this:
There is no shame in needing help.
There is no shame in asking for help.
In fact, we can't get to where we want to go without asking for help.
But it doesn't stop with the help we receive.
Just as others helped us get here, we have the opportunity to help someone else get where they're trying to go.
And sometimes the help we offer matters far more than we'll ever know.
Because sometimes we need someone else's shoulders.
And sometimes someone needs ours.
So we'll leave with two questions:
What help do I need?
What help can I offer?
Every Audience Is Different
Before the event, we'll talk about who's in the room, what brings them together, and what you want them talking about afterward.
Then I'll build the experience around your people.