From Juvie to Jail to Harvard (Andre Norman) #95

Andre Norman went from juvie, to jail to Harvard.

Andre began selling marijuana in 6th grade to pay for pants so he wasn't seen as the "poor, smelly kid with only two pairs of pants."

Vulnerable insights like this one from Andre will allow you to expand your humanity and understand the very real, everyday struggles that can snowball into time spent in jail.

Join me for an amazing conversation that will shed light on an often forgotten part of our community... and share the redemption that can come with setting a lofty goal and sticking to it.

From jail to Harvard, our friend Andre is here. Don't miss it.

SHOW NOTES: 

• "Please speak kind words to your kids and never stop. The day I wanted to change my life, it was those kind words I was able to hold onto. I've seen people who wanted to change their lives, but they had nothing to hold onto so they got blown back in."
• "Every Wednesday, the rabbi taught me how to be a better person. He taught me things I'd never learned before; to say I'm sorry."
• If you want to get to a new place at the next level, it's about forgiveness. Empathy v. forgiveness - choose empathy. Once you do, forgiveness will come.
• I'm the sum total of all of my mentors.
• Don't speak to their potential; speak to their pain.
• I try to teach kids to ask for help. I realize I wanted my parents to be the ones, so I passed up good help. Take the help that is offered from teachers, etc.
• www.AndreNorman.com
• If you like this podcast, you will love Live Inspired IN STUDIO. It's my membership community where like-minded friends join me via live webcast to live inspired together. Registration opens soon! Join the waitlist.

ANDRE NORMAN'S LIVE INSPIRED 7

1. What is the best book you’ve ever read? As a Man Thinketh, by James Allen. I am in control of my thoughts, there fore I am in control of myself. 

2. What is a characteristic or trait that you possessed as a child that you wish you still exhibited today? I laughed way more. I loved traveling and had a sense of adventure. I rode the bus after school. I rode everything I could for a dime.

3. Your house is on fire, all living things and people are out. You have the opportunity to run in and grab one item. What would it be? Hebrew Psalms book from my Rabbi's wife. 

4. You are sitting on a bench overlooking a gorgeous beach. You have the opportunity to have a long conversation with anyone living or dead. Who would it be? My grandfather, I never got to meet him. I'd ask if he's happy watching the work I've down in his hometown, Petersburg, VA.

5. What is the best advice you've ever received? I just got it from a group of friends, they saved me from a low point. "You are going to be you. You have a wonderful gift and you have people to help. Be you. Go back to being you."

6. What advice would you give your 20-year-old self? Go to school sooner. Get counseling. You can do great things. It's not where you start, or who you are around. Be your own best friend. Stop selling yourself short.

7. It’s been said that all great people can have their lives summed up in one sentence. How do you want yours to read? He helped all people.

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Live Inspired with John every day on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Instagram and get his Monday Motivation email: www.JohnOLearyInspires.com/Monday-Morning

If you like this podcast, you will love Live Inspired IN STUDIO. It's my membership community where like-minded friends join me via live webcast to live inspired together. Registration opens soon! Join the waitlist.