My Story: Defined By Attitude, Not Circumstance

  

My goal is to inspire others, each and every day. 

It’s a fundamental truth. You CAN chase after your dreams. 

Even if you fall down…

Even if you don’t think you can even hit the ball, let alone launch it out of the park...

Know this.

Every time you TRY.

Every time you GET UP and give it ANOTHER shot.

NO MATTER WHAT.

You've WON. 

This is not a BELIEF I hold.

It is a FACT I know. 

I’ve lived it on the biggest stage.

Life. 

Let me explain. 

Just recently, it was World Preemie Day — What's that you ask?

As Wikipedia says it, World Prematurity Day is observed on November 17th each year to raise awareness of preterm birth and the concerns of preterm babies and their families worldwide.

Approximately 15 million babies are born preterm each year, accounting for about one in 10 of all babies born worldwide. 

And this special day compelled me to honor my genuine heroes. 

In May of 1975, I entered the world.

Not a big thing, right?

Well literally for me, at three months shy of fully baked - and 1 1/2 pounds. 

(You read that right... one-and-a-half pounds) 

My mom tells me stories about how the doctors had to strap me down in a thick-walled incubator, because I’d continuously try to pull out the wires, attached to the monitors, that were keeping me alive.

Now there’s no doubt I had a part in my own survival.

But mom and the folks at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in LA, are why I am here today.

And, Mom, unbeknownst to me, set me on my life journey to become someone that spreads positivity, sees the best in others, and aspires to uplift and inspire people every day.  

TRIAL NUMBER ONE. 

Did this keep mom from getting up and trying again.

Of course not, and that is why she is my genuine hero.

"I Was Reminded That

My Blood Type Is

BE POSITIVE” 

Fast forward to the 80s…

I was diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome.

Now, Mom faced yet ANOTHER parental challenge.

"I've got ticks and I can't stop!", her baby said.

My mom became fiercely determined to find out EVERYTHING there was to know about it.

Doctors shared the limited knowledge they had back then, but mom’s maternal instinct and love led her on her own journey to find answers - and ultimately help me make me who I am today. 

I remember being at Camp on a field trip to a movie one day.

My counselor had to take me to a pay-phone because I couldn't control my ticks and twitches.

My neck snapping to one side... over, and over, and over.

Tears streaming down my face from the extreme pain.

My friends trying to help by massaging my neck.

Completely overwhelmed, I couldn't get a word out, like a baby who had been crying for hours.

And all of a sudden... my mom's voice was on the phone... and a calmness came over me like a warm blanket.

Over time, we went to various doctors, who performed countless medical examinations.

All of these wires, stuck to my head, stuck to my body - wires I knew NOW not to pull out!

The worst part of it all?

I could never stay still, which of course every doctor asked me to do.

Well yeah - uncontrollable ticks!

HEL-LO!

The conclusion?

Most doctors said...

“He's fine…”

“It’s normal…”

“He'll grow out of it...”

TRIAL NUMBER TWO. 

Did this stop her?

Of course not!

She never settled.

She held a perpetual optimism.

That we would find out what this thing was.

And we'd beat it - together.

She alone instilled my positive and resilient mindset.

The mindset everyone I touch experiences. 

"Every

Accomplishment

Starts With

The Decision

To Try" 

 Flash forward to fifth grade.

I made a conscious decision.

To use my voice.

To try and turn this thing on its head.

I remember standing up in front of all the kids in my class.

Not knowing how they'd react. 

I stood in front of my class, my teachers, and shared with them.

What this "thing" was.

And what living with Tourette Syndrome was like.

Sharing this, lifted a huge weight off my shoulders.

And it generated an outpouring of supporters.

In friends.

In teachers.

And in other parents. 

" I Want to Inspire People.  

I Want Someone To

Look At Me And Say

Because Of 

You

I Didn't Give Up " 

 Now this diagnosis provided for me by specialists at UCLA granted no way I could master this condition.

Doctors there suggested I take a drug called Clonodine.

These little pink pills, smaller than the size of a button.

It served a purpose.

But in taking them, the side effects were beyond terrible.

I said NO MORE. 

I had other plans.

A commitment.

To ZERO medicine.

This was a pivotal moment. 

Crazy?

Perhaps.

Though, I had noticed that I could master my condition through focus.

And, so I did.

I focused.

Mom and I decided she’d keep the meds with her, and I with me, just in case.

Call it insurance.

But we never needed to use them again.

TRIAL NUMBER THREE. 

A difficult decision.

Followed by a lot of work.

Was this going to stop her?

Of course not!

My mom’s unwavering belief and support made me know - I could win.

And I progressively got better. 

" The Best

Is Yet

To Come " 

I now see myself in others.

I see myself in my kids.

I work to inspire people in times of uncertainty.

And it's for this reason that I share my story when I can. 

TRIAL AFTER TRIAL. 

I know for a FACT.

Anything is possible.

Yes, no matter how daunting…

YOU CAN do it. 

Tomorrow, December 24th.

I celebrate an incredibly special day.

A day I am so amazingly thankful for.

The day my genuine hero was born.

I love you, Mom.

Happy Birthday!

What qualities have you 'be your best self'?

Please share your thoughts in the comments section below as I learn just as much from you as you do from me.

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Brian Schulman has more than 17 years of proven digital marketing, analytics, eCommerce and retail experience strategizing with IR500 and Fortune500 retailers, brands and manufacturers across the globe. As the Head of Enterprise Sales and Strategy for Wiser, the leading pricing and merchandising engine, Brian is responsible for Wiser’s Enterprise sales operations and strategy. 

Brian previously served as Director of Sales at Tealium, helping grow the company from the ground up into the market leader for enterprise tag management. He then went on to assist in the global launch of AudienceStream, the first real-time segmentation and action engine designed for marketers. 

Prior to Tealium, Brian contributed expertise and leadership across companies such as Anametrix (now Ensighten), Visual Sciences, Keylime Software (now Yahoo) and served as one of the earliest and most successful sales executives and managers at WebSideStory, contributing to its highly successful IPO in 2004, its eventual acquisition by Omniture for $394 million in 2008, and most recently Adobe for $1.8 billion in 2009. 

Brian is an Advisor and Mentor to executives and Start-Up companies such as Industry, Inc., and is a founding member of the Board of Advisors at Genuine Hero. He has served as Chairperson, Moderator and Speaker at Etail West, Speaker and Moderator at Fashion Digital LA, Fashion Digital NY and recently became an Advisor to Fashion Digital. Brian is passionate about building high revenue growth organizations and the excellent teams that inspire and power them. 

More stories?

Here's a few others he's written.

You Did WHAT?!! No Risk. No Reward. One Hell of A Surprise - The Wedding In Hawaii She Had No Idea Was Going To Happen.

https://www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/20140712222225-1571773-one-hell-of-a-surprise?

My Superpower? I'm A Daddy! 

https://www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/im-daddy-whats-your-superpower-brian-schulman?