My First Keynote Speech: JobRedi Foundation

What an incredible organization. I had no idea what I volunteered to do, and when I arrived to the event in Stockton, and saw the passion of all of the volunteers and determination in the eyes of the grant recipients, for the first time in my life, I was nervous to speak.

Background: The JobRedi Foundation was established in 2014 by wealthy San Joaquin County businessman Dino Cortopassi and his wife, Joan. According to JobRedi literature, it was founded to provide assistance to high school graduates “who have overcome tough times and want to earn a living wage and get a good job.”

I have never experienced anything like this. The Non-profits I have worked with in the past, seemed more profit driven than the Fortune 100 companies I have worked for. This was something different. The mentors were there because they wanted to be there.

So I want up to give my speech, and took the advice of Richard Coffey, a mentor of mine, and I spoke from the heart.

The message I shared with the students, was not to listen to me. I let them know about lean manufacturing jobs in their area and how much they could make if they finished school and got their six sigma black belt. I showed them how solving business problems could be fun, but most importantly...I told them not to listen to me and to be defiant. I shared with them how I was told three distinct things.

1. College isn't for you, so don't waste my time.
2. You threw your life away by having a child at 17.
3. You are crazy for leaving such a good job to start your own business.

I let them know, that I didn't listen to any of those things, and those were the best decisions I ever made. I told them to follow their hearts and to do great things, but don't listen to me.

I was crying by the end of the speech, and that was the opposite of what I wanted to do. I wanted to share with the students to overcome adversity, be strong and to always work hard, instead of that; I cried in front of 140 people, which is often considered a sign of weakness.

The irony is that I was supposed to go and enlighten and motivate over 100 students, but actually I learned more about myself giving that speech than anyone in the audience could have possibly learned from me.

As my speech concluded, I didn't know what to think. At the end of the event, I was on a panel with Richard Coffey and Chris Eddings.

One of the students came to the microphone and said, "Gary your speech really inspired me,.." I don't even remember what he said after that, but wow. I never thought that my story could inspire anybody, but I guess I really ever thought about it either. I don't by any means consider myself successful, I didn't feel worthy to give a speech to that group to be honest, but so thankful I was given the opportunity. Thank you JobReadi!!

https://jobredifoundation.org/