By far the most impactful speech I have ever witnessed (via TV) was this speech given by Jim Valvano as he received an ESPY on March 4, 1993. Jim died from cancer on April 28, 1993. This speech is a gift - it is uplifting, it is emotional and in my opinion has some of the most powerful messages that has ever been delivered in a speech. What makes this speech even more amazing is; Coach K remembers that he flew to the award show with Jim and his wife. On the plane and all the way to the ceremony - Jim was throwing up, Coach K goes on to say that Jim Valvano must have thrown up 15 times in the afternoon and evening leading up to the speech. But - at the time of the speech, somehow Jim Valvano mustered enough strength to tell us what life is all about.
The three things Jim thought people focus on and if people could focus on these 3 things every day they would have one heck of a life:
1) Laugh
2) Think
3) Be emotional enough to shed tears
I think it is truly amazing that a person that is on the last stage of his life, with very little time left, delivered a speech that always makes me laugh (the Lombardi - Rutgers story is so well delivered), makes me think and brings tears to my eyes every time I listen. What a tremendous gift that Jim Valvano left - I share it because this speech has meant a lot to me personally and how I try to battle thru life on a day in and day out basis.
The three things Jim thought people focus on and if people could focus on these 3 things every day they would have one heck of a life:
1) Laugh
2) Think
3) Be emotional enough to shed tears
I think it is truly amazing that a person that is on the last stage of his life, with very little time left, delivered a speech that always makes me laugh (the Lombardi - Rutgers story is so well delivered), makes me think and brings tears to my eyes every time I listen. What a tremendous gift that Jim Valvano left - I share it because this speech has meant a lot to me personally and how I try to battle thru life on a day in and day out basis.