And it was hard coming through the lobby and sometimes they would laugh, thereʼs a guy talking about becoming successful and look at him heʼs bathing in the bathroom upstairs on the 21st floor. He sleeps on the floor, him and two other dreamers up there. Look at him, it was hard ladies and gentlemen, coming to speak to people and I was facing financial difficulties in my own life. I was behind on my bills and my dreams. And Iʼm saying to them, you can live your dream! It was hard ladies and gentlemen, it was very difficult. To pick myself up each day believing that I could do it. There were times that I doubted myself and say God why? Why is this happening to me? Iʼm just trying to take care of my children and my mother. Iʼm not trying to steal or rob from anybody. Why does this have to happen to me? It was very hard. And hereʼs what I want to say to you. For those of you that have experienced some hardships. Donʼt give up on your dream. No-one could have convinced me by holding on, by continuing to push forward, by continuing to run toward my dream that one day I would have my own talk show. Itʼs a long shot ladies and gentlemen, from Liberty City in an abandoned building, on the floor! Never knowing my mother or father, itʼs a long shot! Being here with you today in this dome, in Atlanta itʼs a long shot! No college training, labeled educable, mentally retarded. But I kept running
toward my dream!
