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"In order to make this your decade, in order to reach your goals, you've got to find some reasons that make you strong, some reasons that will make you hang in there when times get rough..."

-Les Brown

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First quote: "A lot of people become comfortable. They stop growing. They stop wanting anything. They become satisfied. They stop looking for ways to improve themselves."

I thought it was interesting that "comfort" is used in a slightly negative connotation in by him. Comfort is typically seen as positive but it can also signify never desiring more or pushing your boundaries. Comfort can make us feel stuck.

Second quote: “That inner conversation is the reason most people take their ideas to the graveyard with them."

The graveyard holds people's aspirations, hopes, inventions, etc. It is filled with "could have's" and possibilities. Most people's inner conversation keep them from their goals. I know I've certainly felt limited in my future career goals by what my inner conversation was telling me. If I believed my inner conversation, I would be taking my dream of becoming a physician to the graveyard with me.

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1st quote:

“A lot of people become comfortable. They stop growing…”

This quote is my whole life story. If I don’t go outside my comfort zone, I will never grow. If I don’t ever grow, I won’t ever change. This quote reminds me to continue to push myself, grow, and change.

2nd quote:

“You deserve to be happy. You deserve to live a life you are excited about. Don't let others make you forget that."

This quote reminds me to live. People will always be critical. People will always want to push you down. But you deserve to live the life you want to. You work hard, you try new things, you live your life, and don’t let people push you down.

Thank you,

Lyla N

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"Sick and tired of being Sick and tired"

-Les Brown

Classic quote I love when people say sick and tired of being sick and tired. I feel like it relates to that anecdote he shared about a groaning dog on a nail not moving off of it.

There are many things in life that suck the joy out of what could be great especially politically. We could have an advanced enough society not to worry about human needs but transcend to human wants. But it doesn't suck enough to do anything about it. Just enough to groan and complain. Well aren't you sick and tired of being sick and tired? You and I and all of us deserve better for ourselves and until we are willing to get off that nail and do something about it collectively all we will be doing is being sick and tired and groaning about it ;)

"you have to start saying yes to your life, Yes to your dreams, yes to your unfolding future, yes to your potential"

-Les Brown

I am a firm believer in not being strict on a plan to the point of which you say no to opportunities that arise that could be whole new avenues for growth and fun. A friend asked me to help with a dance class for a university I did not attend. I don't dance but I said yes. I ended up being front stage dancing as part of a group with friends and saving a class that would have been cancelled as they didn't have enough leads. Now I know how to dance and have life long friends. I was not a dance, I was not a student at this university but I did it anyway because it was an intersting and fun opportunity.

A good friend of mine says many of us are envious of others for having these passions, being great at things and knowing what they want to do. But, while for some they may be born into that knowledge or fallen into it. Many have to try. You have to try new things. You have to be bad at stuff to get good at them and through that process you create new passions, joys and potential careers. It is one of the greatest joys of life to try and say yes.

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"You deserve a life that excites you" "You were not born just to make a living"

In response to both quotes; I have never been good with complacency. Once I realized that the sky was not the limit, it was on for me! It's been fairly easy for me to make money, but I feel like that's not enough. I feel like there's a deeper more meaningful way to be living than just making a living. I want to reach and be reached by as many people as possible before I'm done here. <3

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1. "The fact that you are still here means your business is not through yet.”

I like this quote a lot because it shows that as long as you are still on earth, functioning and able to grow and make memories, there are still things you can do. You shouldn't give up just because one of your goals is completed or because you have a temporary feeling of satisfaction. If you feel as though your life doesn't have a purpose or is missing something, just because you don't feel you have done anything significant, then that means something is on its way. As long as you actually try for it, start saying yes, and facing your fears to get what you want out of life, then you still have things to accomplish.

2. "You can't get out of life alive. So there's no safe position. You can die in the bleachers or you can die in the field. You might as well come out on the field and have a good time."

I feel like this quote is really eye opening because it makes you realize that we will all end up in the same place. What makes a difference is how you got there and how much you tried to have a joyful time doing what you want. Life isn't about boring things that others expect out of you, it's about finding yourself and going out to do the things you love for a rich and fulfilling life.

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Dennis Orozco

The quote: “It’s better to be prepared for an opportunity and not have one, then to have an opportunity and not be prepared.”

This resonated with me a lot. I think about the times in my life where an opportunity arises and it’s an opportunity I have been waiting for, but I was totally unprepared to make the best of it. I have since learned from my mistakes and I try to engage in extra tasks at work so that I am ready for that promotion. I read outside of my academia so that I can expand my horizons which in turn provides me with more opportunities. I am working out so that I can defend myself or protect my loved ones.

Another quote: “Practice only makes improvement”

I really found some inspiration with the idea of taking the usual saying “practice makes perfect” and changing it up a bit to make it more realistic. It takes the intimidation out of it and replaces it with inspiration. It’s so simple and yet it inspires me to continue without the expectation for disappointment, the disappointment because it’s not perfect. I will apply this to my art hobbies. Instead of focusing on perfection I will continue painting because after all it only makes improvement.

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1. "Perfection doesn't exist, they need to take it out of the dictionary."

This stood out since I've always felt like I was forced into the moral that everything you do in life has to be "perfect," and if not then you essentially are worth what people are expected to get out of you, which I of course eventually learned is not true!

2. "Someone's opinion on you does not have to become your reality"

Though there may be exceptions to this, I felt this matters most to me right now since I've felt a lot of negativity about myself, and how I am naturally as a person. I've slowly become more open to accept myself for who I am, and what I have in reality versus my assumption(s).

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First I just want to say that Les Brown's laugh is absolutely contagious! What a great speaker :)

Favorite quote #1

"Always better your best" - simply said but very powerful words and definitely something everyone should strive for in life

Favorite quote #2

"You have greatness within you" - And that goes for each and every one of us!

Favorite quote #3

"The world will never be the same again because you showed up" - As we all embark on this journey may we all find the tools we need and create the support systems we need to be able to show up and succeed at SRJC and in life.

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1st quote: "You can't even begin to imagine you have talents and skills in you that you have even begun to reach for yet."

This quote stuck out to me because it highlights the awaiting potential that every person has. I believe there have been times when I have not followed through with a goal or given up during the hard times. It reminds me of the saying, "You are capable of anything you put your mind to."

2nd quote: "Life is like a roller coaster, sometimes you're up, sometimes you're down, sometimes things go well, and sometimes they don't go well, but in the down moment, that's when you discover who you are."

I have heard that life is like a roller coaster before; however, I enjoyed the addition of the downs in life, being where you discover what makes you, you.

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#1 Birds of a feather flock together.

This quote reminds me that the people I surround myself with shape my mindset, energy and success. If I want to grow, I need to fly with those who lift me higher.

#2 Look at man the way that he is, he only becomes worse. But look at him as if he were what he could be, then he becomes what he should be.

This quote inspires me to see the potential in myself and others. It reminds mw that when we are seen for who we can become, we rise to meet that vision and grow into our best selves.

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1. “See, it's time now. If you want to make this your decade you’ve got to start saying yes to your life, you’ve got to start saying yes to your dreams, yes to your unfolding future, yes to your potential, as opposed to saying no. See 87% of our self talk is negative, so you’ve got to make a conscious, deliberate, determined effort to say yes to your dreams.“

2. “Use that energy to get up from there and get on with your life, you got to learn to let the past go so you can grow. Many people never act on their dreams because they allow their past experiences to determine what their possibilities are. Whatever you’ve done in the past that’s not a reflection of your possibilities, that’s just a reflection of your consciousness, that’s just a reflection of your development and your growth. The future’s unfolding for you right now, the future’s unlimited for you right now.”

Both of the quotes I picked are somewhat focused on quieting the pessimistic voice in the back of the mind. The first quote reminds me to have a conversation with the negative voice in my head and tell myself that I can be brave enough and courageous enough to say yes to believing in myself achieving my goals. I can’t let the negative thoughts blur the vision for my future. I have to say yes to being capable, no more denying myself. I have to have confidence and give myself a strong and honest opportunity, so that I can say yes to my dreams. The second quote resonates because I’ve never been an amazing student, it’s hard not to look back at how I did in the past and use it to determine my future. It’s really true to me what Les Brown says, he’s right, I also can’t deny how much I have developed and grown since those past school experiences. I am not the same person I was back then, I am ready to be entirely who I am now. I might not entirely let go of the past, because I plan to use it to prove to myself that I have changed, and that life can change and be better, I can do better.

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A lot of what Les Brown was saying in his introductory of this speech was really resonating with me. For example, "people operate within the context of the vision that they have of themselves." This struck home for me, as I knew exactly what he was referring to. I tend to have an inner dialogue of negativity towards myself, and as he was explaining the breakdown of personal set backs, they were all too familiar to what I experience. I thoroughly enjoyed this speech and found myself nodding in agreement and feeling moved and reassured. He navigated the point well of how the importance of what you say to yourself and who you surround yourself with will majorly determine your outlook and general success in life. What you believe is what you are and becomes your reality. I especially liked, "when you are not pursuing your goal, you're committing spiritual suicide."

I'll end this with, "Life is too short to play it safe, there is no safe position in life. You can die on the bleachers or you can die on the field, so you might as well come out on the field and have a good time."

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“What is it that you can love doing 7 days a week that’ll bring a smile to your face”

This quote really sticks with me because I never want to waste my time in a place that drains me or makes me unhappy. I just started a new job that I do like, but the moment it starts affecting my mental health etc, I won’t hesitate to leave. No minimum-wage job is worth sacrificing your peace, especially when they’d replace you in days if something happened. My biggest goal in life is to do something I truly love. I want to become a veterinarian, even though I know it’s going to be a tough journey. But I also think I’d enjoy being a teacher, and if that ends up making me happier, even if it pays less, I’d be okay with that too. I’m really passionate about finding something I could enjoy doing seven days a week that actually brings a smile to my face.

While I haven’t completely loved being in college, it feels like it’s taking forever, but I know this is the sacrifice I have to make to build a happier life. Lately I’ve been feeling super unmotivated, but this goal is what keeps me going, this quote definitely highlights that.

Another quote that hit me was “You can’t get out of life alive.”

That one really made me stop and think. I’ve always been the type to play it safe. I’m close to my family and my small hometown, and while I did go to UC Davis, I ended up coming back home after a year because of financial stuff. Sometimes I wish I would’ve just pushed through, got a job, took out loans, and stuck with what made me feel excited. But I played it safe, like I always do. Hearing that quote reminded me that life’s too short to stay stuck in the same place. You’ve got to take risks if you want to feel fulfilled and live a full, meaningful life.

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First Quote: "The best revenge in life is massive success"

This quote inspires me to do the most I can do and work harder. Since I can talk and say all these things but until I actually do the work and you can see the work then its actually completed. It also inspires me that no matter how many times I want to give or things go bad. I must keep going until I'm able to success in whatever I'm doing.

Second Quote: "I must make a commitment to be happy right now!"

This quote motivates me to do more things that make me happy. As I spend a lot of time doing work or other things I rarely take the time to be happy. To enjoy the little things like walking my dog, driving my sister around, and watching movies with family.

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3:30

“The wealthiest place on earth is the graveyard” This means a lot to me because some people in life pass away without ever chasing their dreams. Some don’t even try because they’re afraid and that really scares me. One of my biggest fears used to be going to school, but I know it’s one of the first steps toward the successful life I want. I never want to look back and say, “I regret not doing that,” because regret is one of the worst feelings. I can’t imagine dying with that kind of regret in my heart.

9:05

The quote, “Someone’s opinion of you does not have to be your reality,” really speaks to me. When I was in school, I was told I had a learning disability, and I barely graduated high school. Hearing that made me feel dumb. But now, I’m putting real effort into my homework and learning, and it’s actually working. I feel like I’m truly learning instead of being the young teen who didn’t care about anything, never focused, and never realized that I’m smarter than I thought. I just needed to give myself the time and effort to learn.

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1. "The biggest enemy you have to deal with is yourself." - Les Brown

2. "Practice only makes improvement, you can always better your best. You have not done your best work yet" - Les Brown

These two quotes I've chosen have a bit of the same reasoning as to why I chose them, but starting off with number one:

I really enjoy and relate to this quote because the only person that truly brings you down is yourself. Yes, people can say things about you/to you, but that's only if you allow their comments to effect you. Only you know who you are and what you are capable of! This quote will stick with me and motivate me a lot to keep pursuing college because since I graduated high school, I feel like I had always been my own enemy, constantly telling myself I wasn't smart enough for college and that I wasn't ready for it, but I fought the enemy within me and overcame what I was telling myself and here I am, starting up my education again. This quote also feels like a reality check, for me, I make a lot of excuses for myself which leads to a lot of procrastination and a bit of regret because deep down I know that I want something, but I stop myself from achieving my goals!

As for the second quote, I like this because I believe that no matter how knowledgable you think you are at something, there's always room for some kind of improvement. I don't like to stay too comfortable in one position knowing that there's more I can do, just like how he had said with the crowd "it's better to be prepared with no opportunity than have an opportunity and not prepared." A lot of the time when I "practice for improvement" for something, its because I know it can help me reach an opportunity for something that can benefit me to be where I want to be.

Applying these two quotes to both my education and lifestyle will help me a lot for more confidence within myself in order to thrive!

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First quote: "Life is like a roller coaster, sometimes you're up, sometimes you're down."

I chose this quote because my life is the definition of a roller coaster. If I solve one problem, another one comes my way, and there is just always things happening. The best thing to do is just get through them, but I felt like I related to this quote.

Second quote: "Perfection doesn't exist"

I chose this quote because my mom always told me that nobody is perfect, and this society has created a stereotype that you have to look and act a certain way, and nobody is perfect, everyone makes mistakes.

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Quote 1. " The wealthiest place on the planet, is the graveyard".

Here Les is referring to the graveyard as the "wealthiest place on the planet" due to all of the ideas, dreams, and innovation that die with people, having never been brought into the world. This makes reanalyze all of the things I want to do for my community, and embrace them as real possibilities as opposed to shoving them aside, and taking them to the grave.

Quote 2. "I must make a commitment, to be happy right now, right now is all I got".

In this quote, Les is engaging the audience and having them make a promise to themselves to be happy any chance they get. To really look at their lives and appreciate the beauty in it. Having a positive and happy mindset will naturally make life more enjoyable and enhance your well being. This has made me think about life differently. Instead of being stressed over little stuff, and feeling sorry for myself when I compare my life to others, I must reevaluate my life and be thankful for all of my blessings. I will try to practice this on a regular basis, and make that commitment to happiness.

David French

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Quote #1: “You deserve to be happy. You deserve to live a life you are excited about, Don't let others make you forget that.” - Les Brown

This quote resonates allot to me because its a powerful reminder to always put your own physical, mental, and emotional well being first. It also reminds me to focus on what makes me happy, even when life gets tough. It's easy to get caught up in trying to please everyone else and forget about what I truly want!

Quote #2: “The biggest enemy you have to deal with is yourself.” - Les Brown

Now this quote stood out to me the most, because it sure is true. I've often found that my own doubts, mistakes, and insecurities have been the greatest obstacles in my path. It's a powerful realization that the biggest battles we face are often internal and within ourselves.

-Yareli Martinez

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1) "A lot of people become comfortable. They stop growing. They stop wanting anything. They become satisfied. They stop looking for ways to improve themselves."

I really loved this quote because it hit home. My life has been up and down and ive gone trough so many motivational eras in my life to push me to my limits and ive succeded. but sometimes you have to catch yourselfe once you start to fall of or get lazy and comfortable wherever your at in your life. so yes hes right. to improve yourselfe you need to be able to know if you can grow even more.

2) “That inner conversation is the reason most people take their ideas to the graveyard with them."

when he says the word "graveyard" im guessing its a mental state of overthinking and no confidence more of a pool of toughts that you hid away because of the idea that you cant do it or its too hard. many people overthink, many people are lazy, many people dont have confidence and i was one of those people. Dont dought yourselfe always think of yourselfe highly and have ALL the pride in the world for yourselfe. You have to love yourselfe and know whatever ideas or toughts you have are valuable and can work if you put your mind to it.

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"Whenever you decide you want to go to another level, you need to fasten your psychological, your mental, and your spiritual seatbelt because its going to be awhile before you experience a comfortable altitude." - Les Brown

This quote stood out to me because it is a unique metaphor to describe how facing hardships does not equate to failure and regression. The idea of not only expecting set backs and obstacles but also preparing for them when working towards a goal is important in order to achieve the goal and to not let the set backs deter you.

"If there is no enemy within, the enemy outside can do us no harm." - Les Brown

This is another quote that resonated with me along with his discussion on eliminating toxicity within your life and relationships in order to be successful. It spoke to me because I think it is crucial to eliminate self doubt or hate in order to be successful in any capacity. It also illustrates how when we do love ourselves, hurtful words from others do not have any effect on us.

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1. "The biggest enemy you have to deal with is yourself"

This quote resonated with me very strongly because I have seen myself for many years as the main cause of what slows me down from using my full potential. The fear of trying new things, of what others may say towards what I feel deeply about have always prevented me from moving forward with even looking for things to try and achieve. Even in general, we as humans have the tendency to have high standards directed to ourselves and on several occasions put ourselves down when we see someone or something we believe to be "better" than us and think to ourselves that we aren't good enough or as good as them. In most cases, no one but one's self is telling themselves that and the only person actually doing the harm is that person alone.

2. "Perfection doesn't exist, they need to take it out of the dictionary"

This was a quote that truly made me think for a second, because a very big part of my personality is being a strong perfectionist, and in more situations it has brought me down than helped me advanced. I would tend to focus on almost every little detail, even if it was not even important in the slightest. Even at my last job, my manager would get frustrated with me because I would spend too much time making everything perfect rather than time efficient. There were even several assignments I have turned in late because I was worried they weren't perfect enough to get a good grade. This quote helped remind me that sometimes perfection simply doesn't matter and can easily get in the way of progress.

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First quote: "Its better to be prepared for an opportunity and not have one, than to have an opportunity and not be prepared."

This quote really stuck with me because it reminds me that though I can't always control when I get a opportunity I can control my readiness and I can prepare myself for opportunities.

Second quote: "Don't let someone else's opinion become your reality."

This quote is an eye opener for me. So often I ask peoples opinion then allow it to effect my decision. Moving forward I will definitely think about this quote next time I find myself looking for advice.

Both of these quotes really motivate me to be accountable and look inward for my solutions . Also to constantly move forward by preparing myself for opportunities.

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Two quotes that really stood out to me from Les Brown’s You Deserve video were:

1. “You’ve got to decide to be bold.”
This one hit me because it’s a reminder that boldness isn’t something you wait around to feel,it’s something you choose. It made me think about the times I’ve played it safe or let fear hold me back. Being bold doesn’t mean not being scared, it means taking action despite fear. That mindset shift is powerful.

2. “If you know the why for living, you can endure almost anything... find out the reasons that will make you walk by faith and not by sight.”
This quote motivates me because it puts so much importance on purpose. When things get hard or overwhelming, it’s easy to want to quit. But when you have a strong "why," it gives you a reason to keep going. It’s like fuel. This quote reminded me to get clear on what motivates me not just academically, but in life.

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The first quote that stuck out to me was, “Better your best.” I resonate heavily with this idea because I see so many people say they have “plateaued,” when they really just stopped trying. If you are living, you have not truly pushed to your limits yet, so if you want it, keep pushing.

The second quote that stood out was, “start saying… …yes to your unfolding future.” I believe we all have interests and skills that play a role in what we CAN and SHOULD choose as careers. As we watch this future unfold, we must take an active position and guide our life in the most beneficial direction.

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"Align yourself with people that you can learn from, people who want more out of life, people who are stretching and searching and seeking some higher ground in life."

What I love about this quote is that whether it is a matter of work environment, family, or friends, it has an effect. If you put a rotten apple in a bowl with fresh apples, they will soon all be rotten. I am also a firm believer in the quote, "Show me your friends and I will show you who you are." Which also very much resides with me.