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I've got a good friend named Joe Martin who lives in Tallahassee, Florida. Joe and I first met not too long ago when we were speaking at the same conference. When I first met Joe, there was something that I immediately liked about him. However, I couldn't quite determine what it was. After the presentations, I invited him to dinner. I figured we would spend an hour eating and talking. The more Joe talked, the more I wanted to listen and find out more about him. Intrigued by stories of people who have overcome tremendous obstacles in order to create a successful life. What Joe had to overcome amazed me.
Joe grew up in Liberty City in Miami, FL which is one of the worst inner city ghettos in the United States. He said, “James, you would not believe some of the things I saw growing up as a teenager such as drugs, prostitution and people killing people.” Joe said that one time he called his mother on the telephone, but he could not hear her because of a lot of loud noise in the background, which he thought was coming from the television. So he asked his mother if she would turn the volume down. She responded by saying that she did not have on the television. With amazement, Joe asked, “Well, what’s all that noise in the background?” Shockingly, Joe’s mother responded, “Oh, people are just out back shooting at each other!”
Joe said that when he heard this he immediately new he had to do something to help get his mother, his sister and himself out of that ghetto, or he knew they could be killed. So he changed his attitude and decided to make a commitment to educate himself. Joe said, “It was not a big change; I just changed my attitude and looked at myself and my future differently.” When Joe did that he found out that his grades in school improved. They improved enough to get him through high school and into college.
In college, Joe continued to keep his attitude tuned into the right station, and, as a result, his grades and overall success improved tremendously. As a matter of fact, he went on to graduate with a 3.8 grade point average (GPA) and status as the top student in his class. Joe then went on to become the youngest person in the history of the state of Florida to become a college professor. He accomplished it by age 24. Currently, Joe’s a professor at the University of West Florida in Pensacola, FL where he inspires students to overcome challenges and pursue their purpose by teaching them his core life philosophy:
“It does not matter where you start in life. It matters where you decide to finish.” -Joe Martin
Today Joe Martin is among the most requested motivational speakers in the educational system. He's successful, ambitious, as well as brilliant. He's among the best role models for young adults who live in conditions that are less than favorable. He's a living model of showing people that although you can't change your past, you could make your own future.
“Sometimes the best fighting position is on your knees; we call it prayer - the ultimate in hand to hand combat.” -Joe Martin
James Malinchak, Highlighted on ABC’s Hit TV Program Secret Millionaire, is regarded as by a lot of industry experts as the World’s #1 Big Money Speaker Coach and Trainer. For Totally free Video Trainings on how to get money to speak and the ways to turn into a presentation skills training, visit www.BigMoneySpeaker.com.
