GA 086 | How to Challenge Adversity with Matthew Jeffers

You're listening to episode 86 with Matthew Jeffers. Welcome to the Gemba Academy Podcast, the show that's focused on helping individuals and companies achieve breakthrough results using the same continuous improvement principles leveraged by companies such as Toyota Del Monte and the U.S. department of Defense. And now, here's your host, Ron Pereira. Hey there. This is Ron Pereira with Gemba Academy, and I'd like to welcome you to another edition of the Gemba Academy Podcast. As always, thanks. Thank you so much for taking time out of your day and your week to listen to the show and for watching our Lean and Six Sigma training videos over@gemba academy.com. now then, this episode is being released on Thanksgiving Day here in the US So on behalf of the entire Gemba Academy team, I'd like to wish everyone that celebrates this holiday a very happy, safe and blessed Thanksgiving. Now, I, for one, feel extremely thankful for everyone that listens to this show and supports the work we do over at Gemba Academy. Now then, today's episode is going to be a bit shorter than usual, but it's an episode that I'd really encourage you to share with your friends and loved ones, since it really hits home on an important message I believe everyone, including your children, if you have them, should hear, especially on Thanksgiving. Now, this message is delivered by a man named Matthew Jeffers, and he delivers a message to his favorite American football team, who actually found themselves in a terrible losing streak when he recorded this. Now, I first came across this video as a result of my good friend Paul Akers, who links to this video and his email signature. So if you're listening, thank you, Paul, for constantly inspiring me and everyone that you come in contact with. Now we're going to link to the actual YouTube video in the show notes for this episode, which can be found over@gembapodcast.com just look for episode 86, which you'll find towards the top of the page. Again, that's GembaPodcast.com and look for episode 86. So with that, I'd like to present Matthew Jeffers and his message that the only disability in life is a bad attitude.

Now, the Ravens. Heading into their Week 16 matchup against the Giants, the Ravens had lost three games in a row, including a drubbing at home to the Broncos the week before. While they still controlled their own destiny, the Ravens were mired in a slump. Well, you know what? That Friday, an email crossed coach John Harbaugh's desk. Titled A Reason to Win. The email was from a fan. His name, Matthew Jeffers, a 21 year old acting student at Towson State University who happens to suffer from skeletal dysplasia. Harbaugh was so moved by this email, he passed it along to his team here. In his own words, Matthew Jefferson gives the Ravens a reason to win.

To whom it may concern, my name is Matthew Jeffers. I'm a senior at Towson University majoring in acting and I've been a die hard Ravens fan since Baltimore welcomed you with open arms in 1996.

He sends us a letter and usually I don't get these letters, but you can send emails here at the Ravens and frankly he screened most of those. But this was one I read and it just knocked me off my feet.

As you the Ravens continue to battle through tough losses and heated criticism, the conversation has to shift to what needs to be done to get off this losing streak in time for the playoffs.

It sucks to lose three or four straight games. We took that on the chin. We were not happy about it because nobody likes losing.

Let me let you in on a little secret. Life doesn't care about streaks. It does not care if you want to win, if you need to win. At the end of the day, life is simply unfair. I'm short statured, I'm 21 years old, but stand only at 4 foot 2. Over my lifetime, I have endured 20 surgeries, some small, others life threatening. I have had a tracheotomy, I have had blood transfusions. I had to learn how to walk again. My last surgery was in 2003 and I acquired the naive mindset that I was free from the bondage of heartache.

When you read the letter, it just, it draws you in. We sent it to our guys and our guys just, man, just.

I couldn't.

I get emails back right away. This is great. This is awesome. This is unbelievable.

Anytime you hear about somebody's story like that, it's just, you know, heart wrenching for me because I've been through a lot of adversity and I would consider myself a tough guy.

Then in 2011, my mother was diagnosed with a stage 4 brain tumor. As I write this, the doctors at Johns Hopkins are determining whether or not the next step should be hospice care. So you tell me, is life fair when you give every ounce you have and all you have to show for it is a loss in overtime? Is that fair?

And he hits you right between the eyes with the realities that life does not care about feeling sorry for yourself, about self pity. What it does respond to is a positive attitude.

Let me tell you this. The only disability in life is a bad attitude. The only disability in life is a bad attitude. A positive attitude is the most powerful combatant to life's misfortunes. The will to fight, the will to survive, to win.

I repeat, the only disability in life is a bad attitude. Life is your attitude, how you approach whatever. Whatever happens to you. And I tell you, I get choked up talking about it right now.

I think about these stories and it pushes me over the top to work harder, to not complain, to realize that I'm blessed to be where I'm at.

When you play on Sunday, let it not be to silence the critics. Let it be a dedication to that simple yet powerful notion that life can be conquered with the right outlet. I promise you that everything else will take care of itself. Go get him on Sunday. I wish you all the best on your journey to of a Lombardi.

The only disability in life is a bad attitude. I like that. Matthew and his father will be in New Orleans to watch their Ravens play for that Lombardi trophy.