Game Changer Speaker Bootcamp Talks

Hey, hey, hey, welcome, welcome, welcome to the Game Changer Public Speaking Bootcamp Talks. How's everybody doing? How's everybody doing?

Let's go. Feeling good.

Listen, those who are watching online, whether it's YouTube, LinkedIn, or Facebook, listen, we just want to invite you in. We're excited and grateful to be even in this space. Space. And so I, I'm going to introduce you to, uh, several game changers, uh, leaders, uh, public speakers and professional speakers to become. And they are on a journey, and just like myself, who have been on a journey and still on the journey, because there's so much to learn about speaking. And it is one of those skills that if you get it if you really get it and lean into it, you are going to become an even more effective leader, uh, speaker, uh, just communicator at large. And, and that crosses so many different lanes. Uh, for me, it's being a better husband, a better father, so that I can communicate effectively, a better leader in church, let a better leader in my community. And so, um, even I'm now serving on a new leadership role within the Black Speakers Association as a program chair. And so I need to be able to communicate even more effectively because when I do that, my team can lead and do their parts well. And then it just benefits everybody who is connected to us. And so if you're watching now, please go ahead and share this, this link as we're going to be getting started with the The speaker talks, and just going to give each one of these speakers 5 minutes to talk about their story, their speech, their talk. And before we get started, listen, I want to welcome Marcus, Zion, Kyle, my brothers. And I want you all to just briefly— we can start with you, Marcus. Like, what was your experience like with the Game Changer Public Speaker Boot Camp? Just real quick, 30 seconds on the clock.

Uh, 30, 30 sec, we'll take the full timeout. Uh, no, it was, it was great. Uh, really the way that I'm looking at it is you think about going to the gym, you think about going to the gym, you think about the workout. At the end of the day, you just gotta get your butt to the gym. Once you drive there, you'll probably walk in, you'll probably pick up some weights, and I think that's what we did. So just Taking that step kind of reignited me, uh, being in that like-minded community with my brothers, man. It was great.

That's awesome, awesome. Uh, Kyle, what you got? What you got?

Um, man, uh, really, uh, coming in and leaning into the boot camp with, um, a lot of open-minded, being curious, right? Um, stepping into, um, uncomfortable spaces that, um, I was always uncomfortable to step into to due to some, um, you know, uh, things that, uh, I thought I lacked, um, you know, in my past time. And so being able to be in this program, it stretched me, um, into the ways that I needed to be stretched. And so I'm excited, and it really, um, allowed me to build confidence to where I want to take this, um, journey.

That's awesome.

That's awesome. Don't be trying to go into your dip, brother. Like, we ain't even there yet. We trying to go into your dip. Zion, what you got? What you got?

Um, you know, the boot camp really, if anything, taught me to move with intentionality, right? Um, whether it is speaking, whether it is, you know, making moves, whether it is the partnerships I create, the relationships I have, the wherever I go, you know, in my career endeavors, um, it all is about intentionality. And so it really related to, like you said, every area of my life, from husbanddom to fatherhood to all the things in between. It, it, it taught me how to move with intentionality.

That's awesome. That's awesome. And so folks, listen, it's not just coming from my mouth, it's coming from other people's mouth as far as their experience with the, the Game Changer Public Speaker Boot Camp. And so, um, with that said, before we jump in and listen, we want to invite you to the next one, uh, that is actually going to be taking place on November 22nd. This year. So we added an additional one. So you definitely want to get it locked in because seats are limited, just because I want to keep it smaller size so that way we can work through many different activities. And so it doesn't feel rushed. But, you know, we want you to get the necessary skills to be able to come up with your— and craft your own speech. Yes, you will be put on the spot at times. You know, the fellows, along with a few ladies that are there, you know, I think they, they had to sell something. Like, you know, uh, was any of y'all shocked about what you had to sell, the product that you had to sell in the moment?

Definitely, definitely.

Everybody off guard.

And, and I think for me, I think for me the other thing was seeing other people's and like, man, I could, I could have sold that, but I can't.

Yeah, well, you're not in the hot seat. Were you not in the gross seat? Yeah, you could have.

Easy to play armchair quarterback.

That part, for sure.

For sure.

Yeah, that's awesome. But listen, we want to invite you to it so that way you can, you know, get the skills that you need to become an even more effective communicator. And that's what it's truly about. Nothing more, nothing less. And so the fellows I have here today, you know, they have different aspirations as it relates to you know, why they wanted to get into more or why they wanted to sharpen their tools of communication better, even better. And so what was your reasoning for jumping into the Speaker Bootcamp?

I can really say for me, I've always known that, uh, you know, speaking, uh, has always been a, you know, an impact, um, in people's lives. And, uh, you know, just my story, um, just alone, um, and talking about my story was something that, um, I was, you know, just wanting people to hear because not everybody, you know, everybody, uh, some people might have a similar, similar story, um, and, you know, they're not able to speak about it. And so for me, it was like, you know, I want to be able be able to speak about my story, but speak it effectively and impactfully. So that's what really pushed me to sharpen that area. Speaking.

That's awesome. That's awesome.

I would say, for me and where I'm at, I'm a little bit older than some of these young cats right here that I'm looking at. But really, you know, life, life will take you in different directions. And I looked at it as just stacking a brick. It's a step to take and it needed to be taken. And there's really nothing else to it, right? You start to get to that point where you think about it and you're like, man, Speaker Bootcamp on a Saturday, man, that weather was beautiful too. We're looking out there, you had all glass windows. Shining, and, uh, you just go, man, I don't know, it's making me feel a little bit uncomfortable. And then that, that other guy on your shoulder goes, that's the feeling, that's why you should go.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, that's what's up. Zion, any, any, anything else?

I mean, you know, Marcus kind of hit the nail on the head, I think. Uh, also, you know, I'm, I'm realizing in every area that I'm in, um, it's going to come a time where speaking is the thing, right? Whether that be presenting something to someone, training someone on something, demonstrating something, whatever that looks like. And going to my previous point, you know, just really having the confidence and intentionality that what you're saying can convey the very message that you want to convey. There's no, you know, questions. And I think to just really having that confidence was something that I really, you know, was gleaning from needing, you know, from the bootcamp. And so I think, you know, just having the ability to, you know, I kind of know what to do as far as like with my words, if you will, but then in the same time, like really just knowing the right spaces to use them in, the confidence to have when you use those words, and then how to really just show up in the room.

So yeah, that's awesome. That's awesome. Well, listen, listen, I think it's showtime. I think the people have heard enough. I think the audience has heard enough about the Speaker Bootcamp. It's about you all. And so, audience, if you're watching, I definitely want you to watch, even evaluate. You know, we're looking for clarity, we're looking for being able to visualize yourself being a part of this, this talk that each of them will be going through. Um, can you see yourself a part of each of these talks? Um, and here's the thing, we want you to share these messages because, uh, they're not just for us and just for this moment. I believe there's a message that each of them is going to tell about themselves that is going to resonate with, um, it may not be you, but it may be somebody else. And so, uh, feel free to share again, share the link, uh, to these talks. And so, uh, this is Showtime, The Game Changer Public Speaker Bootcamp Talks. And so I challenged the entire class to go live in this event style to be able to deliver their talk that they crafted in session. And it's been a few weeks since we've crafted it and we've done it in session. And so I'm excited to see what happens from here. Um, and then we'll go from there. But, uh, we'll do the virtual claps and then we'll go from there. But first up, we have Kyle Barrett, and Kyle's gonna just share with us, uh, we're— listen, we're putting 5 minutes on the clock. You know what, let me, let me pull my, my account because here's the thing, I'm putting it— I'm making sure, I'm making sure that these young men are becoming great speakers. And great speakers, whether professional or public, we make sure we stay on time. Okay, we make sure that we stay on time. Because I don't know about you, but I have been in stages and places where people went over their time. And I only had a very limited amount of time to be able to deliver impact. Impact still went forth. However, we need to respect each other's time because you may feel like, I got to get it out, I got to get it out. Well, you should have put it earlier in your speech. Okay, we got to make sure that we respect other speakers and their time. And so this is what I want to instill in anybody who works with me, is that we stay on time. And I've seen that done in church too. We can't do that in church. On professional stages, note on time, especially if you got multiple people speaking. So, all right, enough of that. That was my rant, my run. Kyle, welcome to the stage.

Alrighty, uh, I want to say first, good afternoon, um, everyone that has joined this live. Um, I also want to take the announcement to, uh, say thank you to Mr. Kenston Henderson CSP EPIC Experiences once again for this opportunity. I'm truly blessed to be in this position. Um, but I want to get started with just, uh, of course, uh, my name is Kyle Barrett. And, you know, I— like he said, I'm not here to take up all you guys' time in this Saturday afternoon. It's beautiful outside. But I just really want to, uh, discuss to you guys and talk to you guys about how, you know, my life specifically moved from struggle to living in purpose, right? And so, you know, um, I want to do a quick little activity on this stream. Um, I know, like I said, everybody can't see me, but I just want you guys to take a quick moment to be able to think about just the previous, um, times of your struggles, right? Your past struggles in your life, right? And now, as you guys are thinking about your previous struggles, um, I want you guys to also take a moment to think about how you guys may have felt in those times of struggle, okay? And so, you know, um, just for that, right, I, I come up with this question I want you guys to answer now, uh, you know, individually, right? Um, I want you guys to ask yourself, the struggles that you guys have faced, were they all for nothing, or did they push you to the path of purpose, right? And that's something that I want you guys to just think about, um, and take a moment to, as I even talk But today I come to you guys here as an educational leader. I'm speak to you guys as an educational leader, but also someone who has walked the road of struggle, right? Resilience and growth. And now I'm speaking to you proudly as a first-time generational college graduate holding a bachelor's and a master's degree. And now I'm stepped into a new journey of being a first-time um, author, um, in my life. And so a lot of great things that I've been able to, uh, accomplish, um, now. But, um, as I tell you guys, it was not easy, right? The road was not easy. Um, being the first in my family to pursue higher education came with a share of challenges, um, but, um, and with no clear direction, right? And with that, there were moments where I felt lost, right? I was overwhelmed, um, and I was unsure what to do next, right? On top of that, you know, I experienced firsthand, um, just what depression and anxiety, uh, really looked like in my life. And, you know, that even brought the question of, can I keep going, right? Can I keep doing this? And, um, but You know, in those darkest moments, something in me, right, something, it was something that allowed me to not give up, right? And that resilience became the foundation of my growth, right? I'm here today due to the resilience of what I was facing. And now, you know, I look at it and step by step, I push through those fears, the doubts, and the pressure. And because of that, right, I'm able to stand here today, not just as someone who has all the answers, but someone who also chose not to quit. Right? And now I have the privilege to be able to speak and travel around and talk to students and others who feel like their dreams are out of reach, you know, and I want you guys to know this, as I had to know this throughout my time of the challenges is You can be the first, right? You could be the first in your family to graduate, the first to break generational patterns, right? The first to chase something bigger than survival, the first to even believe in yourself when it's even hard. I'm living proof of that today, um, and it's not where you start and it doesn't determine where you finish, right? Where you start doesn't determine where you finish. And, you know, your story matters and your dreams matter. And even when it feels impossible, I encourage you guys to keep going. I want to leave this statement with you guys before I log off or just, um, stop speaking, is you're capable, you're worthy, and your journey is far from over. So, you know, I want to say thank you for this time and this opportunity, and, uh, Looking forward to hearing everybody else's journey.

Let's go, let's go, Lizzy! You had, you had 3 seconds left.

Let's go!

Okay, there we go.

That's it, man. That was, that was awesome, bro. That was, that was definitely— you've been working on it. That's what I love to see. You was working on it. I like it, I like Okay, how you feel, man?

I feel, I feel good. I feel good. Uh, I just, you know, like I said, this journey has allowed me to even be more intentional in the way how I, uh, just daily speak or being intentional with, you know. So it, it felt good to be able to, you know, look at the things that I needed to correct and work on and, and practice it and to be able to get to this point and maybe confident because I found my niche and my strategy to be able to perfect how I speak. So, um, very thankful for that.

Let's go. All right, next up, Zion Brooks. Let's get it.

What's going on, everybody? Um, before I get started, I just want us to do something. It's gonna be a little bit different, um, but I want us to do something. I want us to take a second. Everyone just completely be still, and for the next 6 seconds or so, we're gonna just breathe. So everybody just breathe in one time and breathe out. I want to have a conversation with you, um, and I want to just be honest with you, if I, if I may. Um, there are some of us who had to grow up a lot faster than we ever should have, right? Um, the ones who had to be strong before we felt ready, or who learned to survive before we got the chance to just be kids, or, you know, all the things in between. What If I were to pose a question, I would ask, what happens when you're expected to be someone or something that you never got to see? If you came across me today, you might think I've got it all together. You know, I'm a husband, I'm a father, I've— I have history of working in program management, project management, you know, mostly with young people, nonprofits. Um, I have a couple of brands and businesses myself. Myself, um, whether it's the Noisemaker brand or, uh, Zion's Closet, you know, both are rooted in helping young men, men, uh, show up with confidence, purpose, and clarity in how they carry themselves. Um, not just in how they carry themselves, but also how they see themselves. And I'm totally proud of that. But what you wouldn't see just by looking at me is that version of me and where I came from. Because none of it came easy. I was raised in a single-parent household and we moved a lot. Uh, it just, you know, every move felt like we were just starting over and over. I didn't really have any consistent male role models. I didn't have a blueprint of what manhood, fatherhood, uh, the, the kingdom of husbanddom— none of that. I had no model for what that looked like. And, and so even in my adult stage, I now have the question of, well, who really taught me to be me? There was no guide for how to be a father, no example on how to be a husband, no instruction on just simply how to lead. Yet I was expected, and even now expected, to figure it all out. How does one build a foundation when no one hands you the blueprints? There's a weight that comes with trying to become something you've never seen, uh, and a pressure to build from scratch what others have inherited. And then in my adult life, you know, um, as I said, I'm married, and my wife and I experienced a really heartbreaking moment June 4th, 2024. We experienced a pain that we didn't know, uh, could reach as deep as it did, and is what we like to call a stillbirth. Uh, it was hard. It was a redefining moment. It wasn't just grief. It was something that would change and shift our lives forever. It was in that moment that everything that I thought I could push through, I could not. Everything I believed I could carry, I dropped. And for the first time, I realized something that I never let myself admit that I couldn't do this alone. I needed people. I needed community. I needed support. Not because I was weak, but because I was shattered. You know, and now in that low place, in that silence and that sadness, I discovered something that shifted everything. My story, especially the parts that I wanted to hide, is the very thing someone else might need. The very same pain that made me feel disqualified was actually the beginning of something more powerful than I ever could have imagined. So I ask you the questions: what part of your story did you have to silence just to survive? But I want to share with you something that I've learned. The things that we try to bury are the very things that God wants us to use. I no longer speak just to be heard. I speak with intentionality. Because now I know that my voice is connected to someone else's breakthrough. My pain is the bridge to someone else's peace. So I leave you with this question: what if your story is someone else's survival guide? And as far as my assignment is concerned, it's directly tied to the people I used to try to avoid, avoid by staying silent. Thank you.

Let's go! Great job, great job. Listen, that's, that's, that's more growth, more growth. How you feel?

I'm good. I was a little nervous, but I'm good, I'm good. Yeah, the more I think, the more that, you know, we do these things, um, it really, it really helps practice, you know. Being on different stages, being able to relate to all, young or old. And so, you know, it's that nervousness that keeps me, you know, going.

Yeah, yeah.

And listen, we always say nerves is good. It just lets you know how much, you know, you've prepared and you desire impact, right? If you don't desire to be impactful, you may not get those, those nerves. But we want impact. And so that was great, great way sharing your story. And thanks for sharing your story with not just us but in the entire world. Y'all realize we live now? Y'all realize we live? And, and it's a whole audience that will, will see these videos, um, now and then, even in the future. And but you all have been, uh, are being brave. And so, um, yeah, I'm excited. And like you said, different stages, it just, it just brings different different energy and different nerves. And so we got to expose ourselves to these different stages and places. I'm going to say something before Marcus kicks this thing off is, is that, you know, you know, Tierra, she's speaking more and more and she's realizing again, going into different spaces, whether speaking to youth, whether speaking to adults, there's a difference.. And so I know when I do the professional speaker boot camp, that's where the differences are going to lie in, is that I'mma have y'all do the stories as if you're talking to youth, as if you're talking to teenagers, as if you're talking to college students, as if you're talking to corporate adults. Because this is where we get really, really good in fine-tuning us becoming not just public speakers, but professional speakers. So that's just, it's just levels of where we're able to switch, we're able to customize in the moment of who our audience is. So that way we can deliver the most impact. So again, great job, Zion. Next up, we got Marcus Parks. Let's get it, brother.

Let's go. First of all, I just want to thank all of you. You know, we're in our tiny little Game Changer bubble right here, so we can just see the four of us. But to all of those that joined, kind of like Kyle said, thank you so much for giving up some time on your Saturday to help us become better and move our careers forward a little bit. I also want to thank Kenston Henderson CSP EPIC Experiences Galactic. In a short period of time, You have helped me with so much growth. So, so thank you for that as well. And then Kyle and Zion, to get on with me and to do this as brothers and brothers trying to be better as men, trying to be better. Thank you to you guys. So I wish I could see some of the faces out there because what I'm imagining in whatever stage of life that you're in, I bet life has gone exactly how you all have expected it to. Maybe not. Well, if not, then my story might resonate with you because this, this is a story kind of all about how my life got flipped, turned upside down. And I'd like to take a minute, just sit right there. I'll tell you how I became the prince of a town called Bel-Air. I just wanted to have a little bit of fun with you guys. I'm probably showing my age again, way older than Kyle, way older than Zion. But yes, I'm an '80s baby, '90s kid, not born and raised in West Philadelphia but Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. And then I made my way out to, uh, Ohio, uh, by playing football at Bowling Green State University. Moved out to Columbus in 2011. And you know, life's a journey. Uh, I, I'm actually kind of watching, uh, some different things right now because my wife is doing Peloton, but that is one of my favorite things right now is saying that I am not just married, but I'm a happily married man. I have 2 kids, crazy ends of the spectrum, a 17-year-old daughter, and then I have a 3-year-old son. So it has been a wild ride. I'm not much for titles. I would much prefer you to just think of me as a coach. That's, that's my favorite title. Uh, but I guess I had to put something on LinkedIn, and it does say that I'm a senior sales director for, uh, Exact Medicare. It's a company that was founded in 2022, and believe it or not, I was the 8th person to ever be hired, 8th person ever walked through those doors. And, uh, I think I'm going to set a record at this company because no one has ever gotten more promotions than I have. I think I'm up to 6, but it's been moving fast.. And I'm just, I'm in a really good season. I'm going to be 40 next year and I'm starting to hit my stride, but that was not always the case. It didn't always feel this way. It felt, it felt rigid. It felt just difficult. And I am somebody that I have had a lot of jobs and, you know, I'm trying to bring the energy, but, you know, when I think about my past, it's It's definitely something that's a little bit embarrassing. It's definitely discouraging. You know, it was one of those things where you run into friends and it's just like, oh, I heard you got a new job. I heard you're doing this now. Guys, I was a stream monitor. I did ADT security. I worked selling plots at a cemetery. I— anything that you can think of, I have done it. And then I put my foot in the ground. Whenever I had met my wife, and I'm not sure if a lot of you have felt this way before, you're like, it's time to do something for myself. And that's when I put my foot in the ground. I went back and I got my master's in special education. I had, you know, kind of bounced around doing different jobs and I was like, you know, I'm finally going to do this for me. 2 years of getting my master's and then student teaching, I became a teacher at Westerville South. And, ah man, my first 2 years I thought I was gonna ride off into the sunset. I'm coming home telling my wife how amazing it is. I'm going to volleyball games. I'm walking in the gym and they're like, "Let's go, Coach Park!" Like, I literally was, guys, I was on cloud nine. And then COVID happened, really switched up a lot of things. And I kind of fell out of love with it because the kids didn't have that same energy. It was a low moment when I came home one evening and my daughter had kind of said to my wife, "What's wrong with my dad?" And that was very hard to hear. Fast forward to now, I wish I could go back and put my hand on my shoulder in that moment and have said to myself, "You are exactly where you need to be. All of that pain, all of that struggle is going to lead you to where you need to be." And so I'll leave you with this. Every thought that I have ever had has led me to this exact moment. Every word that I have ever spoken has led me to this exact moment. And every action that I have taken or not taken has led me to this exact moment. Really, at the end of the day, I am just so thankful that you all are choosing to share in this moment. With me. Thank you guys so much. And again, my name is Marcus Parks, but you can call me Coach.

Ah, let's go, let's go!

I'm up here.

Come on now, come on now.

We're here. He wants to come. He was being patient, but now he wants to come say hi. Look at this guy. Can you say what's up, everybody?

Say hi.

All right, we're gonna make another game changer after this. He's, he's gonna be a game changer. He's gonna be a game changer. Yes, it is.

And because again, you taking these necessary steps, he's gonna be looking to you. So yeah, no, proud of you, proud of you. And again, much growth, um, from, uh, a few weeks ago to even, uh, current day. And so Thank you. Thank you. And thank you all for receiving the feedback that I even given. I was able to give to you all because again, it's just about sharpening and, and just remolding so that way your story becomes even more impactful. And so I already know that those who are watching now and those who will be watching later, they are going to really feel one, but also get something from each of your stories. That will add value to their lives. And that's, that's what I'm in the business for, is, is adding great value to people's lives. Not just talking just to be talking, like Zion said. I ain't just talking to be talking. I'm talking for impact. And, and I believe all three of you definitely are wanting to do just that. And so great job, y'all. Listen, I hope y'all proud of yourselves because I'm proud of y'all because Y'all, y'all listen, y'all, here's the thing. Y'all, one, you showed up. And number two, you did what you had to do and you made it happen. And three, took this challenge on. And that's really what it's about when just talking about public speaking. It's still about you speaking up because you have something to say. And that's whether it's in a workplace, whether it's in a presentation, or whether it's on stage. It truly is about honing in on your craft. So Thank you all for accepting this challenge. Like, I think I got another one in play, but, um, um, I'll let you know when it— when it happens. So, I mean, because we're gonna see. I— my desire, I told y'all, is to put you in situations that will bring greatness out of you, um, and it really is about getting those reps. So y'all enjoy it.

Yes, thank you. Absolutely. Up for the challenge, man.

Yes, appreciate you so much.

Yes, sir.

All right, all right, so let's, let's get in our cars and go to Easton. We're gonna stand in the middle of the food court and then we're gonna do this all over again. Y'all ready?

That's funny.

So when I said I was up for the challenge, I meant next week. I didn't—

yeah, right now? Not right now. Okay. Cool. Got you. Got you. All right. Well, listen, thank you, folks who are listening in and joined us. But this is a part of, you know, becoming a better speaker, better communicator, is by saying yes, even when it's uncomfortable, because we're leaning in. And last time we checked, change is uncomfortable, but it's necessary for growth. So I'll leave you with those words. And those who want to get in on the Game Changer Public Speaker Boot Camp, we're having another one November 22nd. And, uh, you're right, be there.

You gotta do it. You got to.

Thank you. Thank you. Tell them, let them know, because we, we ain't playing out here. Like, if you want to become a better speaker, then let's make it happen together. You don't have to do it alone, because if you're doing it alone, you're doing it all wrong. So let's get it. All right, fellas, uh, we're gonna end this live stream. Stay on for a little bit. And then we'll go from there.