о 43-min Video of Kevin speaking @ March 2008 KY Youth event:
девочка с ЛД пересказала видюху, я на всякий слу отпостю:
@ 4:30 Beginning remarks:
"Success is not measured by what you accomplished, but by the opposition that you encountered
and the courage that you maintainted in the struggle against overwhelming odds"
"The only place you will find 'success' before 'work' is in the dictionary"
He started out but his talk's theme was what success means to him: maintaining a healthy body, giving or receiving love, being able to earn a living doing something you enjoy. If you can you maintain those things throughout your life I would feel I was a success. The then uses instances in his life a stepping stones to his goals.
@10:30 talks about growing up at Cathedral Domain and the chores he did. Gave him access to a piano, where he learne to play songs at the radio.
Parents had musical roots: mother sang a church, they sang Christmas carols as a family
@ 13:08 talks playing high school football. How there were times he didn't feel like playing. Talked to his Dad about leaving the team, but didn't want to be considered a quitter
"Son I love you either way, whatever you decide... but whenever you start something, you should always finish it."
He went back and finished out the season, but skipped playing the next year.
The year after there was a change in coaching and he went back and played.
@19:00 Even though he did enjoy football, he didn't want to spend his whole (sports) career following in his brother's footsteps, which led to him joining the school choral groups
He took part in one musical, enjoyed his one part, and went back for more. Decided to make it his career. How to proceed?
@20:45 After graduating high school, he did some odd jobs (fry cook, salesman for a landscaping company. He had also played piano at a restaurant a few times
"Son you don't have any responsibilites. Why don't you just take off and go see what's out there?"
He and a friend drove down to Florida to try out the opportunities for entertainers in the amusement parks and cruise industry there.
(Goal: Make a career as an entertainment Plan:Move down to Florida where the opportunities were.)
Started as a tour operator because entertainers had already been hired for the summer.
Did some temp jobs to pay for rent and food before they were hired at Disney.
Eventually got a job as costumed character at Disney/MGM. He as a Ninja Turtle and Tigger. Enjoyed his character's popularity had with children.
@31:45 His mom calls him to tell him his Dad has cancer. Kevin knew he had had a procedure done, but didn't know the details. Found out his dad was doing chemo, and wasn't doing well. Kevin took a week off from work to go home to Kentucky. His father, who had been bedridden for weeks, got up and greeted him at the door.
Returns briefly to Florida, tell his bosses he needs to help take care of his Dad. Returns to Kentucky.
@34:45 His family starts over again after his father's death. Left Cathedral Domain (they had lived there while his father was the caretaker). He got a job delivering office furniture in the area to stay close to his family. After a year, he felt he and his mom were ready for him to resume his career. He goes back to Orlando
@36:45 He meets Kristin when he returns to Florida
("Following your heart": he felt a need to go back to Florida after his father's death)
Goes back to work at Disney as a costume character. Didn't get a job as a singer ("Your voice is too contemporary/pop. We need a voice that sounds like Broadway").
Continues working as a costume character but also gets a job at night performing at a dinner theater.
@39:30 Kristin leaves to take a job with a cruise ship. He missed her while she was away for 7 months.
@ 40:25 He sees a notice for temporary performers at a convention. He took the job. During a break, he noticed a lady sitting alone at a table, started a conversation with her about his career goals.
"You know what? My husband works for a very wealthy man who is starting his own label. And he has a singing group and they are not happy with one of the guys. You might be perfect." He submitted a photo and resume.
Met with the husband and the record label guy and wound up joining the group. *Applause*
@43:16 Had success he dreamed of, but had never expected would come true.
"I have 3 blood brother, but 4 other brothers"
Travelled to 23 countries, played Rupp Areana, sang the National Anthem with the group at the Superbowl, and by himself at the Outback Bowl when the Kentucky Wildcats played there in 2000 or 2001.
One of his other dreams came true recently when he became a father *applause*
"I believe that dreams do come true. And I believe anything is possible.... I am just a country boy from Kentucky....And if my dreams can come true, yours can come true."
Ends with quoting a saying he saw in his brother Jerald's office:
"Press on".
Nothing in the world can take the place of Persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsucessful men with Talent.
Genius will not; 'urewarded genius' is almost a proverb.
Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts.
Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.
@46:34 Thanks the audience for inviting him and for listening to him.
@47:10 end of clip