I did it my way! Investing in people and acts of kindness. | Jon Absey | TEDxFargo

TL;DR

From mascot to success through innovation, perseverance, and recognizing personal priorities.

Transcript

how youall doing everybody's good um thanks for having me out I'll tell you what this is the craziest thing because I was used to I was just telling somebody in the back I'm used to entertaining 20,000 people all the time and I was like this is nothing I'm nervous as hell right now like they literally brought in a mime for 25 years to talk I just t... Read More

Key Insights

• 😫 Innovation and uniqueness set the speaker apart in their career as a mascot.
• 🥺 Overcoming fear and stepping out of comfort zones led to unexpected opportunities.
• 🖐️ Support from others played a significant role in the speaker's success as a mascot.
• 👪 Personal priorities and the importance of balancing career success with family life were emphasized.
• 🤩 Continuous evolution and pushing boundaries were key to the speaker's professional growth.
• ❓ Recognizing failures and learning from them is essential for personal and professional development.
• 🔇 The speaker's journey showcases the importance of perseverance and determination in achieving success.

Questions & Answers

Q: How did the speaker's upbringing on a farm prepare them for their career as a mascot?

The speaker mentioned that their childhood on a farm in Minnesota involved climbing trees and houses, which inadvertently trained them for physical stunts as a mascot.

Q: What led the speaker to deviate from emulating popular mascots and focus on innovation?

The speaker realized that copying other successful mascots was limiting their own success, prompting a shift towards creating unique stunts and performances.

Q: How did the speaker deal with injuries sustained from performing stunts as a mascot?

The speaker humorously mentioned having undergone 13 surgeries due to injuries sustained while performing stunts but continued pushing boundaries in their performances.

Q: What did the speaker identify as their biggest success and failure in their career as a mascot?

The speaker acknowledged that their biggest success was driven by the collective efforts of those around them, while their biggest failure was neglecting their family due to career demands.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The speaker shares their journey from a farm in Minnesota to becoming a successful mascot.

• Started with unconventional stunts not emulating popular mascots, leading to an award-winning career.

• Despite success, the speaker considers their biggest failure was neglecting family for career success.