It’s Oct 11, 2001. I’m a senior in college and an
All-American athlete. It’s the night before a football
game. My Dad’s my biggest fan, my greatest ally and
together we’re dreaming of me playing pro football.
Life feels great. And then, I get an unexpected call
from my sister:
Lewis, an SUV went over Dad’s car. The bumper smashed through the window
and split his head open. He’s in a coma. He might not make it through the night.
Growing up in the small town of Delaware, Ohio,
I overcame feeling dumb, feeling lonely, and being
bullied for being in special needs classes by dedicating
myself to becoming the best athlete I could be.
By my side the whole way was my dad supporting me, coaching me, and cheering me on… he was my best friend and my greatest coach.
Three months after the accident, we get the news that Dad has finally woken up from his coma.
My deep relief is quickly replaced by a heart-wrenching realization that everything’s different. He doesn’t care about my football anymore and he barely cares about me. The car accident all but killed my dad and left a shell of a man that just wants to watch TV. No matter how hard we try, there is no bringing back my Dad.
I had nowhere to go but my sister’s couch. I was
broken, broke, and deeply depressed.
I didn’t know who I was without sports.
Would anyone still like me?
How would I make money?
What will I do for the rest of my life???
Why was I even born?
I’d never been so lost and afraid.
I remained sleeping on my sister’s couch for a year and
half, and then she needed me to contribute some rent..
I had no idea what value, if any, I had to offer the world.
What will I do for the rest of my life???
Why was I even born?
I’d never been so lost and afraid.
I remained sleeping on my sister’s couch for a year and
half, and then she needed me to contribute some rent..
I had no idea what value, if any, I had to offer the world.
And then finally I thought of something I could do…
I begin reaching out to highly accomplished people via LinkedIn, and asking them to tell me the story of their success.
These “interviews” give me new direction, new inspiration and new hope. And they make me realize I’m afraid of so many things. So the first thing I do is make a list of everything I’m afraid of and commit myself to overcoming my fears.
If it scared me, I go all in on it: Salsa dancing, public speaking, writing a book, Olympic handball and even launching my own business. Not only do I overcome my fears and get back in the game of life, but I find my passion again!
First, doing those interviews that got me off my sister’s couch made me feel as energized as sports used to. Second, I wanted to share the inspiration they gave me with others. Going all in on a podcast was a risk, but what started as one interview recorded on my iPhone and one listener, is now close to 1,000 episodes and over 100 million downloads.
Doing the podcast is how I discovered what I was born for; when something I do helps someone else overcome their challenges and find their greatness, that’s my new touchdown! That’s what drives me.
My dad did that for me. Now I’m using my life to do that for others.
LEWIS HOWES is a New York Times
Bestselling author of the hit book,
The School of Greatness.
He is a lifestyle entrepreneur, high performance business coach and keynote speaker. A former professional football player and two-sport
All-American, he is a current USA Men’s National Handball Team athlete. He hosts a top 100 iTunes ranked podcast, The School of Greatness, which has over 100 million downloads and 1000 episodes since it launched in 2013. Lewis was recognized by The White House and President Obama as one of the top 100 entrepreneurs in the country under 30. Details Magazine called him one of “5 Internet Guru’s that can Make You Rich.” Lewis is a contributing writer for Entrepreneur and has been featured on Ellen, The Today Show, The New York Times, People, Forbes, Inc, Fast Company, ESPN, Sports Illustrated, Men’s Health, and other major media outlets.