Show notes
Achieving goals, whatever they may be, is never an overnight event. It takes time, dedication, and, most of all it takes resiliency. Once you have a dream and you want to make it happen, there is one thing you can do “Keep On Pushing.”
In this episode, our guest is Devon Harris, Three Times Olympian & Member Of The Jamaican Bobsled Team That Inspired The Classic ‘80s Movie “Cool Runnings,” whom we know because he is part of The Mentor Project.
He is sharing with us his story of how he went from growing up in the Kingston ghetto of Sunrise Drive in Olympic Gardens to traveling and experiencing the world thank to his military and athletic career; and how it went full circle back to his elementary school to inspire young kids that just like him may need that one dream and someone to tell them that it can become a reality.
As kids, our imagination makes us see ourselves as extraordinary individuals, full of potential, and able to achieve our dreams. Still, reality and fears of taking the first steps can often get in the way. As adults, we must help kids dream and encourage them to go for it.
We talk about this and much more in this fun and engaging conversation.
Join us!
About Devon Harris
Born 1964, Devon Harris OLY is a Jamaican retired bobsledder and military officer. He was one of the founding members of the Jamaica national bobsled team, which first competed in the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, Alberta. Nicknamed "Pele" after the famous football star, Harris went on to compete in the 1992 Winter Olympics and the 1998 Winter Olympics.
Harris grew up in the Kingston ghetto of Sunrise Drive in Olympic Gardens (known as "Waterhouse," or "Firehouse," because it was a volatile area). A graduate of Drews Ave Secondary School, Ardenne High School, and Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, Harris had been an avid football player and track and field participant, with his dream being to represent Jamaica in the 1984 Summer Olympics in the 800m and 1500m events. Since the idea for a Jamaican Bobsled Team was pitched to the Jamaica Defence Force, Harris, as a lieutenant in the Second Battalion, first came across the proposal in a weekly army publication called "Force Orders" in September 1987. The text had called for those who wished to "undergo rigorous and dangerous training" to represent Jamaica in the Winter Olympics. Harris initially thought the idea was ridiculous, but was eventually convinced to participate by his colonel, Lt. Col Alan Douglas. At the team selections, Harris ended up with the fastest push time.
Harris returned to the military after Calgary and later became a civilian in 1992 after his second Olympics in Albertville, France. He also competed in the 1998 Olympics in Nagano, Japan. He now works as a motivational public speaker and writer.
Harris wrote the 2008 children's book, Yes, I can! : the story of the Jamaican bobsled team, illustrated by Ricardo Cortes and in 2010 published his semi-autobiographical motivational book; Keep On Pushing: Hot Lessons From Cool Runnings
In 2006, Harris founded the Keep On Pushing Foundation which supports the education of kids in disadvantaged communities
During the 2018 Olympic Games in PyeongChang, Devon was honored by the World Olympians Association and inducted as an Olympian For Life in recognition of the significant contribution he has made to society in inspiring other never to give up.
About The Mentor Project
The Mentor Project is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit. Our mentors are experts in science, technology, engineering, the arts, mathematics, business, and law.
From developing a patent on how to use credit cards on the Internet to insights on space exploration and astronomy, to titans of industry and world-class technologists, TMP mentors share their skills and knowledge to inspire and guide their mentees.
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Guest
Devon Harris
Motivational Speaker at Devon Harris & Associates
On LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/keynotespeakerdevonharris/
On Twitter | https://twitter.com/Keeponpushing88
On YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/KEEPONPUSHINGALWAYS
On Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/keeppushing
On TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@kopbrand
The Mentor Project: https://mentorproject.org
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This Episode’s Sponsors
Blue Lava: https://itspm.ag/blue-lava-w2qs
Nintex: https://itspm.ag/itspntweb
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Resources
More about Devon Harris: https://www.Devonharris.com
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For more podcast stories from Audio Signals:
https://www.itspmagazine.com/audio-signals
To hear more from The Mentor Project Series, visit: https://www.itspmagazine.com/the-mentor-project-podcast
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