beingcoreybayless

My homeboy is an extremely brilliant man and ambitious on levels I have rarely ever seen the likes of…We went to school together for a few years. We went to Austin Community College before I transferred to the University of Texas at Austin and he eventually went on the University of Texas at Dallas. I watched him fight for every inch he got in school. He fought to maintain a good work ethic while trying to work multiple jobs getting himself through school and fought for every A he could wrap his hands around. For him, unlike many students I encountered while in school, was never satisfied with passing or even getting a great grade…He wanted the best…He was not only a perfectionist at times, but he was extremely competitive…which is what many might have thought is what drew us together in the first place…none of our friends or fellow students knew of anyone more competitive than the two of us. The lengths that we had found ourselves going to at times to win, was well…. let’s move on from that.

But you know, it wasn’t his competitive nature that got me…there was just something about this guy…I just knew…That was my homeboy from the first time we met. I knew that there was something special. We were in Phi Theta Kappa together which for those who don’t know, is the International Honor Society for the two-year colleges…Apparently, someone told them that I was smart…We studied together…we worked on many projects together. Together, we came up with some of the most innovative fund raisers that our chapter had seen to that date. We were determined when we became officers of the chapter that we would leave our mark. He even wrote the essay that got me recognized internationally as a Distinguished Officer.

This man had my back when I was a single Dad trying to figure out how to care for my daughter whom I had just gained custody of. Dropped everything to drive four hours when I told him I have found the woman I love, and I am getting married in four days…. He was there. He took that same drive when I lost my Mom and needed him by my side for the services.

He has had my back during the rise and fall of several business ventures I have had… and every time, he has vowed to do whatever he could to help me rise to success.

What is the relevance to all of this?? Well, truth is…You will probably never find yourself with such fighter in your corner…They truly don’t make many people like him. But I will tell you this…although this is the story I have chosen to share tonight, there are so many people who have come and gone throughout the years…the key here is not those who have gone…. but rather those have stayed. They may not all be brilliant…. but are they fighters? Do they have that killer instinct? Are they willing to fight with you? Will they fight for you?

I would love to quote a piece of a speech….It is one of the most beautiful speeches in my opinions:

You find out that life is just a game of inches.
So is football.
Because in either game
life or football
the margin for error is so small.
I mean
one half step too late or to early
you don’t quite make it.
One half second too slow or too fast
and you don’t quite catch it.
The inches we need are everywhere around us.
They are in ever break of the game
every minute, every second.

On this team, we fight for that inch
On this team, we tear ourselves, and everyone around us
to pieces for that inch.
We CLAW with our finger nails for that inch.
Cause we know
when we add up all those inches
that’s going to make the fu**ing difference
between WINNING and LOSING
between LIVING and DYING.

I’ll tell you this
in any fight
it is the guy who is willing to die
who is going to win that inch.
And I know
if I am going to have any life anymore
it is because, I am still willing to fight, and die for that inch
because that is what LIVING is.

Now, in the context of such a beautiful speech…not nearly as beautiful read off a page rather than spouted from the passion Al Pacino…but still…
Life as is football…and works the same in business is a game of inches…Who is on your team? Who has your back? Do they have that killer instinct? I have a team that has my back and I know they will claw for every inch right along with me. They are willing to fight and die for that inch… Does your team back you?

Thank you Garrett, David, Z, Poncho…. Much love and respect to my squad

Boys, we’ve got a lot happening…2019 is our year! I hope you laced your J’s and ate your Wheaties… It is time to Get Cocky!