Eric Thomas motivational speaker bio
Eric Thomas used the power of motivational speaking to pick himself up when the odds were against him. Now, he shares his message in a YouTube series with 5 million-plus views and a recent book.
Leslie J. Griffin
You might say Eric Thomas has something to do with LeBron James winning his first NBA championship ring with the Miami Heat last October.
Thomas didn’t make any moves on the court, but before Game 7—and after a string of losses—James saw a YouTube video with the gravelly voiced minister saying: “When you get to the point where all you want to do is be successful as bad you want to breathe, then you’ll be successful.”
The audio was spliced into images of Heat footage. The team watched it-—and never lost again.
The native Detroiter, also known as the Hip Hop Preacher, understands the power of positive speaking—and used it to pick himself up when the odds were against him. A high school dropout who once lived in his car and abandoned houses, Thomas figured out how to achieve. That may be why his story has such an effect on others.
Thomas is working on his Ph.D. at Michigan State University, where he masterminded MSU’s The Advantage Program, which helps academically challenged students. He produced T.G.I.M. (Thank God It’s Monday), a YouTube motivational series with 5 million-plus views. His recent book is called “The Secret to Success, ” and he’s traveled the world to deliver his message.
How did you become homeless?
My parents were from the old school, and there were a series of rules that I had to abide by and I did not abide by those rules. I had to be in when the streets lights came on and I chose my own path. I also found out that the person raising me was not my biological father, and so I was angry about that. So along with other challenges, that contributed to some of the choices I made.
What was the extent of your homelessness and how did you overcome it?
Well, I was not in a shelter or anything, but I was sent to stay with other family members. And I would only be there for about two or three weeks. I would stay out all night. I slept in my car for a period of time. I did live in abandoned homes. I joined church and that’s when things began to turn around for me.
Why is your message so special given the plethora of motivational speakers out there today?
My message is special because I am not trying to do it. I’m not saying that others are not authentic, but I’m not in it for the business. This is a mission and a purpose for me. This is who I am. I’ve spent years doing work on YouTube. Everything is free. It is so authentic until it is natural. I was never trying to motivate people. I was merely just telling my story.
What inspired your T.G.I.M. series and how did you get 5 million views?
I think it was the economy. I wanted to encourage people, and I think people started seeing the deterioration of Detroit and they wanted something better. I wanted to re-charge the people.
What evidence do you use to gauge the success of what you do?
My followers. Our followers are amazed that we stay in contact with them. They are shocked that they can pick up the phone and call me or they can SKYPE me. I hear the stories about how their lives have been changed. And we are constantly helping people make connections across the country and those opportunities are intact today.
In your book “The Secrets to Success, ” you talk about wanting success as bad as you want to breathe. Do you think that formula works?
There is no doubt about it. When I speak of success, I do not speak of driving a Bentley; I speak of overcoming challenges. I’m talking about desperately wanting to be in my children’s lives. I want to be a successful family man. I’ve been married for 22 years and I want to keep that going. I want my children to experience that. I’m speaking of living in integrity, and that’s the overall message of my book: Doing right and making good choices.
What is the meaning of the word sterner in line 20 of this speech? angrier easier gloomier sturdier? What is the meaning of pagan holidays? What event helped helen recognize the meaning of w-a-t-e-r? What does double or nothing mean? What does patent mean? Quickbooks how to record employee tips on credit card? How to microwave corn on the cob? What happens when your liver enzymes are high? you'll make a fine little helper what your name What does looting mean? How do you bend flat wire decorating tips? What does it mean when your right eye twitches? What restaurants are around me? What does employee mean? How to backwash pool filter? How to save a live photo as a video? What does discontinued mean? How to make invisibility potion in minecraft? What is procurement? What team does lebron james play for? How to read literature like a professor fosters tips? 2004 ford taurus transmission problems and when to use lucas trans helper Tips on how to smell good? How to find the margin of error? helper t cells are what kind of immune cell What does k stand for? Sdmicro how tos tips secretes tricks? what did netflix call the helper lady of. 2013? What shabbat shalom meaning? What is the meaning of engrossed? How to say thank you in sign language? What does tally ho mean? What is home screen tips app? Yo yo tricks how to wind yo yo? What do the different colored tips on bullets mean? What are millennials known for? Photos that aren't what they seem graet photography tricks? How to reset a computer? girl who goes to party only to find out she is a helper How to get rid of an ingrown toenail? How to get a tick head out? How to cut my own hair? What time does the sunset tomorrow? What time is it in punta cana? Why are the tips of my bromeliad turning brown? What is the meaning of lutheran? How to reverse image search? What is the meaning of romping? What happens to tips in restaurants? What episode does naruto become hokage? What does the clown emoji mean? What does yellow phlegm mean? What does stg mean in text? What is the true meaning of christmas poem? What does pink symbolize? What level does psyduck evolve? How to make a post sharable? Where the truth lies meaning? How to give people robux? What is roe v wade? What does a rheumatologist treat? what is a meaning helper Why not minot meaning? How to connect samsung earbuds? What is the meaning of chain on the leg? How to update apps on android? I owe a lot of taxes what tricks are there? What are lollies? What does hru mean in text? How to get battery percentage on iphone 12? What is my chinese zodiac sign? What are villi? What is the meaning of idiosyncratic? What is derealization? How to block texts on android? Tricks guys love when on top? what is a helper to a photographer called What is the meaning of anterior high lying placenta? What is biotic and abiotic meaning? What does no soliciting mean? How to make a bed in terraria? What does it mean for disney to lose self governing? How to make animal in little alchemy? New tricks where to watch? How to do cs go knife tricks? What does battle a fashion challenger mean? how to use a troop helper What does mortality rate mean? What is the meaning of fu? How to play better mw3 tips and tricks? What kind of tricks do dolphins do? How to check for concussion? How to find acceleration? What does chin chin mean? How to remove a tonsil stone? can my singaporean helper teach me how to cook? Tips and tricks when getting brain radiation? What color hair tips should i get? Why the sun and the moon live in the sky meaning? What does unlined bra mean? What does marvel mean? What time does target close near me?