WHEN WHO YOU ARE ATTRACTS THE WRONG ATTENTION

How you doin' guys? Quick video. Yeah, I think I want to talk about identity and I want to talk about personal struggles around perceptions and I think that's something, I'm someone that's in a position to really talk about that. I think the way I speak, the history, my past, my testimony, if you like, being somebody that has lived experience, it's been very difficult to navigate that in this world of work as well, because yes, I'm pioneering and I'm doing great work with young people, even if I say so myself, but people see it as in this guy's an ex this and an ex that, not a label and a title that I accept. And so I've had to really fight and push against that title and push against that, that notion that I'm an ex of something, when actually I have a lot of skills outside of my experience, but hey, people still don't want to work with me. Some people will say that I glorify gangs, that I shouldn't make a living out of sharing my story. But what they don't see is that I'm a husband and a father, what they don't see is that I'm a family man and that I'm experienced and skilled and I've got a lot to offer. And so the title, the history I have, people use that against you, man. And so for me, how do I combat that? It's not through proving them right, it's just continuing to shine, it's picking myself up, knowing that people think negative of me and focus on the fact there's a lot of people that think good of me and actually knowing that God has given me this ability that I have a great team around me, a great wife, who's supportive and loving, and actually look, why I do what I do isn't to please people, it's to change the lives of young people. So remind yourself of the good things in the world, remind yourself of the good people that have spoken over you, remind yourself of why you do what you do and who for. Pick yourself up and keep pushing and keep fighting because listen, other people depend on you to be strong for them. And so take time if you're feeling it, of course, look after yourself, but remember why you do what you do and never give up the fight.