{"version":"1.0","provider_name":"T.A. Watson.","provider_url":"https:\/\/tawatson.com","author_name":"Dr. Tommy Watson","author_url":"https:\/\/tawatson.com\/author\/admin\/","title":"Media Features","html":"<style>\/*! elementor - v3.12.1 - 02-04-2023 *\/\n.elementor-heading-title{padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title[class*=elementor-size-]>a{color:inherit;font-size:inherit;line-height:inherit}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-small{font-size:15px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-medium{font-size:19px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-large{font-size:29px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xl{font-size:39px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xxl{font-size:59px}<\/style><h2><a href=\"https:\/\/forc.mx\/3k5LwBW\"><h1 style=\"--tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-pan-x: ; --tw-pan-y: ; --tw-pinch-zoom: ; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-ordinal: ; --tw-slashed-zero: ; --tw-numeric-figure: ; --tw-numeric-spacing: ; --tw-numeric-fraction: ; --tw-ring-inset: ; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 \/ 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-blur: ; --tw-brightness: ; --tw-contrast: ; --tw-grayscale: ; --tw-hue-rotate: ; --tw-invert: ; --tw-saturate: ; --tw-sepia: ; --tw-drop-shadow: ; --tw-backdrop-blur: ; --tw-backdrop-brightness: ; --tw-backdrop-contrast: ; --tw-backdrop-grayscale: ; --tw-backdrop-hue-rotate: ; --tw-backdrop-invert: ; --tw-backdrop-opacity: ; --tw-backdrop-saturate: ; --tw-backdrop-sepia: ; margin-bottom: 16px; font-size: 24px; outline: 0px; line-height: 1.25; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, BlinkMacSystemFont, &quot;Segoe UI&quot;, Roboto, &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, &quot;Fira Sans&quot;, Ubuntu, Oxygen, &quot;Oxygen Sans&quot;, Cantarell, &quot;Droid Sans&quot;, &quot;Apple Color Emoji&quot;, &quot;Segoe UI Emoji&quot;, &quot;Segoe UI Emoji&quot;, &quot;Segoe UI Symbol&quot;, &quot;Lucida Grande&quot;, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; white-space: normal;\">Revenue Builders Podcast\u2019s Post<\/h1>Challenges - personal, organizational, or economic - are an opportunity for growth. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/tawatsonspeaking?trk=public_post-text\" target=\"_self\" data-tracking-control-name=\"public_post-text\" data-tracking-will-navigate=\"\" style=\"--tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-pan-x: ; --tw-pan-y: ; --tw-pinch-zoom: ; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-ordinal: ; --tw-slashed-zero: ; --tw-numeric-figure: ; --tw-numeric-spacing: ; --tw-numeric-fraction: ; --tw-ring-inset: ; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 \/ 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-blur: ; --tw-brightness: ; --tw-contrast: ; --tw-grayscale: ; --tw-hue-rotate: ; --tw-invert: ; --tw-saturate: ; --tw-sepia: ; --tw-drop-shadow: ; --tw-backdrop-blur: ; --tw-backdrop-brightness: ; --tw-backdrop-contrast: ; --tw-backdrop-grayscale: ; --tw-backdrop-hue-rotate: ; --tw-backdrop-invert: ; --tw-backdrop-opacity: ; --tw-backdrop-saturate: ; --tw-backdrop-sepia: ; font-size: 14px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, BlinkMacSystemFont, &quot;Segoe UI&quot;, Roboto, &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, &quot;Fira Sans&quot;, Ubuntu, Oxygen, &quot;Oxygen Sans&quot;, Cantarell, &quot;Droid Sans&quot;, &quot;Apple Color Emoji&quot;, &quot;Segoe UI Emoji&quot;, &quot;Segoe UI Emoji&quot;, &quot;Segoe UI Symbol&quot;, &quot;Lucida Grande&quot;, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;\" rel=\"noopener\">Dr. Tommy Watson, Ed. D., ACC<\/a> shares his philosophy on turning transitions into triumphs in this conversation with John McMahon and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/johnkaplanfm?trk=public_post-text\" target=\"_self\" data-tracking-control-name=\"public_post-text\" data-tracking-will-navigate=\"\" style=\"--tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-pan-x: ; --tw-pan-y: ; --tw-pinch-zoom: ; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-ordinal: ; --tw-slashed-zero: ; --tw-numeric-figure: ; --tw-numeric-spacing: ; --tw-numeric-fraction: ; --tw-ring-inset: ; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 \/ 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-blur: ; --tw-brightness: ; --tw-contrast: ; --tw-grayscale: ; --tw-hue-rotate: ; --tw-invert: ; --tw-saturate: ; --tw-sepia: ; --tw-drop-shadow: ; --tw-backdrop-blur: ; --tw-backdrop-brightness: ; --tw-backdrop-contrast: ; --tw-backdrop-grayscale: ; --tw-backdrop-hue-rotate: ; --tw-backdrop-invert: ; --tw-backdrop-opacity: ; --tw-backdrop-saturate: ; --tw-backdrop-sepia: ; font-size: 14px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, BlinkMacSystemFont, &quot;Segoe UI&quot;, Roboto, &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, &quot;Fira Sans&quot;, Ubuntu, Oxygen, &quot;Oxygen Sans&quot;, Cantarell, &quot;Droid Sans&quot;, &quot;Apple Color Emoji&quot;, &quot;Segoe UI Emoji&quot;, &quot;Segoe UI Emoji&quot;, &quot;Segoe UI Symbol&quot;, &quot;Lucida Grande&quot;, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;\" rel=\"noopener\">John Kaplan<\/a>: <a href=\"https:\/\/forc.mx\/3k5LwBW?trk=public_post-text\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" data-tracking-control-name=\"public_post-text\" data-tracking-will-navigate=\"\" style=\"--tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-pan-x: ; --tw-pan-y: ; --tw-pinch-zoom: ; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-ordinal: ; --tw-slashed-zero: ; --tw-numeric-figure: ; --tw-numeric-spacing: ; --tw-numeric-fraction: ; --tw-ring-inset: ; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 \/ 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-blur: ; --tw-brightness: ; --tw-contrast: ; --tw-grayscale: ; --tw-hue-rotate: ; --tw-invert: ; --tw-saturate: ; --tw-sepia: ; --tw-drop-shadow: ; --tw-backdrop-blur: ; --tw-backdrop-brightness: ; --tw-backdrop-contrast: ; --tw-backdrop-grayscale: ; --tw-backdrop-hue-rotate: ; --tw-backdrop-invert: ; --tw-backdrop-opacity: ; --tw-backdrop-saturate: ; --tw-backdrop-sepia: ; font-size: 14px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, BlinkMacSystemFont, &quot;Segoe UI&quot;, Roboto, &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, &quot;Fira Sans&quot;, Ubuntu, Oxygen, &quot;Oxygen Sans&quot;, Cantarell, &quot;Droid Sans&quot;, &quot;Apple Color Emoji&quot;, &quot;Segoe UI Emoji&quot;, &quot;Segoe UI Emoji&quot;, &quot;Segoe UI Symbol&quot;, &quot;Lucida Grande&quot;, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;\">https:\/\/forc.mx\/3k5LwBW<\/a><video data-sources=\"[{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/dms.licdn.com\/playlist\/D5605AQGQW53TIM9w4g\/mp4-360p-30fp-crf28\/0\/1676555933170?e=2147483647&amp;v=beta&amp;t=ZD022WOf_Ovm9owQKvgNIKMzLAy0xqjfw5vs1PRCs-w&quot;,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;video\/mp4&quot;,&quot;data-bitrate&quot;:70579},{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/dms.licdn.com\/playlist\/D5605AQGQW53TIM9w4g\/mp4-720p-30fp-crf28\/0\/1676555934799?e=2147483647&amp;v=beta&amp;t=kL2SdZydMVrZL0pQpJe3Up2sUMYjRYg3qscTgMSbwhE&quot;,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;video\/mp4&quot;,&quot;data-bitrate&quot;:161792}]\" data-poster-url=\"https:\/\/media.licdn.com\/dms\/image\/D5605AQGQW53TIM9w4g\/videocover-high\/0\/1676555928766?e=2147483647&amp;v=beta&amp;t=c0bgTgC71NLj2xDpWYYhFVdtUw__ucjij6cdavurJRk\" data-digitalmedia-asset-urn=\"urn:li:digitalmediaAsset:D5605AQGQW53TIM9w4g\" data-tracking-id=\"4bI1GKfkQY6+inZ18YV9Sg==\" id=\"vjs_video_3_html5_api\" tabindex=\"-1\" role=\"application\" poster=\"https:\/\/media.licdn.com\/dms\/image\/D5605AQGQW53TIM9w4g\/videocover-high\/0\/1676555928766?e=2147483647&amp;v=beta&amp;t=c0bgTgC71NLj2xDpWYYhFVdtUw__ucjij6cdavurJRk\" src=\"https:\/\/dms.licdn.com\/playlist\/D5605AQGQW53TIM9w4g\/mp4-360p-30fp-crf28\/0\/1676555933170?e=2147483647&amp;v=beta&amp;t=ZD022WOf_Ovm9owQKvgNIKMzLAy0xqjfw5vs1PRCs-w\" style=\"--tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-pan-x: ; --tw-pan-y: ; --tw-pinch-zoom: ; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-ordinal: ; --tw-slashed-zero: ; --tw-numeric-figure: ; --tw-numeric-spacing: ; --tw-numeric-fraction: ; --tw-ring-inset: ; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 \/ 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-blur: ; --tw-brightness: ; --tw-contrast: ; --tw-grayscale: ; --tw-hue-rotate: ; --tw-invert: ; --tw-saturate: ; --tw-sepia: ; --tw-drop-shadow: ; --tw-backdrop-blur: ; --tw-backdrop-brightness: ; --tw-backdrop-contrast: ; --tw-backdrop-grayscale: ; --tw-backdrop-hue-rotate: ; --tw-backdrop-invert: ; --tw-backdrop-opacity: ; --tw-backdrop-saturate: ; --tw-backdrop-sepia: ; padding: 0px; border-width: 0px; border-style: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent; outline: 0px; position: relative; width: 620px; height: 620px; font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, BlinkMacSystemFont, &quot;Segoe UI&quot;, Roboto, &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, &quot;Fira Sans&quot;, Ubuntu, Oxygen, &quot;Oxygen Sans&quot;, Cantarell, &quot;Droid Sans&quot;, &quot;Apple Color Emoji&quot;, &quot;Segoe UI Emoji&quot;, &quot;Segoe UI Emoji&quot;, &quot;Segoe UI Symbol&quot;, &quot;Lucida Grande&quot;, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: 400; white-space: normal;\"><\/video><\/a><\/h2>\t\t\n\t\t\t<h2><a href=\"https:\/\/www.rmpbs.org\/blogs\/rocky-mountain-pbs\/tommy-watson-five-points-motivational-speaker\/\">From \u2018below nothing\u2019 to \u2018Dr. Inspiration\u2019: Struggle and success for Tommy Watson<br><br>by&nbsp;Brian Willie, Mark Harden\u2022&nbsp;Published on&nbsp;<time style=\"box-sizing: inherit;\">June 7, 2022<\/time>&nbsp;\u2022 Last modified on&nbsp;<time style=\"box-sizing: inherit;\">June 6, 2022<\/time><article style=\"float: left; min-height: 30px; margin-left: 0px; width: 917.969px;\"><figure style=\"box-sizing: inherit; margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; display: table !important;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/image.pbs.org\/bento3-prod\/krma-bento-live-pbs\/Blog%20Images\/06%2022%20June\/Tommy%20Watson\/533f7f50eb_Tommy_Watson_5_1200.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/image.pbs.org\/bento3-prod\/krma-bento-live-pbs\/Blog%20Images\/06%2022%20June\/Tommy%20Watson\/533f7f50eb_Tommy_Watson_5_1200.jpg?resize=1440x,no-scale-up 1440w,\nhttps:\/\/image.pbs.org\/bento3-prod\/krma-bento-live-pbs\/Blog%20Images\/06%2022%20June\/Tommy%20Watson\/533f7f50eb_Tommy_Watson_5_1200.jpg?resize=899x,no-scale-up 899w,\nhttps:\/\/image.pbs.org\/bento3-prod\/krma-bento-live-pbs\/Blog%20Images\/06%2022%20June\/Tommy%20Watson\/533f7f50eb_Tommy_Watson_5_1200.jpg?resize=743x,no-scale-up 743w,\nhttps:\/\/image.pbs.org\/bento3-prod\/krma-bento-live-pbs\/Blog%20Images\/06%2022%20June\/Tommy%20Watson\/533f7f50eb_Tommy_Watson_5_1200.jpg?resize=767x,no-scale-up 767w,\nhttps:\/\/image.pbs.org\/bento3-prod\/krma-bento-live-pbs\/Blog%20Images\/06%2022%20June\/Tommy%20Watson\/533f7f50eb_Tommy_Watson_5_1200.jpg?resize=575x,no-scale-up 575w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1200px) 1440px,\n ((min-width: 992px) and (max-width: 1199px)) 899px,\n ((min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 991px)) 743px,\n ((min-width: 576px) and (max-width: 767px)) 767px,\n (max-width: 575px) 575px\" alt=\"\" style=\"box-sizing: inherit; vertical-align: middle; border-width: 0px; border-style: initial;\"><\/figure><a href=\"https:\/\/www.rmpbs.org\/blogs\/rocky-mountain-pbs\/\" target=\"_self\" data-feathr-click-track=\"true\" data-feathr-link-aids=\"[&quot;620a5fff85aaebcee542cfaa&quot;]\" style=\"box-sizing: inherit; color: rgb(38, 56, 196); display: block; position: relative; margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; text-align: center;\" rel=\"noopener\">ROCKY MOUNTAIN PBS<\/a><p style=\"box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 16px; font-size: 1.6rem; line-height: 1.625;\">DENVER \u2014 Tommy Watson has made a success of himself in a number of ways. He was a star athlete at Denver\u2019s Mullen High School and a Big Ten college running back. He earned a doctor of education degree, became a school principal, and established himself as an&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/linkprotect.cudasvc.com\/url?a=https%3a%2f%2fwww.drtommyepk.com%2f&amp;c=E,1,5-jyVQcTyTAOjKqN6LGqwVYrxuzaL93RpXbLsAIAejGDUrPXEsGjXv0KuogxTCEvzYKXc44goiwQy4nbIStgqIXExI160EG1AtbsCcKopCUm5C5f82hqAk8,&amp;typo=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-feathr-click-track=\"true\" data-feathr-link-aids=\"[&quot;620a5fff85aaebcee542cfaa&quot;]\" style=\"box-sizing: inherit; color: rgb(38, 56, 196); text-decoration-line: underline;\">author, a motivational speaker and executive coach<\/a>.<\/p><p style=\"box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 16px; font-size: 1.6rem; line-height: 1.625;\">But long before he became the 48-year-old Dr. Tommy Watson, he lived a nightmarish childhood in and around Denver\u2019s Five Points \u2014 one where he felt \u201cunder siege every day.\u201d<\/p><p style=\"box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 16px; font-size: 1.6rem; line-height: 1.625;\">Watson\u2019s parents were drug addicts and shoplifters for decades with stints in prison, he said, and violent gangs were a looming threat for a Black kid in poverty. He was constantly on the move, crammed with his brothers and sisters into tiny motel rooms, and spending time in foster care and crisis centers.<\/p><p style=\"box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 16px; font-size: 1.6rem; line-height: 1.625;\">\u201cWe used to be so hungry that we would actually go in these grocery stores, steal food and run out \u2026 to feed ourselves because our parents would leave us for days by ourselves,\u201d Watson told Rocky Mountain PBS recently as he drove around the streets of his childhood.<\/p><\/article><iframe id=\"partnerPlayer\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" width=\"100%\" height=\"100%\" src=\"https:\/\/player.pbs.org\/partnerplayer\/FOVU2E094Tk64h-V6cJU6Q==\/?topbar=false&amp;autoplay=false&amp;with_no_cache=False&amp;callsign=KRMA&amp;endscreen=false\" allowfullscreen=\"\" allow=\"encrypted-media\" data-gtm-yt-inspected-10=\"true\" data-gtm-yt-inspected-30625865_74=\"true\" style=\"box-sizing: inherit; position: absolute; inset: 0px; width: 945.969px; height: 532.108px;\"><\/iframe><h5 style=\"box-sizing: inherit; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: 1.625; color: rgb(112, 112, 112); text-rendering: optimizelegibility; font-size: 1.2rem; text-transform: uppercase;\">COLORADO VOICES<\/h5><h3 style=\"box-sizing: inherit; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: 1.625; color: inherit; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; font-size: 1.6rem;\">Years after growing up in Five Points, Denver man uplifts others<\/h3><p style=\"box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 16px; font-size: 1.6rem; line-height: 1.625;\">While in high school, Watson was homeless at times and would sometimes sleep on a friend\u2019s floor.<\/p><p style=\"box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 16px; font-size: 1.6rem; line-height: 1.625;\">Watson came from \u201cbelow nothing,\u201d his then-Mullen football coach, Pete Levine, once said.<\/p><p style=\"box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 16px; font-size: 1.6rem; line-height: 1.625;\">Today, Watson \u2014 based in Charlotte, North Carolina \u2014 channels the bitterness of his youth into a message of uplift and success when he speaks to businesses, educators, students and other audiences. He brands himself as \u201cDr. Inspiration.\u201d<\/p><p style=\"box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 16px; font-size: 1.6rem; line-height: 1.625;\">\u201cI had to learn how to dream beyond my circumstances,\u201d Watson said.<\/p><p style=\"box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 16px; font-size: 1.6rem; line-height: 1.625;\">And he is working on producing a feature-length film about his life experiences called&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/linkprotect.cudasvc.com\/url?a=https%3a%2f%2ftawatson.com%2fresilient-movie%2f&amp;c=E,1,6vkbDVgyc2JM_ssaYFYyCmvlBsA7QNyUoPkswINKhUVSRzNsCsan_EMy8RT2tpJd75VaeFUBfrZbzKrnVG-g3cmXMf5A2hTlW74ot-LKW4-LHSr0STRM&amp;typo=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-feathr-click-track=\"true\" data-feathr-link-aids=\"[&quot;620a5fff85aaebcee542cfaa&quot;]\" style=\"box-sizing: inherit; color: rgb(38, 56, 196); text-decoration-line: underline;\">\u201cResilient,\u201d<\/a>&nbsp;drawing on his autobiographical book,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Face-Courage-Watson-Story-How-Survive-ebook\/dp\/B0791M5YQC\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-feathr-click-track=\"true\" data-feathr-link-aids=\"[&quot;620a5fff85aaebcee542cfaa&quot;]\" style=\"box-sizing: inherit; color: rgb(38, 56, 196); text-decoration-line: underline;\">\u201cA Face of Courage.\u201d<\/a>&nbsp;An earlier, shorter version was shown in film festivals in 2019.<\/p><h2 style=\"box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 4px; font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.45; color: inherit; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; font-size: 2rem;\"><strong style=\"box-sizing: inherit;\">\u2018Basketball literally saved my life\u2019<\/strong><\/h2><p style=\"box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 16px; font-size: 1.6rem; line-height: 1.625;\">At one point as a kid in Five Points, eager to \u201cget involved in something\u201d that would take him out of his miserable home life, Watson said he felt the lure of gangs. But then something came along to steer him away from that path: Sports.<\/p><p style=\"box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 16px; font-size: 1.6rem; line-height: 1.625;\">\u201cI was living with my aunt and she got me involved in basketball,\u201d he said, \u201cand basketball literally saved my life, because many of the things I was looking for in the world of gangs \u2014 a sense of belonging, great male mentors, other kids with similar goals \u2014 I received from playing sports.\"<\/p><figure style=\"box-sizing: inherit; display: inline-block; position: relative; overflow: hidden; clear: both; text-align: center; margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em;\"><img src=\"https:\/\/d1qbemlbhjecig.cloudfront.net\/prod\/filer_public\/krma-bento-live-pbs\/Blog%20Images\/06%2022%20June\/Tommy%20Watson\/a7eeb0265c_Tommy_Watson_7_1200.jpg\" data-img-filer-id=\"https:\/\/d1qbemlbhjecig.cloudfront.net\/prod\/filer_public\/krma-bento-live-pbs\/Blog%20Images\/06%2022%20June\/Tommy%20Watson\/a7eeb0265c_Tommy_Watson_7_1200.jpg\" style=\"box-sizing: inherit; vertical-align: middle; border-width: 0px; border-style: initial;\"><\/figure><p style=\"box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 16px; font-size: 1.6rem; line-height: 1.625;\">Later Watson met Coach Levine from Mullen, which was seeking out talented but overlooked recruits. Levine was \u201con the lookout for a kid who wants to be something other than a thug,\u201d then-<i style=\"box-sizing: inherit;\">Denver Post<\/i>&nbsp;columnist Tina Griego&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.denverpost.com\/2010\/09\/03\/griego-mullen-grad-tells-his-story-to-show-history-isnt-destiny\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-feathr-click-track=\"true\" data-feathr-link-aids=\"[&quot;620a5fff85aaebcee542cfaa&quot;]\" style=\"box-sizing: inherit; color: rgb(38, 56, 196); text-decoration-line: underline;\">wrote in 2010<\/a>.<\/p><p style=\"box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 16px; font-size: 1.6rem; line-height: 1.625;\">In 1988, Watson was accepted at the Catholic private school as a participant in its then-new&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/linkprotect.cudasvc.com\/url?a=https%3a%2f%2fwww.mullenhigh.com%2facademics%2facademic-support%2fde-la-salle&amp;c=E,1,viICbJjyVOFDBKm1-3KtAEGk9eNLufE59z_fyhvZc7afSicZgZY5tjK0hPgi18eryQSvmIfgORgExrOF5mbdm-Z5OUzuokygt_eEcXhPePWa8PwGG9i3M4ePOzM,&amp;typo=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-feathr-click-track=\"true\" data-feathr-link-aids=\"[&quot;620a5fff85aaebcee542cfaa&quot;]\" style=\"box-sizing: inherit; color: rgb(38, 56, 196); text-decoration-line: underline;\">De La Salle program<\/a>, offering extra academic support for kids who need it.<\/p><p style=\"box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 16px; font-size: 1.6rem; line-height: 1.625;\">Watson went on to star as a football running back for the Mullen Mustangs, and with the school's support and counseling, his grades improved. Then came a scholarship to the University of Minnesota \u2014 and dreams of a ticket to the National Football League.<\/p><p style=\"box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 16px; font-size: 1.6rem; line-height: 1.625;\">Watson\u2019s challenges didn\u2019t end when he left Denver in 1992. While playing football at Minnesota, Watson injured his back lifting weights, thwarting his NFL dreams.<\/p><p style=\"box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 16px; font-size: 1.6rem; line-height: 1.625;\">But another dream loomed: Becoming an educator. Eventually he became principal in a school system near the Twin Cities. Then came his move to North Carolina and his current profession as a speaker and trainer. He&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/linkprotect.cudasvc.com\/url?a=https%3a%2f%2fissuu.com%2fmullenhighschool%2fdocs%2ffeb_5&amp;c=E,1,XZBbL47xOazIlvZ09HZS0bB5DVIHjI22K3OZm8PvOLhgTQ45aV5z7bUO8KdRU0ghH0yWRsNW3OuywUefPpA7dfOLbDpFESivVTFPK25a4amiWNY1Xsk,&amp;typo=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-feathr-click-track=\"true\" data-feathr-link-aids=\"[&quot;620a5fff85aaebcee542cfaa&quot;]\" style=\"box-sizing: inherit; color: rgb(38, 56, 196); text-decoration-line: underline;\">remains connected to the Mullen High community<\/a>&nbsp;and from time to time returns to Colorado, where a brother and sister still live.<\/p><p style=\"box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 16px; font-size: 1.6rem; line-height: 1.625;\">Watson has a lot to say. At times his words overflow with feeling as he speaks of his childhood and his hopes for those who hear his message.<\/p><figure style=\"box-sizing: inherit; display: inline-block; position: relative; overflow: hidden; clear: both; text-align: center; margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em;\"><img src=\"https:\/\/d1qbemlbhjecig.cloudfront.net\/prod\/filer_public\/krma-bento-live-pbs\/Blog%20Images\/06%2022%20June\/Tommy%20Watson\/320ae9eca3_Tommy_Watson_4_1200.jpg\" data-img-filer-id=\"https:\/\/d1qbemlbhjecig.cloudfront.net\/prod\/filer_public\/krma-bento-live-pbs\/Blog%20Images\/06%2022%20June\/Tommy%20Watson\/320ae9eca3_Tommy_Watson_4_1200.jpg\" style=\"box-sizing: inherit; vertical-align: middle; border-width: 0px; border-style: initial;\"><\/figure><p style=\"box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 16px; font-size: 1.6rem; line-height: 1.625;\">And he has advice for the Five Points kids he grew up with and those like them.<\/p><p style=\"box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 16px; font-size: 1.6rem; line-height: 1.625;\">\u201cWhether you\u2019re a Black male, female, [it] doesn\u2019t matter what your racial background is, doesn\u2019t matter what your sexual orientation is. Don\u2019t let anyone put you in a box,\u201d he said. \u201cKnow that you can achieve whatever it is you want to achieve, have a vision for yourself, know that in many situations you\u2019re not the first to do it \u2014 and if you are the first to do it, great, be that pioneer \u2014 but don\u2019t let anyone put you in a box.\u201d<\/p><hr style=\"box-sizing: inherit; margin-top: 21px; margin-bottom: 21px; border-top-width: 1px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-right-style: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(148, 148, 148); border-bottom-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\"><i style=\"font-size: 1.6rem; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: PBSSans, &quot;Open Sans&quot;, &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: 400; white-space: normal; box-sizing: inherit;\">Brian Willie is the content production manager at Rocky Mountain PBS. You can reach him at&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/i><a href=\"mailto:brianwillie@rmpbs.org\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-feathr-click-track=\"true\" data-feathr-link-aids=\"[&quot;620a5fff85aaebcee542cfaa&quot;]\" style=\"font-size: 1.6rem; font-family: PBSSans, &quot;Open Sans&quot;, &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: 400; white-space: normal; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgb(38, 56, 196); text-decoration-line: underline;\"><i style=\"box-sizing: inherit;\"><u style=\"box-sizing: inherit;\">brianwillie@rmpbs.org<\/u><\/i><\/a><i style=\"font-size: 1.6rem; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: PBSSans, &quot;Open Sans&quot;, &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: 400; white-space: normal; box-sizing: inherit;\">.<\/i><\/a><\/h2>\t\t\n\t\t<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\"All high achievers have the ability to<strong> Get Up<\/strong> when life has knocked them down! What's their secret? Resiliency!<\/p>\n<p>Dr. Tommy Watson, Ed. D., ACC talks about the dynamic power of resiliency and his new book, <em>The Resilience of Champions<\/em>, with Wes Hall on LA Talk Radio.<\/p>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/tawatson.com\/links-photos\/sp112715_wma\/\"><img src=\"https:\/\/tawatson.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/01_links_and_photos_sharkys_pep_talk.jpg\" alt=\"sharky\" \/><\/a><br \/><a href=\"http:\/\/traffic.libsyn.com\/capequation\/Podcast_-_Dr._Tommy_Watson.mp3\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img src=\"https:\/\/tawatson.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/02_links_and_photos_job_buzello.jpg\" alt=\"Dr. Tommy Watson\" \/><\/a><br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/tawatson.com\/links-photos\/sos-20743-1-lite\/\"><img src=\"https:\/\/tawatson.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/03_links_and_photos_secrets_of_success.jpg\" alt=\"secrets-of-success\" \/><\/a><br \/><a href=\"http:\/\/www.mprnews.org\/story\/2009\/11\/25\/midmorning2\"><img src=\"https:\/\/tawatson.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/04_links_and_photos_minnesota_public_radio.jpg\" alt=\"minnesota public radio\" \/><\/a><br \/><a href=\"http:\/\/www.denverpost.com\/griego\/ci_15987838\"><img src=\"https:\/\/tawatson.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/05_links_and_photos_denver_post.jpg\" alt=\"Denver\" \/><\/a><br \/><a href=\"http:\/\/discover.umn.edu\/page-not-found\"><img src=\"https:\/\/tawatson.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/06_links_and_photos_university_of_minnesota.jpg\" alt=\"university of minnesota\" \/><\/a><br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/calendar\/render?eid=Z29lZ3B0YnRycTRtbGtkYTNiaTFsOWpqbjQgbGlmZXRvdGhlbWF4QGxpZmV0b3VjaC5jb20&amp;pli=1&amp;t=AKUaPmZ-XLzqdqL3qrm0maZSN6PEFbCg3W8bihkt8G1JLKq67OIcQ3GGfVt81G2fB-21AIdB_nXe8QwmmdnVc462pnQD5pFlnQ&amp;sf=true&amp;output=xml#main_7\"><img src=\"https:\/\/tawatson.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/07_links_and_photos_calendar.jpg\" alt=\"calendar\" \/><\/a><br \/><a href=\"http:\/\/www.nujournal.com\/page\/content.detail\/id\/506155.html\"><img src=\"https:\/\/tawatson.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/08_links_and_photos_nu_journal.jpg\" alt=\"Journal\" \/><\/a><br \/><a href=\"http:\/\/citysearch.brooklynpark.org\/website\/communic\/parkpages\/2009\/JanFeb09PkPgsV3.pdf\"><img src=\"https:\/\/tawatson.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/09_links_and_photos_park_pages.jpg\" alt=\"park\" \/><\/a><br \/><a href=\"http:\/\/www.denverpost.com\/griego\/ci_16026301\"><img src=\"https:\/\/tawatson.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/05_links_and_photos_denver_post.jpg\" alt=\"Denver post\" \/><\/a><br \/><a href=\"http:\/\/www.prlog.org\/10153440-iuniverse-would-like-to-announce-the-release-of-face-of-courage-by-tommy-watson.html\"><img src=\"https:\/\/tawatson.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/10_links_and_photos_press_release.jpg\" alt=\"press release\" \/><\/a><br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/tawatson.com\/images\/Tommy%20Watson%20Inspires%20Young%20African%20American%20Males.pdf\"><img src=\"https:\/\/tawatson.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/11_links_and_photos_watson_inspires.jpg\" alt=\"watson_inspires\" \/><\/a>\n<img src=\"https:\/\/tawatson.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/speaking-homelessness.jpg\" alt=\" Public Speaking\" \/>\n\u00a0\n<img src=\"https:\/\/tawatson.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/tommy-watson-and-arthur-hightower.jpg\" alt=\"tommy watsonand arthur hightower\" \/>\n<p>Watson with good friend and Director of Player Development for San Diego Chargers, Arther Hightower<\/p>\n<img src=\"https:\/\/tawatson.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/joel-maturie-athletic-director-u-of-m.jpg\" alt=\"Watson Speaking\" \/>\nConnecting with good friend Joel Maturie, U of M Athletic Director\n<img src=\"https:\/\/tawatson.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/tommy-watson-and-brooklyn-park-councilman.jpg\" alt=\"tommy-watson\" \/>\n\u00a0\nWatson with Brooklyn Park Councilman\n<img src=\"https:\/\/tawatson.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/tommy-watson-giving-hope-to-inmates.jpg\" alt=\"hope-to-inmates\" \/>\n<img src=\"https:\/\/tawatson.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/11111111111111111111.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/>\n<img src=\"https:\/\/tawatson.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/tommy-watson-message-of-hope.jpg\" alt=\"hope\" \/>\n\u00a0\nWatson speaking to inmates, a message of hope and freedom\n<img src=\"https:\/\/tawatson.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/marian-wright-edelman-and-tommy-watson.jpg\" alt=\"marian wrightedelman\" \/>\n<p>Watson with Marian Wright Edelman, founder and president of the Children's Defense Fund, after he spoke to hundreds of college students at the Alex Haley Farm in Tennessee.<\/p>\n<p><img src=\"https:\/\/tawatson.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/Day-3-332.jpg\" alt=\"Leadership\" \/>Watson with Dakota County Leadership<\/p>\n\u00a0\n<img src=\"https:\/\/tawatson.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/Watson-Mayor-and-Senator.jpg\" alt=\"Mayor and Senator\" \/>\n<img src=\"https:\/\/tawatson.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/MLKfair2012.jpg\" alt=\"tawatson\" \/>\n\u00a0\n<p>Watson with Mayor Chris Coleman and Senator Amy Klobuchar at the Dr. Martin Luther King event.<\/p>\n<img src=\"https:\/\/tawatson.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/EMLK12Central_0103.jpg\" alt=\"tawatson\" \/>\n<img src=\"https:\/\/tawatson.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/MLK12March_0002.jpg\" alt=\"T. A. Watson Speaking\" \/>\n<img src=\"https:\/\/tawatson.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/nenenee.jpg\" alt=\"nenenee\" \/>\n\u00a0\n<p>Watson keynote speaker for the annual Dr. Martin Luther King event.<\/p>\n<img src=\"https:\/\/tawatson.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/Group-Shot.jpg\" alt=\"Watson\" \/><br \/>Watson and Dakota County Chamber members\n<img src=\"https:\/\/tawatson.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/Tommy2.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/>\n<img src=\"https:\/\/tawatson.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/Audience.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/>\n\u00a0\n<p>Watson motivated audience with his story and 3Vs to staying motivated in a tough economy<\/p>\n<img src=\"https:\/\/tawatson.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/Chris-Tommy.jpg\" alt=\"Watson\" \/>\nWatson with chamber member and former Gopher track star Chris Dixon\n<img src=\"https:\/\/tawatson.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/lo.jpg\" alt=\"Watson\" \/>\n\u00a0\nWatson speaking at the Breakfast with Champions\n<img src=\"https:\/\/tawatson.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/Tommy-Watson-Buffalo-HS1.jpg\" alt=\"Watson\" \/>\n<img src=\"https:\/\/tawatson.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/Watson-with-Buffalo-High-School.jpg\" alt=\"Watson\" \/>\n<img src=\"https:\/\/tawatson.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/Watson-with-Rogers-High-School.jpg\" alt=\"Watson\" \/>\n\u00a0\nWatson inspires young males. Rogers and Buffalo High School.\n<img src=\"https:\/\/tawatson.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/41.jpg\" alt=\"Watson\" \/>\n<img src=\"https:\/\/tawatson.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/3.jpg\" alt=\"Watson\" \/>\n\u00a0\n1)<br \/>Watson speaking at the annual McDonald's Managers Summit. 2) Watson with McDonald's owners 3) Watson with Jeff Grayson (former Channel 9 sports anchor)\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2><\/h2>\n<!-- \/wp:heading -->\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2><\/h2>\n<!-- \/wp:heading -->\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p><\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2><\/h2>\n<!-- \/wp:heading -->","type":"rich"}