Rudy Ruettiger Addresses Networkers and Affiliates
copyright, 2013, Debbi A. Ballard All rights reserved worldwide.
At the recent Affiliate Summit West 2013 in Las Vegas Rudy Ruettiger addressed networkers and affiliates. I was there to hear his keynote presentation. His life was the focus of the famous movie Rudy. This has become one the most inspirational, most beloved movies of all time. It came out in 1993 and was produced by TriStar Pictures. Sean Astin played the leading role.
Growing up Rudy was dyslexic and because of that faced many challenges. He was constantly told he could not amount to much, that he was incapable of realizing his dreams. When he could not name the fifth president of the United States, he was told to go sit in the back of the classroom. At that point he looked upon himself as hopeless.
Various mentors in his life changed his attitude and he believed in himself again. He decided that he never again would allow anyone to steal his dreams by making him feel inadequate.
His biggest dream was to play for the Notre Dame football team. People laughed when he told them that one day he would be admitted to Notre Dame, despite his learning disability, and that he would play on the team. He always said he didn’t care about being a star player but rather he just wanted one chance to get there out on the field as a player during a game.
Not only did he get to play but he triumphantly made a difficult sack at the end of the game and for the first time in Notre Dame history, was carried off the field in victory by his teammates. The crowd cheered him on. The game was against Georgia Tech and took place in 1975.
Rudy admitted that he was not a great speaker and told a story about someone who had denigrated him at a previous speaking event. He told the guy that he, Rudy, was, in fact, a successful paid speaker and thus had achieved another goal. His point was that even though he may not be the best speaker around, he was still able to accomplish that goal of being a paid speaker. Similar to what happened to him with football, although he was not a great player, he did realize his dream of playing a game for Notre Dame.
Here are some of his quotes (a few are paraphrased)…you’ve heard many of them before from others…but very applicable to networkers and affiliates…
Everyone is someone.
(Don’t let any harsh words from others make you look down on yourself and deter you from your dreams.)
You don’t know who knows someone.
(Often he befriended someone who ended up having valuable contacts that facilitated Rudy achieving his goals.)
People help people they like.
(Many people who liked him ended up mentoring him.)
If you chase the money, you lose. Chase your dreams.
(Look at the broader picture relating to your business goals and the money will come.)
Readers of this blog know that I have often written about how every success story starts with your mind, how much you believe in yourself in your journey in building your business. Rudy is an example of that and millions were inspired when they saw the movie Rudy. However afterwards he still faced challenges in his life. Charges by the SEC were filed against him and twelve others regarding a sports nutrition drink. He settled with the SEC in December of 2011. An official from the SEC commented that he felt that Rudy never intentionally set out to do any wrongdoing but that he got caught up in the promotions that were done.
Rudy’s address to networkers and affiliates at Affiliate Summit West 2013 was one that reminded everyone that you don’t have to be the smartest networker or affiliate to achieve your dreams. You have to maintain your belief in yourself and accept the fact that many times other people are brought into your life who help you realize your dreams. Don’t underestimate what they can do for you and what you can do for them. I add here another lesson Rudy probably learned…don’t lose sight of ethical considerations and legal mandates in your promotions or any other aspect of your business.
Here is where you can learn more about Rudy Ruettiger. (Note that the video in this blog post was not filmed at Affiliate Summit West 2013.)
About the Author: MLM Consultant, Expert Witness, Author, Blogger, Speaker and CEO of International Network Liaison Corporation...but more importantly, wife, mother, daughter, aunt, cousin and friend.
