Transcriber: An Nguyen Reviewer: Keira White
Hi, guys. I’m Annie Agar,
I’m an NFL and a college football correspondent for Bally Sports,
but the way I got this job and got into this career was by being different.
It was anything but normal.
Through the stories and experiences that I’ve had I want to share
how being different can be your greatest strength.
If there’s one thing I want you to take out of this, it is this:
It’s about how you think, being different doesn’t have to mean you act differently,
but you think differently.
We are in Detroit, love this city, I was born here, but I have to bring it up,
the Detroit Lions did not lose this week because they are on a bye week.
Wouldn’t it be nice if we can have a bye week in life, just hey, no,
I’m not doing it this week, don’t feel like it,
I do not feel like performing this week.
In the case of the Lions, that was the first 8 weeks of the season, so.
But, you know, I love the Detroit sports community,
I love how sports kind of unites us, it’s a great thing.
You see a Lion standing across from you, usually in the same group therapy session,
but you see Lions there and you know how they’re feeling,
you have a connection with them.
At a young age I knew sports was important in Michigan
with the Michigan/Michigan State rivalry.
Although I don’t know if we can call it much of a rivalry
when someone blows a 16 point lead, isn’t that weird?
(Applause)
But I love that about Michigan and I mentioned being different
so here’s how I was a little bit different I was doing so well, I know.
I’m an Ohio State fan.
Audience: (Groans)
Yeah, yeah.
Living in Michigan, I had two combined friends
my whole life and they’re my parents.
Shout out to mom and dad!
But I loved the controversy of being different.
I loved separating myself from everybody else,
so I took that into my career,
I knew I wanted to work for ESPN, that was my goal for a long time.
My friends in college would say: “What do you study?”
I’d say: “I’m going to work for ESPN”.
It was the answer I had
because I wanted to speak it into existence.
So I started making a career plan on how to get to ESPN.
The people I’d spoken with said you have to go through local news,
do your due diligence, work in local news, you’ll climb the ladder eventually.
I’m sure you’ve spoken with people who have told you the same thing.
Bosses, predecessors, they say there’s a ladder to climb.
Can’t skip steps, can’t be super different, climb the ladder.
You can be a little different but stick to the ladder, please.
So I was doing that, working in local news,
I was on this ladder trying to climb up to ESPN,
and then COVID hit.
That was like a dark cloud came over everybody.
I am Debbie Downer saying it was terrible,
and I’m a firm believer that hard times bring people together,
makes us united, but it didn’t feel like it.
It was dividing all of us
because we were alone and afraid, we didn’t know how to handle it.
So I am so thankful I looked at COVID, and I was able to see it differently.
I didn’t see it as this negative thing,
I was able to see it as an opportunity; I looked at what people didn’t have,
what we’re missing and sports was a big one
because sports to me is an escape from reality.
We can watch a game, forget about how terrible life is for a second,
other than being Lions fans.
But I love that, I love that about sports.
We didn’t have that humor, that comedic relief.
So it was in May 2020, I did my first video, I did a Zoom call.
Thank God, we’re not doing those now.
I did a Zoom with the Big 10,
how they would be responding to COVID,
how they would be trying to get their season together,
that video now has over 5 million views combined on social media.
My dream of working for ESPN is coming true.
I did a segment on Sunday NFL Countdown,
and I did a feature with the Adam Schefter which was super cool.
So stuff like that is all coming to fruition because I was able
to look at an opportunity, to look at something differently.
When I did these videos, I did an interview with a good friend of mine,
Stewart Mandel from The Athletic who asked if I thought this was possible and I said:
“Oh my gosh, no. Like what? How is this going to happen?”
Looking back, probably shouldn’t have said that,
but I remember thinking, why did I suddenly feel like this was my time
to be different?
Why did I realize COVID was a time to be different? How did I see that?
I want to share a story with you about how I think the way that I do.
I want you to picture this couple in a hospital room
and they’re, oh my gosh, I can’t get emotional,
and they just had a baby boy, and he has cerebral palsy.
The doctor slides books across the table,
he says: “Here you can learn all about cerebral palsy
or since your son’s already different,
he already sees the world differently, let him figure it out.
Treat him like a normal kid and let him figure it out.”
That was my parents, as you can tell by the emotions coming out.
I’m going to share a video with you,
kind of explain my family a little more
so you kind of understand where I’m coming from.
Video: Colors pinking up
Mrs Agar: Come on
Doctor: I’m sorry, Mr and Mrs. Agar, your son has cerebral palsy.
He probably won’t be able to walk or talk.
Mrs. Agar: What should we do?
Doctor: These books, will tell you everything he won’t be able to do,
or you can focus on what he can do.
Mrs. Agar: OK. Come on.
Johnny: What if one decision could change the course of your life?
(Music)
(Singing)
Other mother: I’m sorry is what he has contagious?
(Music)
Other mother: Come on.
(Music)
Team: No, no, no, no. Mrs Agar: Hey, guys, this is Johnny,
and he would really like to play baseball with you guys, is that okay?
Team: Yeah Mrs Agar: Yeah? Alright
Player: Come on guys
(Music)
Man: Come on Jonathan
(Music)
Doctor: Probably won’t be able to walk
(Music)
Johnny: (Shouts)
(Music)
(Music ends)
(Applause)
Annie Agar: Thanks
So it was because my parents taught us to look at things differently,
that I was able to see a positive out of this negative situation.
This is my brother John, he’s really cute, he is single, ladies, so hit him up.
That was not free, by the way, you owe me later.
No, he’s a super sweet kid and he has done some incredible things:
He’s been on several Under Armour ads with Dwayne Johnson and Michael Phelps,
he does Ironman races, my dad’s incredible,
pushes and pulls him through those,
and all of this is because he sees things differently,
he sees a way to impact people in a different way.
I think a lot of that comes from him, of how I’m able to see things differently.
So when it comes to you guys, how can you apply this?
How do you see things differently? Social media is a great ex-
He also wrote a book you must check out, it’s really good.
When it comes to you guys, how it applies to social media,
think about a time when you were struggling.
What helped most? Was it someone doing the unexpected
or what was just expected of them?
Usually it’s someone doing the unexpected
that makes you realize: “They really care, they want to help.”
Social media is a great example of this because on social media
there’s constantly trending things, everything is trending.
Everything’s kind of negative, but if you took all of that
and tried to put it back out there in a positive way
and bring your own unique spin on it that can be really successful to you
I am a firm believer in being positive, I think that’s a super important thing,
and trends are very important in social media
because trends are what people want to watch and see.
But if you take it and completely think about what’s unique
to you that you can put out in the universe, that’s great.
Every one of you has a unique thing about you nobody else can bring
so figure out what that is, you can get it back out there in a positive way
and impact people with it.
Don’t take a picture of the Jim Harbaugh thing,
I’m so sorry about that.
My Ohio state friends were like: “What are you doing? That’s a mistake.”
But no, I think I’m so happy
that I could to see differently and find out
what I bring that’s unique.
It may not be the best or the most views, but it’s unique,
and that’s what I love about it,
it’s making people laugh, I love that.
I was going to show this ad to you,
but I’m short on time, look it up,
it’s a great holiday commercial, and I remember thinking,
What if people don’t know what’s different about them? How are they different?
Holiday commercials are a great example because they’re kind.
It’s a bunch of kindness, there’s nothing more different right now in life
than being kind,
not many people do it.
We’re constantly picking fights with people,
it’s hard to find someone that’s genuinely nice and wants the best for you.
So, you know, I challenge you, not just in the holidays,
but all the time just being nice, that’s a great way to differentiate
yourself from everybody else, especially on social media.
Look at things differently,
have a different perspective, that’s the important thing.
Johnny allowed me to see things differently, my brother,
but figure out what it is for you, and then look at situations differently.
You don’t have to act different, just think differently.
And lastly, just be kind.
Be super kind to yourself, to everybody around you.
This is a favorite quote: “Human kindness has never weakened the stamina
or softened the fiber of free people.
A nation does not have to be cruel to be tough”.
Thank you guys.
(Applause)