Jamon Glover is an aspiring speaker, husband and father of 4. He believes that everyone has something great to give, and he wants to help us realize our potential.

Jamon’s first recognition of him wanting to be something came from his community pastor, and his uncle, who was a unionized sanitation worker out of New York. They were both respected by others and always giving.

“I wanted to impact people’s lives the way they did”

Jamon was born with a birth defect when his pregnant mother was in a severe automobile accident. This caused him to be ridiculed by his peers. His grandmother saw this through the years and reminded him one time that “everybody has their own cross to bear.” She told him storms come to make us stronger, which builds character and integrity.

“(Storms) give you strength, but more importantly, experience”

Both of his sons were born with issues. His oldest son was born large, which strained the ligaments in his shoulder. When he began to crawl, he couldn’t balance himself because he was so weak. His elbow set at an awkward position and he lost full motion of it, going through years of rehabilitation.

“I gave him the mindset that the only thing holding you back is your own mind”

His youngest son was born premature, at 5.5 months, and weighing only two pounds.

“He has the heart of a warrior”

He tells of the story about the butterfly coming out of the cocoon, which forces fluid into the butterfly’s wings.

“That’s why we have to have the struggles, because we’re all trying to get our wings”

Jamon’s own birth defect resulted in one side of his body being weaker than the other. To compensate, he ran extra hours, did pushups and additional pullups to get better physically. He says he didn’t want to be in last place, or the last kid picked.

He was also outcast by half of his family because there was a doubt if he was his father’s child.

“I was really angry. I knew there was something I could do. One day at a time, I did the best I could.”

He says that growing up in his community, you were either the “prey”, or the “predator.”

He first got into sports at age 10 after seeing his older cousin play high school football. However, he realized he initially wasn’t a great athlete in his first recreation center football game.

“I started working harder, channelling the anger into the sport itself”

Jamon started studying the game more through the playbooks, and by asking his coaches for input and advice. Eventually, with hard work, he developed the reputation in middle school for being an outstanding football player.  He also wrestled for the school team, although he didn’t win many matches as he just tried to outmuscle his weaker opponents, tiring himself out in the process.

In his senior year, after his mom was diagnosed with cancer and he was forced to quit football to work two jobs, Jamon truly became a wrestler. That year, his record was 42-5 and he won a regional and conference championship. He lost at the state championships, and says the pressure got to him.

“You’ve got to believe you’re good enough to be somewhere”

He says he’s learned to support his kids the best he can, but won’ t force them to do something they don’t want to do, if they don’t want to continue with athletics.

“Just being there doesn’t make you a good parent. You’ve got to have that relationship, that communication, that support.”

He advises other fathers to just give kids time each day, and to watch what happens.

LIGHTNING ROUND

Superhero: Superman

TV Show:  The Cosby Show

Family Tradition:  going fishing with his dad and his friends

Embarrassing Moment:  in 6th grade, writing a note to a girl in his class and having the teaching read it out loud

Jamon’s thoughts on fear: “Fear isn’t real. Fear is something in your mind that you think might happen; you don’t know until you try.”

TIME CAPSULE: “I just want to let you know that I have always loved you guys. You are products of God, and me. Everything I didn’t have, I wanted the best for you. Every mindset and attitude that I developed, I want you to have that. My ultimate goal is for you guys to be 20 times, 40 times, 100 times better than me. I know I’ve made mistakes, but I know that in my heart, I’ve always wanted the best for you guys. You are good enough. You’re worth of every goal you set for yourselves. You can do it, just believe in you…”

INTERVIEW LINKS

www.JamonGlover.com

(Jamon is also on Facebook and Instagram)