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Why Not Almost There? I had never run a long race in my life, but here I am, in the middle of the 2015 Chicago Marathon. I’m feeling fantastic, even thinking I could go double the distance. Just being in this race was a mini-miracle. I had heart surgery and back surgery a decade earlier. I could barely stand back then, let alone run. Nonetheless, I’m fired up and feel better than ever. Then I see right in front of me— a sign that nearly stops me in my tracks, NOT ALMOST THERE. I try to brush it off but can’t stop thinking about those words. Every step seems heavier, harder, and then I start cramping up. I begin to walk and complain inside and out. I struggle the entire second half but finish (barely) with everything I have after being physically and mentally crushed. I have never stopped thinking about that sign but that’s fueled a quest to understand the power of the mind, body, and spirit. To understand how we accomplish things. To understand how we become better in the race against time and ourselves. Who am I? Southside Chicago kid. Young Father (20). Assembly line worker. Found 15 seconds between building cars to study. Graduated. Took 5 years. Created a few companies. Sold two. 800 employees. Created Refuel and Not Almost There to help others.
Episodes
Sunday Mar 07, 2021
Sunday Mar 07, 2021
Maysoon Zayid is an actress, comedian, writer, and disability advocate. She is the co-founder/co-executive producer of the New York Arab American Comedy Festival, The Muslim Funny Fest, and has one of the most viewed TedTalks, with over 11 million views. As a professional comedian, Maysoon has performed in top New York clubs and has toured extensively in the US and abroad. She was a headliner on the Arabs Gone Wild Comedy Tour, and The Muslims Are Coming Tour. Maysoon appeared alongside Adam Sandler in You Don’t Mess with the Zohan and has written for VICE. She walked in New York Fashion Week, tap-danced on Broadway, written a best-selling memoir called ‘Find Another Dream,’ and is proud to be an ambassador for the Cerebral Palsy Foundation.
→IN THIS EPISODE… Joe talks with Maysoon about her incredible entertainment career. Born with cerebral palsy, her journey to the stage has been a unique one. She has achieved every goal she has set for herself, including being a critically acclaimed stand-up comedian, TED Talk superstar, a reoccurring role on General Hospital, a proud cat mom, and an advocate for people with disabilities. And yet, with all she has achieved, she is still setting goals and has so much she has yet to accomplish.
🔍 Breakdown with Maysoon Zayid:
Chapter 1 (0:00) Introducing Maysoon Zayid
Joe introduces Maysoon.
Chapter 2 (2:32) Find another dream
Maysoon took some advice to find another dream in a completely different direction. Maysoon never let anything stand in her way.
Chapter 3 (5:04) Inspirational for all the right reasons
Don’t be inspired by Maysoon because she is disabled, be inspired because she is a Stand-Up Comedian who sells out theaters, a best-selling author, and an actress on General Hospital.
Chapter 4 (6:26) Life goals
Maysoon was a born performer. She always knew she wanted to be on TV or Broadway, and she never let her disability define her or block any of her dreams.
Chapter 5 (8:21) Road to comedy
It was in stand-up comedy that Maysoon found her home. After graduating from Arizona State, she started auditioning for acting roles and didn’t get any callbacks. Where she ended up finding people that she identified with was in Stand-Up Comedy.
Chapter 6 (10:56) Current projects
Maysoon shares all of her current projects, ranging from virtual comedy shows to teaching a class at an Ivy League College.
Chapter 7 (13:08) The American Dream
Something people may not consider is the struggles of immigrants from refugee camps. Maysoon has the perspective of knowing a life that does not afford necessary privileges while living in Sudan.
Chapter 8 (18:54) Speed Round of Questions
Joe asks Maysoon some rapid-fire questions from favorite actors to her thoughts on her TEDx Talk, which has over 11 million views.
Chapter 9 (23:44) Only you can define you
The best advice Maysoon has for you is to be who you want to be and not to let anyone else tell you who you should be.
Chapter 10 (25:22) Wrap-Up
Final thoughts from Joe.
Material Referenced in this interview:
→Find Another Dream! By Maysoon Zayid
→I got 99 problems (TEDx video)
→The Teddy Bear Habit by James Collier
📞 Connect with Maysoon
→https://maysoon.com/
→https://maysoon.com/beyonce-the-cat/
→https://www.facebook.com/maysoonzayid/
→https://twitter.com/maysoonzayid
→https://www.instagram.com/maysoonzayid/
👊 To learn more about Not Almost There by visiting this link
→ Not Almost There http://notalmostthere.com/
Connect with Joe on social here:
→Instagram https://www.instagram.com/joe_chura/
→Facebook https://www.facebook.com/notalmostthere/
→Twitter http://twitter.com/joechura