I’ve broken 60 bones.
Possibly more, I’m not sure.
As I heal from a fractured leg, it’s made me think about my previous injuries, and what they meant to me.
When I was a kid, I never really saw anyone who looked like me: in a wheelchair, with brittle bones and a few surgeries under their belt. Sure, I did see them in the hospital from time to time and in commercials, but I never saw anyone who looked like me playing sports, excelling in a career, or doing anything outside of a hospital bed.
The stories I heard of disabled people were always dark and not an accurate reflection of reality.
It was a bummer.
Then, I went to the University of Illinois, home to one of the best adaptive sports programs in the country. While I didn’t play sports, I saw people with my disability playing basketball, racing wheelchairs in marathons, and accomplishing seemingly impossible goals.
That, I must say, was awesome.
It opened my eyes to my true potential, and I realized that I can, in fact, do anything. It was the exact opposite of the message I was receiving as a kid from commercials and really society.
From that point on, I set out to tell authentic stories about people and organizations that NEED to get known. Too many organizations and people, like my athlete friends, live such unknown lives, and it’s hurting everyone. The marketing isn’t there, and the messages just aren’t hitting the right people in the right way.
If my younger self knew athletes with disabilities could race in marathons or play elite basketball, I’d probably be a Paralympian today. Perhaps I would be way stronger, too.
Ever since my athlete friends changed my life, I have made it my mission to help organizations tell valuable stories and get known. That is why I started Team Trust Productions.
We are one of the only disability led video production companies with crews around the country — from Hawaii to Washington, DC. We create all sorts of videos, from short social media clips to event highlights to documentary films.
It’s been fun, and my athlete friends continue to remind me how much more I am capable of doing.
If you would like to quickly elevate your brand and video marketing, download my Free Video Marketing Guide. It will optimize your organization now.