How Donovan Bailey Overcame the Worst Olympic Start

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Your path is your path. Stay committed.

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Stay focused. Be disagreeable, optimistic, and relentless. All

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right, welcome to less than 1%. Thank you for coming. Um, today I am blessed and honored actually probably well, I

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was going to say more blessed and honored, but I'm more honored than blessed actually to welcome my guest today. and and I'll just I'll just call

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him out right off the bat before I say his name because he had a terrible time getting here.

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Yes.

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And he and at any point in given time he could have said, "You know what? I'm going back to Toronto." But but he

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didn't do that. He's here today and is Donovan Bailey. And um welcome. Thank you for coming, dude. Thanks for having me. Yeah, I

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thought about it a couple of times yesterday. Yeah, I was Where am I going? Why am I going there? Where am I going? Why am I going there?

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There must be something in the universe. Oh my god, there's a lightning storm.

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Why is the plane being diverted to another city? How come we don't have fuel?

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All of that. But yeah, man. Listen, I'm uh I'm one of those men that uh you know, if I'm you know, I like to stay in my own lane.

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Yeah. and and I'm quite focused on what I need to get done and whether I I don't know what the end result of the need is.

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But I I set out with a plan and you know I I wasn't flying the plane. Yeah.

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So but ultimately I'm like yeah I'm going to go.

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No, I appreciate you and speak speaking of lanes.

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So that lanes are very important and uh I want to I want to call out a couple of things in your career but I want to I want to go back. I want to start fresh.

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All right. So, we have had a disproportionate Jordan and you can you probably know this. We've had a disproportionate number of Jamaicans on

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the show. And I swear I know I'm Jamaican. So, I know that y'all feel that I just do it because I'm Jamaican.

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But it just so happens that Jamaicans are better at everything.

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We're the best. We're the We're the very best. And you're going to have more Jamaicans. I'm going to make sure that Yeah.

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Yeah. So So Manchester Yeah.

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Yeah. And you moved to you moved to Canada when you were 13.

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I moved to Canada. I moved back to Canada when I was 13. Whoa, whoa, whoa. Tell me.

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Yeah. So, um I was born I'm a country boy. I mean, and sometimes it's funny when uh when you're having a conversation with someone with people

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and they don't understand uh because everyone thinks I I think the average person who doesn't understand the island think that we all grew up by the beach.

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Yeah.

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You know what I mean? And we're all running up. Anyways, uh yes, like you like like most of those tourists, I I went to the beach twice a year.

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Yeah.

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I grew up in the hills. I'm from Manchester, Jamaica.

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I grew up in the hills. I grew up on a farm.

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Uh you know, you know, cows and goats and and and uh and fruits and all of that.

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Uh so yeah, I grew up inland. I grew up inland. Just a country boy, man. So I'm not Yeah, I'm definitely not a beach guy.

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Funny enough, I I'm I'm still barely learning how to swim. Yeah. Uh, funny enough, but I mean the island though, you know, it is what it is.

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No, no, my dad is a countryman, you know, so I know I know how that is. And I know I know the burden, too, though, as far as

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the burden I think our families put on us because we're from the country to do better than they did and they make sacrifices to o make sure we can get

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there. So, one of the things that for me, one of the things that I mean is that I'm blessed with this platform.

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know you know the fast amount the fastest man on earth at one point. Uh but one of the things I know uh that I'm blessed with this

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platform and and that is to educate people. I think there's so many and educate people about our culture. ed educate people maybe about blacks but

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but more more because of of of my Jamaican uh background and yours and I try to make sure that you know

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Jamaicans's known for for sports and music right uh but I try to explain

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to everyone that I come across that the backbone of every single home is academics is academics

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and you're going to get patrol if you don't get am I right?

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Listen, this morning you're going to get lick dude if you don't get it done. So this morning I'm complaining, right?

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Because I'm excit I'm you know Donovan is coming on, right?

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And I'm running track in at for for Braybuff in Canada and I made the the championship in Toronto and I and and yeah mis time my start and came second.

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Actually I came second in the 400 also which is a which is a terrible story. The tough race. Yes.

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Yeah. Tough race. Yes. But anyway, I was telling my mom, I was like, "Hey, you know, this this track thing, you know, looking back at Donovan, you know, and I'm I'm you getting all your

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YouTubetubes." And I said, you know, I'm not saying that I could be as fast as him, but I feel like track was part of, you know, the culture and who we were.

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And why didn't you push? And she say, you know, mama, we were academic. And I said, academic? There were I was a good

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student. There were no tutors. You didn't do anything.

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Correct. I just got good grades. Like what were you doing that made me made you academic? Well, you know what she she was doing?

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She was giving you instructions and directions. Yes, sir.

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And there was consequences if you didn't. Yes, sir.

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And that's the household I grew up in, which is why I'm saying to you, I'm blessed with this platform. Yeah.

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I'm blessed with this platform. So, I try to explain to people. I'm like, yes. You know, all the sports people and thank God for me, it opens every door in

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the world for me. Yeah. any country I land, I can command media attention anywhere. That's amazing.

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However, I need to stay in that room by what I have between my ears, right? And that is something I think that most

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most people don't understand about Jamaicans in Well, I mean, I'm going to say Jamaicans, but it's probably the Caribbean.

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And I I agree. I mean, at at some level, I we talked about the introvert extrovert that I am.

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Yes. Yes. At some level, there are times where I'm frustrated because I feel like I've gone that academic route. I've done

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some cool things and I walk into some rooms and they treat me like I'm not supposed to be there, right?

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You know what I mean? So, so I feel I feel I I appreciate you acknowledging that because sometimes I think you're right.

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The way our society is structured, you know, you don't always identify the great people, right,

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in other genres, right? just focus in on one for us, you know, Bob Marley, Donovan Bailey.

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Bob Marley, you say both, but that's all right. Yes. Yeah.

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Well, right now it's it's Bob Marley, Donovan.

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No problem. How do you Let me ask you a question. I mean, I guess I'm I don't know if I'm um like how what do you think or how do

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you reconcile the thought of walking the room and you don't think that you belong there?

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Well, okay. So, I'm going to I'm going to come to something that you said online about confidence. Okay.

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Okay. I don't I I that what you described when you said listen I'm I'm I'm confident. You write in your book about being confident.

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I don't feel like I don't belong there. Right. Okay.

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They feel like they don't that I don't belong there. That's a very different thing.

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Difference usually. No, I know I belong there. It's just that you don't a lot of times you'll still have to fight and

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push and explain and because I mostly dress like this, you know, and I'm not coming in with a

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with an air sometime then you have to shock people and say, "No, no, this this is a $3 billion company, right?

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That I that I that I am fortunate enough to be the leader of, right?

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But I don't fully identify myself as only that. This this this is more of me than necessarily like my job

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is." Yeah, but I mean I I listen uh first of all your your confidence and your level of comfort

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uh for me inspires a whole ton load of people because your side hustle is three billion bucks. Yeah. Right.

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This is his this is his real job right here. Okay. His side hustle is three billion. Yes, sir. Yeah, man. So So we're good.

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So So Jamaica um it's interesting. So like I just went to Dun Dun River Falls. Like do you when you said two times a year go to the

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beach like I would when I went to Jamaica Yeah.

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I did I you went for family you went to you didn't you didn't really go as a tourist just recently go to eat at your family's house eat and

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eat and run from the dogs and then but but there's there's there's definitely something going on and I write about that in less than 1%.

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I have my own theory that that's in there, but there's something going on with Jamaica and and probably track, you know, or athletics as as the world calls it.

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Yeah. Well, I think we'll dig into it.

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I think it's sports, but I also think it's, by the way, um Athena is getting her Jamaican citizenship. She wants to play

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for team Jamaica. I'm just putting it out there. So, nice.

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But, but um there's something about track and athletics and sprinting that

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is intrinsically Jamaican, right? Like especially over the I mean it's been I mean Bolt put it on a on another level, but when you look at yourself, right?

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You look at Lynford, you look at Well, I'm looking before McKinley, you can go back from the 40s, man.

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I'm looking at all these other people running for other countries. Oh yes, that too. And they're all Jamaican. Yes.

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Autobona's mother is Jamaican.

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Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Um you know what? I I think that um I think that people truly need to understand like just go there and see.

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Um one of the things I do every year or try to do every year is to go to Jamaica to go watch the high school championships. Yeah.

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So it's called Champs. Champs. Champs is in the book. You know that, right? Yeah. Yeah.

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And um I I just I I just remember how profound this was. I was there a few years ago. I don't remember

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exactly which year it was cuz I I I try to go all the time. And uh there was a little boy and he'd ran like it was

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class 4 so he was like maybe 11 m and Bolt was in the stands and at that time I think Bolt had I mean he would

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the the 958 was was was fresh in the minds of of the world and a little boy said yes I'm going to

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thank you thank you I'm going to break the world record like and you're like the level of confidence the pressure of your school the pressure

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of your community. I'm just saying to that it's I think that track and field it's an individual sport. I mean each event is an individual sport with it within itself.

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Uh it is the easiest but but most difficult technical thing that you'll ever do in life because

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everyone can walk. Anyone with two legs can walk, right?

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How can you um how can you be that focused? understand whatever biomechanics a coach is

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teaching you. Lifting weights, uh, nutrition, um, physio, mental, me, the well, that that's to get to the mental.

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Yeah. Yeah.

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That's, do you know what I mean? That's to get to the mental because I mean, you as an athlete, you know this.

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Um, at the end of the day, every single time that you see uh, eight athletes line up, you're seeing the greatest specimen on earth.

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Yeah. Yeah.

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The difference between the the difference between number one and number eight, it's all here. It's all between your ears. Yeah.

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Right. So, and I think that innately Jamaica has this thing, you know, a lot of my a

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lot of my um we'll say public figure friends, right? Yeah.

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They always talk about uh comed the non-Jamaicans or non pe people who are not used to.

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Right. Right. Right. Right. Right.

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They'll come to Jamaica. They're like, "Yeah, man. I want to go. I'm gonna bring my bodyguards and all that stuff." I said to Jamaica.

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I'm like, "I'm gonna tell you this." I said I said the the I said the the worst thing that will happen to you if you're ever in a public spot Yeah.

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is a little man might roll up to go, "Yay, big boss. I saw you on TV. Buy me a drink." Yeah.

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I said I said everyone in Jamaica Jamaica is not like that.

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I said everyone in Jamaica is a star bro. Yes. Every everybody Yes.

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And and and and our roots is uh derived from respect. Yeah.

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Right. Discipline, honesty. I mean, you need to treat the CEO the exact same way that you treat the gardener. Yes. Right.

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Maybe the gardener better because Well, the gardener can let some people in to take care of you. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

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But, you know, I'm not saying that it's violent. No, people. Yeah.

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You know, we have our share, but you know, Yeah. We're good.

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Yeah. No, that that's that is uh Yeah, there's something intrinsic that talk to Malcolm Gladwell about that because he he has Jamaican roots also and we

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and we um you know, we just there's something there's something it does. I mean, he's, you know, I think there are cultures.

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Listen, your cultural heritage will dictate a lot of what you do without you knowing it. Correct.

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But I think Jamaica there's a I mean, and I know and I'm going to talk about this later on too, but I work incessantly. It doesn't And to your

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point about side hustle, I don't even know sometimes I don't know which side hustle I'm in because I'm doing so many things

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and and sometimes I wake up and I say, you know, moo what why why are you writing? Why are you doing a podcast?

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You know, Jordan, why are we doing a podcast? And then you say to yourself, because you want to impact the world. And I think that that's something. But let me ask you a question though.

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Yeah. What else? Because again, I'm just like you. I mean, you know, whether I'm raising money, we're doing philanthrop philanthropic stuff, you know, selling a company, like whatever it is, writing a book.

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Yeah.

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I'm like, so I and I'm and I'm incessantly looking for just disrupting yourself 100%. Because if I don't challenge myself, what am I going to do? if it you

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know you know so for me I'm always the optimist what am I gonna do like I I I saw my dad

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retire and got busier as he retired sometimes he wasn't really busy but he told me he was busy so but so at the end of the day I recognized that he wasn't busy

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physically yes but he might have been reading thinking of something making a phone call and that to him occupies a whole lot of space in his mind

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but yeah what else would you do I mean I'm just saying to you that yeah you know you for me I when when you know people talk about oh

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you retired are you retired from t you retired from from from from professional sport I'm like yeah but then I got busy right right

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my father businessman you know I'm doing I'm building schools you know what I mean so I'm like

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I I don't understand how it is that that you can't think about every single day challenging yourself when when I I was watching um

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pen relays the other day Yeah and they got these 70-year-old 80-y old guys, man just crushing it, banging.

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And so for me, if I'm somewhere and you know, you've got a 20, 30, 40year-old person ask me a question

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about what there is, what can you do or whatever, I'm like, look at that guy. And then ask yourself, yeah, what's your excuse?

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Because I'm not the motivational type. What I am, what I'm going to tell you is this. If you're motivated, we're going to be friends.

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Yes. You're my You have that Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan. I'm not I'm not motivating you. This that's that's that's that is the price of entry into

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the building. Sir 100%. 100%.

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Because if I got to motivate you, it's it's wraps.

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I am definitely not, you know. Yeah. I Yes. I I can't I can't be I can't be one of the one of the one of the preachers

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standing up there and hoping that you'll wake out of bed and hoping that you'll do this.

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Yeah. It's not and I and that's just not me personality wise. That's just not me.

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And I'd argue that it's I'm scared to say this. I think that it might not be teachable.

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I think that mentality is it might be innate. It might be who you are. I don't know.

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Um it could be maybe maybe it can be maybe it might be in there and not expressed.

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But there's some people you just you take them to the well. You take them to the well. You take them to the well and you're like I've done that. I've done that and that's more exhausting than it is.

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It's terrible.

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Yeah. So I can't do that and I won't do that. For me it's a waste of time now.

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Like I literally can walk into a room and I can feel someone else's energy.

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Right. No, I'm serious. If I if if I'm like No, they're like I'm I'm moving to Dallas. Yeah. Let's go.

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I'm and and and and you be and and I'm very certain that it'll be like okay, cool. When are you coming? Yeah.

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And I get here, I'm like, what are you doing? I'm going to go work out. Cool. Let's go work out. Yeah.

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Like it's just like for me it's just business. like whatever is happening like you you you you literally can have

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um you you you have the mindset already so you know the energy of whomever it is.

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Yes. And you have to stay around those people because if you're the one with the if you're the one that is the only one with the energy

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I feel like other people zap it like you got to feed. You see what I'm saying?

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Like people have to feed into your energy. Yes.

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You know what I'm saying? It's like it's like I I won't call them out, but there are a few people that have been on this pod. Mhm.

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And I'm like I'm I have the energy and they don't and I'm like you're like this.

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Yeah. I'm trying to pull out like you're doing right now, but then you're pulling it out.

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But then you know what happens is and you've seen it, Jordan. I hit a note. There's a note you hit with people. Yeah.

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Cuz I think people come on this and they're like, "Okay, what what are we going to talk about?" Right.

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You know, I I have a question for you.

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Yeah, sure. Shoot. So this is my new this is my this is what I'm writing about now I think is the is and it's going to be a

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question it's going to be a question is the world moving away okay let me start over

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track and field the big reason that I'm disappointed in my old age

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from not continuing along that line is because it seems like now I mean I'm talking it's a little baby talking to king.

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Right. Right.

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But it feels like it's the ultimate meritocracy. It feels like, you know what I mean? Like you walk into a room and I know there's work behind it. I'm

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not saying that there's not work and you have to do more work than the next guy or gal, right? That I get that.

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But at the end of the day, when you beat somebody, like you beat somebody, right?

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Like you you you run the race, the race is done, and I'm going to play that clip, by the way, and you look back behind you,

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right? and the guy's behind you, that guy can't say, "Well, the wind and the this and that." You see what I'm saying?

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Like basketball, I love basketball is my sport. It's my daughter and son sport.

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They mine too, by the way.

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But they do they do amazing. They do amazing.

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Team, but it's a team sport that relies on a lot of different factors. So much so that you have all these metrics that you check. But in track, there's one metric.

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It's you.

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It's you versus the clock. That's crazy you said that because just before that I was thinking are there any in track

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are there such athletes uh that you think are underrated? That's a really good question.

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Um because it's it's either you win or you don't.

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Under but I would I would just I mean I know yeah underrated how they might be underresourced in right like you might have somebody that you

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don't Yeah maybe. But but I'm just saying to that who cuz you know in any sport there's you you see the grace and then you know

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people always talk about oh this guy you know should be at this level but I feel like he's underrated right in basketball that happens all the time but also you need a ball. You need

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a ball. You need a net. You need four you need and you also have teammates right. That's what I mean. You need Right.

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Um in in track or golf maybe tennis. Yeah. Yeah. It's just you. Just you.

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It's just you. Um, to your question, I mean, I don't know.

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I don't know because uh when I when I personally look at that and and I reflect on on on on my time and and and

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and my career, we all walk to the line. And before you

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walk to the line, it's your job to prepare to get to the line. Yeah.

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It's your job that when you get to the line, you make no mistakes. You make the least amount of mistakes. And and it's also your job to put one foot in front of the other and beat the other people that are there.

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Yeah.

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So I'm not really So So I'm saying to you that if somebody I I don't think that someone could be

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maybe you you Here's the thing. You can say that somebody didn't get to their potential. Yes. There you go.

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Yes. Yes. I think I think that that's the that's the answer. That's and and it's also based upon what you observe,

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not what they probably feel about themselves. There's all kinds of athletes and people that that first of all, they think that they they're

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they're athletes that think that they're amazing. Yeah.

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And the athletes that think that they're crap.

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Uh and and and it's the opposite. But see that that's where I'm seeing the merit the lack of meritocracy in other sports because I just to answer your question on the basketball side your

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friend Charles Oakley absolute killer love him right absolute killer love him now he doesn't have a championship and everybody is like well what does that

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mean and Barkley I guess right Barkley there's a few of them Patrick Euing Reggie Miller Carl Malone

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John Stockton so you're telling me that these p people are only great

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when they win a championship in a sport that has multiple variables variables beside just what you do on the court is

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well to well to to answer that question I say that to the young the young people out there that's because Michael Jordan was playing that's why

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thank you that's why that's why none of those great I mean all the names that you mentioned

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plus+ they all got beat by Mike they all are hall of fame hall of famers And that's because the greatest man to ever play the game was played.

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Okay. So, I'm I I just I don't I 100 We had this conversation pre-show.

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Your energy is amazing, Rean. Like, yo, this I'm telling you, this is uh already one of my favorite podcasts. and we

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didn't and just we knew each other peripherilally maybe you know tangentially or whatever you want to call it but but the opportunity to meet you here

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is amazing because I I feel like you know just just the way the way you describe things is almost like it's coming out of it's coming out of my head

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right and and again you talk about energy matching energy matching energy and and also for me um

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what's impressive and always will be impressive for me is energy that matches intellect Yeah, that matches ambition. Yeah.

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So, at the end of the day, I mean, wait, you have to say that again. I was going to say, repeat that, please.

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I don't even know what the hell I just said.

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Energy that matches intellect that matches ambition.

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Yes. See See, these are the quotes that I have.

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That's That is You can get that, right? You can splice it. Please splice it. You can leave all that in. I don't care. Doesn't matter.

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But yeah, my my quotes just come and and then I forget them.

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Yeah. I want to I want to I want to play uh I want to play something here cuz you talked about not you talked about the preparation

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and making less mistakes than others, right?

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I and you know I'm I'm a track just I I love I I break it down. I'll watch sports every second

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of every race and some of the way you ran this race truthfully and I'm not saying this just cuz you're here. It reminded me of Bolt

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in the way that you ran this race um in in 96. In 96 96 it was very interesting

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because if you if you break it up into you know sort of quarters. Yeah. Yeah. It's actually threes.

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Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Right. Like if you break it up your your first your first third is is is a little shaky. I mean it was

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at first I was crap. I was What are you talking about? Can I swear on here? It was absolute man. It was I mean

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that's what my coach and I were arguing about. My the first 30 in Atlanta was probably the the probably

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the worst 30 that you can possibly do uh in an Olympics or Olympic final. And and uh

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the the issue for me at that time was that um I'd sat and spoke to Dan, my coach Dan Baff

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um about mistakes.

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And so if I made a mistake and I panicked, you don't have time. It's 100 meters. You don't have you don't like it's like you have 1/1,000 of one second

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to make a mistake, to correct it, and to move on. Yes.

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So I knew I was done. I knew I was done out the blocks and and you know in the back of my mind all I kept saying was you got to relax. You got to relax. Uh

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you got to breathe. Uh you got to make sure that you know I mean by by the way I'm not thinking about these things in particular. I'm just reacting Yeah.

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to the fact that I made a mistake. Yeah.

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So I'm not saying to myself, oh you got to relax. You got to relax. It's just kind of like okay right let me let me let this thing come to me now. I got to let it come to me. And I

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knew that um I had the the you know by far the best the the the fastest top speed in the world. Yeah.

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And I knew that I could catch any of those guys uh on the field uh in in the field at that time.

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But I had to relax. I mean, you know, also I think that

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um in that moment I don't I wasn't thinking about it is the it is the Olympics or oh there's 11

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10,000 people watching in the stadium and billions watching around the world.

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I'm like this is a race and I'm here and it's one shot cuz that was my first Olympics. A lot of people don't understand that, you know. Um but yeah, I you know what

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for me terrible um uh terrible out the gate um my acceleration that my

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acceleration I I kind of stayed with that stayed in the pocket my acceleration and so um when when I started when I got

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to about 40 meters I'm like all right it's time so we should play it put on your headphones

27:21

yeah this was this was uh Ouch.

27:33

Ouch. Yeah, you were right here. I'm like, "All right, Frankie, you got him." Yeah. Yeah.

27:42

You could have You could have run You could have run faster than 984.

27:45

Yeah. Um Dan thought that um And by the way, I was injured. I didn't know that. At a torn at a torn left doctor.

27:53

Really?

27:54

Yeah. Yeah. Um my Dan thought that I was at that time I'd have ran between 961 97.

28:04

So yeah, we were we were we were on we're on ready. Yeah. Ready.

28:09

Ready. I mean but I'm just saying to you that I ran the world record I ran the world record with the most horrible first 30 ever ever in the history of the Olympic Games.

28:17

Yeah. Um you know so I listen it's confidence.

28:20

Um it's it's uh it's coaching. Um, but you have to you have to explain that that because you write about that

‍

‍

28:25

You, I've seen clips of you talking about confidence.

28:31

You have you have to explain that a little bit because you're right. A lot of people out there are not in meritocracies. Right.

28:38

Right. They're not in a place where I go out there. I know what I did.

28:42

I run. How? But that confidence follows you in business. It follows you in philanthropy. It follows you in everything you It follows you in your

28:50

basketball game you're supposed to play tonight.

28:51

I'm supposed to play tonight. I'm supposed to blame that. Um, you know, my my dad always said that. Um, if you hang

28:59

out with four idiots, you're going to be the fifth. Very certain that I I I kind of feel that I kind of feel like I would have gotten along with your dad and as well as you'd got along with mine, man.

29:09

Right. Uh, you know, so I think that um I'm a constant student. I'm always learning.

29:18

I want to be around people that are smarter than me.

29:20

Yeah. I want to be around people that know more than me. Um, you know, so uh the level of confidence uh that I have

29:28

is based upon the education that I have that that I gain through the people that I always find myself around. That's awesome.

29:35

You know, I mean, I'll go into a place and I know I know nobody. Yeah. And I'll leave and I got a friend. Yeah.

29:41

Right. I mean, and I I don't go seeking it.

29:43

Right. And and and it's not transactional. That's it. It's not It's not It's not what can you do for me? It's just it's just you're you're seeking out people

29:52

that are like-minded that might see the world the same way you see them and you want to you want to right is that the I think the world is an incredible place.

30:00

Yeah.

30:01

I mean I I the world is an incredible place and I think that sometimes people get caught up because they might they might be someplace where it's easiest.

30:11

You know what I mean? There might be some place where you're like, "Ah, I can just roll with this guy and you know, yeah, I'll get my uh I'll go I'll get a job

30:19

and yeah, I'll I'll earn 40 50 grand a year for the rest of my life, whatever." Right. Right.

30:26

Or I mean, maybe me as an entrepreneur back in the day and you and I you and I certainly probably have the same attitude when it comes to this. I'm

30:33

like, "All right, I'm going to go, you know, when I started when I started when I worked for the investment bank in Toronto, it it was straight commission, bro. M

30:42

you know what I mean? Like it's kind of like you're you're you're dialing for dollars. You're you're you're trying to get clients and your job is to get a client. Yes. Yeah.

30:49

You know what I mean? Yeah.

30:50

So I I again I've always challenged myself and um and and maybe I'm not

30:58

going to say that I take the most difficult path, but maybe I take the path that I'll learn the most from.

31:05

So is is all of that a reflection?

31:09

Is is is is track and field the 100 meter a reflection of who you are or had

31:17

or was that part of the the honing of who you are now? It's very Does that make sense what I'm asking? Explain a little bit.

31:24

Okay. So, so you can go through something like what you've experienced as an elite athlete, right?

31:30

And that can give you the skills to then apply those things to other parts of your life post sport,

31:38

right? which is I think kind of what happened to me. I'm a point I'm a in my life I'm a point guard. You're a point guard.

31:44

I'm a point guard. I'm the I'm the strategist. I want to I love when other people win, right?

31:49

You know, I love I people manager introverted. I want to I don't necessarily want to be on the stage, right?

31:55

But when I help somebody get on the stage, it it it put it makes me excited. That's beautiful. Yeah.

32:00

That's beautiful. So, so I feel like playing basketball, although I think parts of basketball were a reflection of me like I was not I'm I'm not a nice

32:08

basketball player like you know cuz I'm I'm a dog so I'm little right. So there were times where I did hurt PE I'm sorry

32:16

you know all those people but No, he's not.

32:19

Yeah, you're you're in his way. You're in his way, bro. You're in his way. So get out.

32:24

Yes. So, so um but for you the way you are now, was track part of

32:32

your training or was that a reflection of who you are already? Were you who you were already when we saw you out there?

32:42

Was that was that growing and building who Donovan Bailey was or was Donovan Bailey already dog?

32:48

Yeah. Before that and and track was just another manifestation of who you were.

32:52

I'm going to So, I'm I'm going to go back to to something you just said. Um I always ask people their definition of the difference between nice and good.

33:02

So, I want you to think about that, right? Um as I answer this question. Um,

33:09

I think that I think that track um was the maybe the the manifestation

33:17

of a child uh growing in front of the planet. Got it.

33:24

Because in fact, I became a I probably became a uh a nicer good

33:31

person. And I'm saying that with track because a as an athlete as a young I mean here's the thing I I'm number four or five boys in my family.

33:41

Yeah. So you you're taking it and you're giving it take it and give it and and from day one till till today tilt it

33:48

and it ain't never going to stop. So, I think that I understood um

33:55

when you're in a position and you're nice, uh the advantages that that uh you could be taken advantage of. You could

34:03

be taken advantage of. And the difference is for me uh in track especially in sport

34:12

when you're a good person the boundaries that I created uh because of my success. Yeah.

34:20

Uh and the people that wanted to get in because I was coming on the on the tail end of the whole Ben Johnson thing.

34:26

Yeah. And so so in fact I the the the the eyes of the world was now on me. Yeah. To be the spokesperson of a sport.

34:35

Yes. And of a country. Yeah. And of a culture. Yes.

34:40

I had to you had to dis And you did it. And you did it fantastic. Thank you. Thank you.

34:43

Because Yeah. I mean I I 100% remember that you know sort of that fall and you

34:51

know Ben Ben love him. I think he's fantastic. I mean, you know, I think I think he got somewhat of a raw deal in some in some ways. Well, he got he got used.

34:59

Yeah.

35:00

I mean, that's something I've said I've said every time. I mean, he got used. He got used. I mean, he's still he put his hand in the cookie jar, though.

35:06

But but but Ben is not you in respect to your eloquence. And you know, I remember when M Rooney went on TV and

35:13

congratulated Ben and Ben looks so like he just like, I don't want to be here, Brandon. Like, I just want to I just And he just said thanks. You remember the tanks. gone, you know.

35:24

Yeah.

35:24

Um, but you you you're I think you're um, you know, you're you're you're eloquent. You obviously know the moment.

35:31

You can, you know, I think that that gravitas, but I I want to I want to play something based on what you said before about being a dog

35:39

and because I think both of us are and and I think as the testosterone lowers, we get a little less doggish in

35:46

some ways. I don't think so. No, I'm going to I'm going to tell now I'm going to tell you what it is. I'm going to tell you about me.

35:50

Okay? See, as we get older, Yeah. the testosterone reduces. Yeah.

35:55

So your So your physical reaction is not the same. True. Everything is I agree.

36:01

Cuz I'm just like I can come on and it's all here.

36:04

Correction. Correct. Appropriate, dude. I'm your boy, man. We're good.

36:07

We're good. I'm telling you. I I got you. I got you. Appropriate. I got you.

36:11

Okay. So, let's play the Let's play the race because So yeah. So as you um so you win

36:18

and then and then Michael Johnson takes takes the 200, right? Right.

36:24

And then now he starts he starts popping off. He starts talking. I mean listen the 100 meter dash for for a century.

36:32

Right. No, forever.

36:34

You win the 100 meter, you are the fastest person in the world. Period. and he decided because he lost that race, right,

36:42

that he was going to somehow say the 200.

36:45

No, no, he he didn't run the 100. But but Michael Michael broke the record of the two. And listen, Michael Johnson is one of the greatest athletes that ever lived.

36:56

But Michael is a speed endurance guy. Yeah.

36:58

At the end of the day, here's what happens in the 100 meters.

37:02

You are the heavyweight boxing champion of the world, right? So if I roll out to you, if I feel I can beat you up, then I

37:10

can probably be faster than you. You know what I mean?

37:14

And so what in Atlanta, what happened was um you know, America is one of the most one of the greatest countries on

37:22

earth and one of the most patriotic countries on earth. They were hosting the party. You're hosting the party.

37:29

Yeah. and this guy, albeit I'm at University of Texas, but this Jamaican Canadian guy rolls in, which is a weird combination by the way.

37:37

Of course, we we live in a we live in this weird world. It is what it is. It is what it is. Blame our parents. It is what it is.

37:43

But this guy comes in, me, and I'm taking I'm snatching all the gold. I'm snatching everything, right? You know what I mean? So, of course, they're going to get pissed off.

37:53

So when Bob Costa said, "Well, because Michael uh uh broke the world record in the 200 meters, he has to be

38:01

declared the fastest man in the world because the time that he ran, this is what's really funny.

38:07

The time that he ran in the 200, you have to divide it by two." Yes.

38:12

And I'm like, I don't even understand your math. No.

38:15

Because it's the dumbest thing in the world. Yes. Right. And here and here's the other thing.

38:20

If Michael Johnson was the fast man in the world, why was he not in the relay pool for America?

38:26

Yeah, because because now you have the 10 fastest men in America and you have the fast man run the 200 and he's not allowed to be on the 4x1 team.

38:34

Makes no sense.

38:35

Again, again, the dumbest thing in the world. So, so for me it was um it was fun but but but it was fun but

38:44

I'm telling you that they I mean like America hosting the party and someone else taking everything.

38:51

Yeah. It's rough for for them.

38:53

Boom. World record. And and then and our relay team was the first time America was ever beaten since 1896. Yes.

38:59

So I was like, man, you know, so get get a little news. They had to get a little But you you ran with it, of course. Well, listen. Well, you ran with it.

39:08

Yeah. Listen, made me $5 million. What are you talking about?

39:10

So, let's playing the race, right?

‍

39:13

Let's play the race. Let's play. So, you did it in Toronto with Hometown. Absolutely. Cuz you you took them to your home. Yes.

39:19

And uh now we're we're racing 150, which is a split between 100 and 200. Mhm. And so, here we go.

39:27

Okay. Three steps.

39:28

Did you choose three steps? Hang on. I'm I'm winning right there.

39:31

You're winning. I tell you it's done, right? Now, watch it. Watch it. He's trying. And he's trying. And he overextends. I feel like he overextended there.

39:39

You think so? I think he was trying to catch you. He can't. Trying. He can't. But he can't. No. No. That That's an impossibility.

39:45

That That's an impossibility. I mean, I'm just Look at Look at this guy. This This is This one that Look at that. Look at that.

39:53

So, let me let me finish with the the 200 meters divided by two things.

39:57

Yeah. Yeah. So if Bob Kostas and Michael were doing proper math then they would have understood that my first 100 meters I already ran 984. Michael's fastest 100

40:06

meter time ever was I believe 101 maybe 102.

40:10

Yeah that's my split my split as you know you ran track my split uh running start on the relay was 8.8 seconds.

40:19

Oh wow.

40:20

Which simply means that if and that's for the that's with the baton exchange.

40:24

Correct. So, let's just say that if I'm going to do their math, then if I ran the 200, I'd have ran sub 19 then.

40:32

Yeah. You know what I mean?

40:33

But it doesn't work. It doesn't But yeah. So, so it is what it is. Um, listen, it was a great time. Yeah.

40:39

Uh, it was it was an incredible time for track and field because I think it I mean, Michael's a very

40:46

smart guy and and you know, I want to believe that, you know, I got I got I got some I got some brains, too. And I think um

40:53

it was a great time for track and it's a great time for like positive teachable moments. Yeah.

41:01

You know, and it brought it back. I mean, I think it brought it back. I think having it in Canada also legit legitimized Toronto, right? Oh, yes. As a as as sort

41:10

of an athletic, you know, the the the worst thing about growing up in Canada, you know, when we did, is that not where they are now,

41:19

right? You know, think of basketball and all these different sports now. I mean, I'm huge. Even even rap, I mean, whatever it is, like it's a different environment being in Toronto now than it

41:27

was cuz Toronto is a legitimate market, top 10 market in the country, you know.

41:32

Yeah. Toronto Toronto is definitely growing up uh into a mega city. Funny enough, I saw um Maestro Fresh. Oh, yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I saw the picture.

41:39

I saw the picture couple days. Yeah. I was just like, man, how you doing? You know what I mean? It's just kind of like, you know, you're one of the OGs. You're one of the guys who Do you remember? You remember Chaos?

41:48

Of course. Chaos. I love Chaos. So cha chaos. So so so this so you know this is now I'm revealing people that uh

41:56

that don't know and don't tell my parents because like no so chaos um Drake kind of worked with cha if you look at Drake's style.

42:04

Oh yes Drake's style I mean he he perfected it no doubt I mean Drake is amazing but chaos kind of was the one that we

42:12

knew growing up that started that course of course. So I am working on a song with chaos

42:19

in the studio. So I was really Oh yeah man. You know I was a rapper till I was 16. My dad my dad joked the other day that he wanted me to stop rapping

42:28

and so he he said he's talking about now or no no no this is when I was 16 cuz you know he's like Jamaican like what do you rap? What are you doing with a thing? What?

42:37

Yeah. Yeah.

42:38

So we he actually came to he came to one of our our you know gigs. No he actually came to a gig. He actually did a did a gig and he came and he said and he said

42:46

uh he said to his friend he said I don't they're kind of good. I'm I'm worried.

42:50

He said just make him go on. Make him go.

42:53

But yeah, so Chaos I I so I you know if you're out there Chaos you did you know that I give him credit and I think Drake does too at some level of really going

43:01

to that style. Now, Maestro though, Maestro was the original, the original as far as showing Canadians that Yeah.

43:08

Hey, you can remember cuz what Canadians used to do in rap is they used to just say, "I'm going to leave or I'm going to sound like York.

43:14

I'm going to sound like I'm from New York." Like even my my accent now, right?

43:18

You know, when people talk to me, they're like, "Where are you from?" Like people don't know where I'm from. And I go to Canada and they're like, "Where are you from?" And I go to Jamaica, they're like, "Where you from?" Because

43:25

because the accent gets, you know, morphed into all these things. But I think that and when we're discussing music and culture, I I I think that um

43:34

I think that's kind of like where we grew up, man. Yeah.

43:37

Because and and and and positively how people impact you because chaos I like I was a I was a rockas.

43:46

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. House head. Yes.

43:48

Hip hop. You know, like I was like I was all of those things and they're like, "What do you like?" I'm like, "I like all." So I'm just saying. So Chaos was

43:55

one of the guys. I mean I mean my was certainly hip-hop but was one of the guys like yo man I can go here I can go there I can by the

44:03

by the way just tell him I said what's up when you talk to him you'll know you'll know um that's my boy man yeah my my my high school warm-up song

44:11

was Diamond Girl you remember Diamond Girl that's just so you show you how Planet Rock was ours Planet Rock mixed

44:19

Yes but let but let's go a little darker let's go a little darker because that race was phenomenal

44:27

You killed him, but he he sort of pulled up. But then this was pre- press conference. They caught you when the testosterone was up

44:36

and they caught you when your your mind So play that clip. Let's play that.

44:40

Oh jeez. What's wrong with you guys, man? I apologize. Hot mic. Hot mic. Hot. I apologize. I apologize. Yes. All right. So, let's play it.

44:48

He didn't pull up. He's a chicken. He didn't pull up at all. He's just He's just a chicken. He's afraid to lose. I think what he should do is we should run this race over again so I can kick his ass one more time.

45:00

It's how I felt. No, no, it's how I No, no, for real.

45:05

It's how I felt. I mean, here's the thing. The next day, I apologize. I I I was on uh Canada AM and Good Morning America.

45:16

People, this is 2026. I apologize.

45:22

calling a guy a food that we eat every day.

45:27

I said chicken. Didn't say anything else. Believe me, I could have had I had way more words.

45:32

But yeah, I I think that um emotionally I'll tell you I'll tell you what it was.

45:36

Um it was like a heavyweight boxing championship, right? And there was so much buildup and there were things that

45:44

were said and there were and and and I and also felt insulted and disrespected.

45:50

Yes. And so at that time I you know for a man who listen I can I can get around the ring you know what I mean you know I grew up in a schoolyard I can get around

45:58

the ring and so I felt I I actually felt that way and also I think that

46:04

maybe at that moment I was not satisfied with the result.

46:10

Oh because he didn't finish but it was because I knew there was going to be an excuse. Yeah. Yeah.

46:16

Right. And and also what what's what what is what is what is little known is that we had a three race uh deal

46:26

Toronto Vegas London.

46:30

Oh, right. And so I thought that like and so for me again I'm hot and so at the end of the day dude at the end of the day I'd have been like Michael like if he if

46:38

he said hey man you're such an or whatever whatever but I'm going to come to Vegas and and I would be like yo uh you know I'll make

46:46

you win Vegas so we can go to uh Crystal Palace and Lynford was in the race. Yeah. Okay. Okay.

46:52

Yeah. So I'm just but and I won that race. I won the race in in that we don't talk about which is kind of crazy but I I raced the 150 after

47:00

in London against Lynford. Yeah. I gotta watch that. I did not know that.

47:04

Yeah. So I'm just saying to that that that you know so I just think that like this great thing that could have even been greater was like missed. You know

47:13

what I mean? But yeah, I mean it was certainly a testosterone moment and I but I think but I think it's but I think

47:20

we have a lot more in common. I think that you have uh so I think you have the obviously you have the positive aura.

47:27

You have the Oh yeah.

47:28

You have the you know but there's there's anger there too. Oh god. Yeah.

47:33

Yeah. There's anger there cuz my is it anger though?

47:36

I absolutely for me for me for me. Oh yeah. I absolutely think it's anger.

47:40

Is it because So but we know how to channel it.

47:42

Right. So that's why I was going to ask you is it anger that you can that you can unleash on the sporting field?

47:51

Yes. So, it's literally an act of war where there's a fantastic solution at the end and no one gets hurt.

47:56

And then I think as we me, but I'm I'm assuming you might be in this camp too. As we got older, Mhm.

48:04

we figured out how to channel that anger outside the sports field because it's very it's much much much more nuanced. Right.

48:12

Well, I'm I'm here's one of here's one of the things grudges. Maybe it's grudges. No, no. Here's one of the things that I'm I'm So, I'm trying to stare you.

48:19

No, no, no. I'm going to tell you why.

48:21

Um, the problem with people, and again, I'm not trying to satisfy anybody out there, and I don't think you are either.

48:28

You get up every day and you do your thing, but I think that the word anger has this negative connotation. It does.

48:36

It does to whomever they are out there. Right. So, I'm just saying to you, is it anger? Yeah. Got it.

48:41

Is it is it is it is it pent up frustration? I think and I think for for me and maybe in that moment

48:48

I I I do hold grudges, right? Oh, no. No, I do too, man. I I don't think that you if you're a competitor and you don't you're not

48:56

I remember every word, every name, the date, when you said it, how you said it to me. I mean, that's the title of the

49:04

book. Less than 1% is actually an interaction I had with my coach.

49:07

I uh I um Yeah, I know you well. I know you will. You could be my twin brother. You could be.

49:16

Yes. I I remember everything. Everything.

49:19

And then and and the problem I think with me is that I have a vivid photographic memory. So I can I can go back and quote and be like

49:26

you d Now let's go. You got to take I visit I visit people. I visit the people who said like in medical school I

49:34

visit I go and I go to their office and I don't go and I and again to to your point about whatever we're going to call it

49:42

I channel it I go hey you remember you remember me you like hey it's good to see you just want to let you know what happens

49:49

well the greatest lick back for any human being is success because the thing is you don't have to say anything just like you get to say hi

49:57

hey are you drinking a glass of wine I got you I got you I got you a bottle. Hey, listen. Here's a bottle of silver knife that I've heard. It's good, man. You on me. Thank you.

50:06

Yeah. Thank you. You know what I mean? And and Yeah. So, I I know you well.

‍

50:12

So, we have a question that we ask everybody um and Leanian all the way up everybody.

50:18

We ask people, "What do you believe your superpower is?" Wow.

50:27

Right. But we ask people, "What do you believe your superpower is?" Wow. And it and I and I'll give you a little time and I'll keep talking while you think. Yeah. It has to be something uniquely you.

50:41

It has to be something that brings you energy. Like some people say, "Well, I'm on time or I'm punctual." Like that's not a super. That's just that's just how you get by in the world, right?

50:50

Like some people say, "Well, I'm on time or I'm punctual." Like that's not a super. That's just that's just how you get by in the world, right?

50:57

But when you think back to life, track, everything, what is that one thing that like your friends and family look and say, "Yep, that is absolutely Donovan's superpower." Wow.

51:05

Wow. So the first thing that comes to mind is that regardless of the circumstance at any place at any time I was taught from I was young to be my authentic self and to be my real self right and and and and unfortunately sometimes it's too much for people.

51:31

Uh so it is what it is. Um, and but I think that's it. And and and you know what? And and and I mean to that I I'm also a student. Yeah. Like I do have the ability to listen, but I am not I this just me. It's just me. I'm not pandering to you.

51:38

Like I do have the ability to listen, but I am not I this just me. It's just me. I'm not pandering to you.

51:44

It doesn't matter to me, right? Because if I'm not my authentic self, then I'm nobody.

51:53

100%. I mean, that's that's yours.

52:02

My superpower. It's funny. So I write a lot about being your 100% authentic self, right? And getting rid of those boxes that you you want to you want to live in. I mean, that's what I write about in the book and on stage when I'm on stage. But my superpower is actually relentlessness. My superpower is just

52:10

So I write a lot about being your 100% authentic self, right? And getting rid of those boxes that you you want to you want to live in. I mean, that's what I write about in the book and on stage when I'm on stage. But my superpower is actually relentlessness. My superpower is just

52:19

Like I can't I just can't stop. Like I want to stop. There are times where I'm like I don't want to do this anymore. I know that the outcome is not going to I know I'm not going to get there. I don't want to do it. And I wake up in the morning and I'm like, "How can I do it? How can I do it? When can I do it? Can I do it better? Can I do it longer?" So I tell everybody I'm not I don't feel like I'm the smartest, the fastest, or the or the best at anything, right?

52:23

Like I can't I just can't stop. Like I want to stop. There are times where I'm like I don't want to do this anymore. I know that the outcome is not going to I know I'm not going to get there. I don't want to do it. And I wake up in the morning and I'm like, "How can I do it? How can I do it? When can I do it? Can I do it better? Can I do it longer?" So I tell everybody I'm not I don't feel like I'm the smartest, the fastest, or the or the best at anything, right?

52:31

I know that the outcome is not going to I know I'm not going to get there. I don't want to do it. And I wake up in the morning and I'm like, "How can I do it? How can I do it? When can I do it? Can I do it better? Can I do it longer?" So I tell everybody I'm not I don't feel like I'm the smartest, the fastest, or the or the best at anything, right?

52:39

But I feel like I can outwork relentless.

52:47

Yeah. Well, I mean, I feel like I can outwork anybody. Like, just I think that's awesome. Don't sleep, don't eat, right? You know what I mean? Like just go get it.

53:02

Well, I mean, well, think about it when we were speaking earlier about even the strip even this trip alone coming here and I'm like, "Oh man, you know, I got a lot of to do. I've got all kinds of stuff happening all over the place." And then I went to sleep and I got up. I'm like, "Oh my god, my chest is killing me."

53:17

And my only thought was, "I'm I gotta fix it because I gotta go over there." Well, you're he's he's he's he's sick. I'm like, "Okay, I'm a physician. If he's sick, I got to get to the hotel. I want to, you know, I got to make sure he's doing fine." And and you said something. You said, "I can be sick there, right?"

53:29

Well, you're he's he's he's he's sick. I'm like, "Okay, I'm a physician. If he's sick, I got to get to the hotel. I want to, you know, I got to make sure he's doing fine." And and you said something. You said, "I can be sick there, right?"

53:37

I mean, my my chest is caving in. I don't care. Can barely speak. This not my voice by but I'm assuming for the people out there this is my very voice.

53:45

It's pretty sexy. We'll AI it sound like

54:05

That absolute respect um uh to you uh for, you know, having the ability to be relentless because that is your gold medal.

54:14

Yeah. Yeah. And it and I think to your point about gold medals, I think that's where I would want anybody listening to this to understand is that whatever your superpower is, you can get to your gold medal 100%. And and and and you listen and and

54:24

And I think that society doesn't look at it that way. You know what I mean? You know, I I have a global stage. You have a great stage. I mean, but you've built it over the years. And so there are there are certainly a lot of uh people out there. But there's a caveat. Every gold medal is equal, but the 200 is not equal to the 100.

54:33

Well, I mean, I think that um embracing your true self to a point of self-love is is pretty important. And we live we live in a society today that there's way too many idiots that's been validated by idiots. Right. Uh so yeah, so embrace what it is that you do and and and be the greatest at it.

54:49

Okay. So the second part of the question Oh jeez. Okay. What's your kryptonite? Can I say that on air?

55:05

Um a phenomenal Cuban cigar like But why do you say that's advice though?

55:14

Cuz a Cuban cigar just

55:22

But it gets me from like where whatever the anxiety is, you understand? Got it. Got it. Got it.

55:27

And wherever it is like and and and and to me, obviously, as you explained, kryptonite is not a negative. Yeah. This is kind of like today was a good day. Okay. Where am I going? Today was a bad day. Where am I going? Right.

55:34

This is kind of like today was a good day. Okay. Where am I going? Today was a bad day. Where am I going? Right.

55:42

Today was very unproductive. Right. Where am I going? Like wherever it where it is. And that's what I'm saying to you. That's Yeah. So, I'm, you know, maybe I I don't know if that answers your question, but yeah, it's it's uh it's unique, right? It's unique.

55:53

Yeah. So, I'm, you know, maybe I I don't know if that answers your question, but yeah, it's it's uh it's unique, right? It's unique.

55:57

I mean, you know, again, I'm thinking about where I'm coming from and I'm like mistakes. What are my mistakes? One of or what what Oh I make mistakes every day.

56:05

One of or what what Oh I make mistakes every day. Yeah, I make mistakes every day. Every single day. First of all, I don't think that I I think that I'm I'm known around the world for winning for winning 100 meters and breaking world records. I'm not known around the world for all those races that I lost and all the mistakes I made in those races.

56:12

I think that I'm I'm known around the world for winning for winning 100 meters and breaking world records. I'm not known around the world for all those races that I lost and all the mistakes I made in those races.

56:21

The point is that I encourage people that if you don't do something, you'll never make a mistake.

56:26

And if you never make a mistake, you'll never become anything.

56:34

So at the end of the day, every day do I make mistakes all the time and and and to me that's that's part of although

56:47

you know uh you know as an athlete we have this uncsurmountable amount of of of of confidence and you're and you're invincible. I mean even now I mean as I was saying earlier about the whole you know you know testosterone thing I'm invincible in between my ears my body tells you otherwise.

56:55

you know uh you know as an athlete we have this uncsurmountable amount of of of of confidence and you're and you're invincible. I mean even now I mean as I was saying earlier about the whole you know you know testosterone thing I'm invincible in between my ears my body tells you otherwise.

57:03

But yeah, man, I I I think that uh you know, I I I have to tell people that um you got to get out and do stuff. You have to. For me, meeting you for the first time, having this conversation um is I actually don't I think it's great that you're known for winning. I think that's fantastic. I think that's how I knew you, right?

57:09

But yeah, man, I I I think that uh you know, I I I have to tell people that um you got to get out and do stuff. You have to. For me, meeting you for the first time, having this conversation um is I actually don't I think it's great that you're known for winning. I think that's fantastic. I think that's how I knew you, right?

57:16

But I think that that I think your story is far more profound than just you you winning that goal.

57:22

But I think I think that sorry I don't mean to interrupt you, but I I think that um I think that who you are as a person and what you've done and you keep doing as a person, you don't have this shallow thought on who someone might or might not be.

57:30

So at the end of the day, yeah, run a run a man and you know, whatever.

57:38

Yeah now you kind of go, um, hey, uh, yeah, you did all those things, but I think that you have taken the time to to study, to read, which they say black people don't, right? But but you've taken the time to

57:46

I think I think that sorry I don't mean to interrupt you, but I I think that um I think that who you are as a person and what you've done and you keep doing as a person, you don't have this shallow thought on who someone might or might not be.

57:53

So at the end of the day, yeah, run a run a man and you know, whatever.

58:02

Yeah now you kind of go, um, hey, uh, yeah, you did all those things, but I think that you have taken the time to to study, to read, which they say black people don't, right? But but you've taken the time to go beneath the layers and find out. I mean, we're having a conversation now.

58:12

I remember everything. Everything.

58:21

And then and the problem I think with me is that I have a vivid photographic memory. So I can I can go back and quote and be like you d Now let's go. You got to take I visit I visit people. I visit the people who said like in medical school I visit I go and I go to their office and I don't go and I and again to to your point about whatever we're going to call it

58:26

The point is that I visit people. I visit the people who said like in medical school I visit I go and I go to their office and I don't go and I and again to to your point about whatever we're going to call it

58:34

well the greatest lick back for any human being is success because the thing is you don't have to say anything just like you get to say hi hey are you drinking a glass of wine I got you I got you I got you a bottle. Hey, listen. Here's a bottle of silver knife that I've heard. It's good, man. You on me. Thank you.

58:42

Yeah I know you well. Yes.

1:00:02

Yeah. Now you kind of go, um, hey, uh, yeah, you did all those things, but I think that you have taken the time to to study, to read, which they say black people don't, right? But but you've taken the time to

1:00:11

So that that's what I'm saying to you. I think that um I think that who you are as a person and what you've done and you keep doing as a person, you don't have this shallow thought on who someone might or might not be.

1:00:18

to to go beneath the layers and find out. I mean, we're having a conversation now. and and and and for me uh I feel that any topic that you both put on the board at any part of the pendulum you can have an intellectual discussion about

1:00:27

on any topic that you both put on on the board at any part of the pendulum you can have an intellectual discussion about what your opinion might or might possibly whether or not someone values our uh opinions or not and so that's what I'm saying beneath the layers you've actually and and I think you understand when I say to you that I'm on a stage and I know and again maybe it was my parents parents that

1:00:35

what your opinion might might possibly whether or not someone values our uh opinions or not and so that's what I'm saying beneath the layers you've actually and and I think you understand when I say to you that I'm on a stage and I know and again maybe it was my parents parents that

1:00:44

I mean we're having a conversation now. and and and and for me uh I feel that any topic that you both put on the board at any part of the pendulum you can have an intellectual discussion about what your opinion might or might possibly whether or not someone values our uh opinions or not and so that's what I'm saying beneath the layers you've actually and and I think you understand when I say to you that I'm on a stage and I know and again maybe it was my parents parents that prepared me because at the end of the day I try to tell people that I was a mama's boy and my dad became my friend when I started being successful.

1:00:52

I try to tell people that I was a mama's boy and my dad became my friend when I started being successful. My dad was my dad but my dad my dad was my dad and then my dad became my friend when I was in my 20s. Very certain that you're the same 100%. Yeah. I mean my my dad how did I know that I was fast is because I could Yes. I could stay ahead of I mean we we we battled forever. we battle and but you're right as some we started playing golf

1:00:59

My dad was my dad but my dad my dad was my dad and then my dad became my friend when I was in my 20s. Very certain that you're the same 100%. Yeah. I mean my my dad how did I know that I was fast is because I could Yes. I could stay ahead of I mean we we we battled forever. we battle and but you're right as some we started playing golf

1:01:07

you're the same 100%. Yeah. I mean my my dad how did I know that I was fast is because I could Yes. I could stay ahead of I mean we we we battled forever. we battle and but you're right as some we started playing golf

1:01:14

right when I when I stopped playing basketball I stopped playing basketball my senior year in college because I was going to medical school I was like I got to interview and do all this stuff you got to do stuff and I wasn't going to have a career I didn't feel like I could have a career in it and I started playing golf right then and I'll never forget we started

1:01:22

right when I when I stopped playing basketball I stopped playing basketball my senior year in college because I was going to medical school I was like I got to interview and do all this stuff you got to do stuff and I wasn't going to have a career I didn't feel like I could have a career in it and I started playing golf right then and I'll never forget we started

1:01:31

I wasn't going to have a career I didn't feel like I could have a career in it and I started playing golf right then and I'll never forget we started

1:01:39

we went to you know one of these big courses in Toronto we went to you know one of these big courses in Toronto we went to you know one of these big courses in Toronto we went to you know one of these big courses in Toronto

1:01:47

And I showed up with shorts, you know, and everybody was so mad. My dad was so mad. And I never forget, if you ever buy clothes at a country club, you're going to you're going to be broke. So I had to buy pants at the country club there. It was literally like $300.

1:01:53

My dad was so mad. And I never forget, if you ever buy clothes at a country club, you're going to you're going to be broke. So I had to buy pants at the country club there. It was literally like $300.

1:02:01

For a pants that was worth at that time was maybe $50. Maybe. Maybe. And um you know what? To this day, I don't wear shorts on the golf course.

1:02:11

For a pants that was worth at that time was maybe $50. Maybe. Maybe. And um you know what? To this day, I don't wear shorts on the golf course. Really? I wear pants every single time.

1:02:19

Every single time. Like it's almost like every time cuz they you know you have the nice shirt with the belt and you know your legs, dude. That's what you

1:02:26

Got some track and basketball legs.

1:02:35

That's actually that's the only thing that I get credit for that I was a former athlete is my calves. My calves look like I played somewhere, you know.

1:02:36

But anyway, yeah. So that's uh so I I feel the uh the dad thing and and actually as he's gotten older, I've gotten older, I understand, you know, and that's the thing about parenting.

1:02:45

Things that they did things that I'm doing. We're doing the best we can do.

1:02:53

I mean I'm talking about us as kids. But that's how it's supposed to be though. Unfortunately.

1:02:58

Yeah but I mean I think that that um I think that parenting evolved has evolved over the years and I and I and I truly believe that uh my parents were I mean again I'm I mean and I and I say this and as a black man too I say important. I said I was blessed to be a mama's boy and my dad was my dad.

1:03:10

I said I was blessed to be a mama's boy and my dad was my dad. And he was present and he was present even when I'm in Jamaica and he's in Toronto or wherever the hell I was and he was very present and I think that these are the things that taught us.

1:03:22

to be successful. And it also taught us to be relentless in whatever you're pursuing.

1:03:29

Because you know what? You have to answer to somebody.

1:03:34

Yeah. There's an accountability no matter what. And also the fact that also the fact that maybe we're from a culture where it is it is very important that um you know as males you your son better I mean I'm saying this I'm also a girl that I have a daughter.

1:03:45

It's so important that you are better than him.

1:03:53

So for the record I want to let everybody know my dad did not commit child abuse. Um but he did hurt me several time.

1:04:00

But I would say this I would say this it wasn't it wasn't you didn't get it wasn't every time or every right it was a se it was several times where the be put the fear of God in me right and then the other times where I behaved because I knew that I had the fear of God.

1:04:08

it was several times where the be put the fear of God in me right and then the other times where I behaved because I knew that I had the fear of God.

1:04:17

Absolutely no but listen here's the thing I mean again it's it's it's the same it's the Jamaican household. Like you get it where and wherever it is around the planet. It's going to be the exact same.

1:04:26

Absolutely no but listen here's the thing I mean again it's it's it's the same it's the Jamaican household. Like you get it where and wherever it is around the planet. It's going to be the exact same.

1:04:35

I mean ultimately sometimes and again I'm speaking of the camera. Sometimes when we say licks it doesn't necessarily mean that he's actually smacking you.

1:04:43

Yeah. Sometimes it's just the fear of God. It's a look. And it's it's a look 100% It is. It's the look or your guilt.

1:04:53

And I think we figured out in in now because the times are different, right? That we're able to do that in ways that aren't just always physical, right?

1:05:00

That we're able to do that in ways that aren't just always physical, right? You're able to put that that fear in a child to know that, hey, you can't do that, but you don't have to do it the way they did it.

1:05:11

Well, I I think that also, I mean, I'm certain that you and I, you know, you and I from the same vintage. Uh, we were spoken to. We're spoken to and we're dictated to.

1:05:17

Well, I I think that also, I mean, I'm certain that you and I, you know, you and I from the same vintage. Uh, we were spoken to. We're spoken to and we're dictated to.

1:05:26

Yeah and today we speak with No, it's with you're having a conversation with your kid whether the kid is five or 20. You're like you're like what the hell have you given me your opinion?

1:05:33

Yeah and today we speak with No, it's with you're having a conversation with your kid whether the kid is five or 20. You're like you're like what the hell have you given me your opinion?

1:05:40

I don't I don't I'm just saying to you that that's what I'm saying to you now as a father. You're going am I talking to you and and he's trying to give me his opinion and cutting me off and I'm trying to tell him, you know. Anyways, so so that's that's a balance we have as parents now. So it's it's very important.

1:05:49

What what are you excited about? What are you doing now that you want everybody to know about um that you're excited about going into the future?

1:05:57

Uh well, you know what? I I have um I have uh positions in a couple of startups. Okay.

1:06:05

Um uh going pretty well. Um I'm exiting from a company uh hopefully in the next 30 days. Congratulations.

1:06:10

So I'm I'm happy for that. Um and you know what? Um uh there's some real estate development that I want to get done. Uh so I got the land trying to get the land serviced.

1:06:21

probably go back to Jamaica and and help build back some more schools and and uh and and we have a we have a foundation that we do teeth. I'm a big on teeth.

1:06:29

so uh so we uh we have um nine miles of smiles is what it's called. So uh we go to Jamaica and every year we give free dental care with with between um uh University of West Indies uh University of Toronto and uh George Brown Georgetown uh dental hygienist uh clinics.

1:06:36

Yeah let me know about that.

1:06:42

Yeah yeah so we we um so we we go down there and for 3 weeks we we give free dental care for the the for the people that are less fortunate.

1:06:48

uh but dude listen I I mean for me at my age I just think that I have I mean I don't know if it's a midlife crisis or whatever you know but I I I just think that I I'm at the point where I have such incredible energy. I just want to be with people I want to be with people who want success.

1:06:59

uh who are happy to get up and go go where they need to go.

1:07:09

you know um there might be a second book in in in the uh you know I've been talking about publisher so maybe it's whatever. I'm just trying to stay busy. I really I'm really just trying to stay busy.

1:07:16

Yeah and and for all of you out there go check out the book Undisputed Donovan Bailey.

1:07:22

Um it's a great read. Um you know I uh obviously as you as you mentioned I got a little bit of a prequel to the conversation by reading and and watching a bunch of YouTube but but you know I appreciate you coming.

1:07:30

You know I think this has been an amazing conversation.

1:07:38

Uh you know Jordan we always we try to purposely do it so that we don't know you know people want questions ahead of time and all that stuff but I like I hate I actually hate that. I just want to have a discussion.

1:07:45

But I think that I I think we hit several several several items where where we're so connected right.

1:07:53

But I want to give you a chance tell the audience if you had to leave them with one thing you know one set of advice based on you know all the amazing things you've done and also the challenges you've had what would you what would you tell them?

1:08:02

I think that um I I just have a usual quote and and the quote kind of spans you know across the planet. Uh there's a lot of people that uh you know we live in a world where where where uh it's kind of fake news and validation online.

1:08:12

And the the number one thing I say to old people and young people uh is it's the exact same thing. Um you get out what you put in and you cannot be jealous or envious of anything that anybody does because ultimately you are asleep when they're grinding.

1:08:19

I purposely did not say anything cuz that is profound.

1:08:26

That and I that is profound. And when you and when it and when it comes it's going to come at the right time.

1:08:35

This it's if you're if first of all if you're grinding working hard every single day and you're manifesting and you're surrounding yourself with people that's challenging you to be your better self.

1:08:45

It's going to happen dude. It has to happen. I mean and that's what whatever like you know again if if you're focused it's like me running the 100 meters and I'm completely focused on the next day over for me.

1:08:52

The hell's going to happen? He's going to beat me.

1:08:59

But whatever my truth is if I'm prepared I'm in my lane and I do what I'm supposed to do listen to my coach surround myself good physio whatever whatever whatever all that.

1:09:08

It doesn't matter what he's doing then I'm going to pass the line at some point.

1:09:16

Y and it's going to be my result and I am going to be the winner of that.

1:09:24

Fortunately you know I was the winner of everything. Back to the confidence. Absolutely.

1:09:32

It is what it is. Let the record show. Um it is it is what it is.

1:09:40

Awesome. Donovan Bailey, my my I'm sorry author, entrepreneur, gold gold medal fastest man in the world at one point.

1:09:49

At one point I still have some I still have the 50 m world record by. Yeah. Yeah. To this day.

1:09:57

And and and now my my new brother from another mother. Oh god. Yes. Yeah.

1:10:06

So thank you so much for coming.

1:10:14

you know I think this has been uh and certainly with this thing on my chest maybe I can have some Jamaican rum now maybe we know that's medicine you're a doctor you know that that's that's medicine so maybe I can find some in Dallas you know maybe I need to take a shot and and that will clear things up but no thanks for having me

1:10:21

but no thanks for having me um certainly worth the trip and this has been awesome dude yeah all right appreciate you

1:12:00

You been through the fire, but you did not burn. They didn't know you were in the fire.

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