Drew Lynch is a comedian who stutters.
Drew was once an aspiring actor, but that dream was suddenly taken away when he was 20, during a casual softball game.
Drew moved to intercept the ball. It hit the ground unexpectedly and ricocheted up, slamming into his neck. He fell backwards and hit his head on the ground.
Knowing nothing about concussions, he went home and went to bed. The next day he woke up with a severe stutter.
Without treatment, his brain never recovered from the damage to his vocal nerves caused by the fall and Drew was unable to speak normally again.
Comedy helped him to recover.
He auditioned for America’s Got Talent and made it all the way to the final.
Then he lost. It felt like another door being slammed in his face.
When he left America’s Got Talent, he had about 80,000 followers. Now he has over two million.
In his (awesome) TED talk, Drew explains the bounce back simply:
We often see missed opportunities as roadblocks, but what if they're actually guardrails guiding us towards the path we were meant to take all along?
Drew's story isn't just about overcoming adversity – it's also about the unexpected detours that can lead to greater success.
Success rarely follows a straight line and it's important to leave room for the unknown and for exploration in our plans and goals.
So as you map out your goals and set your sights on what you hope to accomplish, remember that sometimes the detours can be the most rewarding part of the journey.
Don't let missed opportunities discourage you – they may just be leading you to something even better.
