What a 15-year-old meth addict taught me about leadership | Brian Fretwell | TEDxBoise

When is Ted gonna talk

This story had a 90% chance of revealing that he is Nathan.

That crowd sucked, jokes were killin it lol. This was a very good talk.

"People don't need our answers, they need our participation"

Plot twist: he is Nathan.

Where did Nathan Go? It's a question I've gotten numerous time about "The 15 yr old meth addict who taught me about leadership" "Nathan" (not his real name) may well be running his own business somewhere with the family, education, and future he hoped for, or he could be in a grave somewhere passing way too early. I've seen both outcomes with many of the kids we worked with at the time. I wonder if a better question is. Does it matter? Should I be less motivated by his brave action if his future turned out bad or more because it turned out well? If he was shot in a drive-by does it make his prior bravery any less important, less impactful, less courageous? I've been inspired by complete assholes and more than let down by absolute saints. As we all have. But, in each situation, we have a choice. Focus on the good we got, or the perfection that was missed. The story about Nathan is imperfect, like the rest of us. In that way, it leaves us with a choice about what we want to focus on. Which, in turn, will communicate what we get out of it. What do you think?

When he got emotional I bursted out into tears. Lost my mum to drugs. Maybe I should of asked questions instead of giving the answers. I will remember that the next time I am trying to help someone through a hard time, drugs or just life <3

The anger and authenticity in his voice is heartwarming. I felt that.

for all the people who “don’t believe” a 15 year old could be a meth addict, please take a moment to be thankful that you were privileged enough and win the birth lottery of parents, a decent house, love, not having to be hurt enough to turn to drugs, and living in a “nice” and “quiet” area. not all kids have this privilege, especially kids like Nathan, who probably grew up without love, lived in a “bad” area. and turned to drugs and gangs as a way to cope.

my dad is a meth addict, im not allowed to make contact with him legally until i turn 18, I last saw him almost 3 years ago, and every day, one thing i think is "i will never see my dad again. i should have enjoyed that time i had with him 3 years ago, because i know thats the last time ill ever see him." i didnt even tell him how much i love him last time I saw him, i dont know why im posting about this, but to everyone who reads this please tell everyone you know how much you love them because you never know when itll be gone

literally every comment is people defending him over his breathing i havent seen one attacking his breathing

'' Our deepest fear is not we are inadequate, our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure ''

His audible breathing was due to nervousness (fear of speaking in public.) His delivery: loudness & melodramatic, indicates how deeply this speaker was moved by his experience. It was a learning he still feels intensely. True emotions are hard to disguise unless one is skilled in: professional acting, polished public speaking and lying. If you chose to focus on and critique his breath or 'bad' speaking, you missed the entire meaning of the speech; good leadership means questioning, not just those you try to lead, but yourself as well. All the time! Even if one never plans to lead, manage, supervise, counsel, mentor, parent, employ, minister to or address others. When we FIRST ask ourselves why we feel a certain way about another, we open ourselves to: 1. Potentially understanding them.. and growing, 2. Probably discovering something deeper in ourselves.. and growing. Growing = living. When a living thing stops growing, it's dead.

The first time I see a public speech gets so emotional

This talk was amazing and I truly wish the best for Nathan and his future.

“Leadership isn’t a me thing it’s a we thing.” Well put. Thank you.

Y'all unsympathetic af, this talk was amazing.

I really hope Nathan sees this and contacts him

I almost cried when Nathan admitted his fear. I had that same moment in my method addiction where I had no hope and was so scared.

He was almost there. I was actually thinking I was going to hear it this time. But, alas, it ended like every other one of these talks that I've heard. The therapist (or what ever he was) was asking this kid what he wanted, and finally the kid broke down and told him. I need to hear the talk where the answer is "I don't know doc. I have no friggin idea what I want. Or what I want to do. Or how I want to spend my years here on Earth." But I never get to hear that talk because, apparently, everyone else knows what they want. Or what they want to do. I know what I don't want to do. I know how I don't want to spend my years here on Earth. But what do you do if you don't know what you want? I'm 58 years old now. I've been a meth addict since I was 25. I'm still trying to figure that out, that 'what I want' thing. But I'm running out of time...