Unlocking Your “STUFF” to Overcome Hardship, with Dr. Sampson Davis

Growing up in Newark, New Jersey, Dr. Sampson Davis was surrounded by poverty, broken families and drug-related crime. He managed to walk the tightrope between being smart and socially acceptable in a rough neighborhood, and he and two childhood friends made a pact that they would all become medical doctors. They all achieved their dream, and Dr. Davis is now a board certified Emergency Medicine Physician. His latest book, The Stuff co-authored with Sharlee Jeter, explores how everyone has the tools to overcome hardship and trying circumstances.

SPEAKING.COM: Your new book, coauthored with Sharlee Jeter, is called The Stuff: Unlock Your Power to Overcome Challenges, Soar, and Succeed. What do you mean by “the stuff”?

DAVIS: The STUFF is the cultivatable inner fortitude that lives within you. At times, secondary to life’s unforeseen circumstances you may not tap fully into your STUFF the way that you need to in order to overcome and conquer your obstacles. That is why I co-authored The Stuff: to assist in moments of doubt, uncertainty, challenges and overall life hardships and transitions.

The STUFF is composed of 11 core elements we all possess and can be used daily to maximize your life. Whether it is graduation from high school or college; deciding to leave a job or change careers; marriage or relationship woes; facing an addiction, medical ailment, or mental health issue; or retirement and what to do next, the STUFF’s 11 elements will help you showcase your inner fortitude and succeed in the moment.

SPEAKING.COM: You and Sharlee highlight 11 elements you’ve found help people survive and thrive. What are some of those elements?

DAVIS:
1) Choose to Hope
2) Forge Your Motivation Statement
3) You Must Launch
4) Develop Your Team
5) Push Limits
6) Refuse to Give into Fear
7) Refocus Rage
8) Lean into Hard Work
9) Be Open to Unforeseen Inspiration
10) Flip Negatives to Positives
11) Be a Giver

SPEAKING.COM: How did you come to the conclusion that everyone is born with “the stuff” to persevere through hard times?

DAVIS: We collected many stories of ordinary everyday individuals that overcame insurmountable often life-threatening obstacles. We narrowed the collection to 15 of the most amazing diverse stories and shared them in The STUFF.

In lengthy conversations with individuals, we noted those 11 common elements that resonated over and over again. These elements are traits that we are all born with and possess immediately. At times, due to life circumstances, you may not tap into your STUFF the way that you need to in order to defeat the challenge. The STUFF reminds you to remain vigilant in your conquest and goals and to deliver your best no matter what appears in front of you.

SPEAKING.COM: If everyone has “the stuff”, why do some people manage to rise above challenges so easily while others don’t?

DAVIS: Hardships, obstacles, and life transitional moments have a way of dampening our spirits and even the most simple task may appear overbearing and impossible at times. Some of you realize you have the ability to conquer these moments and even re-purpose your life. Thanks to you – the ones living your STUFF – others are able to gain inspiration and insight.

However, we all have moments where we aren’t at our very best but that doesn’t mean you can’t overcome. From reading and practicing The STUFF you will gain insight, inspiration, and a reminder of the tools you already have while understanding the best way to blaze through life’s potholes and craters.

SPEAKING.COM: What are some steps people can take to unearth that fortitude within themselves?

DAVIS: The STUFF offers the steps. It isn’t a “how-to book” as much as it is a journey – one where you will gain insight, direction and sharpen your skills when it comes to living your 11 core elements of The STUFF. Once you hone these elements, you will find that a similar strategy and approach will work for different life transitions and challenges.

SPEAKING.COM: How did you go about finding and choosing the people whose stories are featured in this book?

DAVIS: Fortunately we have a team, and through collaborative efforts we were able to speak to many individuals and families that live and practice the STUFF daily. The challenge was narrowing the book to 15 stories especially given the fact that we collected many extraordinary testimonies.

Our goal was to make the book broad and diverse as well as relatable to every reader from every walk and stage of life, and thankfully we achieved that goal. We have stories from every phase of life including some with international connections and ultimate triumphs.

SPEAKING.COM: Could you tell us a bit about a few of the people you profiled in this book?

DAVIS: Glenn and Cara O’Neill’s daughter Eliza was born with a terminal illness called Sanfilippo Syndrome. Rather than accept the diagnosis, Cara and Glenn quarantined their family for 2 years, raised 2 million dollars and along with a scientist conducted gene therapy in order to give their daughter a chance at life. Today Eliza is alive and thriving. The O’Neills are a shining example of the element, develop your team.

Mindee Hardin, a mother and businesswoman, invented and started Boogie Wipes, a company all parents with small children are familiar with. Due to unforeseen contract issues, Mindee lost her company and went bankrupt. Rather than drown in her sorrows, she decided to launch and has now developed another successful enterprise.

Tracie Micheline thought life couldn’t get any better. She had 3 beautiful children. There were some medical challenges with her first born, the elder of a set of twin sons, but her and her husband fought through. Years later, Tracie noticed her youngest son’s speech was delayed. Through medical testing, he was diagnosed with Autism. However, Tracie did not waver; she remained confident knowing she could handle all.

Then one night, Tracie said good night to her husband. When she awoke in the middle of the night, she realized her husband, a normal snorer, was silent. Tracie leaned over to him to discover that her worst nightmare had come true. Her husband wasn’t breathing. At 42 years old, he had passed away in his sleep.

Tracie was beyond devastated but rather then give up she refused to give into fear. Today she is raising her children while remaining strong and steadfast. She is living her STUFF.

SPEAKING.COM: The Stuff was partially inspired by some of the trying experiences you’ve been through. One of the chapters focuses on prison time that you did when you were in your late teens. How did you end up in juvenile detention?

DAVIS: When I was seventeen-and-a-half, I was a part of a group that committed a robbery. We thought of ourselves as the Robin Hood of the community. We targeted drug dealers and ultimately we were caught. I spent part of the summer in juvenile detention and vowed in the moment to change my life, knowing that if I were to continue on that same destructive path, I wouldn’t live long. I made a promise: “God, if you give me another chance, I swear to make something of my life.”

Weeks later, through faith and pure luck, I was released on two-years probation. My prayers were answered. I returned to high school where I achieved straight A’s.

One day during my senior year, my two friends and I attended a college seminar on careers in health and sciences. Higher education wasn’t necessarily on my list of next steps as no one in my immediate family had ever attended college. After the seminar, the three of us were so inspired that we looked one another in the eyes and made an unconventional pact to become doctors.

We applied to Seton Hall University, were accepted and started our journey. Next, the 3 of us were accepted into medical and dental school. Eight years later, we completed the pact and today we are known as The Three Doctors. Years ago I didn’t have a name for the inner fortitude and strength that we tapped into and today I now know it is called The STUFF. And I know that we all have it.

SPEAKING.COM: What changed for you in prison and how does it relate to the themes you explore in The Stuff?

DAVIS: In juvenile detention, I realized not only did I commit a crime but I also was a product of my reality. As a teenager, I didn’t see professionals walking my blocks and so my ambitions and aspirations were unfortunately influenced by my daily reality. In detention, I quickly understood I had to aim for something outside of my immediate surroundings. I had to push the limits and use my inner fortitude. I allowed my STUFF to come alive within me. I chose to hope, to push limits, to flip negatives to positives, to forge my motivation statement, to launch, to stay open to unforeseen inspiration, to develop my team and ultimately I was able to unveil my STUFF in living my best life.

SPEAKING.COM: What is the STUFF Movement and how can people join?

DAVIS: The STUFF Movement is a community, inspired and influenced by one another and the stuff movement is a place to share your stories as well as your love ones’ stories. Please visit thestuffmovement.com

To bring inspirational keynote speaker Dr. Sampson Davis to your organization, please contact Michael Frick at: Mike@Speaking.com