Young Entrepreneur Blog

Talk Shipp

Josh Shipp is still in his early 20s, but you wouldn’t know it from his résumé. He’s written books, shared the stage with Bill Cosby, and hosted a reality TV show. And he’s already established an international reputation as an inspiring speaker with a simple and entertaining, yet challenging message.

Abandoned and abused as a child, Josh was able to triumph over the tragedy, and he continues to encourage everyone to overcome struggles and live life to the fullest. And he does so through the power of laughter.

Today I will be interviewing Josh Shipp and digging deeper into the worlds of self-help, business, comedy and life.

1.. You have been described as “a modern self-help guru”, for people
who are not familiar with you, how would you describe what you do?

I’m half stand up comedian/half motivational speaker.

Initially I wanted to be a stand up comic but…

A) You can’t do open mic nights at 17, you have to be 21 to get in.
B) I wanted to say something that not only made people laugh but also
made them think.

Think Dr. Phil on red bull. In your face, but on your side.

2.. You clearly had a traumatic childhood, yet you say that “whenever
something bad happens you can either get bitter or get better”. I would
imagine this is something that is easier said than done, do you have
any tips on how to turn a negative into a positive?

Everything in life is easier said than done. And by the way, even
though I’m a quote motivator…no one can motivate you. That’s crap.
Motivation is a choice.

c-h-o-i-c-e

You can’t always control what happens to you BUT you ALWAYS control how
you respond.

3.. You have toured the world with your motivational speaking, I
recently read that you have spoken to over 1 million people. Is there
one specific person that you felt great to be able to help?

This fifteen year old girl comes up to me after a gig and hands me a
note. And I’m thinking great some twelve year old has a crush on me.
No thanks, I don’t wanna end up on Dateline NBC. As she walks away she
says, “Thanks I don’t need this anymore.

It was her suicide note.

Delayed flights suck. Hotel beds are uncomfortable. But that makes it
all worth it.

4.. On the other side of the coin, is there one person that you were
unable to help that you wish you could go back and try again?

I don’t know. That is the interesting that about what I do. I never
know what people will do with what I give em. I say nothing new.
Nothing earth shatteringly revolutionary. What I do is remind teens of
stuff they know, but in a way they will listen to.

With teens you have to EARN the right to be heard.

My fear is that people leave one of my gigs, fired up, ready to make a
difference, to not settle for mediocre

[then wake up the next day]

and do A B S O L U T L E Y nothing different.

ahhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!

5.. Clearly you are not doing this for the money, but we all have
bills to pay. Was this ever an issue when you were starting out?

Success= find something in life you love so much you would do it for
free, but you LEARN to do it so well you get paid for it.

I’ve never let money stop me from pursuing my dream.

I believe if you follow your dream you’ll earn the money.

Not quickly, but eventually.

At age 17 I was 10,000+ in debt.

Age 23 a millionaire.

I don’t say that to impress you, but rather to impress upon you that if
I did it, you can too. But you won’t do it by settling for a job that
is comfortable or good enough.

good enough ain’t good enough

PERIOD.

6.. If you had a time machine and could go back and give yourself one
piece of advice, what would it be?

don’t procrastinate — regulate

start now!!!

but I probably wouldn’t have listened

7.. I often hear that the best public speakers are passionate about
what they are saying, clearly this applies to you, but do you also feel
that you are naturally a good public speaker/performer?

Yes, I have a gift.

But practice makes…

PERFECT?

NO!!! I M P R O V M E N T

Ever time I stand up to do my thing, I wanna get better, funnier, most
bold, more offensive, more courageous, more compassionate.

I speak only from experience, and do it in an entertaining way.

Also I’ve found people learn more from your screw ups than your
successes.

Who the crap wants to hear some guy bloat on about his successes? Sit
down and shut up.

I’ve screwed up plenty and ain’t afraid to talk about it.

8.. What are your goals for the future?

- to work smarter not harder

- able to retire at age 28, though i’ll never quit working

- reach more teenagers through innovative media platforms

- to end this interview

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Josh Shipp
Entertain Inspire Empower

Josh Shipp

Hey Josh [weekly podcast]