Natalie's interview with Kevin Caroll
Posted by Foyer Federation - 31/07/2007
D-edication
R-esponsibility
E-ducation
A-ttitude
M-otivation
This is the slogan and words of Kevin Caroll which is out on a NIKE band that is purposely clear to signify clear thinking.
He himself lives by these words. Let me introduce him:
Kevin Caroll is an author and inspirational speaker, an agent for social change and also the financial sponsor of the Ugandan Team which he jokes makes him the “team owner”. He has written a motivational book called “The Red Rubber Ball” and his second book “What’s Your Red Rubber Ball?! Discover your Inspiration and chase it for a lifetime” will be released next year. He is also the founder of The Katalyst Consultancy where he has helped turn creative ideas into reality. Although from a disadvantaged background it doesn’t show, as he could not be more “full of life” and I get the impression that he is thankful for every day and lives life to the full. He ultimately wants people to be educated and people to have a roof over their head.
He really does change lives and in his presence I felt truly inspired and motivated to be pro-active with my own life and I now know what I have to do to achieve what I want in life.
This is what he had to say:-
DG-David Gillepsie
NJT-Natalie-Jane Teese
KC-Kevin Caroll
DG- We’re here with Kevin Caroll, author and inspirational speaker, would that be right?
KC- I’d say speaker and whatever you get out of it - that’s up to you.
DG-How did you get involved in the Homeless World Cup?
KC-It started in two ways. I contacted Mel Young because I had heard about the Homeless World Cup from some friends of mine. I got a letter from another friend who works with the youth of Uganda and got an invitation to go to the Homeless World Cup. I asked how much it would cost to go, what the budget to be. He was going to start fundraising and I said “why don’t I just be the team owner, and get visas and passports and you can concentrate on the team, and raise money for other things”. I made a three year commitment.
NJT-So you do fund the team yourself? Wow, that’s really impressive.
KC- Yeah, so I call myself the team owner. I’m like “get out there and practice” (says jokingly then laughs).
DG-It’s been said that you come from a disadvantaged background yourself. Does this give you more motivation to help people with similar backgrounds?
KC- People have to be able to see themselves in possibilities and so for me to be able to go out and talk to people who have had challenging circumstances and situations so they can see what I have been able to do with my life is fantastic. If they see more of that then they know it’s possible . Discipline is the key. I always ask “what’s your next plan when the Homeless World Cup is over?”
NJT-So you try to get people to have long term goals and find out what they really want to do?
KC- Absolutely. That’s the only way it’s going to work. You have to set something out there to stretch yourself. It’s easy to set yourself an easy goal. I want people to set a goal: “I’m going to be or I’m going to do....”. If somebody wants to laugh at you, let them laugh! At least you’re going to go after something, and in that journey you’re going to stretch yourself. So maybe you never got to that thing that everybody laughed at, but maybe you learn 5 other things along the way. Your dream should be audacious and be big. Let them laugh, but when going for many other things will happen. Write your goal down and put it up somewhere that you’re going to see it every day.
NJT-You’ve already talked about NIKE, as well as HSBC and STARBUCKS. You’ve worked for all of them and more-how does working for the Homeless World Cup compare?
KC-I think it’s a very different venue - expectations and success are measured differently. There are people in business that have lost hope and possibility because they’ve got everything. When I come to the Homeless World Cup it’s uplifting and inspirational to see all the work that had to be put in to get here. What’s your next goal? What’s your next goal? I see here people that have set a goal, stuck to it and achieved it. The Homeless World Cup is uplifting and inspirational. Someone had an idea and hope and turned it into a reality.
DG-Do you think big corporations like HSBC and Starbucks should get involved?
KC-Absolutely - I was saying earlier “wouldn’t it be great to invite some big executives of potential sponsors to watch the Homeless World Cup? I believe afterwards they would say how can we help?
DG-Do you think that governments do enough to combat homelessness?
KC- I think that businesses should get involved to work from the bottom up, alongside communities to force Governments and politicians to take notice. Because people in government only talk in that little circle, where as communities tell their neighbours they tell their friends, when they have a party or BBQ. Spread the word. They treat homeless people like they are invisible. But if you get businesses that have global influence like Mercedes and Coca-Cola they are the same companies that fund political agendas and make Governments take notice.
NJT- IF you had one thing to say about homelessness what would it be?
KC-There are circumstances and situations that have created an issue for someone. It wasn’t by choice. If you understand that it wasn’t by choice, if you understand that it wasn’t something they set out to do, it just happened. Maybe it’s bad choices or conflict in the region, or potentially in the family, it could be many things. What you have to do is think I have hope, I have potential. All you have to do is witness this. Maybe you made some bad choices but you can change and move on. People that don’t want to better themselves then shame on them. Everyone has been given this life to do their best.
Just before Kevin Caroll ran off again to support the football he had some wise words to say which his grandmother used to say to him:
“A hard head makes for a soft behind” –people who are arrogant and stubborn which stops them from being educated and open minded doesn’t get you anywhere in life.
Comments
DAVE 01/08/2007
Hi Natalie Great interview, Kevin Sounds really inspirational, he has a great attitude especially given his background. Thanks for communicating this so well Dave
