Episode 264 Hot Lessons from Cool Runnings with Devon Harris (Part 1)

John talks with Devon Harris, one of the original members of the Jamaican Bobsled Team (which inspired the movie “Cool Runnings”), 3x Olympic bobsledder (1988, 1992, 1998), former Jamaican Army officer, motivational speaker, author, husband, and proud father. He shares his journey from growing up in Jamaica to joining the military, becoming an Olympian, and competing in the 1988 Winter Olympics.

Listen to this episode to learn more:

[00:00] - Intro

[01:23] - Devon’s bio

[02:10] - Books written by Devon

[03:45] - How Devon got into bobsledding

[07:34] - Team selection and early training

[09:17] - Funding struggles and the grind behind their Olympic journey

[11:28] - Did Devon save any of the original T-shirts they sold?

[13:58] - 1988 Winter Olympics experience

[17:21] - Real life vs. movie moments

[18:52] - Devon’s first official bobsled race

[21:37] - Why Devon retired from professional bobsledding

[26:09] - Devon’s marriage and family life

[28:12] - Creating memories over buying gifts

[29:49] - Outro

NOTABLE QUOTES:

“Do not let the challenges or the enormity of a task that we may be taking on discourage us.”

“I went from being very skeptical to, ‘Oh my God, I don’t know how I’m gonna make this team, but I have to make it.’”

“Goals are the master skill of life … It’s important, not just setting them, but achieving them.”

“Sometimes they (spending time with family) were annoying, but I was loving it. It’s weird. I don’t know how to explain it … just sitting back and watching them chit-chat and laugh, and be loud.”

USEFUL RESOURCES:

https://devonharris.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/keynotespeakerdevonharris/

https://www.instagram.com/officialdevonharris/

https://www.facebook.com/keeppushing

https://x.com/Keeponpushing88

https://www.youtube.com/@KeepOnPushingalways

"Yes I Can!: The Story of the Jamaican Bobsled Team" (https://a.co/d/5DXhFQb)

"Keep on Pushing: Hot Lessons from Cool Runnings"  (https://a.co/d/2Ho7BCY)

CONNECT WITH JOHN

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X - https://x.com/johnhulen   

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnhulen   

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLX_NchE8lisC4NL2GciIWA   

EPISODE CREDITS

Intro and Outro music provided by Jeff Scheetz - https://jeffscheetz.com/