Eric Thomas (motivational speaker)

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Eric Thomas
Born
Eric D. Thomas

(1970-09-03) September 3, 1970 (age 53)
Chicago, Illinois
NationalityAmerican
Alma materOakwood University (B.A.)
Michigan State University (M.A.)
Michigan State University (Ph.D.)
Occupation(s)Motivational speaker; consultant; coach; author; minister
WebsiteEric Thomas Website

Eric D. Thomas (born September 3, 1970[1]) is an American motivational speaker, author, consultant, and minister. Speeches by Thomas are popular on YouTube.[2][3][4]

Early life[edit]

Thomas was born in Chicago, Illinois and raised in Detroit, Michigan. He was born to a single, teenage mother. After various arguments with his parents and aunts, he dropped out of high school and lived homeless on the streets of Detroit for two years.[5][6][7][8][9]

While he was homeless, a friend took him to his church, where he met a pastor and evangelist team who encouraged him to get his G.E.D. and pursue a college degree. He was invited to move in with one of the church members' families and secured employment at the local McDonalds.[citation needed][10] He also took a job at an Olive Garden on the westside of Detroit.[9] Around this time, Thomas met his wife, De-De Mosley, at the Detroit Center Seventh-day Adventist Church.[9] They then moved to Huntsville, Alabama, attended Oakwood University, and they were married as college students.[9]

Thomas spent twelve years working toward an undergraduate degree at Oakwood and graduated in 2001.[11] While in Huntsville, Thomas preached and set up a program to help underprivileged youth.[9]

Career[edit]

Michigan State University[edit]

In 2003, Thomas took a job with Michigan State University (MSU) along with a fellowship to attend MSU to complete his master's degree in K-12 Administration with an emphasis in Educational Leadership. He worked as an academic advisor to disadvantaged students at MSU.[9] At MSU, he helped develop an undergraduate retention program called The Advantage with fellow academic advisor and motivational speaker DeAndre Carter which targeted academically high-risk Black and Latino students. He also served as senior pastor at A Place of Change Ministries (APOC Ministries) in Lansing, Michigan.[12] Thomas attained a master's degree from MSU in 2005, and a PhD in Education Administration in 2015.[13]

Motivational speaker[edit]

Thomas has given motivational talks to collegiate and professional athletes.[citation needed] Thomas has appeared on Fox News to discuss his work,[14] and portions of his sermons can be heard on the track "Intro" of deep house producers Disclosure's 2013 debut album, Settle and on the intro track "Wins and Losses" to rapper Meek Mill's 2017 album of the same name.[citation needed] In 2020, he reunited with Disclosure to speak on the song "Energy", which was released as the lead track from their third album Energy.[citation needed]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Eric Thomas". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2017-04-15.
  2. ^ Sarumi, Ahrif (2014-07-17). "Eric Thomas and Tobe Nwigwe Are Mastering Motivation for Youth Culture". Huffington Post. Retrieved 4 August 2015.
  3. ^ Toren, Adam (2015-08-11). "6 Must-See Motivational Videos on YouTube". Entrepreneur. Retrieved 28 September 2015.
  4. ^ Lombardi, Matt. "Video: Eric Thomas' Motivational Speech To NC State's Football Team Will Make You Want To Run Through A Wall". College Spun. Retrieved 28 September 2015.
  5. ^ Allen, Christopher (27 July 2011). "Eric Thomas – Hip Hop Preacher". On The Grind Coach.
  6. ^ Hayes, Princess (2015-07-30). "Eric Thomas 'the hip-hop preacher'". Michigan Chronicle. Archived from the original on 2018-08-31. Retrieved 28 September 2015.
  7. ^ Woodyard, Eric (11 March 2013). "Motivational speaker Eric Thomas challenges Burton Bentley students to reach for greatness". mlive.com. Retrieved 28 September 2015.
  8. ^ Rose, Lisa. "MISSION ACCOMPLISHED: THE TRUTH OF ERIC THOMAS". emPower Magazine. Archived from the original on 22 August 2015. Retrieved 4 August 2015.
  9. ^ a b c d e f Rexrode, Joe. "Eric Thomas goes from YouTube sensation to motivating Michigan State teams, and others around the world". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved 4 August 2015.
  10. ^ Thomas, Eric (December 29, 2011). "Chapter 7: Go Where You're Celebrated, Not Tolerated". The Secret to Success: When You Want to Succeed as Bad as You Want to Breathe. Spirit Reign Communications. Location 862 in the e-book. ASIN B008HKJBFA. ISBN 9780974623108. "Son," he said, "I need you to either go back to school or I need you to get your G.E.D. You have too much talent to waste your time on these streets. You are going to be something one day, so don't allow this little obstacle to stand in your way. After you get your G.E.D. I am going to see to it that you go to college. In fact, I will personally write you a letter of recommendation." I thought it was a very motivational display for a pastor. If I didn't know any better I would have thought he meant every word he said, but I was too smart for that. I knew he only said it because he was a pastor and that's what pastors do. He probably said that to every young person in his congregation. Plus, I had been told by teachers that I was a clown, and I wasn't disciplined enough to go to college. So, I dismissed the thought and kept going to church like we never had the conversation. That didn't deter him much; a few weeks later in church, Sister Willis (our First Lady) came up to me and asked if I ever started working on that G.E.D. "I can't believe pastor talked to you about that, I thought that was between the two of us?" I thought. She gave me that, I am his wife, he tells me everything look. "No ma'am, I haven't been back to school." "Go get your G.E.D. baby, and go to college," she said, as she gave me a big motherly hug and a soft kiss on the cheek. "I love you."{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  11. ^ Leebove, Laura. "Building Success". The State News. Retrieved 4 August 2015.
  12. ^ "APOC Ministry". apocministries.org. Retrieved 2020-05-14.
  13. ^ "Dr. Eric Thomas talks sacrificing "Good" for "Greatness"". wgnradio.com. WGN Radio. 2015-06-08. Retrieved 28 September 2015.
  14. ^ DiPiazza, Daniel (2015-09-09). "Stop Calling 20-Somethings "Entitled." It's Not True". HuffPost. Retrieved 28 September 2015.

External links[edit]

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