Let's read...

I think that we, in some strange way are conditioned to believe that success comes overnight that success is microwavable, that success can go into an air fryer and it can come right out. In some strange way we are convinced that if, in fact, the journey is too hard or that the journey takes too long or that the hurdles are too frequent or that the mountain is too tall. That maybe this means that this is not for us. Maybe this means that this isn't supposed to happen for me. Maybe this means that I'm in the wrong space. When in fact, it's quite the opposite. I think you're actually right on the road you're supposed to be when it's hard. When something's easy it sounds like it's not supposed to be yours. Often times we want the finish line without running the race. You have something that you're going for and just because it's hard doesn't mean that it's not meant for you. It doesn't mean that this isn't supposed to happen. It just means that you are in the middle of a process... and you have to stay on that process. People ask me all the time, "Deshauna, why'd you keep going? why'd you keep going? why' you keep going?" It's because I understood that this is a process and that if it was easy, everybody would achieve it. The reason why it's easier for me to be able to stay on the road to success whether it is through Miss USA, whether it is through 11 years in the military, whether it is through a Master's Degree, whether it is through the seven years it took for me to become a notable speaker whether it is to be an author or a nonprofit CEO. I understand the process and I understand the road and I understand that this isn't meant to be easy. Therefore, it is so much easier for me to climb this mountain because I understand the terrain that I'm about to experience.

Let's follow Deshauna...

I think / that we, / in some strange way / are conditioned to believe / that success comes overnight / that success is microwavable, / that success / can go into an air fryer / and it can come right out. // In some / strange way / we are convinced / that if, / in fact, / the journey / is too hard / or that the journey / takes too long / or that the hurdles / are too frequent / or that the mountain / is too tall. // That maybe / this means / that this is not for us. // Maybe this means / that this isn't / supposed to happen for me. // Maybe this means / that I'm in the / wrong space. // When in fact, / it's quite the opposite. // I think / you're actually / right on the road / you're supposed to be / when it's hard. // When something's easy / it sounds like / it's not supposed to be yours. // Often times / we want the finish line / without running the race. // You have / something / that you're going for / and just / because it's hard / doesn't mean / that it's not / meant for you. // It doesn't mean / that this isn't / supposed to happen. // It just means / that you are / in the middle / of a process... // and you have to stay / on that process. // People ask me / all the time , / "Deshauna, / why'd you keep going? / why'd you keep going? / why' you keep going?" // It's because / I understood / that this is a process // and that / if it was easy, / everybody would achieve it. // The reason why / it's easier for me / to be able to stay / on the road / to success / whether it is / through Miss USA, / whether it is / through 11 years / in the military, / whether it is / through a Master's Degree , / whether it is / through the seven years / it took for me / to become a / notable speaker / whether it is / to be / an author / or a nonprofit / CEO. // I / understand / the process / and I understand / the road / and I understand / that this isn't meant / to be / easy. // Therefore, / it is so much / easier for me / to climb / this mountain / because I understand / the terrain / that I'm about / to experience. //

Let's read...

Each and every one of you need to understand the road that you're on and the terrain you're going to experience. It makes it easier for you to be able to handle it. If you walk into something thinking that it's supposed to be easy then you're wondering why it's hard and then that's why you're ready to give up. I have two challenges in this part of perseverance. One, I challenge you to accept this road for what it truly is and get rid of the fairy tales. Get rid of whatever is telling you is supposed to be easy. And then I challenge you to never let a failure go to waste. What do I mean by that ? Every single time I went back to this state competition, I learned more and more about myself, that by the end of that seven-year period, I became a more elevated version of Deshauna. By the time, I got to the Miss USA stage, I had learned everything that I needed to learn to be able to handle a national title. Every single year Deshauna got better. After about 3 years, I realized, "Deshauna, this wig isn't going to work." It's not going to work D. You got to let it go. Y'all saw the wig, we don't have to spend too much time on it, but there's a wig... and I kept wearing it. But after three years, I got it, okay. The girls know I got, I got the, the bundles in after a while. We got it together, right? What I'm saying is that every single time you run into a hurdle, every single time you run into a loss... every single time you run into a failure . I want you to take that lesson home with you. And then the next day, I want you to show up better.

Let's follow Deshauna...

Each / and every one / of you / need to understand / the road / that you're on / and the terrain / you're going to experience. // It makes it easier / for you to be able to handle it. // If you / walk into / something thinking / that it's supposed / to be easy / then you're wondering / why it's hard and then / that's why / you're ready to give up. // I have two challenges / in this part / of perseverance. // One, / I challenge you / to accept / this road / for what it truly is / and get rid / of the fairy tales. // Get rid / of whatever is / telling you is / supposed to be easy //. And / then I / challenge you / to never let a failure / go to waste. // What do I / mean by that ? // Every / single time / I went back / to this / state competition, / I learned / more / and more / about myself, / that by the end / of that seven-year period, / I became / a more elevated version / of Deshauna. // By the time, / I got / to the Miss USA stage, / I had learned everything that I needed to learn / to be able to handle a national title. // Every single year / Deshauna got better. // After about 3 years, // I realized, / "Deshauna, / this wig isn't going to work." // It's not going to work D. // You got to let it go. // Y'all saw the wig, // we don't have to spend / too much time on it, // but there's a wig... // and I kept wearing it. // But after three years, / I got it, / okay. // The girls know / I got / I got the / the bundles in / after a while. // We got it together, / right? // What I'm saying / is that / every single time / you run into a hurdle, / every single time / you run into a loss... / every single time / you run into a failure . // I want you / to take that lesson / home / with you. // And then the next day, / I want you / to show up better. //