Eric Thomas (motivational speaker)

Eric Thomas
Thomas in 2011
Born
Eric D. Thomas

(1970-09-03) September 3, 1970
Chicago, Illinois
Alma materOakwood University (B.A.)
Michigan State University (M.A.)
Michigan State University (Ph.D.)
OccupationsMotivational 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

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.[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 underachieved youth.[9]

Career

Michigan State University

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 students with unrealized potential 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

Thomas has given motivational talks to collegiate and professional athletes. 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. In 2020, he reunited with Disclosure to speak on the song "Energy", which was released as the lead track from their third album Energy.

References

  1. ^ "Eric Thomas". www.facebook.com. Retrieved April 15, 2017.
  2. ^ Sarumi, Ahrif (July 17, 2014). "Eric Thomas and Tobe Nwigwe Are Mastering Motivation for Youth Culture". Huffington Post. Retrieved August 4, 2015.
  3. ^ Toren, Adam (August 11, 2015). "6 Must-See Motivational Videos on YouTube". Entrepreneur. Retrieved September 28, 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 September 28, 2015.
  5. ^ Allen, Christopher (July 27, 2011). "Eric Thomas – Hip Hop Preacher". On The Grind Coach.
  6. ^ Hayes, Princess (July 30, 2015). "Eric Thomas 'the hip-hop preacher'". Michigan Chronicle. Archived from the original on August 31, 2018. Retrieved September 28, 2015.
  7. ^ Woodyard, Eric (March 11, 2013). "Motivational speaker Eric Thomas challenges Burton Bentley students to reach for greatness". mlive.com. Retrieved September 28, 2015.
  8. ^ Rose, Lisa. "MISSION ACCOMPLISHED: THE TRUTH OF ERIC THOMAS". emPower Magazine. Archived from the original on August 22, 2015. Retrieved August 4, 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 August 4, 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. ISBN 9780974623108.
  11. ^ Leebove, Laura. "Building Success". The State News. Retrieved August 4, 2015.
  12. ^ "APOC Ministry". apocministries.org. Retrieved May 14, 2020.
  13. ^ "Dr. Eric Thomas talks sacrificing "Good" for "Greatness"". wgnradio.com. WGN Radio. June 8, 2015. Retrieved September 28, 2015.
  14. ^ DiPiazza, Daniel (September 9, 2015). "Stop Calling 20-Somethings "Entitled." It's Not True". HuffPost. Retrieved September 28, 2015.
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