Steve Harvey’s Inspirational Speech In the Middle of Game Show

Angela George [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons
Angela George [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons
“Every successful person in this world has jumped. Eventually, you are going to have to jump. You cannot just exist in this life.” -Steve Harvey

Steve Harvey was recently in the headlines for something one wouldn’t want to be known for; for proclaiming the wrong winner in the 2015 Miss Universe pageant, calling out Miss Columbia Ariadna Gutierrez-Arévalo, when he should’ve announced the real winner, Miss Philippines Pia Wurtzbach. Social media was aflame with a combination of criticism and support, because the apologetic host did recognize his mistake and claimed full responsibility for the fiasco.

Steve Harvey’s Inspirational Speech In the Middle of Game Show[/tweetthis]

Today, Harvey is again the focal point of our attention, and for something religious and not less noteworthy. He made a speech to a captive audience after hosting Family Feud, beckoning the audience to “go after” their personal gifting. “You gotta jump!” he exclaimed. The previously apologetic Harvey is now decisive and unequivocal in his declaration to both the live and online audience.

You Gotta Jump To Be Successful

After I tape an episode at Family Feud I spend a few more minutes with the audience. I talk about jumping.

Posted by Steve Harvey on Wednesday, January 13, 2016

Harvey said, "I'm going to share something with you that every successful person has to do, including you, believe it or not.  Every successful person in this world has jumped. Eventually, you are going to have to jump. You cannot just exist in this life. You have got to try to live. If you are waking up thinking that it's gotta be more to your life than it is, man, believe that it is."

Harvey continued, “God, when he created all of us, gave every last of us, a give at birth. He never created a soul without endowing them with a gift. You just gotta quit looking at gifts as run and jump and sing and dance.” He then named several common occupations that are not given enough credit, narrating a gifted grass cutter and a car detailer that loves what he does and earns $800,000 a year. He spoke about identifying what you are passionate about and pursuing that passion.

The Emmy award-winning TV host and bestselling author has always been vocal about his religious views. Recently, in interviews with Tyra Banks and Joy Behar, he made controversial comments about atheists. When an audience member asked for dating advice, Harvey responded with, “Does he have a relationship with God?” He advises women to refrain from dating atheists because one does not know where his “moral barometer” is, and when it comes to people who do not believe that God exists, “well, then, to me you’re an idiot,” he says.

Questioned by Behar, he went on to question what atheists base their goodness and morality on, acknowledging that his statements probably weren’t the most politically correct. He called evolution “nonsense,” because he doesn’t believe that the universe, “spun out of a gastrous ball and then all of a sudden we were evolved from monkeys.” Expectedly, Harvey does face backlash for his uncensored views, especially in the politically correct society we now live in. On the one hand, one could applaud his honesty, on the other hand, one could dismiss his statements with annoyance and displeasure.

Harvey is a Christian and born in Welch, West Virginia and raised in Cleveland, Ohio. In a 2015 interview for GospelHerald.com, Harvey said that the “two constant themes” in his life were God and manhood. He recalled being homeless for three years in the 80’s and crying out to God. “I told God if he let me make it, when I got there I’d tell everybody how I did it. I just told Him ‘if you let me make it, when I get there I’m gonna tell everybody it was you.” Gospel Herald writer Isaiah Narciso writes that “God must have heard him because shortly after he made the promise,” because he began hosting in New York after a few other jobs that included standup shortly after that promise.

“God allows your greatest and most valuable lessons to be learned in failure," Harvey said. "I failed at relationships enough times to where — as a man — I know how we function and operate. So all I had to do was turn around and tell women that part." Harvey recognizes those who criticize him and doubt this genuineness, and asserts that the scriptures he uses “is working,” He credited God for achieving what he has in the world of entertainment.

Resources

Follow the Conversation on Twitter