Hill Harper hates the word “try.”
“Most people who use that little three-letter word, that’s all they end up doing,” he said.
More than 800 people packed the Reitz Union Grand Ballroom Monday night to hear the “CSI: NY” star and author speak about how he works to achieve his life goals.
The Accent show was also sponsored by Black History Month and the Black Graduate Student Organization, said Accent chairman Jason Attermann.
Harper was paid $30,000, according to Student Government Finance records.
Harper expressed his concerns about people’s tendencies to let things come to them and hope they fall into place, something he referred to as a “lotto mentality.”
He suggested a four-step process to achieve goals, comparing the process to that of an architect preparing to build a structure.
The steps include sketching a blueprint, laying a foundation, building a framework and making sure there are entry and exit points.
For Harper, one of the most important aspects of a foundation is education.
He told the audience about his encounter with Barack Obama while studying at Harvard Law School.
While shooting hoops alone at the school’s gym, Obama came in to play some ball with him. They became friends, and Harper said he was astounded with how Obama had gone back to school after working for six years.
He said Obama had realized he needed to reinforce his foundation.
“I looked up to him, and not just because he was taller,” Harper said.
Harper roamed around the crowd and engaged audience members one-on-one.
He equated the individual choices people make to advance their dreams to the choices builders make as they create a building framework.
Gainesville resident Candy Ganyo, 53, said she walked away with advice that even people her age could use, adding it’s not too late for her to pursue her goals.
“He was inspiring,” Ganyo said.
UF sophomore Samantha Lawton said the speech encouraged her to think about what lies ahead in her life.
Lawton hopes to become an occupational therapist and go into the Peace Corps.
“It really made me think about my future,” she said.
