Ralph Zuranski: What is your definition of heroism?
Orrin Hudson: I think each of us has within us the ability to do some incredible things and the purpose of our life is to discover it. We all have the tools and talents that are necessary to get the job done and we just have to find creative ways of how we can use our resources so that, see we all have the same amount of resources, it is all on how we use the resources that determine your destiny.
Orrin Hudson: When playing chess, we both have sixteen, but it is how we use them. Some people have resources they are not even using so I look down on the chess board of my own life and I realized that I wasn’t using resources that I had right here at my disposal and that is what chess is all about. People play all the time and they are not using all of their resources so the key to success in any field is to use all of their resources.
Ralph Zuranski: Did you ever create a secret hero in your mind that helped you deal with life’s difficulties?
Orrin Hudson: My hero was James Bond, I am 007 and I used that title because it got me out of a lot of tight spots. James Bond always found a way and that is me, I always find a way, I would just keep looking until I find a way.
Orrin Hudson: I have a motto that I use and it is called “I will persist until I succeed” and I got that from James Bond, he never gives up.
Orrin Hudson: What were the qualities and attributes of your secret hero or your real life heroes when you were growing up?
Ralph Zuranski: Just never give up, always find a way, and never assume, he verified everything, he checked everything out, and he played chess and other games. Everything he did he succeeded and if he failed he tried everything until he succeeded. So it is not over until he wins
Ralph Zuranski: What is your perspective on goodness, ethics and moral behavior?
Orrin Hudson: I think goodness, ethics and moral behavior are critical because the most important word on the planet is integrity. Integrity means honoring your word, you honor your word and whatever comes out of your mouth is what you do and keeping your promises and commitments.
Orrin Hudson: I think it is critical because if you look at the world and you look at the news and the break down of society, the Enron, the World Com, you will see that as a break down comes out, you will see it as a break down in integrity.
Orrin Hudson: Treating people with integrity and respect, keeping your word and just saying what you are going to do and do it I think is critical. I think you can not make it in this world unless you have those qualities.
Ralph Zuranski: What principles are you willing to sacrifice your life for?
Orrin Hudson: Helping mankind, I am here to serve others and make the world better. When I was a state trooper we had a motto and it was to protect and that is what it is all about.
Orrin Hudson: I was also in the air force fighting for my country so I know what it is about to put others first and serve because that is what it is all about. We are here for one reason and that is to serve other people.
Ralph Zuranski: When was the lowest point in your life and how did you change your life path to one of victory over all obstacles?
Orrin Hudson: I think probably the lowest point in my life is when I divorced my first wife and I walked away from everything I had because I discovered that peace and happiness was more important then money.
Orrin Hudson: So I walked away from a lot of money and a house and two brand new cars to be happy with my life. That was a tough point in life and if I had to do it over again I would do the same thing but at that point it was a very hard time in my life.
Ralph Zuranski: Do you have a dream or vision that sets the course of your life?
Orrin Hudson: My dream or vision right now is to inspire millions of people and teach them how to inspire ten people each. So that is my vision right now to inspire people and teach them to inspire ten more people each.
Orrin Hudson: So that is my goal is to teach people to help themselves and that is my vision, to make a difference on the planet. A harsh man wrote you should be ashamed to die unless you have done something to help mankind so I am committed to make sure I have made my mark to use my life to help others and make the world a better place.
Ralph Zuranski: Do you take a positive view of setbacks, misfortunes and mistakes?
Orrin Hudson: I think it is critical. I think attitude is everything. I have a book coming out that is called ‘Concentration is Everything’ but I think I attitude is everything. The same thing can happen to two different people and one can stay poor while the other one get rich.
Orrin Hudson: It is all about attitude so I think attitude is the number one thing on the planet. I was talking to one of my mentors, his name is Bob Mohatt and he was saying the most important thing was attitude, that it was more important than skill. The companies now mainly focus on the attitudes.
Orrin Hudson: If you hire people with the right attitudes they can develop the skill.
Ralph Zuranski: Are you an optimist?
Orrin Hudson: Yes, it is critical because if you are a pessimist you will give up, you will quit, you will see the glass as half empty but if you are an optimist that will open doors and will allow you see the possibility.
Orrin Hudson: You will never know what you can do until you try and if you are optimistic then it that gives you the confidence and the attitude to continue and persevere.
Ralph Zuranski: Do you have the courage to pursue new ideas?
Orrin Hudson: You have to make your move before you are ready. Don’t wait until everything is good to start, you just have to start, don’t have to be great to start but you have to start to be great.
Orrin Hudson: So just make your move before you are ready and just step out on faith and the Universe will come to your aid. When you take a step on faith the Universe will just come to your aid but it is not going to move until you move, so make your move whether you are ready or not and the Universe will respond.
Ralph Zuranski: Were you willing to experience discomfort in the pursuit of your dream?
Orrin Hudson: Well, there is going to be pain, no pain no gain and that is critical. The lumps of pain, the adversity, the stumbling blocks and the disappointments are growth and that is how you grow.
Orrin Hudson: You can not grow unless you go through some pain, they are what I call labor pains. Now I am short on experience but I am sure ladies will tell you that it is tough but that is how you grow.
Orrin Hudson: The only way you can get to the next level is to go through some pain so welcome pain and embrace it, learn from it and grow.
Ralph Zuranski: Did you believe your dreams would eventually become reality?
Orrin Hudson: Well I think you have to believe in your dreams otherwise you will believe in someone else’s dreams. So you have to go for it, you have to take risks; you have to be willing to put yourself on the line put all your eggs and rocks in that basket.
Ralph Zuranski: How were you able to overcome your doubts and fears?
Orrin Hudson: Well I have a saying that I am refection proof so when people reject me I just deal with it that way but with doubts, I just have a lot of faith, faith in God and the Universe and I know that God is our power and that is where my strength comes from so that really helps me.
Orrin Hudson: Once you know where your strength comes from than it is ok and it helps you with your doubt and when you can’t understand something I just believe in God and miracles just take care of themselves.
Ralph Zuranski: Do you readily forgive those who upset, offend and oppose you?
Orrin Hudson: Well Abraham Lincoln taught us that you should forgive people and that is one of the things I admire about Abraham Lincoln is that he hired his enemies to be on his team and some people said “Look Abe you can not hire these people we caught these people in the act talking about you” and he said “Good that is why I want them on my team.”
Orrin Hudson: So see what he did when he did that is he just took the forgiveness team to another level and that is what it is all about, you have got to forgive people. You have got to forgive. In the book of life it says, “If you don’t forgive God is not going to forgive you.” So it is just common sense to forgive because everyone makes mistakes, no one is perfect.
Ralph Zuranski: Do you experience service to others as a source of joy?
Oh yes it is so rewarding. It is like getting a blank check on the future when you are helping someone else.
Ralph Zuranski: What place does the power of prayer have in your life?
Orrin Hudson: Prayer is very important. I ask God to lead God and direct my steps because prayer is of a righteous person because it is just good to ask God for guidance and know where your source comes from and know who wakes you up and know who makes things possible.
Orrin Hudson: I had a tremendous day at the big seminar and it was all God. It was all God, I mean if you could see the miracles that happened in the room, and it was just all God.
Ralph Zuranski: Do you maintain your sense of humor in the face of serious problems?
Orrin Hudson: Oh yes you have got to learn to turn frustration into fascination and just learn to laugh.
Ralph Zuranski: Who are the HEROES in your life?
Orrin Hudson: I think the heroes in my life are people like Martin Luther King and Jesus. I admire Abraham Lincoln for some of the things he stood for but I would say Jesus is the main hero in my life.
Ralph Zuranski: How did they make a positive difference in your life?
Orrin Hudson: They led by example. They showed me to love others, help others, love your enemies, go the extra mile and be of service.
Orrin Hudson: The greatest among you shall be the servants of them all. I guess that is the most important thing, just being of value, serving mankind.
Ralph Zuranski: Who do you think are the HEROES today that are not getting the recognition they deserve?
Orrin Hudson: It doesn’t matter because in the end God sees everything. You can not satisfy man and man is not capable of delivering. So is someone on this Earth recognizes you it matters not. God see all, so you will get yours, what ever you pray you are going to get.
Ralph Zuranski: Why are HEROES so important in the lives of young people?
Orrin Hudson: Young people need role models, they need something to go on, they need guidance, they need a yard stick, they need something to measure the life they sought and they need some examples.
Orrin Hudson: Children don’t want to do what you say they want to do what you do so it is always good to led by example, the number one rule, led by example.
Ralph Zuranski: How will being recognized as an Internet HERO change your life?
Orrin Hudson: Well I honor you for that I mean I thank you for that. I don’t deserve it because there is so much more that I can do. I thank God for my life. It is so rewarding helping kids. I do it because I see the value.
Orrin Hudson: I am working on the next generation and to me there is nothing more important on the planet for me than doing this. I just feel compelled to reach out and help someone.
Ralph Zuranski: Do you have any good solutions to the problems facing society, especially racism, child and spousal abuse and violence among young people?
Orrin Hudson: Well I think with racism that we have just got to learn to love everyone. One of the things I did as a state trooper is I treated everybody as fair as I could. I probably stopped someone that was white who was probably prejudice but after I stopped them and talked to them they probably said “I don’t think I am going to be prejudice anymore” because they saw that I was fair to them so they probably thought “Wow, that guy could have probably messed me up and he didn’t. “
Orrin Hudson: I am sure I probably changed some peoples minds because they could see that it didn’t matter to me, that I am going to work with you no matter what color you are or what ever. We are all important, I treated everybody I stopped like they were important and I think everybody picks up on that and people learn by example.
Ralph Zuranski: If you had three wishes for your life and the world, that would instantly come true, what would they be?
Orrin Hudson: More wisdom, ask God to led, guide and direct my steps with more wisdom being number one. More wisdom, more wisdom, more wisdom. Wisdom and understanding.
Orrin Checkmate Hudson owes his success in life to a teacher. James Edge, a white teacher in an all-black high school, realized Orrin’s potential. Orrin’s early life was difficult being the 7th sibling of thirteen. He was in and out of foster homes and involved in petty crime, but James Edge sat him down and showed him his actions had consequences.
Mr. Edge taught Orrin how to play chess and win in life. Voted “Most Likely to Succeed” and “Outstanding Student” in his senior year, Orrin stepped into the world and began to exceed those early predictions.
When Orrin made the move to develop his personal greatness, life took on a new meaning. As an adult, he served in the United States Air Force and then as an Alabama State Trooper for six years, developing the discipline needed to be a winner. He later owned and operated a car lot, succeeding once again as a business and community leader. Being the best continued to be a large part of Orrin’s personal developmental strategy. He is a two-time World Open speed chess winner and has pass alone his insight to over 25,000 students his goal is 1 million!
Orrin began to teach others how to think strategically, plan effectively and build self-confidence using chess as his vehicle. Remembering how Abraham Lincoln’s mother’s advice, “be someone” had helped Lincoln aspire to the White House. Hudson used that simple, yet monumental concept to his fullest advantage naming his non- profit organization “Be Someone, Inc”. Focusing his talents on children, he began teaching others to ‘Be Someone’ through his award winning, highly effective and much lauded presentations.
A dynamic motivational speaker, Orrin extols the time-tested strategies of chess as a metaphor for the game of life.
The Author of “One Move At A Time”, Orrin is the subject of numerous news national articles and television interviews, including such national coverage as Good Morning America, CNN, CBS Early Morning Show, CNN Headline News, and CNN American Stories, The Word Network, People Magazine, USA Today , Sports Illustrated for Kids and Time Magazine for Kids.
Noted for sharing a winning mindset that enables his students and audiences to believe in themselves, he continues to attract community service awards, having won some of the most prestigious in the educational arena including the national 2012 Dr. Martin Luther King Award.
Orrin Checkmate Hudson, Speaker & Master Strategist & Motivator
949 Stephenson Road
Stone Mountain , GA 30087
Tel: 770-465-6445
E-mail: Orrin@besomeone.org
Website: www.besomeone.org