Jordan Duckworth
College Composition
Interview Essay
November 3, 2016
Life is a Journey
What does someone think of when they think of another person challenging the societal norms? That they are odd? That they are crazy? How about courageous and wise? Jeff Binney is both of these and more. During his childhood, he was the son of a pig farmer but ended up being a vegan. Then after losing his mother to obesity, Binney decided to make a change in his life and tackle the Leadville 100. On top of these challenges, he is pursuing a career in comedy, he will eventually tour in a bus that he is currently building. Binney challenges the societal norms by showing that his childhood doesn't define him, showing that a positive mindset can conquer a challenge like the Leadville 100, and showing that following his dreams is tough but rewarding and has given him a vast collection of wisdom.
Its reasonable to believe that a comedian who ran the Leadville 100 was an active child and the class clown. Right? Well, for Binney half of that is true. When asked about his childhood, Binney said this: “I was always the chubby kid. I was accidently active because I grew up on a farm so I was always outside.” That’s pretty surprising after looking at the sheer challenge of the Leadville 100. The comedy part mentioned? Yeah, that part was spot on, according to Binney, “Well, I think since I was a little kid, I've always been the class clown, I've always been too outgoing. Comedy would allow me to have a little more control.” Let’s face it, when someone says they want to pursue a career in comedy, not many people, ironically, will take them seriously. The fact that Binney found what he loved and stuck to it, is amazing in an age where people are forced to abandon their hopes and dreams like its going out of style.
Most people hate walking a single mile, but imagine running 100 miles in under 32 hours. Binney is one of the people brave enough to tackle this obstacle even though he was not an active person in his life. After questioned about the training he did to prepare Binney said, “Mental and physical training. When you get to the point where everything is falling apart, any normal person would think that it’s miserable and no longer fun.” Someone's mental state can have a huge impact on how that person acts. Binney said, “Everything hurts, your body is literally falling apart… and you get a belt buckle.. You need to have solid reasons for doing this.” Running the Leadville 100, even though he didn't finish, is a huge statement against the norms of not only society's view but stereotypical athletes views as well.
At some point in life a person reaches a decision on what they want to do with their life. Binney recalls the exact time that he decided to be a comedian.“I started in improv. I took a stand-up class and became obsessed and knew that this was what I wanted to do.” states Binney. While being a comedian sounds glamorous, many fail when trying to pursue a career in it. Binney has had quite a string of success and plans on touring the country in a school bus that he is renovating. Binney also said he is not short on shows: “This is the project that never ends. Not very often, at least not in rural Missouri. In L.A. I would perform as often as I can, sometimes two or three times a week.” It's often hard to find any job for some in today’s times, many people have decided to abandon their dreams in favor of “safer” careers, but not Binney.
Any job that travels such as a singer, comedian, or even a dancer will require either a personal bus or a large amount of hotel rentals. People in these professions often buy a new expensive bus but not Binney. Binney has taken a school bus and named the bus Earl and as he puts it: “I’m building this, hopefully, awesome little cabin on wheels to spend the next year traveling.” It's nice for people to have a personal connection to their living space which makes the fact that he is making the bus himself all the better. Binney said buses have their own challenge though: “I want to travel for a year or two. Some people have this idea that it’s just gonna be carefree, but finding somewhere to park is hard.” No one likes to be in a cramped space, but Binney is willingly living in one to do what he loves.
It's usually the older generations who have all the wisdom, but if someone goes through tough challenges in a short time they can be as wise as well. Binney is one of those people. One piece of wisdom he shared was: “Don't be afraid for things to change, in 10 years you could want something different, and that's okay” Often times people get too stuck up on what they want now so they miss great opportunities so keep Binney’s words in mind. Binney is working on a film called “Once is Enough” and when he elaborated on the quote he stated: “I think that if there’s anything I’ve learned from losing my mom at a relatively young age, it’s that if you want to do something, do it right now. That’s why I love the quote because it’s all about doing something right now, just do it now and live in the moment.” Passing on wisdom is a great way to help others, and Binney was eager to share his wisdom and help others find their own path like he found his.
Most people do not like to go against the normal flow of society, but there are some who actively pursue their dreams, even if their dreams go against what most people think. Binney not only goes against the societal norms but also breaks down about every stereotype there is about those trying to pursue a more unconventional career. From growing up on a pig farm then becoming vegan, to running one of the hardest races that exist, to pursuing a career that many think is hard to be successful in, Jeff Binney is forging his own journey in life and he is not letting any challenge stop him.
Works Cited
Binney, Jeff. "Jeff Binney Interview." Online interview. 25 Oct. 2016.
College Composition
Interview Essay
November 3, 2016
Life is a Journey
What does someone think of when they think of another person challenging the societal norms? That they are odd? That they are crazy? How about courageous and wise? Jeff Binney is both of these and more. During his childhood, he was the son of a pig farmer but ended up being a vegan. Then after losing his mother to obesity, Binney decided to make a change in his life and tackle the Leadville 100. On top of these challenges, he is pursuing a career in comedy, he will eventually tour in a bus that he is currently building. Binney challenges the societal norms by showing that his childhood doesn't define him, showing that a positive mindset can conquer a challenge like the Leadville 100, and showing that following his dreams is tough but rewarding and has given him a vast collection of wisdom.
Its reasonable to believe that a comedian who ran the Leadville 100 was an active child and the class clown. Right? Well, for Binney half of that is true. When asked about his childhood, Binney said this: “I was always the chubby kid. I was accidently active because I grew up on a farm so I was always outside.” That’s pretty surprising after looking at the sheer challenge of the Leadville 100. The comedy part mentioned? Yeah, that part was spot on, according to Binney, “Well, I think since I was a little kid, I've always been the class clown, I've always been too outgoing. Comedy would allow me to have a little more control.” Let’s face it, when someone says they want to pursue a career in comedy, not many people, ironically, will take them seriously. The fact that Binney found what he loved and stuck to it, is amazing in an age where people are forced to abandon their hopes and dreams like its going out of style.
Most people hate walking a single mile, but imagine running 100 miles in under 32 hours. Binney is one of the people brave enough to tackle this obstacle even though he was not an active person in his life. After questioned about the training he did to prepare Binney said, “Mental and physical training. When you get to the point where everything is falling apart, any normal person would think that it’s miserable and no longer fun.” Someone's mental state can have a huge impact on how that person acts. Binney said, “Everything hurts, your body is literally falling apart… and you get a belt buckle.. You need to have solid reasons for doing this.” Running the Leadville 100, even though he didn't finish, is a huge statement against the norms of not only society's view but stereotypical athletes views as well.
At some point in life a person reaches a decision on what they want to do with their life. Binney recalls the exact time that he decided to be a comedian.“I started in improv. I took a stand-up class and became obsessed and knew that this was what I wanted to do.” states Binney. While being a comedian sounds glamorous, many fail when trying to pursue a career in it. Binney has had quite a string of success and plans on touring the country in a school bus that he is renovating. Binney also said he is not short on shows: “This is the project that never ends. Not very often, at least not in rural Missouri. In L.A. I would perform as often as I can, sometimes two or three times a week.” It's often hard to find any job for some in today’s times, many people have decided to abandon their dreams in favor of “safer” careers, but not Binney.
Any job that travels such as a singer, comedian, or even a dancer will require either a personal bus or a large amount of hotel rentals. People in these professions often buy a new expensive bus but not Binney. Binney has taken a school bus and named the bus Earl and as he puts it: “I’m building this, hopefully, awesome little cabin on wheels to spend the next year traveling.” It's nice for people to have a personal connection to their living space which makes the fact that he is making the bus himself all the better. Binney said buses have their own challenge though: “I want to travel for a year or two. Some people have this idea that it’s just gonna be carefree, but finding somewhere to park is hard.” No one likes to be in a cramped space, but Binney is willingly living in one to do what he loves.
It's usually the older generations who have all the wisdom, but if someone goes through tough challenges in a short time they can be as wise as well. Binney is one of those people. One piece of wisdom he shared was: “Don't be afraid for things to change, in 10 years you could want something different, and that's okay” Often times people get too stuck up on what they want now so they miss great opportunities so keep Binney’s words in mind. Binney is working on a film called “Once is Enough” and when he elaborated on the quote he stated: “I think that if there’s anything I’ve learned from losing my mom at a relatively young age, it’s that if you want to do something, do it right now. That’s why I love the quote because it’s all about doing something right now, just do it now and live in the moment.” Passing on wisdom is a great way to help others, and Binney was eager to share his wisdom and help others find their own path like he found his.
Most people do not like to go against the normal flow of society, but there are some who actively pursue their dreams, even if their dreams go against what most people think. Binney not only goes against the societal norms but also breaks down about every stereotype there is about those trying to pursue a more unconventional career. From growing up on a pig farm then becoming vegan, to running one of the hardest races that exist, to pursuing a career that many think is hard to be successful in, Jeff Binney is forging his own journey in life and he is not letting any challenge stop him.
Works Cited
Binney, Jeff. "Jeff Binney Interview." Online interview. 25 Oct. 2016.