If you haven’t yet heard of motivational speaker Trent Shelton, chances are you’ll want to.

The former NFL player’s inspiring videos have been watched by thousands of people all over the world — giving people encouragement to reach for their dreams, leave a damaging relationship or break free from their past mistakes.

Mr Shelton has been invited to speak across the globe from the US, to London, Sweden, Canada and Turks and Caicos.

And next month, he will be making his first appearance on Island for ‘Dream Big: Trent Shelton Live in Bermuda’ happening on Saturday, March 29 at the Fairmont Hamilton Princess.

Mr Shelton said he was looking forward to his visit and hopes the local audience can relate to his story.

“My whole thing is once people hear me speak or look at me, I want them to see I’m just like them,” he told The Royal Gazette. “I don’t want them to think they can never reach for what they want. I want to give them hope and show it’s possible.

“Whatever limitations they are placing on their lives I want them to know if I can overcome it they can do it too.”

Mr Shelton spent four years playing in the NFL. He idolised playing American football, but said his career was “very up and down”.

“I just got to a breaking point where I was tired of the way I was living,” he explained. “And after the birth of my son I wanted to be the best example I could be as a father and a man.”

After moving to the Arena Football League (AFL), he played for half a season before getting hurt.

He thought his life would be over without sports, but then a day came in February 2011 when God laid out a bigger plan.

“There was an event I was supposed to speak at. That same day I was supposed to leave to go to New Orleans for AFL, but my coach said he was cool with me coming a day later.

“It was my first time speaking in front of an audience of 2,000 children. I prayed and said ‘God, just let me have a feeling if this is my purpose’,” he said. “It was just five minutes speaking, but I got off the stage and called my mom and coach and said ‘I am through with football’.

“It wasn’t an easy choice. I had a family to take care of and bills to get paid, but I trusted God.”

He started making his YouTube videos shortly after that and said “it was crazy” to see how many people’s lives have been impacted by his messages of hope.

“I just give all the glory to God because I never thought this was where He would lead me,” he said.

“For me football was what I idolised so when that left I thought my life would be over and for a period I felt like that, so it’s amazing to see that now I get to travel to places that football would have never brought me. People know [my business] Rehab Time more than they would have known about me on the football field. This is so much bigger than my dreams.”

He operates under the company name ‘Rehab Time’. When asked about the meaning behind it, Mr Shelton said rehab was the first place athletes go when they tear their ACL or sprain an ankle. But the great thing about rehab is if it’s done right you come back stronger then before.

“During rehab you have setbacks and it doesn’t go exactly as you want or you might not heal as quickly as you want, but if you stay the course you grow stronger,” he said. “The same is true with life.”

Mr Shelton said he doesn’t think of himself as wise, but just tries to remind people of simple truths at a time when they may have forgotten their true worth or value. Seeing how his messages have impacted others is what motivates him to keep going, he said.

“I get letters from young to old saying ‘I was on the verge or committing suicide and just wanted my life to end’. And to see those kind of message from my iPhone that I brought them closer to God or their purpose, that is really rewarding to me.

“Everything else doesn’t matter, the accolades or financial gain, but just knowing people are getting help and it’s really helping to change their life.

He said it was amazing to see how social media could take a simple message across the world that people could connect to.

“And the fact that I am going to Bermuda is just wild to me,” he said. “It shows that when you embrace yourself, God can take you places you never dreamed of going.”

The ‘Dream Big’ event is being organised by VIP Group & JD Lewis Group. They are offering an early bird ticket special for $32.50 through www.bdatix.bm from now until Friday.

Useful website: www.trentshelton.com