Communication Workshop: Joe Johnson

We’ve all heard the cliché of following your dreams but very few can admit to saying they advanced to the next level.

On February 4th, Joe Johnson, who went from being a lawyer to specializing in seminars that impact and the challenge the mind of his audience. Being that Johnson was one of five children and was born and raised on the East side of Detroit. He didn’t have access to a bed until he was 12 so he quickly learned how to dream big even when he’s in the midst of poverty.

“Your attitude determines altitude,” Johnson said.

Johnson was just like any other young person, undefined plans for their future, unclear of what road to take next. It wasn’t until his dreams and aspirations to play professional football fell apart. He admits to being the type that couldn’t seem themselves doing anything other than what you want to do, which in his case, was playing basketball. He even caught himself waiting by the phone for a call to announce that he has officially been drafted which led him into a humbling experience that changed the trajectory of his life.

He remembered picking up the newspaper that read “no one from Michigan had been drafted.”

So, it was time for him to recover with a new game plan he took all of that focus, determination and put in the work for him to become a lawyer and later apart of the litigation counsel for the coco cola company.

Johnson elaborated on the fact that you have your dreams and choices you make to allow those dreams to come to light, that’s one of the four things that Johnson touched base on. The others being bad investments, thinking to small and lack of integrity.

“Life’s about dreams and choices and pursuing your dreams with everything you have never dream to small,” Johnson said.

He found it to be an interesting comparison between small startup companies and companies similar to door dash. The concept is that you the delivery driver goes to any restaurant or establishment and brings the meal or drink of choice to the customers door. That company is now worth one billion dollars. Sometimes even when you’re thinking too big, in reality, it’s too small. You shouldn’t be afraid to go for the dreams you’ve always aspired to achieve.

In order to reach those goals its important have more than one stream of incomes, which ensure that you always have something to fall back on but also have something to add to your original job or career. You also need to take calculated risk because without taking a risk how will you be able to constantly acquire profit or keep business coming?

“You must be a hard-worker and a seeker of knowledge,” Johnson said.

Most importantly you must change your frame of mind, in order to become successful first you need to think positively. Successful people have the ability to believe in themselves when nobody else does, its crucial to embrace your dreams and trust yourself.