April 8, 2025 • 49 mins
Darnell Weathersby shares his remarkable journey from being born one pound fifteen ounces on Chicago's west side to becoming an influential educator, administrator, and mentor determined to break generational cycles. His story demonstrates how intentional mentorship, education, and faith can transform lives and create new legacies.
• Born a premature twin weighing only 1 lb 15 oz, defying medical expectations
• Raised as the second oldest of eight siblings by a determined single mother in Chicago
• Found purpose through early mentorship from church men who intentionally invested in him
• Discovered his path to education when a college dean recognized his natural teaching abilities
• Became the first African-American administrator in a Pennsylvania school district's history
• Created "Bow Tie Tuesdays" to provide professional examples for young men
• Published "Journey to Fatherhood" documenting his preparation for fatherhood without having had a father
• Founded Lead One LLC with his wife to empower others to shatter generational curses
• Lives by the mantra "the cycle ends with me" to break patterns of domestic violence and divorce
• Recently launched children's book series "Adventures of Donald the Knight" honoring his twin's memory
Visit theleadonemovement.com to learn more about Darnell's books, resources, and mentorship opportunities.
Thanks for listening!
Until next time, continue to press into your purpose!
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:25):
Hello and welcome to this episode of Pressed Into
Purpose.
I am your host, valeria Wright.
Let's meet today's guest.
Darnell Weathersby is agraduate of Trinity
International University with aBachelor of Arts degree in
Elementary Education and TempleUniversity with a Master's in
educational leadership.
He has been an educator forover 21 years, assuming the
(00:50):
roles of teacher, assistantprincipal and acting principal
in both urban and suburbanschool districts across the
country.
Weathersby currently serves asa high school administrator,
being reared by a single motherand the second oldest of eight
on the second oldest of eight onthe west side of Chicago.
Weathersby knows the pressuresthat come along with adversities
(01:10):
from drugs, gangs and violence.
Weathersby believes thatempowered individuals with
access to education andresources have the power to
transform the world.
It is this philosophy thatinspires him as an educator on
the scene today.
Weathersby is living proof thata quality education can be the
(01:31):
vehicle that levels the playingfield.
In 2013, darnell and his wifeSharnell stepped out on faith
and founded Lead One LLC.
They believe with all theirheart that every individual has
a sphere of influence,regardless of their title or
position.
They know that they have beencalled to empower and equip
(01:54):
others to shatter generationalcurses and reach their fullest
potential for the glory of God.
They have been blessed toprovide numerous resources, such
as masterclasses, internetradio show apparel line and
published books like Journey toFatherhood and Adventures of
Donald the Knight, fearfully andWonderfully Made.
Darnell is the proud husband of19 years to Charnell Weathersby
(02:18):
and father to their twochildren.
Please help me in welcomingDarnell Weathersby.
Welcome, darnell.
Thank you so much for having meon the show.
I'm so glad to have you heretoday.
We've known each other for awhile and I know a little about
your journey.
I've learned a little more, youknow, over time.
(02:38):
But I am looking forward todelving into this conversation
today and just really talkingabout purpose, talking about how
you have journeyed to get toyour purpose, and just talking
about the challenges and thetriumphs along the way.
So I want to jump right in.
(02:58):
All right, listen, there is somuch.
I just read your bio.
There's so much to unpack,there is so much to talk about,
so let's jump right in.
So I know a little somethingabout you know the west side of
Chicago.
I grew up in the Austinneighborhood you know, and born
and raised, and I know that itat times can be could could be
(03:23):
challenging, but at other timesit was really really great.
People give Chicago a bad rap.
We won't go into all of that,but I believe that it is not
just your physical environmentbut your home environment that
helps to shape who you become,and so I want to talk about.
(03:45):
I want to start with.
Here we go.
Not only you grew up on theWest side of Chicago, but you
grew up the second of eightsiblings.
I did not know that about youfirst of all.
I knew that you had an olderbrother, but I didn't realize
there were eight of you.
Yeah, we deep in the streetListen to a single mother.
(04:05):
So tell me how you were able tonavigate in that environment
and become the man that you aretoday.
Like, how did that and how didthat shape your purpose?
Speaker 2 (04:14):
Yeah.
So let me take an even furtherstep back.
So God, when he says he has apurpose for you, it is clear and
undeniable.
And I would be remiss if Ifirst of all didn't say
congratulations on a new podcast.
Speaker 1 (04:31):
Thank you very much.
Speaker 2 (04:32):
I'm truly honored for this opportunity to come and to
see you and your element andbeing able just to contribute to
all that God is about to do inand through you through this
podcast.
So congratulations, first andforemost, thank you so much.
I was born one pound 15 ouncesWow.
(04:53):
Three months premature and atwin.
Speaker 1 (04:57):
Are you serious right now?
Speaker 2 (04:58):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (05:00):
Wow.
Speaker 2 (05:00):
So when I tell you God had a plan, yes, he did
Because your boy is not supposedto be here.
So when I tell you God had aplan, yes, he did Because your
boy is not supposed to be hereAccording to the statistics, yes
, I mean before the West Side ofChicago ever had a chance to
negatively impact me.
I had to make it out thehospital Wow In the NICU for
(05:26):
several weeks, you know.
And then you see me now.
Many people would never know.
Speaker 1 (05:31):
Absolutely not.
Speaker 2 (05:31):
Like from literally that beginning Wow, so I've
always known, just because hebrought me through that.
Yes, yes, you know I alwaysjoke and say don't hug the first
person you see when you get toheaven, because Donald don't
know you like that, because wewere identical and I always say
(05:52):
the world wasn't ready for twoof us.
So nonetheless, you got Darnell.
But yeah, I was born anidentical twin and we'll talk
about him a little bit more.
Okay, yeah, so second oldest ofeight kids.
You know my parents divorcedwhen I was three.
Okay, so I grew up.
(06:13):
You know my brother right-handman and six younger siblings.
Yeah, so, by the grace of God,you know, I always joke and say
I'm the product of a mother whowas crazy enough to do whatever
was necessary to make sure herfive boys and three girls Wow,
(06:34):
Nobody's ever been to jail Comeon.
Nobody's on drugs.
Come on Jesus.
Because she was crazy enough,you feared her more than any guy
.
Listen, like oh, oh, theytrying to recruit you, I got
something for that.
Okay, okay, she was crazyenough.
You feared her more than anyguy.
Listen, they're trying torecruit you.
I got something for that OkayBetween her and I always say the
men of the church stepped in ina very intentional way and said
(06:57):
not on our watch.
People always say you got anold soul, you've been mature for
a long time.
It's because I've always beenaround.
Older men Got it and, by thegrace of God, they have shaped
me and formed me and spoke lifeinto me and share words of
wisdom with me, so that I alwaystell people what I do today is
(07:21):
just me reciprocating andsharing out what was shared with
me.
Speaker 1 (07:27):
Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2 (07:28):
So you know, whenever I'm mentoring a young man, I
always say all you have to do isreplicate what you've been told
, because that's all I'm doing.
Speaker 1 (07:37):
Okay, okay, okay.
Speaker 2 (07:39):
So that is kind of the premise by which I was able
to navigate that environment.
You know, mom was serious aboutthe grades and she was
environment.
You know, mom was serious aboutthe grades and she was like you
know cause, or it would havebeen my home school, so yeah.
So she was like no, we're notdoing, or and I was able to test
in the lane.
She was like no, we're notdoing that we're not doing that.
Speaker 1 (08:00):
I have great expectations, yes.
Speaker 2 (08:02):
Yes, yes.
So I mean doing, yeah, I havegreat expectations.
Yes, yes, yes.
So I mean you know, secondoldest of eight kids and you
know my wife always joked you'vebeen raising kids for a long
time.
Speaker 1 (08:12):
Like it sounds like you have anything left.
Speaker 2 (08:15):
You know, um, but I think that's you know.
I always say God allowed myshoulders to be made for that
you know, and he allowed me tobe able to walk and flourish
with that level ofresponsibility from a very young
age.
Okay, because he knew what Iwould be doing today.
Very true?
Speaker 1 (08:33):
So yeah, he knows the plans that he has for us Come
on, come on Listen, okay, okay,okay, okay yes.
Wow.
So you said one pound and 15ounces.
Yes, weeks in the NICU.
Yes, the surviving twin, yes,and the second oldest of eight,
(08:56):
yeah so, and then you, you.
So you've already kind ofmentioned the mentorship piece.
So when do you believe, whendid you know that mentorship
would be a part of your purposeor journey?
Speaker 2 (09:13):
Well, so I always equate it back to high school,
um in youth group, heavilyinvolved, and my youth pastor I
remember me and a very goodfriend of mine, kenny Evans.
He gave us the reign to lead ayouth Bible study.
Speaker 1 (09:29):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (09:30):
With our peers, yeah, and I mean like that was a
little awkward at first becauseit's like who are they to listen
to us?
Yes, but he saw God's hand onus and he was like I could lead
it or you could lead it.
Okay, and you guys are going tolead it.
There we go so you know, andfrom that moment he was always
just intentionally training meup, helping me rightly divide
(09:51):
the word.
Yes, because I had a weeklyBible study to lead.
Speaker 1 (09:55):
Wow, so it wasn't just a one time thing.
Speaker 2 (09:59):
It was a consistent oh yes, you're leading and
teaching.
Yes, okay, yes You're leadingand teaching.
Speaker 1 (10:03):
Yes, okay, yes so.
Speaker 2 (10:05):
I've always been in a position from high school and
then when I got to college, Iwas leading Bible studies on
campus.
So, again, because I wasactively mentored and discipled,
it was just a naturalprogression.
It was like, okay, I'm justliterally replicating what's
being done to me in real time.
Got you, you know, was blessedto lead my first person to
(10:27):
Christ in 10th grade at Lane andgym class.
Wow, because you know, I was afirm believer.
He was like you know, this iswhat disciples do.
They make other disciples.
Yes, so I was like I didn't knowany different.
Yeah, yeah, so I was like okay,so if this is what we do, then
I think you need to know theLord and let's go.
And so I mean it's just been anatural progression of life.
(10:48):
So but that's what I was taught, that's my DNA Got it.
It's you know, you learn andyou give you learn and you give.
So that's been my life, indifferent facets and avenues,
but it's always been at its coreto replicate the process.
Speaker 1 (11:05):
Okay, wow, that gives me so much more insight because
you know we sang in GospelQuiet together at Lane Tech, and
that's where I first met you,and you were one of the— there
were only a handful of us thatwere super serious about God and
super serious about things,about kingdom Right, and not
(11:27):
saying that other people didn'tknow God and love God, but there
were a handful of us that werevery intentional about our walk
and I and I remember you beingone of those people, and now it
makes so much more sense.
Speaker 2 (11:42):
You know what?
Speaker 1 (11:42):
I'm saying Because we , we were, we were taught and we
were being groomed to continuein the faith and to carry the
torch.
And so, wow, this is that's.
That's pretty amazing.
That's pretty amazing, Okay, soso when did you discover that
you wanted to become a teacher?
Speaker 2 (12:06):
or go into education.
Speaker 1 (12:07):
So that's a funny thing.
Speaker 2 (12:08):
So junior, senior year of high school, and this is
like a lifetime ago.
So as I go down this rabbittrail, you'll be like what?
So singing in choir, lovingmusic and all the different
avenues that gospel choirbrought us, like um, and also I
(12:29):
sung at church, led praise andworship.
So I connected with a localproducer in the area and I had
like a little cd are you serious.
I mean, um praise, youtubewasn't out back then.
But I say that to say I wentinto college majoring in music.
(12:50):
Really, because I love music, Iwant to teach music, but I
couldn't read music.
Ok, so my freshman year I'mflunking out of all my music
classes, oh no.
Speaker 1 (13:02):
If you play, it.
Speaker 2 (13:03):
I could sing it, but I couldn't read anything.
Okay, so they were like whileyou mean, well, you about to go
back to the West Side becauseyou flunked.
And then my dean of educationfound me.
Okay, and she was like Darnell,every time I see you, you're in
front of a group of people andyou have a captive audience.
(13:26):
Have you ever considered?
It wasn't even on my radar tobe an educator.
Wow, she was like I heard fromthe music department that things
aren't going so well, but youare a natural born deliverer of
information.
Wow, she was like have you everconsidered?
(13:47):
And I was like anything that'sgoing to keep me from going back
home because my mama ain'thaving it, my mama is not having
it.
So your boy turned to educationand the rest is history.
Wow, but it wasn't even on myradar.
Speaker 1 (14:02):
Talking about God having a plan for you.
Yes, shout out to.
Speaker 2 (14:07):
Dr Kennett.
Wow, yes, shout out to DrKennett.
I remember that day like it wasyesterday.
That is so amazing and crazyall at the same time, it wasn't
even on the radar.
Speaker 1 (14:20):
Wow.
Speaker 2 (14:21):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (14:21):
So you go into the path of education, yes, wow.
So you go into the path ofeducation and you are in college
and you are studying and you'releading Bible studies, and then
you graduate and you get intoyour career as an educator.
Yeah, now some people just stopat being a teacher, and there's
(14:47):
absolutely nothing wrong withthat, right.
What made you take the nextstep to say, hey, there's more
to this journey, or more to?
Speaker 2 (14:54):
this story, I'll say this there is power in the woman
that you marry.
Yes, it is, Come on so you knowof everything I had already
navigated and come throughgraduating from college, first
in my family.
Okay, so I'm a CPS schoolteacher and I'm like, okay, your
boy done, made it Right, right.
(15:16):
Taught for three years in CPSand then my wife and I relocated
to Harrisburg, pennsylvania, soI lived out there for eight
years.
Wow, yeah, 12 hours away fromall family and friends.
Wow.
Speaker 1 (15:30):
We got to talk about that.
Speaker 2 (15:31):
We'll circle back to that, go ahead, but I say all
that to say around my fifth yearof teaching.
You know my wife was likeyou're a great teacher, but I
see more.
And at first your boy wasoffended.
I was like what you mean, likewhat you saying?
I'm not good enough right now.
Speaker 1 (15:52):
She was like baby calm down.
Speaker 2 (15:54):
You are thriving as a teacher, but I see more
capacity in you.
And she spoke what we now callthe Principal by 30 campaign.
Okay, she was like I think youcould be a principal by 30.
Wow, you need to go ahead andstart your master's program,
because how you're impactingclassrooms, I think you can
(16:17):
impact whole buildings.
Okay.
So she spoke that Come on, rafe, and I had my master's degree
and was assistant principal by29.
Come on, because the queenspoke that Come on, rafe, and I
had my master's degree and wasassistant principal by 29.
Come on, because the queenspoke that Listen Into reality.
So again, yes, the power oflife and death are in the tongue
.
Come on, come on, and we haveto speak life into our
relationship.
(16:38):
That's a whole notherconversation.
Speaker 1 (16:39):
Come on, come on, I might need to have you and the
queen back on the podcast.
I might need to have you andthe queen back on the podcast.
You know what I'm saying.
Speaker 2 (16:45):
Yes, because I know a little something about speaking
life.
Come on, Come on Okay okay,okay, yeah, it wasn't even just
like.
Being a teacher wasn't on theradar.
Yeah, initially being anadministrator wasn't on the
radar.
But seven years of teachingtransitioned to my first
assistant principal gig in 2010,.
And now I'm 15 years in as anadministrator.
(17:07):
So yeah, wow, yeah.
Speaker 1 (17:11):
This is amazing.
This is amazing.
Okay, okay, listen, listen,okay.
So now you are an administratorand I have.
I just have to say this I haveseen because I follow you on
social media.
Speaker 2 (17:25):
Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1 (17:26):
I have seen the.
Correct me if I'm wrong.
It's Bowtie Tuesdays.
Speaker 2 (17:30):
Yes, Bowtie Tuesdays.
Speaker 1 (17:32):
And so tell me a little bit about that and how
that started.
Speaker 2 (17:35):
Yeah, so again, being in Pennsylvania, I'm about an
hour outside of Philly.
You know I'm a firm believer.
Just because of my backgroundand my upbringing, you are a
reflection of the examplesaround you.
Yes, so you know we could talkall day long about our young men
(17:57):
not dressing appropriately andpants, sagging and all of that,
okay, but what are we doingabout it?
Okay, what kind of example arewe strategically and
intentionally providing for?
Them Got it.
So I was like, hey, I'm alwayssuited up, you know suit and tie
.
I'm going to switch it up alittle bit.
Okay, I'm going to give themyet another layer of how they
(18:20):
can present themselves.
Yeah, yeah, you know so, 12years ago now, I started Bowtie
Tuesdays.
Wow Again, just as a weeklyreminder to them of, hey, you
know, you can be authenticallyyou and have different layers to
how you present yourself.
Come on, it doesn't always haveto be a bow tie, but it can be.
(18:40):
Yeah, it doesn't always have tobe fresh Nikes, but it can be.
So like.
It doesn't have to be all thisor all that, right, but give
yourself layers and options onhow you present yourself.
Speaker 1 (18:53):
Come on with options.
Speaker 2 (18:54):
Yeah, yeah, so I mean , we started that and it's funny
, over the years, young men,they'll wear one to it I don't
know about this, it's too tight.
You, I don't know about this,it's too tight.
But then they'll go throughoutthe day and they'll say yo, Mr
Weathersby, the girls arefeeling this and I'm like I'm
trying to help you.
Man, Listen, I'm just tellingyou what I know.
(19:15):
So they're like yo, I'm wearingone next week.
So I mean, and the teachers arewearing it, so again it's just
something that the staff now weset our clock to it, so if it's
like, say, the Tuesday of finals, for example, I won't wear one.
They'll be like, okay, so is itMonday or is it Wednesday,
(19:37):
because we're throwing off now.
Because, we are accustomed tolike clockwork on Tuesdays.
You got on that bow tie, and ifwe don't see a bow tie now, we
all throwing up, right?
it can't be Tuesday, Right,right right, right so, but again
, just Knowing that part of mypurpose is being a example to
both those who look like me andthose who don't, yes, you know
(19:59):
I'm reminded of my and myexperiences as an administrator
in both urban and suburbansettings.
You know, my first 10 years wereall urban.
Ok, you know Chicago, philly.
You know Chicago, philly.
And then you know again my wife.
She was like while the hoodneeds you, if you don't go to
(20:21):
the suburbs, they'll neverexperience what black excellence
could look like.
Again, the queen she's alwaysbeen on it, wow.
So at that time I called myself, you know, education missionary
, if you will, because I'mdefinitely leaving the
environment I'm accustomed toyes, yes, but I've been able to
(20:44):
create great headway andministry opportunities.
Again, I remember when I wasout in Pennsylvania my first
month at Mechanicsburg HighSchool.
I was the first everAfrican-American administrator
in the history of their district, History of the district,
history of the district, wow.
And I remember my first monthof school there.
(21:06):
First day of school, thisAfrican-American young lady came
running down the hallway and,like the summer before, the
newspaper did an article on me.
It was like it was real.
Oh my gosh, it article on me.
It was like it was real.
Speaker 1 (21:17):
It was real.
Speaker 2 (21:17):
But she was like he's here, he's here and I'm suited
up and I'm ready to go.
And she was like you know, shecoming up, she hugging me, and
she was like you don'tunderstand, I've been in this
district, she was a senior, I'vebeen in this district for 12
years.
And I've been in this districtfor 12 years and I've never had
an adult male or female wholooks like me in a position of
(21:41):
authority.
So you have no idea, just themere fact of you walking down
this hallway, the impact it'shaving.
So that was the first day ofschool and then, a month later,
I had a Caucasian young man.
He was a junior.
He said, mr Weathersby, we'vebeen watching you.
And I said, oh really Tell memore.
(22:05):
He said no, hear me out.
He said when they first hiredyou we thought they were just
bringing you in to keep theminority students in line.
Oh wow.
But he said we've watched youand we've come to learn that you
actually care about all of usand we didn't expect that.
(22:26):
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (22:28):
Wow.
Speaker 2 (22:30):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (22:31):
I mean yes, this is yes.
Oh, I know I've said wow atleast 20 times but I am amazed
at the journey and the impactand influence that God has
allowed you to have every stepof the way, yes, yes.
(22:53):
I mean talk about being pressedinto purpose.
So you are.
You and your wife make adecision to step out of your
comfort zone and go to a newplace.
Speaker 2 (23:08):
Yeah, 12 hours away from everybody.
Speaker 1 (23:11):
How did Pennsylvania even become the place so?
Speaker 2 (23:14):
she worked for Caterpillar coming out of
college.
So even in that sense, you know, you grew up in a day and age
where it's like the man is thehead and we've always been team
Weathersby.
You know, if it's your seasonto thrive, then I got you, babe.
If it's my season, she got me.
So they offered her a promotionto head up the whole northern
(23:35):
east coast of their departmentfor marketing and business.
Wow.
Speaker 1 (23:40):
I was like who am I?
Speaker 2 (23:41):
to have the audacity to stand in the way of my queen
shining Absolutely, so I waslike I'm a black man in
education, I'm going to land onmy feet babe we out, okay, okay.
So we relocated no family, nofriends, no nothing.
Speaker 1 (23:57):
And look, and you went to a land that the Lord
showed you.
Come on, come on.
Speaker 2 (24:02):
Very much an Abraham moment, listen, but he knew what
he had in store.
Yes yes, but again, you know, alot of people was like, oh man,
who wearing the pants?
And I'm like dude, you can saythat as a single dude but I'm
going to live this married lifeand we're going to create this
empire together.
Absolutely, it's just been atestament of God's grace.
(24:27):
In June, we'll be celebrating20 years Come on and May we'll
be celebrating 20 years.
Speaker 1 (24:33):
Come on now.
Listen.
There are so many similaritiesto our story.
We really have to circle backand bring both of you on.
Yes, but I'm going to do mybest to stay focused.
I'm going to do my best to stayfocused.
Yeah, today's episode isbrought to you by Destiny Film
and Media.
Go to destinyfam1.com for allyour media needs.
(24:58):
Destiny, film and Media yourdestiny through film and media.
Let's talk about your books.
Speaker 2 (25:08):
Yes, yes, so you wrote a book called Journey to
Fatherhood yes.
Speaker 1 (25:11):
Wrote a book called Journey to Fatherhood yes.
Where did that?
What did that stem from?
Okay, and what made you say Ineed to write this book and now
is the time?
Speaker 2 (25:25):
It came out of the necessity of trying to keep my
sanity.
Okay, so July 2010,.
After five years of marriage,we find out we're expecting our
first child.
Okay, again, my parentsdivorced when're expecting our
first child?
Okay, again, my parentsdivorced when I was three.
So while I've had many mendisciple me and mentor me, my
biological father was never inthe home.
(25:46):
So therefore, I'm married, godis blessing, and now we're
expecting our first child, and Ihave no template nor
understanding of what in theworld am I supposed to be doing?
Okay, do I go to the doctor'svisits, Do I not?
Mm-hmm, everywhere I knewgrowing up in the hood, nobody
had a crib.
So how do I even put onetogether?
(26:08):
I'm out of my element.
I have no idea what I'm doing,okay, so for nine months, every
day the Lord was like justjournal.
Okay, put it on paper all yourfears, all your prayer requests.
So, literally nine months ofautobiography, just sharing how
we proactively, intentionallyprepared for our child's arrival
(26:31):
.
Wow, and it was meant to justbe a gift to my daughter at a
time.
We didn't know the sex oranything, but it was just meant
to be a gift to her when shegraduated from college or got
married.
But then the Lord was like slowdown.
There are millions of young men, those who look like you and
those who don't, who are just asscared, just as ill-prepared.
(26:53):
Yeah, and I didn't have youdocument that to keep to
yourself.
Okay, so I need you to publishthat.
Okay, because there are youngmen who need it.
Yeah, so that I walk in anobedience.
You know I self-published.
Okay, and by the grace of God,men across the country and
(27:14):
around the world have read myjournal entries and it's given
them permission to documenttheir own journey to fatherhood.
Because at the end of eachtrimester there are discussion
questions.
Because a lot of times, ashusbands and as men, we're
taught to provide and protecteveryone else, but we're never
(27:35):
few of us are taught on how toprotect our own selves.
Wow, how do you process yourown emotions?
Speaker 1 (27:41):
Okay, your own psyche .
Speaker 2 (27:43):
Yes, you know.
So, yeah, I'm making sure thequeen is good, but I'm scared to
death.
Yeah, so how am I?
What's my outlet?
Mm-hmm, mm-hmm, you know.
Okay, how am I allowing myselfto, in a healthy manner, get out
the stress?
Got it, you know.
Get out this.
You know I'm fearful, but Ican't show it.
(28:04):
Yeah, I'm scared too, but Ican't show it.
So who do I be vulnerable for?
God and the lord was like putit on paper, be vulnerable
before me.
All right, you know.
So again, journey to fatherhoodcame out of necessity of
keeping my sanity as we preparedand navigated the pregnancy.
So, from the first day we foundout we were expecting to the
(28:25):
day she was born, I journal.
And that's what Journey toFatherhood is.
It's literally nine months ofjournal entries, wow, yeah.
Speaker 1 (28:34):
I didn't realize that .
Okay, yes, yeah, I didn'trealize that.
Okay, yes, yeah, that isamazing to be able to.
So how did it feel?
Were you nervous to put thistogether and put it out there?
Speaker 2 (28:49):
Yeah, so again, it was the unadulterated I mean
deaths in the family, like ninemonths of anything and
everything that occurred.
That was my outlet.
So I'm very I've beenjournaling every day since.
Okay, like that is my thing.
Yeah, so you know that's mytherapy every morning.
You know, listen, you got to doit, but so you know, I had
(29:12):
conversations with familymembers like, hey, this book is
about to drop.
Yeah, you know I hadconversations with family
members like, hey, this book isabout to drop.
Yeah, it's nothing scandalous,but it is a all-access-provided
look into my life, got it, andhow my life has interacted with
your life.
You may be mentioned in this,got it you?
Speaker 1 (29:27):
know, got it.
Speaker 2 (29:28):
Okay, so I had family members pass and they were
mentioned, got it, things ofthat nature, but a lot of it was
just, you know, conducive to myhousehold, if you will, and how
my wife and I were navigatingthat season um different doctors
visits, and how it went andtrying to paint this room and
all of this stuff and get thisnursery together and you know
(29:48):
just different things, um, butyeah, so you know you had to
have those forthcomingconversations, but the family
was like this is your life, thisis what God has put on your
heart, and they saw the trackrecord of obedience up to that
point and they're like God hasnever steered you wrong.
So if he's telling you to dothis, then we trust his leading
(30:10):
upon your life.
So go ahead.
Speaker 1 (30:13):
I like what you just said.
They saw the track record ofobedience.
That is so important.
Yeah, it's important and it'sbeen a common thread throughout
the conversation.
You've talked about being ableto replicate what you've seen.
You've talked about the.
I just love that track recordof obedience and people being
(30:36):
able to see it.
So, in with the with your trackrecord of obedience.
Yeah, how has that?
Because because people can seethey.
They only see outward correctwhat has that inner journey been
(30:56):
like?
Because we know that we don'talways get it right, but when
others see us, sometimes they'relike, oh, you always get it
together.
So how were some of thoseconversations with you and God?
How have they been along theway to like what?
What did you?
Did you face any challenges?
(31:17):
Along the way in walking inpurpose or getting to purpose.
And what, what did?
What did that Darnell and Godconversation look like?
Speaker 2 (31:29):
Yeah, so I will be remiss if I didn't say I've been
blessed to have a circle offriends, a circle of guys who
we've known each other sincefreshman year in college.
Speaker 1 (31:40):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (31:41):
We've navigated single life together.
We've navigated hey, I met agirl together.
We've navigated marriage.
Now we all got children.
Yes, I've been in theirweddings.
They've been in our wedding.
So I've been blessed to have acircle of guys around me who
could care less about my degrees, who can care less about my
(32:02):
accomplishments.
They might care about your book.
You know so, but you need that.
Speaker 1 (32:07):
Yes, you know so yes absolutely.
Speaker 2 (32:09):
We always joke and say that group text is to the
grave, to the grave, right,right, right.
But I say that to say thatkeeps me.
And also, you know I'm an avidjournaler and what I've done for
numerous years is, at the endof each month I reread my
journal entries Because in themoment I'm crying out to God for
(32:34):
provision, in the moment I'mcrying out to God for, you know,
provision and I need you tocome through through and I'm not
sure about this meeting at work.
And then when I reread it I'mlike, okay, so you came through
here, you came through here, Ihad no reason to be concerned
(32:54):
here, but in the moment I didn'tknow it.
Right, right, right.
So that keeps me grounded aswell.
To say again, I try to keep ashort.
I always say people havespiritual amnesia a lot.
Yes, yes, God provides.
And we forget and God providesand we forget.
(33:15):
So you know, it's one of thosethings where I try to keep a
short record of okay, he's beentoo good for me to be forgetting
all the doggone things.
You know he's brought me toofar.
But in your current season, ifyou don't take time to reflect
upon where he's brought you from, you lose track of just how far
(33:36):
he's brought you.
Now, that is true, you know.
So I think that's have I haddifficulties, of course, even
now, as trying to be you know.
So I think that's have I haddifficulties, of course, even
now, as trying to be, you know Ijoke and say I'm raising middle
class kids with a hoodunderstanding, you know.
So it's like how do I prepareyou for to walk in a season that
(34:00):
I didn't walk through?
You know, preparing my kids forcollege, all my stuff was paid
for because you knowscholarships and grants, and if
I was dumb enough to sign astudent loan, they gave me that
too.
Right, right, right, you know,but the money was there because
my mama didn't have it Right?
Right, right but the store's alittle different for my kids A
little bit, you know.
(34:20):
So I always say like man, right, but the story's a little
different for my kids A littlebit, you know.
So I always say like man, thisis new territory.
Speaker 1 (34:26):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (34:27):
How do I train them to be grounded but yet walk in
provision, Whereas I grew upwalking in?
Lord, you're going to have tocome through because the light's
off again.
You know, Got you, you're goingto have to come through because
that refrigerator, good andempty, yeah, you're going to
have to come through because weabout to get evicted.
(34:47):
Like you're going to have tocome through, right, right, they
know nothing of that world Gotyou To the grace of God.
So it's like I always say, like, even as God is using me, he's
continually reshaping myunderstanding of him.
Because it's all new.
Yeah, it's all new.
Yeah, none of this is what Iexperienced.
None of it, none of it, none ofit.
(35:10):
But again, it helps me be thatmuch more appreciative of what I
have and what I've earned byhis grace, because I know what
it could have been.
Yes, you know, yes, we all grewup with examples of people who
were just as talented but made acouple choices along the way
and now they're all the waywhere they don't want to be
(35:33):
Right.
So it wasn't because I'm sochosen or anything like that.
It's just because, literally,god gave me the humility to say,
one opportunity at a time, I'mgoing to trust you.
Speaker 1 (35:47):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (35:47):
And I'm going to trust you here.
And I'm going to trust you here, even if I don't understand,
even if it don't make sense.
You know always say everybodyhas two options in life.
Yeah, you can blaze a trail andstart a new legacy, or you can
continue a legacy that's beengiven to you.
Okay, everybody has one of twochoices.
(36:09):
For me, part of starting LeadOne in 2013 with my wife was we
believe that too many peoplewere waiting for a position or a
title in order to walk in theirpurpose and we were like no,
everything God has shown us isthat if you walk in obedience,
(36:29):
the positions and the titleswill come.
Yeah, you just do what God hascalled you to do.
Yes, and you be obedient to theseason he has you in.
Speaker 1 (36:38):
And leave the results to him Absolutely.
Speaker 2 (36:41):
So you know for a phrase that I use all the time
the cycle ends with me.
I live by that.
You know.
I grew up.
You know domestic violence anddivorce.
Those are two cycles I wasdetermined were going to end
with me.
My children would not know thedamage that comes with that,
okay.
The damage that I'm stillnavigating, gotcha, they will
(37:02):
not with that, okay.
Okay, the damage that I'm stillnavigating, gotcha, they will
not know that, yeah.
My wife will not know thehardship that I saw my mom have
to navigate.
She will know nothing of it.
Got it, yeah.
So that's what drives me is tocreate a legacy.
I tell my son all the time I'mhaving conversations with you
(37:23):
that my dad never had with me,so that when you have children,
this will be the norm.
Yes, while I'm walking in faith, every conversation, because
God has given me the words thatweren't given to me.
And now you have it at a youngage, because this is what dad
has always done for you, yes,yes.
(37:45):
So again, blazing that trailand walking in a new season of
legacy building, if you will, tosay, hey, not on my watch.
Speaker 1 (37:52):
Yeah, this ends here, yeah.
Speaker 2 (37:55):
And I believe everyone has a generational
curse that they're trying tobreak, whether it's lack of
education, physical health,mental health, you name it.
If we were transparent,everybody has that one thing
that says it ends here.
Yeah, it ends here, absolutely.
So I think that's.
Another thing that keeps me isto know the cycles he's allowed
(38:17):
me to shatter and the fruit thatcomes from shattering those
cycles, so the next generationcan walk in wholeness yes, it.
Speaker 1 (38:27):
Listen.
Walking and healing andwholeness is so important.
Yeah, and I don't think enoughpeople intentionally chart that
path.
Yeah, um, it is I.
I've been.
You talk about journaling.
I've been journaling since Iwas in high school.
(38:49):
Come on and it, and sometimesand I, when you talked about,
you know, going back and readingit like at the end of the month
, I was like, huh, maybe Ishould do that.
Um, because I go back and I'llread something from years ago
and I'll see, one, how far Godhas brought me, and then two
I'll see wait, you told me thisa long time ago and I just
(39:15):
overlooked it or missed it orforgot about it.
And yeah, sometimes we have togo back so that we can be
reminded, not only of God's-goodness, but of who he has
called us to be.
Come on, and so you have so manytitles You've got son, you've
(39:37):
got brother, you've got husbandand father and teacher and
mentor, administrator, all thethings.
If you were to wrap all ofthose things up, what would you
say your purpose is?
Speaker 2 (39:58):
To empower others.
Okay, to empower others.
Okay.
I think I always say and I wasjust telling one of my mentees
this a little while ago, maybe aweek or two ago I said a true
man, if able is consistent inany environment, he's in Okay.
(40:18):
Too many times we switch hatstoo much.
You know, for example, if I'mwith this group of friends, I
act this way.
Okay, if I'm with this group offriends, I act this way.
If I'm at work, I act this way.
If I'm at church, I act thisway.
And I pride myself on beingconsistently Darnell.
(40:40):
Okay, when you see me atWalmart, that's the Darnell
you're going to get.
Okay, when you see me out withthe family, that's the Darnell
you're going to get, it's thesame Darnell.
So to empower others to walk inthat freedom, to walk with that
sense of purpose, because it hasblessed me to be consistently
(41:02):
Darnell.
So I don't have to switch it upbecause you know the
superintendent just walked in.
Yes, yes, I'm just beingDarnell.
Yeah.
And if I'm at the gym, I'm justbeing Darnell.
If I'm out with the family andyou know my students see me, I
don't have to wonder oh man,what did they overhear?
Got you?
(41:22):
I'm just being Darnell.
So it's a level of consistencythat I try to empower others to
live in, to say, hey, just bewho God has called you to be
consistently.
Yes, and if you can do thatconsistently again, the results
will take care of itself.
Amen.
You know just, I have a heartfor mentoring the next
(41:44):
generation, because I wasmentored, I was discipled.
So to see former students whoare now, you know, husbands and
fathers themselves, and theblessing of social media in my
world is being able to stayconnected with them, yes, you
know, and we talk whenever weneed to, and then I tell them
just a text message away, I'm,just a phone call away, and
(42:07):
they're walking me through whatthey're going through, and and
I'm.
You know I don't got all theanswers, but this is what I know
to be true.
Right, come on.
This is what's worked for me.
Speaker 1 (42:15):
Yes.
Speaker 2 (42:15):
Yes, so just being in that season of being the one
doing the empowering and thenseeing the fruit of that is just
amazing.
But I think if I couldsummarize all those hats is I've
been called to empower others,amen.
Speaker 1 (42:33):
Yeah, amen.
Speaker 2 (42:34):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (42:34):
Okay, so I want to wrap this up because, look, we
could talk all day.
Speaker 2 (42:43):
I know, but.
Speaker 1 (42:43):
I was like okay, it's a podcast we got to turn the
corner.
But I want to bring up one morething, which I brought up a
little bit before we startrecording.
But every time I think aboutyou, whenever I see you, the
first thing I think about isLane Tech Gospel Choir Come on
(43:03):
and me encouraging you verystrongly to lead Kirk Franklin's
Conquerors, come on, come on.
And when I think about that,and then I think about your life
that we've just talked about.
I didn't know why I felt sostrongly that you should lead
(43:25):
that song, but when I hear yourlife, yes your life.
That is a that is really atestament to your life.
Come on, you are more than aconqueror from one pound 15
ounces to the man that you sithere today, the mentor that you
(43:45):
are, the husband, the father,let's just say the leader, the
empowerer that you are today.
You are more than a conquerorand I am blessed by your story.
I am blessed by your yes to God.
I'm blessed by your story.
I am blessed by your yes to God.
I'm blessed by your obedienceto God and I want to make sure
(44:12):
that other people know how theycan be blessed by your ministry
as well.
Speaker 2 (44:17):
So I'm just going to grab a few things over here, no
problem, no problem.
Speaker 1 (44:22):
And I'm going to talk to the camera for a second, all
right, all right, and I amgoing to raise up your book here
, journey to Fatherhood, whichwe have talked about, um, in the
podcast.
Um, how you are journaling your, your nine, you and your wife's
nine, nine month journey, uh,through, uh, pregnancy, um, and
listen, if you do not have acopy of this book and you are
(44:46):
going through that very journey,you might want to pick it up.
Come on, listen, because it'llbless you.
And then we have, you came outwith a journal recently.
Speaker 2 (44:56):
Yes, yes.
Speaker 1 (44:56):
Because we know that you are a journaler.
Speaker 2 (44:58):
Come on, come on, come on.
You know what I'm saying.
Speaker 1 (45:01):
So when the man journals, then he needs the
cycle.
The journal said the cycle endswith me.
So, he also has a journal thatyou can pick up at all the
outlets.
Speaker 2 (45:14):
Yeah, well, my website is theleadonemovementcom
, so all of our resources areavailable for purchase and
anyone who purchases a copy,they can notify me and I
autograph them and email andsend them out.
Okay, so it's very customized,okay, yes, okay.
Speaker 1 (45:32):
Very good, very good.
And then we've got a new thingwhich we didn't really get a
chance to talk about today.
That's not right, but so I'mgoing to hold it up now, I'm
going to let you, I'm going tohold it up now, I'm going to
pass it to you and ask you totell us a little bit about it,
because I think I think weprobably we, we let listen, okay
.
So there's another book calledthe adventures of Donald, the
(45:55):
night fearfully and wonderfullymade, and this just recently
came out.
How long November of 2022.
November of 2022.
Okay.
Speaker 2 (46:04):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (46:05):
And so I want you to tell me a little bit about the
background of how this came tobe.
Speaker 2 (46:11):
So again, having being born a twin.
My twin's name was DonaldGotcha, so this is a tribute,
donald the Knight, to his memory.
Yes, tribute Donald the Knightto his memory.
Yes, but also, you know, beingin education for 20 plus years,
I'm always having countlessconversations with parents who
are looking for resources on howto help their child navigate
(46:34):
bullying, peer pressure and lowself-esteem.
Okay, so I wanted to provide aresource for young families.
When you get to high school,you're already at a certain
point of being kind of fixed inyour ways.
But if I could provide aresource for the children,
particularly our young men, ofhow to navigate bullying, peer
(46:54):
pressure and low self-esteemfrom a biblical perspective,
then families have yet anotherresource to refer to.
Got it.
Then families have yet anotherresource to refer to Got it.
So I had a chance to honor mytwin's memory, yes, keep his
legacy alive, yes, while at thesame time providing a resource
for families.
So, by the grace of God, welaunched November of 2022.
(47:15):
We just crossed 1,000 bookssold Congratulations.
30 book signings later, wow,and you're the first to hear
about it on this podcast.
But book number two is set tolaunch in March, okay, so your
boy been working behind thescenes.
Speaker 1 (47:31):
Yes.
Speaker 2 (47:32):
So book two will be launching here shortly, okay, so
definitely keep out on the lookfor that.
We will do that, yes, yes, soit'll be a continuation of
Donald Knight.
It's a three part seriesactually.
Okay, okay, all right.
Speaker 1 (47:44):
Well, everybody, look for Adventures of Donald the
Knight, part 2.
Yes, coming in March of 2025.
And I just want to say thankyou.
Thank you, thank you, darnell,for taking the time to talk to
me today and share your story.
It has been uplifting, it hasbeen inspiring and encouraging
(48:07):
and empowering, and so thank youall, so so much for joining us
on Preston to Purpose on today.
We pray that you have had,you've gotten, some nuggets from
our conversation and we praythat they will help you to press
further into your purpose.
Thank you and thank you, we'llsee you next time.
(48:27):
Today's episode is brought toyou by Destiny Film and Media.
(48:53):
Go to destinyfam1.com for allyour media needs.
Destiny Film and Media, yourdestiny through film and media.
You.
Hello and welcome to this episode of Pressed Into
Purpose.
I am your host, valeria Wright.
Let's meet today's guest.
Darnell Weathersby is agraduate of Trinity
International University with aBachelor of Arts degree in
Elementary Education and TempleUniversity with a Master's in
educational leadership.
He has been an educator forover 21 years, assuming the
(00:50):
roles of teacher, assistantprincipal and acting principal
in both urban and suburbanschool districts across the
country.
Weathersby currently serves asa high school administrator,
being reared by a single motherand the second oldest of eight
on the second oldest of eight onthe west side of Chicago.
Weathersby knows the pressuresthat come along with adversities
(01:10):
from drugs, gangs and violence.
Weathersby believes thatempowered individuals with
access to education andresources have the power to
transform the world.
It is this philosophy thatinspires him as an educator on
the scene today.
Weathersby is living proof thata quality education can be the
(01:31):
vehicle that levels the playingfield.
In 2013, darnell and his wifeSharnell stepped out on faith
and founded Lead One LLC.
They believe with all theirheart that every individual has
a sphere of influence,regardless of their title or
position.
They know that they have beencalled to empower and equip
(01:54):
others to shatter generationalcurses and reach their fullest
potential for the glory of God.
They have been blessed toprovide numerous resources, such
as masterclasses, internetradio show apparel line and
published books like Journey toFatherhood and Adventures of
Donald the Knight, fearfully andWonderfully Made.
Darnell is the proud husband of19 years to Charnell Weathersby
(02:18):
and father to their twochildren.
Please help me in welcomingDarnell Weathersby.
Welcome, darnell.
Thank you so much for having meon the show.
I'm so glad to have you heretoday.
We've known each other for awhile and I know a little about
your journey.
I've learned a little more, youknow, over time.
(02:38):
But I am looking forward todelving into this conversation
today and just really talkingabout purpose, talking about how
you have journeyed to get toyour purpose, and just talking
about the challenges and thetriumphs along the way.
So I want to jump right in.
(02:58):
All right, listen, there is somuch.
I just read your bio.
There's so much to unpack,there is so much to talk about,
so let's jump right in.
So I know a little somethingabout you know the west side of
Chicago.
I grew up in the Austinneighborhood you know, and born
and raised, and I know that itat times can be could could be
(03:23):
challenging, but at other timesit was really really great.
People give Chicago a bad rap.
We won't go into all of that,but I believe that it is not
just your physical environmentbut your home environment that
helps to shape who you become,and so I want to talk about.
(03:45):
I want to start with.
Here we go.
Not only you grew up on theWest side of Chicago, but you
grew up the second of eightsiblings.
I did not know that about youfirst of all.
I knew that you had an olderbrother, but I didn't realize
there were eight of you.
Yeah, we deep in the streetListen to a single mother.
(04:05):
So tell me how you were able tonavigate in that environment
and become the man that you aretoday.
Like, how did that and how didthat shape your purpose?
Speaker 2 (04:14):
Yeah.
So let me take an even furtherstep back.
So God, when he says he has apurpose for you, it is clear and
undeniable.
And I would be remiss if Ifirst of all didn't say
congratulations on a new podcast.
Speaker 1 (04:31):
Thank you very much.
Speaker 2 (04:32):
I'm truly honored for this opportunity to come and to
see you and your element andbeing able just to contribute to
all that God is about to do inand through you through this
podcast.
So congratulations, first andforemost, thank you so much.
I was born one pound 15 ouncesWow.
(04:53):
Three months premature and atwin.
Speaker 1 (04:57):
Are you serious right now?
Speaker 2 (04:58):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (05:00):
Wow.
Speaker 2 (05:00):
So when I tell you God had a plan, yes, he did
Because your boy is not supposedto be here.
So when I tell you God had aplan, yes, he did Because your
boy is not supposed to be hereAccording to the statistics, yes
, I mean before the West Side ofChicago ever had a chance to
negatively impact me.
I had to make it out thehospital Wow In the NICU for
(05:26):
several weeks, you know.
And then you see me now.
Many people would never know.
Speaker 1 (05:31):
Absolutely not.
Speaker 2 (05:31):
Like from literally that beginning Wow, so I've
always known, just because hebrought me through that.
Yes, yes, you know I alwaysjoke and say don't hug the first
person you see when you get toheaven, because Donald don't
know you like that, because wewere identical and I always say
(05:52):
the world wasn't ready for twoof us.
So nonetheless, you got Darnell.
But yeah, I was born anidentical twin and we'll talk
about him a little bit more.
Okay, yeah, so second oldest ofeight kids.
You know my parents divorcedwhen I was three.
Okay, so I grew up.
(06:13):
You know my brother right-handman and six younger siblings.
Yeah, so, by the grace of God,you know, I always joke and say
I'm the product of a mother whowas crazy enough to do whatever
was necessary to make sure herfive boys and three girls Wow,
(06:34):
Nobody's ever been to jail Comeon.
Nobody's on drugs.
Come on Jesus.
Because she was crazy enough,you feared her more than any guy
.
Listen, like oh, oh, theytrying to recruit you, I got
something for that.
Okay, okay, she was crazyenough.
You feared her more than anyguy.
Listen, they're trying torecruit you.
I got something for that OkayBetween her and I always say the
men of the church stepped in ina very intentional way and said
(06:57):
not on our watch.
People always say you got anold soul, you've been mature for
a long time.
It's because I've always beenaround.
Older men Got it and, by thegrace of God, they have shaped
me and formed me and spoke lifeinto me and share words of
wisdom with me, so that I alwaystell people what I do today is
(07:21):
just me reciprocating andsharing out what was shared with
me.
Speaker 1 (07:27):
Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2 (07:28):
So you know, whenever I'm mentoring a young man, I
always say all you have to do isreplicate what you've been told
, because that's all I'm doing.
Speaker 1 (07:37):
Okay, okay, okay.
Speaker 2 (07:39):
So that is kind of the premise by which I was able
to navigate that environment.
You know, mom was serious aboutthe grades and she was
environment.
You know, mom was serious aboutthe grades and she was like you
know cause, or it would havebeen my home school, so yeah.
So she was like no, we're notdoing, or and I was able to test
in the lane.
She was like no, we're notdoing that we're not doing that.
Speaker 1 (08:00):
I have great expectations, yes.
Speaker 2 (08:02):
Yes, yes.
So I mean doing, yeah, I havegreat expectations.
Yes, yes, yes.
So I mean you know, secondoldest of eight kids and you
know my wife always joked you'vebeen raising kids for a long
time.
Speaker 1 (08:12):
Like it sounds like you have anything left.
Speaker 2 (08:15):
You know, um, but I think that's you know.
I always say God allowed myshoulders to be made for that
you know, and he allowed me tobe able to walk and flourish
with that level ofresponsibility from a very young
age.
Okay, because he knew what Iwould be doing today.
Very true?
Speaker 1 (08:33):
So yeah, he knows the plans that he has for us Come
on, come on Listen, okay, okay,okay, okay yes.
Wow.
So you said one pound and 15ounces.
Yes, weeks in the NICU.
Yes, the surviving twin, yes,and the second oldest of eight,
(08:56):
yeah so, and then you, you.
So you've already kind ofmentioned the mentorship piece.
So when do you believe, whendid you know that mentorship
would be a part of your purposeor journey?
Speaker 2 (09:13):
Well, so I always equate it back to high school,
um in youth group, heavilyinvolved, and my youth pastor I
remember me and a very goodfriend of mine, kenny Evans.
He gave us the reign to lead ayouth Bible study.
Speaker 1 (09:29):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (09:30):
With our peers, yeah, and I mean like that was a
little awkward at first becauseit's like who are they to listen
to us?
Yes, but he saw God's hand onus and he was like I could lead
it or you could lead it.
Okay, and you guys are going tolead it.
There we go so you know, andfrom that moment he was always
just intentionally training meup, helping me rightly divide
(09:51):
the word.
Yes, because I had a weeklyBible study to lead.
Speaker 1 (09:55):
Wow, so it wasn't just a one time thing.
Speaker 2 (09:59):
It was a consistent oh yes, you're leading and
teaching.
Yes, okay, yes You're leadingand teaching.
Speaker 1 (10:03):
Yes, okay, yes so.
Speaker 2 (10:05):
I've always been in a position from high school and
then when I got to college, Iwas leading Bible studies on
campus.
So, again, because I wasactively mentored and discipled,
it was just a naturalprogression.
It was like, okay, I'm justliterally replicating what's
being done to me in real time.
Got you, you know, was blessedto lead my first person to
(10:27):
Christ in 10th grade at Lane andgym class.
Wow, because you know, I was afirm believer.
He was like you know, this iswhat disciples do.
They make other disciples.
Yes, so I was like I didn't knowany different.
Yeah, yeah, so I was like okay,so if this is what we do, then
I think you need to know theLord and let's go.
And so I mean it's just been anatural progression of life.
(10:48):
So but that's what I was taught, that's my DNA Got it.
It's you know, you learn andyou give you learn and you give.
So that's been my life, indifferent facets and avenues,
but it's always been at its coreto replicate the process.
Speaker 1 (11:05):
Okay, wow, that gives me so much more insight because
you know we sang in GospelQuiet together at Lane Tech, and
that's where I first met you,and you were one of the— there
were only a handful of us thatwere super serious about God and
super serious about things,about kingdom Right, and not
(11:27):
saying that other people didn'tknow God and love God, but there
were a handful of us that werevery intentional about our walk
and I and I remember you beingone of those people, and now it
makes so much more sense.
Speaker 2 (11:42):
You know what?
Speaker 1 (11:42):
I'm saying Because we , we were, we were taught and we
were being groomed to continuein the faith and to carry the
torch.
And so, wow, this is that's.
That's pretty amazing.
That's pretty amazing, Okay, soso when did you discover that
you wanted to become a teacher?
Speaker 2 (12:06):
or go into education.
Speaker 1 (12:07):
So that's a funny thing.
Speaker 2 (12:08):
So junior, senior year of high school, and this is
like a lifetime ago.
So as I go down this rabbittrail, you'll be like what?
So singing in choir, lovingmusic and all the different
avenues that gospel choirbrought us, like um, and also I
(12:29):
sung at church, led praise andworship.
So I connected with a localproducer in the area and I had
like a little cd are you serious.
I mean, um praise, youtubewasn't out back then.
But I say that to say I wentinto college majoring in music.
(12:50):
Really, because I love music, Iwant to teach music, but I
couldn't read music.
Ok, so my freshman year I'mflunking out of all my music
classes, oh no.
Speaker 1 (13:02):
If you play, it.
Speaker 2 (13:03):
I could sing it, but I couldn't read anything.
Okay, so they were like whileyou mean, well, you about to go
back to the West Side becauseyou flunked.
And then my dean of educationfound me.
Okay, and she was like Darnell,every time I see you, you're in
front of a group of people andyou have a captive audience.
(13:26):
Have you ever considered?
It wasn't even on my radar tobe an educator.
Wow, she was like I heard fromthe music department that things
aren't going so well, but youare a natural born deliverer of
information.
Wow, she was like have you everconsidered?
(13:47):
And I was like anything that'sgoing to keep me from going back
home because my mama ain'thaving it, my mama is not having
it.
So your boy turned to educationand the rest is history.
Wow, but it wasn't even on myradar.
Speaker 1 (14:02):
Talking about God having a plan for you.
Yes, shout out to.
Speaker 2 (14:07):
Dr Kennett.
Wow, yes, shout out to DrKennett.
I remember that day like it wasyesterday.
That is so amazing and crazyall at the same time, it wasn't
even on the radar.
Speaker 1 (14:20):
Wow.
Speaker 2 (14:21):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (14:21):
So you go into the path of education, yes, wow.
So you go into the path ofeducation and you are in college
and you are studying and you'releading Bible studies, and then
you graduate and you get intoyour career as an educator.
Yeah, now some people just stopat being a teacher, and there's
(14:47):
absolutely nothing wrong withthat, right.
What made you take the nextstep to say, hey, there's more
to this journey, or more to?
Speaker 2 (14:54):
this story, I'll say this there is power in the woman
that you marry.
Yes, it is, Come on so you knowof everything I had already
navigated and come throughgraduating from college, first
in my family.
Okay, so I'm a CPS schoolteacher and I'm like, okay, your
boy done, made it Right, right.
(15:16):
Taught for three years in CPSand then my wife and I relocated
to Harrisburg, pennsylvania, soI lived out there for eight
years.
Wow, yeah, 12 hours away fromall family and friends.
Wow.
Speaker 1 (15:30):
We got to talk about that.
Speaker 2 (15:31):
We'll circle back to that, go ahead, but I say all
that to say around my fifth yearof teaching.
You know my wife was likeyou're a great teacher, but I
see more.
And at first your boy wasoffended.
I was like what you mean, likewhat you saying?
I'm not good enough right now.
Speaker 1 (15:52):
She was like baby calm down.
Speaker 2 (15:54):
You are thriving as a teacher, but I see more
capacity in you.
And she spoke what we now callthe Principal by 30 campaign.
Okay, she was like I think youcould be a principal by 30.
Wow, you need to go ahead andstart your master's program,
because how you're impactingclassrooms, I think you can
(16:17):
impact whole buildings.
Okay.
So she spoke that Come on, rafe, and I had my master's degree
and was assistant principal by29.
Come on, because the queenspoke that Come on, rafe, and I
had my master's degree and wasassistant principal by 29.
Come on, because the queenspoke that Listen Into reality.
So again, yes, the power oflife and death are in the tongue
.
Come on, come on, and we haveto speak life into our
relationship.
(16:38):
That's a whole notherconversation.
Speaker 1 (16:39):
Come on, come on, I might need to have you and the
queen back on the podcast.
I might need to have you andthe queen back on the podcast.
You know what I'm saying.
Speaker 2 (16:45):
Yes, because I know a little something about speaking
life.
Come on, Come on Okay okay,okay, yeah, it wasn't even just
like.
Being a teacher wasn't on theradar.
Yeah, initially being anadministrator wasn't on the
radar.
But seven years of teachingtransitioned to my first
assistant principal gig in 2010,.
And now I'm 15 years in as anadministrator.
(17:07):
So yeah, wow, yeah.
Speaker 1 (17:11):
This is amazing.
This is amazing.
Okay, okay, listen, listen,okay.
So now you are an administratorand I have.
I just have to say this I haveseen because I follow you on
social media.
Speaker 2 (17:25):
Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1 (17:26):
I have seen the.
Correct me if I'm wrong.
It's Bowtie Tuesdays.
Speaker 2 (17:30):
Yes, Bowtie Tuesdays.
Speaker 1 (17:32):
And so tell me a little bit about that and how
that started.
Speaker 2 (17:35):
Yeah, so again, being in Pennsylvania, I'm about an
hour outside of Philly.
You know I'm a firm believer.
Just because of my backgroundand my upbringing, you are a
reflection of the examplesaround you.
Yes, so you know we could talkall day long about our young men
(17:57):
not dressing appropriately andpants, sagging and all of that,
okay, but what are we doingabout it?
Okay, what kind of example arewe strategically and
intentionally providing for?
Them Got it.
So I was like, hey, I'm alwayssuited up, you know suit and tie
.
I'm going to switch it up alittle bit.
Okay, I'm going to give themyet another layer of how they
(18:20):
can present themselves.
Yeah, yeah, you know so, 12years ago now, I started Bowtie
Tuesdays.
Wow Again, just as a weeklyreminder to them of, hey, you
know, you can be authenticallyyou and have different layers to
how you present yourself.
Come on, it doesn't always haveto be a bow tie, but it can be.
(18:40):
Yeah, it doesn't always have tobe fresh Nikes, but it can be.
So like.
It doesn't have to be all thisor all that, right, but give
yourself layers and options onhow you present yourself.
Speaker 1 (18:53):
Come on with options.
Speaker 2 (18:54):
Yeah, yeah, so I mean , we started that and it's funny
, over the years, young men,they'll wear one to it I don't
know about this, it's too tight.
You, I don't know about this,it's too tight.
But then they'll go throughoutthe day and they'll say yo, Mr
Weathersby, the girls arefeeling this and I'm like I'm
trying to help you.
Man, Listen, I'm just tellingyou what I know.
(19:15):
So they're like yo, I'm wearingone next week.
So I mean, and the teachers arewearing it, so again it's just
something that the staff now weset our clock to it, so if it's
like, say, the Tuesday of finals, for example, I won't wear one.
They'll be like, okay, so is itMonday or is it Wednesday,
(19:37):
because we're throwing off now.
Because, we are accustomed tolike clockwork on Tuesdays.
You got on that bow tie, and ifwe don't see a bow tie now, we
all throwing up, right?
it can't be Tuesday, Right,right right, right so, but again
, just Knowing that part of mypurpose is being a example to
both those who look like me andthose who don't, yes, you know
(19:59):
I'm reminded of my and myexperiences as an administrator
in both urban and suburbansettings.
You know, my first 10 years wereall urban.
Ok, you know Chicago, philly.
You know Chicago, philly.
And then you know again my wife.
She was like while the hoodneeds you, if you don't go to
(20:21):
the suburbs, they'll neverexperience what black excellence
could look like.
Again, the queen she's alwaysbeen on it, wow.
So at that time I called myself, you know, education missionary
, if you will, because I'mdefinitely leaving the
environment I'm accustomed toyes, yes, but I've been able to
(20:44):
create great headway andministry opportunities.
Again, I remember when I wasout in Pennsylvania my first
month at Mechanicsburg HighSchool.
I was the first everAfrican-American administrator
in the history of their district, History of the district,
history of the district, wow.
And I remember my first monthof school there.
(21:06):
First day of school, thisAfrican-American young lady came
running down the hallway and,like the summer before, the
newspaper did an article on me.
It was like it was real.
Oh my gosh, it article on me.
It was like it was real.
Speaker 1 (21:17):
It was real.
Speaker 2 (21:17):
But she was like he's here, he's here and I'm suited
up and I'm ready to go.
And she was like you know, shecoming up, she hugging me, and
she was like you don'tunderstand, I've been in this
district, she was a senior, I'vebeen in this district for 12
years.
And I've been in this districtfor 12 years and I've never had
an adult male or female wholooks like me in a position of
(21:41):
authority.
So you have no idea, just themere fact of you walking down
this hallway, the impact it'shaving.
So that was the first day ofschool and then, a month later,
I had a Caucasian young man.
He was a junior.
He said, mr Weathersby, we'vebeen watching you.
And I said, oh really Tell memore.
(22:05):
He said no, hear me out.
He said when they first hiredyou we thought they were just
bringing you in to keep theminority students in line.
Oh wow.
But he said we've watched youand we've come to learn that you
actually care about all of usand we didn't expect that.
(22:26):
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (22:28):
Wow.
Speaker 2 (22:30):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (22:31):
I mean yes, this is yes.
Oh, I know I've said wow atleast 20 times but I am amazed
at the journey and the impactand influence that God has
allowed you to have every stepof the way, yes, yes.
(22:53):
I mean talk about being pressedinto purpose.
So you are.
You and your wife make adecision to step out of your
comfort zone and go to a newplace.
Speaker 2 (23:08):
Yeah, 12 hours away from everybody.
Speaker 1 (23:11):
How did Pennsylvania even become the place so?
Speaker 2 (23:14):
she worked for Caterpillar coming out of
college.
So even in that sense, you know, you grew up in a day and age
where it's like the man is thehead and we've always been team
Weathersby.
You know, if it's your seasonto thrive, then I got you, babe.
If it's my season, she got me.
So they offered her a promotionto head up the whole northern
(23:35):
east coast of their departmentfor marketing and business.
Wow.
Speaker 1 (23:40):
I was like who am I?
Speaker 2 (23:41):
to have the audacity to stand in the way of my queen
shining Absolutely, so I waslike I'm a black man in
education, I'm going to land onmy feet babe we out, okay, okay.
So we relocated no family, nofriends, no nothing.
Speaker 1 (23:57):
And look, and you went to a land that the Lord
showed you.
Come on, come on.
Speaker 2 (24:02):
Very much an Abraham moment, listen, but he knew what
he had in store.
Yes yes, but again, you know, alot of people was like, oh man,
who wearing the pants?
And I'm like dude, you can saythat as a single dude but I'm
going to live this married lifeand we're going to create this
empire together.
Absolutely, it's just been atestament of God's grace.
(24:27):
In June, we'll be celebrating20 years Come on and May we'll
be celebrating 20 years.
Speaker 1 (24:33):
Come on now.
Listen.
There are so many similaritiesto our story.
We really have to circle backand bring both of you on.
Yes, but I'm going to do mybest to stay focused.
I'm going to do my best to stayfocused.
Yeah, today's episode isbrought to you by Destiny Film
and Media.
Go to destinyfam1.com for allyour media needs.
(24:58):
Destiny, film and Media yourdestiny through film and media.
Let's talk about your books.
Speaker 2 (25:08):
Yes, yes, so you wrote a book called Journey to
Fatherhood yes.
Speaker 1 (25:11):
Wrote a book called Journey to Fatherhood yes.
Where did that?
What did that stem from?
Okay, and what made you say Ineed to write this book and now
is the time?
Speaker 2 (25:25):
It came out of the necessity of trying to keep my
sanity.
Okay, so July 2010,.
After five years of marriage,we find out we're expecting our
first child.
Okay, again, my parentsdivorced when're expecting our
first child?
Okay, again, my parentsdivorced when I was three.
So while I've had many mendisciple me and mentor me, my
biological father was never inthe home.
(25:46):
So therefore, I'm married, godis blessing, and now we're
expecting our first child, and Ihave no template nor
understanding of what in theworld am I supposed to be doing?
Okay, do I go to the doctor'svisits, Do I not?
Mm-hmm, everywhere I knewgrowing up in the hood, nobody
had a crib.
So how do I even put onetogether?
(26:08):
I'm out of my element.
I have no idea what I'm doing,okay, so for nine months, every
day the Lord was like justjournal.
Okay, put it on paper all yourfears, all your prayer requests.
So, literally nine months ofautobiography, just sharing how
we proactively, intentionallyprepared for our child's arrival
(26:31):
.
Wow, and it was meant to justbe a gift to my daughter at a
time.
We didn't know the sex oranything, but it was just meant
to be a gift to her when shegraduated from college or got
married.
But then the Lord was like slowdown.
There are millions of young men, those who look like you and
those who don't, who are just asscared, just as ill-prepared.
(26:53):
Yeah, and I didn't have youdocument that to keep to
yourself.
Okay, so I need you to publishthat.
Okay, because there are youngmen who need it.
Yeah, so that I walk in anobedience.
You know I self-published.
Okay, and by the grace of God,men across the country and
(27:14):
around the world have read myjournal entries and it's given
them permission to documenttheir own journey to fatherhood.
Because at the end of eachtrimester there are discussion
questions.
Because a lot of times, ashusbands and as men, we're
taught to provide and protecteveryone else, but we're never
(27:35):
few of us are taught on how toprotect our own selves.
Wow, how do you process yourown emotions?
Speaker 1 (27:41):
Okay, your own psyche .
Speaker 2 (27:43):
Yes, you know.
So, yeah, I'm making sure thequeen is good, but I'm scared to
death.
Yeah, so how am I?
What's my outlet?
Mm-hmm, mm-hmm, you know.
Okay, how am I allowing myselfto, in a healthy manner, get out
the stress?
Got it, you know.
Get out this.
You know I'm fearful, but Ican't show it.
(28:04):
Yeah, I'm scared too, but Ican't show it.
So who do I be vulnerable for?
God and the lord was like putit on paper, be vulnerable
before me.
All right, you know.
So again, journey to fatherhoodcame out of necessity of
keeping my sanity as we preparedand navigated the pregnancy.
So, from the first day we foundout we were expecting to the
(28:25):
day she was born, I journal.
And that's what Journey toFatherhood is.
It's literally nine months ofjournal entries, wow, yeah.
Speaker 1 (28:34):
I didn't realize that .
Okay, yes, yeah, I didn'trealize that.
Okay, yes, yeah, that isamazing to be able to.
So how did it feel?
Were you nervous to put thistogether and put it out there?
Speaker 2 (28:49):
Yeah, so again, it was the unadulterated I mean
deaths in the family, like ninemonths of anything and
everything that occurred.
That was my outlet.
So I'm very I've beenjournaling every day since.
Okay, like that is my thing.
Yeah, so you know that's mytherapy every morning.
You know, listen, you got to doit, but so you know, I had
(29:12):
conversations with familymembers like, hey, this book is
about to drop.
Yeah, you know I hadconversations with family
members like, hey, this book isabout to drop.
Yeah, it's nothing scandalous,but it is a all-access-provided
look into my life, got it, andhow my life has interacted with
your life.
You may be mentioned in this,got it you?
Speaker 1 (29:27):
know, got it.
Speaker 2 (29:28):
Okay, so I had family members pass and they were
mentioned, got it, things ofthat nature, but a lot of it was
just, you know, conducive to myhousehold, if you will, and how
my wife and I were navigatingthat season um different doctors
visits, and how it went andtrying to paint this room and
all of this stuff and get thisnursery together and you know
(29:48):
just different things, um, butyeah, so you know you had to
have those forthcomingconversations, but the family
was like this is your life, thisis what God has put on your
heart, and they saw the trackrecord of obedience up to that
point and they're like God hasnever steered you wrong.
So if he's telling you to dothis, then we trust his leading
(30:10):
upon your life.
So go ahead.
Speaker 1 (30:13):
I like what you just said.
They saw the track record ofobedience.
That is so important.
Yeah, it's important and it'sbeen a common thread throughout
the conversation.
You've talked about being ableto replicate what you've seen.
You've talked about the.
I just love that track recordof obedience and people being
(30:36):
able to see it.
So, in with the with your trackrecord of obedience.
Yeah, how has that?
Because because people can seethey.
They only see outward correctwhat has that inner journey been
(30:56):
like?
Because we know that we don'talways get it right, but when
others see us, sometimes they'relike, oh, you always get it
together.
So how were some of thoseconversations with you and God?
How have they been along theway to like what?
What did you?
Did you face any challenges?
(31:17):
Along the way in walking inpurpose or getting to purpose.
And what, what did?
What did that Darnell and Godconversation look like?
Speaker 2 (31:29):
Yeah, so I will be remiss if I didn't say I've been
blessed to have a circle offriends, a circle of guys who
we've known each other sincefreshman year in college.
Speaker 1 (31:40):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (31:41):
We've navigated single life together.
We've navigated hey, I met agirl together.
We've navigated marriage.
Now we all got children.
Yes, I've been in theirweddings.
They've been in our wedding.
So I've been blessed to have acircle of guys around me who
could care less about my degrees, who can care less about my
(32:02):
accomplishments.
They might care about your book.
You know so, but you need that.
Speaker 1 (32:07):
Yes, you know so yes absolutely.
Speaker 2 (32:09):
We always joke and say that group text is to the
grave, to the grave, right,right, right.
But I say that to say thatkeeps me.
And also, you know I'm an avidjournaler and what I've done for
numerous years is, at the endof each month I reread my
journal entries Because in themoment I'm crying out to God for
(32:34):
provision, in the moment I'mcrying out to God for, you know,
provision and I need you tocome through through and I'm not
sure about this meeting at work.
And then when I reread it I'mlike, okay, so you came through
here, you came through here, Ihad no reason to be concerned
(32:54):
here, but in the moment I didn'tknow it.
Right, right, right.
So that keeps me grounded aswell.
To say again, I try to keep ashort.
I always say people havespiritual amnesia a lot.
Yes, yes, God provides.
And we forget and God providesand we forget.
(33:15):
So you know, it's one of thosethings where I try to keep a
short record of okay, he's beentoo good for me to be forgetting
all the doggone things.
You know he's brought me toofar.
But in your current season, ifyou don't take time to reflect
upon where he's brought you from, you lose track of just how far
(33:36):
he's brought you.
Now, that is true, you know.
So I think that's have I haddifficulties, of course, even
now, as trying to be you know.
So I think that's have I haddifficulties, of course, even
now, as trying to be, you know Ijoke and say I'm raising middle
class kids with a hoodunderstanding, you know.
So it's like how do I prepareyou for to walk in a season that
(34:00):
I didn't walk through?
You know, preparing my kids forcollege, all my stuff was paid
for because you knowscholarships and grants, and if
I was dumb enough to sign astudent loan, they gave me that
too.
Right, right, right, you know,but the money was there because
my mama didn't have it Right?
Right, right but the store's alittle different for my kids A
little bit, you know.
(34:20):
So I always say like man, right, but the story's a little
different for my kids A littlebit, you know.
So I always say like man, thisis new territory.
Speaker 1 (34:26):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (34:27):
How do I train them to be grounded but yet walk in
provision, Whereas I grew upwalking in?
Lord, you're going to have tocome through because the light's
off again.
You know, Got you, you're goingto have to come through because
that refrigerator, good andempty, yeah, you're going to
have to come through because weabout to get evicted.
(34:47):
Like you're going to have tocome through, right, right, they
know nothing of that world Gotyou To the grace of God.
So it's like I always say, like, even as God is using me, he's
continually reshaping myunderstanding of him.
Because it's all new.
Yeah, it's all new.
Yeah, none of this is what Iexperienced.
None of it, none of it, none ofit.
(35:10):
But again, it helps me be thatmuch more appreciative of what I
have and what I've earned byhis grace, because I know what
it could have been.
Yes, you know, yes, we all grewup with examples of people who
were just as talented but made acouple choices along the way
and now they're all the waywhere they don't want to be
(35:33):
Right.
So it wasn't because I'm sochosen or anything like that.
It's just because, literally,god gave me the humility to say,
one opportunity at a time, I'mgoing to trust you.
Speaker 1 (35:47):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (35:47):
And I'm going to trust you here.
And I'm going to trust you here, even if I don't understand,
even if it don't make sense.
You know always say everybodyhas two options in life.
Yeah, you can blaze a trail andstart a new legacy, or you can
continue a legacy that's beengiven to you.
Okay, everybody has one of twochoices.
(36:09):
For me, part of starting LeadOne in 2013 with my wife was we
believe that too many peoplewere waiting for a position or a
title in order to walk in theirpurpose and we were like no,
everything God has shown us isthat if you walk in obedience,
(36:29):
the positions and the titleswill come.
Yeah, you just do what God hascalled you to do.
Yes, and you be obedient to theseason he has you in.
Speaker 1 (36:38):
And leave the results to him Absolutely.
Speaker 2 (36:41):
So you know for a phrase that I use all the time
the cycle ends with me.
I live by that.
You know.
I grew up.
You know domestic violence anddivorce.
Those are two cycles I wasdetermined were going to end
with me.
My children would not know thedamage that comes with that,
okay.
The damage that I'm stillnavigating, gotcha, they will
(37:02):
not with that, okay.
Okay, the damage that I'm stillnavigating, gotcha, they will
not know that, yeah.
My wife will not know thehardship that I saw my mom have
to navigate.
She will know nothing of it.
Got it, yeah.
So that's what drives me is tocreate a legacy.
I tell my son all the time I'mhaving conversations with you
(37:23):
that my dad never had with me,so that when you have children,
this will be the norm.
Yes, while I'm walking in faith, every conversation, because
God has given me the words thatweren't given to me.
And now you have it at a youngage, because this is what dad
has always done for you, yes,yes.
(37:45):
So again, blazing that trailand walking in a new season of
legacy building, if you will, tosay, hey, not on my watch.
Speaker 1 (37:52):
Yeah, this ends here, yeah.
Speaker 2 (37:55):
And I believe everyone has a generational
curse that they're trying tobreak, whether it's lack of
education, physical health,mental health, you name it.
If we were transparent,everybody has that one thing
that says it ends here.
Yeah, it ends here, absolutely.
So I think that's.
Another thing that keeps me isto know the cycles he's allowed
(38:17):
me to shatter and the fruit thatcomes from shattering those
cycles, so the next generationcan walk in wholeness yes, it.
Speaker 1 (38:27):
Listen.
Walking and healing andwholeness is so important.
Yeah, and I don't think enoughpeople intentionally chart that
path.
Yeah, um, it is I.
I've been.
You talk about journaling.
I've been journaling since Iwas in high school.
(38:49):
Come on and it, and sometimesand I, when you talked about,
you know, going back and readingit like at the end of the month
, I was like, huh, maybe Ishould do that.
Um, because I go back and I'llread something from years ago
and I'll see, one, how far Godhas brought me, and then two
I'll see wait, you told me thisa long time ago and I just
(39:15):
overlooked it or missed it orforgot about it.
And yeah, sometimes we have togo back so that we can be
reminded, not only of God's-goodness, but of who he has
called us to be.
Come on, and so you have so manytitles You've got son, you've
(39:37):
got brother, you've got husbandand father and teacher and
mentor, administrator, all thethings.
If you were to wrap all ofthose things up, what would you
say your purpose is?
Speaker 2 (39:58):
To empower others.
Okay, to empower others.
Okay.
I think I always say and I wasjust telling one of my mentees
this a little while ago, maybe aweek or two ago I said a true
man, if able is consistent inany environment, he's in Okay.
(40:18):
Too many times we switch hatstoo much.
You know, for example, if I'mwith this group of friends, I
act this way.
Okay, if I'm with this group offriends, I act this way.
If I'm at work, I act this way.
If I'm at church, I act thisway.
And I pride myself on beingconsistently Darnell.
(40:40):
Okay, when you see me atWalmart, that's the Darnell
you're going to get.
Okay, when you see me out withthe family, that's the Darnell
you're going to get, it's thesame Darnell.
So to empower others to walk inthat freedom, to walk with that
sense of purpose, because it hasblessed me to be consistently
(41:02):
Darnell.
So I don't have to switch it upbecause you know the
superintendent just walked in.
Yes, yes, I'm just beingDarnell.
Yeah.
And if I'm at the gym, I'm justbeing Darnell.
If I'm out with the family andyou know my students see me, I
don't have to wonder oh man,what did they overhear?
Got you?
(41:22):
I'm just being Darnell.
So it's a level of consistencythat I try to empower others to
live in, to say, hey, just bewho God has called you to be
consistently.
Yes, and if you can do thatconsistently again, the results
will take care of itself.
Amen.
You know just, I have a heartfor mentoring the next
(41:44):
generation, because I wasmentored, I was discipled.
So to see former students whoare now, you know, husbands and
fathers themselves, and theblessing of social media in my
world is being able to stayconnected with them, yes, you
know, and we talk whenever weneed to, and then I tell them
just a text message away, I'm,just a phone call away, and
(42:07):
they're walking me through whatthey're going through, and and
I'm.
You know I don't got all theanswers, but this is what I know
to be true.
Right, come on.
This is what's worked for me.
Speaker 1 (42:15):
Yes.
Speaker 2 (42:15):
Yes, so just being in that season of being the one
doing the empowering and thenseeing the fruit of that is just
amazing.
But I think if I couldsummarize all those hats is I've
been called to empower others,amen.
Speaker 1 (42:33):
Yeah, amen.
Speaker 2 (42:34):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (42:34):
Okay, so I want to wrap this up because, look, we
could talk all day.
Speaker 2 (42:43):
I know, but.
Speaker 1 (42:43):
I was like okay, it's a podcast we got to turn the
corner.
But I want to bring up one morething, which I brought up a
little bit before we startrecording.
But every time I think aboutyou, whenever I see you, the
first thing I think about isLane Tech Gospel Choir Come on
(43:03):
and me encouraging you verystrongly to lead Kirk Franklin's
Conquerors, come on, come on.
And when I think about that,and then I think about your life
that we've just talked about.
I didn't know why I felt sostrongly that you should lead
(43:25):
that song, but when I hear yourlife, yes your life.
That is a that is really atestament to your life.
Come on, you are more than aconqueror from one pound 15
ounces to the man that you sithere today, the mentor that you
(43:45):
are, the husband, the father,let's just say the leader, the
empowerer that you are today.
You are more than a conquerorand I am blessed by your story.
I am blessed by your yes to God.
I'm blessed by your story.
I am blessed by your yes to God.
I'm blessed by your obedienceto God and I want to make sure
(44:12):
that other people know how theycan be blessed by your ministry
as well.
Speaker 2 (44:17):
So I'm just going to grab a few things over here, no
problem, no problem.
Speaker 1 (44:22):
And I'm going to talk to the camera for a second, all
right, all right, and I amgoing to raise up your book here
, journey to Fatherhood, whichwe have talked about, um, in the
podcast.
Um, how you are journaling your, your nine, you and your wife's
nine, nine month journey, uh,through, uh, pregnancy, um, and
listen, if you do not have acopy of this book and you are
(44:46):
going through that very journey,you might want to pick it up.
Come on, listen, because it'llbless you.
And then we have, you came outwith a journal recently.
Speaker 2 (44:56):
Yes, yes.
Speaker 1 (44:56):
Because we know that you are a journaler.
Speaker 2 (44:58):
Come on, come on, come on.
You know what I'm saying.
Speaker 1 (45:01):
So when the man journals, then he needs the
cycle.
The journal said the cycle endswith me.
So, he also has a journal thatyou can pick up at all the
outlets.
Speaker 2 (45:14):
Yeah, well, my website is theleadonemovementcom
, so all of our resources areavailable for purchase and
anyone who purchases a copy,they can notify me and I
autograph them and email andsend them out.
Okay, so it's very customized,okay, yes, okay.
Speaker 1 (45:32):
Very good, very good.
And then we've got a new thingwhich we didn't really get a
chance to talk about today.
That's not right, but so I'mgoing to hold it up now, I'm
going to let you, I'm going tohold it up now, I'm going to
pass it to you and ask you totell us a little bit about it,
because I think I think weprobably we, we let listen, okay
.
So there's another book calledthe adventures of Donald, the
(45:55):
night fearfully and wonderfullymade, and this just recently
came out.
How long November of 2022.
November of 2022.
Okay.
Speaker 2 (46:04):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (46:05):
And so I want you to tell me a little bit about the
background of how this came tobe.
Speaker 2 (46:11):
So again, having being born a twin.
My twin's name was DonaldGotcha, so this is a tribute,
donald the Knight, to his memory.
Yes, tribute Donald the Knightto his memory.
Yes, but also, you know, beingin education for 20 plus years,
I'm always having countlessconversations with parents who
are looking for resources on howto help their child navigate
(46:34):
bullying, peer pressure and lowself-esteem.
Okay, so I wanted to provide aresource for young families.
When you get to high school,you're already at a certain
point of being kind of fixed inyour ways.
But if I could provide aresource for the children,
particularly our young men, ofhow to navigate bullying, peer
(46:54):
pressure and low self-esteemfrom a biblical perspective,
then families have yet anotherresource to refer to.
Got it.
Then families have yet anotherresource to refer to Got it.
So I had a chance to honor mytwin's memory, yes, keep his
legacy alive, yes, while at thesame time providing a resource
for families.
So, by the grace of God, welaunched November of 2022.
(47:15):
We just crossed 1,000 bookssold Congratulations.
30 book signings later, wow,and you're the first to hear
about it on this podcast.
But book number two is set tolaunch in March, okay, so your
boy been working behind thescenes.
Speaker 1 (47:31):
Yes.
Speaker 2 (47:32):
So book two will be launching here shortly, okay, so
definitely keep out on the lookfor that.
We will do that, yes, yes, soit'll be a continuation of
Donald Knight.
It's a three part seriesactually.
Okay, okay, all right.
Speaker 1 (47:44):
Well, everybody, look for Adventures of Donald the
Knight, part 2.
Yes, coming in March of 2025.
And I just want to say thankyou.
Thank you, thank you, darnell,for taking the time to talk to
me today and share your story.
It has been uplifting, it hasbeen inspiring and encouraging
(48:07):
and empowering, and so thank youall, so so much for joining us
on Preston to Purpose on today.
We pray that you have had,you've gotten, some nuggets from
our conversation and we praythat they will help you to press
further into your purpose.
Thank you and thank you, we'llsee you next time.
(48:27):
Today's episode is brought toyou by Destiny Film and Media.
(48:53):
Go to destinyfam1.com for allyour media needs.
Destiny Film and Media, yourdestiny through film and media.
You.
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