January 27, 2025 • 39 mins
Let me know your thoughts on the show and what topic you would like me to discuss next.
Unlock the secrets to living a life filled with purpose and influence as we welcome Kevin Wayne Johnson, a devoted coach, and speaker, to our show. Learn how to break down the barriers that stunt growth and set intentional goals that lead to lasting success. Discover the delicate balance between influence and authority, and understand why integrity is the cornerstone of effective leadership in today's demanding world. Through Kevin's inspiring personal journey, we highlight the transformative power of resilience and mentorship, illustrating how adopting the principles of servant leadership can elevate both personal and professional interactions.
Explore the life-shaping moments that contribute to our growth and how authentic communication serves as the foundation for genuine relationships. We dive into the challenges men face in meeting societal expectations and discuss the importance of blending personal and professional identities for consistent leadership. With Kevin's insights, we encourage openness and authenticity, inspiring listeners to foster meaningful connections in every area of their lives. Authentic conversations are more than just exchanges; they are the bridges that connect us and help us grow together.
Integrity stands as the pillar in enhancing one's influence, and we draw inspiration from the legacy of Pastor Miles Monroe, whose life and teachings continue to impact leaders globally. Kevin shares his passion for nurturing future leaders by drawing from insightful works like Stephen Covey's "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People" and Pastor Monroe's "God's Big Idea." This episode is a call to action for anyone eager to align themselves for greatness by embracing a principled, revolutionary approach to leadership. Join us on this enlightening journey and begin your path to becoming the leader you were destined to be.
Key moments in this episode:
03:49 Kevin's Hero's Journey
08:58 Common Barriers to Personal Growth
16:14 Servant Leadership and Influence
24:36 The Importance of Integrity and Faith in Leadership
29:10 Kevin's Career and Personal Growth Insights
37:43 Final Thoughts and Contact Information
How to Reach Kevin:
Website: http://www.thejohnsonleadershipgroup.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kevinwaynejohnsonpage
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/writingforthelord
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8QdXWDOB889u5XKqazk6Hg
X: https://www.twitter.com/writing4thelord
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinwaynejohnson
Thanks for listening to the Revolutionary Man Podcast. If you want more information about our programs, use the links below to check us out. It could be the step that changes your life.
Want to be a guest on The Revolutionary Man Podcast? Send Alain Dumonceaux a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/revolutionarymanpodcast
👉To join our movement:
⛰The Integrity Challenge
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
I would like to think that I'm living a principled
life, as I'm sure you would aswell, but defining and measuring
our lives comes down to havinga few fundamental principles
that can propel us forward inboth our personal and our
professional lives, and it isthrough these fundamentals where
we can become a person ofinfluence.
So I want you to stick aroundtoday, because my guest is going
(00:20):
to share us with a few secretsof overcoming common barriers to
growth and setting intentionalgoals that lead to sustained
success.
And we're going to discussstrategies for balancing
influence with authority and thecritical role of integrity in
leadership and boy don't we needthat in today's environment.
And finally, we're going tolook into ways to integrate
servant leadership principlesinto our daily interaction.
(00:42):
So I can't wait to get into ourconversation Now.
Before to get into ourconversation Now, before we get
into today's episode, just like,come to grips about one other
thing, and that is inevitablythere will come a time in your
life when you will hit a wall.
You know whether that's amarriage that's not working, or
a career or business that'sstagnated, or maybe your
personal life is just flatlined.
So if you're dealing with anyof these, or a combination of
(01:03):
them and are finally fed up withwhere your life's at, then
allow me to help you get clearon what needs to be done and how
to go about getting your lifeback on track so you can live
the life you were meant to live.
And so I want you to go toawakenmannet and download a free
setting, the compass exercise,to get you in alignment with
what it is to me in a purposefullife.
(01:24):
And with that, let's get onwith today's episode.
Speaker 2 (01:30):
The average man today is sleepwalking through life,
many never reaching their truepotential, let alone ever
crossing the finish line toliving a purposeful life.
Yet the hunger still exists,albeit buried amidst his
cluttered mind.
Yet the hunger still exists,albeit buried amidst his
cluttered mind, misguidedbeliefs and values that no
longer serve him.
It's time to align yourself forgreatness.
(01:51):
It's time to become arevolutionary man.
Stay strong, my brother.
Speaker 1 (01:59):
Welcome everyone to the Revolutionary man Podcast.
I'm the founder of the Awakenedman Movement and your host,
alan DeMonsoul, you know, asyou're listening to today's
episode, I'd like you toconsider this what steps can you
take to become a more effectiveleader in your personal and
your professional life?
And then I'd like you toreflect on your own journey of
(02:22):
growth and influence, and howcan embracing the principles of
servant leadership transform theway you interact with others?
I know those are two big thingsfor you to consider, but we're
going to do some work here today, and so I started this
conversation by talking aboutliving a principled life.
And so, as fathers and husbandsand leaders, it is our duty to
ensure we show up as a powerfuland intentional man.
God, our families and ourcommunities are calling us to be
(02:44):
, and so some days that can be apretty tall order, and if we're
not really careful, we may findourselves leading in ways of
not and not having others cometo follow us.
So today, my guest intends tolay a few breadcrumbs on the
trail of living a principledlife.
So allow me to introduce myguest.
Kevin Wayne Johnson has takenup the task of developing
(03:07):
individual and organizationaloperating excellence as his
life's mission.
He coaches and coax audiencesto live out their gifts and
awaken their potential.
Kevin also providesorganizations and people who
work within them the tools toforge effective personal and
intercommercial communications,and he delivers these trainings
on the elements of dynamicrelationships, so these teams
(03:30):
can be equipped with attributesneeding to develop individuals
into leaders, and so I'm lookingforward to this conversation
Welcome to the show today.
Speaker 3 (03:38):
Kevin, thanks for going well.
Alan, thank you so much forthis wonderful invitation.
Looking forward to it and, bythe way, you're doing an
excellent job there.
Speaker 1 (03:51):
Thank you so much.
My job there.
Thank you so much, my friend,thank you so much.
You know, here at therevolutionary man podcast, we
always started our conversationsoff with really talking about
your hero's journey, and we'reall on our own journey, so I
wanted to like you to tell usabout a time in your life when
you knew things had to change.
What did you do about that andhow did it shape that?
How did that experience?
Speaker 3 (04:06):
That's an excellent question and I know we're going
to talk a little bit aboutleadership, but part of my
leadership journey haseverything to do with the fact
that my brother and I were sonsof a US Marine, and anyone who's
listening and anyone who'swatching your podcast know if
you happen to have grown up in amilitary household, you move
around a lot.
It's hard to stay stationaryand to stay put, meet some
(04:31):
really good friends andcultivate good relationships,
because as soon as you do, it'stime to pack up again.
So my dad served 20 years inthe United States Marine.
He went in enlisted.
He was very fortunate to earn acommission halfway through his
career.
And he retired as a juniorofficer.
He retired the year that I wastransitioning from 10th grade to
(04:54):
11th grade in high school.
What a bad time.
And as a part of thatretirement, of course we're
living away from home and hewants to get back home to be
with his siblings and to be withhis parents.
I understand that and althoughI tried to negotiate and tried
to get him to think otherwisehe's a Marine he made up his
mind.
We're going.
(05:20):
I was doing well on the juniorvarsity football team where we
were, and now I have to startover again.
Lo and behold, my 11th gradeEnglish one-on-one teacher, miss
Atkins Ellen Atkins.
I'll never forget it.
She saw my body language, shepicked up on my countenance, she
(05:43):
saw that I wasn't really myselfbecause I had been in her class
long enough to master English.
But she saw something and sheintervened at the perfect time
because I was feeling reallydown, trying to gain new friends
.
And she came to me one day andshe said Kevin, I want you to
(06:18):
approach the varsity basketballcoach and let him know that
you're available to work side byside with him, the assistant
coaches and the basketball teamto announce the games, all of
the home games.
They need a voice behind themicrophone to introduce the
players both home and away, anddo play-by-play at the
basketball games.
Our gymnasium holds about 350students and parents and friends
and I think you would do wellGuess what?
Alan?
Unbeknownst to me, a16-year-old 11th grader, she had
(06:38):
already paved the way behindthe scenes with the basketball
coach.
All I had to do was follow upand approach and he said yes.
That was a very monumentalshift in my life, because one
thing I want to share witheveryone is that not only was
the timing perfect, but otherpeople see things in us that we
(07:02):
can't see ourselves, and therest is history.
I've been speaking behind micsever since I was a 16-year-old
in the 11th grade.
Had no idea what that wouldmean at the time, but that was a
monumental moment in my life.
Speaker 1 (07:18):
Absolutely Thrown right into it.
Just think about how many fearthe fear of public speaking.
Basically, that's what you'redoing for most people on this
planet and being thrown in thatat 16.
I commend you, and followingthrough and listening to your
story, kevin, reminds me veryclose to my heart, to my
personal journey.
(07:39):
My father worked in the mines.
We have lots of potash up herein Canada and he was working in
a potash mine and he was tiredfor years of driving 40 minutes
one way all the time, and so wemoved from this one small town
to where the town that actuallyhad the mine at and that was a
transition for me was grade nineinto grade 10.
(08:01):
And in my experience was, youknow, being the new kid in town
I had to really fight my waythrough.
I can remember, you know, guyscoming up and picking on me and
I use sports similar to whatyou're talking about.
I use basketball and volleyballand badminton to get me into a
(08:21):
place where I didn't have tofeel like I had to run for my
life every day going to school,because I won many fights by at
least a block and a half, I'mhappy to say, and so hearing
your story really resonates withme about you know how, that
transition as a young man, thethings we have to deal with, and
(08:42):
there was a decision my fatherhad to make as well and it was
both financially important forus as well as really
educationally, because we werein a really small family.
Speaker 3 (08:50):
Thank you for your story as well.
Thank you so much for sharingthat.
Speaker 1 (08:56):
You know we're going to talk a lot about leadership
here today, and one of thethings that I mentioned in the
opening is really about somecommon barriers that we have to
personal growth, and so in yourwork, what are you finding that
are most prevalent in some ofthese common barriers and what
are we doing to help doing toteach?
Speaker 3 (09:12):
Yeah, that's a really good way to start the
conversation, because you saidcommon barriers.
That leads me right to theproverbial communication.
We all communicate differentways, we listen different ways,
but, as you reference commonbarriers, one of the keys to
having a great conversation withsomeone is to find common
(09:33):
ground, because that is a waythat we can connect with people,
because the attempt is alwaysto build bridges, to always find
some common ground, and when wedo that, we're going to find
similarities.
And when it's all said and done, alan, because of human
behavior, it's difficult to notlike somebody that you know.
(09:54):
Now we know people that wedon't like, but it's not easy to
just dislike someone when youget to know them.
It's not easy to just dislikesomeone when you get to know
them.
And we get to know them by wayof communication, talking,
having dialogue, initiating aconversation, and that's a very
key component both in ourpersonal and our professional
(10:18):
development.
So we encourage leaders,through a number of different
strategies and principles, toget comfortable in initiating
informal as well as formalconversations with others within
our sphere of influence Because, again, it ties into human
behavior.
All of us are created to berelational.
(10:42):
To be relational, all 8 billionpeople on the planet crave
genuine, authentic, healthyrelationships, and what happens
is when that does not happen, weact out, because that's what
we're looking for and no one'sperfect, so we don't do.
We don't do things perfectly,but if we can be the catalyst
(11:04):
and if we can initiate theseconversations which now lead to
helping us get to know othersbetter, them getting to know us
better, now we're on our way tofulfilling that gap that
everyone's looking for, and thatis a good relationship.
So, when you mentioned thatcommon barrier, the first common
(11:26):
barrier I always think about isour ability, or lack thereof,
to just have a conversation withpeople.
It can be very informal, it canbe very short and sweet.
We're not trying to get intoyour business.
We just want you to know thatwe give a care and that's part
of the leadership journey thatpeople are looking for from
their leaders and that leadersneed to understand and get
(11:49):
comfortable with to make surethat we're touching base with
those that we have beenentrusted to lead.
Speaker 1 (11:59):
Yeah, I completely agree with you.
I think that's you know,especially for men, and that we
need to become more comfortable.
And, you know, I think we getthe idea that's you know,
especially for for men, and thatwe need to become more
comfortable.
And you know, I think we getthe idea that, you know, to be
successful, right, we may haveto have lots of bravado and lots
of confidence, and while someof that is true, on the other
side of that coin, not everyoneis going to necessarily, you
(12:19):
know, lead a company or, youknow, run their own, start their
own business.
But we still need to have theability to engage in
conversation, and even, you know, especially the most intimate
ones, those with our spouses,with our children and all that.
And so I'd like that we'restarting this today's
conversation about, you know,being able to have authentic
communications.
I think that is so key.
And so, how does your work go?
(12:42):
You know, bridge that gapbetween personal and
professional and having that asbeing a complete leader.
Because I think you know, Ithink, in looking at the work
that we do here, I do see thatsometimes, I think, as men, we
have two different personas.
We have the work, al, and thenthere's the private Al.
Speaker 3 (13:00):
Yeah, just doing our best, Alan, to be consistent
wherever we are.
Yeah, just doing our best, alan, to be consistent wherever we
are.
I have this phrase and I'm notsure if somebody else should get
credit for it or not.
I don't know if it's anonymous,I don't know if maybe I should
trademark it, but I tell peopleall the time, wherever you go,
(13:21):
there you are.
So, whether you're at home, atyour neighborhood, meeting, at
work, your social and civicorganization if you happen to be
a member, your church, whereveryou go, just putting forth that
extra effort to just beconsistent.
Be the same person wherever yougo.
(13:44):
Just be consistent, be the sameperson wherever you go, and
that way you don't have to tryto imitate or be less than
genuine when you're in oneenvironment and then try to be
somewhere one else, in adifferent environment.
So just trying to stay true.
The same way that I lead peoplein the workplace is the same
way I raise my three sons.
(14:05):
It's the same way I am atchurch.
It's the same way I am when Igo to the different activities
that are taking place in thesocial and civic organizations
that my wife or I belong to.
Just being consistent.
I was at a school this morning,first day of school in the city
of Baltimore, a school for youngmen from first grade up to
(14:30):
eighth grade, preparing them forhigh school and beyond, and
there were 60 men that showed upwith these 350 students just to
stand in line and shake theirhand and give them a good word
of encouragement as they wentinto their school this morning.
We do that every year and themessage is from me when I shake
(14:52):
their hand is just be true toyourself, young man, do your
best.
And then I shake the next handand what?
It is just a message andhelping them to be what I want
them to be.
I want them to see in me what Iwant them to be.
And that's just one environment.
(15:13):
But I do the same when I'm athome, I do the same when I'm at
church, I do the same when I'mat work, even as a trainer and a
teacher and a coach and amentor and a speaker on the
topic of leadership, just beingconsistent, regardless of what
environment or what venue thatI'm in.
Again, I always remind us noone's perfect.
(15:34):
So we're not asking forperfection, but we're asking
everyone to do their best and ifyou do that, then we're well on
our way to having good teamsand good organizations.
Speaker 1 (15:47):
Yeah, I completely agree with that sentiment as
well.
I really love that story.
You just talked about having 60men and coming up with that
idea, and what a great way tomodel true, healthy masculinity
and leadership in such a simpleyet profound way.
And we need to do more of thatacross North America and really
(16:09):
help these young men in becomingtruly the men that they're
meant to be.
You know, I really like that.
Your topic is in your book, theleadership with a servant's
heart, and one of our 12principles is servant leadership
here at the Awakened man and wepractice that every once a year
and for an entire month.
(16:30):
We focus on a core virtue andthat was one of them.
And so tell me a little bitabout you know the book has
received lots of acclaim.
It's done phenomenally well foryou, but tell me how would you
describe servant leadership.
Speaker 3 (16:43):
Servant leadership to me, is much different than the
original 1970 version when itwas first introduced.
I'm thinking about leadershipfrom the whole person mind, body
and spirit.
So it's very true, alan, thatwhen a leader shows up, he or
she does need to demonstrate inorder to get the credibility
(17:07):
that they earned.
They do need to demonstratethat they are a subject matter
expert and that they have theacumen and the intelligence to
get the job done.
They know the work role.
They could probably read on theback of their hand the words
and the job description.
They probably have done it andthey've probably done well.
That brings us credibility.
That's the mind.
(17:28):
But as it relates to the heart,now we're making a and we're
leading people for the people,that they are not just workers.
People don't just show up toget a job done although that is
the mandate so that they canearn their benefits and earn
(17:49):
their pay.
But people really want to knowand they never ask.
It's what we call the pinkelephant in the room.
They never ask.
They really want to know howthis person that has the trust
to lead this team and thisorganization or to lead me, they
(18:09):
want to know am I going to beprovided with some developmental
opportunities?
Is this leader going to shareresources and am I going to be
recommended for and approved togo to training?
Is this leader going to give acare that I have opinions and I
have thoughts and I haveperspectives.
(18:29):
Are they going to listen to me,are they going to give me
valuable and meaningful feedbackas a part of my developmental
journey or not?
That's what people really wantto know, alan, those are matters
of the heart.
Leadership with a servant'sheart demonstrates that we value
and that we care, we honor andrespect those that we are
(18:53):
entrusted to lead.
But, equally important, becausewe all have issues and
challenges that we're dealingwith in life in general, how
about some empathy and somecompassion from time to time?
Because a leader that'scompassionate and empathetic is
not weak, even though that maybe the perception by some.
(19:15):
But it demonstrates that we'rehuman.
And that's the difference fromthe original 1970 version of
servant leadership and how Idefine it and how I see it.
And that's why I titled mybooks Leadership with a
Servant's Heart, because theheart and the mind, when they're
(19:36):
in alignment now we're able tolead the total person mind, body
and spirit.
And it's more than just what weknow.
People expect us to know ourstuff, but it's all of the other
intangibles that help people intheir career progression or not
, and that's what people arereally interested in, but they
(19:59):
never say it.
Speaker 1 (20:03):
Yeah, I completely agree.
And I just think back to youropening story and talking about,
you know, miss atkins, right,really, she was leaving leading
with a servant's heart for you.
What a great demonstration allthose years ago.
And then I think about, and Icompletely agree with your
sentiment.
I think you know, as, asleaders, you know, people don't
(20:23):
care how much you know untilthey know how much you care.
I don't know who said that, butI like that idea because it
truly is, because if you reallywant somebody to go through a
wall for you you know they talka lot about that in sports,
right Well, that's a leader whocares about their people, who
cares how well they do.
Yes, it's a business andthey're there to to win games,
(20:46):
but in the end, are you, arethey doing it because they care
about each other and they wantto, and they want to work
together as a unit, or is ittruly an individual outcome?
And and that's I think, this isthe work that really you know,
as fathers as well, how we leadour, our family, our sons and
our daughters really can canmake the difference between a
cohesive family and one that'snot.
Speaker 3 (21:09):
It's Maya Angelou who gets the credit for that quote.
Others may have said it alongthe way, but she gets the credit
.
Speaker 1 (21:20):
Yeah, I love that quote.
So you were talking aboutservant leadership.
You know, and it's obvious tome already that you exemplify
what servant leadership is, butif you think about the people in
your life that you've comeacross, who would you determine
would be a person that you wouldlook to and say, wow, that's a
good one, alan because there arereally so many.
Speaker 3 (21:42):
I'm going to go to a gentleman.
He's no longer with us, but hestarted along with four of his
colleagues.
He started a church in Nassau,bahamas, called the Bahamas
International Church Ministries,and you may know the name.
Some of your listeners andviewers might know the name, but
(22:04):
Pastor Miles Monroe was abrilliant pastor but also a
business mind, and he traveledall around the world until his
untimely passing back in 2014,always sharing and always
pouring to entrepreneurs,business leaders, to
entrepreneurs business leaders,ceos, coos of medium, small and
(22:30):
large corporations.
And he would do that inparallel with also being able to
pastor the church and havegreat conversations and
workshops with faith leaders,and he was able to bridge both
audiences masterfully all of hisadult life.
I still listen to him.
(22:50):
He's been gone for 10 years,but I still listen to him and
it's like he's right there inthe room because at the heart of
all of his messages was gettingus to think about not just the
acumen, but also how we go aboutcaring and pouring into other
(23:12):
people, and it just always madea big difference.
So, way back in 1993, I readone of his books Understanding
your Potential at a time in mylife where I really needed it
and it was a game changer.
It's a very short paperbackbook, understanding your
Potential, and it just reallyopened up my eyes Again.
(23:35):
The timing just like with MsAtkins the timing was right and
it sent me on a trajectory to goeven further than what just Ms
Atkins could have done for me.
That's the one gentleman thatcomes to mind, but there are so
many others as well, but I wouldput him right up there.
Speaker 1 (23:55):
Sure.
Well, thank you so much forsharing that, and I hadn't heard
of Pastor Miles Monroe before,so I'm going to take a look at
some of his information.
I'm always interested inlearning to grow and get
different perspectives, and so Ialways appreciate when my
guests can share this kind ofinformation.
So I'd like to pivot a littlebit.
We've been talking aboutservant leadership, but the
other thing about servantleadership that really some of
(24:17):
the underlying stuff that wehaven't quite brought forward
and I want to make explicit nowis really about having influence
, and so we're starting.
You've dropped a couple ofbreadcrumbs on how we can start
to increase our influence, butwhat are some other ideas and
ways that someone's interestedin increasing their influence in
their circle?
Speaker 3 (24:36):
Yeah, there's a lot of different things that I could
unpack, but what I would liketo share is, first of all, just
being a leader of integrity.
Remember now, people arewatching.
They hear what we say, butthey're really watching, and a
leader is a role model and anexample, and oftentimes people
(24:57):
take their lead from justwatching you, observing.
They're sitting back and sayingwhat is Alan going to do, what
is Alan going to say, how is hegoing to respond?
And so being a person with ahigh level of integrity again
one more time, I didn't say aperson, that's perfect, but have
a person with high integritywill increase your influence
(25:20):
with others, because yourinfluence is really the ability
to get people to show up.
But once they show up nowthey're going to participate and
, as a result of theirparticipation, they're going to
contribute and theircontributions now add value to
what it is that we're trying todo.
Any given project, any contract, any task, any action, any
(25:41):
initiative people'scontributions adds value, but
they can't contribute unlessthey participate and they won't
participate unless they show up.
So it's our influence.
So people are apt to follow aleader that has a high degree of
integrity.
Another thing I want you tothink about is the word faith.
(26:04):
We mentioned it earlier, butfaith, from the context of just
having a high degree ofconfidence and trust, has faith
in them.
And how do you know?
By the assignments that youreceive, by your ability to step
(26:31):
in and attend a meeting thatperhaps the leader was not able
to go to, or tapping you on theshoulder to give that
presentation in front of thosehundreds of senior leaders.
Trust and belief in you andconfidence goes a very, very
long way to increasing ourinfluence.
So those are just a couple ofnuggets, a couple of tools that
(26:53):
we can all add to our toolboxand take out as needed.
There are many others as well,but these are just some of the
nuggets and the tips that weshare around that topic of
influence.
Speaker 1 (27:08):
I love those ideas and that's great, and I see
you're also part of a certifiedcoach the John Maxwell team and
I love John's ideas and conceptsaround integrity and influence
and I see lots of similaritiesand resonance.
Speaker 3 (27:21):
Yeah, almost 10 years .
Speaker 1 (27:22):
Yeah, yes, Nice, nice , nice, nice.
Speaker 3 (27:28):
Yeah, what an amazing another amazing pastor that
decided to turn, change hiscareer around and move from
influencing a single church toinfluencing so many more people,
absolutely, and he also travelsthe world has an opportunity to
stand in front of heads ofstate, presidents, governors all
around the world, not just herein the United States, governors
(27:51):
all around the world, not justhere in the United States taking
a team of individuals with himand making a difference in an
entire country, the entirecountry of Peru, bolivia I could
go on and on because at thepresidential level, then it
filters down into the schoolsand the universities and into
the businesses and thegovernment agencies and it does
make a difference if peoplechoose to apply the principles
(28:13):
that we learn, the principlesthat we teach, and start to
really look at people as peopleand not just workers, I believe
to make the world a much betterplace and that's why I'm so
passionate about the work thatwe do, because I really believe
in it.
And when we're teaching whetherit's virtual or in person I see
(28:36):
people's eyes light up becausethey're hearing things they
don't normally hear, and I giveexamples to validate and to
verify what I'm talking about,and the eyes get even bigger and
it gives them the momentum andthe courage to now apply what
they've learned.
And then I can follow up inthree months to see how things
(28:57):
going, so we don't just dropnuggets and leave, but I like to
stay in touch and see howthings are going as a part of
the journey.
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (29:08):
Absolutely, absolutely.
Listen, kevin, you've had apretty illustrious career
yourself.
You know you've authored manybooks, and so you know let's
turn the table a little bit backon to yourself here.
So what do you consider to bethe most fundamental law of
growth, and how can we, as menyeah, that's probably the
easiest question you've asked me, alan.
Speaker 3 (29:28):
So leaders are learners.
Never allow your thirst toquench and never allow your
hunger to be satisfied when itcomes to learning.
Listen, I finished a young manas a frontline leader, then in
(29:55):
the middle ranks and theneventually as a senior leader.
I stayed 34 years.
I took about three months offand then I stood up the company.
For a lot of different reasons,but my passion is around this
theme of leadership developmentand pouring into the next
generation of leaders, because Irecognize that every
(30:17):
organization needs to have aphenomenal bench of ready,
equipped and prepared leaders totake over when the existing
leadership transitions.
We have to have somebody to passthe baton to, and so that's
what really motivates me, andthat's what really keeps me
going on this particular journey, and I'm loving it.
(30:38):
That's why I smile so much.
Speaker 1 (30:44):
I love it, my friend, I love it.
I think you said leaders arereaders as well, and so my next
question for you is yeah, isthere one?
I have so many.
So I'm right here in my homeoffice.
Speaker 3 (30:57):
You can see some of the books behind me, but I also
have a bookcase in front of meas well.
Speaking of Miles Monroe, again, he has a book that's titled
I'm looking right at it.
It's called God's Big Idea.
It just gets into how he useseach and every one of us
individually to make this worlda much better place.
That's just one of many.
(31:17):
I have so many books.
I love a book that probablyeverybody has heard of.
I'm not sure if you read it.
It's four decades old and it'sstill selling strong.
It's simply titled Seven Habitsof Highly Effective People, dr
Steve Covey and my favoritehabit is habit number four begin
(31:43):
with the end in mind.
That book came out four decadesago and it's still powerful,
just like who Moved my Cheeseright around the same time.
These are business books, butthey apply to all areas of our
personal as well as ourprofessional lives, kind of come
(32:05):
to mind.
I'm an avid reader, though Iread one or two books a month.
I'm a nonfiction book reader,and when I'm flying on an
airplane I always take about twoor three books with me, and I
have a library full of them.
I have books all over the house.
Speaker 1 (32:24):
Yeah, you and me both , my friend, I just think about.
You know that Seven Habits wasprobably one of the first books
that I read, you know, know, wayback when, probably not long
after it came out, to be honest,and I love the of the influence
of that book and we use some ofsome of those, some of the
lessons from there, in ourcurrent men's work and helping
guys, you know, plan and be bemore effective, and love the
(32:47):
idea of the chunking your youroff in the weeks.
You know, focusing on theimportant stuff in our life.
You know, using the Eisenhowermatrix he had a little twist on
it Just so many wonderful thingsto be a true leader.
I just love that book.
I'm glad you've mentioned it.
You know you've mentioned thisMiles Monroe and there's, you
know, miss Atkins.
(33:07):
But I want you to think back.
You know the different, all thementors you've had in your life
and there must be a piece ofadvice that really has really
stuck with you and resonatedthat is still serving you today.
Speaker 3 (33:16):
So that's the second easiest question my dad.
I mentioned my dad right outfront.
We have a great relationship.
He's 87 years young and I'm theoldest of his two sons.
Dad always told me, long beforeI had a clue about what he was
talking about, just two words Beprepared.
That's a lesson.
(33:37):
I was probably ankle high andthen all through elementary
school, all through middleschool, high school and even
college, and even as a youngadult, as I started my career,
he would always tell me beprepared.
And I never really questionedwhat he meant, but I always
remember hearing it.
(33:58):
So I did my best to pay closeattention to my academics when
I'm in school, when I'm playingsports, be a good teammate,
exercise good sportsmanship allof that in terms of being
prepared.
But I found out much later inlife.
I was already in my thirtiesbefore one day it just hit and
(34:21):
what dad was telling me was thatit's always better to be
prepared and not have anopportunity than to have an
opportunity and not be prepared.
That's what he was telling me.
He just didn't say it that way,and so that's how I
(34:42):
transitioned it.
That's how I interpreted it andthat's how I applied it.
I know because I've hadopportunities where I was
prepared and things went well.
And I've had opportunities andI took it and I was not prepared
and things didn't go well.
(35:05):
I'm able to now share it withothers as a food for thought, as
a part of what we do to prepareleaders to think about it.
Preparation is key, and so fromthe time I was a little guy, he
always told me just those twowords be prepared.
And it's really amazing.
So now I've raised three sons,and, as their grandfather, he
(35:28):
would tell them that as well.
I'm not sure if they everreally knew what he was talking
about, but they did their bestto do what was right, and that's
all we asked of them to do,absolutely and what a great
piece of advice.
Speaker 1 (35:44):
It's one of my favorite questions to ask my
guests.
It's always curious to see thething that resonates with them
and has served them, becausethere are things that we need to
hear ourselves and things thatwe can implement in our lives.
So thank you so much, kevin,for sharing that.
You know of everything we spokeabout today, and maybe there
was something we didn't get achance to touch on.
What would be the one takeaway?
Speaker 3 (36:03):
Well, I think in this life and we all know this, but
oftentimes when you hear it froma different voice, it has a
different ring.
Life is short.
It goes by so quickly and Ialways leave messages to all
audiences that do your bestbased on what you know.
(36:23):
And this life is trulyfulfilling when you and I make a
determination beyond a shadowof a doubt that we are going to
serve others when we serveothers.
(36:44):
That's where the truefulfillment in this life comes.
The question is, in whatcapacity will you serve?
Because we all have differenttalents, we all have different
gifts.
Because we all have differenttalents, we all have different
gifts.
We all have different abilities,so we're not going to do the
same thing the same way, but Iwould like for everyone in your
audience to think of how you canserve others.
(37:05):
That's where you're going toreally enjoy fulfillment, and
that's really what this life isall about, because it goes by so
quickly.
Just yesterday, I was raisinglittle babies, and now they're
28, 27 and 26.
Where in the world did the timego?
So exactly yeah no kidding.
Speaker 1 (37:26):
Yeah, no kidding.
I feel you.
I feel you.
I have 32 and a 29 year old.
Speaker 3 (37:34):
I'm not I don't feel that old.
But the good news is you don'tfeel that old, so that's good.
Speaker 1 (37:42):
That's right.
That's right.
I just want to say thank you somuch, kevin, for spending time
with us today and, you know,showing us what leading a
principled life is really simple.
It's not easy to do at alltimes and so, but it is possible
for us.
Speaker 3 (38:01):
And so if men are interested in getting a hold of
you, participating in your work,getting your website is named
after the company, so theJohnson Leadership Group dot com
,wwwthejohnsonleadershipgroupcom,
and my email address is Kevin,excuse me.
Me, kevin atthejohnsonleadershipgroupcom,
send us a note embedded into thewebsite.
If you're interested is a 20minute complimentary coaching
session if anyone is interestedin that.
(38:22):
But on the website you see allof the different activities that
we have going on ourcertifications, the customers
that we work with in themarketplace.
It's one of thoseself-contained I tell people.
The website is.
Our electronic brochure is whatit is, and so anything you need
to know about what we're doing.
More than happy to have aconversation with you and work
(38:46):
with you and we'll see where itgoes.
Speaker 1 (38:52):
Love it.
Well, I'll make sure thatinformation as well as anywhere
you're, you're on social mediaand we'll get that in there as
well.
Thank you so much, kevin,really enjoyed today's
conversation.
Speaker 2 (39:01):
I really appreciate having you on the show.
Thank you for listening to theRevolutionary man podcast.
Are you ready to own yourdestiny, to become more the man
you were destined to be?
Join the brotherhood that isthe Awakened man at
(39:27):
theawakendmannet and startforging a new destiny today.
I would like to think that I'm living a principled
life, as I'm sure you would aswell, but defining and measuring
our lives comes down to havinga few fundamental principles
that can propel us forward inboth our personal and our
professional lives, and it isthrough these fundamentals where
we can become a person ofinfluence.
So I want you to stick aroundtoday, because my guest is going
(00:20):
to share us with a few secretsof overcoming common barriers to
growth and setting intentionalgoals that lead to sustained
success.
And we're going to discussstrategies for balancing
influence with authority and thecritical role of integrity in
leadership and boy don't we needthat in today's environment.
And finally, we're going tolook into ways to integrate
servant leadership principlesinto our daily interaction.
(00:42):
So I can't wait to get into ourconversation Now.
Before to get into ourconversation Now, before we get
into today's episode, just like,come to grips about one other
thing, and that is inevitablythere will come a time in your
life when you will hit a wall.
You know whether that's amarriage that's not working, or
a career or business that'sstagnated, or maybe your
personal life is just flatlined.
So if you're dealing with anyof these, or a combination of
(01:03):
them and are finally fed up withwhere your life's at, then
allow me to help you get clearon what needs to be done and how
to go about getting your lifeback on track so you can live
the life you were meant to live.
And so I want you to go toawakenmannet and download a free
setting, the compass exercise,to get you in alignment with
what it is to me in a purposefullife.
(01:24):
And with that, let's get onwith today's episode.
Speaker 2 (01:30):
The average man today is sleepwalking through life,
many never reaching their truepotential, let alone ever
crossing the finish line toliving a purposeful life.
Yet the hunger still exists,albeit buried amidst his
cluttered mind.
Yet the hunger still exists,albeit buried amidst his
cluttered mind, misguidedbeliefs and values that no
longer serve him.
It's time to align yourself forgreatness.
(01:51):
It's time to become arevolutionary man.
Stay strong, my brother.
Speaker 1 (01:59):
Welcome everyone to the Revolutionary man Podcast.
I'm the founder of the Awakenedman Movement and your host,
alan DeMonsoul, you know, asyou're listening to today's
episode, I'd like you toconsider this what steps can you
take to become a more effectiveleader in your personal and
your professional life?
And then I'd like you toreflect on your own journey of
(02:22):
growth and influence, and howcan embracing the principles of
servant leadership transform theway you interact with others?
I know those are two big thingsfor you to consider, but we're
going to do some work here today, and so I started this
conversation by talking aboutliving a principled life.
And so, as fathers and husbandsand leaders, it is our duty to
ensure we show up as a powerfuland intentional man.
God, our families and ourcommunities are calling us to be
(02:44):
, and so some days that can be apretty tall order, and if we're
not really careful, we may findourselves leading in ways of
not and not having others cometo follow us.
So today, my guest intends tolay a few breadcrumbs on the
trail of living a principledlife.
So allow me to introduce myguest.
Kevin Wayne Johnson has takenup the task of developing
(03:07):
individual and organizationaloperating excellence as his
life's mission.
He coaches and coax audiencesto live out their gifts and
awaken their potential.
Kevin also providesorganizations and people who
work within them the tools toforge effective personal and
intercommercial communications,and he delivers these trainings
on the elements of dynamicrelationships, so these teams
(03:30):
can be equipped with attributesneeding to develop individuals
into leaders, and so I'm lookingforward to this conversation
Welcome to the show today.
Speaker 3 (03:38):
Kevin, thanks for going well.
Alan, thank you so much forthis wonderful invitation.
Looking forward to it and, bythe way, you're doing an
excellent job there.
Speaker 1 (03:51):
Thank you so much.
My job there.
Thank you so much, my friend,thank you so much.
You know, here at therevolutionary man podcast, we
always started our conversationsoff with really talking about
your hero's journey, and we'reall on our own journey, so I
wanted to like you to tell usabout a time in your life when
you knew things had to change.
What did you do about that andhow did it shape that?
How did that experience?
Speaker 3 (04:06):
That's an excellent question and I know we're going
to talk a little bit aboutleadership, but part of my
leadership journey haseverything to do with the fact
that my brother and I were sonsof a US Marine, and anyone who's
listening and anyone who'swatching your podcast know if
you happen to have grown up in amilitary household, you move
around a lot.
It's hard to stay stationaryand to stay put, meet some
(04:31):
really good friends andcultivate good relationships,
because as soon as you do, it'stime to pack up again.
So my dad served 20 years inthe United States Marine.
He went in enlisted.
He was very fortunate to earn acommission halfway through his
career.
And he retired as a juniorofficer.
He retired the year that I wastransitioning from 10th grade to
(04:54):
11th grade in high school.
What a bad time.
And as a part of thatretirement, of course we're
living away from home and hewants to get back home to be
with his siblings and to be withhis parents.
I understand that and althoughI tried to negotiate and tried
to get him to think otherwisehe's a Marine he made up his
mind.
We're going.
(05:20):
I was doing well on the juniorvarsity football team where we
were, and now I have to startover again.
Lo and behold, my 11th gradeEnglish one-on-one teacher, miss
Atkins Ellen Atkins.
I'll never forget it.
She saw my body language, shepicked up on my countenance, she
(05:43):
saw that I wasn't really myselfbecause I had been in her class
long enough to master English.
But she saw something and sheintervened at the perfect time
because I was feeling reallydown, trying to gain new friends
.
And she came to me one day andshe said Kevin, I want you to
(06:18):
approach the varsity basketballcoach and let him know that
you're available to work side byside with him, the assistant
coaches and the basketball teamto announce the games, all of
the home games.
They need a voice behind themicrophone to introduce the
players both home and away, anddo play-by-play at the
basketball games.
Our gymnasium holds about 350students and parents and friends
and I think you would do wellGuess what?
Alan?
Unbeknownst to me, a16-year-old 11th grader, she had
(06:38):
already paved the way behindthe scenes with the basketball
coach.
All I had to do was follow upand approach and he said yes.
That was a very monumentalshift in my life, because one
thing I want to share witheveryone is that not only was
the timing perfect, but otherpeople see things in us that we
(07:02):
can't see ourselves, and therest is history.
I've been speaking behind micsever since I was a 16-year-old
in the 11th grade.
Had no idea what that wouldmean at the time, but that was a
monumental moment in my life.
Speaker 1 (07:18):
Absolutely Thrown right into it.
Just think about how many fearthe fear of public speaking.
Basically, that's what you'redoing for most people on this
planet and being thrown in thatat 16.
I commend you, and followingthrough and listening to your
story, kevin, reminds me veryclose to my heart, to my
personal journey.
(07:39):
My father worked in the mines.
We have lots of potash up herein Canada and he was working in
a potash mine and he was tiredfor years of driving 40 minutes
one way all the time, and so wemoved from this one small town
to where the town that actuallyhad the mine at and that was a
transition for me was grade nineinto grade 10.
(08:01):
And in my experience was, youknow, being the new kid in town
I had to really fight my waythrough.
I can remember, you know, guyscoming up and picking on me and
I use sports similar to whatyou're talking about.
I use basketball and volleyballand badminton to get me into a
(08:21):
place where I didn't have tofeel like I had to run for my
life every day going to school,because I won many fights by at
least a block and a half, I'mhappy to say, and so hearing
your story really resonates withme about you know how, that
transition as a young man, thethings we have to deal with, and
(08:42):
there was a decision my fatherhad to make as well and it was
both financially important forus as well as really
educationally, because we werein a really small family.
Speaker 3 (08:50):
Thank you for your story as well.
Thank you so much for sharingthat.
Speaker 1 (08:56):
You know we're going to talk a lot about leadership
here today, and one of thethings that I mentioned in the
opening is really about somecommon barriers that we have to
personal growth, and so in yourwork, what are you finding that
are most prevalent in some ofthese common barriers and what
are we doing to help doing toteach?
Speaker 3 (09:12):
Yeah, that's a really good way to start the
conversation, because you saidcommon barriers.
That leads me right to theproverbial communication.
We all communicate differentways, we listen different ways,
but, as you reference commonbarriers, one of the keys to
having a great conversation withsomeone is to find common
(09:33):
ground, because that is a waythat we can connect with people,
because the attempt is alwaysto build bridges, to always find
some common ground, and when wedo that, we're going to find
similarities.
And when it's all said and done, alan, because of human
behavior, it's difficult to notlike somebody that you know.
(09:54):
Now we know people that wedon't like, but it's not easy to
just dislike someone when youget to know them.
It's not easy to just dislikesomeone when you get to know
them.
And we get to know them by wayof communication, talking,
having dialogue, initiating aconversation, and that's a very
key component both in ourpersonal and our professional
(10:18):
development.
So we encourage leaders,through a number of different
strategies and principles, toget comfortable in initiating
informal as well as formalconversations with others within
our sphere of influence Because, again, it ties into human
behavior.
All of us are created to berelational.
(10:42):
To be relational, all 8 billionpeople on the planet crave
genuine, authentic, healthyrelationships, and what happens
is when that does not happen, weact out, because that's what
we're looking for and no one'sperfect, so we don't do.
We don't do things perfectly,but if we can be the catalyst
(11:04):
and if we can initiate theseconversations which now lead to
helping us get to know othersbetter, them getting to know us
better, now we're on our way tofulfilling that gap that
everyone's looking for, and thatis a good relationship.
So, when you mentioned thatcommon barrier, the first common
(11:26):
barrier I always think about isour ability, or lack thereof,
to just have a conversation withpeople.
It can be very informal, it canbe very short and sweet.
We're not trying to get intoyour business.
We just want you to know thatwe give a care and that's part
of the leadership journey thatpeople are looking for from
their leaders and that leadersneed to understand and get
(11:49):
comfortable with to make surethat we're touching base with
those that we have beenentrusted to lead.
Speaker 1 (11:59):
Yeah, I completely agree with you.
I think that's you know,especially for men, and that we
need to become more comfortable.
And, you know, I think we getthe idea that's you know,
especially for for men, and thatwe need to become more
comfortable.
And you know, I think we getthe idea that, you know, to be
successful, right, we may haveto have lots of bravado and lots
of confidence, and while someof that is true, on the other
side of that coin, not everyoneis going to necessarily, you
(12:19):
know, lead a company or, youknow, run their own, start their
own business.
But we still need to have theability to engage in
conversation, and even, you know, especially the most intimate
ones, those with our spouses,with our children and all that.
And so I'd like that we'restarting this today's
conversation about, you know,being able to have authentic
communications.
I think that is so key.
And so, how does your work go?
(12:42):
You know, bridge that gapbetween personal and
professional and having that asbeing a complete leader.
Because I think you know, Ithink, in looking at the work
that we do here, I do see thatsometimes, I think, as men, we
have two different personas.
We have the work, al, and thenthere's the private Al.
Speaker 3 (13:00):
Yeah, just doing our best, Alan, to be consistent
wherever we are.
Yeah, just doing our best, alan, to be consistent wherever we
are.
I have this phrase and I'm notsure if somebody else should get
credit for it or not.
I don't know if it's anonymous,I don't know if maybe I should
trademark it, but I tell peopleall the time, wherever you go,
(13:21):
there you are.
So, whether you're at home, atyour neighborhood, meeting, at
work, your social and civicorganization if you happen to be
a member, your church, whereveryou go, just putting forth that
extra effort to just beconsistent.
Be the same person wherever yougo.
(13:44):
Just be consistent, be the sameperson wherever you go, and
that way you don't have to tryto imitate or be less than
genuine when you're in oneenvironment and then try to be
somewhere one else, in adifferent environment.
So just trying to stay true.
The same way that I lead peoplein the workplace is the same
way I raise my three sons.
(14:05):
It's the same way I am atchurch.
It's the same way I am when Igo to the different activities
that are taking place in thesocial and civic organizations
that my wife or I belong to.
Just being consistent.
I was at a school this morning,first day of school in the city
of Baltimore, a school for youngmen from first grade up to
(14:30):
eighth grade, preparing them forhigh school and beyond, and
there were 60 men that showed upwith these 350 students just to
stand in line and shake theirhand and give them a good word
of encouragement as they wentinto their school this morning.
We do that every year and themessage is from me when I shake
(14:52):
their hand is just be true toyourself, young man, do your
best.
And then I shake the next handand what?
It is just a message andhelping them to be what I want
them to be.
I want them to see in me what Iwant them to be.
And that's just one environment.
(15:13):
But I do the same when I'm athome, I do the same when I'm at
church, I do the same when I'mat work, even as a trainer and a
teacher and a coach and amentor and a speaker on the
topic of leadership, just beingconsistent, regardless of what
environment or what venue thatI'm in.
Again, I always remind us noone's perfect.
(15:34):
So we're not asking forperfection, but we're asking
everyone to do their best and ifyou do that, then we're well on
our way to having good teamsand good organizations.
Speaker 1 (15:47):
Yeah, I completely agree with that sentiment as
well.
I really love that story.
You just talked about having 60men and coming up with that
idea, and what a great way tomodel true, healthy masculinity
and leadership in such a simpleyet profound way.
And we need to do more of thatacross North America and really
(16:09):
help these young men in becomingtruly the men that they're
meant to be.
You know, I really like that.
Your topic is in your book, theleadership with a servant's
heart, and one of our 12principles is servant leadership
here at the Awakened man and wepractice that every once a year
and for an entire month.
(16:30):
We focus on a core virtue andthat was one of them.
And so tell me a little bitabout you know the book has
received lots of acclaim.
It's done phenomenally well foryou, but tell me how would you
describe servant leadership.
Speaker 3 (16:43):
Servant leadership to me, is much different than the
original 1970 version when itwas first introduced.
I'm thinking about leadershipfrom the whole person mind, body
and spirit.
So it's very true, alan, thatwhen a leader shows up, he or
she does need to demonstrate inorder to get the credibility
(17:07):
that they earned.
They do need to demonstratethat they are a subject matter
expert and that they have theacumen and the intelligence to
get the job done.
They know the work role.
They could probably read on theback of their hand the words
and the job description.
They probably have done it andthey've probably done well.
That brings us credibility.
That's the mind.
(17:28):
But as it relates to the heart,now we're making a and we're
leading people for the people,that they are not just workers.
People don't just show up toget a job done although that is
the mandate so that they canearn their benefits and earn
(17:49):
their pay.
But people really want to knowand they never ask.
It's what we call the pinkelephant in the room.
They never ask.
They really want to know howthis person that has the trust
to lead this team and thisorganization or to lead me, they
(18:09):
want to know am I going to beprovided with some developmental
opportunities?
Is this leader going to shareresources and am I going to be
recommended for and approved togo to training?
Is this leader going to give acare that I have opinions and I
have thoughts and I haveperspectives.
(18:29):
Are they going to listen to me,are they going to give me
valuable and meaningful feedbackas a part of my developmental
journey or not?
That's what people really wantto know, alan, those are matters
of the heart.
Leadership with a servant'sheart demonstrates that we value
and that we care, we honor andrespect those that we are
(18:53):
entrusted to lead.
But, equally important, becausewe all have issues and
challenges that we're dealingwith in life in general, how
about some empathy and somecompassion from time to time?
Because a leader that'scompassionate and empathetic is
not weak, even though that maybe the perception by some.
(19:15):
But it demonstrates that we'rehuman.
And that's the difference fromthe original 1970 version of
servant leadership and how Idefine it and how I see it.
And that's why I titled mybooks Leadership with a
Servant's Heart, because theheart and the mind, when they're
(19:36):
in alignment now we're able tolead the total person mind, body
and spirit.
And it's more than just what weknow.
People expect us to know ourstuff, but it's all of the other
intangibles that help people intheir career progression or not
, and that's what people arereally interested in, but they
(19:59):
never say it.
Speaker 1 (20:03):
Yeah, I completely agree.
And I just think back to youropening story and talking about,
you know, miss atkins, right,really, she was leaving leading
with a servant's heart for you.
What a great demonstration allthose years ago.
And then I think about, and Icompletely agree with your
sentiment.
I think you know, as, asleaders, you know, people don't
(20:23):
care how much you know untilthey know how much you care.
I don't know who said that, butI like that idea because it
truly is, because if you reallywant somebody to go through a
wall for you you know they talka lot about that in sports,
right Well, that's a leader whocares about their people, who
cares how well they do.
Yes, it's a business andthey're there to to win games,
(20:46):
but in the end, are you, arethey doing it because they care
about each other and they wantto, and they want to work
together as a unit, or is ittruly an individual outcome?
And and that's I think, this isthe work that really you know,
as fathers as well, how we leadour, our family, our sons and
our daughters really can canmake the difference between a
cohesive family and one that'snot.
Speaker 3 (21:09):
It's Maya Angelou who gets the credit for that quote.
Others may have said it alongthe way, but she gets the credit
.
Speaker 1 (21:20):
Yeah, I love that quote.
So you were talking aboutservant leadership.
You know, and it's obvious tome already that you exemplify
what servant leadership is, butif you think about the people in
your life that you've comeacross, who would you determine
would be a person that you wouldlook to and say, wow, that's a
good one, alan because there arereally so many.
Speaker 3 (21:42):
I'm going to go to a gentleman.
He's no longer with us, but hestarted along with four of his
colleagues.
He started a church in Nassau,bahamas, called the Bahamas
International Church Ministries,and you may know the name.
Some of your listeners andviewers might know the name, but
(22:04):
Pastor Miles Monroe was abrilliant pastor but also a
business mind, and he traveledall around the world until his
untimely passing back in 2014,always sharing and always
pouring to entrepreneurs,business leaders, to
entrepreneurs business leaders,ceos, coos of medium, small and
(22:30):
large corporations.
And he would do that inparallel with also being able to
pastor the church and havegreat conversations and
workshops with faith leaders,and he was able to bridge both
audiences masterfully all of hisadult life.
I still listen to him.
(22:50):
He's been gone for 10 years,but I still listen to him and
it's like he's right there inthe room because at the heart of
all of his messages was gettingus to think about not just the
acumen, but also how we go aboutcaring and pouring into other
(23:12):
people, and it just always madea big difference.
So, way back in 1993, I readone of his books Understanding
your Potential at a time in mylife where I really needed it
and it was a game changer.
It's a very short paperbackbook, understanding your
Potential, and it just reallyopened up my eyes Again.
(23:35):
The timing just like with MsAtkins the timing was right and
it sent me on a trajectory to goeven further than what just Ms
Atkins could have done for me.
That's the one gentleman thatcomes to mind, but there are so
many others as well, but I wouldput him right up there.
Speaker 1 (23:55):
Sure.
Well, thank you so much forsharing that, and I hadn't heard
of Pastor Miles Monroe before,so I'm going to take a look at
some of his information.
I'm always interested inlearning to grow and get
different perspectives, and so Ialways appreciate when my
guests can share this kind ofinformation.
So I'd like to pivot a littlebit.
We've been talking aboutservant leadership, but the
other thing about servantleadership that really some of
(24:17):
the underlying stuff that wehaven't quite brought forward
and I want to make explicit nowis really about having influence
, and so we're starting.
You've dropped a couple ofbreadcrumbs on how we can start
to increase our influence, butwhat are some other ideas and
ways that someone's interestedin increasing their influence in
their circle?
Speaker 3 (24:36):
Yeah, there's a lot of different things that I could
unpack, but what I would liketo share is, first of all, just
being a leader of integrity.
Remember now, people arewatching.
They hear what we say, butthey're really watching, and a
leader is a role model and anexample, and oftentimes people
(24:57):
take their lead from justwatching you, observing.
They're sitting back and sayingwhat is Alan going to do, what
is Alan going to say, how is hegoing to respond?
And so being a person with ahigh level of integrity again
one more time, I didn't say aperson, that's perfect, but have
a person with high integritywill increase your influence
(25:20):
with others, because yourinfluence is really the ability
to get people to show up.
But once they show up nowthey're going to participate and
, as a result of theirparticipation, they're going to
contribute and theircontributions now add value to
what it is that we're trying todo.
Any given project, any contract, any task, any action, any
(25:41):
initiative people'scontributions adds value, but
they can't contribute unlessthey participate and they won't
participate unless they show up.
So it's our influence.
So people are apt to follow aleader that has a high degree of
integrity.
Another thing I want you tothink about is the word faith.
(26:04):
We mentioned it earlier, butfaith, from the context of just
having a high degree ofconfidence and trust, has faith
in them.
And how do you know?
By the assignments that youreceive, by your ability to step
(26:31):
in and attend a meeting thatperhaps the leader was not able
to go to, or tapping you on theshoulder to give that
presentation in front of thosehundreds of senior leaders.
Trust and belief in you andconfidence goes a very, very
long way to increasing ourinfluence.
So those are just a couple ofnuggets, a couple of tools that
(26:53):
we can all add to our toolboxand take out as needed.
There are many others as well,but these are just some of the
nuggets and the tips that weshare around that topic of
influence.
Speaker 1 (27:08):
I love those ideas and that's great, and I see
you're also part of a certifiedcoach the John Maxwell team and
I love John's ideas and conceptsaround integrity and influence
and I see lots of similaritiesand resonance.
Speaker 3 (27:21):
Yeah, almost 10 years .
Speaker 1 (27:22):
Yeah, yes, Nice, nice , nice, nice.
Speaker 3 (27:28):
Yeah, what an amazing another amazing pastor that
decided to turn, change hiscareer around and move from
influencing a single church toinfluencing so many more people,
absolutely, and he also travelsthe world has an opportunity to
stand in front of heads ofstate, presidents, governors all
around the world, not just herein the United States, governors
(27:51):
all around the world, not justhere in the United States taking
a team of individuals with himand making a difference in an
entire country, the entirecountry of Peru, bolivia I could
go on and on because at thepresidential level, then it
filters down into the schoolsand the universities and into
the businesses and thegovernment agencies and it does
make a difference if peoplechoose to apply the principles
(28:13):
that we learn, the principlesthat we teach, and start to
really look at people as peopleand not just workers, I believe
to make the world a much betterplace and that's why I'm so
passionate about the work thatwe do, because I really believe
in it.
And when we're teaching whetherit's virtual or in person I see
(28:36):
people's eyes light up becausethey're hearing things they
don't normally hear, and I giveexamples to validate and to
verify what I'm talking about,and the eyes get even bigger and
it gives them the momentum andthe courage to now apply what
they've learned.
And then I can follow up inthree months to see how things
(28:57):
going, so we don't just dropnuggets and leave, but I like to
stay in touch and see howthings are going as a part of
the journey.
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (29:08):
Absolutely, absolutely.
Listen, kevin, you've had apretty illustrious career
yourself.
You know you've authored manybooks, and so you know let's
turn the table a little bit backon to yourself here.
So what do you consider to bethe most fundamental law of
growth, and how can we, as menyeah, that's probably the
easiest question you've asked me, alan.
Speaker 3 (29:28):
So leaders are learners.
Never allow your thirst toquench and never allow your
hunger to be satisfied when itcomes to learning.
Listen, I finished a young manas a frontline leader, then in
(29:55):
the middle ranks and theneventually as a senior leader.
I stayed 34 years.
I took about three months offand then I stood up the company.
For a lot of different reasons,but my passion is around this
theme of leadership developmentand pouring into the next
generation of leaders, because Irecognize that every
(30:17):
organization needs to have aphenomenal bench of ready,
equipped and prepared leaders totake over when the existing
leadership transitions.
We have to have somebody to passthe baton to, and so that's
what really motivates me, andthat's what really keeps me
going on this particular journey, and I'm loving it.
(30:38):
That's why I smile so much.
Speaker 1 (30:44):
I love it, my friend, I love it.
I think you said leaders arereaders as well, and so my next
question for you is yeah, isthere one?
I have so many.
So I'm right here in my homeoffice.
Speaker 3 (30:57):
You can see some of the books behind me, but I also
have a bookcase in front of meas well.
Speaking of Miles Monroe, again, he has a book that's titled
I'm looking right at it.
It's called God's Big Idea.
It just gets into how he useseach and every one of us
individually to make this worlda much better place.
That's just one of many.
(31:17):
I have so many books.
I love a book that probablyeverybody has heard of.
I'm not sure if you read it.
It's four decades old and it'sstill selling strong.
It's simply titled Seven Habitsof Highly Effective People, dr
Steve Covey and my favoritehabit is habit number four begin
(31:43):
with the end in mind.
That book came out four decadesago and it's still powerful,
just like who Moved my Cheeseright around the same time.
These are business books, butthey apply to all areas of our
personal as well as ourprofessional lives, kind of come
(32:05):
to mind.
I'm an avid reader, though Iread one or two books a month.
I'm a nonfiction book reader,and when I'm flying on an
airplane I always take about twoor three books with me, and I
have a library full of them.
I have books all over the house.
Speaker 1 (32:24):
Yeah, you and me both , my friend, I just think about.
You know that Seven Habits wasprobably one of the first books
that I read, you know, know, wayback when, probably not long
after it came out, to be honest,and I love the of the influence
of that book and we use some ofsome of those, some of the
lessons from there, in ourcurrent men's work and helping
guys, you know, plan and be bemore effective, and love the
(32:47):
idea of the chunking your youroff in the weeks.
You know, focusing on theimportant stuff in our life.
You know, using the Eisenhowermatrix he had a little twist on
it Just so many wonderful thingsto be a true leader.
I just love that book.
I'm glad you've mentioned it.
You know you've mentioned thisMiles Monroe and there's, you
know, miss Atkins.
(33:07):
But I want you to think back.
You know the different, all thementors you've had in your life
and there must be a piece ofadvice that really has really
stuck with you and resonatedthat is still serving you today.
Speaker 3 (33:16):
So that's the second easiest question my dad.
I mentioned my dad right outfront.
We have a great relationship.
He's 87 years young and I'm theoldest of his two sons.
Dad always told me, long beforeI had a clue about what he was
talking about, just two words Beprepared.
That's a lesson.
(33:37):
I was probably ankle high andthen all through elementary
school, all through middleschool, high school and even
college, and even as a youngadult, as I started my career,
he would always tell me beprepared.
And I never really questionedwhat he meant, but I always
remember hearing it.
(33:58):
So I did my best to pay closeattention to my academics when
I'm in school, when I'm playingsports, be a good teammate,
exercise good sportsmanship allof that in terms of being
prepared.
But I found out much later inlife.
I was already in my thirtiesbefore one day it just hit and
(34:21):
what dad was telling me was thatit's always better to be
prepared and not have anopportunity than to have an
opportunity and not be prepared.
That's what he was telling me.
He just didn't say it that way,and so that's how I
(34:42):
transitioned it.
That's how I interpreted it andthat's how I applied it.
I know because I've hadopportunities where I was
prepared and things went well.
And I've had opportunities andI took it and I was not prepared
and things didn't go well.
(35:05):
I'm able to now share it withothers as a food for thought, as
a part of what we do to prepareleaders to think about it.
Preparation is key, and so fromthe time I was a little guy, he
always told me just those twowords be prepared.
And it's really amazing.
So now I've raised three sons,and, as their grandfather, he
(35:28):
would tell them that as well.
I'm not sure if they everreally knew what he was talking
about, but they did their bestto do what was right, and that's
all we asked of them to do,absolutely and what a great
piece of advice.
Speaker 1 (35:44):
It's one of my favorite questions to ask my
guests.
It's always curious to see thething that resonates with them
and has served them, becausethere are things that we need to
hear ourselves and things thatwe can implement in our lives.
So thank you so much, kevin,for sharing that.
You know of everything we spokeabout today, and maybe there
was something we didn't get achance to touch on.
What would be the one takeaway?
Speaker 3 (36:03):
Well, I think in this life and we all know this, but
oftentimes when you hear it froma different voice, it has a
different ring.
Life is short.
It goes by so quickly and Ialways leave messages to all
audiences that do your bestbased on what you know.
(36:23):
And this life is trulyfulfilling when you and I make a
determination beyond a shadowof a doubt that we are going to
serve others when we serveothers.
(36:44):
That's where the truefulfillment in this life comes.
The question is, in whatcapacity will you serve?
Because we all have differenttalents, we all have different
gifts.
Because we all have differenttalents, we all have different
gifts.
We all have different abilities,so we're not going to do the
same thing the same way, but Iwould like for everyone in your
audience to think of how you canserve others.
(37:05):
That's where you're going toreally enjoy fulfillment, and
that's really what this life isall about, because it goes by so
quickly.
Just yesterday, I was raisinglittle babies, and now they're
28, 27 and 26.
Where in the world did the timego?
So exactly yeah no kidding.
Speaker 1 (37:26):
Yeah, no kidding.
I feel you.
I feel you.
I have 32 and a 29 year old.
Speaker 3 (37:34):
I'm not I don't feel that old.
But the good news is you don'tfeel that old, so that's good.
Speaker 1 (37:42):
That's right.
That's right.
I just want to say thank you somuch, kevin, for spending time
with us today and, you know,showing us what leading a
principled life is really simple.
It's not easy to do at alltimes and so, but it is possible
for us.
Speaker 3 (38:01):
And so if men are interested in getting a hold of
you, participating in your work,getting your website is named
after the company, so theJohnson Leadership Group dot com
,wwwthejohnsonleadershipgroupcom,
and my email address is Kevin,excuse me.
Me, kevin atthejohnsonleadershipgroupcom,
send us a note embedded into thewebsite.
If you're interested is a 20minute complimentary coaching
session if anyone is interestedin that.
(38:22):
But on the website you see allof the different activities that
we have going on ourcertifications, the customers
that we work with in themarketplace.
It's one of thoseself-contained I tell people.
The website is.
Our electronic brochure is whatit is, and so anything you need
to know about what we're doing.
More than happy to have aconversation with you and work
(38:46):
with you and we'll see where itgoes.
Speaker 1 (38:52):
Love it.
Well, I'll make sure thatinformation as well as anywhere
you're, you're on social mediaand we'll get that in there as
well.
Thank you so much, kevin,really enjoyed today's
conversation.
Speaker 2 (39:01):
I really appreciate having you on the show.
Thank you for listening to theRevolutionary man podcast.
Are you ready to own yourdestiny, to become more the man
you were destined to be?
Join the brotherhood that isthe Awakened man at
(39:27):
theawakendmannet and startforging a new destiny today.
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