Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Benton Thompson III. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Benton, so good to have you with us today. We’ve got so much planned, so let’s jump right into it. We live in such a diverse world, and in many ways the world is getting better and more understanding but it’s far from perfect. There are so many times where folks find themselves in rooms or situations where they are the only ones that look like them – that might mean being the only woman of color in the room or the only person who grew up in a certain environment etc. Can you talk to us about how you’ve managed to thrive even in situations where you were the only one in the room?
This is a great question and very thought provocative, because it invokes so many emotions for me. On many occasions in my life, more than I care to say, I have walked into a room, been to a meeting, attended a conference, or on a call, where I was the only one that looked like me in the group. Sometimes the feeling has been very unnerving, and a little overwhelming. If I’m being truly honest here, sometimes I’ve wanted to retreat, hang up, or just run and hide somewhere. Feelings of ineptitude would attempt to flood my heart and my mind. I would often have to make a call to someone and share my fears, and they would thankfully encourage me to forge ahead. Sometimes I’ve gotten angry and questioned why. Why was I the only person of color here? Surely, I am not the only one who is qualified. Did the others not get the memo? Were they not considered, or invited? Did they refuse the invitation because they didn’t want to be the only ONE, or did they question if they would have been viewed as a symbolic token? A metaphor for the cause of diversity! Someone to be displayed as an exhibition, to point to and say: See we have one of those! We Really Are Diverse! Through all those emotions and thoughts, I had to dig deep within my soul and remember the words of my late father, Reverend Benton T. Thompson Jr. He always infused in all 9 of his children, “YOU BELONG THERE”. Wherever THERE Is. My dad always gave us impowering statements like, if a man did it, then so can you. He let us know we were designed to be unique, one of a kind. No two people have the same fingerprints or purpose. So, when I entered a room and I was that one of a kind, I used that same energy to be my best self. There’s a parable which tells the story of a light that was not to be hidden under the bush, but rather brought out into the open to offer its light to others. Many times, I have been that chosen light, and so I knew that I must shine. I was being called to be the change that I hoped would happen.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
At the very core of my being, I would describe myself as a teacher and an encourager. These two passions accompany me in almost every facet of my life. The teacher and encourager in me are what provides the spark for me to write and share my learnings and lessons with all those who can receive them. As an author and writer, I have eleven published books, been a featured columnist for several magazines and newspapers, appeared on numerous television and radio shows, and I currently have a devotion, Jesus Carried Our Sorrows to Victory, on the popular YouVersion Bible App installed on more than 500 million devices worldwide. I am also a co-host on She-Real Radio, Gospel Edition and my daily devotions are featured on the Morning Quickie. I believe that knowledge is to be shared. So, I share the knowledge that I have received from my life experiences with others, so they can apply those same lessons learned to their lives and it will be attributed to them as wisdom. My knowledge now becomes their wisdom, because they don’t have to experience the same pitfalls that I did. It’s like getting some answers before you face the next challenge. These are all concepts that I share in talks as a speaker, all around the world. It is to that end that I have a weekly podcast, Thompson Truths, designed to encourage others through the lessons that I have lived through. I’ve been sharing these “Truths” with audiences for more than three years now. My father provided me and my siblings with so many anecdotes with regards to life. The Thompson Truths are an homage to the wisdom that I have received from him that I pay forward to others to help on their journey. At the frequent request of others, I have compiled many of those timeless “Truths” in my new book “Book of Truths”. The learnings shared are practical and relatable for everyday applications. In them we explore religion, relationships, health, and overall self-care. The idea behind writing this book of Truths is designed to help others find, know, and live Their Truth.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
I would say that the three qualities that have benefitted me most in my journey are Faith, Determination, and Grace. My Faith is the cornerstone of my life. It guides me, grounds me, consoles me, reigns me back in when needed, keeps me in check, and lastly it provides me with hope. Hope that things can always improve no matter what. Hope that trouble doesn’t last always. As for Determination, it pushes me to keep trying, to keep moving forward. I realize that it is impossible to stay where I am. Nothing stays the same. Time is constantly moving; it cannot pause or stop. Every situation will eventually change, no matter what it is. Perhaps not always the way I suspect, but it will change. So, I must keep moving, in preparation for the change when it comes. And lastly, the quality of Grace. I’m not speaking of grace received, I’m talking about grace given. The Grace we need to give to ourselves. We can never make ourselves perfect because we were not created perfect. So, we must allow ourselves the grace to be who we are, wonderfully flawed. We are much like a book I wrote, Divinely Dysfunctional – Unique on Purpose. Rarely do we get it right, or achieve the desired success the first time, the second time, or the sixtieth time. We must have the same mindset as do inventors. It will take multiple efforts to get us there. I call it the iterative process. With each iteration I get closer to my desired results. Iteration #1 is the foundation. Iteration #2 now starts to build on the foundation. The whole is not built yet, but with each iteration I will get closer. My Faith, Determination, and Grace, ensure me that I will get there.
What’s been one of your main areas of growth this year?
I’d say my biggest area of growth over the past 12 months has been the ability to learn to celebrate ALL victories, whether monumental or meniscal. We all love the excitement and grandeur of a huge ticker tape parade, but what if only one person notices or acknowledges what you did? Is it any less profound or impactful? Certainly, I’d love it if everyone got it. You know the greatness or genius in the thing that I did or said. Who doesn’t want to be the best at their craft. But because it wasn’t received or understood at the time, doesn’t make it any less great. Maybe what was done was for just one. Or maybe it wasn’t the time for it to be appreciated. The “Mona Lisa” would have to wait several centuries after both the artist and the subject died to become an icon. Truth is, it was an icon when Da Vinci painted it, it just took folks a while to realize it. Just because someone doesn’t get what I write or say today doesn’t mean that they won’t get it tomorrow, or centuries later. Maybe I wrote or said that thing for only one person. I’ve learned to be good with that I helped anyone. So, I celebrate all victories whether small or tall. I celebrate that I have money to put gas in my vehicle with the way prices are rising, just as I am thankful to have an opportunity like this one to share my story. I have learned to celebrate all victories. I often get asked whether I would rather sell a million copies of one of my books or have a million people reading one of my books. I will celebrate both or either. There are no small blessings, every one of them is personal and dear to me.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.bentonthompsoniii.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/bentonthompsoniii/
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/BentonThompsonIII
- Youtube: @bentont.thompsoniii
- SoundCloud: Benton T. Thompson III
Image Credits:
Hollywood Headshots McDougal and Associates Publishing
