We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Lex-Jordan Ibegbu a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Lex-Jordan , we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?
Resilience emanates from within my spirit and being. I have never said no, and/or I can’t. I have fallen so many times, however I always knew that those misstep was not my destination. Every failure was only temporary. Resilience was bred into me genetically and through childhood experiences. I was born two months premature. I sat in the NICU for over a month. My parents cried everyday as I fought to be alive. I grew up as a different child, in a different era which was less forgiving than the climate of today. During my formative years older kids tried to prey on me for being unique. For years, everyday I walked outside I would be beaten up.. Everyday my mother would send me back outside to stand up for myself. At an early age I knew that in this world there were no tears for a man, I had to fight even if I lost because I learned that in finding the will to fight I had already won. Many looked down on me and spoke negativity upon me due to their perceptions, however my mind and spirit was impenetrable being that I knew where I was going. I could not be deterred, I always kept pushing. I walked ten miles everyday in law school while my peers drove past me in Mercedes and Land Rovers, my feet would bleed through my shoes and be scorched by the Miami sun. However, I knew deep down that everyone didn’t want it how I wanted it. I slept in my car after driving across country to do interviews just to have firms not pay me after working for a month. I didn’t care, my spirit was unbroken. If I had a vision, and I would see it through. I was disrespected, laughed at, talked down upon and insulted by opposing counsel, judges and prosecutors. I always greeted others with love and respect even when I was not given such because in doing so I was showing the love I had for myself. I watched my peers take opportunities I dreamed of, Opportunities I would never be given due to immutable factors. I never held feelings of resentment, rather I dug in and made those opportunities happen for myself. I became better and never bitter because when others looked over me, God never did. Resilience emanates from your knowledge of self and awareness of your destiny. You can never be broken if the words inside you remain unbroken. My family will always have a foundation to stand on and a legacy to hold due to my actions. The community will always know I made a difference and had a positive impact on others. There is no traffic on the extra mile. I always chose to walk that road alone so that tomorrow we may hold hands.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I am an Attorney, realtor and political consultant. I have my own law practice; Ibegbu Law, PLLC. I find joy in helping people and business. I find pleasure in bring some solace to injured individuals. In many instances persons who are injured are often overlooked because those who suffer often lack humanity in the eyes of big companies, cities, and insurance providers who have been negligent and/or are ascertaining what was negligent. I fight to wipe away said bias so that each individual’s voice heard. I find peace in helping Women owned and Minority owned startups and business execute their vision. Business and access to capital is truly the last tier to true equality and freedom. In today’s economic climate the access to capital for Black and brown founders has lessened due to a deregulated inflationary economy which has caused banks to collapse and suffer. Subsequently, it is a joy to help founders find slivers of opportunities and navigate a treacherous minefield so that one day they can bring their vision to the light and to the people. Business is business and business is war. In a state with a burgeoning business community we advise, litigate, and construct agreements for any purpose, weather that’s a land dispute or an intellectual property issue, we are here to grow with you.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Firstly, relationships are worth more than money. One should try to make meaningful connections with two different types of people. As entrepreneurs we must connect with those individuals who are were we want to be so that you can model and learn form their path. We must also see value in those around us so that we are connected with like minded individual who share the same energy and frequency, so as to maintain allies throughout our journey. Secondly, comparison is the thief of joy. Your blessing is all in your perspective. There is always a new level, if you are constantly longing in discontent for which you don’t have and/or what you think someone else has, you may lose what is on your plate. Use the achievements of others for inspiration. However, you must run your race and love yours or you will look back thirty years from now and realize you were never happy. Thirdly, never limit yourself due to the perceptions or insecurities of others. Nothing is too big and/or too out of the box to achieve. The only person who can articulate your vision is you. Take a risk if it is authentic to who you are, because you will find peace which in itself may be your biggest reward.
One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?
I am always looking for startups and founders that I can help to protect and bring their vision to life. I hope to collaborate with different attorney’s and firms in different jurisdictions’ so that we can share ideas on growth, theory and development. By doing this we can each expand our respective reaches and help an immeasurable amount of people. There is more than enough for us all to sustain that we only become better if we all can grow together. We are at a tipping point politically and culturally as a country. It is a pleasure to work with various policy thinktanks and campaigns locally and in DC so as to help our region, state and country continue to move along the trajectory of growth and progress.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.ibegbulaw.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/ibegbulaw
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/ibegbulaw
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lex-jordan-ibegbu-esq-97ba43a3/
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/ibegbulaw
- Other: tiktok: @ibegbulaw
Image Credits
Photographer: Evin Grant
