We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Sam Wages Johnson a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Sam, 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?
My past drug addiction, Making it through my addiction showed me that you are much more powerful than you could fathom. If you learn how to get back up off the ground, find one or two people that have you back and believe in some sort of power greater than yourself, you can make it.
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?
Growing up in the funeral business, I learned through my father and grandfather success in life comes by being of service to people. To truly fill someone’s needs will bring you more joy than any money ever can. When I am on social media being vulnerable about my past, I know that I am connecting with someone who is currently going through the same problems. The caveat is that I have to take my pride and ego out of the equation and bare myself in order to connect with someone who needs help. With acting, all you can hope for is that the show or movie allows someone to escape a though day they are having. When it comes real estate, finding someone a home or a place they can rest their head at night is the bigger purpose that I am growing to enjoy.
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?
Resiliency, consistency, and a little delusion.
Being resilient allows you to get back up. If you want anything worthwhile in life the odds of you accomplishing it perfectly the first time are slim to none. But when you know this is what you have to do in order to live a better life and to be of better service to others, resiliency whispers in your ear “get back up”.
Staying consistent day in and day out will separate you from your old self and beliefs over time. You have to train your mind and body to break through the old habits that have kept you from achieving what you want in life.
A little delusion goes a long way. To an extent I had to be delusional to think I could get out of my addiction. You shouldn’t be delusional in your reality, but to go after big goals you have to be a little out there.
Okay, so before we go, is there anyone you’d like to shoutout for the role they’ve played in helping you develop the essential skills or overcome challenges along the way?
My father has always had my back. He knows when its time to be compassionate towards me and also knows when its time to tell me to solider up and take down whats in front of me.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @samwagesjohnson_
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/samfromatlanta
- Other: https://imdb.me/samwagesjohnson
Image Credits
Red striped shirt/khaki suit: Jeremiah Drummond
All others: Erik Peterson
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
