Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Reggie Osborne. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Reggie, thanks for sharing your insights with our community today. Part of your success, no doubt, is due to your work ethic and so we’d love if you could open up about where you got your work ethic from?
When I was younger my parents made me do chores just like any other kid. Instead of sleeping in on Saturday mornings, my parents made me get up and clean the house. I had to wash walls, mop floors, clean the bathroom, clean my room, pull weeds and etc. If I wanted to eat, then I had to do some work. My chores increased as a I got older. Although it was unpleasant, my parents were teaching me some valuable life principles.
My parents taught me to never be lazy and always do things right the first time. My parents would wake me up at 3am if I forgot to wash the dishes. This taught me about responsibility. If the kitchen wasn’t cleaned to my parents’ expectations, they would make me do it over until it was right. My dad would say things like “If you worked for someone, they would fire you for not doing the job correctly”. This motivated me to always go above and beyond others’ expectations.
At a young age, I learned to take pride in my work. It felt good to receive compliments and rewards because of my work ethic.
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 was born and raised in Detroit, MI. I graduated from Tuskegee University with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. I am a 1st generation college graduate. I have been working with youth for over 20 years. I currently serve as the youth minister at Hillcrest Church of Christ in Decatur, Ga.
I grew up around gangs, drugs, and violence. I witnessed my 1st drive by when I was about 13. A lot of my friends went to jail or got caught up in gangs at a young age. I decided that I didn’t want to go that route. Statistically, I should’ve been dead or in jail by the age of 18 but God had bigger plans for me. I love working with the youth. I understand their struggles. I want to support them like so many people supported me. I saw a great need for black men to step up and be role models for the youth, so I answered the call without hesitation.
I am irrationally passionate about helping students overcome adversity to find purpose while increasing their academic growth. I work with schools, organizations, churches, and etc. to empower their youth. This is accomplished through keynote presentations, workshops, and mentoring programs.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
My faith in God has been the most important thing that has brought me this far. My faith keeps me grounded. It keeps me on the right path. It helps me to gain a sense of peace in the midst of my problems. Without faith I wouldn’t be the man I am today. I would have given up on my dreams. I would have given up on life. Your faith is important when it comes to being successful. You have to believe in a higher power in order to move mountains. I faced a lot of mountains in my life. My faith helped me climb those mountains.
One quote that I live by is “Your mindset determines your level of success”. Your mind is a powerful tool. You have to constantly train and develop your mind. I’ve started reading more healthy books such as “The Power of Positive thinking’ to increase my knowledge. Also, I started attending conferences lead by men like Dr. Eric Thomas “The hip-hop preacher”. I spend time watching YouTube videos by Dr. Myles Munroe and other great leaders that have had a positive impact on my life. You have to always be in a state of learning.
It is very important to have a mentor. You need someone that can be your counselor and coach. I’ve learned that every successful person has a mentor. You aren’t going to be able to make it on your own strength and wisdom. Find a mentor who is full of wisdom and is trustworthy. You need someone who will keep it real with you. I have several mentors that constantly feed me knowledge to help me grow. Mentors can help guide you through life challenges.
As we end our chat, is there a book you can leave people with that’s been meaningful to you and your development?
I am very big when it comes to personal development. One of the books that has played an important role in my life outside of the bible is ‘Think and Grow Rich’ by Napolean Hill. Three of the most impactful nuggets in the book are desire, faith, and persistence.
You have to have a desire if you want to be successful. Your desire fuels your passions. When you have a desire for something, you don’t let anything get in your way. You must have a relentless pursuit after the things you want in life.
When it comes to faith you must be able to visualize what you want. You have to see it in order to believe it. When I was around 12, I told people that I was going to be an Engineer. Some of my peers laughed at me. That didn’t stop me from going after my dreams. I visualized myself as an Engineer. Fifteen years later, I graduated with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. Everyone isn’t going to see your vision. Everyone isn’t going to believe in your dreams. Don’t let that stop you. You have to believe in yourself!
You have to be persistence when going after your dreams. It’s going to be hard. It’s not going to happen when you want it to. At times, I wanted to quit but I had to keep pushing myself. I learned that you can never forget your WHY. Your why is the driving force behind your goals. Learn how to develop your why. Reminding yourself of your why will keep you focused despite how difficult the journey may be. Never give up!
Contact Info:
- Website: [email protected]
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- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/reggie-osborne-6a8103140/
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