Meet George L. Cook Iii

 

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to George L. Cook Iii. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

George L., thank you so much for joining us today. Let’s jump right into something we’re really interested in hearing about from you – being the only one in the room. So many of us find ourselves as the only woman in the room, the only immigrant or the only artist in the room, etc. Can you talk to us about how you have learned to be effective and successful in situations where you are the only one in the room like you?

The first thing one must realize when they are the only one in the room is the immense reposonsibiity that come with that. You have a responsibility to speak up and be confident when you do because you are representing not just yourself, but for others that look like you.

I have sat on a few boards where I have said things that may have made others nervous at first, but it wasn’t so much that they disagreed, it was that what I brought up was something that had never occured to them because they don’t have the same experiences that I have. Your experiences are valuable, don’t be afraid to share them.

If you are going to be in the room, then be heard otherwise you are just a spot filler.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

I do a little bit of everything because I had so many dreams as a child. I read a lot so my interest in sports, politics, poetry, giving back, and the military were all sparked by the time I was eight-years-old. I wanted to do everything I dreamed about.

I fulfilled my dream of serving in the US Army and served from 1991-1994. I was an elected official for 12 years, serving on my local board of education for eight years and as a councilman for four.

I have self published several books, including three books of poetry, and a zombie series.

My focus right now is on my charitable work and podcasting. I currently am a part of three charaitable groups,The Union County College Foundation, The Hillside Lions Club, and the Hillside Scholarship Foundation, and sit on the township recreation committee.

I love giving back especially at the college where I have personally raised over $17,000 to help Black students attend and finish college.

My podcasting and videos are a relatively new avenue I’m pursuing and it’s a lot of work, but spreading information and the feedback I get from doing so makes it all worth it.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

The first quality one must have is belief in yourself. There will always be naysayers along any journey, but you can’t doubt yourself. Always have faith in your ablities and in yourself.

The second qulaity is definitely resilience because you will fail at times but failure is not the end, it’s just the beginning. If you use failure as a teaching tool and learn from your mistakes it can be one of the best things to ever happen to you. It may sound corny as hell but it’s not how many times you get knocked down, but how many times you get back up that counts!

The third quality is courage. It takes courage to step out there and do what others wont do or think you can’t do. Remember, having courage doesn’t mean your not afraid, it means that you are willing to overcome that fear to make your dreams come true.

Before we go, maybe you can tell us a bit about your parents and what you feel was the most impactful thing they did for you?

My parents stressed education and were constantly bringing books into the house. Once they realized I liked to read they encouraged it and always told me that I could do anything.

Another great thing they did was stress giving back in the community. My father worked with the Cub Scouts, and my mother was involved in the PTA and they both raised foster children in need of homes. Giving back was normal in our household and encouraged.

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Image Credits

Image credits George L. Cook III

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