We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Remon Johnson a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Remon, we’re so appreciative of you taking the time to share your nuggets of wisdom with our community. One of the topics we think is most important for folks looking to level up their lives is building up their self-confidence and self-esteem. Can you share how you developed your confidence?
Well, I mean, when you’re as great as I am it’s hard not to be confident; nah, I’m just kidding. But seriously, I honestly don’t know how I developed my confidence; I’m not even sure if it was intentional. Like, I didn’t read a bunch of self-help books or anything like that. I didn’t practice speaking positive affirmations; not intentionally, anyway. It was rather organic. The more I understood about myself and the more I became aware of who I am in this world, the more my self-esteem grew. The more I accomplished things I set my mind to doing, the more my confidence grew. I’ve been intentional about striving to be the best version of myself, on every level; that’s spiritually, physically, mentally, everything. As I became more established in the man that God created me to be, I grew more firm in my stance. So, my faith plays a big part in it. Doing things I’ve always envisioned myself doing plays a part in it. And having a strong supporting cast also plays a part in it. Does it get shaky from time to time? Sure. Have I gotten my cradle rocked at some points? Yes. But, I believe in God and I believe in myself…so I believe I am more than a conqueror in all things.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
Over the years, I’ve been fortunate enough to work in different fields doing things that I enjoy. I’ve worked in fields ranging from advertising and marketing, to entertainment, music, radio and podcasting. I think the people who are familiar with me recognize me as the video guy. So much so, that even when I go somewhere just to hang out, people are looking for me to have my camera with me. I’ve shot promotional videos for businesses and events, I’ve shot a few different web series, TV segments, short films and in the last couple of years I’ve even gotten into real estate. Currently, I am working on a documentary that I plan to release in 2024; more information about that will be available within the next month or so. That’s where my focus is right now. After I release that project, I do plan to build on the foundation I’ve established and dive into other projects.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
One of the most important qualities I’ve developed is a good work ethic. But, over the years that work ethic has evolved. At one point in my journey, I may have spread myself thin trying to do everything and be everywhere; I would accept any project that came my way because I didn’t want to miss out on an opportunity. At this stage, I no longer feel the need to do that. I’ve learned to be more selective about the projects I accept. If you’re not careful, you can find yourself running in place; going through the motions and not actually going anywhere. So have clear goals in mind and focus that energy on the things that will help you accomplish those goals. Everything else should take a back seat.
Another quality I would say is resilience. This life can be rough. It can take a lot out of you. There are a lot of sacrifices involved. Sometimes you run into road blocks and sometimes you have setbacks. It’s all apart of the journey. You have to believe in yourself and what you’re doing, and be determined to not let anything stop you from accomplishing what you set out to do. Especially if there’s a bigger purpose behind the work you’re doing. Like, why are you doing what you do? Find your “WHY” in your journey and let that be the fuel that pushes you forward when you come across those road blocks and setbacks.
The third one isn’t necessarily a quality, but it’s very important…understanding the value of building relationships. The relationships you develop can open so many doors. I don’t mean just developing transactional relationships where you’re using people to get ahead. I mean building genuine relationships with people who actually believe in you and what you’re doing and want to see you grow. People who want the best for you just as much as you want the best for them. Whether you are building a team, building an audience, or collaborating or whatever, establishing a solid network is priceless.
What was the most impactful thing your parents did for you?
I mean, speaking to my work ethic, I got it from them. We didn’t have a lot, but my parents worked hard to make a way for our family and provide a better life for us than they had growing up. I remember seeing my Pops work the graveyard shift and work on people’s cars on the side to make some extra money. I remember seeing my mother working multiple jobs at a time. I remember when I was in elementary school, waking up at 4 AM delivering newspapers with my mother and brother. So it wasn’t a surprise when I started hustling trying to make my own money or when I got my first job at 14. That’s what they instilled in me since I was a kid. They didn’t really sit us down and lecture us about it, but they showed us with their actions. They showed us how to work for the things we want in life. And don’t just work hard but take pride in your work. So whatever I do, I’m very meticulous about it. If it has my name attached to it, I want it to be on point. If it’s not, aside from disappointing someone else, I feel like I let myself down. So these are things I carry with me to this day.
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