We were lucky to catch up with Norris Dorsey recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Norris, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?
I found my purpose through watching my Dad because he spent his whole adult life in prison. When I was a young boy, I was driven to be successful and be the best. I played basketball, but decided to go pro in education and get my doctorate degree. It took a great deal of resilience and a great work ethic. I had a lot of self confidence and willingness to achieve my goals. My uncle Reggie had me write my goals down at 11 years and it allowed me to internalize the drive towards success and achievement at an early age.
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?
In 2001 I transitioned into the classroom and first taught Financial Planning and Labor Relations. Immediately, I felt at home in the classroom and became a resource for the Los Angeles Community College System, teaching all things Business Related. I also worked for the California State University System, at their Northridge campus, and for various University of Phoenix locations. As I continued to teach varied business courses, one question would inevitably keep coming up, “How do you start a business?” So, in 2014, as a case study and real-time example of how to start a business, I decided to start the Norris Dorsey Academy of Entrepreneurs, where I would teach my students how to start their business as they were taking their business courses.
The Dorsey Academy of Entrepreneurs has mentored hundreds of
students and helped them to navigate their entrepreneurial journeys. Recently, Dorsey
Academy has partnered with various community organizations like: the Los Angeles
Urban League, participating as a Keynote Speaker for their African American High
School Graduation Celebration; My Friend’s House, donating time and money to help
feed the homeless of Los Angeles’ Skid Row; Music Changing Lives, offering Financial
Literacy Workshops for residents of San Bernardino and surrounding communities; The
Big House, a community hub and small business incubator located in Los Angeles;
IMFAST a local non-profit that implements the SpeedSac Cross Training System to
advocate for healthy lifestyles for local youth; the Los Angeles County Department of
Mental Health, where he spoke on mental health awareness and resource availability.
Not only has Dorsey Academy partnered with local organizations, but they were also
one of the California Community Reinvestment Grants (CalCRG) program recipients in
2019.
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?
The three things I believe everyone should have is a passion, a purpose, and a willingness to learn. I believe that my gift is to help others to uncover their natural talents, gifts, and abilities. Once they have discovered their unique purpose, each person is obligated to use what makes them special to make the world a better place. As a mentor, I have been helping youth and young adults to find their passion and to make an impact, for decades. My passion is helping, and seeing others succeed is what brings me joy.
Alright, so before we go we want to ask you to take a moment to reflect and share what you think you would do if you somehow knew you only had a decade of life left?
This isn’t hypothetical to me. Because I know that tomorrow is not promised, I have recently chosen to make a career shift from teaching business inside the college classroom to teaching and training outside of the classroom. I have had to discover how to highlight my unique abilities to stand out and be my authentic self, in order for this career change to be effective. With over twenty years of experience as an Educator, I am the embodiment of what it means to operate in your gifts. I have received my Bachelor of Science Degree with an emphasis in Organizational Management, my Master of Business Administration Degree with a Concentration in Information Technology, and my Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership all from the University of La Verne, and now I’m stepping out on faith to pursue my purpose.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.dorseyacademy.org
- Instagram: @dorseyacademyofentrepreneurs
- Facebook: @dorseyacademy
- Linkedin: @norrisdorsey
- Twitter: @norrisdorsey
- Youtube: @norrisdorsey
Image Credits
Terrance Church at 1st Take Films