Member of the Week for March 28, 2022 Willie Jay Johnson

About Willie Johnson – America’s #1 Ambassador of Potentiality, NSA-North Texas Chapter Director of Membership

I was born and raised in the southwest town of Yuma, Arizona; and the home of the Yuma Territorial Prison. Lol – Yes, I remember the swinging doors.

I graduated from Yuma High School. My H.S. mascot is a criminal. Therefore, I am a proud Criminal. I graduated with honors (Magna Cum Laude) from Park University in Missouri, with a degree in Management & Human Resources.

I spent 23 years in the U.S. Army. During that time: 

• I visited exotic locations such as Vietnam, Korea, Thailand, Belgium, Berlin and other parts of Germany.
• I received promotions from E-1 thru E-7, and Chief Warrant Officer –1 thru Chief Warrant Officer – 3. 
•  I played the organ and sang with a three (3) piece group and also sang in a group called the Gospel Messengers, who traveled around Korea performing at Prayer Breakfasts, chapels and churches.

What audiences you speak for? 

I do very few keynotes because my lane is that of a Trainer, Facilitator, and Consultant. My audiences for the most part are within corporate training venues and professional development associations. 

What led you to this career? 

Events that lead to my speaking career are varied:

•  In 1996, I was named one of the Top 5 “Trusted” Trainers/Facilitators inside the Fortune 500 Company I was working for.
•  After receiving top honors in training & facilitating, the company sent me to Utah to get certified in the Franklin Covey 7 Habits of Highly Effective People Workshop and the Franklin Covey 4 Disciplines of Execution workshop.
•  One year after the Covey training, the company sent me to Ohio to receive training as a Vital Smarts Crucial Conversation Facilitator/Trainer.
•  In 2005 the company sent me to Atlanta to start the 3-stage process leading to a certification in Personality Insights DISC program.
•  Of note: In 2005, the Fortune 500 company I was working for, paid for my membership in NSA and paid for me to attend the 2005 NSA convention. The conference, my first, was held in Atlanta. I am in the photo that was on the cover of the NSA Speakers Magazine that was published 2 months after the 2005 conference.
•  In 2006, I was awarded the 2006 Magee-Stovall High Impact Emerging Professional Speaker Award. (Dr. Jeffery Magee is a CSP & Jim Stovall is an Emmy Award Winner and highly regarded speaker who have graced the cover of the NSA Speaker’s Magazine.)

The rest is history. I am now certified as an internal trainer & facilitator for 11 various Franklin Covey Programs & Workshops. I am also certified as a Maxwell Leadership speaker, training and consultant. To round it out, I am licensed to facilitate the Blueprint for Success Workshop and of course, my very own “Diversity”, and “Can’t we all Just Get Along” Workshops. 

What’s one professional skill you’re currently working on? 

Video content (I’ve just been lazy), and I am currently trying to learn CANVA and Power Director… Lol – Any help & assistance would be welcomed.

What’s your go-to productivity trick?  

Productivity trick? Wow, at times I am all over the board trying to do TOO many things at once.  Will somebody help me please, and give me one of your go-to-productivity tricks?  Lol – Help a Brother out…

Who has influenced you most when it comes to how you approach your work? 

My mother. Period!!  I am strong because of my mother. She did not complete college BUT she did have a Master’s Degree in common sense. It is with that knowledge that she taught me the value of hard work, dedication, and commitment.  Of course my dad helped also.

What’s a mistake you made early on in your career, and what did you learn from it? 

I am not one who buys into “I wish I had done this or that back when," because everything happens based on God’s timing.  I can say however, that I have made many mistakes along the journey and it is those mistakes and lessoned that enables me to be who I am today. 

What’s a work-related accomplishment that you’re really proud of?  

In early 2000, I worked inside a Fortune 500 companies training & development division and lead the team that established a corporate university within the company. The corporate university received accreditation through the local university adult education program.  I am glad to say that the established corporate university is still going strong today.

What does being a member of NSA-NT means to you?

Being a member of NSA-NT is my way of staying connected and networking with individuals within the speaking industry.  I have learned, and am still learning, about all facets of the speaking business and what it takes to be successful.  While the programming at NSA-NT is second to none; the networking and developed friendships are priceless.

Something personal you want us to know:

I want and need someone to help me with the learning of social media tools and how to best use them; but I have been too shy to ask.

Contact info and Social Media info:

Email: [email protected]

Website:  [email protected]

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/willie-johnson-483b9b10b/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/williejayspeaks/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/williejayspeaks

Facebook (Business):  https://www.facebook.com/williejayspeaks/