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The FAQs of My Life
Posted in: Blog by Leo Johnson on May 28, 2010
I did not bother introducing myself in my last blog because I was convinced we would get to know each other if we didn’t already. But then I realized that this is the internet and there are people following from around the world, so what if this is their only means or opportunity to interact with me?
I am Leo Nupolu Johnson. As Executive Director of Empowerment Squared, I am charged with the responsibility of guiding a team that knows no limit. I have chosen my words very carefully and this is not a mere exaggeration. I encourage you to take three minutes of your time and read a little more and you will clearly see what I mean.
I chose to blog about the most frequently asked question of my life as a way of reaching out to people. When you get asked the same question at least ten times a day, sometimes even by people who know you really well, then you try to figure out a standard answer. Everywhere I go, every time I meet people, I can get asked “How did you do it?” Sometimes people are referring to my private life, others to my professional life and many others to Empowerment Squared and my involvement in the community. In fact, others basically wonder how I do not seem to ever get tired?
At first, I thought it was as simple as explaining to people what I thought needed to be done no matter what, since the ultimate goal is the result through the utilization of the best means. I was wrong, so Empowerment Squared was born to demonstrate that I wanted to be involved and if I was going to be denied that chance, I would create one. It did not take long for me to realize that I wasn’t alone, in fact I was a part of the majority.
To address the FAQs of my life, I will begin by saying I have a very different view of society and people. Whenever I encounter someone, I see them based on what they have in terms of skills, knowledge, ability, experience, etc. instead of relating to them based on their vulnerabilities or lack of opportunities. I quickly communicate the fact that they are the only reliable and sustainable solution to their own situation. Using my personal experiences and that of others, I demonstrate to them that there is only one thing they can control to impact their situation and that is themselves. In other words, there is no need to look for what you don’t have when you haven’t put to use what you do have. Instead, use what you already have as a way to acquire what you do not have. I know this might sound too simplistic, but it is the deepest secret to my life. I get things done with what I have and the things I don’t have tend to follow because success attracts many things no matter how little. Sometimes you need a simple solution to solve the most complicated problems. I tend to gain the trust of people when they trust nobody simply because I also believe in their abilities. And it is the most important thing for me in dealing with people because when you have that mutual level of trust, consider it done no matter how difficult it seems.
At this point, let me remind us all that we cannot consider the problems in society normal only because they don’t seem to be going away anytime soon. Let us not get carried away by how much we’ve acquired because we will only live in peace when our neighbours live in peace. Let us share instead of creating our identity based on our possessions and status. I want to leave with what I consider my mojo – RESOURCEFULNESS. It is the only thing that has ever truly worked for me. Everything I have ever achieved in life was by applying what I already had to begin with. Nine out of ten times, it was in the absence of resources. But my ideas, skills, abilities and talents were enough to wow the world to the point where they offered their resources.
Finally, I have always managed to get the job done on a professional and personal level because I depend on what I have and not the things I don’t have. The things I don’t have, I don’t control, but I can decide what to do with the things I have. I hope I have been able to share an insight about what many of you still ask me. Come to think about it, all we really have is ourselves, but we often don’t realize this until we become very vulnerable.
