Are you encountering a setback?
Do you feel like you need some encouragement? Then, look no further than award-winning motivational speaker, Joe Paul.
Joe is on the verge of becoming the next Tony Robbins, Les Brown, Wayne Dyer, you name. His inspiring speeches are changing the mindsets of young people around world and he is just getting started.
Joe is one of 10 children of Haitian immigrant parents. His parents moved to New York in the early 60’s in search of a better life. When he was a young boy, he said his teacher motivated him to use gifts of words and influence to inspire others. And soon, he took hold of her words of advice.
“I was once told I would never amount to anything, and now, I am on a mission to plant seeds of hope in those who are on the brink of accepting defeat,” he told RIZZARR.
Years later, he is now the host “The ::ANSWERS:: Show, an online radio show boasting 20,000+ downloads. He is the author of “Morning Cup of Joe,” and his motivational messages and quotes can be found on dozens of motivational and inspirational websites and e-magazines. His blog is read in over 34 countries worldwide and his speaking clients include United Way, Save the Children, Walt Disney Company, DC Government, NAACP, Toastmasters International, Boys & Girls Club, NOVA, high schools, colleges and universities nationwide.
WATCH REEL OF SOME OF JOE PAUL’S MOTIVATIONAL SPEECHES
For his great work, he was honored with the “Outstanding Brother of the Year” award, which is the highest honor Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. bestows on its members. Even with his busy schedule, he says he is dedicated to helping and inspiring future leaders. He created the Student Leadership Boot Camp and the CEO of Motive8 Corporation, a leadership development and corporate training company dedicated to creating mission and vision driven leaders across the world headquartered in Washington D.C.
Joe’s encouraging words and life inspired us here at RIZZARR. We love his belief in the power of words and we hope his story encourages you to pursue your dreams and to never give up along the way.
RIZZARR INTERVIEW WITH JOE PAUL
1. What caused you to want to get into motivational speaking?
I remember sitting in my honors English class being the class clown as usual when seconds before I reached the punch line, my teacher Ms. Grice says to me “Mr. Paul, I need to speak with you after class.” I was certain I was in trouble again. Ms. Grice says, “Mr. Paul, you have a gift. When you speak, people seem to listen. You need to stop telling jokes and start using that gift for good.” It wasn’t until years later that Ms. Grice’s prophetic words would rang true. I wanted to tell my story while serving as an inspiration to others and the best way to accomplish this was to use my “gift.”
2. How did you go about stepping into this journey and what initiatives have you taken part in?
“It doesn’t matter what your past is, your future is determined by the work you do in the present…” (Photo courtesy of Joe Paul)
I have been speaking for over a decade. When I first started, it wasn’t easy. In fact, a decade later, I work harder now than I did ten years ago. The only constant is that I have always been comfortable speaking in front of an audience. Being the Senior Class President presented my first ever opportunity to speak in front of a huge audience at my high school graduation. Fast-forward several years and I started several initiatives including “Toys for Boys,” a philanthropic effort granting Christmas wishes for underprivileged young boys who come from single parent homes. I am also the founder of the “Hope for Haiti” campaign; a virtual art gallery auction with proceeds going to build a school of the arts in Haiti.
3. What was the hardest part about stepping into your passions?
The hardest part about stepping into my passions has been the setbacks. I didn’t realize that failure was a necessary part of any successful journey. The incredible part of failure is that there is always an opportunity to learn a lesson. When you discover your passion, you discover your purpose.
4. And what did you learn about yourself throughout the entire process?
It doesn’t matter what your past is, your future is determined by the work you do in the present and the perspective you have on life. It doesn’t matter how many times you fall, it’s the times you get back up that matter. There’s a quote from a book by Wayne Dyer which says, “When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.” It’s truly about perspective. I also learned the art of self-discipline. No one is responsible for your success, but you. If you aren’t hungry, you won’t be motivated to find food. I have an insatiable appetite for experiencing success and as a result I refuse to give up. Quitting has never been and will never be an option. I learned that I am determined, competitive and persistent; all key ingredients for the recipe to experience success. Lastly, I’ve learned that failure is inevitable but what happens after you’ve experienced failure is entirely up to you.
5. What makes your motivational speeches and your initiatives unique?
Studies show that an audience typically remembers 17% of what they hear at any given time. My ultimate goal is not for everyone to remember everything I say during my speeches, but to connect with the audience in such a way in which I can create a memorable experience. Maya Angelou once said, “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Before every speech or workshop, I make it clear that my goal isn’t to reach everyone although secretly I would love to. My speeches are designed specifically with the audience in mind. My goal with every speech is to connect with the audience in such a way that they remember more than 17% of what I say; the best way to accomplish this is through my stories and natural sense of humor.
6. What are some of your most recent involvements and how have they changed your perspective on life?
My ultimate goal is not for everyone to remember everything I say during my speeches, but to connect with the audience in such a way in which I can create a memorable experience." (Photo courtesy of Joe Paul)
I am a member of the Emerging Leaders; a group of individual donors who are under the age of 40 who give over a certain amount to the United Way. As a result of this membership, the Emerging Leaders board provides members with the opportunity to serve on the board of a local non-profit. I was paired with Central Union Mission, a 130-year-old organization dedicated to serving the homeless and underserved members of society based in Washington D.C. This appointment has truly transformed my life. To think that more than a decade ago I was homeless and now I serve on the board of an organization that serves homeless people. I have learned that no matter how bad you think you have it, someone else may be suffering more. Therefore, be grateful for every blessing.
7. What are your goals for the future?
My goal is to be a world-renowned keynote speaker, a New York Times Bestselling Author, to be a leading motivational thought leader in the world, and the most sought-after expert in leadership development.
8. How do you hope that your life can inspire other youth and young adults?
When I was 13-years-old, I was forced into independence due to the separation of my parents and the subsequent foreclosure of our home. As a result, I experienced one of the many social ills that plague American society; I was homeless. While most of my friends were figuring out which video game they were going to buy, I was busy trying to figure out where my next meal was going to come from. After going from sleeping on the streets to playing musical chairs with my living situation, I finally encountered Bridge Tomorrow. It provided me with a home which I shared with other abandoned and abused children. Before participating in the program, college was not an option. My parents never finished high school so a high school diploma would have somehow broken the mold, but I decided to take it a step further. I was able to turn a tragedy into triumph. I hope that this brief peek into my story will inspire youth and young adults to NEVER GIVE UP no matter how insurmountable your obstacles may seem! There will be moments in life when you feel like giving up, but always remember that it’s not your past that defines you and you are not your failures. Your future success is completely in your hands. You have no control over what has happened to you but you are responsible for how you choose to respond.
9. What would you tell someone who is trying to fulfill his or her dream, but is having a hard time doing so?
It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish. One thing people need to understand about success is that it takes a few key ingredients; time, self-discipline, persistence and hard work. Nothing worth having ever comes easily. If you believe that you can achieve something, you are going to have to work hard, remain patient and never stop believing that you can do it. A dream will remain a dream until you write it down and commit to it. If you are having a hard time fulfilling your dreams, then it isn’t because you are dreaming the wrong dream; it’s because your time hasn’t come yet. There are so many people who choose to give up three seconds before their miracle happens, because they feel like they’ve worked hard enough and spent enough time on it with little to no results. We live in a world where seeking instant gratification has become the norm, but it will serve you well to know that dreams and goals don’t work that way. You can’t just wish upon a star, you have to build the spaceship, create a plan, envision what it would be like to accomplish your goal and work at it daily…and NEVER GIVE UP. EVER!
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