Join me as I talk with Join Lullen about his journey to making the necessary connections and establishing relationships for achieving his career goals.
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00:00:03 --> 00:00:06 hello everyone my name is Paul Taylor we
00:00:06 --> 00:00:08 are back today with the language of Life
00:00:08 --> 00:00:10 podcast the language of Life podcast is
00:00:10 --> 00:00:13 a podcast that's focuses on lifechanging
00:00:13 --> 00:00:16 stories inspirational stories stories
00:00:16 --> 00:00:19 that will encourage you and give you a
00:00:19 --> 00:00:21 direction or be a point of reference for
00:00:21 --> 00:00:23 you to find direction to move to the
00:00:23 --> 00:00:25 next place the next level and help you
00:00:25 --> 00:00:27 make the right decision for your life
00:00:28 --> 00:00:31 today we have with us am humbled I am
00:00:31 --> 00:00:33 excited we have with us a an awesome
00:00:33 --> 00:00:35 brother an awesome gentleman a
00:00:35 --> 00:00:38 successful individual his name is John
00:00:38 --> 00:00:42 Len he is the managing uh executive of
00:00:42 --> 00:00:45 marketplace Solutions at Tech Systems I
00:00:45 --> 00:00:47 want to introduce to you all present to
00:00:47 --> 00:00:51 others John Mr John Len John thank you
00:00:51 --> 00:00:54 so much for coming on the platform of
00:00:54 --> 00:00:56 the language of Life podcast today thank
00:00:56 --> 00:00:57 you so much man thank you Paul I
00:00:58 --> 00:01:00 appreciate you all right we're glad that
00:01:00 --> 00:01:02 you're with us today you know um one of
00:01:03 --> 00:01:04 the things I've had the privilege of
00:01:04 --> 00:01:07 meeting John through several connections
00:01:07 --> 00:01:09 but as a we talked earlier I feel like
00:01:09 --> 00:01:12 I've known him uh for such a long time
00:01:12 --> 00:01:14 um he's such a warm person you know easy
00:01:14 --> 00:01:18 to talk to but very influential in the
00:01:18 --> 00:01:21 workplace and you all are going to see
00:01:21 --> 00:01:22 uh this uh in this interview on the
00:01:23 --> 00:01:25 language of Life podcast today uh we
00:01:25 --> 00:01:27 have several questions that we want to
00:01:27 --> 00:01:30 ask John um as we talk today and he'll
00:01:30 --> 00:01:32 share with us and reach into his depth
00:01:32 --> 00:01:34 of knowledge and understanding and
00:01:34 --> 00:01:37 experience to help really give you
00:01:37 --> 00:01:39 Direction and encourage you uh
00:01:39 --> 00:01:40 especially for those who are looking at
00:01:40 --> 00:01:43 the language of Life podcast um and so
00:01:43 --> 00:01:45 we're gonna start with that John with
00:01:45 --> 00:01:46 asking you a couple of questions and and
00:01:46 --> 00:01:48 some of these questions I want to ask
00:01:48 --> 00:01:51 you John number one because you have
00:01:51 --> 00:01:54 such an impressive uh information that's
00:01:54 --> 00:01:57 out there about you ladies and gentlemen
00:01:57 --> 00:01:59 I I I don't have the time to read all
00:01:59 --> 00:02:02 the the things that he's done but uh to
00:02:02 --> 00:02:04 see his accomplishments but yet to talk
00:02:04 --> 00:02:07 with him as an individual uh very
00:02:07 --> 00:02:09 inspiring uh makes you feel comfortable
00:02:09 --> 00:02:10 when you're in his presence and when
00:02:10 --> 00:02:12 you're talking with him to make it easy
00:02:12 --> 00:02:14 to have a good informational
00:02:14 --> 00:02:17 conversation but John I want to ask you
00:02:17 --> 00:02:19 some questions uh dealing with you know
00:02:19 --> 00:02:21 a couple things and how you got to where
00:02:21 --> 00:02:24 you are today and your work ethics um
00:02:24 --> 00:02:27 how did you um get started in that of
00:02:27 --> 00:02:29 what you do what was your path what was
00:02:29 --> 00:02:30 your journey like to get to where you
00:02:30 --> 00:02:34 are today how'd you get started yeah for
00:02:34 --> 00:02:36 sure um I didn't know that I would end
00:02:36 --> 00:02:39 up doing the work that I'm doing when I
00:02:39 --> 00:02:41 first got started you know my my
00:02:41 --> 00:02:44 background is in sales like right prior
00:02:44 --> 00:02:47 to uh the organization I work for now
00:02:47 --> 00:02:49 I'm talking door to-door sales network
00:02:49 --> 00:02:51 marketing um doing anything that I could
00:02:51 --> 00:02:53 cutting hair in college right like
00:02:53 --> 00:02:56 everything was sales focused and I knew
00:02:56 --> 00:02:59 that that's what I wanted to do over
00:02:59 --> 00:03:00 time I realized I wanted to add more
00:03:00 --> 00:03:02 value I didn't want to I wanted to
00:03:02 --> 00:03:04 deliver a service that I felt personally
00:03:04 --> 00:03:07 was more meaningful like a haircut is
00:03:07 --> 00:03:09 great that's important um but I wanted
00:03:09 --> 00:03:11 to deliver more to people right and I
00:03:11 --> 00:03:12 didn't want to sell a tangible product
00:03:12 --> 00:03:14 so I shifted away from door Tod door
00:03:14 --> 00:03:17 sales and I got introduced to the
00:03:17 --> 00:03:19 Staffing and recruiting industry and
00:03:19 --> 00:03:22 Technology Services industry um this was
00:03:22 --> 00:03:26 probably about 14 15 years ago when I
00:03:26 --> 00:03:28 got introduced to the industry but I've
00:03:28 --> 00:03:30 been at this company now for almost 12
00:03:30 --> 00:03:32 years so you know I started out as a
00:03:32 --> 00:03:34 technical recruiter and when I first
00:03:34 --> 00:03:36 found out about what that was I said no
00:03:36 --> 00:03:39 for two reasons this was about 15 years
00:03:39 --> 00:03:43 ago it was I heard technical didn't know
00:03:43 --> 00:03:45 anything about technology I heard
00:03:45 --> 00:03:47 recruiter and I thought that meant HR so
00:03:47 --> 00:03:50 with those two things what up no I'm all
00:03:50 --> 00:03:53 set um couple years past I ended up
00:03:53 --> 00:03:55 saying yes I learned a little bit more
00:03:55 --> 00:03:56 did a little bit more education and
00:03:56 --> 00:03:57 realized that a technical recruiter is a
00:03:57 --> 00:04:00 salesperson that is helping someone with
00:04:00 --> 00:04:02 an extremely important part of their
00:04:02 --> 00:04:05 life securing career opportunities
00:04:05 --> 00:04:07 economic Mobility things of that nature
00:04:07 --> 00:04:10 so I said yes right uh and the journey
00:04:10 --> 00:04:12 is I'll kind of give you expedited
00:04:12 --> 00:04:13 version and I'm sure that you'll ask a
00:04:13 --> 00:04:15 couple of questions is I was a technical
00:04:15 --> 00:04:16 recruiter and this is all with tech
00:04:16 --> 00:04:18 systems by the way I was a technical
00:04:18 --> 00:04:21 recruiter for a couple of years um about
00:04:21 --> 00:04:23 two years I think on the head actually
00:04:23 --> 00:04:24 and then I moved into more of a client
00:04:24 --> 00:04:26 facing role that we call an accounting
00:04:26 --> 00:04:30 account manager so I shifted from being
00:04:30 --> 00:04:32 the person to give you an example I Shi
00:04:32 --> 00:04:35 it from being a sports agent the one
00:04:35 --> 00:04:36 that's going out there identifying the
00:04:36 --> 00:04:38 positions right and helping my network
00:04:39 --> 00:04:41 of people secure employment I shifted to
00:04:41 --> 00:04:43 then being the account manager whose
00:04:43 --> 00:04:45 Focus was to build relationships with
00:04:45 --> 00:04:48 current and perspective employers to
00:04:48 --> 00:04:50 understand what their business
00:04:50 --> 00:04:51 challenges were right what are they
00:04:51 --> 00:04:53 trying to do what's their Vision what
00:04:53 --> 00:04:55 type of people do you need to hire then
00:04:55 --> 00:04:58 I would go back to my uh recruiting
00:04:58 --> 00:04:59 partner so that they could find the
00:04:59 --> 00:05:02 people to employ the right people to
00:05:02 --> 00:05:03 help our clients solve whatever
00:05:03 --> 00:05:04 challenges they had right so then I did
00:05:04 --> 00:05:05 that for two
00:05:05 --> 00:05:07 years but you know when I when I got
00:05:07 --> 00:05:09 started in this industry and when I got
00:05:09 --> 00:05:11 started at this company I was the only
00:05:11 --> 00:05:14 person on my team that looked like me um
00:05:14 --> 00:05:18 and that uh still exists in certain
00:05:18 --> 00:05:20 Rooms Today there are times where I am
00:05:20 --> 00:05:22 the only or one of the few so my point
00:05:22 --> 00:05:24 is after being here for four years I
00:05:24 --> 00:05:27 realized that I wanted to do more from a
00:05:27 --> 00:05:30 from a leadership perspective um I was
00:05:31 --> 00:05:34 fortunate to have a leader that I'm
00:05:34 --> 00:05:35 still close with to this day that did
00:05:35 --> 00:05:37 not look like me identifies as a
00:05:37 --> 00:05:40 cisgender white man but he granted me
00:05:40 --> 00:05:41 access there actually two of them they
00:05:41 --> 00:05:43 granted me access to their networks
00:05:43 --> 00:05:45 which included people that look like me
00:05:45 --> 00:05:47 that were in leadership in the company
00:05:47 --> 00:05:49 so my eyes were open at that point said
00:05:49 --> 00:05:52 wow I had never seen that
00:05:52 --> 00:05:54 before and I knew that I wanted to
00:05:54 --> 00:05:55 embark on that leadership journey and I
00:05:55 --> 00:05:57 was fortunate to get the development and
00:05:57 --> 00:05:59 the training that I needed to do so so I
00:05:59 --> 00:06:02 then then pivoted to um leading our
00:06:02 --> 00:06:03 business operations in ALB New York for
00:06:04 --> 00:06:05 a couple of years and then in Stanford
00:06:06 --> 00:06:07 Connecticut for a couple of years as
00:06:07 --> 00:06:11 well and so I got here in 2013 right so
00:06:11 --> 00:06:15 as an account manager around 2015
00:06:15 --> 00:06:18 leading up to about 2020 so we're
00:06:18 --> 00:06:21 talking about account manager experience
00:06:21 --> 00:06:23 and business operations leadership it
00:06:23 --> 00:06:26 was during that time where you ask me
00:06:26 --> 00:06:28 how I got started and what I'm doing now
00:06:28 --> 00:06:29 that's where the shift started to
00:06:29 --> 00:06:32 happened where you know I knew that I
00:06:32 --> 00:06:35 never wanted to be a diversity equity
00:06:35 --> 00:06:37 and inclusion practitioner from an
00:06:37 --> 00:06:40 internal perspective because now that
00:06:40 --> 00:06:42 I've been on that sales journey and and
00:06:42 --> 00:06:44 this customer engagement delivering a
00:06:44 --> 00:06:46 service helping people solve their
00:06:46 --> 00:06:48 problems as as a strategic partner I
00:06:48 --> 00:06:50 didn't want to lose that but I wanted a
00:06:50 --> 00:06:53 healthy blend of I'm always gonna focus
00:06:53 --> 00:06:54 on diversity Equity inclusion because of
00:06:54 --> 00:06:57 my own lived experiences but I wanted to
00:06:57 --> 00:06:59 have that as a core function of my job
00:06:59 --> 00:07:01 and I didn't know what shape that would
00:07:01 --> 00:07:03 take for all the reasons that I just
00:07:03 --> 00:07:08 Shar with you so in 2021 is um our
00:07:08 --> 00:07:12 inclusion diversity and Equity team um
00:07:12 --> 00:07:14 shifted in a sense of we knew we needed
00:07:14 --> 00:07:17 more of a a stronger and intentional
00:07:17 --> 00:07:20 focus on the marketplace component of
00:07:20 --> 00:07:22 diversity equity and inclusion so what
00:07:22 --> 00:07:24 we did was we stood up a team that was
00:07:24 --> 00:07:27 focused on Workforce transformation and
00:07:27 --> 00:07:30 modernization inclusion cult culture and
00:07:30 --> 00:07:32 Workforce
00:07:32 --> 00:07:35 Development all from our inclusion
00:07:35 --> 00:07:36 diversity and Equity team right with the
00:07:36 --> 00:07:38 core focus of we need to go out and
00:07:38 --> 00:07:41 create opportunity for people from
00:07:41 --> 00:07:43 historically marginalized populations
00:07:43 --> 00:07:44 while not at saluting anyone regardless
00:07:45 --> 00:07:47 of how they identify and while not
00:07:47 --> 00:07:49 sacrificing Merit for diverse
00:07:49 --> 00:07:51 representation but helping the industry
00:07:52 --> 00:07:53 recognize that that Merit that they're
00:07:53 --> 00:07:56 seeking exists in all protected classes
00:07:56 --> 00:07:58 and various backgrounds so once I found
00:07:58 --> 00:08:00 that out it was kind of a a say less
00:08:00 --> 00:08:03 moment for me Paul where my my friends
00:08:04 --> 00:08:06 and and mentors inside the organization
00:08:06 --> 00:08:08 um I told them that there's ever an
00:08:08 --> 00:08:11 opportunity to work for with you in this
00:08:11 --> 00:08:14 capacity please sign me up and as we
00:08:14 --> 00:08:16 fast forward I had an opportunity to
00:08:16 --> 00:08:20 interview and join the team in 2021 and
00:08:20 --> 00:08:23 officially started in q1 of 2022 and
00:08:23 --> 00:08:25 I've been fortunate and blessed that
00:08:25 --> 00:08:27 since August I've had the opportunity to
00:08:27 --> 00:08:29 actually lead the team um and and my my
00:08:30 --> 00:08:31 cup is full Paul this is this is it for
00:08:31 --> 00:08:33 me this is what I want to do right off
00:08:33 --> 00:08:35 into the
00:08:35 --> 00:08:38 sunset that you know what John man man I
00:08:38 --> 00:08:40 love your passion and those the wiing I
00:08:40 --> 00:08:42 hope you're really being inspired by the
00:08:42 --> 00:08:44 passion that you see and the energy and
00:08:44 --> 00:08:46 the focus uh that you have John you know
00:08:47 --> 00:08:49 one of the things and you already answer
00:08:49 --> 00:08:52 some of my questions already um one of
00:08:52 --> 00:08:53 the things because with the with the
00:08:53 --> 00:08:56 work ethic that you have with the work
00:08:56 --> 00:08:58 ethic that you have that's moving you to
00:08:58 --> 00:09:00 a place where you're beginning to see
00:09:00 --> 00:09:02 some things happen I love what you said
00:09:02 --> 00:09:05 how you were introduced to other persons
00:09:05 --> 00:09:08 through a network of of what's taking
00:09:08 --> 00:09:11 place uh and what you're doing um and I
00:09:11 --> 00:09:13 want to ask you based on that to to be
00:09:13 --> 00:09:18 able to hit the ground running uh who
00:09:18 --> 00:09:21 helped you or who inspired you when you
00:09:21 --> 00:09:23 were growing up for you to even now
00:09:23 --> 00:09:26 today be a to to use as a point of
00:09:26 --> 00:09:29 reference to to help you develop in work
00:09:29 --> 00:09:32 ethic that you have uh who who was it
00:09:32 --> 00:09:33 that inspired you growing up during that
00:09:33 --> 00:09:36 time for sure I mean right away it was
00:09:36 --> 00:09:38 my parents you know I'm thankful that
00:09:38 --> 00:09:39 they they've always been together now
00:09:40 --> 00:09:42 for over 30 years so just watching them
00:09:42 --> 00:09:44 they always made it happen um I never
00:09:44 --> 00:09:47 knew how much money they had or we had I
00:09:47 --> 00:09:49 knew we weren't poor we lived in the
00:09:49 --> 00:09:52 suburbs uh we we we didn't go on
00:09:52 --> 00:09:54 extravagant vacations and and buy things
00:09:54 --> 00:09:56 that we didn't need but we didn't want
00:09:56 --> 00:09:57 for anything we always had what we
00:09:58 --> 00:10:00 needed and regardless of what what they
00:10:00 --> 00:10:03 might have been going through um as as
00:10:03 --> 00:10:05 we do now now that I'm a a father and a
00:10:05 --> 00:10:07 husband I know that life is not
00:10:07 --> 00:10:11 easy and I never saw that from them
00:10:11 --> 00:10:13 right like all I saw was optimism they
00:10:13 --> 00:10:16 were very happy um they made it happen
00:10:17 --> 00:10:18 they grinded they worked hard right my
00:10:18 --> 00:10:20 mother was a photus they're both still
00:10:20 --> 00:10:23 here my mother was a photus she retired
00:10:23 --> 00:10:27 my father was in sales and then had a
00:10:27 --> 00:10:29 kind of a transition where he wanted to
00:10:29 --> 00:10:31 to go from sales to doing a different
00:10:31 --> 00:10:33 line of work so he shifted from being a
00:10:33 --> 00:10:35 an international salesperson to being a
00:10:35 --> 00:10:38 cable technician um and that was his
00:10:38 --> 00:10:39 passion he loved it it brought him home
00:10:39 --> 00:10:42 let's travel so just seeing both of them
00:10:42 --> 00:10:45 always make it happen that inspired me
00:10:45 --> 00:10:48 um and I guess secondary from that would
00:10:48 --> 00:10:50 be Sports coaches right I grew up
00:10:50 --> 00:10:51 playing basketball and football I had an
00:10:51 --> 00:10:53 opportunity to play football in
00:10:53 --> 00:10:56 college so my my coaches that's where
00:10:56 --> 00:10:58 the the work ethic was from the parents
00:10:58 --> 00:11:00 my par
00:11:00 --> 00:11:01 the
00:11:01 --> 00:11:03 discipline in that came from the sports
00:11:03 --> 00:11:06 coaches wow that's I I love the way I
00:11:06 --> 00:11:09 love the way you put that together man
00:11:09 --> 00:11:10 uh because and it sounds like it's it's
00:11:10 --> 00:11:13 so much Balan and you're able to pull
00:11:13 --> 00:11:16 from those resources to help you manag
00:11:16 --> 00:11:19 your public your your your personal and
00:11:19 --> 00:11:22 public life your family home you know
00:11:22 --> 00:11:25 the balance there of how to manage and
00:11:25 --> 00:11:27 how to do things but yet be that much
00:11:27 --> 00:11:30 more accessible to your wife and your
00:11:30 --> 00:11:31 children man that's that's awesome I
00:11:31 --> 00:11:34 applaud you as being a leader effective
00:11:34 --> 00:11:37 in your household man um and what you do
00:11:37 --> 00:11:38 you know I love the way you you you
00:11:38 --> 00:11:40 talked about that because it was leading
00:11:40 --> 00:11:41 to the next question I was gonna have
00:11:41 --> 00:11:43 you tell me a little bit about your your
00:11:43 --> 00:11:44 your your
00:11:44 --> 00:11:47 journey um even as it's gotten to a
00:11:48 --> 00:11:50 place where uh I loved how you I love
00:11:50 --> 00:11:52 how you flow with your communication and
00:11:52 --> 00:11:54 one of the things I want to talk about
00:11:54 --> 00:11:57 is your journey on the public speaking
00:11:57 --> 00:11:59 platform and how all of this experence
00:11:59 --> 00:12:02 experience all of what you do and all of
00:12:02 --> 00:12:05 what you've been able to do how has that
00:12:05 --> 00:12:07 helped you uh and to be more effective
00:12:07 --> 00:12:09 in your communication skills as you
00:12:10 --> 00:12:11 begin to move forward one of the things
00:12:11 --> 00:12:14 that I see that it talks about a as a
00:12:14 --> 00:12:16 public speaker your your speeches have
00:12:16 --> 00:12:20 been geared to early Talent Development
00:12:20 --> 00:12:23 mitigating biases uh and Ai and
00:12:23 --> 00:12:27 international strategies for Dei change
00:12:27 --> 00:12:30 management and the technology industry
00:12:30 --> 00:12:33 how has that helped you to really reach
00:12:33 --> 00:12:36 and not only reach that but be effective
00:12:36 --> 00:12:39 in what it is that you're saying in your
00:12:39 --> 00:12:41 level of communication and different
00:12:41 --> 00:12:44 platforms and different environments how
00:12:44 --> 00:12:46 has that helped you with that well I
00:12:46 --> 00:12:48 gotta I gotta take a step back with that
00:12:48 --> 00:12:51 question Paul because I'm uh and my wife
00:12:51 --> 00:12:54 she'll attest to this I'm an extt
00:12:54 --> 00:12:57 introvert and I'm naturally shigh I'm
00:12:57 --> 00:13:01 naturally shy really so yeah % and um
00:13:01 --> 00:13:02 you know that to to for you to ask me a
00:13:03 --> 00:13:04 question about public
00:13:04 --> 00:13:07 speaking if we rewind three years I
00:13:07 --> 00:13:09 don't think anyone's ever asked me about
00:13:09 --> 00:13:10 public
00:13:10 --> 00:13:13 speaking so for me public speaking was
00:13:13 --> 00:13:16 running a team meeting internally okay
00:13:16 --> 00:13:19 speaking to any of my internal peers and
00:13:19 --> 00:13:21 my most recent leader who I had the
00:13:21 --> 00:13:23 opportunity to backfill who still with
00:13:23 --> 00:13:24 the organization has moved on to a
00:13:24 --> 00:13:26 different role
00:13:26 --> 00:13:29 um she is a close friend of mine is as
00:13:29 --> 00:13:30 well and she really pushed me off the
00:13:30 --> 00:13:33 ledge really like of the nest as a baby
00:13:33 --> 00:13:36 bird so to speak where I knew that that
00:13:36 --> 00:13:37 would be a component of this role that
00:13:38 --> 00:13:40 I'm in I didn't know that it would be
00:13:40 --> 00:13:43 right away like from the jump so this
00:13:43 --> 00:13:44 was early 2022 she said hey we're
00:13:44 --> 00:13:47 traveling to California and we're going
00:13:47 --> 00:13:49 to be on stage she heard she said she's
00:13:49 --> 00:13:50 gonna moderate a panel that I'm going to
00:13:50 --> 00:13:51 be one of the panelists and we're going
00:13:51 --> 00:13:53 to talk about diversity that inclusion
00:13:53 --> 00:13:55 early Talent being intentional with
00:13:55 --> 00:13:58 Workforce Development I was like oh on
00:13:58 --> 00:14:00 on stage like I just I just got on the
00:14:00 --> 00:14:04 team she said yes public speaking 100%
00:14:04 --> 00:14:05 there's no question we're doing it so it
00:14:05 --> 00:14:07 was that pushed where it was like I have
00:14:07 --> 00:14:11 to at that moment um very uncomfortable
00:14:11 --> 00:14:12 getting into it in terms of the
00:14:12 --> 00:14:14 preparation for it right like it was
00:14:14 --> 00:14:16 butterflies like I used to get before uh
00:14:16 --> 00:14:18 basketball or football game back in the
00:14:18 --> 00:14:22 day and it unlocked the superpower
00:14:22 --> 00:14:24 honestly so like once we got on stage it
00:14:24 --> 00:14:28 was oh okay I like this and I didn't
00:14:28 --> 00:14:31 know that like this and engaging and and
00:14:31 --> 00:14:33 looking at the crowd and I'm when I'm in
00:14:33 --> 00:14:35 person and even virtual I'm big on if
00:14:35 --> 00:14:39 I'm speaking the my voice inflection my
00:14:39 --> 00:14:41 my peers or audience's voice inflection
00:14:41 --> 00:14:43 their body language and I kind of flow
00:14:43 --> 00:14:47 off of that right right and it unlocked
00:14:47 --> 00:14:49 that when she had me go do it so then
00:14:49 --> 00:14:51 from there it kind of just snowballed
00:14:51 --> 00:14:54 from conference to conference to
00:14:54 --> 00:14:57 in-person panel to Virtual panel and my
00:14:57 --> 00:14:59 entire life people have been
00:14:59 --> 00:15:03 um uh light-heartedly making fun of me
00:15:03 --> 00:15:05 or or poking jokes making jokes because
00:15:05 --> 00:15:08 of the deepness of my voice even since I
00:15:08 --> 00:15:11 was a child family MERS would call they
00:15:11 --> 00:15:12 would say am I talking to Big John and
00:15:12 --> 00:15:16 little John because my voice is so deep
00:15:16 --> 00:15:17 so my point is people used to always say
00:15:17 --> 00:15:20 radio or or podcast they would say I'm
00:15:20 --> 00:15:22 not I'm the All State guy because of my
00:15:22 --> 00:15:24 voice but once I got on stage I like
00:15:24 --> 00:15:28 okay I like this yeah literally um I
00:15:28 --> 00:15:30 felt that was an opportunity for me to
00:15:30 --> 00:15:32 leverage that with everything that I'm
00:15:32 --> 00:15:34 doing internally and share that
00:15:34 --> 00:15:36 knowledge that I'm thankful that I have
00:15:36 --> 00:15:39 now acquired externally to impact
00:15:40 --> 00:15:42 various audiences and that's something
00:15:42 --> 00:15:43 that I want to continue to do now
00:15:43 --> 00:15:45 whether we're talking about an active or
00:15:45 --> 00:15:46 passive job
00:15:46 --> 00:15:49 Seeker whether it's a current client of
00:15:49 --> 00:15:50 mine or a perspective client or someone
00:15:50 --> 00:15:52 that is just curious about the
00:15:52 --> 00:15:55 importance of inclusion culture
00:15:55 --> 00:15:56 Workforce Development within the
00:15:56 --> 00:16:00 technology industry I feel compell to
00:16:00 --> 00:16:02 make that tieing and help folks
00:16:02 --> 00:16:05 understand in various platforms that
00:16:05 --> 00:16:06 diversity Equity inclusion is change
00:16:07 --> 00:16:09 management it's change management is
00:16:09 --> 00:16:11 business transformation the techn
00:16:11 --> 00:16:13 industry is embarking on a business
00:16:13 --> 00:16:16 transformation and diversity equity and
00:16:16 --> 00:16:18 inclusion is a key component of that
00:16:18 --> 00:16:21 right so now that's something that I'm
00:16:21 --> 00:16:23 happy that I now have this public
00:16:23 --> 00:16:25 speaking platform to share that on a
00:16:25 --> 00:16:27 larger stage right right and you know
00:16:28 --> 00:16:29 with that John you know just listening
00:16:29 --> 00:16:31 to that uh one of the things I love what
00:16:31 --> 00:16:34 you said which again I cannot tell that
00:16:34 --> 00:16:36 you are an introvert versus extrovert
00:16:36 --> 00:16:39 you know one of the things that you said
00:16:39 --> 00:16:42 when you stepped on that stage you said
00:16:42 --> 00:16:44 that ah this is what it's like and I
00:16:44 --> 00:16:46 always say that people's level of
00:16:46 --> 00:16:49 expectation makes a demand on the skills
00:16:49 --> 00:16:50 and the capabilities that have been
00:16:50 --> 00:16:52 embedded within you and when the two
00:16:52 --> 00:16:55 meat it just like it it pulls something
00:16:55 --> 00:16:57 out of you like you said that that
00:16:57 --> 00:16:59 superpower it's like an activates that
00:16:59 --> 00:17:02 the switches on you shift into who
00:17:02 --> 00:17:04 you're supposed to be what your destiny
00:17:04 --> 00:17:06 is and how what you say your voice and
00:17:06 --> 00:17:09 the tone of your voice commands the
00:17:09 --> 00:17:11 attention of people you know and The
00:17:11 --> 00:17:13 Spook and it brings Comfort too man it
00:17:13 --> 00:17:15 does absolutely and and if I can Paul I
00:17:15 --> 00:17:18 want to shout out an organization that I
00:17:18 --> 00:17:20 call I shouldn't say just me my peers
00:17:20 --> 00:17:22 and I we call a corporate
00:17:22 --> 00:17:25 HBCU it's
00:17:25 --> 00:17:29 it's it tsmf I'm not sure how famili you
00:17:29 --> 00:17:30 are it's the information technology
00:17:30 --> 00:17:34 Senior Management Forum got it and how I
00:17:34 --> 00:17:36 describe
00:17:36 --> 00:17:42 itmf is a cohort of senior leaders
00:17:42 --> 00:17:44 senior black technology leaders that
00:17:44 --> 00:17:46 have been in business for over 30 years
00:17:47 --> 00:17:49 that came together for Access
00:17:49 --> 00:17:51 opportunity and upskilling from a
00:17:51 --> 00:17:54 executive president perspective to build
00:17:54 --> 00:17:57 an organization that helps high
00:17:57 --> 00:17:59 performing high potential
00:17:59 --> 00:18:02 black leaders in the technology industry
00:18:02 --> 00:18:04 that are technology professionals or
00:18:04 --> 00:18:06 technology adjacent acquire the skills
00:18:06 --> 00:18:08 to continuously Advance their career
00:18:08 --> 00:18:10 from a leadership perspective within the
00:18:10 --> 00:18:12 technology industry so I say all that to
00:18:12 --> 00:18:13 say that I was fortunate to go through
00:18:13 --> 00:18:16 one of the many leadership development
00:18:16 --> 00:18:18 acmy that they have for roughly a year
00:18:18 --> 00:18:20 long with
00:18:20 --> 00:18:23 75 other uh brothers and sisters of mine
00:18:23 --> 00:18:28 now uh to this day and that's where
00:18:28 --> 00:18:30 aside from the story that I just shared
00:18:30 --> 00:18:32 back in 2022 in California when I had to
00:18:32 --> 00:18:34 go on stage started to speak at the
00:18:34 --> 00:18:36 conferences started to moderate panels
00:18:36 --> 00:18:37 and different conversations and then
00:18:37 --> 00:18:39 when I got into this
00:18:39 --> 00:18:43 10mon uh management Academy via itsmf it
00:18:43 --> 00:18:45 was truly unlocked it was like okay it's
00:18:45 --> 00:18:47 time to turn it up a notch a little bit
00:18:47 --> 00:18:49 um because now we have to do Capstone
00:18:49 --> 00:18:51 assignments and we have to speak and we
00:18:51 --> 00:18:53 have to write papers in front of SE
00:18:53 --> 00:18:57 suite and VP technology leaders for
00:18:57 --> 00:18:59 almost a year right and a lot of the
00:18:59 --> 00:19:01 feedback I got was you need to do this
00:19:01 --> 00:19:04 more you need to to speak in whatever
00:19:04 --> 00:19:06 the platform is if it's a conference if
00:19:06 --> 00:19:08 it's moderating the conversation if it's
00:19:08 --> 00:19:10 a podcast if it's radio whatever it is
00:19:11 --> 00:19:14 just do it and I want to take 30 seconds
00:19:14 --> 00:19:16 hopefully he watches this at some point
00:19:16 --> 00:19:18 when you publish this I can send it to
00:19:18 --> 00:19:20 him but a friend of mine Josie Waters
00:19:20 --> 00:19:22 that was in that program yeah he
00:19:22 --> 00:19:25 actually shared something with me that I
00:19:25 --> 00:19:28 still need to use but he get he got me a
00:19:28 --> 00:19:30 podcast m all that right there let's let
00:19:30 --> 00:19:33 every raise up just a little bit more
00:19:33 --> 00:19:36 that's perfect awesome you all take it
00:19:36 --> 00:19:38 write that down look at that and we
00:19:38 --> 00:19:41 definitely John aast mic yeah he got me
00:19:41 --> 00:19:46 a podcast mic because of how he felt I I
00:19:46 --> 00:19:48 portrayed myself projected my voice in
00:19:48 --> 00:19:50 the various conversations I wanted to
00:19:50 --> 00:19:51 leverage his platform to thank him for
00:19:51 --> 00:19:53 that because it's something that I
00:19:53 --> 00:19:56 consistently think about is beyond what
00:19:56 --> 00:19:59 I'm doing inside TCH systems which I
00:19:59 --> 00:20:01 love fills my cup what else can I be
00:20:01 --> 00:20:04 doing outside of that with my voice
00:20:04 --> 00:20:06 again podcast conferences you name it so
00:20:06 --> 00:20:07 I just wanted to take the opportunity
00:20:07 --> 00:20:08 while we were talking about public
00:20:08 --> 00:20:11 speaking to to share that awesome you
00:20:11 --> 00:20:13 know uh again man like I said I love
00:20:13 --> 00:20:15 your spirit man your passion man is it's
00:20:15 --> 00:20:17 so infectious man that it it really
00:20:17 --> 00:20:20 motivates people you know John to move
00:20:20 --> 00:20:23 to the next place you know and I can see
00:20:23 --> 00:20:26 you going even in more places and more
00:20:26 --> 00:20:29 on more platforms really speak and
00:20:29 --> 00:20:31 really articulating and bringing forth
00:20:31 --> 00:20:33 that of what people need to know I love
00:20:33 --> 00:20:35 what you said you know John because you
00:20:35 --> 00:20:38 went into a process of where you uh went
00:20:39 --> 00:20:41 to training you went to to training
00:20:41 --> 00:20:43 sessions and you got educated in this
00:20:43 --> 00:20:45 particular area as well I always say the
00:20:45 --> 00:20:48 greatest teacher is one who remains
00:20:48 --> 00:20:50 teachable um and so therefore you're
00:20:50 --> 00:20:52 able to and you have points of reference
00:20:52 --> 00:20:53 you have places where you can go and I
00:20:53 --> 00:20:55 think that's really important too uh one
00:20:55 --> 00:20:58 of the questions I want to ask you um as
00:20:58 --> 00:21:00 I know we're moving to a close John we
00:21:00 --> 00:21:02 can talk all day man and and you gotta
00:21:02 --> 00:21:04 come back for part two but I want to ask
00:21:04 --> 00:21:08 you a question um how can people get in
00:21:08 --> 00:21:12 touch with you and uh inquire of you to
00:21:12 --> 00:21:14 come and and speak to them on a platform
00:21:14 --> 00:21:16 where they can present because I'm going
00:21:16 --> 00:21:18 to connect you with some folks uh in the
00:21:18 --> 00:21:20 workplace that I've already I've already
00:21:20 --> 00:21:22 talked with them about you already and
00:21:22 --> 00:21:24 so you know with with with with what
00:21:24 --> 00:21:26 you're doing you know a John with what I
00:21:27 --> 00:21:29 love what you're doing uh with the EI
00:21:29 --> 00:21:30 I'm definitely going to have them have
00:21:31 --> 00:21:33 you come and speak on that uh on that
00:21:33 --> 00:21:36 platform so but how can people let me
00:21:36 --> 00:21:38 before I go to my next question how can
00:21:38 --> 00:21:40 people get in touch with you my friend
00:21:40 --> 00:21:43 John Lan how where is it the website or
00:21:43 --> 00:21:44 what's the the way that the best way
00:21:44 --> 00:21:45 that they can get in touch with you even
00:21:45 --> 00:21:48 here some of maybe even your previous uh
00:21:48 --> 00:21:50 presentations that you've given as well
00:21:50 --> 00:21:52 how can they get in touch with you on
00:21:52 --> 00:21:55 that LinkedIn is the easiest first name
00:21:55 --> 00:21:57 last name on LinkedIn um that is the
00:21:57 --> 00:21:59 easiest that's where I SP the bulk of my
00:21:59 --> 00:22:02 time in in terms of leveraging the
00:22:02 --> 00:22:04 platform to put content out there
00:22:04 --> 00:22:06 related to what I'm doing so yeah that
00:22:06 --> 00:22:07 that would be the easiest spot I check
00:22:08 --> 00:22:10 my messages as often as I can okay and
00:22:10 --> 00:22:12 I'm I'm very active on the platform so
00:22:12 --> 00:22:15 LinkedIn for sure gotcha LinkedIn you
00:22:15 --> 00:22:17 all got it on LinkedIn you can get John
00:22:17 --> 00:22:19 lelen on LinkedIn John I want to ask you
00:22:19 --> 00:22:23 a question because uh on every level on
00:22:23 --> 00:22:26 every area in which we move forward
00:22:26 --> 00:22:30 there is some resistance um um that uh
00:22:30 --> 00:22:33 we're faced with on certain occasions
00:22:33 --> 00:22:35 has have you ever experienced any uh
00:22:35 --> 00:22:39 push back from Management in corporate
00:22:39 --> 00:22:42 or in the workplace or in different
00:22:42 --> 00:22:45 circles when you're really presenting
00:22:45 --> 00:22:47 your message your information the
00:22:47 --> 00:22:48 information that you have to really
00:22:48 --> 00:22:51 instruct people to educate people to
00:22:51 --> 00:22:53 help them get information to move to the
00:22:53 --> 00:22:56 next place or to be able to implement
00:22:56 --> 00:22:57 the programs and what you're you're
00:22:57 --> 00:22:59 talking about that been successful have
00:23:00 --> 00:23:02 you ever experienced that what advice
00:23:02 --> 00:23:05 would you give uh to people and how and
00:23:05 --> 00:23:07 the advice that you give how can you
00:23:07 --> 00:23:10 tell them how to be continue to be
00:23:11 --> 00:23:14 proactive versus being reactive what's
00:23:14 --> 00:23:16 what's what advice would you give when
00:23:16 --> 00:23:18 people experience push back like that
00:23:18 --> 00:23:21 absolutely and clarifying question Dei
00:23:21 --> 00:23:23 push back specifically correctly
00:23:23 --> 00:23:26 correctly yes yeah yeah um well I want
00:23:26 --> 00:23:28 to start by saying this but I'm again
00:23:28 --> 00:23:30 I'm thankful everyone inside my
00:23:30 --> 00:23:31 organization knows how I feel about the
00:23:31 --> 00:23:33 organization the work that I'm doing and
00:23:33 --> 00:23:34 that's like I said I'm run off some into
00:23:34 --> 00:23:36 the sunset doing this work but I'm so
00:23:36 --> 00:23:38 thankful to be inside of an organization
00:23:38 --> 00:23:40 that is doubling down on the importance
00:23:40 --> 00:23:43 of inclusion diversity equity and
00:23:43 --> 00:23:44 Workforce Development so I just want to
00:23:44 --> 00:23:46 start that and say that there that we're
00:23:46 --> 00:23:48 doubling down there is no push back
00:23:48 --> 00:23:50 inside of our
00:23:50 --> 00:23:52 organization we are moving forward with
00:23:52 --> 00:23:55 the full steam ahead right in the
00:23:55 --> 00:23:58 industry
00:23:58 --> 00:24:01 my opinion and what I've seen and read
00:24:01 --> 00:24:03 in conversations that I've had is there
00:24:03 --> 00:24:07 is unfortunately Paul
00:24:07 --> 00:24:10 misunderstanding and fear tied to what
00:24:10 --> 00:24:12 diversity equity and inclusion actually
00:24:12 --> 00:24:14 is you know
00:24:14 --> 00:24:16 um when I don't want to bucke tize
00:24:17 --> 00:24:21 anyone I'm be careful when we lack
00:24:21 --> 00:24:22 understanding of what diversity equity
00:24:22 --> 00:24:24 and inclusion is and the power of it we
00:24:24 --> 00:24:27 think right away race and
00:24:27 --> 00:24:31 gender we lose sight of the varying
00:24:31 --> 00:24:33 backgrounds and differences I was
00:24:33 --> 00:24:35 listening to a gentleman speak a couple
00:24:35 --> 00:24:38 years ago at a conference and he said
00:24:38 --> 00:24:39 raise your hand if you wear glasses and
00:24:39 --> 00:24:42 contacts I wear contacts I have an
00:24:42 --> 00:24:45 astigmatism so everyone who had on
00:24:45 --> 00:24:46 glasses or was wearing contact lenses we
00:24:46 --> 00:24:48 all raised our hands and he was focusing
00:24:48 --> 00:24:51 on product inclusion and product equity
00:24:51 --> 00:24:52 and what he said is whether you
00:24:52 --> 00:24:54 self-identify this way or not you are
00:24:54 --> 00:24:57 disabled so you need Equitable Solutions
00:24:57 --> 00:25:00 I we blue light glasses at times I'm
00:25:00 --> 00:25:01 always play with the dimness and
00:25:01 --> 00:25:04 darkness of my laptop and my phone and
00:25:04 --> 00:25:06 going on dark mode versus light mode and
00:25:06 --> 00:25:09 different things like that that falls
00:25:09 --> 00:25:13 under accessibility for my vision where
00:25:13 --> 00:25:15 I'm going with this is at times we don't
00:25:15 --> 00:25:18 think about we as an industry when I say
00:25:18 --> 00:25:19 we in this context I'm talking about the
00:25:19 --> 00:25:21 technology
00:25:21 --> 00:25:24 industry if we lack the understanding we
00:25:24 --> 00:25:25 don't think of diversity equity and
00:25:25 --> 00:25:27 inclusion that way we we don't think
00:25:27 --> 00:25:29 about the fact that when we are focusing
00:25:29 --> 00:25:31 on large
00:25:31 --> 00:25:34 technology like digital transformation
00:25:34 --> 00:25:35 like artificial intelligence that we
00:25:35 --> 00:25:39 have to focus on responsible Ai and we
00:25:39 --> 00:25:41 have to recognize that to mitigate
00:25:41 --> 00:25:44 biases in AI just as one example we need
00:25:44 --> 00:25:47 to incorporate diverse perspectives we
00:25:47 --> 00:25:49 need a a a diverse and background and
00:25:49 --> 00:25:51 experience cohort of people building
00:25:51 --> 00:25:54 said algorithms for said AI tools and
00:25:54 --> 00:25:56 systems that's diversity equity and
00:25:56 --> 00:25:58 inclusion right um
00:25:58 --> 00:26:01 if we know we need to put out a product
00:26:01 --> 00:26:03 in multiple languages and we need to
00:26:03 --> 00:26:06 hire people that are bilingual or
00:26:06 --> 00:26:08 multi-lingual in the technology industry
00:26:08 --> 00:26:10 we're focusing on diversity equity and
00:26:10 --> 00:26:12 inclusion right if we want to create
00:26:12 --> 00:26:13 opportunity for folks that are
00:26:13 --> 00:26:15 transitioning from the military to
00:26:15 --> 00:26:17 support them with economic mobility and
00:26:17 --> 00:26:19 moving into the civilian World via the
00:26:19 --> 00:26:21 technology industry and we're building
00:26:21 --> 00:26:24 specific upskilling programs for
00:26:24 --> 00:26:26 veterans and reservists that's diversity
00:26:26 --> 00:26:28 equity and inclusion right I can give
00:26:28 --> 00:26:29 you examples like that all day but I
00:26:29 --> 00:26:32 think my my my point is the push back
00:26:32 --> 00:26:35 comes from are we focusing on race and
00:26:35 --> 00:26:38 gender and pulling opportunities from
00:26:38 --> 00:26:41 other people absolutely not as I said in
00:26:41 --> 00:26:45 the beginning the push back exists I
00:26:45 --> 00:26:46 think many organizations are still
00:26:46 --> 00:26:48 doubling down on the importance of
00:26:48 --> 00:26:51 diversity Equity inclusion even if the
00:26:51 --> 00:26:54 language changes the work and the
00:26:54 --> 00:26:58 mission stays the same right um we're
00:26:58 --> 00:27:01 still continuously moving forward uh
00:27:01 --> 00:27:03 because it's extremely important right
00:27:03 --> 00:27:04 it's not going anywhere diversity is a
00:27:04 --> 00:27:08 is a fact and it exists in so many
00:27:08 --> 00:27:10 different categories right it's
00:27:10 --> 00:27:12 something that it just is right it's not
00:27:12 --> 00:27:14 oh we don't want to focus on diversity
00:27:14 --> 00:27:16 well that doesn't even make sense to say
00:27:16 --> 00:27:18 right last thing I'll say is I go back
00:27:18 --> 00:27:21 to my focus that I said in the beginning
00:27:21 --> 00:27:24 is I myself I don't identify as a
00:27:24 --> 00:27:26 diversity Equity inclusion
00:27:26 --> 00:27:30 practitioner a customer engagement
00:27:30 --> 00:27:31 business
00:27:31 --> 00:27:36 strategist um a a sales leader that has
00:27:36 --> 00:27:38 diversity Equity inclusion embedded in
00:27:38 --> 00:27:39 every single thing that I do to
00:27:39 --> 00:27:43 continuously add value to leaders within
00:27:43 --> 00:27:46 a technology industry and my focus and
00:27:46 --> 00:27:48 my team's focus and my company's focus
00:27:48 --> 00:27:50 on diversity equity and inclusion again
00:27:50 --> 00:27:53 we're never sacrificing Merit for derse
00:27:54 --> 00:27:56 representation we're expanding and
00:27:56 --> 00:27:58 enhancing the candidate pool when we're
00:27:58 --> 00:28:01 focusing on Workforce modernization um
00:28:01 --> 00:28:04 and Workforce transformation because
00:28:04 --> 00:28:07 that Merit that the industry is seeking
00:28:07 --> 00:28:09 it exists in the broadest range of
00:28:09 --> 00:28:11 backgrounds so that's our Focus right
00:28:11 --> 00:28:12 we're going to create opportunity for
00:28:12 --> 00:28:14 folks from historically marginalized
00:28:14 --> 00:28:16 populations because if I focus on myself
00:28:16 --> 00:28:18 and how I identify the technology
00:28:18 --> 00:28:20 industry is 8% black and it's been
00:28:20 --> 00:28:24 roughly seven to 8% black um for years
00:28:24 --> 00:28:27 now when the Black American Workforce in
00:28:27 --> 00:28:29 general General agnostic of the
00:28:29 --> 00:28:31 technology industry is 13% so it's not
00:28:31 --> 00:28:33 about pulling opportunities from from
00:28:33 --> 00:28:34 anyone and I want to be clear this is
00:28:34 --> 00:28:36 not about just solely creating
00:28:36 --> 00:28:37 opportunity for the black community I'm
00:28:37 --> 00:28:39 talking about how I ident how I
00:28:39 --> 00:28:42 identify if the numbers are stagnant
00:28:42 --> 00:28:44 that means that we need to build more
00:28:44 --> 00:28:46 Equitable solutions to create more
00:28:46 --> 00:28:49 opportunity and tap into different pools
00:28:49 --> 00:28:51 different um networks different
00:28:51 --> 00:28:53 organizations different regions to
00:28:53 --> 00:28:55 create more opportunity that's
00:28:56 --> 00:28:59 all wow you know what uh John I have
00:28:59 --> 00:29:02 learned so much from just this interview
00:29:02 --> 00:29:05 today and because I've learned so much I
00:29:05 --> 00:29:08 know that the people that are listening
00:29:08 --> 00:29:10 are learning so much information and
00:29:10 --> 00:29:12 things that you're sharing I you know I
00:29:12 --> 00:29:14 couldn't have said it better how you
00:29:14 --> 00:29:17 expounded on that thank you so much for
00:29:17 --> 00:29:20 answering that question um you know
00:29:20 --> 00:29:22 listening to you talk and and listening
00:29:22 --> 00:29:24 to just so much information that you
00:29:24 --> 00:29:27 have relayed today have you ever thought
00:29:27 --> 00:29:29 about this is just a
00:29:29 --> 00:29:32 question just a question thought about
00:29:32 --> 00:29:35 writing a book or some type of way of
00:29:35 --> 00:29:36 really documenting this to where people
00:29:36 --> 00:29:39 can read what's coming out of you what
00:29:39 --> 00:29:42 you've been able to discover and how you
00:29:42 --> 00:29:43 can give direction have you ever thought
00:29:43 --> 00:29:45 about that or is that something that you
00:29:45 --> 00:29:47 feel no I want to go that direction I
00:29:47 --> 00:29:50 like this better you thought about that
00:29:50 --> 00:29:52 I never thought about it Paul and when I
00:29:52 --> 00:29:55 think again this this work right this
00:29:55 --> 00:29:57 focus on diversity equity and inclusion
00:29:57 --> 00:29:58 it why
00:29:58 --> 00:30:00 personal professional professionally
00:30:00 --> 00:30:02 that's just a part of my life but the
00:30:02 --> 00:30:05 role that I just described and that core
00:30:05 --> 00:30:08 Focus I'll still say I've only been
00:30:08 --> 00:30:10 doing that specifically on on this
00:30:10 --> 00:30:12 specific team for the last three years
00:30:12 --> 00:30:15 and three years is a long time but I'm
00:30:15 --> 00:30:17 looking at it as what's the story when I
00:30:17 --> 00:30:19 can say this is what I've been doing for
00:30:19 --> 00:30:20 10 years and I've been in this industry
00:30:20 --> 00:30:22 for 20 years and I've been at this
00:30:22 --> 00:30:24 company for 20 years right that's where
00:30:24 --> 00:30:28 my mind goes is looking at the changes
00:30:28 --> 00:30:30 in um and I'm not getting political but
00:30:30 --> 00:30:32 multiple
00:30:32 --> 00:30:34 administrations um shifting Landscapes
00:30:34 --> 00:30:36 within the technology industry
00:30:36 --> 00:30:38 continuously evolving with the presence
00:30:38 --> 00:30:41 of AI and and data centers and the chip
00:30:41 --> 00:30:43 makers and all of those things right
00:30:43 --> 00:30:45 that's where my mind goes is I'm
00:30:45 --> 00:30:50 probably in chapter two um right so I'm
00:30:50 --> 00:30:52 I'm collecting data I'm Bing it in my
00:30:52 --> 00:30:55 mind to see what is what is that going
00:30:55 --> 00:30:56 to look like in 2030 ask me again in
00:30:56 --> 00:30:58
00:30:58 --> 00:31:00 look and look I'll be right there and
00:31:00 --> 00:31:02 you you got my support
00:31:02 --> 00:31:05 100% And I look I'mma St right there 30
00:31:05 --> 00:31:07 years lat I'll see you man but I'm G be
00:31:08 --> 00:31:09 following you man our friendship it's
00:31:09 --> 00:31:12 it's amazing this this is our roads have
00:31:12 --> 00:31:14 crossed for whatever specific reason but
00:31:14 --> 00:31:17 I still hear and I sense that there's
00:31:17 --> 00:31:20 the shaping and structuring taking place
00:31:20 --> 00:31:22 in you for what it is that you're
00:31:22 --> 00:31:25 pursuing to do what the true destiny and
00:31:25 --> 00:31:27 all of this is just they're just
00:31:27 --> 00:31:28 building blocks
00:31:28 --> 00:31:32 that are building who John Len really is
00:31:32 --> 00:31:34 and what his purpose is and while you're
00:31:34 --> 00:31:37 here my friend and I think it's gonna
00:31:37 --> 00:31:39 make it's gonna make real good sense and
00:31:39 --> 00:31:41 I just want to be there to see
00:31:41 --> 00:31:44 it I appreciate you well listen all
00:31:44 --> 00:31:47 before before we close um I want to give
00:31:47 --> 00:31:49 you your flowers and thank you because
00:31:50 --> 00:31:52 how you and I met we we did not meet in
00:31:52 --> 00:31:55 the capacity of speaking on a podcast
00:31:55 --> 00:32:00 right um we we met professionally in a
00:32:00 --> 00:32:02 conversation just to get to know each
00:32:02 --> 00:32:04 other and talk strategy and that landed
00:32:04 --> 00:32:07 us here um so it's a it's an honor to be
00:32:07 --> 00:32:08 on this platform with you this is an
00:32:08 --> 00:32:11 amazing platform you know I'm a Big
00:32:11 --> 00:32:12 Apple fan so I went right to Apple
00:32:12 --> 00:32:15 podcast and looked and you are the word
00:32:16 --> 00:32:18 that I want to use is is you're grinding
00:32:18 --> 00:32:20 right because I know hosting this
00:32:20 --> 00:32:21 podcast is not the only thing that you
00:32:21 --> 00:32:23 do but I'm looking through to see okay
00:32:23 --> 00:32:25 how many episodes oh December and we're
00:32:25 --> 00:32:28 talking in December okay November
00:32:28 --> 00:32:31 October September it's nonstop where
00:32:31 --> 00:32:33 you're putting out good information
00:32:33 --> 00:32:35 you're you're interviewing people not
00:32:35 --> 00:32:36 even really interview it's having
00:32:36 --> 00:32:39 conversation and creating wonderful
00:32:39 --> 00:32:42 experiences for your audience on this
00:32:42 --> 00:32:43 podcast so I just want to thank you for
00:32:44 --> 00:32:46 allowing me to share this space with you
00:32:46 --> 00:32:49 oh John man that's you're welcome my
00:32:49 --> 00:32:51 friend you're welcome this is something
00:32:51 --> 00:32:53 like you it's a passion it's something I
00:32:53 --> 00:32:57 love to do connect people and really
00:32:57 --> 00:32:58 celebrate
00:32:58 --> 00:33:02 I love celebrating what people are doing
00:33:02 --> 00:33:04 that is positive that's helping give
00:33:04 --> 00:33:06 direction and you're one of those those
00:33:06 --> 00:33:09 you're a needing H stack man um as busy
00:33:09 --> 00:33:12 as you are and the roles that you play
00:33:12 --> 00:33:14 and the responsibilities that you have
00:33:14 --> 00:33:16 to take time to come to the language of
00:33:16 --> 00:33:19 Life podcast man this is this this is an
00:33:19 --> 00:33:21 honor for me man I am humbled that that
00:33:21 --> 00:33:23 to that you would even say that man
00:33:23 --> 00:33:26 thank you so much man and ladies and
00:33:26 --> 00:33:30 gentlemen you heard from John Len and
00:33:30 --> 00:33:32 John uh before you go before we go I
00:33:32 --> 00:33:34 want to ask you a question man because I
00:33:34 --> 00:33:37 enjoy this conversation would you would
00:33:37 --> 00:33:39 you be willing to come back again man
00:33:39 --> 00:33:42 and do a part two of absolutely Paul
00:33:42 --> 00:33:45 that's not even a question of course so
00:33:45 --> 00:33:46 but you my mom taught me my mom and dad
00:33:46 --> 00:33:49 taught me you know maners
00:33:49 --> 00:33:52 I gotta ask ladies and gentlemen you
00:33:52 --> 00:33:55 have heard it uh John loen uh like I
00:33:55 --> 00:33:58 said John it feels like I have known you
00:33:58 --> 00:34:00 for for for longer than what we've known
00:34:00 --> 00:34:01 each other and you're right how how how
00:34:01 --> 00:34:04 it led to this platform it's it's
00:34:04 --> 00:34:06 amazing it's just it just shows you
00:34:06 --> 00:34:08 about the power of networking about the
00:34:08 --> 00:34:10 power of connecting and meeting good
00:34:10 --> 00:34:12 people and those who uh the young lady
00:34:12 --> 00:34:15 who has connected me to you as well I
00:34:15 --> 00:34:17 love John when you did that shout out I
00:34:17 --> 00:34:19 had an acronym I hope that Happ a couple
00:34:19 --> 00:34:22 seconds it's it's called top t o I like
00:34:22 --> 00:34:26 to cre these word games and um so the
00:34:26 --> 00:34:29 letter T in the word h t o p what does
00:34:30 --> 00:34:32 the letter t mean to you what does it
00:34:32 --> 00:34:34 stand out and and John you probably saw
00:34:34 --> 00:34:36 me look down because I have a pen here
00:34:36 --> 00:34:38 I'm writing noce uh my friend you have
00:34:38 --> 00:34:41 given so much information so much
00:34:41 --> 00:34:44 information that has been so uh helpful
00:34:44 --> 00:34:46 to me and I believe to other listeners
00:34:46 --> 00:34:48 that are listening too but the letter T
00:34:48 --> 00:34:50 in the word t what does that mean when
00:34:50 --> 00:34:52 you think about the letter
00:34:52 --> 00:34:58 T time time I like that time for me time
00:34:58 --> 00:35:00 and when you think about time you think
00:35:00 --> 00:35:02 about chyros and Kronos going back to my
00:35:02 --> 00:35:04 Greek classes man you have a you measure
00:35:04 --> 00:35:07 Time by calendar but then you have in
00:35:07 --> 00:35:10 the fullness of time seasonal
00:35:10 --> 00:35:11 understanding I always say this know
00:35:11 --> 00:35:13 what season you're in and govern
00:35:13 --> 00:35:16 yourself accordingly it's your time but
00:35:16 --> 00:35:19 the time the the the the destiny the
00:35:19 --> 00:35:22 destined time for you man 30 years later
00:35:22 --> 00:35:24 I never forget that John 30 years later
00:35:24 --> 00:35:28 not 30 years later 2030 okay 2030 so at
00:35:28 --> 00:35:30 this point basically basically five
00:35:30 --> 00:35:32 years years five years okay that number
00:35:33 --> 00:35:36 five okay five years I got you uh 2030
00:35:36 --> 00:35:39 thank you for correcting me on that for
00:35:39 --> 00:35:43 sure the the letter O what does the
00:35:43 --> 00:35:46 letter O me for you opportunity
00:35:46 --> 00:35:48 opportunity
00:35:48 --> 00:35:50 opportunity okay I got that uh utilize
00:35:50 --> 00:35:52 and seize the moment sees the
00:35:52 --> 00:35:55 opportunity absolutely at that time and
00:35:55 --> 00:35:57 then the letter P what does the letter p
00:35:57 --> 00:36:01 mean for you preparation preparation I
00:36:01 --> 00:36:03 love that as soon as you said top in my
00:36:03 --> 00:36:06 mind and that was not scripted I did not
00:36:06 --> 00:36:07 know that's what you about to say but
00:36:07 --> 00:36:08 right when you said top and you said it
00:36:08 --> 00:36:10 was an acronym it's like oh okay time
00:36:10 --> 00:36:13 opportunity and preparation that's easy
00:36:13 --> 00:36:16 time o look at that easy peasy as I call
00:36:16 --> 00:36:19 it time opportunity and
00:36:19 --> 00:36:21 preparation and with that time
00:36:21 --> 00:36:23 opportunity preparation as we close
00:36:23 --> 00:36:25 today ladies and gentlemen I always like
00:36:25 --> 00:36:27 to really I think about college students
00:36:27 --> 00:36:30 my son's in school right now and he's in
00:36:30 --> 00:36:32 his second year I have a good friend of
00:36:32 --> 00:36:35 mine who uh worked for Microsoft and
00:36:35 --> 00:36:37 interviewed with them and he talked
00:36:37 --> 00:36:39 about how he was at the place where he
00:36:39 --> 00:36:42 was about to he had just graduated he
00:36:42 --> 00:36:44 was closing out he was was in his dorm
00:36:44 --> 00:36:46 for a few couple of days he was about to
00:36:46 --> 00:36:48 he had a job he was going back home but
00:36:48 --> 00:36:50 it wasn't the job that he really wanted
00:36:50 --> 00:36:53 but he got a call he got a call and one
00:36:54 --> 00:36:55 of the places where he did the
00:36:55 --> 00:36:57 internship they actually called him back
00:36:57 --> 00:37:00 to work there um and but he said
00:37:00 --> 00:37:01 something to me that made me think about
00:37:01 --> 00:37:03 there other college students that have
00:37:03 --> 00:37:05 just graduated they're at a place of
00:37:05 --> 00:37:07 decision they're not sure what they
00:37:07 --> 00:37:09 really want to do they they they they
00:37:09 --> 00:37:11 didn't get the job but they really want
00:37:11 --> 00:37:12 it right
00:37:12 --> 00:37:14 now those students that are about to
00:37:14 --> 00:37:17 make major changes what would you tell
00:37:17 --> 00:37:19 that student that's at that place right
00:37:19 --> 00:37:22 now that child that boy that girl that's
00:37:22 --> 00:37:25 about to make a lifechanging uh decision
00:37:25 --> 00:37:27 uh waiting for that job pursuing that
00:37:28 --> 00:37:29 what would you tell them after they got
00:37:29 --> 00:37:31 their degree they got their they got
00:37:31 --> 00:37:33 their miners some of them have gotten
00:37:33 --> 00:37:35 their doctorate I mean they worked hard
00:37:35 --> 00:37:37 like you said they were on the grind
00:37:37 --> 00:37:39 what would you tell them to encourage
00:37:39 --> 00:37:41 them to keep them going to give them
00:37:41 --> 00:37:43 Direction what would you say to to to a
00:37:43 --> 00:37:48 student like that to enjoy the journey
00:37:48 --> 00:37:50 enjoy the journey because what what
00:37:50 --> 00:37:52 they're doing postgraduation maybe
00:37:52 --> 00:37:53 that's what they do forever maybe it's
00:37:53 --> 00:37:57 not so enjoy the journey and all of the
00:37:57 --> 00:37:58 things that they are learning all of the
00:37:58 --> 00:38:00 knowledge that they're acquiring and the
00:38:01 --> 00:38:02 the projects and programs depending on
00:38:02 --> 00:38:03 what they're doing that they have an
00:38:03 --> 00:38:05 opportunity to to work on the people
00:38:05 --> 00:38:06 that they have an opportunity to work
00:38:07 --> 00:38:09 with and that first job um my advice
00:38:09 --> 00:38:11 would be to not look at that as a a
00:38:11 --> 00:38:13 bridge job or I just graduated and I
00:38:13 --> 00:38:15 need money um but think about the
00:38:15 --> 00:38:17 relationship capital and the knowledge
00:38:17 --> 00:38:20 and whatever it is that they're doing
00:38:20 --> 00:38:21 that that they're gaining that they
00:38:21 --> 00:38:22 could take with them in the future
00:38:22 --> 00:38:25 because you never know what the future
00:38:25 --> 00:38:28 holds um the the the knowledge that I
00:38:28 --> 00:38:29 got
00:38:29 --> 00:38:32 from door to-door sales and in the past
00:38:32 --> 00:38:34 I worked at Enterprise rent a car and
00:38:34 --> 00:38:37 the skills that I gained doing those
00:38:37 --> 00:38:40 things I still leverage today right I
00:38:40 --> 00:38:41 didn't look at that as I need money
00:38:41 --> 00:38:43 because I just graduated it was what am
00:38:43 --> 00:38:45 I learning now that I can take with me
00:38:45 --> 00:38:47 for the rest of my professional career
00:38:47 --> 00:38:50 so enjoy the journey embrace it and um
00:38:50 --> 00:38:52 consume that knowledge don't lose sight
00:38:52 --> 00:38:58 of it wow enjoy uh enjoy the journey
00:38:58 --> 00:39:01 uh looking at the time the opportunity
00:39:01 --> 00:39:04 and the preparation is a part of the
00:39:04 --> 00:39:07 journey would you say so absolutely
00:39:07 --> 00:39:10 absolutely you only have so much time
00:39:10 --> 00:39:11 and you got to be prepared for when that
00:39:12 --> 00:39:14 opportunity ISS wow I like that I like
00:39:14 --> 00:39:17 that be prepared when an opportunity
00:39:17 --> 00:39:20 presents itself and that is something uh
00:39:20 --> 00:39:22 John I believe the listeners are going
00:39:22 --> 00:39:24 to listen to today and prepare ladies
00:39:24 --> 00:39:27 and gentlemen you have heard it from Mr
00:39:27 --> 00:39:27 John
00:39:27 --> 00:39:32 loen father businessman leader impactful
00:39:32 --> 00:39:35 person and in five more years in 20130
00:39:35 --> 00:39:38 we're gonna hear some more about this
00:39:38 --> 00:39:40 man
00:39:40 --> 00:39:43 absolutely doing but one of the thing in
00:39:43 --> 00:39:46 in in the in between time he's gonna
00:39:46 --> 00:39:47 come back to the language of Life
00:39:47 --> 00:39:50 podcast and really Grace this platform
00:39:50 --> 00:39:51 with more information that's going to
00:39:51 --> 00:39:53 help us uh John you have been a
00:39:53 --> 00:39:56 tremendous inspiration to me my friend
00:39:56 --> 00:39:58 and uh I'm looking forward to our
00:39:58 --> 00:40:00 continued uh building our friendship and
00:40:00 --> 00:40:02 also this language of Life podcast
00:40:03 --> 00:40:04 platform you know we're we're seeing
00:40:04 --> 00:40:06 ladies and gentlemen on different
00:40:06 --> 00:40:11 platforms on iHeart radio uh play uh FM
00:40:11 --> 00:40:12 uh
00:40:12 --> 00:40:15 podchaser boomplay and so many more that
00:40:15 --> 00:40:18 that we're on and uh we're sharing um
00:40:18 --> 00:40:21 and uh I want you all to just tap in
00:40:21 --> 00:40:23 subscribe this is this this this
00:40:23 --> 00:40:27 interview today uh at nighttime when
00:40:27 --> 00:40:29 when John and I are asleep this is still
00:40:30 --> 00:40:33 playing uh we just want you we want this
00:40:33 --> 00:40:34 to be informational for you and to
00:40:35 --> 00:40:37 direct you John once again thank you my
00:40:37 --> 00:40:40 friend for those that are listening I
00:40:40 --> 00:40:43 hope that you have been inspired that
00:40:43 --> 00:40:45 you have been encouraged and when John
00:40:45 --> 00:40:47 comes back we're GNA have more
00:40:47 --> 00:40:50 information for you uh we're g to talk
00:40:50 --> 00:40:52 about specific things that help give you
00:40:52 --> 00:40:54 direction that you will have a point of
00:40:54 --> 00:40:56 reference college students I want you to
00:40:56 --> 00:40:59 remember that where he talked about
00:40:59 --> 00:41:02 enjoy the journey sometimes we look back
00:41:02 --> 00:41:05 at our process I always say uh John the
00:41:05 --> 00:41:08 process prepares you amen for the
00:41:08 --> 00:41:10 promise absolutely absolutely the
00:41:11 --> 00:41:13 process prepares you for the promise and
00:41:13 --> 00:41:16 that Journey enjoy that Journey ladies
00:41:16 --> 00:41:18 and gentlemen boys and girls men and
00:41:18 --> 00:41:21 women I want you to enjoy the journey
00:41:21 --> 00:41:23 this is Paul Taylor with our guest John
00:41:23 --> 00:41:26 Len uh with the language of Life podcast
00:41:26 --> 00:41:28 we hope that you encourag and we will
00:41:28 --> 00:41:31 see you next time on this platform and
00:41:31 --> 00:41:34 we hope that this is making a difference
00:41:34 --> 00:41:37 in your life see you next time and take
00:41:37 --> 00:41:39 care thank you
00:41:39 --> 00:41:44 John bye there
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