Cole Johnson-
Dynamic. Enthralling. Captivating.
Unsure. Cautious. Withdrawn.
All of these words can be used to capture yours truly.
Born in the city nicknamed “The Big Easy,” the man whose words you’re reading began his unique journey through life. He was called many things – you could say he has been the jack of all trades. However, for a long period of time, he was the master of none of them. Having no solid direction, Saburi Chuku Cole Johnson set course for a blind soulful life. He only knew one side of his family. Why was that? It is because Cole’s father was a Black Panther Party member. Considering the political tension of the times, it precluded Cole to visit his father’s side of the family. The only family he knew resided on his mother’s side.
Cole’s father is strong, determined and lived life on accentuating his strengths and minimizing his weaknesses. Hos mother is a picture of academic curiosity. Every piece of knowledge there is to gain – his mother dogmatically pursued it. This is true – for the exception of higher learned – where she is a case study of potential unfulfilled.
Life lessons left the New Orleans born, Houston reared boy-turned-man continually searching for himself. He was a square peg attempting to fit into round holes. He tried the military (US Army) with no success. He tried photography with minimal success. He tried ticket scalping (it is legal in Houston to be a ticket broker) to little success. He even attempted undergrad college. You guessed it. It was met with little success, there, as well. The square peg kept getting rammed into situations that didn’t fit him.
Very few things were a good fit for Cole Johnson . He found a few square holes. Writing (in many forms) is one of them. Music (voice, piano, producer, composer) is another square hole for Cole. However, even these creative outlets served as a minor relief for feeling at home with life, in general.
As for other life aspects, he met a wonderful woman (after trying marriage and failing in the endeavor – ending in divorce) and more square holes started to appear. Church life (especially being in its choir), friends and his current wife, Michelle, all have served to give grounding to a man whose searched for meaning. Life began to make sense.
Then – there was his undergraduate institution, Trevecca Nazarene University. The proverbial scales fell from Cole’s eyes. His world opened up to reveal clarity to certain mysteries in his life. Purpose was beginning to take share – and once he walked away with a degree, the building blocks to his life was erected.
Today, he host/engineers/produces a podcast called Cole Sportz. He also is extending the brand into a membership club as he writes blogs and makes YouTube videos to strengthen the brand. Along with working at Media General as a multimedia content producer, the entrepreneurial sky is the limit for Cole.
Now – the square peg is fitting into many situations these days quite well.
Listen another #12minconvo
Credits:
Musical Background: ‘TAKE THE CHANCE’ by Nicolai Heidlas
