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Derick Johnson shares his inspiring journey from confronting racial hate and family alcoholism in the South to channeling these adversities for personal growth. His time in the army further sharpened his resilience and understanding of human behavior, equipping him with an exceptional ability to read situations and people, a skill invaluable in leadership.

Derick's story is a powerful example of converting personal trauma into a source of empathy and strength. Finding refuge in fitness and faith amid family turmoil, he developed deep empathetic connections and a mindset to help others. He believes that those who have faced trauma uniquely possess the capacity to offer the support they once lacked, viewing life's challenges as opportunities to aid others in their personal growth.

Derick's leadership insights, shaped by his diverse experiences, emphasize empathy, emotional intelligence, and adaptability. His military experience, especially in addressing sexual harassment, highlights his dedication to justice and team welfare. He contrasts the military's collaborative culture with the rigidity often found in corporate America. Currently, through fitness and mindset coaching, Derick applies these principles, showing that true leadership involves empowering and positively impacting others' lives.

To learn more about Derick's work, check out their website at https://fitwithderick.com/.

Connect with Derick on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/derickjohnson1/.

• Derick discusses his upbringing with alcoholic parents who would release their anger onto him at night, but taught him discipline, professionalism, and structure during the day. He used fitness and faith as outlets and developed a gift for discernment and reading people due to his hyper-awareness from trauma. (1:00)

 

• Derick talks about how he developed high intuition and was able to read people and environments quickly, which he used to benefit his fellow soldiers by getting them out of dangerous situations. (5:36)

 

• Derick served in the US army for ten years, doing satellite communications and fitness training, which inspired him to become a coach and help people meet their goals without judgment. (12:27)

 

• Derick works with clients through a training app for fitness and nutrition, as well as conversations over Zoom or in person to address mindset issues (14:17)

 

• Derick learned about leadership from positive and negative examples in the military, emphasizing emotional awareness and meeting people where they're at rather than just following orders (16:10)

 

• Derick discusses the prevalence of pride and ego in corporate America and the importance of teamwork in the military (22:09)

 

• Derick shares a story about standing up for a female soldier who was sexually harassed by an officer teaching a sexual harassment class, and the decision to skip the chain of command to report it to higher-ups in order to prevent future incidents. (23:47)

 

• Derick shares his social media handle and talks about his intent to motivate people to work out (28:14)

 

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