Terrell “TJ” Johnson was one of the toughest, roughest, and most “successful” gang leaders and drug kingpins in the West Memphis, TN. By age 15, TJ had made more than half a million dollars. His cocaine-selling empire continued to grow. By age 17, TJ was driving the streets of West Memphis in a brand new Porsche. At age 19, his drug selling days came to an end after being arrested for drug trafficking.
TJ faced a thirty-five year prison term. After spending four years in prison, TJ had what he calls his Damascus Road experience. He dedicated his life and career to helping others avoid the same mistakes he made.
TJ is now making a difference in the lives of those who might not know another way. Upon his prison release, TJ was appointed prevention and intervention coordinator for the Memphis Juvenile Violence Abatement Project. Survival on the streets in the West Memphis slums is literally a day-to-day, life-or-death trial and challenge. It is clear that TJ’s life is now a testimony that good can come from even extremely bad and destructive situations and choices.
As President/CEO of the Wake-Up Youth Foundation, TJ is now making a difference in the lives of thousands of individuals across the nation. He is making a real and substantial difference through his dedication and effectiveness in informing, empowering, and educating young people about the responsibility of living productive lives.
Hopefully you have never been a drug kingpin or had to survive in the drug-infested slums of any city or location in the world. However, if you are alive and reading this article, you have made mistakes, you have made wrong choices and you have made some really bad decisions.
The important questions is, “what have you learned from those mistakes, wrong choices and bad decisions?” Did you do what the most successful people in the world do? Like the truly successful people and organizations, did you take the time to learn specific lessons from those mistakes, wrong choices and bad decisions? And even more important, “are you intentionally and diligently applying those specific lessons in your personal, professional and organizational life today… and every day?”
It is wonderful that TJ is taking his experience to schools, churches, and the streets in a focused and concentrated effort to positively impact the lives of our youth. We should all thank TJ, and many others like him, for their contributions and service to our communities by offering advice, encouragement and support to those who one day may make a positive difference in our society and around the world.
What have you learned from your mistakes, wrong choices and bad decisions? Are you intentionally and diligently applying those specific lessons in your personal, professional and organizational life? Are you educating and informing others… are you encouraging and inspiring others to not repeat the mistakes you have made?
Now is the time. The opportunity is unlimited. Join TJ, and a million others, who are living their lives in service to others. This is the only way to be truly successful.
Are You Changing Lives and Communities for the Better?
