Imagine this… you’re a junior in college and all signs are pointing to you being selected as a top 30 NFL draft pick. Right before the rest of your life is supposed to start, you sustain a life-threatening injury that leaves you with a paralyzed arm. What would you do? Many of us would probably want to give up, but not this week’s guest! We had the honor of speaking with Inky Johnson (Host, Serendipity with Inky Johnson Podcast) about maintaining strength and resilience in the face of adversity, and we can’t wait to share his story of happenstance with all of you.
And there’s good news. If you’re attending the 2022 ALA Annual Conference & Expo, you’ll get a chance to see him speak in person!
Inky is this year's David W. Brezina Memorial Session Speaker sponsored by the Foundation of Legal Administrators. Make sure to add his talk to your agenda in Kissimmee this May! He’s assured us it won’t make you cry, but maybe bring some tissues just in case.
About the Guest
Inky Johnson
Husband, father, collegiate athlete, entrepreneur, and author, Inky Johnson is one of the most highly sought-after speakers in the world. For over a decade, executives, professional sports teams, business owners, and people all over have benefited from the raw energy of his thought-provoking and inspirational presentations. Whether the topic is leadership, teamwork, excelling in the midst of adversity, embracing change, mental agility, or perseverance, Inky's message is effective and efficient.
Inky's gift of being an effective communicator has allowed him to crossover into different industries. He is a leader called upon by leaders. A partial list of his clients includes Chick-fil-A, Dell Technologies, Aflac Insurance, Cooks Pest Control, State Farm, AT&T, Comcast, Coca Cola, Bank of America, Stryker, The University of Tennessee, The University of Alabama, The University of Texas, The University of Oregon, UCLA, Clemson University, Orlando Magic, New York Knicks, Minnesota Timberwolves, The New England Patriots, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Los Angeles Rams, Baltimore Ravens, Chicago Cubs, and Atlanta Braves.
Ink earned his Master's Degree in Sports Psychology from the University of Tennessee. He was a three-year letterman and two-year captain on the football team, where he started at cornerback. In his junior year, he was projected as a top thirty draft pick. Unfortunately, on September 9th, 2006, he sustained a life-threatening, career-ending injury that paralyzed his right arm and hand. From that day to the present day, Inky has had a burning desire to use his situation and experiences to add value to people's lives.
Inky's words have resonated all over the world - "the one thing we all have in common is that we will encounter adversity, but we have to decide how we respond to it. My arm and my hand are paralyzed but my heart isn't, my mind isn't, my dedication isn't, my work ethic isn't, and my commitment isn't."
Inky is on a mission to serve and is someone that takes tremendous pride in what he does.
Inky is the host of Serendipity with Inky Johnson podcast. He devotes time to mentoring athletes and underprivileged youth and is one of the founders of The Inky and Allison Johnson Foundation. Inky and his wife, Allison, live in Atlanta, Georgia with their two children, Jada and Inky Jr.[vc_column_text]
Episode Resources
- Serendipity with Inky Johnson (Podcast)
- The Inky and Allison Johnson Foundation
- 2022 ALA Annual Conference and Expo
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Thanks for tuning in! Join us back here soon for episode 8.
