PPP 1: GEORGE FLOYD, SYSTEMIC INJUSTICE, PRIVILEGE, RIOTS, AND MORE | ALEX WILLIS

Purpose-Filled Podcast Pop-Up 1: GEORGE FLOYD, SYSTEMIC INJUSTICE, PRIVILEGE, RIOTS, AND MORE | ALEX WILLIS | WHOA GNV Podcast



Being comfortable with being uncomfortable…⁣

There are PLENTY of things that I am comfortable talking about, but this isn’t one of them. I almost let the scenarios building up in my head (what you may have heard referred to as “my limiting beliefs”) keep me from posting… Those limiting beliefs are…“I’m not strong enough in this subject to discuss it.”⁣

“People close to me in my life may look at this as political in nature and may be disappointed in me.” ⁣

“Discussing topics that some may see as political (politics is something I am not passionate about) in nature could rob me of my passion from podcasting, something that I absolutely love.”⁣

“My efforts to unite people and build up this community could backfire.”⁣

“I’ll offend my black friends by saying the wrong thing or not phrasing something right.”⁣⁣

The list goes on and on…Out of the podcast episodes I’ve co-hosted with Michael, this was the one that I felt the most unprepared for. The one I was scared about. The one that gave me butterflies to record… I’m a white privileged man. I’ll never be able to truly know what my black friends have to face.⁣

I’ve seen a lot of things get taken out of context as I educate myself more and more. Just because I’m privileged, doesn’t discount the years and years of hard work I have put into my businesses, my craft, and my leadership. No one is discounting that. ⁣

Just because Black Lives Matter doesn’t mean all lives don’t.⁣

That list also goes on and on.⁣

This isn’t and shouldn’t be political in nature. It should only be what’s right and what’s wrong.⁣

With all that said… We grow when we step out of our comfort zones. This interview was certainly out of my comfort zone. But I refuse to be silent. My black friends are among the most beautiful people I know. Why don’t people see what I see? Why must their heart race faster than mine when they see the red and blue lights pop-on behind them?⁣⁣

I don’t have the answers.⁣

But I will listen. I will show compassion. I will choose to lead and do the only thing I know how… Speak from my heart. Encourage. Love. Continue to invest in and build up my community. ⁣⁣

Thank you Alex Willis for being my friend. Thank you for believing in me. Thank you for being a mentor. Thank you for being one of my best friends. Thank you for being one of the most incredible humans on the planet.⁣⁣

For those of you who don’t know Alex Willis, he is a former Wide Receiver for our University of Florida Gators and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He now lives in Chicago where he is the CEO of his leadership consulting firm, Leadership Surge.



I highly encourage you to watch this incredible video and get to know him: https://youtu.be/f5joExW-59g



I love you Gainesville. I love you USA. May we always strive to be one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.⁣⁣

Collin

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