JOHAN SPEAKS

The people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do.

“johan has established a reputation as an inspiring motivational speaker with a straightforward and entertaining, yet deeply provocative message.”

Dr. Mateo Sandoval - Professor, ASU

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“We are either the product of our dreams or the product of our environment.”

Calling All Crazy ones!

Throughout history, there have been larger than life figures that have shaped the fields of technology, art, literature, design, medicine, social justice... you name it! You might not think you have the courage of Nelson Mandela, the tenacity of Amelia Earhart, or the ingenuity of Elon Musk - but today and every day you can choose the crazy idea that you have everything it takes to change the world. You just have to be crazy enough to believe it.

I want to give a huge thank you to my brothers, Aaron Milus, Derik Edan, and Ivan Lizarde, who worked so incredibly hard to make something we are all so proud to share with you.

If you like this video, know that there's more coming your way. Please leave comments in YouTube and let me hear your thoughts and questions, and feel free to share if you think it can be of benefit to someone in your life.

drake’s top five back to school tips

Drake’s Scorpion, for many, was the album of the summer. Now that vacation is over and the school year has begun, it’s tempting to walk into class with our heads low knowing that, as Drake may say, our Summer Games are over.

That begs the question, what else would Drake say? What pieces of wisdom remain to be discovered from the Champagne Papi? As the new school year begins, what lessons does Scorpion offer up?

The diary of a young girl

If a fourteen-year-old living in confinement could change the world. Why can’t you?

watch johanspeaks

keep up with johan

“We on Award Tour with Muhammad my man going each and every place with the mic in their hand Chinatown, Spokane, London, Tokyo.” One of my childhood dreams was to be a part of A Tribe Called Quest, the greatest hip-hop group of all time.
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Today, I’m in Boston on the hunt for the best clam chowder. Tomorrow, I’ll be collaborating with @alexandani on a project that will go public in 2019. Once I wrap, I’m off to Tokyo to explore and work with @mrlizarde, @derikedan, and @jensosa. Then it’s Christmas in Chicago and New Years in New York City.
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I’m on a World Tour with my friends and my fam. Going each and every place with our phones in our hand. Beantown, Chi-town, NY, Tokyo!

On this date, Dec. 8th, 1925, Sammy Davis Jr. was born. He was the quintessential performer, singer, dancer, actor, vaudevillian and comedian. One of my favorite Sammy Davis quotes is, “You always have two choices: your commitment versus your fear.”
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In honor of Sammy, commit to singing Mr. Bojangles as you dance down the street today. Don’t be afraid of what people will think. Don’t be afraid of looking foolish. Commit to a life bigger than your fears and make Sammy proud.

Some people work out to stay fit.
I work out for different reasons.
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I work out to keep my heart strong in case someone tries to break it.
I work out to keep my clothes forever and not buy bigger ones.
I work out to equalize poor life choices.
I work out to boost my cardio in case of a zombie apocalypse.
I work out to reduce stress about eating so many damn cookies.
I work out to be prepared in case the police chase me. They ain’t finna catch me, son!
Last but not least, I work out because a gym membership is cheaper than healthcare.
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Why do you work out?

In the animal kingdom snakes use their stripes as a warning to signal an unpleasant consequence if attacked. Some species of birds use their stripes to signal attention from a potential mate.
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In other words, fellas don’t start no beef with me. And, ladies I’m single and ready to mingle!

As a kid, I hated cleaning my room. Hated it. My mother would shout at me, "Limpia tu cuarto!"
"Okay, I'll do it when I'm back from school!"
But then I'd avoid it by coming home after she'd fallen asleep, or fake an injury, or tell her Walter Mercado said, "Earth signs should leave their rooms messy until the full moon. It stores up and releases bad juju that way.
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My tactics weren't sophisticated but they were effective. They helped me do one thing - AVOID. As long as I pushed it back a little, it was a victory. Time cleaning my room meant time not playing outside with my friends. Time wasted cleaning my room meant time not watching Fresh Prince of Bel Air. Time squandered cleaning my room meant time not flirting with Julie across the street. (She was fine, yall!)
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Does this resonate? Were you an avoidance master? Are you still? I know I am. I avoid that nagging check engine light (true story). I avoid conversations I need to have. And I still avoid cleaning my damn room!
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When things start to get difficult, avoiding seems easier. But it's just delaying. We'll have to clean our messes eventually. We'll have to veer back towards what was hard in the moment and may find it much harder to deal with because of our avoidance. Choosing to do the hard thing right now will benefit us when it's done.
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On that note, I'm going to go clean my room.

My flight back to Los Angeles was cancelled last night. I was tempted to ask, why is this happening to me? I resisted. Nothing was happening TO me. It was just happening. When things happen to us we find someone or something to blame, the airlines, the gate agent, Mother Nature.
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Mother Nature wasn’t paying me back for the years I didn’t drive a Prius. It’s not personal. I’m not a victim. I’m experiencing life. This is how life works; flights get cancelled, jobs get lost, relationships end, loved ones pass away, we receive unwanted diagnoses, we lose limbs, we get hit when we’re not looking.
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Why is this happening to me? It’s not that that’s an inherently bad question, but maybe there’s a better one? How do I make the best of it? How do I create life from what’s happening? Take the snow that grounded your plane and have a snowball fight with your best friend. Be productive with your time in the gate area and craft a message for people who are kind enough to read your Instagram captions. When your flight gets cancelled for the second night in a row, head back to the city, connect with a new friend, order a hot chocolate, swap stories about life.
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Life doesn’t happen to you. You create it.
What will you choose?

When was the last time you surprised yourself?
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One year ago to the day, @chriskminer reached out to collaborate on a photoshoot. This is one of the images that we produced. While we were shooting Chris said, “I was surprised you said yes to meeting up. I’ve been taking more risks this year and wanted to give it a shot.”
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Last year we were complete strangers. This morning we caught up, grubbed on @stansdonutschicago, and swapped stories as friends. All this because Chris chose to do something that had the potential to surprise - what a wonderful way to live. Doing the uncomfortable in search of something new.
Opening yourself up to rejection to begin friendships.
Taking risks to build a dream life.
Stepping into fears to see what’s on the other side.
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Chris is a courageous soul. We can all learn from him. We can all risk more.
We can all surprise ourselves.
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Now, tell me, what are you going to do to surprise yourself?

Raise your right hand in the air.
No, you aren’t in court.
Let’s make a pact, though.
Look at your freehand. Give it a good look.
Here’s what you’re going to do with it.
Use your freehand to scoop up extra stuffing. Use your freehand to serve your mom a plate. Use your freehand to hug the cousin no one likes. Use your freehand to write a letter of thanks. Use your freehand to call and say, “I’m sorry.” Use your freehand to give the homeless guy a dollar.
Use your freehand to introduce yourself to someone new. Use your freehand for the sake of others.
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You have a freehand today. Use it.
Give love. Give praise. Give thanks.

ROME: Why isn’t there anything in your cup?
ME: It’s all about perspective.
ROME: It’s empty, what do you mean?
ME: You see an empty glass. I see a glass that could be busted over your head if you keep playing footsie with me. Perspective, my g.
ROME: 🤦🏽‍♂️

Everyone needs a tribe like this.
My tribe gets suited up together.
My tribe poses for a pic together.
My tribe doesn’t mind taking said pic dozens of times until we get it right, even if restaurant patrons are waiting to be seated in the area we’re posing, bellies rumbling and checking their watches because they need to get back to work on time.

What do you choose to do?
Forget what you want to do. There’s a big difference.
Don’t want.
Choose.
We want to ask our crush out and think they’ll say “no.”
We want to go to that school and settle for something less.
We want the life of our dreams but resign for what’s realistic.
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Don’t want.
Choose.
That’s where the power is.
Choose to ask your crush out. That’s the only way you get a “yes.”
Choose to apply to that school. It’s the only way you get accepted.
Choose to chase your dreams. It’s the only way they’ll become reality.
When we stop wanting and start choosing everything changes.
What will you choose?

“The most powerful action you take today is to choose. Make the decision that can change everything.”

ABOUT JOHAN

A product of Humboldt Park, Chicago, an area known for it’s gang violence and crime, Johan was able to move past the obstacles and traps that ensnared so many of his peers and live a life that is far from ordinary. His dreams, choices and determination transformed a ghetto kid into a national speaker who uses his life story to help people of all ages believe in the power of their dreams and the impact their life can make in the world around them.

His story has fostered interest from various media sources. He has been featured on the front cover of Chicago’s premier young adult newspaper The Red Eye. He has been a special guest on a number of TV and radio shows, including two appearances on The Tyra Banks Show, Fox News in the Morning, WLS Radio Chicago, and the critically acclaimed Today Show.

Along with being a nationally known speaker based out of L.A., each summer Johan returns to his hometown to work as one of the lead counselors and educators for the CANDO program in the inner city of Chicago. He is also an actor, a former Ford Model, and a deadly shooter from three-point range.