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

Johan_Khalilian_Fair_Lawn_High_Petronella_Photography_4.jpg

“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

I’ll start with the time: 7PM-10PM.
I’ll continue with the date: Friday, January 25th.
Here is the place: @commoditycoffee in the LBC.
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Now, I’ll tell you why - my brilliant friends, @jensosa, @joey.es, and @jefemercado will be sharing their art with us. And in the midst of all that beauty, I’ll be speaking on Stillness. The only thing missing is you.

Being still has shifted my thinking.
Being still has shifted my living.
Being still has shifted my being.
Stillness has nothing to do with not moving.
Stillness has everything to do with peace.
Peace is the source of powerful movement.

Imagine a man.
Alone in his room.
Tears streaming.
And you walk in on him crying.
What would you say?
“Oh no, what happened?”
“Is everything okay?”
“Bruh, you need a hug.”
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Yup, I was that dude who needed a hug.
Because meditation made me cry today.
I’m still sifting through what I felt.
A collective pain of sorts.
Like, every kid who is sick of being bullied.
Or, every child who longs for a parents embrace.
Every lonely person who yearns for love.
That sort of feeling.
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Maybe you’re reading this thinking,
“Dude, what a downer!”
“Stick to the jokes and inspirational messages.”
“Bruh, quit being soft.”
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Maybe this is why we avoid stillness?
Maybe this is why we crave stillness?
Maybe this is why we need stillness.
And, yeah, I still need a hug.

We celebrate the birth of a man.
A man whose dream stirred our souls.
A man who, some may say, refused to sit still.
A man who, I know, embraced stillness to birth a revolution.
Dr. King, this is for you. You are still here with us.

One of my favorite songs to sing while I drive is, “Can I Kick It?” by A Tribe Called Quest. If you shouted “Yes, you can!” while reading this we either already are or need to be best friends. That’s my jam! My daily drive is full of good music.
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Today was different. In my experimentation with Stillness, I decided to keep the music off and drive in complete silence for forty-five minutes. Three minutes in, the assault began: “Call your brother! Turn on Spotify. Is that a Chik-Fil-A? I love them nuggets.” I was failing miserably, allowing myself to be distracted by everything. Then, releasing all judgment, I centered myself again. Breathing in. Breathing out.
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You may read this and say, “You really suck at this stillness thing.” It’s funny cuz I judged myself in the same way, then I set myself free. I released myself from the “right way” to do this.
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Breathing in and breathing out allowed me to find what works. This isn’t about what’s right for everyone. It’s about finding spaces that center me. It’s about finding places that keep me grounded. It’s about finding out what’s happening within me without beating myself up. It’s about reminding myself that I am enough even when I’m not producing.
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Today, my forty-five minute drive was an oasis. The usual noise wasn’t there - just me and my thoughts. This isn’t natural or easy for me. Instead of kicking it with Tribe, I just kicked it with myself. So, when I’m alone, “Can I Kick It?” Yes, I can!

Be still and escalate.
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It isn’t easy to go from a non-stop life to intentional stillness. I zip quickly through the day-to-day. Being still won’t happen overnight. I’m working on it, one step at a time. (Get it?!) But this seems like a good place to start: meditating on an escalator.
I can be peaceful while going places.
I can sit still while moving up in the world.
I can meditate while making things happen.
You may be tempted to tell me I’m doing it wrong.
Meditating on an escalator is a judgment free zone.
Haters be still before this escalates.
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#bestillandestcalate

“Johan, sit still.”
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Stillness doesn’t come natural to me.
We weren’t made to sit still.
We were made to move.
We were made to climb.
We were made to wiggle!
Constant motion is my way of life.
“Johan, sit still.”
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“Johan, sit still.”
Utter those words to me and you become a foe.
Today that changes.
For the first time in my life, I’ll listen.
This month will be an experiment in stillness.
What happens when I sit still?
What does stillness have to offer?
What goes down when I ain’t wiggling?
Well, here goes nothing.
(Sitting still)

I’m so happy it’s Monday! Can you tell by the look on my face? Not in this picture. My real life face. Yes, I know you can’t see my face right now and believe me you don’t want to. Can you guess why?
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A. My beard may attack you. I haven’t shaved in forever. (Thinking about growing it out.)
B. That Birdbox stuff happens when you look at my face.
C. My face has flu residue on it AKA Fludu. Flusidu? Resiflu? Resiflu: Available at CVS and Walgreens. (That went off the rails.)
D. All of the above.

My time in Tokyo has come to an end. The Land of The Rising Sun was memorable. We battled jet lag and I found my new favorite hat! We ate incredible sushi and tasty ramen and delicious Japanese pastries! I’m sad to say it’s come to an end but I’m certain this won’t be my last adventure in Japan.
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As a thank you for joining me in this experience I’m partnering with the wonderful folks at @timex. We’re gifting nine of my followers stunning and stylish watches. To enter this contest: follow @timex and tag three friends in the comments below. They can enter as well by filling me and Timex and repeating the process. Entering the contest you’re declaring to be US based and 18+. Winners will be chosen on January 21st.
#WeAreTimex #Timex #spon

Look out into the New Year, who will you be?
The Hero, The Rebel, The Jester.
The Caregiver, The Explorer, The Brother.
The Magician, The Sage, The Lover.
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Look out into the New Year, what do you see?
A table of laughing friends.
Finally making amends.
Not following the latest trends.
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Look out into the New Year, will you get free?
Years old addictions, no more.
Unshackled from abuse, opening new doors.
Ascending to new heights, learning to soar.

“God made dirt and dirt don’t hurt.”
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My mother loved to say that if a potato chip, sandwich, or anything else she wanted me to eat hit the floor. I would do it, too. I thought of it as God’s Tapatio sauce, adds a little extra spice to your meal!
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While shooting with @andrea_krystalh and @simonsaidd, my @bodegaimports vanilla ice cream churro cone topped with chocolate covered pretzels spilled over and went splat.
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The picture was supposed to be me holding a cone in front of the splendor of the Chicago skyline. But the reality was splattered all over the concrete. The moment it dropped I could hear my mother saying, “God made dirt and dirt don’t hurt.” But I’m a grown man now! I’m not about that floor-food life anymore!
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Maybe things hadn’t gone as planned, but we had a chance to create in the midst of the unexpected. Andrea, Simon and myself chose to engage with what life offered us, because maybe that was exactly what we needed.
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This image ended up being my favorite - because, “God made dirt and dirt don’t hurt.”

“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.