Create Your Own Opportunities - Transforming Challenges into Success | Career Chat with Javon Wooden

Creating and seizing opportunities is essential for career growth, as emphasized by Javon Wooden's inspiring journey from adversity. By recognizing available resources and embracing self-advocacy, listeners can transform their aspirations into reality.

• Discusses the quote “Opportunities don’t happen; you create them” 
• Javon shares his personal story of overcoming challenges 
• Highlights the importance of self-inventory and recognizing personal strengths 
• Explores the difference between scarcity and abundance mindsets 
• Encouragement to take actionable steps for career growth 
• Emphasizes intentionality in pursuing personal and professional development

Transcript

Creating Opportunities

Speaker 1 0:09

Hello and welcome back to another Career Chat , bite Size Inspiration segment on the Transparent Nature podcast . For today's chat we have none other than Javon Wooden . He is the CEO and founder of Bright Mind Consulting Group . So as we dive into today's episode , javon just say hello . What's up to the people , what's going on ?

Speaker 2 0:36

everyone . Hey , honored to be here , prince .

Speaker 1 0:39

I'm super excited man , man , thank you so much , hey , so let's get into the chat . I believe that this career quote that I have today is really going to help our listeners just to really think about their career journey even further . The quote says this opportunities don't happen , you create them . By Chris Grosser . What do you think about that , javon ?

Speaker 2 1:05

Love that quote . First and foremost , opportunities don't happen , you create them , and that resonates deeply with me . Just a little bit of my journey . Like , I'm from Rochester , new York , grew up in poverty . Middle child of five , every by all rights , all the cars were stacked up against me . I actually was facing seven years in prison . At 17 years old God gave me a second opportunity and with that I created opportunity . Right , I didn't really understand what skill sets I had until I took inventory . I sat and I was like , hey , you know what ? I don't have a lot of money , but what do I have ? I have intelligence , I have a heart , I care , right , I really put my all into everything . So what can I do ? Join the military . The rest is history . You see the man that I am today . So I really really , with that opportunity , I believe that you know , as long as you do not stop movement and stop motion , intentional motion that things will happen for you for you , man , I believe that as well .

Speaker 1 2:09

For me , I had to create opportunities to get me to where I am today , and what I mean by that is just starting off , you know , graduating high school and not really having a plan . But in the state of Tennessee we have this program that started , tennessee Achieves , and basically we was able to go to school for free , the community college for free , and I took that opportunity right . Well , let me say this that opportunity was created , but after that I really had to go in with the mindset that you know what I'm going to go to college and I he kind of helps me , lead me , guide me to opportunities where I'll be successful . So , for those that are listening today , you want to take those opportunities that you have . There are opportunities , but you have to take the first step to say you know what I'm going to make this and take full advantage of opportunities out there If you're , you know , in a position where you're trying to get promoted .

Speaker 1 3:34

I think we've all been in that place , right , javon ? You know we want promotion , we seek promotion , or you know just greater job opportunities , promotion or you know just greater job opportunities . Look , you got to say I'm going to start with updating my resume right , and even though sometimes we're in a place where it's like , oh , I got to start this thing all over again , but you got to start somewhere and you have to take it one step at a time , yeah , absolutely , and I love that you say you didn't really have a plan , because many of us we don't know what we don't know , but the fact that you were willing to go out there and identify what was possible for you , that really is the spark .

Speaker 2 4:18

And the sermon was about how abundance can be provided in scarcity , and what the pastor was saying when he was talking about this was oftentimes we see what we do not have , but we don't really understand that anything , no matter how low you are , the fact that you can be risen just because God decided to reach his hand down and touch you , can change your whole dynamic .

Speaker 2 4:51

So we have to continue to move forward , not pay attention to what we don't have , but understand that it is still possible for us . I mean , like I said , I sat in a jail cell . I sat in there for months waiting for the state to decide my fate , and my mom like when I was there I had a visit from her and my older sister and I was called this , like it was today . I went to that visitation room , went through the degrading search and all that other stuff that happens when you're in prison , cause you really not the property of yourself , and it even tells you on the back of the shirt that you wear property . And I sat down and she told me .

Speaker 2 5:27

She said you know what ? I'm going to put the house up for you so you get a lawyer . Now , I didn't think about this then , but as I grew up and went into adulthood , I looked back at that and I said you know what if I , if anything would have went wrong ? My whole family would have been homeless . But for some reason , god put it on her heart to say you know what this child , my child , is worth ? This and that gave me value . That showed me that I was worth more than whatever dollar somebody could place on my life , and that money is not what sets our value , and nor should it set our goals .

Speaker 1 6:02

Yeah , yeah , man , that is powerful , I think , for many people . Powerful . I think for many people they're in a place you mentioned . You see what you don't have , right ? But I think a lot of people look at that and say you know , I don't have a car , I don't have a home , or I don't own my home , or I don't have X , Y and Z . And as we think about this quote , right , you create opportunities because it won't be created Like . You have to take it into the realization that I have to advocate for me , right , I have to think of ways , think of ideas , think of opportunities . That's going to move me to the goals , the dreams , the aspirations that I have for myself .

Career Growth and Intentional Planning

Speaker 1 6:50

So , Javon , thank you so much for this quick career chat . I want to encourage our listeners be intentional about your career growth , Be intentional about where you want to be , where you want to go and how you want to grow . That's it for today's Career Chat , Thank you so much , and tune in and listen in on the full episode with Javon . He's going to give us some really great insights . So , thank you so much . Y'all have a good one . Today's episode is brought to you by Halo Vision Media , a visual media agency based in Memphis , Tennessee , Halo Vision Media specializes in high quality content designed to elevate your brand and help you stand out in a competitive market . Whether you need a podcast or talk show recordings , enhanced online courses or even a polished commercial , Halo Vision Media has you covered For professional , reliable media services . Check them out today at wwwhalovisionmediacom or check the link within the description below .