The “blueprint to success” is a pursuit that professionals around the world spend thousands of dollars on annually. There are courses, books, workshops, seminars, and even certifications.

And then there are genuine and vulnerable conversations from exemplary individuals who’ve proven to be leaders in their fields.

David A. Johnson, co-founder of Cane Bay Partners and University of West Georgia alumnus, offers one such discourse on “Off the Cuff,” a podcast hosted by UWG President Brendan Kelly. During a 30-minute sit-down with Kelly, Johnson shares highlights from his childhood as a Navy brat, the high school and undergrad activities that nurtured his entrepreneurial spirit, and present-day experiences as a thriving business leader and philanthropist.

This thoughtful reflection is packed with valuable insights, backed by real-life examples, for aspiring entrepreneurs and high performers of all backgrounds.

Listen to the episode now on Apple, Spotify, or the UWG website.

Key Takeaways

  • Optimize the opportunities and resources available to you.
    • Johnson uses his personal experiences from a humble background to emphasize that ordinary people are capable of extraordinary success. Throughout the podcast, he gives examples of ways he capitalized on resources available to him to grow professionally.
  • Seek opportunities to practice leadership.
    • Johnson recounts his experiences with the Kappa Sigma Fraternity, where he got to practice leadership in a relatively low-stake environment during college.
  • Build a strong network.
    • Johnson describes the network he built through his undergraduate experience at UWG, extracurricular activities, and Kappa Sigma as instrumental to his success.
  • Become an expert in your field of interest, and monetize your skills.
    • Working for various technology companies, including a software company that built a loan management system for consumer lenders gave Johnson the experience he needed to launch his own fintech business.
  • Build strong teams by treating members as partners rather than subordinates.
    • Johnson discusses his personal leadership style of creating opportunities where people feel like valued members of the team.
  • Work hard. Don’t rely on luck.
    • According to Johnson, “hard work is 90%” of success. “When working hard, you’re going to put yourself in a position where you can be lucky more often than not,” he says.