Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Deborah (aka Dr. DJ) Johnson-Blake.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Dr. Deborah (aka Dr. DJ). So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
The Journey Least Expected
My journey was not the typical path to achieve the goals that got me to where I am today. I have been blessed to live my life out loud and enjoy experiences I would have never seen without others’ help along the way and be a servant leader! As an A-type personality, I always strived to be my best and continue to do so today. Now, “my best” is not defined by being ordinary but extraordinary in the way God intended, even though it took me a while to get here. Earning a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Old Dominion University in the 1980s and eager to start a career in law or corporate America, I was the typical 21-year-old college graduate with goals of being a career-minded woman working for the top organizations in the world. Life happened, and I started working in a national chain restaurant, Pizza Hut, to make ends meet. While it was not my ideal situation, I made it work! I wanted it to work long enough to pay off debt and save enough money to begin my glamorous college graduate life. It did not happen. I kept applying for various types of jobs related and unrelated to political science unbeknownst to me; I would not secure college graduate employment until nearly eight years after graduating. Why? Because of my lack of experience. No one would give me a job! So, what did I do? I went back to school three years after earning my bachelor’s degree for a legal assistant certificate to get my foot in the door at a prestigious law firm.
Fast forward, I transferred my Pizza Hut position to Atlanta, Georgia, in 1990. I hit the jackpot, or so I thought! No legal work until 1992, which was not by happenstance but a referral from my restaurant manager to a brilliant attorney, M. Gino Brogdon, to begin my legal career and gain the experience I needed to enhance my career. Through ebbs and flows and learning curves, my journey progressed. I worked in a couple of law firms and decided the legal field was not my career even though I thought it was my life’s dream.
Living the Dream
Hence, my path took me to several temporary positions until I started working at a nonprofit organization, The Federation of Southern Cooperatives/Land Assistance Fund (FSC/LAF). I spent seven years learning about agriculture and the trials and tribulations African American farmers faced trying to make a living to feed their families and build generational wealth, which was a struggle. During my time at FSC/LAF, I met famous civil rights leaders, CEOs of large corporations, politicians, and leaders of various cultures as I continued to enhance my skill set, knowledge, and etiquette. As I yearned for more and wanted to ensure my skills were transferrable, I went back to school to earn my Master’s Degree in Public Administration with a concentration in public management from Troy University, which led me to my current education career. I spent 13 years working at Atlanta Technical College, a unit of the Technical College System of Georgia, and my last role was as Director of Continuing Education. While working at Atlanta Technical College, I earned my Doctor of Management in Organizational Leadership from the University of Phoenix. Today, I am an online Assistant Professor, Subject Matter Expert in Servant Leadership, and Research Chair at Liberty University, where I have been since 2010. I am living and loving my second dream career, educating Christian leaders (masters and doctoral candidates) to be the best they can be while doing God’s work.
Servant Leader thrives on Community Service
When I am not busy educating leaders and managing my business, I always find time to give back to my community. I have the privilege of serving on several boards and committees. I am the Immediate Past President and member of the American Business Women’s Association Douglas County Charter Chapter; board member for Beyond the Front Porch; nominating committee member of the Junior League of Douglas County. Some of my memberships include the Georgia Association for Women in Higher Education, the Georgia Adult Education Association, the Northwest Georgia (NWGA) Section of the National Negro Council of Women, the Women Employment Opportunity Project, and the Douglas County Chamber of Commerce, among others. Also, I serve as a Douglas County Chamber of Commerce Diplomat. I am the Lead Coach for Woman University, a subsidiary of Marvelous Light Empowerment Association. In July 2021, I am honored to be recognized as a board member of Partners in Education of Douglas County, Georgia. Some of my recognitions include the 2019 Chamber Spirit Award recipient, the 2019 Woman of the Year for the American Business Women’s Association Douglas County Charter Chapter, and Entrepreneur in the 2018 Edition of Who’s Who in Black Atlanta. To my surprise, my peers nominated me and I was named the 2020 Chamber Diplomat of the Year. In 2021, the Georgia Association of Continuing Education (formerly GAEA) presented me with the Exemplary Contribution Service Award.
The Impact of the American Business Women’s Association – Douglas County Charter Chapter
My most recent accomplishment is being the 2021 American Business Woman of the American Business Women’s Association (ABWA) and a 2021 Top Ten Business Woman of ABWA. These national recognitions are very humbling and have allowed me to build relationships with dynamic women leaders across the country. The mission of the American Business Women’s Association is to bring together business women of diverse occupations and to provide opportunities for them to help themselves and others grow personally and professionally through leadership, education, networking support, and national recognition.
Professionally, ABWA has inspired me to achieve my career goals by allowing me to be a candidate for primary league executive board roles, specifically vice president and president, and serve as chair for the newsletter and membership committees. By fulfilling these roles’ duties, I have learned how to lead an association more efficiently, implement Robert’s Rules of Order better, adhere to bylaws and standing rules, and know their significance in league management. Without ABWA, I would not have experienced these leadership roles that ignite a desire to achieve more in my career and professional goals.
Personally, my allegiance to ABWA and building relationships with our energetic members and the community we serve propels me to excel and want to continue to live my life’s purpose of service. ABWA has inspired me to achieve my personal goals of life-long learning because of the professional development opportunities and networking experiences during our monthly meetings and the selection of APEX Campus courses that enhance my knowledge. I enjoy giving back to others and my community, and one way to do so is through education and building relationships with our diverse membership, which ignites learning. I am humbled and appreciative of the relationships I have built while serving in ABWA, which has impacted my success personally and professionally. Today, I thrive from my life’s experiences, and I am here to shout it out to the Atlanta community and the world!
I reside in the metropolitan Atlanta area with my husband E.M. Blake and young adult son DeMarco Blake. We enjoy cooking, watching movies, and traveling with my mother Evelyn Wilson and brother Alton E. Wilson, II who both live in Savannah, Georgia.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
While we all have ups and downs in our lives, I would have to say that the obstacles and challenges I encountered along the way have been more like opportunities. Opportunities to improve me and my life’s circumstances at varying intervals of this journey we call life. Is everything easy? Of course not, but it is all how you use your tools to manage the crisis at hand. My struggles were no different than many others…financial, employment, etc. God has had an angel on earth by my side since I could remember. I know because when I was going to make decisions that could completely impact my life significantly, I came out the victor because of my decision-making skills and my ability to listen to Him.
Please tell us about The Writing Pad.
I am blessed to have the opportunity to teach and be the CEO of my own business, The Writing Pad, LLC. We are a writing, editing, and consulting firm focusing on proofreading, editing, and customized writing. Our goal is to help clients achieve clarity regarding their employment objectives by restructuring their resumes. Other services include developing curriculum, professional BIOS, PowerPoint presentations, document review, and professional growth through leadership and soft skills training and development. Under The Writing Pad, LLC umbrellas are my books and The Time Management DIVA brand. We offer time management and life coaching services to help clients improve their time management and achieve their personal and professional goals. Readers can follow me on social media every Tuesday for time management tips, tricks, and hacks. As a five-time published bestselling author, I enjoy speaking and presenting on time management and productivity. My books include Being the Best You: Intentional Journaling and Planning to Take Back Your Time, 52 Time Management HACKS. Hacking Actions to Conquer and Kick Time Setbacks, KISS. Destiny Fears Goodbye, Women Everywhere Level Up and Lead, and Managing Time on Purpose.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
In the past, I used to say, I wish I had done this or that but as I continue to ponder my life. My life is my life, and my journey is my journey. The decisions I should have made or could have made under different circumstances would have led me down a different path but would it have been God’s journey for me? No. So, if I had to start over, the only thing I would change is ensuring that I am more prepared for the next blessing God has for me. One piece of advice I would give anyone is to always hone your skills and craft so when God opens the door, you will be ready to walk through it!
Pricing:
- Time Management Coaching starts at $495
- Life Coaching starts at $495
- Resume and BIOs redesigns start at $150
- Autographed books start at $15
- Document Reviews start at $75
- Curriculum Development starts at $50-75 per hour
- PowerPoint Development – starts at $150
- Training and Development starts at $750
Contact Info:
- Website: www.deborahjohnsonblake.com
- Phone: 770-648-3895
- Email: drdj@deborahjohnsonblake.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thewritingpadllc
https://www.facebook.com/djohnsonblake/ - Twitter: https://twitter.com/djohnsonblake
- Other: https://www.linkedin.com/in/djohnsonblake/
Image Credit:
Deodrick Jackson, Krsytal Horne
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