Today we’d like to introduce you to Joel Floyd.
Hi Joel, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
My story began in the year 2010. I was teaching English to adults with limited English proficiency at a small college in Chamblee, Georgia, and I was extremely frustrated about my teaching journey. I had a big vision for teaching and learning that extended beyond the classroom, but as you know, working for someone else often comes with limitations of what one can or cannot do on the job. However, I recall telling a few of my teaching colleagues, “I am going to start my own English school. My vision is just so big, so in 2012, I took a “LEAP of FAITH” and started my own independent adult education English school movement with just two students, a student from Mexico and a student from Ethiopia. From that moment on, my entrepreneurial journey as a school leader has continued to soar to date.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
First and foremost, there is no such thing as a perfect entrepreneur’s story. True entrepreneurship is risky behavior, and it comes with a sacrifice. I agree with the saying, the dream is free, but the hustle is sold separately. For me, a primary struggle was obtaining critical funding at the very beginning. The truth is – if you do not have money, you can’t keep the doors open, but thankfully there were some key people who believed in me; they were willing to pour resources into my vision to keep it going. I think another struggle for me was more psychological, having to deal with the lack of support. It’s funny to me (not literally) how people say that they are for you. They say that they love you, but when it comes to demonstrating their rhetoric, they are nowhere to be found. They get ghost real quick. Although I consider myself a winner possessing a deep faith in God, support is something we all need. It’s part of our human nature.
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am an avid advocate of adult education specifically advocating for adults with limited English proficiency. This is why I started the English for a Lifetime Language Institute. I saw an extremely intelligent population of people who were limited in their quest to be great in the United States due to their lack of English proficiency, so I decided to address the problem, ensuring their mastery of the English language. I guess you can call me the “English Doctor.” My goal is to transform lives through English literacy/education. That’s what doctors do; they save lives, heal lives, and transform lives through their knowledge and the power of medicine as best they can. Likewise, I am known as an exhorter, a prayer warrior, a mentor, a minister, and an optimist. People can always count on me for a good and authentic word. People who know me are cognizant of my deep belief that – to every problem, there is a solution. There is always a way out. With God, all things are possible. I am most proud of my inner strength. I have not given up on life, nor do I plan on it. I feel like I’ve faced some significant mountains in my life’s journey that appeared insurmountable, but I stand on faith and in it. It’s the fuel that keeps me going. I just believe that faith keeps those who keep the faith. Perhaps, the thing that sets me apart from others is I do not believe I can be defeated. I possess a spirit of resilience, and I have the constant feeling that I will always win, no matter the obstacle.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
Clearly, no human is an island. While I feel that I have achieved lots of success and have been able to create a sustainable business model since its inception, there is no way that I’d be where I am today without some key players. For example, my spouse, Dr. Morton, has been my rock through it all. It’s a great blessing when you are connected to someone who does not only support you in word but in deed as well. Morton has done just that, and I am forever grateful. I must also mention my ante, Betty Jean. I shall never forget – at the genesis of my business, she helped me out coupled with a few other close friends of mine. They took from their own financials to pour into my vision, so I’ve been really blessed. To get folk in modernity to believe in your vision and to pour into it is a win!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.englifeglobal.org
- Instagram: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joel-floyd-35684744/
- Other: https://www.eng4careers.org/
