On this week’s episode of IMPACT, host Meghan Walker is joined by two guests -- John Jackson who works for Hustle 2.0, an organization that helps people who are incarcerated in the U.S. through holistic rehabilitation, and Sammy Taggett, entrepreneurial wizard and founder of Evolved Podcasting.
Sammy Taggett began his entrepreneurial journey in humble beginnings, starting out as a door-to-door salesperson and even working as a mint-and-napkin guy in a nightclub bathroom. It was in this unlikely setting that he seized the opportunity to become a DJ and learn about inspiring and educating people as an entrepreneur. According to Sammy, one key to success is finding your "zone" and building a supportive team around you. He also stresses the importance of having big dreams, having fun, and seeking out supportive individuals.
John Jackson, on the other hand, had a difficult upbringing. His mother was murdered at a young age, and he ended up living with his aunt, a drug dealer. In order to save her from incarceration, John took the rap for her and spent many years in prison as a gang member. After being released, he now helps younger people who have been in prison by teaching them leadership, resilience, and determination, leading them down a path of positivity and purpose.
Despite their different backgrounds, both Sammy and John are inspiring examples of how to turn difficult circumstances into a new and better life through self-belief and a focus on the possibilities around them.
Don't miss this empowering episode filled with insights and lessons on how to turn challenges into opportunities. Enjoy listening!
KEY TAKEAWAYS
[1:21] Sammy Taggett’s story
[4:19] The game-changing piece of entrepreneurship for Sammy
[6:37] John Jackson and Hustle 2.0
[8:57] How John Jackson ended up in prison
[12:54] What a reticular activating system is
[13:40] How Sammy Taggett became a DJ
[16:03] When imposter syndrome set in for Sammy
[18:48] Life in prison for John Jackson
[24:53] Three things that Sammy learned as a DJ to bring impact to the world
HOW TO CONNECT WITH OUR GUEST
MEMORABLE QUOTES
“I learned rejection so quickly, but no one really understands how good it is to get 30 no’s right away, and just have the perseverance to keep going.”
- Sammy Taggett
“When it comes to the journey of entrepreneurship, it's a day-to-day kind of discovery of what you can do and what you're resilient for, and then ultimately what your zone and genius is.”
- Sammy Taggett
“I spent 18 years in prison, but I choose to look at that and say, I can use that pain and I can show it to other people and show them that they can come out the other side and still do amazing things, and they can have an impact with their story or with their pain. That it didn't happen for nothing.”
- John Jackson
“She (my aunt) watched as I was handcuffed and placed in the back of a cop car at 17 as a kid, and the person who was supposed to protect me, who promised to protect me, watched as I went to jail at 17 years old, and she praised me for it.”
- John Jackson
“When imposter syndrome hit me the most was when I felt like I had the most to lose.”
- Sammy Taggett
“The best way that I could describe prison is you just have to kill your feelings and stuff them down and act as if they do not exist. I don't have to tell you that it doesn't work.”
- John Jackson
“The biggest lesson that I learned from all those folks is they never did it alone. And to have a compelling vision that's so big that it pulls you.”
- Sammy Taggett
“The dreamers really do compel and pull the future forward, and that's what I love to be around, and I don't know how I got lucky to do that.”
- Sammy Taggett
“No one will really actually remember what you say. They'll rarely remember what you did, but they'll always remember how you made them feel.”
- Sammy Taggett
“They just needed somebody to say, hey, I see value in you, I see worth in you, and you can do better, you can do more if you want to. And I'm gonna give you the opportunity to do it."
- John Jackson