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Leadership is Sometimes a Duty | Ron Johnson | TEDxSantaCatalinaSchool


[Music]

[Music] leadership and I’ve had so many great

leadership and I’ve had so many great

leadership and I’ve had so many great leaders in my lifetime that I just

leaders in my lifetime that I just

leaders in my lifetime that I just looked up to and follow some that I knew

looked up to and follow some that I knew

looked up to and follow some that I knew personally and some that I just follow

personally and some that I just follow

personally and some that I just follow from afar people like dr. Martin Luther

from afar people like dr. Martin Luther

from afar people like dr. Martin Luther King Nelson Mandela and the greatest

King Nelson Mandela and the greatest

King Nelson Mandela and the greatest Muhammad Ali just great leaders that I

Muhammad Ali just great leaders that I

Muhammad Ali just great leaders that I always admired but the person that I

always admired but the person that I

always admired but the person that I really admired most as a leader and got

really admired most as a leader and got

really admired most as a leader and got a front-row seat to see my mother’s name

a front-row seat to see my mother’s name

a front-row seat to see my mother’s name is was Mae Johnson and some of you may

is was Mae Johnson and some of you may

is was Mae Johnson and some of you may have some of you adults in the audience

have some of you adults in the audience

have some of you adults in the audience may have known her but she was a a

may have known her but she was a a

may have known her but she was a a beloved educator on the Monterey

beloved educator on the Monterey

beloved educator on the Monterey Peninsula but before that she grew up in

Peninsula but before that she grew up in

Peninsula but before that she grew up in a small rural community a place called

a small rural community a place called

a small rural community a place called Coleman Georgia that if you if you drove

Coleman Georgia that if you if you drove

Coleman Georgia that if you if you drove probably 20 miles an hour you’d be

probably 20 miles an hour you’d be

probably 20 miles an hour you’d be through the town in probably two minutes

through the town in probably two minutes

through the town in probably two minutes not a very big town is very rural as a

not a very big town is very rural as a

not a very big town is very rural as a farming community and it was a place

farming community and it was a place

farming community and it was a place where time stands still my mother was

where time stands still my mother was

where time stands still my mother was one of three children that that was

one of three children that that was

one of three children that that was growing up in that town and during that

growing up in that town and during that

growing up in that town and during that time the only industries that were

time the only industries that were

time the only industries that were available was that was farming and and

available was that was farming and and

available was that was farming and and then just working downtown and the

then just working downtown and the

then just working downtown and the retail which wasn’t that big my mom the

retail which wasn’t that big my mom the

retail which wasn’t that big my mom the the crop that they could pick was was

the crop that they could pick was was

the crop that they could pick was was either cotton or peanuts and my mother

either cotton or peanuts and my mother

either cotton or peanuts and my mother was terrible at picking both my uncle I

was terrible at picking both my uncle I

was terrible at picking both my uncle I had an uncle and she did owned some

had an uncle and she did owned some

had an uncle and she did owned some businesses and was fairly well-to-do and

businesses and was fairly well-to-do and

businesses and was fairly well-to-do and he saw how smart my mother was and he

he saw how smart my mother was and he

he saw how smart my mother was and he decided that he was going to make it his

decided that he was going to make it his

decided that he was going to make it his mission to see her that she got to

mission to see her that she got to

mission to see her that she got to college so she paid for her education

college so she paid for her education

college so she paid for her education she after she graduated from high school

she after she graduated from high school

she after she graduated from high school she went

she went

she went a college named Fort Valley University

a college named Fort Valley University

a college named Fort Valley University in Columbus Georgia and there she met my

in Columbus Georgia and there she met my

in Columbus Georgia and there she met my my father who was 18 years her senior

my father who was 18 years her senior

my father who was 18 years her senior stationed at Fort Benning Georgia and

stationed at Fort Benning Georgia and

stationed at Fort Benning Georgia and they married they moved to Monterey and

they married they moved to Monterey and

they married they moved to Monterey and had all of us you can see this is my mom

had all of us you can see this is my mom

had all of us you can see this is my mom kind of around at years after that time

kind of around at years after that time

kind of around at years after that time but this is us and aren’t aren’t they

but this is us and aren’t aren’t they

but this is us and aren’t aren’t they cute and I’m the I’m the second one over

cute and I’m the I’m the second one over

cute and I’m the I’m the second one over leaning against my brother

leaning against my brother

leaning against my brother Edie and anyway so she had they had all

Edie and anyway so she had they had all

Edie and anyway so she had they had all of us and I have a sister also after my

of us and I have a sister also after my

of us and I have a sister also after my after ten years of marriage it just was

after ten years of marriage it just was

after ten years of marriage it just was not it was not gonna work out my mother

not it was not gonna work out my mother

not it was not gonna work out my mother wasn’t happy so she divorced my father

wasn’t happy so she divorced my father

wasn’t happy so she divorced my father that was ten years into the marriage and

that was ten years into the marriage and

that was ten years into the marriage and again my mother had ambitions beyond

again my mother had ambitions beyond

again my mother had ambitions beyond being a cotton picker or a beet or a

being a cotton picker or a beet or a

being a cotton picker or a beet or a peanut picker so she wanted to be a

peanut picker so she wanted to be a

peanut picker so she wanted to be a teacher that was her life ambition so

teacher that was her life ambition so

teacher that was her life ambition so she she pursued that dream and was able

she she pursued that dream and was able

she she pursued that dream and was able to actually achieve that through a lot

to actually achieve that through a lot

to actually achieve that through a lot of hard work and when I say I had a

of hard work and when I say I had a

of hard work and when I say I had a front-row seat I had a front-row seat to

front-row seat I had a front-row seat to

front-row seat I had a front-row seat to this watching her struggle to pay all

this watching her struggle to pay all

this watching her struggle to pay all the bills that keep all of us fed keep

the bills that keep all of us fed keep

the bills that keep all of us fed keep us out of trouble keep us focused on

us out of trouble keep us focused on

us out of trouble keep us focused on school and our education she was amazing

school and our education she was amazing

school and our education she was amazing and doing that and the thing that was

and doing that and the thing that was

and doing that and the thing that was the most amazing is she did that with

the most amazing is she did that with

the most amazing is she did that with ambitions to get her her master’s degree

ambitions to get her her master’s degree

ambitions to get her her master’s degree and also go into administration she did

and also go into administration she did

and also go into administration she did all this over the course of probably ten

all this over the course of probably ten

all this over the course of probably ten years was when she was elevated to the

years was when she was elevated to the

years was when she was elevated to the office of principal she worked for many

office of principal she worked for many

office of principal she worked for many of the public schools on the Monterey

of the public schools on the Monterey

of the public schools on the Monterey Peninsula Unified School District and it

Peninsula Unified School District and it

Peninsula Unified School District and it was there that she started to achieve

was there that she started to achieve

was there that she started to achieve the highest honors

the highest honors

the highest honors and eventually was appointed the first

and eventually was appointed the first

and eventually was appointed the first female principal at Monterey high school

female principal at Monterey high school

female principal at Monterey high school and that was in the early 1990s and

and that was in the early 1990s and

and that was in the early 1990s and there’s a picture of her in that

there’s a picture of her in that

there’s a picture of her in that capacity so I share all that to share

capacity so I share all that to share

capacity so I share all that to share that she had great qualities great

that she had great qualities great

that she had great qualities great leadership qualities she was doing all

leadership qualities she was doing all

leadership qualities she was doing all these things with with some training but

these things with with some training but

these things with with some training but a lot of it she was doing just from what

a lot of it she was doing just from what

a lot of it she was doing just from what what came naturally to her and the thing

what came naturally to her and the thing

what came naturally to her and the thing that I I took note of when I looked at

that I I took note of when I looked at

that I I took note of when I looked at these five qualities of a great leader

these five qualities of a great leader

these five qualities of a great leader is it was speaking about May Johnson

is it was speaking about May Johnson

is it was speaking about May Johnson clarity she had a clear vision and a

clarity she had a clear vision and a

clarity she had a clear vision and a plan of what she needed to do and what

plan of what she needed to do and what

plan of what she needed to do and what she needed to accomplish decisiveness

she needed to accomplish decisiveness

she needed to accomplish decisiveness she was able to make up her mind and she

she was able to make up her mind and she

she was able to make up her mind and she stuck with the plan that she set out to

stuck with the plan that she set out to

stuck with the plan that she set out to to execute courage boy did she have

to execute courage boy did she have

to execute courage boy did she have courage time doesn’t permit for me to

courage time doesn’t permit for me to

courage time doesn’t permit for me to tell you that the number of ways that

tell you that the number of ways that

tell you that the number of ways that she displayed that courage but but she

she displayed that courage but but she

she displayed that courage but but she instilled it in all of us all of her

instilled it in all of us all of her

instilled it in all of us all of her children and passion she felt like her

children and passion she felt like her

children and passion she felt like her career was not it was not a profession

career was not it was not a profession

career was not it was not a profession it was a calling and if you talked to

it was a calling and if you talked to

it was a calling and if you talked to any of her students or talked to any of

any of her students or talked to any of

any of her students or talked to any of her colleagues they would certainly

her colleagues they would certainly

her colleagues they would certainly attest to that and humility of course

attest to that and humility of course

attest to that and humility of course she was always gracious and grateful in

she was always gracious and grateful in

she was always gracious and grateful in the way that she led people so how did

the way that she led people so how did

the way that she led people so how did that influence me and how am I going to

that influence me and how am I going to

that influence me and how am I going to try to get that over to influence all of

try to get that over to influence all of

try to get that over to influence all of you the way that it influenced me was I

you the way that it influenced me was I

you the way that it influenced me was I was I was a quiet a quiet young man in

was I was a quiet a quiet young man in

was I was a quiet a quiet young man in high school

high school

high school somewhat a little shy and but I did have

somewhat a little shy and but I did have

somewhat a little shy and but I did have a passion for sports that I had a

a passion for sports that I had a

a passion for sports that I had a passion for just athletics and so when I

passion for just athletics and so when I

passion for just athletics and so when I was in high school I started to just

was in high school I started to just

was in high school I started to just really have success in sports my events

really have success in sports my events

really have success in sports my events were track and field and in football and

were track and field and in football and

were track and field and in football and it was during these two sports that I

it was during these two sports that I

it was during these two sports that I noticed that

noticed that

noticed that that my friends my peers were starting

that my friends my peers were starting

that my friends my peers were starting to look at me as a leader and so rather

to look at me as a leader and so rather

to look at me as a leader and so rather than run away from that that personna

than run away from that that personna

than run away from that that personna I just embraced it the same way that my

I just embraced it the same way that my

I just embraced it the same way that my mother embraced her role as principal

mother embraced her role as principal

mother embraced her role as principal and and that led me on to go on to

and and that led me on to go on to

and and that led me on to go on to college and then go on into the NFL so

college and then go on into the NFL so

college and then go on into the NFL so this is just a this is a game that we

this is just a this is a game that we

this is just a this is a game that we had against the Arizona Cardinals it was

had against the Arizona Cardinals it was

had against the Arizona Cardinals it was during a time when I was actually cut

during a time when I was actually cut

during a time when I was actually cut from the team earlier in the season and

from the team earlier in the season and

from the team earlier in the season and then when our our star receiver was was

then when our our star receiver was was

then when our our star receiver was was hurt he broke his leg I was brought back

hurt he broke his leg I was brought back

hurt he broke his leg I was brought back on to the team and so we ended up having

on to the team and so we ended up having

on to the team and so we ended up having this pivotal game and I’ll just kind of

this pivotal game and I’ll just kind of

this pivotal game and I’ll just kind of show you while Simmons was the hero of

show you while Simmons was the hero of

show you while Simmons was the hero of this game the following week at home

this game the following week at home

this game the following week at home against the Cardinals a new hero emerged

against the Cardinals a new hero emerged

against the Cardinals a new hero emerged Ron Johnson was back on first down he’s

Ron Johnson was back on first down he’s

Ron Johnson was back on first down he’s looking he’s stepping up he drills the

looking he’s stepping up he drills the

looking he’s stepping up he drills the football

football

football [Applause]

all of Veterans Stadium held their

all of Veterans Stadium held their collective breath when Randall

collective breath when Randall

collective breath when Randall Cunningham was briefly injured but

Cunningham was briefly injured but

Cunningham was briefly injured but backups Don Macpherson and Matt

backups Don Macpherson and Matt

backups Don Macpherson and Matt Cavanaugh number six can come to the

Cavanaugh number six can come to the

Cavanaugh number six can come to the rescue and called upon Cavanaugh

rescue and called upon Cavanaugh

rescue and called upon Cavanaugh on third down backs up looks floats it

on third down backs up looks floats it

on third down backs up looks floats it for the endzone

Eagles late by ten but do not feel safe

Eagles late by ten but do not feel safe yet

yet

yet [Applause]

[Applause]

[Applause] back coast out again he’s pumping he’s

back coast out again he’s pumping he’s

back coast out again he’s pumping he’s going deep it is intercepted

going deep it is intercepted

going deep it is intercepted devil

devil

devil [Applause]

and now you can feel safe the

and now you can feel safe the Philadelphia Eagles were now tied for

Philadelphia Eagles were now tied for

Philadelphia Eagles were now tied for the NFC East lead with three games to go

I’m Delta Q imitating me again I’m gonna

I’m Delta Q imitating me again I’m gonna knock you out all right and if you’re

knock you out all right and if you’re

knock you out all right and if you’re wondering who John tell chick is he was

wondering who John tell chick is he was

wondering who John tell chick is he was our punter and this he just always used

our punter and this he just always used

our punter and this he just always used to imitate different guys on the team

to imitate different guys on the team

to imitate different guys on the team really got honours anyway I show that

really got honours anyway I show that

really got honours anyway I show that because there I was I went from someone

because there I was I went from someone

because there I was I went from someone that was out of work I was out of

that was out of work I was out of

that was out of work I was out of football and brought back onto the team

football and brought back onto the team

football and brought back onto the team and had to had to come in and play a

and had to had to come in and play a

and had to had to come in and play a leadership role basically take the

leadership role basically take the

leadership role basically take the person’s place the best player on the

person’s place the best player on the

person’s place the best player on the team had to take his place and and do

team had to take his place and and do

team had to take his place and and do that job and so that was really a

that job and so that was really a

that job and so that was really a defining moment for certainly for me

defining moment for certainly for me

defining moment for certainly for me okay so my coach this man his name is

okay so my coach this man his name is

okay so my coach this man his name is buddy Ryan and he was a really dynamic

buddy Ryan and he was a really dynamic

buddy Ryan and he was a really dynamic leader very very brash he was he was a

leader very very brash he was he was a

leader very very brash he was he was a lot different than my mom but he was he

lot different than my mom but he was he

lot different than my mom but he was he was such a doesn’t he look like a mean

was such a doesn’t he look like a mean

was such a doesn’t he look like a mean guy but but he was he really taught me a

guy but but he was he really taught me a

guy but but he was he really taught me a lot about preparation and having vision

lot about preparation and having vision

lot about preparation and having vision and I always will respect him he passed

and I always will respect him he passed

and I always will respect him he passed away also I believe it was last year but

away also I believe it was last year but

away also I believe it was last year but he was beloved a beloved leader and and

he was beloved a beloved leader and and

he was beloved a beloved leader and and and just person in the NFL that was so

and just person in the NFL that was so

and just person in the NFL that was so well respected so I wanted to talk a

well respected so I wanted to talk a

well respected so I wanted to talk a little bit about leadership and and how

little bit about leadership and and how

little bit about leadership and and how that how that plays itself out here at

that how that plays itself out here at

that how that plays itself out here at your school so I can see that the

your school so I can see that the

your school so I can see that the mission or we can all see that Santa

mission or we can all see that Santa

mission or we can all see that Santa catalunya Santa Catalina exists to

catalunya Santa Catalina exists to

catalunya Santa Catalina exists to develop each student in striving for

develop each student in striving for

develop each student in striving for accident a maturing awareness of moral

accident a maturing awareness of moral

accident a maturing awareness of moral and spiritual values a sense of

and spiritual values a sense of

and spiritual values a sense of responsible purposes and determination

responsible purposes and determination

responsible purposes and determination to serve the world with courage

to serve the world with courage

to serve the world with courage graciousness and compassion that’s a

graciousness and compassion that’s a

graciousness and compassion that’s a powerful mission statement

powerful mission statement

powerful mission statement and so with that said obviously it’s

and so with that said obviously it’s

and so with that said obviously it’s been said earlier the the leadership

been said earlier the the leadership

been said earlier the the leadership here at this school is doing a fantastic

here at this school is doing a fantastic

here at this school is doing a fantastic job just creating that environment for

job just creating that environment for

job just creating that environment for you in just the way that everybody’s

you in just the way that everybody’s

you in just the way that everybody’s conducted themselves in there and the

conducted themselves in there and the

conducted themselves in there and the way that I’ve interacted and got to meet

way that I’ve interacted and got to meet

way that I’ve interacted and got to meet a few of you just very impressive things

a few of you just very impressive things

a few of you just very impressive things happening here so just kind of a popcorn

happening here so just kind of a popcorn

happening here so just kind of a popcorn thing some of the things that who are

thing some of the things that who are

thing some of the things that who are your leaders here who actually are the

your leaders here who actually are the

your leaders here who actually are the leaders in this at the school I’m here

leaders in this at the school I’m here

leaders in this at the school I’m here to learn – pretty good role models okay

to learn – pretty good role models okay

to learn – pretty good role models okay so what is it what are some of the

so what is it what are some of the

so what is it what are some of the things about all these people that just

things about all these people that just

things about all these people that just give you the great peace of mind and

give you the great peace of mind and

give you the great peace of mind and lets you know that they’re leaders

they’re poised poised and always under

they’re poised poised and always under control know what’s going on good

control know what’s going on good

control know what’s going on good anything they’re caring they actually

anything they’re caring they actually

anything they’re caring they actually care about and have a special interest

care about and have a special interest

care about and have a special interest in your life absolutely what else

they’re respectful respect goes both

they’re respectful respect goes both ways doesn’t it and you can see that it

ways doesn’t it and you can see that it

ways doesn’t it and you can see that it resonates throughout the campus great

resonates throughout the campus great

resonates throughout the campus great answers the other thing they also have

answers the other thing they also have

answers the other thing they also have to make sure that you’re safe on campus

to make sure that you’re safe on campus

to make sure that you’re safe on campus don’t they that’s important there are

don’t they that’s important there are

don’t they that’s important there are parents in the room I’m sure they can

parents in the room I’m sure they can

parents in the room I’m sure they can attest to that they have to take care of

attest to that they have to take care of

attest to that they have to take care of the school ground make sure that it’s

the school ground make sure that it’s

the school ground make sure that it’s that it’s well-maintained and it’s at

that it’s well-maintained and it’s at

that it’s well-maintained and it’s at the level of Santa Catalina so that’s

the level of Santa Catalina so that’s

the level of Santa Catalina so that’s also very important and also storing the

also very important and also storing the

also very important and also storing the good reputation of the school I put this

good reputation of the school I put this

good reputation of the school I put this this person up on the screen just to

this person up on the screen just to

this person up on the screen just to kind of close out with my with what I do

kind of close out with my with what I do

kind of close out with my with what I do I work at Boys and Girls Clubs of

I work at Boys and Girls Clubs of

I work at Boys and Girls Clubs of Monterey County now and it’s a job that

Monterey County now and it’s a job that

Monterey County now and it’s a job that I’ve done for 25 years now

I’ve done for 25 years now

I’ve done for 25 years now and I take tremendous satisfaction and

and I take tremendous satisfaction and

and I take tremendous satisfaction and working in that job because the people

working in that job because the people

working in that job because the people that have passed through those clubhouse

that have passed through those clubhouse

that have passed through those clubhouse doors have gone on to do some fantastic

doors have gone on to do some fantastic

doors have gone on to do some fantastic things lots of success stories and this

things lots of success stories and this

things lots of success stories and this is one of them so these are the reasons

is one of them so these are the reasons

is one of them so these are the reasons that I do what I do this young man’s

that I do what I do this young man’s

that I do what I do this young man’s name is Anthony wills and I met him when

name is Anthony wills and I met him when

name is Anthony wills and I met him when he was 10 years old he was quite quiet

he was 10 years old he was quite quiet

he was 10 years old he was quite quiet and somewhat unassuming as well and he

and somewhat unassuming as well and he

and somewhat unassuming as well and he was a musician very talented violinist

was a musician very talented violinist

was a musician very talented violinist and he also was interested in technology

and he also was interested in technology

and he also was interested in technology and he’s always interested in science so

and he’s always interested in science so

and he’s always interested in science so we encouraged him at the club just to go

we encouraged him at the club just to go

we encouraged him at the club just to go through these these programs and and be

through these these programs and and be

through these these programs and and be involved and encouraged him and he ended

involved and encouraged him and he ended

involved and encouraged him and he ended up at Monterey High School where my mom

up at Monterey High School where my mom

up at Monterey High School where my mom was principal at the time and from there

was principal at the time and from there

was principal at the time and from there he went on to Stanford and then went to

he went on to Stanford and then went to

he went on to Stanford and then went to med school became a pediatrician and

med school became a pediatrician and

med school became a pediatrician and he’s now he’s now a pediatrician in

he’s now he’s now a pediatrician in

he’s now he’s now a pediatrician in Sacramento for Kaiser Permanente and

Sacramento for Kaiser Permanente and

Sacramento for Kaiser Permanente and he’s just somebody that’s that’s a great

he’s just somebody that’s that’s a great

he’s just somebody that’s that’s a great example of what can happen when people

example of what can happen when people

example of what can happen when people in leadership are there to give kids the

in leadership are there to give kids the

in leadership are there to give kids the resources that they need and the and the

resources that they need and the and the

resources that they need and the and the people in leadership support them like

people in leadership support them like

people in leadership support them like like I said earlier so I just want to

like I said earlier so I just want to

like I said earlier so I just want to close out with just encouraging you to

close out with just encouraging you to

close out with just encouraging you to whatever causes that you’re passionate

whatever causes that you’re passionate

whatever causes that you’re passionate about that as we said earlier don’t

about that as we said earlier don’t

about that as we said earlier don’t don’t do nothing make sure that you

don’t do nothing make sure that you

don’t do nothing make sure that you pursue that passion make sure that you

pursue that passion make sure that you

pursue that passion make sure that you contribute something to the world

contribute something to the world

contribute something to the world that’s that’s great and you might think

that’s that’s great and you might think

that’s that’s great and you might think that it’s just a small thing but that

that it’s just a small thing but that

that it’s just a small thing but that ripple that little small thing might

ripple that little small thing might

ripple that little small thing might cause a ripple effect that changes the

cause a ripple effect that changes the

cause a ripple effect that changes the world and we certainly need new leaders

world and we certainly need new leaders

world and we certainly need new leaders we need great leaders in the world today

we need great leaders in the world today

we need great leaders in the world today during these times so thank you for your

during these times so thank you for your

during these times so thank you for your attention and god bless you

attention and god bless you

attention and god bless you you

”

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