My Best SHIFT

S5:E6: Living in Purpose, Faith & Service (with Ramall Johnson)

• Hosted By: Chantée Christian • Season 5 • Episode 6

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Join Chantée Christian as she sits down with Ramall Johnson, a man whose journey exemplifies living with purpose, faith, and service. From mortgage lending to managing an Apple store and now Wells Fargo, Ramall shares how each step has been guided by a deep commitment to serving others.

In this episode, Ramall reflects on the distinction between hard work and obedience to God’s calling, challenging us to consider whether we’re simply working hard or truly following divine guidance. He also emphasizes the importance of surrounding ourselves with the right people during moments of doubt, as they can either fuel our success or serve as an excuse for failure.

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Chantée Christian:

Welcome to the my Best Shift Podcast. I'm your host, Chantée Christian. In today's episode, I'll be talking about purpose, faith and the power of staying true to your calling with Ramall. Hi Ramall, how are you doing today?

Ramall Johnson:

Fantastic. How are you?

Chantée Christian:

I'm doing great. So before we get too far into our conversation today, why don't you tell the people a little bit about yourself?

Ramall Johnson:

Sure, absolutely. My name is Ramall Johnson. I currently live in Houston, texas, but I'm originally a native of Louisiana. I've moved to Texas probably about 15 years ago or so, so been here at that time. Currently I work with Wells Fargo as a branch manager, been with those guys for five years. For the decade prior to that, I actually ran an Apple store out here.

Chantée Christian:

Every time you say Apple, I get excited. Wells Fargo maybe not so much, but I won't go there today. And I think that it's really cool how we met, because I wouldn't say that it was expected. Why don't you tell them your version of how we met and then I'll tell my version of how we met.

Ramall Johnson:

I noticed how you put that my version and your version. Let's just go with the true version, which will probably be mine. Well, for the people who don't know, we were at a conference it was actually a church conference out here in Houston, texas, and this conference had tons of people who were there and so as we get there, everyone's checking in. They're trying to get organized, to see where the lines are. I happen to see someone causing a ruckus in line. I won't say her name, but she's running this podcast right now and so I am a natural character. So you know, when I see people with that energy, I'm kind of drawn to them. So you know, I'll be truthful, I got in line and I started being messy and you know, just picking with them and the people around and really just having a great time. But from there this connection was formed and it's been like that ever since.

Chantée Christian:

So you know perception is real. Ok, because actually our mutual friend, who is also a former podcast guest and friend of the podcast, jd, and I were at this conference together and she was walking up to people randomly asking them if they knew where we were supposed to go to get into the building.

Chantée Christian:

You just so happen to be one of those people that she walked up to and then the foolishness ensued I was minding my business you were an innocent bystander always, always, and and then, next thing you know, she's sitting there telling you all of my business and I was like she did so when she listens back to this, I'm sure she's gonna have her version of the story, correct, correct.

Chantée Christian:

Let's give her a shout out what up jd always, always, what I loved about the conference because, yes, it was a church-based conference. However, it was heavy on walking in your purpose, right. It was heavy on releasing the things that have been holding you back in order to be true to what you've heard, right, and when I say what you've heard, what you've heard from God, what did you actually hear him say and how are you moving? In that and through that, I learned that you had this desire to write and we had, like, these amazing conversations about your ideas around children, books and all the things, and so, when I had the idea for Awareness Put Me On, it just felt like a course moment that you would be in Awareness Put Me On. I'm curious because what? It's been two years, I guess, since then, and so when you think about your life and how things have transitioned and transformed over that time, what's been going on with you?

Ramall Johnson:

Oh, yes, there's definitely been a lot that has been going on. You know from that time what's been going on with you. Oh yes, there's definitely been a lot that has been going on. You know, from that time I've, since gotten married so got married at the end of last year in November been doing a lot of traveling as well. Also, my wife and I we opened up two additional businesses as well that we're currently working on right now. Open up two additional businesses as well that we're currently working on right now. You know we are working on an invention that we patented. There's two patents on it right now. So in the process of getting that up and running and out in the stores also. So definitely a full life and honestly attempting to, as you said walk in that purpose.

Chantée Christian:

So if you were to articulate your purpose for us, what would that be?

Ramall Johnson:

As in us. Give me that my personal purpose in terms of what I feel God has me here for.

Chantée Christian:

I mean listen, we're here. Yes, we are here. So whatever it is that, is coming up.

Ramall Johnson:

That's what we want to know.

Chantée Christian:

We are here, so whatever it is that is coming up. That's what we want to know.

Ramall Johnson:

Absolutely so for me. You know, honestly, I have always, even as a child, as I wrote in a book, I was never that individual. When you asked you know, what do you want to do, what do you want to be for a living, there was never an answer that I had that felt genuine or felt true to myself, Not that I couldn't do it. So you asked do you want to be a doctor? I could say yes, I could do it, but that never felt right in my heart. Attorney, astronaut, fireman, all those things you say never rang as part of my purpose.

Ramall Johnson:

The one thing that, honestly, was clear and evident in everything that I did was I wanted to help people and in some capacity I wanted to be able to help, whether that's inspire people, whether that's motivate, whether that's provide direction, whether that's be that little push in that moment when they may have this just inkling of doubt that's there, that's about to take seed, to hopefully be the one that help kind of yank that up before it takes root.

Ramall Johnson:

And so, for me, everything that I do has been guided in terms of how can I help someone and truly help them. So you know, one of my personal philosophies is anyone who is in your life right now. If you are not a positive influence in them whether that's physically, mentally, spiritually, financially, emotionally if their life is not better because you're there, then why are you there? And that's the way that I try to live my life every single day. That's also in terms of how I look at the people who are in my life. I want to make sure that I'm surrounding myself with people who add value to my life. There's enough craziness and negativity in the world that you don't need to bring that into your inner circle.

Chantée Christian:

Yeah, I love that. It also reminds me of an offline conversation that we've had around Job and around how it applies to now, right, and how it applies to staying steadfast, because I think about purpose and, as a coach, a lot of people come to me like, how did you know? And, as a coach, a lot of people come to me like how did you know? And I'm like it didn't happen overnight and there was a lot of resistance to it. Right, it was a whole, whole lot of resistance, because that wasn't what I saw to be true. It wasn't that I didn't believe it to be true, it wasn't that it didn't happen over and over again as proof of truth. But my acceptance of the truth was different, right, and so when you're talking about, you never were the person to be like, oh, I want to be this when I grow up that inspiring others and being of service and being in community was something that you were able to do without being a title.

Ramall Johnson:

Very good question. You know, honestly, as I think back to it I think back to kind of how I was brought up my grandparents played a big role in bringing along with my mom, and they all had this servant mentality and my entire life I grew up seeing them help people. I grew up seeing them. It didn't matter how exhausted they were, how tired they were, they would always be willing to help people and that's something that was instilled in me, observing that as a child, it just was naturally a part of what I expected you were supposed to do. If someone needs help, you help. You know, someone would go to my grandmother nearly me or my grandfather Carol, or my mom Loretta, and they need help. Guess what? They got help and it didn't matter if they were exhausted, it didn't matter if they were tired, it didn't matter if they had just worked a 12-hour shift. If they had the capacity to help, then they would help. And so for me, that was kind of the natural flow of what I saw, and as children we often imitate what we have seen, which is why it's definitely important that we are setting the right example for our kids.

Ramall Johnson:

And so, as I matured and got older and really having a different career path that I've taken throughout my lifetime. I mean different career path that I've taken throughout my lifetime. I mean I've done everything from mortgages to sold a million dollars worth of chemicals to run an electronic store financing as well, and that true north. In every single one of those endeavors there's been certain people that I've been drawn to, that I've gravitated to, that I've been able to hopefully help. There's strangers who I've met that honestly, even after having conversations with them, they would literally tell me I don't know why I initially came here today, but I'm glad I did and there was something that I was able to hopefully share with them that helped them. And again, that just goes part of just what I've always believed. I think that everybody you meet, there's usually a couple of things that's supposed to happen. There's something you're supposed to learn from them, there's something you are supposed to help them with as well. And as long as you're doing those two things, then you're moving in the right direction.

Chantée Christian:

Oh, I like this, so OK, so stay there for a second. So those two things, everyone that you meet, you're supposed to help them with something, and what was the that you meet? You're supposed to help them with something, and what was the?

Ramall Johnson:

There's something that you're supposed to learn from them Okay. It should be a almost symbiotic relationship, and that could be something that you learn about them or, honestly, something that you learn about yourself.

Chantée Christian:

Okay, okay, okay. So because you know why not? So our relationship us from what you know now, right, how would you apply us to that?

Ramall Johnson:

Absolutely. I could tell honestly from the very first time we met and I really think back to those conversations we had, literally from the very first conversation we had down after that first session and it was over with and we went to that little spot. It was just a group of us and we sat there and talked and I heard your passion for what you do. Literally I heard it and it was almost that you could not just hear it, but you felt it and you really saw an individual who was committed to the career path that they have chosen, that they were in this mode of conquering the world, which I know you're still in, and you know seeing that is inspirational.

Ramall Johnson:

Like I told you, I always try to surround myself with people who add to your life, and so the people who I choose to surround myself with are individuals who they may be excelling in different areas of their life or they may have that fire or that drive that. You see it, iron sharpens iron and you want to be in association with those individuals who are driven like that. So, for you, what I took away from it is that drive that you had, that fearlessness that you had as well. I don't even want to say fearlessness, because you will have fear but you will push through it and you're willing to take those actions and those steps to push through it, to achieve whatever that goal is that you were looking to accomplish.

Ramall Johnson:

I saw the work ethic that you put in, like you literally wearing 27 hats doing 97 things at the same time. Twenty seven hats doing ninety seven things at the same time. So all of those were things that, as I see them, and things that, as I look at, those qualities that help make people successful, those are some of the things that I definitely attribute to you and people are successful. And so, again, seeing that and observing that, those are qualities that I'm like you know, I love that. Let me observe, let me be that sponge kind of steel and take away from that as well.

Chantée Christian:

I love that and we're going to be using that as a clip just to let you know. No, I really do appreciate that, and I remember that night too and it's always interesting what people see and what people hear and what people feel because I felt in that moment right, full transparency, that I was up against the wall. I felt like I was fighting for my life in the eighth round, and what you saw as passion, I heard and felt as desperation, and so that is a reminder to me too, that just because I'm experiencing something doesn't mean that it's still not beneficial for someone else in one way, shape or form. But it looked like you were about to say something.

Ramall Johnson:

Yeah, I want you to think about. So we talked about what I took from you. What did I say? My purpose was for me.

Chantée Christian:

To help people.

Ramall Johnson:

To help people To literally see. So with you I felt that too. So I felt, like you said, that sense of desperation, but that was small compared to the passion that I saw and for me, I knew there are always moments in life that we have where we will sit there and we will question can I do this? Can I do this, like I've been trying? I want to get this done. Do I have it within me to continue pushing? That is a critical moment in most people's lives, and what a lot of people don't understand is who you surround yourself with in those moments can either determine your success or be the excuse for your failure or quitting for sure and so for me, seeing you, I felt that that was a moment for me to hopefully speak life, and not just speak life, but honestly hold up the mirror yeah, because.

Ramall Johnson:

I think there are times where we get so just engrossed in everything we're doing and there's that old saying you can't see the forest for the trees and everything that I saw you, because you were focused, like we said, on 27 things. You did not see the totality of all that you were, and so, for me, the only thing that I tried to do with you is, even in those moments, is you know, how could I be encouraging, how could I be uplifting, how could I push to be you? Do you unapologetically, do you?

Chantée Christian:

Yeah, no, and I appreciate that and I remember that too, because I remember saying okay, maybe I won't go burn down their building because anybody that knows, me knows. I'm quick to say I'm gonna go burn something down. I'm really not, I know.

Ramall Johnson:

the only thing I'm burning is some candles and some sage, maybe a little Palo Palo Santo.

Chantée Christian:

But it's one of the first thing I'm like. I want to burn it down because I feel like when you burn things down, it gives it an opportunity to regrow.

Ramall Johnson:

Unless you get arrested first.

Chantée Christian:

You know I mean small things. Small things, no, but it's also one of those moments where I think it's important to remember that if you're really walking in your purpose, it's not always roses and rainbows and butterflies. And when you have an opportunity like so, I started off saying JD told you all my business when she sat down and. I was like ma'am, because I believe in, so I believe it down to my core that you got to be so careful with who you share your vision with.

Ramall Johnson:

Absolutely.

Chantée Christian:

Especially when you're on rocky terms.

Ramall Johnson:

Absolutely.

Chantée Christian:

And part of me going to this conference for me was to get stable, because I felt really waffly and not about my purpose. But am I supposed to be doing this right? Is this really the calling that I heard, or is this a calling that I paid up? Do I have pieces of it? Am I playing it small or like all of the things? And for those listening, I was getting ready to record for the TV show, so we were a month away from recording for the TV show. So we were a month away from recording for the TV show and I had all of the angst that could come along with preparing and just being in a space where holy smokes like I get the opportunity to go do a TV show, say what, say who, how, when, where, and then I'm supposed to have all those answers. So I was like what in the hell is answers?

Ramall Johnson:

Heavy is the head that wears the crown.

Chantée Christian:

My God and I wanted to put the crown down. Ok, and so I remember that, but I also remember, clear as day, you saying, well, what's stopping you from doing it? I was like, oh well, let me tell you. However, as I was saying it, I was like, okay, wait a minute, these aren't really barriers, right? I mean, some of them felt very barrier like. However, they weren't things that were going to stop me from doing what I had already committed to what me into the process because I had gotten so bogged down in.

Chantée Christian:

These are all the things I got to do. This is just my god, somebody come else. I don't have anybody else, I don't have money for everything else, and then get out of the what I don't have and then really focus on what I do have. So that part I really do appreciate that and I just I remember just that whole conference. Like I left there sick the only person out of a I don't know 10 person crew sick and I was like how does this work? I was like, okay, god, you're detoxing me.

Ramall Johnson:

I guess that's what it is.

Chantée Christian:

But no, I do. I recall that and I also recall you having, which I mentioned earlier, a vision that we talked about and, if I recall correctly, what have you done with that vision?

Ramall Johnson:

That vision is still going, so I have still been writing and, truthfully, with the, just where we are right now, I think it's more important than ever being able to empower kids to see themselves throughout not just this world, but throughout history, and truly understanding the contribution that our people have made to this world. This world, and regardless of whether or not that's shielded or that's hidden, we have to provide those avenues for kids to learn that and provide it in a way and a manner in which they can not only see the story but see themselves in the story, and there's an inspiration that comes from that, and kids are willing then to maybe fight through some of the adversity that they see.

Chantée Christian:

Yeah, I think it's important too, because I kind of like how we were talking about earlier, I had never seen someone look like me, with my background, do the things I have been talking and dreaming about doing, and so there wasn't this wild space of it's possible, of it's possible, and so for you to author books and create spaces where youth can see themselves, I think is really impactful, because the buzzwords around representation and seeing yourself, yes, and it really is important to be able to see yourself in spaces, to even dream or know that they're possible.

Ramall Johnson:

Absolutely. I can look back honestly through my life and there were key individuals at different moments in my life that I saw, who looked like me, who spoke like me, who would achieve levels of success that, when I saw it, it inspired me, it gave me the confidence that, hey, I could do that too. And not only did it give me the confidence, they also imported that confidence in me as well by speaking life into me and encouraging me to push forward. And you know just, hey, man, you can do this too.

Ramall Johnson:

And I think that's one of the things that is vital, especially with kids coming up, and not even kids, but even adults a certain standpoint too, because adults have those same fears, they have those same doubts, and if they have not seen an example of an individual who's doing it, especially one who looks like them, then there's this belief that, oh, I can't do that, oh, that's beyond my reach. And the reality is, nothing is beyond your reach. Because if you're willing to put work to it and if God has it in his plan for you to do, then that's something that can't happen. We just have to have that faith to push forward and to do the work, to gain the knowledge and press on until we get to it.

Chantée Christian:

Yeah, I agree and I feel like God has a funny sense of humor. That's not really that funny sometimes.

Ramall Johnson:

Oh, he does, he does.

Chantée Christian:

And so I feel like sometimes it's less of us doing the work and more of us being obedient. Right, because sometimes he just wants us to do a thing. Right, because sometimes he just wants us to do a thing, and if we do a thing, then everything else opens up. So often we are afraid to give up something Right, wonder why, on the other side, the reward doesn't seem like we thought it should, or the favor isn't where it ought to be, and a lot of times it's because we didn't do what we were told to do. Right, and so there was a time where I thought hard work meant that you get certain levels within organizations, it meant that you got certain recognition. No, no, no. Yes, you work hard, yes, you have a hard work ethic. However, to what extent are you obedient? Absolutely, to what extent are you?

Ramall Johnson:

obedient, absolutely For me. I love that too, because I've always said this that God will never send your blessings to where you are. He's going to send your blessings to where he told you to be. Oh, and if you do not move where he tells you to be, then those blessings is not there. Not there, they are where they're supposed to be. You just aren't aligned with what he told you to do.

Ramall Johnson:

And a lot of that comes with obedience, a lot of that comes with. You know, as you shared, we often think that we can work our way to it. We've all have that Frank Sinatra complex, I call it. I did it my way, and we think we can move forward, push through it and get to it. When God told you, do this one thing, yeah, and when you do that one thing, as you shared, those other doors will open up for you. And not only will other doors open up for you, but when you and this is a little Bible now, habakkuk 2.2,.

Ramall Johnson:

It says write the vision and make it plain so that others who see it will run with it. And make it plain so that others who see it will run with it. So when you are clear in terms of what you're trying to do, there are other people who will come alongside you, not only support you, but push you and run with you as you're doing it. But a lot of that comes with obedience and it's a matter of okay. God, I know this is what I want, but is that what he wants? And if your want doesn't align with his want, which want is going to win out? Because only one is going to work out good for you, and that's the choice we all have to make internally with ourselves.

Chantée Christian:

Yeah, I like that.

Chantée Christian:

I love the part B of that scripture because so often we only stick to the write it down and make it plain write it down and make it plain and forgetting that the write it down and make it plain isn't for us, it's for the other people to understand, so that they too can come along, and it's a reminder to me for a few things that I got going on. However, it's also even when you were talking about when we first met right. I had wrote it down and made it so clear that, when I was able to articulate it in a way that there was no mistake about what I was doing, right, even though I may have been feeling waffly I was on solid ground.

Ramall Johnson:

Right. There's one other thing too about that, as you mentioned, that feeling of waffling. I've always believed this If your dream is small enough that you can accomplish it on your own, it's not a dream. That dream has to be big enough that it scares you, and it has to be big enough that it requires God to step in and do what only he can do, because I don't think he ever intended any of us to play small. He gets no glory by us being small of us to play small.

Ramall Johnson:

He gets no glory by us being small. He gets glory by us magnifying his name, doing the work, impacting the world positively and, through that, allowing people to see what he's able to do in not only our lives but, by extension, their lives.

Chantée Christian:

Who in the world thought we were going to have Bible study? What in the world is going on now?

Ramall Johnson:

Look, I got Bible study coming up in about an hour or so. What is this? I'm getting ready.

Chantée Christian:

And, in all seriousness, right, because I believe that we are. We're not linear, right, and so it's also really important to have a full awareness of where you derive you from. So, for people who are not Christians and or not believers, what I want them to hear from this conversation is that you got to get grounded in your what and understand the why, in order to keep going, to keep pushing to stay in consistency, because it's not about perfection, it's not about the hard work. I know it doesn't sound like it, trust me, it's not about the hard work, it is about consistency.

Chantée Christian:

It is about staying true to who you are when you figure out who you are when you figure out why you're here.

Ramall Johnson:

when you figure out all of those things, Then what One thing that I always do, especially when I'm training my staff the primary focus that we have, being in the industry I am, which is finance and servicing and helping people. It's really how outwardly focused are you? Are you really observant of the individuals who are coming in, who you're entrusted to help? And then, based upon that, what are those principles that we have set forth in terms of expectations, of how you are expected to show up every single day, how you're expected to help these individuals and work with these individuals and really make a positive impact in their life? And that's truly understanding what is the true north that we have in terms of how we're going to guide and direct every interaction we have. And then, once you have that, you have that clear baseline that you can then look at your interactions that you have with people. Ok, does that align with what that true north is? You can look at those activities that you have and do when no one's looking. Does that align with what that true north is?

Ramall Johnson:

And that's an integrity thing. At that point, you know, are you true to who you say you are? Are you true to who you say you want to be? Point, you know. Are you true to who you say you are, are you true to who you say you want to be? And that same person that you are when no one's looking should be the same person you are when you're on stage. And there's a level of authenticity that comes with that and you know some people call it realness and that's that genuineness that you have, that how you present and show yourself to the world every single day, so that you don't feel like you're wearing a mask, but you are genuinely being yourself.

Chantée Christian:

Yeah, and I love that, because when you show up as you, that's when the real magic happens, that's when people are drawn to you, that's when people are amenable to what you have to say and how you can be of service to them and them to you, because every interaction, like you mentioned earlier, has an exchange and how the two people in the conversation or in the interaction are experiencing it differently. But that doesn't mean that both of you didn't take something away from it, and so I think that it's just really powerful to understand how you show up, how it's in alignment with who you are or who you think you are, and being okay and flexible enough to say there are opportunities for me to make some shifts and some changes here.

Ramall Johnson:

Absolutely, and when that version of who you think you are and who you really are does not align, that gives you, honestly, a great opportunity to really do some self work and figure out OK, this is who I say I want to be, but let's evaluate who I have been up to this moment and if this is who I've been and how I've shown up, what are those things that I immediately need to change in order to become that individual? There's a thing that I've done with friends and even with my kids. I'll show you how my mind works. I work backwards, you know. I tell each of them I forgot which book I got this from, but it said imagine you were attending your own funeral and there are four groups of people who are going to speak. One is your family, one is your friends, one is your church, one is maybe your coworkers.

Ramall Johnson:

What do you want those individuals to say about you and how present you were in their life, the impact you had in their life? And when you sit and you think about that, then you work your way backwards to today's time and it gives you a picture of how you need to show up in those interactions with the individuals at this current time and using that as kind of a guide to help you come to that realization of who you really want to be. Because who we are now is the product of our experiences. We've had individuals we've met, whether that's past traumas, past successes, books we've read. All of those things have an influence on us and we are beings who are meant to continue to grow, meant to continue to evolve, and we have power over that. And so are we taking those steps to become that individual who we want to be.

Chantée Christian:

Hmm, Because I'm so unserious. As soon as you started listing all those groups and people, I was like my God, that's about to be a long funeral. Now we're in the Southern hospitality I was like my. God that's a lot of groups of people.

Ramall Johnson:

Are we going to have one representative? And they got two minutes you know, I was like, oh, I don't know. You know how people do. There's a lot of love in that room.

Chantée Christian:

You know how your people do I do. You know how your people do I absolutely do, but. I like that. It's similar to a legacy question that I typically like to ask around what is the legacy that you want to leave? However, when I define legacy, it is not when you're dead and gone. It's about the imprints that you're leaving right now. And so when you think about right now, the legacy that you are leaving, the imprint that you're leaving on the world, what is that?

Ramall Johnson:

Absolutely. A couple of things. Definitely, number one as you know, I am a Christian. God is the head and the center of my life and as I continue to grow, continue to evolve, I recognize how little of me there is and how much more of him there is me there is and how much more of him there is. And so the legacy that I want to leave is that when people see me, they see a flawed individual who continually searches for him and continuously strives to get better every single day. I don't always get it perfect, like you said, it's not perfection, but it is progress and daily making that progress when it comes to that personal relationship that I have with him, hopefully pointing other people towards him as well, whether that's verbally or the example that I live.

Ramall Johnson:

The second thing I would say in terms of that legacy is the people who you have in your life. That's like I said earlier how are you showing up for those individuals? How are you there for those individuals in those moments when they need it? And even in those moments when they don't need it, are you making a positive impact, a positive influence in them to where they can look back and be like man? I'm so glad I met Ramon, like I am genuinely glad that he was there in that moment that I needed him, because we all need that. We all need those individuals who are willing to step in in those moments where we don't believe in our ourselves, maybe, or have the strength that we need to push forward. We need that support group of individuals who are there to help. And so when individuals think about me, even in this current day, I want them to feel that, and feel that from a genuine and personal connection that I have built and established with them.

Chantée Christian:

That's really it. Mine isn't as prolific. I remember Cicely Tyson did an interview and they asked her essentially like what's your legacy, or what's the legacy that you're leaving, something to that effect, and she said that I did a good job. And I would say, for me it's not just that I did a good job, but I did what was uncomfortable for me and sometimes uncomfortable for others, and I still held space Right.

Chantée Christian:

I know that every interaction with me is not a comfortable interaction. My job is not to make things comfortable. I am literally a disruptor, before I even had a name for it, like that's what I did, and so I understand that with that comes a responsibility, and I hope that by the time this airs it'll be the right. So, with these 42 years under my belt, as a disruptor that people know the intent and can embrace the impact, even if they didn't agree. And even if they didn't agree.

Chantée Christian:

Sorry, that was personal, yeah, personal, but like no, I love that though because, at the end of the day, I know without a shadow of a doubt that my purpose is to cultivate these spaces for growth, for inspired action and for change. And in order to do that, there has to be resistance. There has to be pushback Right, and so I want some people to be like, well, ok, she gone. And I want other people to be like you know what I remember when she was there, how and where you know.

Ramall Johnson:

I love that and really you hit it on the head because growth I don't think growth ever happens in comfort.

Ramall Johnson:

Oh God no, if you are too comfortable and it's flowing, I promise you you are not growing. If anything, you're probably dying at that point. So growth is never a byproduct of living in comfort. And you have to have that agitation, that thing that stretches your thoughts, stretches your expectation of what you think you can do, and that thing that obviously, at times would be like I don't even talk to you anymore. You need that individual or, like you said, that disruption to help you excel and grow.

Ramall Johnson:

There's one thing my wife Tracy said and she said it very early on and I paid attention to it, but I didn't. But there was a particular moment where it really stood out to me. She said you know, what Ramall people are watching is what she said, and what she meant by that is that God has an expectation of who we are supposed to be, how we're supposed to live and how we're supposed to present ourselves to the world. And I remember we were at a birthday party for a good friend of mine, adrian. His wife threw him a surprise birthday party, even though he wasn't surprised because he walked in there dressed to the nines, you know, looking good. Walked in there dressed to the nines, you know, looking good. And so we were at this party and they were playing some music and she and I were in kind of this real connection moment where, honestly, it felt like no one else was in this party.

Ramall Johnson:

And we're there dancing and laughing and talking to each other, and someone snapped this photo of us in that moment and neither did she or I see the individual who did it, and it's one of those things that crystallized the fact that there's always a lens on you, and how you show up in the world is going to inspire, is going to help, it's going to facilitate change.

Ramall Johnson:

You know, having, you know, my two kids, dale and Amaya one thing that I am always aware of is how do I look to them? You know, forget the world. How do I look within them? Have I lived a life where they see a man of integrity, where they see someone who's had adversity, someone who's had challenges, but someone who's always pushed through and someone who is willing to continue pushing through for goals and dream and to continue fighting? And so those are things that make up your character and make up who you are, and so I love that you shared that information about being that agitator, because I can definitely see that in you and I think that's honestly one of your biggest strengths, that you have as well.

Chantée Christian:

Yeah, only child yeah. It's only child. It does that, it does that. So I feel like this is a great spot to ask you my last question. We've covered a few things. We took the people to Bible study and brought them back, and so I'm curious what is it that you want to leave the people with?

Ramall Johnson:

For me, I always want to leave the people with. We often hear and see other people do things. We always see individuals from afar, and there are times where you see individuals who've had success or who've had failure, and there are lessons that can be learned in both, and so, for me, the thing that I would always leave to people is you know, when you evaluate your life, when you look at what you hold value with whether that's successful individuals you've seen or whether you have trauma or things that you've shrugged with throughout your life what are those lessons within each of those that you can gain and learn from to help you continue to move forward? Because it is about continuing to move forward. It is about, regardless of what climate is going on in the current world, how do you move forward with becoming your full and authentic self and really becoming that individual who you? When you were a little child, you made that promise to yourself that this is who I am going to be.

Ramall Johnson:

You made that promise to yourself that this is who I am going to be it may not have been a particular career, but it may be who, the type of person you wanted to be and people love. So how are you really striving and moving forward to that? And I would say for the people who are out there honestly, man, look at that every single day and look at that and celebrate those little wins too. A lot of times we get so bogged down with wanting that massive victory and we don't realize that. I made a little bit of growth every day over the last six months and when you look at how you were with the TV show, that pressure you felt, I would venture to say right now that wouldn't even be the case. You would probably get in there and get it done and be ready to move on to the next. And I think with us as we continue to grow and evolve, or we continuously pushing ourselves to move closer towards who we want to be and who we should be.

Chantée Christian:

That's good stuff. Thank you for being on my podcast with me.

Ramall Johnson:

Absolutely. I'm glad I made the cut. It's always one, it's always one.

Chantée Christian:

I enjoy talking with Ramall about embracing obedience, walking in faith, surrounding yourself with the right people, and how it can shape your journey. Thank you for joining us and remember to stop doing shit that doesn't serve you. For more information or if you'd like to reach out to us, visit at mybestshift underscore LLC on Instagram. See you later.