The Power of Perseverance: Lessons from Inky Johnson with Dr. Fred Johnson on the Leadership Initiative Podcast

At InitiativeOne Leadership Institute, we believe the best leadership lessons aren’t found in theory but lived every day, in moments that test conviction and shape character. Each month, Dr. Fred Johnson sits down with leaders who have walked through adversity and emerged stronger, sharing raw and practical wisdom that shapes how we lead today. Through our Leadership Initiative Podcast and monthly Think Tanks, we explore what real transformation looks like, up close and in motion.

“The impact of our lives is never by luck. It’s never by accident. It’s based upon the choices and convictions we hold as sacred.”- Dr. Fred Johnson

It’s a truth every leader eventually learns: impact isn’t random. It grows out of conviction, consistency, and the choices we make when life doesn’t go according to plan.

Dr. Fred went on to describe what separates people who make lasting impact from those who merely survive their circumstances. “There are so many fatalists who live today with the mindset, ‘Life sucks. You get up, you go through the routines, and then you die.’ And they get what they look for.”

Read on to hear how he and Inky Johnson challenge that fatalism, not with false optimism or forced smiles, but with the kind of grit that simply says, “Just get me through the next hour.”

When Adversity Becomes the Turning Point

For former University of Tennessee defensive back Inky Johnson, that hour came on September 9, 2006. One moment, he was a rising NFL prospect; the next, a routine tackle left him paralyzed in his right arm and fighting for his life. The injury ended his football dreams, but it ignited a mission that would impact hundreds of thousands.

Inky grew up in a two-bedroom home with fourteen family members and a dream to reach the NFL. He became a team captain at Tennessee, then one play changed everything. Surgeons worked to save his life, but his future would never look the same. “My preparation was the same,” he recalls, “but the outcome was totally different.” That realization forced a deeper search: if life isn’t a quest for power or prestige, what is it for? Meaning.

Finding Meaning in the Mess

That question became the heartbeat of this conversation. Together, Dr. Fred and Inky explore how leaders can respond when life shifts without warning. Inky describes “capturing meaning” as a deliberate act, not something that happens once but something you practice again and again. The response, not the event, becomes the defining force.

Dr. Fred reflects that same truth back to listeners. Leadership, he says, is not about avoiding hardship but finding the growth inside it. “The impact of our lives is never by luck. It’s never by accident. It’s based upon the choices and convictions we hold as sacred.”

Healing, as both men acknowledge, is rarely linear. It comes with doubt, delay, and discomfort. But those very moments- the messy, uncertain ones- become the training ground for resilience. As Inky puts it, the discipline is simple but not easy: stop negotiating with adversity and start learning from it. Be where your feet are. Don’t waste the experience.

Lessons in Grace and Grit

One of the most powerful exchanges comes when Dr. Fred asks about unsupportive people- the ones who drain hope instead of offering it. Inky’s response carries wisdom for every leader: lead from your principles, not your emotions. “We don’t treat people based on how they treat us,” he says. “We treat them based on who we are.” That mindset creates space for empathy, grace, and composure, which are skills as vital in a boardroom as in recovery.

Dr. Fred adds a leadership dimension: in a world full of offense and outrage, peace comes from self-mastery. The real test of character isn’t what we do when things go our way; it’s how we act when they don’t.

The Power of Belief in the Struggle

The conversation ends where most transformations begin: with belief. Not blind positivity, but a quiet conviction that good can emerge even from hardship. “Everyone has a plan until life punches you in the mouth,” Inky laughs, quoting Mike Tyson. “You’ve got to stay fully committed to the belief that things will work out, even when it’s hard.”

Dr. Fred calls this the essence of impact: perseverance that isn’t about smiling through pain but choosing to move forward one inch at a time. Together, their dialogue reminds us that courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes it just whispers, “I’ll try again tomorrow.”

Leadership Takeaways for Today

●      [1] Choose meaning with intention. You can’t always control what happens, but you can control the story you tell yourself about it.

●      Practice gratitude in motion. Let appreciation show up not just in words but in how you lead, decide, and respond.

●      Lead from principle, not reaction. Integrity under pressure is the truest test of influence.

●      Create space for grace. Slow down before judgment. Assume good intent and watch trust grow.

●      Redefine courage. It’s not the absence of fear, but it’s the quiet willingness to take the next step when no one’s watching.

Listen to the Full Conversation

If this conversation stirred something in you, take time to hear the full story in Inky’s own words. His reflections on faith, gratitude, and perseverance are even more powerful in voice than on the page.

This conversation will stay with you. Hear the full episode with Dr. Fred Johnson and Inky Johnson and share it with someone who needs hope today.

Watch on YouTube: Inky Johnson: Finding Hope & Purpose in Life’s Toughest Moments

Listen on Spotify: The Leadership Initiative Podcast – Inky Johnson Episode

Want to Continue Pushing Your Leadership Journey Even Further?

At InitiativeOne, conversations like this fuel the work we do every day: helping leaders turn courage, clarity, and candor into lasting transformation. Join us at our next Leadership Think Tank to continue the conversation and experience what growth in community looks like.

@Nicholas@nbmsllc.com May be redundant, but I know sometimes people (including me as a reader on a blog) want to see the quick bullet points rather than reading it in the paragraphs...