Conversations with Darrell Williams

Today we’d like to introduce you to Darrell Williams.

Hi Darrell, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My story is about service, and giving back to the world.

I grew up, as the youngest, in a 800 square foot house in Laclede County, Missouri. My parents both worked, remained married and raised five children in my child hood home. These times were the greatest of my life. My Momma sewed our clothes and my daddy taught me the value of hard work, and never giving up.

Three days after graduating high school in 1992 I entered the United States Marine Corps. After one tour of duty I returned back home to Missouri and took up residence in Springfield and began attending Southwest Missouri State University (SMSU) in the fall of 1997. I earned a bachelors degree in Psychology in 2001 and remained at SMSU until 2003 earning my Masters in Clinical Psychology with the first graduating class of Missouri State University.

I then spent 12 years of my life as a substance abuse counselor working at a hospital and having a private practice in Springfield. During these years I also taught Intro Psychology and developed a class called “Psychology of Addictions” which is still offered at the University.

In 2015 I was found by a head hunter and moved to Kansas City to help start a Nursing College in Overland Park. This went well but never took off and eventually I found myself back at the VA asking for advice and a career change where “people” were not the commodity. I was in a “burn out” period of my career. My goal was to control my time, my time with my children.

In 2017, with the help of the VA I started a Logistics Brokerage where I move freight for the Dept. Of Defense. I have done this work since this time.

In this work I have more freedom of my time to give back to the world I live in.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Looking back there were so many obstacles. I once read road blacks are placed in your life, only placed there, to see how serious you are about reaching your goal. Life is about figuring out how to get around, get through, our admit defeat and create a new road.

My advisor in college, Dr. David Dixon, gave me the greatest advice of my life, “follow your heart and money will chase you around, chase money and you will lose your heart.”

When I left the Marines I had picked up a terrible addiction to alcohol. By the time I was age 23 I had received a felony charge for drinking and driving. I had multiple charges which all involved alcohol. I went to a treatment center funded by the Missouri Deptartment of Corrections and have remained sober ever since (including weekends and holidays) – 28 years.

Addiction was my biggest roadblock of life without a doubt. Finding a recovery program and learning how to live life without a bottle, along with others who were battling the same demon was my new road.

Overcoming the past and the stigma associated with addiction was a struggle. I have been told so many times “you will never be able to accomplish this” and “with a legal past there is not sense in wasting your time”.

Never giving up got me to places where I could ask people to give me a chance based on who I am today. Many did, and many would not. So my story is about never quitting and trying to blaze a path, breaking the age old tradition of Annanomity and telling my story – so others can see it is possible. Not by my words but by seeing how I live my life. Leading by example.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
My work is about finding what I love doing and spending my days doing it better than anyone else in the business. Not measured by what others think about me, but challenging myself to be better today than I was yesterday.

I do not spend my days comparing myself, nor my team, to what others are doing. I set my own benchmarks. In everything I do I am cognizant of how my work is affecting other people and is my work making an impact on their lives.

I was once told a leader is somebody others want to follow. No matter the work I do I have never forgot this. How are my actions and my words affecting others lives.

No matter what the task at hand is, or the goal in the office, it can be done with kindness. And once we complete the task the celebration of celebrating others by telling them “great job” or a “pat on the back.”

So I guess I would say I specialize in kindness. Motivating others to self realize who they are, picking people up when they are down. An in my personal life giving back to my community so others can see the light of kindness in me.

Not telling people to do good, rather just doing good and others will see this. Even if they don’t follow it changes the culture I am in and they begin to help their neighbors in their own way.

Can you share something surprising about yourself?
In the early 2000’s I was part of an organization called the Missouri Recovery Network. An advocacy group for Recovery from Addiction in which our mission was to let the world know “Recovery from Addiction” is possible and it does exist.

Everyone knows a drunk and a drug addict, but few people know a recovering person due to the anonymity of recovery programs. We wanted to break this zeitgeist.

We would find news stories and then be asked to interview on the opposing side of using criminal justice system and actually find treatment for individuals.

In this quest I discovered people with felonies where not afforded Federal Financial Aid, their legal charge “banned” them for life.

A few of joined together to start a nation group called FAVOR, Faces and Voices of Recovery. We advocated for several years and this federal ban was overturned. This individuals are now eligible to receive financial aid if they can prove a few years of soberity.

Travelling to Washington DC quarterly for three years, roaming the halls of congress, visiting with senators, and following my heart for others to be afforded an opportunity to change their life is one of my most thankful opportunities.

Pricing:

• Kindness is free

Contact Info:

• Instagram: Poppydarrell1
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/poppydarrell1/
• Other: @poppydarrell