Let me introduce myself. My name is Floyd Williams, Jr. I grew up in a little corner of South Carolina in a remote small town called Travelers Rest, – a combination between Green Acres and Andy Griffith’s beloved, Mayberry RFD. I grew up a shy, introverted child who never hardly talked to anyone, except my immediate family. On my first day of school, I sat on the bus between my two older girl cousins who were not only my bodyguards, but also my spokespersons. They took me to my class, told my teacher my name, my address and everything else that she needed to know about me. That was pretty much my method of communication throughout my entire elementary school career. Only a select hand-picked group of trusted friends had the unique and rare experience of actually hearing words come from my mouth. Many of my parents’ friends would often ask the question, “Does he ever talk?” They would politely reply, “Yes, he talks when he wants food.”
So how does a quiet, shy kid from a little country town become a business owner, published author and accomplished speaker, who has even appeared on radio and TV? Well, for me it started with one very powerful word. Leadership! I believe leadership is where it begins. At least, that’s where it began for me.
Even as a quiet, introverted kid, I was already exhibiting leadership qualities. I developed an un-canny ability to display my leadership influence with no audible commands. I would often go outside to play in our front yard with my ball and bat. I would throw the ball up in the air, then hit my own pitch with my bat in the opposite hand, and then begin to run around my imaginary bases. Before long a neighborhood kid would come to join the game, then another, and before long, we would have a yard full of kids ready to play ball. I would then volunteer myself to be the one to divide the teams up and established the rules of engagement. After all, it was my yard we were playing in. I learned at a very young age that leadership is not announced, but demonstrated.
