The Pursuit of Purpose through Public Speaking with Dr. Alex Ellis

In today’s episode, we traverse the inspiring narrative of Dr. Alex Ellis, a remarkable author and speaker who has transformed his passion into a tool for empowering thousands of young men. His journey from an engineer to a beacon of guidance and his impeccable sense of style unfurl a panorama of insights that will surely leave you awe-inspired. With Dr. Ellis's globally recognized Tied to Greatness nonprofit, we explore the power of mentorship and its life-altering impact, unraveling the essence of social responsibility, one conversation at a time.

Dive into the world of communication with Dr. Ellis. Discover how refining your skills can boost your career and leadership. Dr. Ellis guides us on audience targeting and compelling positioning, stressing the power of listening. Tune in for an eye-opening conversation on transformative expression. 

As we delve deeper into the conversation, Dr. Ellis initiates an intriguing exploration of public speaking. Through his Speak Up program, we debunk common myths, address fears, and share practical tips for delivering compelling speeches. From readiness to outlining, we explore the essentials for mastering speaking. Embrace your unique voice, prepare, and chase your purpose for ultimate growth. Elevate yourself with insights to soar higher!

NOTABLE QUOTES
"Purpose leaves clues. Now that I have fully embraced this call to speak, I see breadcrumbs throughout my life like a trail leading me to ultimately what I do professionally and I love it." – Dr. Alex
"If you want to improve your life, improve your ability to communicate." – Dr. Alex
"There is a niche for whatever you’re passionate about." – Dr. Alex
"If you’re topic or subject matter doesn’t move you, it won’t move your audience. So find something that matters to you, the message that you believe the world needs to hear and that you’re assigned to deliver." – Dr. Alex
"The more I’ve communicated, the better I’ve got at listening." – Philip
“Working your network. Is there anyone that I know that is in some way connected to a potential opportunity." – Dr. Alex
"Every free gig doesn’t mean you walk away with no benefits from it. You might not get paid, but you can get photos, you can get quality video footage." – Dr. Alex
"I believe that you do the world a disservice when you silence your voice, and it’s time for you to speak up." – Dr. Alex
"You prepare your speech. You time it to make sure you’re within the time parameters that have been established. And you practice, practice, practice." – Dr. Alex
"[Speaking] is like a GPS, if you don’t put an end destination or where you’re trying to go, you’re just going and you never know if you’re going to get there." – Philip
"It’s important for the goal to simply be to add value." – Dr. Alex
"There is a tribe of people that are anxiously awaiting for you. Find those people that rock with you. Find those people and serve them—and serve them well. Your tribe might be small, but they are still worthy of your best." – Dr. Alex
"When you’re faithful in small opportunities, I believe God opens up the floodgates and can trust you with bigger opportunities." – Dr. Alex
"It’s all about levels, and you had to start showing that you can do this and you eventually build up to those big stages." – Philip
"Find and pursue your purpose." – Dr. Alex

RESOURCES
Dr. Alex
Website: https://www.dralexellis.com/ 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dralexellis/ 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dralexellis/ 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alex.o.ellis 

Philip
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamphilipsessions/?hl=en
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@philipsessions
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/philip-sessions-b2986563/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/therealphilipsessio

Transcript

Philip Sessions: 0:15

What's going on, guys? Welcome back to another episode of the speaking sessions podcast. I'm your host, philip sessions, and we've got dr Alex Ellis here. He is an award-winning author, speaker and connoisseur of style. Dr Ellis is turning heads across the nation through his inspirational message and well-dressed stature. He has been featured on CNN, black enterprises, our world television show, 700 club, bet and the Steve Harvey morning show. He passionately delivers a fresh perspective that empowers people to reach their maximum potential. Yielding to the call of social responsibility, dr Ellis is the founder of the tied to greatness nonprofit organization, which is positively impacting the lives of over 10,000 young men. Besides being a speaker, an Degreeed engineer, this guy has done a lot of things in order to get himself in front of more people to help Change lives, and I cannot wait to talk more. But, dr Ellis, tell us a little bit more about yourself.

Dr. Alex Ellis: 1:24

Hey, philip, let me start by saying, man, thank you so much for the opportunity to be a part of your incredible podcast. I am honored to be one of your guests. Thank you for all that you do, for how you serve the world, how you show up consistently Sharing the information and training that you do for your podcast. Thank you because it is a gift for so many people that are looking to Really get into this Speaking business and to just perfect the art of speaking, and so thank you for that. So a little little about me. You may mention of my degree in engineering.

Dr. Alex Ellis: 1:58

I'm a graduate of North Carolina A&T with a degree in industrial engineering and and listen, you're working in the engineering field, unlike myself, who has never worked a day in engineering in my life. I just knew, unfortunately, it was like halfway through my, you know, matriculation process and undergrad that I realized that Engineering just isn't for me. And so you you can't tell by looking at me, but, philip, I'm six, seven, right, so I'm a really tall guy, right. So on one side, I have friends and peers and Athletic coaches wanting me to play basketball. My parents were pushing me to be this engineer, but I Wasn't passionate about either, and so one of the things that I've learned of A Philip is this that that that purpose leaves clues Right when I look back over my life.

Dr. Alex Ellis: 3:01

I've been speaking my whole life, whether it was an Easter poem at church on Easter Sunday when I was a kid, whether it was a debate club in in high school or Toastmasters in undergrad or Early on in my, you know, graduating and getting a job. You know we have a project at work and someone would have to, you know, kind of unveil the project or our findings and they're like All right, well, alex, you do what you do, what you speak well, you do. But I would always find myself as the Designated speaker to represent the group whenever we were in breakout session. And so now that I have fully embraced, you know, this call to speak and I speak professionally for a living, you know I see like breadcrumbs, like throughout my life, like a trail leading me to Ultimately do what I do professionally and and I love it, and, and now I'm at a place not only do I speak professionally but I'm able to then turn around and help to train and educate other people so they can walk in their purpose as speakers as well.

Philip Sessions: 4:11

I love that and I talked we talked offline a little bit about how I wanted to go down that journey, of how you got into speaking, but before we go into that, I really want to dive into the fact that you're helping these young men and I know I've seen on Facebook not you particularly, but I've seen other men go in and they do a similar thing. Where they they go into these schools and they're helping these young men learn how to dress professionally, learn how to dress like a man and be More like a man. I don't know exactly what you're teaching, but I would love to hear more on this and what really got you inspired to go into these schools and start doing that.

Dr. Alex Ellis: 4:46

Sure. So I'm also an associate pastor at a church right. And so one Sunday, this mother comes and she asked for prayer for her son. And so he's a teenage boy that is utterly embarrassed by his mother bringing him to the front of the church for prayer from the pastor. And so I say, well, what's? You know what's going on? How can I? You know what that? What area would you like prayer for? But she's like you know, he's not doing good at school, he's picking on his brothers. I think he's Started to drink a bit. You know he might be smoking. He's, you know, it's all the typical things that you know Moms wrestle with when it comes to their boys.

Dr. Alex Ellis: 5:27

And so she also told me that he was the young, he was the oldest of five, she was raising by herself, and so I knew, aside from prayer, that this young man needed a positive male in his life. And so, you know, we prayed and subsequently developed a mentoring relationship, and so I became heavily involved in his life, going to his basketball games and Getting him tutoring for school and meeting his teachers and all of that stuff, and I realized that there were so much that I I took for granted being raised in a home and where my dad was present, you know, taking your hat off in a building or open a door for a woman, or pulling out a chair, or you know, certain just things that that men typically do. This young man was clueless about, and so, you know, style and image was also a real important factor of my life. I had started a custom clothing business and was styling men and Doing personal shopping and those type things for women that wanted to. You know, have their husbands look nice, or guys that, hey, you know, I got a bonus on my job and I just want to elevate my look. Can you help me? So I was doing that as well, and so I saw I need For young men. That was during the sagging jeans craze, or all these young guys who run it around with their jeans sagging and so, unbeknownst to them, people make assumptions about you simply based on how you look.

Dr. Alex Ellis: 6:58

And so I had a heart to help young men Start to present the best of who they were to the world, and we started with teaching them how to tie tie, and so I developed this nonprofit called tied to greatness, where I will go into an urban school and I would, you know, have an assembly with just a male students, and so the guys that think, oh yeah, we got the afternoon off, we're gonna go to the auditorium and hang out or whatever. And they walk into a room full of men from their community Who've, like, carved out this time, take a time out of their their work day To say we were concerned about you, we love you and we want to teach you some of the tenets of manhood having a work ethic, being Socially responsible, walking with character and integrity and, you know, serving and all of those things. And then we culminate with this big grand Tie tying ceremony, which was really really, is really really powerful. And so, man, I've traveled across the the world literally Teaching young men how to tie ties, then working with young men in high schools, then they, of course, they graduate, going to college, and so then colleges and universities will say we need you to come speak to our college students Because we have career fairs and you know we're trying to position our students for success in the corporate arena, so we need you to come in and do like a dress for success type of presentation.

Dr. Alex Ellis: 8:28

And so then that pushed me into the college market and so even to this day. I do a lot In the college and university space, where I travel to colleges and universities, and they'll have me come in Before the big career fair and I would teach them networking skills, interviewing skills, dress for success skills, what's appropriate for an interview, and even now, you know, post COVID, what's appropriate for a zoom. You know what's that zoom educated all of those things. And so it's really been an amazing journey, with twists and turns that I had never imagined. You know, like when I first went into undergrad, I never thought I would be doing what I'm doing today. But, man, it's been an amazing. It's been an amazing ride, and I'm honored to touch as many lives as I've been able to.

Philip Sessions: 9:17

Yeah, and that is incredible that you've been able to do that and really just starting it. It's funny they're at church instead of just praying. And as a man of God as well, sometimes I think, while prayer is definitely important, something that we should do and should continue to do, I do think that we need to take some physical or worldly action as well on things, and I find that really cool that you went and decided to do that and now you've kind of created this whole speaking career, if you will, around that as well, and so that was kind of the catalyst for the speaking career, or how did your spirit start?

Dr. Alex Ellis: 9:55

Yes, because again, I have a master's and a doctorate in urban ministry, and so I was already preaching and teaching from a religious perspective, but I was never a public speaker per se. But when I started Tide the Greatness, it kind of opened this lane. That wasn't so much church ministry, but it brought me into secular and academic spaces where I wasn't so much referencing the Bible, but there were still I mean, ministry is in me, so there are still biblical elements of it, but it is not as the traditional sense of preaching is, but it led into an amazing lane of public speaking for me. And what's so cool about it, phillip, is there are people that I'm able to reach now that will never come to my church, yes, yes. And so God has just spread, he just kicked the doors wide open for me to have influence in areas in both speaking in the college market and now, most recently, even in the corporate market that I wouldn't have been able to do, just being limited to church, and so it's a blessing.

Philip Sessions: 11:20

Yeah, I was gonna mention that's a ministry for you as well, and such an important thing that we don't think of as Christians, that we can go meet people where they're at, and it doesn't mean we're in the with a lack of a better term, thumping the Bible every time we're trying to talk to them. No, we're just having a conversation or being a good influence and hopefully, through that good influence, they'll wanna ask questions. They'll see that we're different, they'll see that light that we have, which comes from.

Dr. Alex Ellis: 11:46

Christ and everything.

Philip Sessions: 11:49

So I love that you did that and I wanna kind of pull out real quick for a second, because I guarantee there's somebody out there like, well, that's really cool. It sounds like you stumbled into this and it just kind of became this thing. What would you say to that person that's doubting that is, they probably have a different message than you and it's not business, it's not entrepreneurship, it's not marketing, all these things that are these big popping topics to talk about. What would you say to this person that has this lesser topic, if you will, for lack of a better word to inspire them to actually go out there and start speaking on that?

Dr. Alex Ellis: 12:27

Okay. So there are two things I'll share with reference to that. So let me start with this. So, phillip, if you want to improve your life, improve your ability to communicate right, if you get better with communication, your entire life gets enhanced. You're a better employee, you're a better employer, you're a better leader, you're a better spouse, a better son, a better daughter just things heighten. You're a better student, you're a better teacher, if you work to perfect the art of communication, and so I wanna encourage people. So there are those that want to speak professionally, and then there are those, I'm sure that are listening to this podcast that say I don't want to quit my job and become a professional speaker, but still just to be a better dad, to be a better mom, to be a better niece. Like that happens when you elevate your muscle of communication, and so I want everybody to feel that this is just not a niche market for certain people, but we communicate every day. You communicate when you go on Facebook Live. You communicate when you're promoting your business. You communicate when you're giving that report at work, or you're communicating with coworkers or your boss. We're always communicating If you're purchasing something at the mall or picking up something at home depot, like we're always communicating, and so there's space for us all to get better and that particular area Also.

Dr. Alex Ellis: 14:12

There is a niche for whatever you're passionate about, right? So I was very passionate about, I was passionate about fashion. That meant a lot to me, and so I was able to leverage, you know, this whole dress for success thing into this whole public speaking brand that I built. But you might like walking dogs, or you might be passionate about cats, or passionate about whatever it is you're passionate about. There is a market for that particular niche. And so I ask individuals that come to me and they say Dr Ellis, I wanna speak. I mean, I see what you're doing on the stage, I wanna do that. And so I ask them well, what's your message? Right? What is it that you're just passionate about? Because if your topic or subject matter doesn't move you, it won't move your audience. Like, if it doesn't mean anything to you and if it doesn't resonate in your heart, if it doesn't light a fire in your soul, it's not gonna do that for your audience.

Dr. Alex Ellis: 15:25

And so you wanna find something that matters to you, that message that you believe that the world needs to hear and that you're assigned to deliver that message to the world. So it's finding what that message is and then finding. Then the next step is finding out, okay. Well, who is the audience that needs this message? If I'm talking about professional development, or I'm talking about image or stuff like, who needs my message, I found that colleges and universities need my message. I found, in the corporate arena, sales teams and people who are on an elevated track to move up to high levels of executive positions. They need what I bring to the table. So it's finding out, okay, who needs the message. Now I'm clear my message who needs the message that I'm trying to deliver, and where are they? And then it's positioning yourself to get in front of those that need your message the most.

Philip Sessions: 17:22

Yeah, man, it's a couple of things that I want to bring out there. The communication thing is such a huge thing that can impact us in so many ways. Not to toot my own horn, but I've had this as examples with the podcast, with speaking on stages, with helping other people with their speaking abilities. I was at an interview for a company I work at currently still the one guy we knew each other and I went in for the interview and he was interviewing me and as well as the manager for the position. When we got out, he's like dude, I figured you were going to be good at interviewing but I didn't expect you to be that good.

Dr. Alex Ellis: 17:58

That was really good Then.

Philip Sessions: 18:00

I've also had people say why are you like a really good listener? That's a thing with communicating as well. It's about listening. I know the more I've communicated and the better I've got at listening. Yes, communicating what my thoughts are, the better the communication of my relationship has gotten Absolutely. Because I'm hard headed. I tell my wife all the time or not as much anymore, but I used to tell her all the time you've got to hit me over the head with a two by four or I'm not going to understand. So that communication you are so right. It impacts us in so many areas.

Dr. Alex Ellis: 18:35

It does.

Philip Sessions: 18:36

Yeah, and then I want you to bring out a little bit more, because you talked about like kind of like niching down, figuring out who your audience is, that you talk to. You know, once you figure out your subject, that you want to talk on that you're passionate about. Again, I agree with that. If you're smiling and you're trying to say you're pissed off, it's kind of hard to believe that you're pissed off Right Right.

Philip Sessions: 18:56

So the same thing with your passion. If you're saying, oh yeah, I'm really passionate about this, yeah, I just gets me excited, it lights me up like yeah, nobody's believing that, right, exactly, you need to have that thing that you're passionate about and share that. But when it comes to actually finding places to go, clearly, I mean I guess you could go like call somebody up or you could do this or that or through a connection, but how did you get started with getting into those universities? I know it seemed like the schools and everything. You kind of had that in with the student there, the kid and the mom from your church, sure, but transitioning to college, how did that work out? Because I think a lot of people are looking on how to find an opportunity to go speak in front of the audience.

Dr. Alex Ellis: 19:43

Sure, I think that's a great question. And so there are a number of things right. So, first, it's working. Your network Right. So you start there. You start with your next door neighbor that teaches at a university. Right, you talk to your cousin that's an athletic director. You talk, you know what I'm saying. So you find people with, because we all have a sphere of influence, we all have a network, no matter how big or small it is. You know somebody, right. So it's OK, let me look at my network and is there anyone that I know that is in some way connected to a potential opportunity? And, if so, let me share with them what it is I want to do and see if they could possibly give me access to an opportunity. Let me also say this you can also go online and do the research, right. So if you feel called to teenage girls, right to speak to them about depression or loving themselves or something like that, then you find out, ok, well, there's a Jack and Jill program, or there is a big brother, big sister program, or there is an etiquette program for girls in my local community. Like you, go right online and do that research and then, as I had to do initially. You know, when you're just getting started, it's like, listen, this is what I am passionate about, this is my message that I believe would really be a blessing to this particular audience, and I'm willing to come and willing to do it for free. But I spoke for years for free.

Dr. Alex Ellis: 21:43

Right Now, every free gig doesn't mean you walk away with no benefits from it. Just because you volunteer your services doesn't mean that you walk away empty handed. I teach people hey, listen, if the opportunity is free, get as much as you can from it. What do you mean? Doctors? What can I get from a free gig? They're not paying me anything. You might not get paid, but there's a whole lot of other things you can get. You can get photos, you can get quality video footage. You can get hey, listen, if I do a good job, would you mind writing me a recommendation letter? Is it okay that my videographer and I interview a few people who sat into this session and if they found value, can I get some testimonials from them?

Dr. Alex Ellis: 22:37

There are a ton of things so that when you leave from that free event, it's like I got pictures that I can put on my website or put on social media. I got videos that I can use as a marketing tool for the next event that I go to that I'm pursuing. I can send them this sizzle reel that's a promotional two minute video of me speaking on a stage or in front of an audience. Every professional knows other people who do what they do, and so if they've asked you to come and to speak for their department, right, that HR director knows other HR directors. That superintendent at the high school knows other superintendents. That meeting planner knows other meeting planners and they can. They hey, listen if I do a good job, only if I do a good job. Would you mind recommending two or three other people that are your colleagues that do the same thing? I would love to be able to share my gift with them as well, and then that helps you to gain momentum in finding other additional opportunities to share your gift.

Philip Sessions: 23:50

Man, those are great ways for sure. So I want to be able to give you a little plug here. So you mentioned about you do speak up, so tell us a little about what speak up is.

Dr. Alex Ellis: 24:00

Okay. So speak up is a speakers boot camp, okay, where I spent two days training people who are interested in becoming speakers to be able to hone in and perfect the art of public speaking. And so, in public speaking, it's simply this for me, my working definition is the art of effectively communicating your thoughts and our ideas to other people. And right, and so we teach you to own the power of your voice, that you have a unique message that the world is waiting for, and they're waiting to hear it from you, because there are some people fill up that feel there are other people that are doing that. There are tons of people online. That's already talking about mental health.

Dr. Alex Ellis: 24:47

Oh, my goodness, every day I go online, or every day I look at the news, somebody else is talking about menopause, or somebody else is talking about how to prevent suicide or how they lost a lot of weight. So my story doesn't. It does. They've heard it, but they haven't heard it from you.

Dr. Alex Ellis: 25:09

Because you have a unique story, you have a unique personality that comes alive when you share your message, whether that's on stage or even virtually, and so I believe that you do the world a disservice when you silence your voice, and it's time for you to speak up, and so I help you to get over that fear of public speaking, to dismantle the myths People have so many different myths about speaking. My mouth is going to get pasty, I'm going to get dizzy and fall out, I'm going to get up there and forget my lines, and I mean certainly those are all things that you know come to people's mind when they think about public speaking. But just as you can again overcome a fear of flying, or learn how to ride a bike, or learn how to hold your nose underwater, hey, listen, you can learn to master and perfect the artist speaking.

Philip Sessions: 26:06

Yeah, yeah, oh, man, and I'm curious. You mentioned something about like I'm going to forget my line. I feel, like a lot of people that I've talked to you have said that as well, though, man, I'm going to get up there and I feel like I'm just going to ramble and I'm going to lose my track, and then I'm not even sure if I'm going to be able to even finish the speech. What's something that you would tell those people that do get distracted?

Dr. Alex Ellis: 26:29

Sure. So it's preparation, preparation, preparation, right, you're not. Now I understand a fear of that. When it's an impromptu speech, right, where we're at an event and I say, hey, phillip, would you come up here and share with us for the next 15 minutes on whatever right, then I can understand that the fear of rambling. But for most people these aren't impromptu speeches.

Dr. Alex Ellis: 26:58

Most of these opportunities you have been told ahead of time. You have a particular subject or area you're supposed to talk about and you have a timeline, and so you prepare, right. You prepare your speech, you time it to make sure you're within the time parameters that have been established, and you practice, practice, practice and you have a manuscript, like you haven't written out, like you're not just talking off the top of your head. And so, whether you have and with technology, man, we have so many aids, so, whether you are using a traditional binder where you have notes for your speech, are cards that you use, or whether you're using, like an iPad or some type of technical assistance that's there, depending on where you're speaking I mean, phillip, they even have, you know, they even have teleprompters, where you know there are aids that are right there, you know, in front of you that help you with the notes for your speech. And so it's not, as you know, nauseating as we would think it is. There are tools and things that are in place that can help you keep on track and you follow the script.

Dr. Alex Ellis: 28:16

But it is what I teach my students is you want to have it in you enough that you're not just bound to your notes. You know you might have some bullets or have an outline that can guide what you're sharing, but again, you've studied and prepared enough that you know that that talk is in you, that you can effortlessly deliver it. And again, it is a gift, it is a muscle, and the more you practice and the more you go over it, the more comfortable you get. You know, making that three-point shot in that game is not as nerve-wracking when you made the shot and practice a thousand times. It's nerve-wracking for us at home because we're like, oh my God, the pressure is on. Are they going to make the three points? But they this ain't the first time they're making that three-point shot. I mean that foul line shot or whatever. I mean they've been practicing this shot forever, like they're, they're able to, they're able to do it, and it takes away some of the anxiety when you put that time in practice.

Philip Sessions: 29:28

Yeah, I agree, practice definitely makes perfection or makes you a lot better, for sure, and yes, yes the outline. I love that. The outline is a huge thing that I always talk about, that you need to have an outline. I like to stay away from notes written out completely, especially if you're going to try to put them in a PowerPoint or something, Because then you're just going to fault to looking at those notes and then you're going to oh man, I miss that line. You want to go back the audience has no clue that you missed that.

Dr. Alex Ellis: 29:56

And then, yeah, and then.

Philip Sessions: 29:58

I like to share as well. Like. It's just like a GPS If you don't put an in destination or where you're trying to go, you're just going and you never know if you're going to get there. So you need to also know. What am I trying to have the audience take away from this message today? So if everything falls apart, you know you can navigate to that end goal.

Dr. Alex Ellis: 30:20

Yes, talk about something yes.

Dr. Alex Ellis: 30:22

Yes, but that's like that's a worst case scenario and, phillip, I think that that's. I think that you bring up a very good point. You know, like, what do I want people to walk away with? I think it's important for the goal to simply be to add value. Yeah Right, like so, my, my goal in being here tonight is not to be your most celebrated podcast interview, we it? Hey, listen man, my goal tonight is to simply add value.

Dr. Alex Ellis: 30:56

That's something that I say in that in the half hour that we're together, that somebody get oh, you know, I didn't think about. Oh man, you know, I'm going to try that. Wow, he brought up a good point. I never considered that. Oh man, I really feel, you know more passionate about what I want to do. Maybe people do want to hear what I have, but it's just to add value. It's not to be the smartest person, not to be the coolest person, not to be the person with the biggest following on social media, but the goal at the end of the day is to add value, and if you add value to the lives of the people in your audience, you've done your job. You know, at least that's what I think. I think you've done your job.

Philip Sessions: 31:42

When the goal is just to simply add value, I agree with you and it's just one person, you don't need to try to add value to everybody. Like you mentioned a minute ago, everybody has their own unique message. It could be around the same theme of weight loss, around the endurance journeys, I don't know just random things, but because of your unique story, you're going to touch somebody in a completely different way. That's right.

Dr. Alex Ellis: 32:08

And then other people.

Philip Sessions: 32:09

They can't stand you. They think you're yeah, those Right. And guess what that's OK.

Dr. Alex Ellis: 32:16

That's you're not going to be everyone's cup of tea.

Dr. Alex Ellis: 32:19

Exactly, exactly and it's OK, but there there is a tribe of people that are anxiously awaiting you, you know, and so it's. It's like hey, it's time for you to get up and find your tribe, you know. Find those people that rock with you. Find those people that are what does Phillip have today? Oh, what's going to be the next subject that he covers in his part? Hey, listen and find those people and serve them, and serve them well, and let me say this your tribe might be small, but they are still worthy of your best, right? You don't, you don't wait until you get a big crowd or a big opportunity to show up and to be present and to give it your all. No, every opportunity is an opportunity that deserves your best. Let me say this quick story with you.

Dr. Alex Ellis: 33:18

I was invited to do a singles conference in Atlanta, at a church in Atlanta, and so you know, I'm there, you know, with my team, and we come in and you know they kind of walk us through. The church is a big church, but I thought we were going to be in one of the one of the classrooms in the church, and so we kind of, you know, they're taking us, navigating us through these hallways and these rooms and spaces. And so they take us through this final door and, phillip, they take us into the sanctuary. I had no idea that this session was going to be in the sanctuary. So, phillip, the church seats 10,000 people, man, and the entire lower level of the church was filled. Wow, I had a panic attack, bro. I was like why did you tell me like I was walking into this? I'm thinking that this is just a little little workshop 30, 40 people or something like. I had no idea that that morning I would be speaking to thousands of people and my assistant that was with me was like you know, hey, listen, everything that you've been through to this point in your journey has prepared you for the stage, and just as passionate as you are in those small, intimate settings, I need you to be just as passionate in this opportunity of this big stage. And you know we prayed, I went on stage. It was, it was an amazing opportunity. By the grace of God, I did really well that day.

Dr. Alex Ellis: 35:04

But I, but I, I walked away with a life lesson, and that is to always prepare to give your best, because you just never know. I mean, what if, like Phil, what if I would have just taken it for granted, like, uh, it's just 30 people, you know well, you know it's just a few people, like whatever, it's no big deal. And I was haphazard or lackadaisical in my preparation for that opportunity. I would have been. It would have been a crash and burn, but because I diligently prepared, although the platform was bigger than I anticipated, I was ready for the moment and so that's just a charge to those that are listening. Always give it your best, whether you know it's a, it's a few students in the afterschool program, or whether it's a few people in your community are, you know, a small group at your church, like whatever the opportunity, give it 110% and when you're faithful in in small opportunities, I believe God opens up the floodgates and can trust you with bigger opportunities.

Philip Sessions: 36:22

I agree 100% with that. That is so true, and it's and it's all about levels, and you had to start showing that you can do this and you eventually build up to those big stages.

Dr. Alex Ellis: 36:33

One thing I always like to share.

Philip Sessions: 36:34

And then we're going to go into our last question. Is that you, if you were put in front of a million people today, you were put in front of a million people today, you wouldn't be ready for it. If a million people came to you and wanted to do business with you today, you wouldn't be ready for it. You say you want it until it actually happens. So you have to build up. You have to start with one customer.

Philip Sessions: 36:52

You have to start with speaking to one person and you start to build that up until you finally get to that big stage. So you make it big and I say this yeah, yeah, yeah.

Dr. Alex Ellis: 37:04

And Phillip, what the beauty of it. You don't realize it now, but it's a blessing, yeah, and all opportunities are a blessing, because you get to work out the kinks right. You get to. I've been in stages where I've gone and I have a MacBook, right. So I'm traveling with a MacBook and they don't have the adapters for a MacBook because they use regular PCs and so now my PowerPoint presentation doesn't work. I don't have the time to run to, you know, office Max or run to electronic store to get the plug that I need. So now I got to give my speech without the PowerPoint presentation and so working through those awkward times and those hiccups and unexpected things, and learning how to do it without those aids, learning to sense and read an audience right and to read the room like, uh no, this regular typical talk isn't working.

Dr. Alex Ellis: 38:12

Let me shift. What do I need to change? What different direction do I need to go in? People are starting to fall asleep. How do I re-engage my audience? Do I have people staying in stress? Do I involve some interactive exercise to get them moving, to get them to physically be a part of what I'm sharing, like? You get to work out all of those kinks when they're small. You don't want to do that when you're on a major platform where they paid you thousands of dollars and they have this huge expectation of you and now you, you've embarrassed yourself and it's hard to recover from that. You know. Have that in those small times so that you can perfect your gift, so that when the big stage comes, you're such a pro at this You're, you're, you've mastered it that it's you can really get there, really shine like your, your culture.

Philip Sessions: 39:10

Yes, very well said. So let's go ahead and get to our last question, and that is if you could only share one message for the rest of your life, what would that message be?

Dr. Alex Ellis: 39:20

All right. So if I could share one message, that message would be finding and pursuing your purpose. Like you know, my life has had so many twists and turns, man, I've heard, I've had so many different voices from other people telling me what I should and shouldn't do with my life. But because I'm a man of faith, I believe that God, when he allowed my parents to come together, that he had an intent in mind for my life. Like there was a purpose. Like this wasn't no random cosmic event. Like no, there was. It was. Like there was a need in the earth and I'm going to send Alex to meet that need.

Dr. Alex Ellis: 40:07

And I believe life is about finding that purpose and walking in it, you know, and so that's why I I try to help people to really get clear on why you're here, like who wants to climb the top of this, this building, and realize, like this is the wrong building, like I'm not. I climbed this ladder of success, but this wasn't even my assignment. Like you're in the wrong building, like who wants to go through all of that work and be in the wrong place. No, you want to find out what it is you're uniquely called to do, and then you want to do that and do that to the best of your ability, and so that will be my message helping people to identify and fulfill their God-given purpose. And that's what I try to do every day that the Lord gives me every opportunity, every audience that I have the opportunity to share with really helping people to find and identify and work toward fulfilling their purpose.

Philip Sessions: 41:07

And that is a great message, and I tell you you're very passionate about that. Yes, sir, and so everyone. Dr Alex Ellis, if they want to follow you, where's the best place for them to follow you?

Dr. Alex Ellis: 41:19

Okay, great. And so, Phillip, this is. This is one of the things that I teach. I try to keep it simple, right For people to find me. So my website is dralexelluscom, so it's D-R-A-L-E-X-E-L-L-I-Scom, Then if you want to find me on any social media platform, you simply follow the same, the same route Dr Alex Ellis. So that's Dr Alex Ellis on LinkedIn, Dr Alex Ellis on Instagram or TikTok or Twitter. You can find me in all of those social media outlets by dralexelluscom.

Philip Sessions: 41:56

Awesome. Well, guys, make sure you follow Dr Alex Ellis on every platform that you can. He's got a great message to share, very charismatic, and we appreciate you so much for coming on the podcast.

Dr. Alex Ellis: 42:11

Man, the pleasure is absolutely mine and I look forward to. I'm appreciative of being able to share with your audience and look forward to us doing this another time. Thanks again, phillip.

Philip Sessions: 42:20

You're welcome.

Dr. Alex Ellis: 42:21

All right, take care.