To celebrate LGBTQ History Month, our Co-Founder and CEO, Joseph, sat down with Unapologetically Mel in a candid fireside discussion.
We've taken some of the best bits from the discussion for you, below.
1. A motivational quote that helped through lockdown:
Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it
2. If you could travel back in time, the first person you would like to meet?
Leonardo Da Vinci. When he died he, Leonardo Da Vinci, said 'I have offended god because my work did not reach the quality it should have.' Nothing saddens me more than when people don't recognise the impact they have and the value they bring. It's one of the things I love about coaching and mentoring.
Da Vinci is recognised as suffering from poor mental health and is a fellow ADHD-er. I understand the struggles of this and not always being able to take a step back to see your impact or just refusing to acknowledge it. So being able to step back in time and show him, or anyone who never really got to see the value of their existence would be pretty special to me.
3. One piece of advice you would pass on to the next generation
Don't listen to anyone when they tell you, you can't change the world. The most incredible thing about cause and effect is that we possess the potential to change the world, or at least someone's world, every day through our actions.
4. Your hero?
My mum, Deborah. She possessed the power and intelligence to do whatever she wished but she dedicated her life to helping create pathways to opportunity for children who previously had no access to quality education. She was taken from the world at a time it needed her most, but the purpose of legacy is that it gets continued. We have to not just idolise people who did great things but be inspired to continue where they left off.
5. Self-care is...
Giving yourself the time and space to acknowledge yourself, your feelings, your state and the belief that you deserve to commit the time to yourself to act on what you feel.
6. What are your hopes/aspirations for 2021?
Outside of the obvious answers, less tragedy and death, greater social cohesion, more responsibility standards in the media etc, I only ever want to continue realising my purposes whilst being a supportive and kind father, boyfriend and leader.
My time, effort and love get poured into ensuring I add value to those around me in the roles I have and continue to improve at them; whether this is in the approach to life my daughter adopts through my parenting, the number of disabled LGBTQ+ people that benefit from the programmes of ParaPride (my charity), or the number of people that benefit from the services we're building out through my company, Included.AI because I'm leading a solid and empowered team.
7. What never fails to lift your spirits?
My daughter, Thea. She is the most incredible and bountiful source of positivity in my life.
To read the full interview, click here
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