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The author of the book Turtles Can Win: How Learning Differences Taught Me to Run My Own Race and Still Cross the Finish Line, Dr. Paul R. Johnson, joins us for this episode. He is the owner and C.E.O. of Leschi Leadership LLC, a consulting firm focused on helping organizations and leaders navigate complex challenges, strengthen performance, and achieve sustainable success, and he brings extensive leadership experience from organizations such as Boeing, Microsoft, Starbucks, Junior Achievement, and the Seattle Symphony, giving him a broad perspective on organizational effectiveness and strategic change.
A lifelong learner and educator, Dr. Johnson holds a bachelor's degree from Seattle University, multiple master's degrees, and a Doctor of Education from the University of Southern California. Outside of his professional work, Paul enjoys sports and traveling, and lives in Seattle with his wife, son, and Maltipoo puppy.
In our conversation, we discuss what happens when a capable child spends years believing they simply aren't smart enough. For Dr. Paul Johnson, the answer was a long and difficult journey through school, higher education, and eventually a career dedicated to helping others. Despite struggling with undiagnosed learning differences, he earned three master's degrees and a doctorate, but his story isn't simply about academic achievement; it's also about the years of effort, self-doubt, and persistence that made those accomplishments possible.
Dr. Johnson shares what school was like when teachers and administrators interpreted his struggles as a lack of effort, even when he knew that he was trying. We talk about the educators who recognized his potential, the strengths that helped him keep going, and the discovery that changing how he studied could make an enormous difference. He also reflects on becoming a father and recognizing aspects of his own childhood in his son's educational experience, and how that realization prompted him to examine his own learning differences more closely and to write a book that might help other students and families understand that struggling at one stage of life does not determine what comes next.
In addition, our conversation turns to the responsibility of schools and workplaces to look beyond deficits and recognize the assets that people bring. Dr. Johnson shares lessons from his work in human resources and education, including how flexible schedules, accessible tools, and attention to individual strengths can help people perform at their best.
Whether you're a parent, educator, employer, or someone who has spent years questioning your own abilities, this episode will surely offer you a different way to think about success.
Show Notes: [2:31] - Hear how becoming a father inspired Dr. Paul Johnson to write his book. [3:48] - Despite struggling academically and facing low expectations, Dr. Johnson persevered through private school and graduated. [6:03] - Dr. Johnson reflects on how undiagnosed learning differences made high school and college difficult until graduate school brought greater understanding. [8:29] - Supportive educators recognized Dr. Johnson's strengths, while family pride motivated him to become the first college graduate. [11:02] - Hear how Assistive technology and studying during Dr. Johnson's optimal hours helped him overcome learning challenges in graduate school. [14:49] - Dr. Johnson pursued advanced degrees to prove that his academic success was genuine and to overcome years of doubt. [17:10] - Although learning takes him longer, Dr. Johnson embraces his turtle-like pace and ultimately understands the material. [18:34] - Dr. Johnson's son's struggles inspired him to share his journey and encourage students to recognize their potential. [21:08] - Supporting children often helps adults recognize previously unidentified learning challenges in themselves. [22:03] - Dr. Johnson's son's diagnosis revealed shared learning differences, prompting him to better understand and support both of their experiences. [25:34] - Schools and workplaces should embrace asset-based approaches that recognize individual strengths rather than enforce standard expectations. [28:46] - Hear how Dr. Johnson's HR experience taught him that supportive environments and advocates can help employees overcome workplace challenges. [31:24] - It's important for educators to respect individual learning paces and focus on developing students' strengths rather than focus on their deficits. [34:14] - Where can Dr. Johnson be reached?
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