We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Demont Pope. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Demont below.

Demont, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.

Initially, I was pursuing a career as a recording artist due to my passion for music. I’ve always wanted to make a positive impact on the world by spreading good news, so the music I created was gospel hip-hop. I then grew in the church community and held positions as Youth Minister, Community Outreach Coordinator, Assistant Youth Pastor and even Youth Pastor. However, I kept noticing the youth outside of church falling victim to bullying, incarceration, gang violence, suicide, trafficking, etc. and I asked God to show me what else I could do. Well, on the way to church one day, I’m listening to my favorite motivational speaker, Dr. Eric “ET the Hip-Hop Preacher” Thomas speak and he was with another Speaker by the name of Jeremy Anderson. I began following Jeremy on social media and found out that he’s a Top Motivational Speaker in the school space and I was intrigued.

While scrolling on social media one day, I came across a promo video of Jeremy’s speaker training workshop. I made the small investment and immediately tuned in, which later lead me to joining the Next Level Speakers Academy which also led me to later joining the Next Level Speakers Academy Elite. During this training we learned things like the importance of your story, how to craft your message and branding. At that moment I was filled with both excitement and passion because I began to realize that I could not only make a difference in the lives of youth in church and my own community but I could also impact youth and young adults all around the world. While going through the training process, I began working on my first book. My wife and I got to thinking about the title of the book and how it would affect the branding aspect. Playing around with acronyms that would work with our last name “POPE”, I said Purpose Over, she filled in Pointless, and we both said Excuses. That moment of brainstorming birthed the “Purpose Over Pointless Excuses” book and brand for my company, Demont Pope & Associates, LLC.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Demont Pope is an Air Force Veteran, Author and compelling Motivational Speaker with a unique approach to engaging his audience. He is an alumni of the Next Level Speakers Academy and the Next Level Speakers Elite where he has been mentored, coached and certified by three of the best speakers in the industry; Jeremy Anderson, Inky Johnson, and Dr. Eric Thomas. He’s not just the Founder and CEO of Demont Pope & Associates, LLC but he also currently serves as Vice President of the Atlanta Chapter of the Next Level Speakers Academy.

Demont grew up poor in the inner city of Atlanta, GA, while struggling to survive life in drug and crime infested neighborhoods. Growing up without his biological father, being a victim of abuse, bullying, and attending 9 different schools, Demont suffered from rejection, depression, low self-esteem, insecurities, and low self worth. Yet, instead of allowing his circumstances to defeat him, Demont learned how to tap into his inner strength and develop the resilience to overcome. This is something that he has empowered countless other youth and young adults to do also. He chose to use his pain as power, his struggles as stepping stones, and his story as evidence of triumph and victory.

He now has the privilege of traveling the country helping students and educators realize their true leadership potential and purpose. Demont Pope & Associates, LLC provides Books, Curriculums, Keynote Presentations, Leadership Training, Mentoring Programs, Professional Development Trainings, Workshops and more. For Demont, P.O.P.E. is more than just the spelling of his family name, it is a constant reminder to place “Purpose Over Pointless Excuses”.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

I can remember the very first time I picked up a microphone. I was about 9 or 10 years old and I was selected to sing at a youth program at church. I had practiced long and hard for this opportunity and when the moment came I just knew I was ready to shine. However, when I looked at the crowd of people starring back at me, stage fright took over. My mom tried to encourage me as she began singing from the crowd but it was as if my voice had completely abandoned me and my body was frozen. Needless to say, I did not shine that day but I didn’t give up my interest in music or the microphone either. I later ended up singing and rapping a song on stage at a black history program in front of my entire elementary school in fifth grade.

When I got my first opportunity to actually “speak” in front of an audience, I was a senior in high school and was competing for the title of “Mr. Crim High School”. I was prepared and when the time came, I approached the podium and gave my short campaign speech. When I was done, the crowd erupted, not with applause, but booing. I was embarrassed, hurt and humiliated not to mention that this happened in front of my entire high school population.

Even though my pride and confidence was severely damaged, I still didn’t give up. As a result of that resiliency, my voice and a microphone being the very same tools that led me to experience stage fright, being booed, hurt and humiliated is exactly what has empowered me to now travel the world inspiring and motivating others to never give up and never quit.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

In pursuit of my passion, which was both music and speaking, I was making impact, but not much income. As a husband and father of 5, I found myself having to focus more of my time and energy on my job in corporate America. As a technician, there was only so much inspiration I could impart onto others. I had a job to do that didn’t include rapping and speaking to customers everyday. The more I excelled at work, the more unfulfilled I felt personally.

During this difficult period, I was constantly reminded of words that were spoken to me by my immediate supervisor while in corporate America who said, “Demont, you are bigger than this company. One day you are going to become an amazing motivational speaker.” I have never been able to forget those words because the company I used to work for is a major Fortune 500 company that is a worldwide household name. To be told that I would be bigger than them was both mind blowing and inspiring. Then COVID happened and I was forced to pivot.

The transition was difficult because I literally had to transform my mindset from employee to businessman and employer. Being that I had no idea exactly how to do that, I had to become educated. I invested in courses, trainings, mentorship and coaching that caused to be challenged, stretched and molded. During the years of that process, I went from a technician to a full time motivational speaker, which lead me to writing my first book, creating a podcast, creating a curriculum, as well as leadership trainings, professional development and mentoring programs for youth and young adult students.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://www.demontpope.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/demontpope
• Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/demontpope
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/demontpope
• Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/demontpope1
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@demontpope
• Other: Books and Merch Website: www.demontpopepublishing.com Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ITxHBQWMgbZrDGsXa2D7U?si=qTgPaXdEStCPx-rx1R-HQA

Image Credits
Krystle Scott, Ms. Britini