We recently connected with Joseph Roberts and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Joseph thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Before we get into specifics, let’s talk about success more generally. What do you think it takes to be successful?

As a Relationship Strategist, I am a firm believer that if you desire to strive and thrive in any area of your life, it begins with you having a foundational connection to Christ. God’s Word is clear as stated in Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”. He is my source of strength, courage, and ability to accomplish things, that often times according to worldly standards, would be deemed impossible or highly unlikely to achieve.

As we travel down that road to success, one should expect to encounter seasons of adversity along the way. It’s not a matter of if it will happen, but when it will happen. It is therefore critical that we stay prepared at all times, because in doing so we position ourselves to be able to withstand the hits that come with the storms of life. A committed relationship and dependency on God, brings forth the discernment that is needed to remain aware of our surroundings and those we allow ourselves to be surrounded by. Only the peace, joy, and calm that God has to offer is capable of sustaining us each day, especially in those moments in which we want to give us that comes with the territory for those of us desiring to be successful. As they say, it’s lonely at the top, but with God in your life you are never alone. This wisdom I impart is not based on something that I heard, but instead that which I have had the opportunity to personally experience. No matter the battle before me, I have always come out on top when I allowed God to guide my steps.

Joseph, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Joseph B. Roberts is a Relationship Strategist, Author, Podcast Host, Speaker, Certified Instructor, Moderator and Ordained Deacon, who was born and raised on the south side of Chicago. He earned his B.A. degree in Economics from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and his M.S. degree in Education and Social Policy from Northwestern University. With more than twenty years of active service working with the Department of Treasury, Joseph has been instrumental in the development and facilitating of various leadership programs through his role as a subject matter expert that has accelerated the careers of those, he has the privilege of mentoring along the way. Joseph has also lent his vast expertise through spiritual counseling to those experiencing challenges in overcoming adversity and other traumatic events. His ability to effectively utilize a practical but Christian based approach to enduring life storms along with a willingness to be transparent about his own life journey has proven essential to his success in coming alongside others in their moment of pain be it in work or personal life. Joseph currently resides in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area with his lovely wife Icey of 20 years and his beautiful daughter Gabrielle. He attributes all his accomplishments in life to God and credits his mother for being a living example of great strength, integrity, and resiliency while raising him as a single mother.

What I have been most proud of over the years is my willingness to surrender more and more each day to the will of God over my life. In doing so, I am now a 3X author of the Blessings In The Streets Book Series, which includes the original writing, the special edition, and the supplemental guide. I have also now successfully completed three seasons of the Blessings In The Streets Podcast in just under two years and consisting of more than 250 episodes, which is now available on YouTube and numerous other platforms that listeners tune in for podcasts. Most importantly, I have learned to embrace the valley experiences of life primarily because I now view them as God does, where the focus is placed on growth and development rather than clinging to a victim mentality that succumbs to distractions and negative thinking. It is my ultimate desire that potential clients, followers, and fans of my work learn to prioritize purpose over paycheck and impact/influence over income. Nothing wrong with obtaining wealth and positioning oneself to enjoy the finer things of life, as long as you do so in a manner that aligns with God’s will, a perspective that will never require of you to neglect yourself nor compromise your integrity and character. A viewpoint that promotes protecting your peace and establishing healthy boundaries.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

Anyone who knows me is well aware of the close relationship I experienced with my mother. She was the one person aside from God Himself, that I knew loved me unconditionally, wanted nothing but the best for me, and was always willing to impart wisdom into me in an honest and genuine way, even if the truth hurt. I knew the day would come when she would no longer be physically present in my life, but words cannot express how painfully difficult that would be once the reality of it all was staring me in the face. For years I resisted seeking out career opportunities that would have created distance between me and my other. I often asked myself the question; “What kind of son would I be to leave her after all she has been to me and done for me? I used her as my excuse, my crutch for not moving forward with my life, even though God told me it was now time to do so as He had a new assignment for me to pursue. In all honesty, my hesitancy to operate in obedience to what God was calling on me to do, can be attributed to my fears of letting go of the familiar and comfortable areas of my life.

After waiting patiently, God gave me the nudge I needed to make that long awaited move. He answered a prayer that I didn’t even realize I had prayed for. My concerns for mom’s emotional, mental, physical, and financial well-being would finally be addressed in a way that I could not dispute. My excuse making and stall tactics were now about to be brought to a screeching halt. God made the decision to bring mom home with Him. As devastating as this was for me, it was in many ways a blessing in disguise. Mom was going to be ok now and I knew it. God cleared the path and now it was on me to grow up spiritually and simply trust Him. My darkest season of life was now transitioning into the greatest season of life. The experiences and accomplishments that would follow after my tears of sadness had dried up, were the very things Mom always wanted for me. That’s not to say I haven’t experienced any more rough patches, but Mom’s passing was a strategic turning point in my life that catapulted me to new heights in my dependency on God.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

The greatest lesson in life that I have diligently worked to unlearn, is discontinuing the practice of allowing myself to settle or forego my dreams and desires solely for the sake of pleasing others. There is great power to be had when the opinions of others are not permitted to drive decisions that directly impact your life. That’s not to say you shouldn’t have a few trusted people in your circle that can extend sound wisdom and guidance when needed. However, it is important to set boundaries when it comes to others attempting to dictate how you should live your life, especially when doing so as others say, comes at the expense of neglecting yourself.

For years I made the mistake of people pleasing, only to find myself unhappy and unfulfilled. I would gladly take on other people’s problems as if they were my own, while they would in turn rest peacefully at night and not even appreciate the sacrifices I made for their benefit. It’s an ugly cycle of existence that you can become addicted to if not careful as well as cognizant of what’s going on and how it is negatively impacting your life. Mental health awareness and self-care is both real and necessary, but if not guarded and classified as non-negotiable, it becomes subjected to mishandling and abuse by those who don’t have your best interest at heart. This point yet again illustrates why having a relationship with God is of such importance, because He reminds us of our value, our worth, and most importantly, that only what He thinks of us is what ultimately matters.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://mrjosephbrobertscard.com
• Instagram: @mrjosephbroberts
• Facebook: Joseph Roberts (Personal Page) – Blessings In The Streets (Professional Page)
• Linkedin: Joseph B. Roberts
• Youtube: Blessings In The Streets Podcast
• Other: TikTok: @blessingsinthestreets

  Email: [email protected]