Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Orrin Hudson. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Orrin, thanks for joining us today. Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.

Yes, I  traveled to meet some of the most successful communicators in person. People like Les Brown, Jim Rohn, Zig Ziglar, Patricia Fripp, John Maxwell, Joel Osteen, Tony Robbins, Jack Canfield, Brian Tracy, Mel Robbins, George C. Fraser. If I had invested sooner in this way, I could have sped up my own the developmental process. I like to say, “Communication skills pay the bills.” Early in my career my biggest obstacle was not knowing what I didn’t know. I hate to say it but there was a certain degree of ignorance that slowed my rapid progress.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I started my speaking program when I heard a news report about seven employees at a fast food restaurant who were shot in the head in a robbery that netted the criminals $2,400. I realized at that moment bad things continue to happen when concerned people fail to make boss moves. I made that move and started Be Someone Inc. to reduce crime and violence and to help eradicate the school to prison pipeline. Be Someone teaches students how to navigate through the complexities of life and to choose peace instead of violence, brains before bullets, and the only way to fight is to use your head. We use the game of chess to help students make better decisions. I’m most proud of teaching students to think for themselves and win in city-wide and state-wide tournaments. By the way, I was the first African American to win the Birmingham city chess championship. Not bad for a former gang member! I would love to be invited to your next event to energize, empower and enlighten your audience on how to make every move count and show them that their next move can be their best move.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

I am on a mission with my chess board to train, empower and motivate 1 million students to move with love, make every move count and to make their next move their best move.

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

Risk taking is something we’re really interested in and we’d love to hear the story of a risk you’ve taken.

I took my life-savings and converted my personal home into a training oasis for contagious empowerment, hope and love. My goal was to show students how to do good by actually doing good in the community and not merely talking but by doing. I had no idea what the end product would be, success or failure. But I believed and executed my vision.

I am a former state trooper and Air Force veteran who started a crime prevention nonprofit after hearing of the horrific crime I mentioned earlier… seven young employees doing the right thing by working hard to earn money were murdered in a robbery for $2,400. I knew I had to act. I was always taught, bad things happen when good people do nothing. Before my service in the Air Force and the Alabama State Patrol, I was destined to fail. I was a gang member in my teens when a white teacher (James Edge) in an all-black high school taught me how to play chess and not to be a pawn for crime and to think independently and don’t follow a group of wannabes and losers!

I went from being a follower to developing the skills of a leader with a talent to inspire others. Chess taught me to use my brain for good. Before that I just acted. A thought process was not something I was used to. The game changed my life and provided a self-confidence that led me out of the pits of life and taught me how to climb the ladder of success and be a winner. And win I did! As I mentioned, I later became the first African American to defeat the Alabama state chess champion. My advice is to be a giver because what you give comes back multiplied. What has been most effective for me is always trying to be a a shining example of giving and serving others by never giving up. I wanted to go see Tony Robbins in Atlanta and to go backstage was $2,800. I asked 10 people to let me go backstage and they all said no. I asked one more person and he said yes and I got to personally meet one of my professional heroes. The lesson… never give up.

I won’t stop until I drop and I’m coming in hot!!! I started developing my program May 24, 2000 and admittedly, it’s been a struggle financially. I have been told no a million times and funding is always a challenge. But I look in the mirror and tell the guy I’m looking at I’m not going to give up or shut up until I’m called up!!

A little information on my background. I am a former Alabama State Trooper, an Air Force veteran, chess champion and founder of Be Someone, Inc. I have been inspiring students worldwide for more than 20 years and I am blessed with the ability to inspire both adults and youth audiences. Be Someone Inc. has trained more than 88,000 students on the principles of success learned in a “game,” chess. We have earned global media coverage from reporters who want to see how we teach students both how to play chess and beat the odds that many of them face in life. Personally, I have won several chess championships including a statewide chess championship. I was once an at-risk youngster growing up in inner-city Birmingham, AL. I was on the fast-track to personal failure and destruction when a teacher saw potential in me I never realized existed. He taught me how to translate the lessons from the chess board to life…. Strategic planning, thinking ahead, there are consequences for every move we make – good and bad, respecting opponents and, ultimately, how to be a winner.

You can see more about me and my organization on the links below and you can also visit our website at www.besomeone.org or just give me a call on my cell. I always love talking to fellow winners!

Here’s my direct line:404-578-5278 or e-mail me at 0rrin@besomeone.org.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.besomeone.org
• Instagram: besomeone.0rg
• Facebook: Orrinhudson
• Linkedin: Orrin Checkmate Hudson
• Twitter: @besomeone
• Youtube: Orrin Hudson

Image Credits
David Llada