As a student, Joe Woodley preferred the back of the classroom where he couldn’t be seen and wouldn’t be heard.
Now, the Shadyside author and public speaker (yes, public speaker) relishes the opportunity to be in front of the classroom.
But it wasn’t easy.
“I was very, very shy,” the New York and Columbus transplant said. “My mom really struggled to get me motivated.”
In high school, Woodley was a wrestler, weightlifter, did martial arts, and was a musician, but he still struggled to find his purpose in life. Then, in 11th grade, an English teacher changed everything.
“He put out a bin in front of the class and said, ‘I will never ask you for your homework. If you turn it in, you pass. If you don’t, you fail.’”
“To be challenged in that way was something. That’s when writing became my tool.”
It was the first class he had aced since 3rd or 4th grade. He had found his purpose.
In his mid-20s, he embarked on a writing career, penning books on team development and leadership. But, he was still in the back of the classroom.
It wasn’t until his son, Isaiah, asked him to speak at his school as part of a character development program that Woodley finally started to find his voice. He then developed a program called “The H.E.R.O. Project” (Healthy Emotions Relationship and Outlook), which encouraged students to be heroes in their communities by deputizing them to do good.
AND he was dressing up as a superhero during these engagements; so, while he could be heard, he couldn’t be seen.
“I could put the mask on and no one knew who I was,” Woodley said.
So when companies like AEP and other organizations came calling to have him create leadership and development programs, the mask had to come off.
“I had to be me,” Woodley said. “What I discovered is adults are no different than big kids.”
He began his career as a public speaker and in leadership and team development, speaking at Wilberforce University, Columbus Downtown High School and others. Since that transition, Woodley added authoring children’s books to his resume. Inspired by legendary authors Dr. Seuss, Ronald Dahl, J.M. Barrie, Rudyard Kipling and L. Frank Baum, he wanted to write stories that reminded him of the stories his mother read to him as a child. His second Children’s book, and 17th book overall, “The Great Christmas Heist”, was published November 13. In the story, Thomas and Claire take a journey on Christmas Eve that helps them see the beauty around them.
He has spent the past few weeks traveling the area, reading the book to students, delivering his message of service, and hoping to inspire children to find their voice.
“Our kids are lost; unfortunately, a lot of adults are lost. I think it is most important to find a purpose in life.”
