Meet Dr. Eddie Connor of Dr. Eddie’s Academy

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Eddie Connor.  

Hi Dr. Connor, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I’m reminded of a quote by Dr. Myles Munroe who affirmed, “Vision is purpose in pictures.” For much of my life, I’ve known my purpose but the vision and picture of my future always seemed to be blurry. As a son of parents who are ministers, I was raised to love God and express love to people. Grappling with their divorce and the absence of my father, I battled with how to become a man when I didn’t interact with one. How do I play the role without the script? To make matters worse, in high school, I was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. 

For almost two years, I received chemotherapy and radiation to eradicate an aggressive form of cancer. Battling that disease brought about the dis-ease of depression, dismay, and mental discombobulation. Many people didn’t think I was going to make it, but God healed me and I persevered. I found the can in cancer. The battles did not stop there. I was told by my guidance counselor that I would never go to college. However, from being told I would never go to college to serving as a professor at a college is one of my victories. Servant leadership is near and dear to me, which is why I developed the organization “Boys 2 Books.” It’s an after-school program that provides an opportunity to give back as a mentor and empower young males via literacy, leadership, and life skills enrichment. 

2022 highlights 22 years of me being cancer-free and the recent release of my 13th book, “Dear Queen, Volume II” and the progression of my digital Academy community which is focused on Faith, Identity, Relationships, and Speaker Training. 

I realize that normal is not behind us, rather it’s ahead of us. Life as we once knew it will not be life as we now know it. This is not a return to normal; this is an exit from it to forsake the familiar. We are in a unique time of creativity to cultivate what we would like the world to be. If you keep doing the same old things, you will get the same results. If you do something different, you will see something different. Tradition should not be your Achilles heel of tribulation but rather a gateway for inspiration. 

I realize that everything you’ve overcome in your history must be used as a bridge to walk by faith into your destiny. I can recall times in my life that were risky but I persevered anyway. Times like finding the can in cancer to be an overcomer. Forgiving my absent father years before receiving an apology from him. Being told by my guidance counselor that I would never go to college. Found financial resources to stay in college when everything told me to drop out. Gaining the confidence to share my story, write 13 best-selling books, and share on major media outlets was quite risky. Embracing healing, wholeness, and interpersonal success despite imperfections. All of these moments of truth and transparency were risky but brought me to a place of clarity. The most dangerous place in life is not walking on water. It’s when you remain in the boat. You have to feel the fear and do it anyway. The biggest risk is not taking one. 

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Undoubtedly, life for me has been anything but smooth. I took a lot of L’s that became life lessons to transform stumbling blocks into stepping stones. My life is a stark reminder of the poignant and poetic words of Langston Hughes, “Life for me isn’t been no crystal stair.” The pain of struggle came early and often in my life. The struggle came early, as my best friend died of cancer when we were both seven years old. Years later, I found myself fighting for my life after being diagnosed with cancer. The struggle came early, as I missed my entire sophomore year of high school because I was too sick to attend. The struggle came early when my parents divorced and I had to cope with the absence of my father. So, I pondered about how can I be what I don’t see? How can I live through dying places? 

There’s a lot of pain in the poetry and overcoming obstacles has been what I live by philosophically. Behind my journey and story, God gets all the glory. From being the least likely to being used by God mightily is nothing short of a testimony. 

I was able to get there from here, remembering that I’ve come this far by faith. My perseverance and faith are a gateway through the power of vision, to see beyond what I see and arrive at a place of destiny. 

We’ve been impressed with Dr. Eddie’s Academy, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
As a business owner who has taken the leap, I empower people to leap into their purpose and overcome obstacles. I have an online community (Dr. Eddie’s Academy) that connects leaders who desire holistic development and empowerment via our proven F.I.R.S.T. model. Our F.I.R.S.T. model is focused on Faith, Identity, Relationships, and Speaker Training. This academy is for men and women who desire to enhance and strengthen their personal and professional development. If you want to experience healing and wholeness, discover how to walk in your purpose, gain confidence, and experience transformation, then my academy is tailor-made for you. Our online digital space serves to curate a community connection that fosters empowerment via wisdom through masterclasses, workshops, and training sessions. (http://www.DrEddieAcademy.com) 

I have written 13 books and speak to thousands, locally and globally. I’ve spoken at churches, conferences, and colleges. I’ve been blessed to share on ABC, BET, CBS, NBC, The Steve Harvey TV show, and at Bishop TD Jakes’ Mega Fest. However, I recognize that public speaking is the #1 fear in the world. So, I decided to teach people how to become phenomenal speakers. I have a digital training session on how to overcome the fear of public speaking, confidently structure your speech, “wow” your audience, be conversational when delivering your speech, and confidently deliver your signature story. (http://www.DrEddieAcademy.com/speak) 

Coupled with that training session, I have a Certified Speaker Training Program that empowers people with step-by-step strategies on how to face the fear factor, pinpoint the purpose of their story, and secure paid speaking engagements. (http://www.DrEddieAcademy.com/speakerplaybook) 

We’d love to hear what you think about risk-taking?
The saying goes, “An entrepreneur is someone who jumps off a cliff and builds a plane on the way down without a parachute.” Undoubtedly, it’s a big risk to reap the rewards but you can’t reap the rewards without taking the risk. If you want to aspire higher and reach new levels, you have to take a leap of faith. Personally, for me to shift from full-time educator and professor to full-time entrepreneur was totally risky. Creating something from nothing, betting on myself, and beating the odds was very risky but all the more rewarding. I did not allow my situation to shrink my vision. If you want to aspire higher and reach new levels, you have to take a leap of faith. Knowing your why and discovering how to level up will be the ultimate reward. 

Contact Info:

• Email: info@EddieConnor.com
• Website: http://www.DrEddieAcademy.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/EddieConnorJr
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EddieConnorJr
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/EddieConnorJr
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/EddieConnor
• Other: Purchase my best-selling books at www.EddieConnor.com/shop