Interview With Author Derrick Noble
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I was born and raised in Little Rock, AR. I have been helping leaders, speakers, business owners, CEOs, non-profit organizations, and government agencies take their leadership skills to higher heights for more than 20 years now. I am a jazz lover and a musician, I love watching classic Kung Fu movies, I regularly come in first place in Denzel Washington and Idris Elba look-alike contests, and I have a delightfully silly sense of humor.
My career revolves around The Golden Triangle of professional speaking. I do these both virtually and –in-person:
1. Keynote Speaking, which is all about inspiration, information and motivation, while creating awareness for an audience about a particular subject or topic;
2. Corporate Training, which is all about skills transfer for a gathering of employees; and
3. One-On-One Coaching & Consulting, which is all about behavioral change.
My most requested topics are, in order:
• Leadership/leadership development and all that it entails,
• Improving communication skills (both verbal and written), and
• Delivering 5-Star customer service.
I endured years of speech therapy for a severe stutter and speech impediment to become an award winning TEDx speaker, speech coach, and trainer. Some of my clients over the years have included The FBI, The United States Air Force, The United States Navy, The United States Forestry Service, The United States Department of Energy, the City of Los Angeles, and many more. In 2021, I was featured in the Los Angeles Business Journal as an influential African American business leader.
“Leadership Launch” is my first major publication.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My book is entitled “Leadership Launch: Essential Skills for New Leaders.” I have been a professional speaker, corporate trainer, and consultant for more than 20 years now. The single most requested topic for me to speak or train on over the years has been leadership. In particular, I discovered that many who were new to leadership needed some type of blueprint to help them navigate that tricky transition from employee to manager, supervisor, or team leader.
See, being a great employee got us noticed and made the powers-that-be select us for a leadership position. But, being a great employee and being a great leader of other employees are two different skill sets. So, new executives and leaders started asking me to mentor them one-on-one so that they could learn how to hit the ground running and produce results quickly. Over the years, the people with whom I have shared this info kept nudging me to put it into book form, since they knew so many others who could benefit from it. I blocked off a month on my calendar to devote to writing every day with as few distractions as possible, and now you have “Leadership Launch” in your hands!
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Hmmmm, you mean other than not being able to write without a huge cup of cinnamon ginger tea? Naw, not really. Wait, does writing in Snoopy & Woodstock pajamas count as unusual?
Seriously, I have to approach my daily writing routine as if I were going into an office to work. I wake up, shower, dress (albeit in Snoopy pjs, but I dress nonetheless), and sit down at the computer from 9:00 a.m. until noon – and then I stop. I can’t seem to focus if I write for long, long stretches at a time.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I have such a love for reading that this question is nearly impossible to answer. But, I can begin by telling you where it all started. My parents were not wealthy by any means, but when I was very young (I think around the age of 5), my mother said yes to a traveling salesman who was hawking sets of “The World Book Encyclopedia.” Momma died when I was 7, but I was told years later by my big brother Willie that she had said she wanted to spend what little money she had so that I could have something to read at home and get a jump start on my education! I mean, it’s almost as if she knew her time wasn’t long, and she wanted to leave a legacy of some sort.
So, my first love was that set of World Book Encyclopedias, and I read those from A-Z as I grew up. As I grew older, my 5th grade principal Mr. Ward (to whom “Leadership Launch” is dedicated) got me interested in Black history books; namely biographies of people like George Washington Carver and Benjamin Banneker. In fact, I remember that the Carver biography was the very first book I read from cover to cover, outside of the encyclopedia. To this day, I still love biographies.
If I had to compile a list of favorite authors, it would certainly include James Baldwin, Cheikh Anta Diop, William Shakespeare, and Howard Thurman – my “Mt. Rushmore” of authors. Other favorites are Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Carter G. Woodson, Melba Pattillo Beals (who wrote the foreword for “Leadership Launch”), and Aristotle.
What are you working on now?
I am now working on the sequel to “Leadership Launch”. The title is “Leadership Legacy”, and it will be geared toward seasoned leaders. It will focus on mentoring the next generation and passing the baton to the upcoming crop of leaders.
Also, due to popular demand, I’m writing a book entitled “Why Derrick Is So Freakin’ Awesome, and How You Can Be Too!” Millions around the world have asked for it…okay, maybe just my little niece, but she loves her Uncle Derrick. 🙂
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
This is a great question. I’m relatively new to the promotion side of things, so I have a great PR firm – Grapevine (based in Austin, TX and Los Angeles) taking the lead on that. However, a few sites that I really enjoy are Bargain Booksy, Awesome Gang, and The Fussy Librarian.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Yes – be willing to spend the money on a good, professional editor with years of experience. My bachelor’s degree is in English, I teach courses and seminars on writing and grammar, other people ask me to proofread their written works – and I STILL paid premium dollars for an outside editor. Trust me, they catch things you do not because you’re so close to the written material and may have a tendency to be less than completely objective. And remember, you get what you pay for, so don’t skimp. It will definitely be worth it in the long run.
Oh, and my second piece of advice to new authors is don’t write about leadership. I mean ever. I have in my employ a team of goons who are prolific in all of the martial arts, and their one job is to neutralize all competition. I could tell you about Johnny No-Thumbs who tried to write about leadership. As you might imagine, his story didn’t end well. The world needs more books about butterflies and bunny rabbits. Write about those. Yeah, that sounds about right. 🙂
Seriously, write about whatever you are most passionate about. That passion will come through on the written page, and it will reach your audience in some very powerful ways. And, if you’re a leadership person, welcome to the family.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“Look both ways before crossing the street.” My mother was quite the philosopher. Although, she was also the one who said, “I brought you into this world and I’ll take you out.” So, some of her advice may need to be taken with a grain of salt.
What are you reading now?
“The Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs” by Carmine Gallo, and “Perfect Phrases for Leadership Development” by Meryl Runion and Wendy Mack. BOTH are amazing and almost impossible to put down.
What’s next for you as a writer?
Hmmmmm….good question. My immediate tasks are to get the word out about “Leadership Launch” to as many people as possible, to complete this major PR campaign I’m in the midst of for the book and for my business, and – perhaps most importantly – to remind myself to enjoy the journey. What good is it to travel the world and yet be too busy traveling the world to actually see it and enjoy it? So, part of my next step is remembering to breathe and be thankful. Oh…and to buy commemorative Starbucks cups and refrigerator magnets from every place I visit. I already have quite the collection!
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
And the award for “World’s Most Difficult Question” goes to…Awesome Gang! Let’s see –
1) World Book Encyclopedia “W” – this was the one I started reading first, because Stevie Wonder was my favorite singer, and I wanted to know about him. So this one has sentimental value.
2) “Strength To Love” by Martin Luther King, Jr. – this book has been a constant source of inspiration over the years.
3) “The Measure of a Man” by Sidney Poitier. The depths of his insight are impossible to describe. Just read it.
*I would have said “The Bible”, but I have hidden THAT one in my heart. I don’t really need the physical copy. If you know, you know. 🙂
Author Websites and Profiles
Derrick Noble’s Social Media Links