Shane Johnson’s commitment to raising awareness for veterans facing life challenges is reflected in a tough love approach he developed as a Marine.

 

One of his favorite sayings in advising veterans about the importance of developing a life skills strategy involves a question: “Do you give a man a fish and feed him for a day or teach that person to fish and feed him for a lifetime?”

 

Johnson, a former homeless veteran himself, will be sharing his inspirational story when he visits the Southwest Florida Military Museum & Library in Cape Coral from 1-3:30 p.m. on September 13. His appearance will benefit the museum, Bootstraps Ministries, and Hearts and Homes for Veterans.

 

Now a motivational speaker, Johnson addresses veterans’ issues from personal experience. After his service in the Marines ended, he ran a successful mortgage company before the economy crashed in 2006 and he lost everything. He was a homeless person for a time, living out of his car.

 

But thanks to the discipline developed during his military background, Johnson regrouped, educated himself and refocused his business career to helping veterans transition from active duty to civilian life. He now owns three veteran-based companies near Orlando and has also expanded his outreach to motivational speaking.

 

 

Johnson also leads by example. One outreach that received national attention involved his “Hike Across America”, a marathon in which he ran 22 miles for 65 straight days to raise awareness about veteran suicides. The numbers carry significance since there are an estimated 22 veteran suicides each day, or one every 65 minutes. Along the route from Orlando to California he stopped at homeless shelters to distribute hygiene kits.

 

Johnson’s advice about job creation and entrepreneurship is especially beneficial to teenagers attempting to navigate their own path through the working world.