What Nobody Tells You About Inheriting a Famous Name

In this episode of Books That Changed My Life, host Chris Collins sits down with Nicole Cooke Johnson, CEO of Royalty Firm LLC and granddaughter of music legend Sam Cooke. Nicole reflects on growing up under the weight of an iconic legacy, navigating a dog-eat-dog industry with no clear rules, and learning how to make decisions when there was little guidance on how to do business with integrity.

She shares how The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey gave her a framework rooted in character, helping her lead with intention, say no without regret, and steward her grandfather's estate with care. This conversation is about pressure, responsibility, and finding direction when the stakes are high and the roadmap is unclear.