In our last issue, , Motivational Speaker and Best Selling Author, Les Calvin Brown, spoke about his life, his challenges and his successes while growing up in a single parent home. He also gives his readers hope that they can get up again after taking a nasty fall in life.
He is certainly a true example of a 'man who was born to succeed'. LiveWire writer Avalene Harris concludes her interview with Les where he gives advice to businessmen on how to deal with the current economic credit crunch. He also shares his moving testimony with us.
LiveWire: You have been through so much while growing up and never one day did you ever think about throwing in the towel. Please tell your readers where does Les inspiration come from?
LB: I made a promise to myself that each day I'm going to make a difference in someone's life. There is a 2002 movie starring Jack Nicholson
As the world over grapples with the economic credit crunch, we must put on the whole armor of God, as this crisis too shall pass..........
called, 'About Schmidt'. In this movie, he tells a young African boy, Ndugu - "at the end of your life when you die, unless you've done something significant with your life, it's as though you've never been born". Wow!! When I heard that, it struck me in a powerful and reflective way - because I was born.....because God spared my life! I wanted to stand for something. I wanted to be known for doing something significant. When you stand for something, for integrity, for hard work, you will leave a legacy of success behind. You want to make a difference because you can make a difference.
LiveWire: You come from very humble beginnings to where you are today. Can you share your testimony?
LB: My twin brother, Wes and I were born on a linoleum floor of an abandoned building, we were then adopted at age six weeks by Mrs. Mamie Brown, who went on to raise seven children as a single mother. I was held back in the first grade and again in the eight grade.
Labelled as educable retarded all through my school years, I believed the negatives stories that others had told me. That is, until the wisdom and influences of one teacher set me on a different path. Mr Washington, told me, ' Boy, don't ever let someone else's opinion of you become your reality'. My passion to learn and my hunger to realise greatness in myself and others helped me to set and achieve high goals. I rose from a hip-talking morning DJ to broadcast manager. In 1986, I entered the public speaking arena on a full-time basis and formed my own company, Les Brown Enterprises Inc. I received the National Speakers Association's highest honour: The Council of Peers Award of Excellence (CPAE). In 1992, I was selected as one of the world's top five speakers by Toastmasters international and receipient of the Golden Gavel Award.
To date, I have won an Emmy for my first PBS series, ‘You Deserve. I have performed before millions and millions of people, both nationally and internationally. In spite of all this, I am yet to position myself for the next level. You too must position yourself for the next level. If you have the baton, keep running. If you've dropped it, pick it up and keep stepping. It is time for us all to run our race to victory!
LiveWire: Who would you say that you admire the most, other than your wife, mother, twin brother or children and why?
LB: Besides my mother, I most admire Mike Williams, my mentor of 39 years. He has been the message that God has delievered to me. Years ago, when I was trapped in a job, going nowhere, not able to see beyond the walls of my limitations, Mike looked at me, not as I was, but what I could become. He is a person of high integrity, with great compassion and vision. Regardless of a person and their circumstances, his motto has always been, ' I see great people and great possibilities'.
LiveWire: As we currently struggle with the downturn of the global economy, what words of advice can you share with some of this country's business people as they grapple with the credit crunch?
LB: As the world over grapples with the economic credit crunch, we must put on the whole armor of God, as this crisis too shall pass. Crisis in the Chinese language has a compound definition. It means, ' danger' but it also means ' opportunity'. Therefore, there is no room to live in terror over the state of this economy- wondering how to make ends meet; wondering if your job is on the line; wondering if you can keep your house from foreclosure. No, no, no. Instead, you must use this opportunity to employ the talents and gifts that God has given you and begin to do that which you love doing.
LiveWire: Share with us some tools to become successful and ways to create wealth while living on a shoe string budget.
LB: Here is a two step plan to becoming successful whether you are working paycheque to paycheque or have lots of money. Step One: You must renew your mind. If you do not fill your mind up with positive constructive thoughts that generate positive words, your mind will fill up by itself with your fears, concerns and worries. Put yourself on a mental diet; whereas, you're filling your mind with positive constructive thoughts only. Step Two: Make a decision to be unstoppable. Now in order to be unstoppable you must first get out of your comfort zone. It is amazing to see how people will hang on to what is comforatble or at least familiar rather than letting go and going after what really excites them the most, or what is their unique talent. That is why the graveyard is such a wealthy place - full of so many dreams, visions and inventions buried there. So instead of allowing that to happen, activate the thinker in you. Become the relentless and unstoppable driving active force in your life.
LiveWire: We in Trinidad have been blessed by your words and motivational sessions whenever you grace our shores, do you have intensions of returning again anytime soon.
LB: Right now, my focus is not so much on traveling around the world speaking to audiences, as it is on training and developing other speakers to do that. I hold two-day seminars entitled, ' Discover Your Power Voice', through which I teach individuals how to inspire others to live their dreams and make it on this earth. Anyone interested in attending these sessions can get more information at www.lesbrown.com.
C
Les Brown
Author and Motivational Speaker
