Stay tuned to meet a
man who overcame adversity
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and is committed to
helping you do the same,
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my name is Jason Bradley
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and you're
watching Urban Report.
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Hello and
welcome to Urban Report.
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I had a chance to
interview Dr. Donnell Josiah,
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he is an Author,
Consultant and Musician
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let's take a look
at what he had to say.
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I'm here on a special Set
with a very special guest,
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Dr. Donnell Josiah,
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welcome to Urban
Report, Dr. Josiah.
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Thank you for having
me. Jason: You're welcome,
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tell us a little bit
about your background.
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Well, I'm actually from the
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Caribbean Island
of Antigua and Barbuda
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and I grew up there for...
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I left there after
24 years of living there
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and then I migrated
to the United States
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and I pursued higher education
and have been here since.
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Wow! wow! now you said
you pursued higher education
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you are a doctor,
what is your doctorate in?
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My doctorate is in
Applied Management,
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it's an emphasis on
Organizational Change Management
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and Leadership Development
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but I'm really an Engineer
at heart by prior degrees,
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my under graduate and graduate
degrees were all in Engineering
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Computer Engineering,
Electronics Engineering,
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Engineering Management,
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so my doctoral work
was actually a departure
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from all my other technical
work that I've been known for.
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Okay.
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But it's quite a
change and I quite enjoy it
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because now I get a chance
to work one-on-one with people,
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especially at the State
Level where I'm able to lead
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large technology initiatives
for the State of Maryland.
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That's excellent, now,
you're the type of person
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that likes to solve
problems, is that correct?
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Absolutely, that's
right, as an Engineer,
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I've been to too
many Engineering Schools
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and an Engineer...
always is an Engineer.
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Why? because they
think a certain way.
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They're very
analytical and they think about
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how do they find
solutions to problems.
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Were you doing a
lot of puzzles as a kid?
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I really was not, you know,
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I was a Musician
when I was growing up,
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I spent a lot of
time playing music,
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music is my passion so I
spent a whole lot of time
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playing the piano, and
actually, in my later teens,
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I decided to open
a Recording Studio,
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so it was quite a venture for
me growing up in the Caribbean,
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I really enjoyed my time there,
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but you get to a point
where there is a new calling,
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a new purpose that
you have to go and acquire
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and then my opportunity
came to go to higher education
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and afforded me the opportunity
to really pursue my dreams
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as a Management Consultant.
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Wow! now see, I happen to know
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that you are a
phenomenal musician
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I've heard you play,
you actually played for
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one of our
programs called Magnify Him
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and you played a
song called, "All we ask"
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and you did your own arrangement
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on there that was
absolutely amazing
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I need lessons on that.
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Thank you, I'll be
happy to help you with that.
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It was wonderful, wonderful...
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and you recently came
out with a CD, correct?
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That's right, multiple actually,
I am producing music now...
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not only performing...
the last several years
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I've been actively
performing piano solos,
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in the last year, I've
decided to somewhat focus
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less on solo performance and
more so... on producing music
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so, taking a song
from the conceptual phase
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sketching the song out
from the compositional stage,
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the arrangement stage,
the song development stage,
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and it's a whole
development process
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that really turns me on,
I'm really excited about that
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especially with my
new Recording Studio
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that I released in
the last two years,
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now I have capacity,
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unlimited capacity to produce
all the things that I want,
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so I'm really excited about
the production aspect of music,
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in additional to... also
my solo performances as well.
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Well, I definitely
see the passion involved
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and I see the passion involved
when you're playing the keys,
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hopefully, some of our
Viewers will get a chance
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to check you out on
the Dare to Dream Network
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on Magnify Him,
but I want to move into
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your book, you
recently wrote a book
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and it's entitled, "Overcomers"
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what is your
definition of an overcomer?
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An "Overcomer" is anyone
that has been able to overcome,
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for lack of a
better word... to overcome,
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to confront and to
move past obstacles
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that may have precluded them
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from accomplishing
their life's purpose.
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That comes in all
forms, all shapes, all styles,
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because when you look at
impediments and obstacles,
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some folks have
emotional impediments,
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some folks are confronted
by hardships in their families,
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some folks are confronted
by failure, depression,
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and a number of different
obstacles that prevent them
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from really accomplishing
their purpose in life,
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"Overcomers"
provides an opportunity
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that gives these people the
ability to define a life goal
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whatever that life goal is,
whether it's higher education,
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whether their life goal
is making a career change,
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whether that
life goal is pursuing
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some other personal goal,
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it allows them
to define that goal
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and following a
31-day trajectory,
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define measurable ways
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in which they can
accomplish that goal.
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Wait a minute... in 31
days... they can do that?
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Believe it or not,
it's a 31-day process
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what I do... I talk
about specific topics
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that need to be
mastered within a 31-day period.
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Now, the reason why it's 31 days
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is not because the
skills will be perfected
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but because they will be
able to gain all the tools
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in 31 days,
that would allow them
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to perfect those
skills over a period of time.
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So essentially, this book
is... sort of like a roadmap
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to finding your purpose
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or you have to
find your purpose first
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and then follow the roadmap,
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how does that work,
break that down for us.
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That's an excellent question
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because before you can actually
accomplish your destiny,
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you first have to
achieve your purpose,
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defining your
purpose, and to do that,
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you first have to define...
listening to your inner voice
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what is the Lord
telling you about your purpose,
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what do you feel
compelled in pursuing
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what turns you on,
what really excites you?
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Because what I found...
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many people spend a lot of
time pursuing higher education
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completing 3- to 4- to 5-
to 6-years of higher education,
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only to live a life,
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not even in the
same fields of study,
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and I'm thinking,
when that usually happens,
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it's usually because their
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purpose was not properly
defined in the beginning
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that now, we need
to step back and say,
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"Well, here's what
I really love doing
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and here's what I want to pursue
for the rest of my life. "
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And that's great
that you said that
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about changing...
like a couple of years...
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they go to school and
they change their minds
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and they went for one thing
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and it changed it
into another thing
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some people go for a particular
job that makes a certain salary,
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some people try
and go for the money,
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but they're not passionate,
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it's not something
that they would do for free,
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how important is it
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to pursue something
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because you're
passionate about it,
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as opposed to just going for...
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say... the money?
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In my book I speak about
a chapter called "Passion,"
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and Passion talks about being
able to perceive that one thing
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that you love to do,
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even if you are not
adequately compensated for it,
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because that's truly...
what brings fulfillment,
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that's truly what
brings happiness in your life,
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the money will come
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if you excel at that thing
that you are passionate about
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but many times,
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the motivation
is to acquire wealth
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versus to live a life
that's ordered by your purpose
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I prescribe that it's
best to identify that purpose,
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to develop a love
for what you're doing,
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and then to develop
a niche of competencies
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that allow yourself now to
become an expert in the field,
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that will then
attract others to you
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as a subject matter expert
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to provide additional
support in a particular area.
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Now, that could
be in technology,
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that could be in IT Management,
that could be in a hobby,
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that could be in
music, it could be in any area
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where you develop
a unique skill set,
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the important thing is
defining that skill set
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really harnessing the tools
for mastering the skill set
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and then watching how
God will turn the skill set
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into a really fulfilling career,
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the Bible says, "A man's
gifts would make a way for him"
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and there's a
reason for that because
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when your gifts
make way for you,
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then you truly
walk into your purpose.
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Once you've
identified your purpose,
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then... you can then
listen to that inner voice
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then... putting
in place the passion,
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the
consistencies the discipline,
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all the topics as
a part of this book
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that allows someone to say,
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"Here's what I'm
going to pursue in life,
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here's how I'm going
to achieve my destiny,
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this will provide some
tools for defining that. "
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I like that... I like that...
tell us about the testimony...
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you share the
testimony in your book
00:08:53.50\00:08:55.03
and it's like the
testimony that you never shared.
00:08:55.06\00:08:57.87
You're absolutely right.
00:08:57.90\00:08:59.23
Touch on that.
00:08:59.27\00:09:00.67
I own three companies,
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the first company is a
Management Consulting Company
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called Change Dynamics.
00:09:05.34\00:09:07.01
Change Dynamics is an
IT Consulting Practice
00:09:07.11\00:09:09.61
where we provide
Project Management,
00:09:09.64\00:09:11.21
Program Management and
Technology Consulting Services
00:09:11.25\00:09:13.48
for the State of Maryland,
00:09:13.55\00:09:14.88
and in that particular Company,
00:09:14.92\00:09:17.15
I was blessed to
receive a State Award
00:09:17.22\00:09:20.39
for a very large procurement,
00:09:20.42\00:09:22.29
I was sitting at
my desk one morning
00:09:22.32\00:09:24.59
getting ready to
plan my day's activities,
00:09:24.63\00:09:26.83
outlining the activities
in my project schedule
00:09:26.86\00:09:29.50
that needed to be accomplished
within a 30-day period,
00:09:29.53\00:09:31.50
and the Lord
spoke to me very loudly
00:09:31.53\00:09:34.54
and He said, "I
blessed you publicly
00:09:34.57\00:09:37.51
yet you would not testify
of my blessings publicly. "
00:09:37.61\00:09:41.61
I immediately
stopped what I was doing,
00:09:41.64\00:09:44.78
which was... working
on my project schedule,
00:09:44.85\00:09:46.92
and I opened a Microsoft Word
document and I began to type,
00:09:46.95\00:09:50.72
and as I typed, the
Lord began to inspire me,
00:09:50.79\00:09:53.89
He began to show me,
"Here are the obstacles
00:09:53.96\00:09:57.13
that I was able
to have you overcome,
00:09:57.16\00:09:59.26
here are the things
that you have not yet shared
00:09:59.29\00:10:02.90
to someone who may be
going through the same thing,
00:10:02.93\00:10:05.47
that your testimony
can be used, now as a tool,
00:10:05.50\00:10:07.97
to help them
through this period of time"
00:10:08.00\00:10:10.61
now, also,
remember, prior to that Award,
00:10:10.67\00:10:13.21
I was unemployed for
four-and-half months,
00:10:13.24\00:10:15.74
Four-and-a-half months!
00:10:15.78\00:10:17.61
And you had a family
at that time too, correct?
00:10:17.65\00:10:20.18
You are absolutely
correct, I have a wife
00:10:20.22\00:10:22.35
and I have two young boys,
00:10:22.38\00:10:23.75
but never once
during that period of time
00:10:23.79\00:10:26.49
were we ever in need
00:10:26.52\00:10:27.86
and that's really the
heart of that testimony
00:10:27.89\00:10:30.99
because every day His
hands... God's hands...
00:10:31.03\00:10:34.03
steered us towards
where he wanted us to go.
00:10:34.10\00:10:37.03
He provided what we
needed and He ultimately...
00:10:37.10\00:10:40.10
even blessed us with new music,
00:10:40.17\00:10:41.64
so there are songs that
came out of that experience,
00:10:41.67\00:10:44.81
a book came out
of that experience,
00:10:44.87\00:10:47.21
so sometimes when
you face hardship,
00:10:47.24\00:10:49.44
God is using that hardship
to set you up with your destiny
00:10:49.48\00:10:52.81
but you have to have a
discerning eye to see that.
00:10:52.85\00:10:55.42
Amen... yes...
00:10:55.45\00:10:56.82
So I'm typing
away at my computer,
00:10:56.85\00:10:58.49
working on this
testimony I never shared...
00:10:58.52\00:11:00.89
and I decided to post
this testimony on Facebook.
00:11:00.96\00:11:04.89
On Facebook?
00:11:04.93\00:11:06.26
On Facebook, well He did say,
00:11:06.29\00:11:08.10
"You've never
shared it publicly,"
00:11:08.13\00:11:09.46
what better medium to share
it but publicly on Facebook?
00:11:09.50\00:11:13.70
So after an hour of pondering,
I decided to hit, "Submit"
00:11:13.74\00:11:18.11
on that Facebook Post.
00:11:18.14\00:11:19.91
Was your heart beating fast?
00:11:19.94\00:11:21.44
You know, it absolutely was
00:11:21.48\00:11:22.81
because I never
was that transparent
00:11:22.84\00:11:25.05
about my personal life,
I'm a very private individual
00:11:25.08\00:11:28.22
I'm not someone to
easily share the difficulties
00:11:28.25\00:11:31.99
and the hardships
that I sometimes face,
00:11:32.02\00:11:34.22
that all folks
face, but the Lord said,
00:11:34.26\00:11:36.42
"You have never
shared it publicly,
00:11:36.46\00:11:38.46
it's time for you to do that. "
00:11:38.49\00:11:40.20
Now, how were
you feeling about God
00:11:40.26\00:11:42.36
at that particular time
when you're going through it,
00:11:42.40\00:11:44.83
I know you probably
spend a lot of time in prayer,
00:11:44.87\00:11:47.30
sometimes during
tragedy and adversity,
00:11:47.37\00:11:50.84
we either run towards
God or we run away from God,
00:11:50.87\00:11:55.04
how did you...
00:11:55.08\00:11:56.78
I guess, did you
seek God at that time
00:11:56.81\00:11:59.95
or... I mean like...
when you're going through that
00:12:00.05\00:12:03.02
four-and-a-half
month unemployment?
00:12:03.05\00:12:05.29
That's an excellent question,
during that period of time,
00:12:05.32\00:12:07.79
I found myself
being drawn to God,
00:12:07.86\00:12:10.03
in fact one of the songs that
came out of that experience,
00:12:10.06\00:12:12.93
merged two
concepts, two songs...
00:12:12.96\00:12:15.16
"Great is thy faithfulness
and I surrender all to you"
00:12:15.20\00:12:19.17
and that song
came out as a single
00:12:19.20\00:12:21.64
that my wife just
released called, "I Surrender"
00:12:21.67\00:12:23.47
the words... "Today is a new day
00:12:23.51\00:12:25.61
with new mercies I see,
I surrender it all to you,
00:12:25.64\00:12:28.64
I need you to lead me,
guide me and hold me through it,
00:12:28.68\00:12:32.05
I surrender it all to you"
00:12:32.08\00:12:33.88
so on that experience,
I was able to write songs
00:12:33.92\00:12:37.09
in fact, during
that period of time,
00:12:37.15\00:12:38.89
I was also able to
really help my other Companies
00:12:38.92\00:12:42.39
do some of my 501c3s...
do some of my music charity
00:12:42.46\00:12:44.76
and also, my recording studio
00:12:44.79\00:12:47.23
also flourished during
that period of time as well
00:12:47.30\00:12:49.40
so it was
almost... God was saying,
00:12:49.46\00:12:52.33
"I need you to take a
break from your consulting work,
00:12:52.37\00:12:55.00
to develop your other
passion that you really have,"
00:12:55.04\00:12:57.47
which is music development.
00:12:57.54\00:12:58.87
Wow! and I often say this
that the true testament of faith
00:12:58.91\00:13:02.28
is the ability to trust
God and tolerate uncertainty
00:13:02.31\00:13:07.05
through trusting God
that He has the best will
00:13:07.12\00:13:11.25
and best plan in mind for you,
00:13:11.29\00:13:13.89
because He sees the
end from the beginning,
00:13:13.96\00:13:15.56
we don't see what's
going to happen tomorrow
00:13:15.59\00:13:17.23
or the next day, but He knows
00:13:17.26\00:13:18.59
before we were even
born, what is to come.
00:13:18.63\00:13:21.53
You are absolutely right
00:13:21.56\00:13:22.90
which actually leads me
to your original question
00:13:22.93\00:13:24.60
about "was I apprehensive
in sharing the testimony"
00:13:24.63\00:13:27.60
because it was His plan
that He would use that testimony
00:13:27.64\00:13:31.51
to bless other souls,
and when I began realizing...
00:13:31.54\00:13:34.24
I began getting in-box requests,
00:13:34.28\00:13:36.08
I began getting folks responding
00:13:36.11\00:13:37.85
within a short period of
time, that Post went viral,
00:13:37.88\00:13:40.48
then I also had
members from my University...
00:13:40.52\00:13:43.75
folks who'd never
responded to a Post
00:13:43.79\00:13:45.89
in-box me, I had folks text me,
00:13:45.95\00:13:49.12
folks who were encouraging
me but at the same time saying,
00:13:49.16\00:13:52.23
"We need to learn more of this
journey that you've been on"
00:13:52.26\00:13:55.30
and then quietly, November 6,
00:13:55.33\00:13:58.20
I began getting
some of my confidence
00:13:58.23\00:14:00.57
telling me, "You need
to put this in a book"
00:14:00.64\00:14:03.07
and I began listening,
00:14:03.10\00:14:04.44
I began pondering,
"should I really do this?"
00:14:04.47\00:14:06.98
How can I do that
given the fact that I have
00:14:07.01\00:14:09.38
so many things
already in motion?
00:14:09.41\00:14:12.08
November 17th...
I made the decision,
00:14:12.11\00:14:14.72
that I was going
to put pen to paper,
00:14:14.75\00:14:16.99
and began working on this book
00:14:17.02\00:14:19.05
but then, a
short period of time,
00:14:19.09\00:14:22.29
I began realizing
that the ideas were coming,
00:14:22.32\00:14:25.06
the thoughts were flowing and
I began wrestling with the idea
00:14:25.09\00:14:28.66
what do I call this book?
00:14:28.70\00:14:30.03
Should I call
it Change Dynamics?
00:14:30.07\00:14:32.57
No... Should I
call it "Overcomers?"
00:14:32.60\00:14:35.10
Yes! because that, for
me, was the crowning joy
00:14:35.14\00:14:39.71
of my experience,
00:14:39.74\00:14:41.08
I overcame this
particular difficulty
00:14:41.11\00:14:43.65
and I'm going to use
that testimony to do that,
00:14:43.71\00:14:46.05
is to help other
people overcome... as well,
00:14:46.08\00:14:48.25
but also,
remember that prior to that
00:14:48.28\00:14:50.15
there were other obstacles
00:14:50.19\00:14:51.92
that I had to overcome,
00:14:51.95\00:14:53.62
even prior to going
to higher education...
00:14:53.66\00:14:56.36
going to higher education,
00:14:56.39\00:14:58.29
I had a number of
different challenges
00:14:58.33\00:15:00.63
that precluded me
from even entrance...
00:15:00.66\00:15:02.70
Let's touch on those challenges,
00:15:02.73\00:15:04.07
what were some of those
challenges that you faced?
00:15:04.10\00:15:06.40
Excellent question, for example,
00:15:06.43\00:15:08.40
I remember when I was
actually in 12th grade,
00:15:08.44\00:15:10.54
I was the youngest
person in my class,
00:15:10.61\00:15:12.64
I was from a rural district
in Antigua in the Caribbean
00:15:12.67\00:15:17.25
where you don't
have all the amenities
00:15:17.28\00:15:19.88
as you would have
in the US schools,
00:15:19.95\00:15:22.48
a lot of technology, a
lot of access to resources
00:15:22.52\00:15:26.96
so, here I am in 12th
Grade preparing to sit
00:15:26.99\00:15:30.16
for what is called Caribbean
Examination Council Exams,
00:15:30.23\00:15:33.26
these were pretty rigorous exams
00:15:33.93\00:15:36.43
that test all
aspects of your academic life
00:15:36.46\00:15:39.63
over a five-year period,
00:15:39.67\00:15:41.34
so, consider the fact that
I'm now fifteen in that class,
00:15:41.40\00:15:46.01
I'm the youngest
person in that class,
00:15:46.04\00:15:48.68
and I'm registering
to take nine subjects
00:15:48.71\00:15:51.25
Chemistry, Physics,
Agriculture, Science,
00:15:51.28\00:15:53.78
Geography,
Mathematics, English...
00:15:53.82\00:15:55.58
and the list goes on and on,
00:15:55.62\00:15:56.95
and the Principal calls me
into her office and she says,
00:15:56.99\00:15:59.92
we're not going to allow you
00:15:59.95\00:16:01.99
to take more than five
subjects because of your age,
00:16:02.02\00:16:04.26
I said, "What! my age,
why should my age preclude me
00:16:04.29\00:16:08.86
from pursuing my goal?"
00:16:08.90\00:16:10.27
Needless to say, I
tried to fight that decision
00:16:10.30\00:16:14.07
I went to the Board of
Education for the Country
00:16:14.14\00:16:18.01
over weeks of
trying to plead my case,
00:16:18.04\00:16:21.38
they decided that they
were not going to overturn
00:16:21.41\00:16:23.35
the Principal's
decision, needless to say
00:16:23.38\00:16:25.88
that the five subjects
that I decided to take,
00:16:25.95\00:16:29.55
I did not have the
instructional support,
00:16:29.58\00:16:32.49
to allow me to master the skills
sufficient to take the exams,
00:16:32.52\00:16:37.53
so when time came to
really receive my results,
00:16:37.56\00:16:40.96
I was devastated.
00:16:41.00\00:16:42.86
So, let me get this right,
00:16:42.90\00:16:44.73
they cut you
down to five subjects
00:16:44.77\00:16:46.60
but then they didn't
prepare you accurately
00:16:46.63\00:16:49.34
when it came time for the test.
00:16:49.37\00:16:51.31
Adequate
surmise, absolutely right,
00:16:51.34\00:16:53.27
but that did not stop me
00:16:53.34\00:16:55.28
because my mom
always encouraged me
00:16:55.31\00:16:57.31
by referring me to
the poem that says,
00:16:57.35\00:16:58.68
"The Go-Getter goes...
00:16:58.71\00:17:00.12
until he gets what he goes for,
00:17:00.15\00:17:02.08
The Go-Getter
reaps what he sows,
00:17:02.12\00:17:04.32
when he fixes a goal and
resolves when he sets it,
00:17:04.35\00:17:07.72
the way to the prize is
to go till he gets it... "
00:17:07.76\00:17:10.86
and that poem...
00:17:10.89\00:17:12.46
actually originally
written by Susan Willoughby,
00:17:12.49\00:17:15.96
that poem motivated me
to define my life's goal,
00:17:16.03\00:17:19.50
back then, and to pursue it,
00:17:19.53\00:17:21.67
now the results that came
afterward did not encourage me
00:17:21.74\00:17:25.54
the results devastated me, why?
00:17:25.57\00:17:27.64
Because I felt like a failure
00:17:27.68\00:17:29.71
I was teetering on
Childhood Depression,
00:17:29.74\00:17:32.68
"Can I enter college with
these grades?" I could not...
00:17:32.75\00:17:35.92
"Could I go into
higher education?"
00:17:35.95\00:17:37.99
I could not... so I
was forced to move into
00:17:38.02\00:17:41.96
a vocational
position back in the Islands
00:17:41.99\00:17:45.89
to gain the experience,
00:17:45.96\00:17:48.63
thankfully, my
dad, with his wisdom
00:17:48.66\00:17:51.77
connected me with someone
who offered me a position
00:17:51.80\00:17:55.50
as an apprentice to
begin learning electronics.
00:17:55.54\00:17:59.21
That's what turned
me on to Electronics...
00:17:59.24\00:18:02.44
well, at the same time,
I've always loved Physics,
00:18:02.48\00:18:05.31
I've always loved the Sciences,
00:18:05.35\00:18:07.15
I've always loved
Mathematically-based courses,
00:18:07.18\00:18:10.12
but this vocation allowed
me to bring them all together.
00:18:10.15\00:18:13.12
And that confluence,
that bringing together
00:18:13.15\00:18:16.02
of my love for
Physics and the Sciences,
00:18:16.06\00:18:18.89
with now...
working as a Technologist,
00:18:18.93\00:18:21.73
working as a Technician,
00:18:21.76\00:18:23.10
really exposed me
and really showed me...
00:18:23.13\00:18:26.23
"You know what? You are
cut out to be an Engineer.
00:18:26.27\00:18:28.57
So you put everything
that you loved into one,
00:18:28.60\00:18:31.54
you bundled it into
one and went for it...
00:18:31.57\00:18:34.51
like that was your passion,
00:18:34.54\00:18:35.88
that's what you're
passion about... that's great!
00:18:35.91\00:18:37.25
Right, but isn't it amazing
00:18:37.28\00:18:38.61
how God turned bad situations
into positive situations!
00:18:38.65\00:18:43.28
Absolutely.
00:18:43.32\00:18:44.75
So the title of
this book, "Overcomers"
00:18:44.82\00:18:47.09
though it started with a
testimony that I never shared,
00:18:47.16\00:18:50.99
it really started with
an experience from childhood
00:18:51.03\00:18:54.10
which is why the first
three chapters of this book
00:18:54.20\00:18:57.23
really talks about my childhood,
00:18:57.27\00:18:59.00
it's not a
Biographical Sketch at all,
00:18:59.07\00:19:01.17
but what it
does... it gives context
00:19:01.20\00:19:03.24
to how someone can also
overcome, despite the obstacles.
00:19:03.27\00:19:07.41
Who might be going
through a similar situation
00:19:07.44\00:19:10.51
that you're going
through, also, I read in there,
00:19:10.58\00:19:13.65
that during that
unemployment period,
00:19:13.68\00:19:17.95
on your way coming out of that,
00:19:17.99\00:19:19.55
you saw blessing after
blessing after blessing,
00:19:19.59\00:19:22.49
how did... touch on a
little bit about the jobs that
00:19:22.52\00:19:27.23
were offered to you
coming out of that period
00:19:27.23\00:19:30.37
and how God just tremendously
blessed you with those jobs.
00:19:30.40\00:19:34.07
It's absolutely
incredible to think about
00:19:34.14\00:19:36.71
how those jobs
began seeking me out.
00:19:36.74\00:19:39.54
During a period of a
00:19:39.57\00:19:41.44
four-and-a-half
month cycle of unemployment
00:19:41.48\00:19:43.85
I began getting phone calls,
folks began seeing my resume
00:19:43.88\00:19:47.78
and they began calling me,
00:19:47.82\00:19:49.15
but there was one interesting
trend I began experiencing,
00:19:49.18\00:19:53.25
folks began telling me,
"You are too good to be true,
00:19:53.29\00:19:57.63
your resume speaks too well,
00:19:57.66\00:19:59.86
we probably
can't even afford you,"
00:19:59.89\00:20:01.86
how does someone
00:20:01.90\00:20:03.63
with a Ph. D. find
themselves on unemployment line?
00:20:03.67\00:20:07.77
but it happened for a reason,
00:20:07.80\00:20:09.40
and then the Lord told me,
00:20:09.44\00:20:10.97
which is another
chapter in my book,
00:20:11.01\00:20:12.44
"How can you continue
to work with someone else,
00:20:12.51\00:20:15.88
building their dynasty,
building their operation,
00:20:15.91\00:20:19.11
and you've been asking
me to bless your Company?"
00:20:19.15\00:20:22.32
So, He said,
"No, I can't do that,
00:20:22.35\00:20:24.32
if you want me to
bless your Company,
00:20:24.39\00:20:26.29
I'm going to thrust
you into your Company"
00:20:26.35\00:20:29.12
so after seven years of
building Change Dynamics,
00:20:29.16\00:20:32.03
with zero revenue,
the time finally came
00:20:32.06\00:20:35.96
in 2014, for me to launch
out into entrepreneurship,
00:20:36.00\00:20:39.73
to launch out on my own,
building my own practice...
00:20:39.77\00:20:43.54
Took that leap of faith...
00:20:43.57\00:20:44.91
Took that leap of faith,
two State Contracts later,
00:20:44.94\00:20:47.61
here I am, looking at God
00:20:47.64\00:20:49.41
with His miraculous intervention
00:20:49.44\00:20:51.51
less than 18 months
after I got my first job.
00:20:51.55\00:20:55.35
Wow! wow! and
that's coming out...
00:20:55.38\00:20:58.82
and I can only imagine how happy
you and your wife must have been
00:20:58.85\00:21:04.46
when you started
getting those calls,
00:21:04.49\00:21:06.19
those calls started coming in,
00:21:06.23\00:21:08.70
what would you say to
a person that's at home
00:21:08.76\00:21:15.74
that wants to know... like...
"How do I overcome adversity,
00:21:15.77\00:21:18.81
what should I do, how
do I determine my purpose?"
00:21:18.84\00:21:22.14
What would you say to that?
00:21:22.18\00:21:24.48
It's a good
question, first of all,
00:21:24.51\00:21:26.58
this book, "Overcomers"
is set into a framework
00:21:26.68\00:21:30.35
of spiritual, faith walking,
00:21:30.39\00:21:33.19
which means that
there's partnership...
00:21:33.22\00:21:36.02
intentional
partnership with God,
00:21:36.06\00:21:38.43
with God... not against God...
00:21:38.46\00:21:40.76
why I said that is because
God gives you the ability
00:21:40.80\00:21:44.90
to discern the
things that you do like.
00:21:44.93\00:21:46.37
But when you partner with Him,
He then provides the avenues
00:21:46.40\00:21:51.21
what I call,
"Divine Connections"
00:21:51.24\00:21:53.41
that connects
you with individuals
00:21:53.44\00:21:55.48
that can make that
dream come to life,
00:21:55.51\00:21:57.38
so how did you
define your purpose?
00:21:57.41\00:21:59.11
Well, look at the
things you like doing.
00:21:59.15\00:22:00.82
What really turns you
on, what really excites you,
00:22:00.85\00:22:04.09
what gives you a
sense of fulfillment?
00:22:04.12\00:22:06.12
Those are the questions
one has to ask themselves
00:22:06.15\00:22:09.12
if they're sitting at home,
00:22:09.16\00:22:10.56
how do I define my purpose?
00:22:10.63\00:22:11.96
And it's very easy,
for some it's the Arts,
00:22:11.99\00:22:14.10
for some it's the
creative side of them,
00:22:14.20\00:22:16.20
for others, it's working in
very analytical fields of study,
00:22:16.23\00:22:20.70
for others,
it's higher education
00:22:20.74\00:22:22.17
but whatever is your
interest that turns you on,
00:22:22.20\00:22:25.57
that's the beginning
point of defining your purpose,
00:22:25.61\00:22:28.91
once you have
identified the purpose,
00:22:28.94\00:22:31.71
then you work
backward, what can sustain me...
00:22:31.75\00:22:34.92
what can sustain me
pursuing my purpose,
00:22:34.98\00:22:38.05
so then you begin
looking at your vocations
00:22:38.09\00:22:41.16
you begin looking at,
"Where can I use my skills?"
00:22:41.19\00:22:43.79
How best can my skills
00:22:43.83\00:22:45.56
be used to edify
the body of Christ,
00:22:45.59\00:22:47.40
and build the
community at large,
00:22:47.46\00:22:49.10
so now it's operationalizing
not only your passion
00:22:49.13\00:22:52.77
but now bringing
that passion into fruition
00:22:52.83\00:22:55.64
to help someone
also by actually...
00:22:55.67\00:22:58.04
you doing some
service in the community,
00:22:58.07\00:23:00.18
so that's what I
would tell someone,
00:23:00.21\00:23:02.11
here's how you define
how your service to humanity
00:23:02.18\00:23:06.08
can be used while
edifying your purpose
00:23:06.11\00:23:08.65
then putting that purpose
to use to help someone else,
00:23:08.68\00:23:11.39
Deep, deep, what kind of values
00:23:11.42\00:23:15.22
did your parents
instill in you as a child?
00:23:15.26\00:23:17.89
Excellent
question, especially my mom,
00:23:17.96\00:23:21.13
she's now deceased,
and she has instilled in me
00:23:21.16\00:23:24.57
what I call the
"Go-Getter Spirit"
00:23:24.60\00:23:26.33
that passion, that drive
00:23:26.37\00:23:30.31
to always pursue your purpose,
00:23:30.37\00:23:33.34
to pursue your goals
with relentless conviction
00:23:33.44\00:23:36.61
even if no one else
around you believes that,
00:23:36.64\00:23:39.91
she has always told
me, "Pursue your dreams,
00:23:39.98\00:23:43.18
pursue what God
puts in your heart,
00:23:43.22\00:23:44.92
if it's music, pursue music,
00:23:44.95\00:23:46.92
if it's
consulting, pursue consulting,
00:23:46.96\00:23:49.06
whatever it is, pursue it,"
00:23:49.09\00:23:51.59
so she was a strong
force along with my dad
00:23:51.63\00:23:55.13
to really guide me
towards becoming who I am today,
00:23:55.16\00:23:59.27
and it's always
difficult talking about my mom
00:23:59.30\00:24:04.31
because she's no longer here,
but my mom truly was a force
00:24:04.34\00:24:09.74
in my life, someone
to really encourage me,
00:24:09.78\00:24:12.71
especially at the times
when I felt... underachieved,
00:24:12.75\00:24:16.42
when I felt
that I was a failure,
00:24:16.45\00:24:18.15
when I felt that I
was not going to make it
00:24:18.22\00:24:20.26
I was not going to be
able to attend college,
00:24:20.29\00:24:22.29
I was not being able to
gain entrance into college,
00:24:22.32\00:24:25.06
she was always in my
corner, "You can do it Donnell,
00:24:25.09\00:24:27.60
you keep pushing forward"
00:24:27.66\00:24:29.00
which is where my
passion for encouraging others
00:24:29.03\00:24:31.23
to do the same...
00:24:31.27\00:24:32.60
that's where that
comes from. Jason: Yes...
00:24:32.63\00:24:34.00
Your path to your
prize is through perseverance
00:24:34.04\00:24:36.87
you can acquire that
00:24:36.91\00:24:38.51
if you keep
pushing for the limits
00:24:38.54\00:24:40.18
to accomplish your dreams.
00:24:40.24\00:24:41.58
So what's next for you?
00:24:41.61\00:24:42.94
Well, I would love
to see "Overcomers"
00:24:42.98\00:24:45.55
in the hands of
students across the Country
00:24:45.58\00:24:48.65
whether that's
students in Grade School
00:24:48.68\00:24:51.42
or students in Grad School, why?
00:24:51.45\00:24:54.86
Because, every student
00:24:54.89\00:24:56.22
needs to define for
themselves their purpose,
00:24:56.26\00:24:58.26
every student has a
purpose for them to accomplish,
00:24:58.29\00:25:02.26
a destiny for them to pursue,
00:25:02.33\00:25:03.90
every student needs to be
able to define for themselves,
00:25:03.97\00:25:07.44
"Here's where the
Lord is taking me,"
00:25:07.47\00:25:10.11
and then this book can
help them accomplish that.
00:25:10.14\00:25:12.27
But it's not only for academia,
00:25:12.31\00:25:13.68
it's also for anyone
looking to make a life change
00:25:13.71\00:25:16.75
so, Mentoring Programs
and Counseling Programs,
00:25:16.78\00:25:19.65
and any type of opportunity
00:25:19.68\00:25:22.38
where there's
motivational speaking
00:25:22.42\00:25:24.02
where there's
one-on-one counseling
00:25:24.09\00:25:25.55
I would be happy
to use the skills
00:25:25.59\00:25:27.96
and the content
that God gave me.
00:25:27.99\00:25:30.33
I was just about to say,
00:25:30.36\00:25:31.69
"I see you as a Motivational
Speaker in a few years"
00:25:31.73\00:25:34.76
I wouldn't be surprised if
I'm getting an e-mail saying,
00:25:34.83\00:25:37.43
"I'm speaking here,
I'm speaking there... "
00:25:37.53\00:25:40.00
I see you as a
Motivational Speaker
00:25:40.10\00:25:41.74
because you're
passionate about this,
00:25:41.77\00:25:43.30
this is what
you're passionate about,
00:25:43.37\00:25:44.84
That's absolutely my
passion, why is that?
00:25:44.87\00:25:46.84
Because I do believe that
00:25:46.88\00:25:48.21
everybody has the
capacity to learn,
00:25:48.24\00:25:49.58
everyone has the capacity
00:25:49.61\00:25:50.95
to define their
life's goals and pursue it,
00:25:50.98\00:25:53.18
I want to be able to be a
facilitator of that process,
00:25:53.21\00:25:55.95
and I think, in
motivational speaking,
00:25:55.98\00:25:57.82
in each of my books,
00:25:57.85\00:25:59.19
in working
one-on-one with individuals,
00:25:59.22\00:26:01.09
it gives me a
platform for doing that.
00:26:01.12\00:26:03.09
You also have a CD
00:26:03.12\00:26:05.09
that goes along with that book,
00:26:05.13\00:26:07.46
it doesn't come with the book
but it goes along with the book,
00:26:07.50\00:26:09.90
what is on that CD?
00:26:09.93\00:26:11.27
That CD is the narration,
a 31-chapter narration
00:26:11.30\00:26:14.24
of everything in this book
in addition to the theme song
00:26:14.27\00:26:17.74
of "Overcomers"
which actually...
00:26:17.81\00:26:20.71
we actually put
together in my Studio,
00:26:20.78\00:26:22.81
Jason: Wow, wow!
00:26:22.84\00:26:24.18
so there are things on the
CD that are not in the book.
00:26:24.25\00:26:26.82
How do people
get your book and CD?
00:26:26.85\00:26:29.32
My book is available in all
00:26:29.35\00:26:31.65
major retail
outlets who sell books,
00:26:31.69\00:26:34.82
so, you have Amazon,
you have Books-A-Million,
00:26:34.86\00:26:37.03
you have Borders any
of the major bookstores
00:26:37.06\00:26:39.16
whether it's local
or whether it's online,
00:26:39.19\00:26:41.20
my book is available there.
00:26:41.26\00:26:42.60
It's also available
on donnelljosiah. com
00:26:42.63\00:26:45.67
and there, you can
get autographed copies
00:26:45.70\00:26:48.57
not only of the
book but of also the CD,
00:26:48.64\00:26:51.44
also our merchandize like
00:26:51.51\00:26:53.64
our T- Shirts, our
wrist bands, our pens
00:26:53.68\00:26:56.08
and other products that we sell
00:26:56.11\00:26:57.45
that inspire other people
to pursue their life goals
00:26:57.51\00:27:00.05
and to become Overcomers.
00:27:00.08\00:27:01.42
Wow! wow! your
passion is so inspiring
00:27:01.45\00:27:05.52
and I know that our Viewers
have been inspired as well,
00:27:05.55\00:27:08.22
I know they are
already trying to figure out
00:27:08.26\00:27:10.76
what their purpose is in life,
00:27:10.79\00:27:12.46
I want to thank you
so much for joining us.
00:27:12.49\00:27:14.10
Thank you for having me.
00:27:14.20\00:27:15.53
What an interesting
journey that Dr. Josiah had,
00:27:15.56\00:27:20.54
you know, it doesn't matter
what you're going through,
00:27:20.57\00:27:23.84
what kind of
struggle you're facing,
00:27:23.91\00:27:25.77
what kind of
obstacles are in your path,
00:27:25.81\00:27:27.61
we serve a great...
powerful God, a faithful God,
00:27:27.64\00:27:32.85
a God that is
longing to save His children
00:27:32.88\00:27:36.79
and is willing to help you
no matter what your circumstance
00:27:36.82\00:27:40.39
all you need to do is surrender
00:27:40.46\00:27:42.46
and pray and
invite God into your life
00:27:42.49\00:27:45.49
ask Him to help you overcome
00:27:45.53\00:27:47.30
any adversity
that's in your path,
00:27:47.30\00:27:50.03
you too can be an Overcomer.
00:27:50.07\00:27:52.60
Well, we've reached
the end of another Program,
00:27:52.63\00:27:55.47
join us next time and remember,
00:27:55.50\00:27:57.51
it just wouldn't be
the same without you.
00:27:57.57\00:28:00.91