You are often quoted saying, “We have our whole lives to be ordinary, and only a few fleeting moments to be extraordinary!” What life event served as the turning point (or tipping point) — leading you away from failure and toward success?
I don’t think one ever gets led away from failure. Once you’ve been successful for so long, it becomes really easy to get comfortable and unwilling to go against something against which you could fail. Success is nothing but a string of failures. Nothing ventured nothing gained. I’m comfortable with that. In order to be successful in life, one has to take risks. And I know, from personal experience, that you have got to fall on your face a couple of times before you can get up. My “turning point” came about when I began to recognize my potential and realize the fact that I had the skills, confidence and, now, national notoriety to create and capitalize on personal success. I’m not yet where I want to be, but I’m going to get there.
Reflecting on your early years, what events led you to think: "This is what I want to do – be a businessman"?
I don’t think it was ever that clear. In life, all people can do is prepare themselves for opportunity. All one needs to do is have an open mind, so that they can recognize it, and, then, go after it. I never said one day that I was going to work to become a businessman. I simply told myself to venture out, get an education, obtain an advanced degree, work at some good companies and see where life takes me. When I put my life in motion, opportunities presented themselves.
How do you define yourself?
I don’t. My life’s guiding principles, along with my faith and spiritual relationship with God, keeps me grounded. Because of my success and my attendance at Harvard and the University of North Carolina, people often tell me that I should do this or do that. How is someone else going to tell me what I should do to be happy? I’m already focused on that for myself. Too often, people waste so much energy trying to live other people’s
lives — trying too hard to be different, make money and lavish in fun. I just try to focus on my own passions and continue by the choice I made to be on a very different path.
Article comments
1 - Spencer Bruce
Great article on Brother Kwame Jackson. He has a good story to tell on work ethics, persistency, lessons learned and achievements and his book should be very intersting reading.
Deputy Executive Director
Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.