Articles

Becoming A Champion
by Gerald Jones

Growing up as a child I would observe a champion we all know and have come to admire – Muhhammed Ali. No one in the history of boxing or any other sports had a mouth as big as Muhhammed Ali. “Fly Like A Butterfly, Sting Like A Bee; rumble young man rumble,” he would say. If you were getting ready to fight the champ, you had to clearly deal with the man’s big mouth. Ali would talk about your mother, your father, and of course you. If you were ugly, you were ugly, he didn’t mind telling you. I came to the conclusion that through his dynamic rhymes and metaphors, was his way of saying, I will remain the Champion of the World. And to this day, he’s referred to as The Greatest.

Do you have what it takes to become a champion? Sure you do! It’s simple, start talking like a champion and then began possessing work ethics like a true champion. What an easy formula. Many people have achieved so much in their lives all because they understand the fundamentals of becoming a champion. Remember, this life belongs to you. Don’t let one moment pass you by. You’re never to old to become a champion.

Recently, an old high school friend of mine, who reconnected with me on Facebook, mentioned how she had just enrolled at a community college and how ashamed she was at age 34. She felt that her life should be farther along. I responded, “It’s not where you began, but it’s where you finish that matters the most.” I don’t know about you, but I refuse to be 80 years old, wondering & wishing.

Ali once said, “Champions aren’t made in gyms. Champions are made from something they have deep inside them: A desire, a dream, a vision. They have to have last-minute stamina, they have to be a little faster, they have to have the skill and the will. But the will must be stronger than the skill.” I challenge you my friend to not settle. You were created to be a champion!

Diversity Works: The Power of Inclusion
By Gerald Jones

When I facilitate diversity training throughout the country, I automatically express to my audiences that diversity management is about promoting attitudes of inclusion. Diversity Training is not about bashing any particular group, but rather about bringing people/teams together.

There are various definitions of the term diversity. I define Diversity as Differences and Similarities that exists among groups of people such as race, gender, age, religion, socio-economic status, education, sexual orientation, geographic location, etc. Having the ability to articulate this definition to others has great benefits, especially for those who are seeking professional jobs.

For years, many have been turn off by the word diversity due in part to their lack of knowledge of what it means to promote diversity awareness. Diversity is bigger than black and white. And by all means, it has nothing to do with Affirmative Action. The two are not the same.

Affirmative Action is a court order; Diversity Management is Voluntarily. The practice of Affirmative Action has a tendency to divide. But when companies and organizations practice diversity management, they are building a working community centered on appreciation, nurturance, support and admiration. Affirmative Action has a tendency to send the message of exclusion, while diversity, if promoted right forwards the message of inclusion.

Increase In Market Share, Productivity, Bottom Line, and Better Interpersonal Communications are just some of the benefits organizations receive when individuals feel valued.