Colleen Brown-Chambers: clutching success
Published:Monday | July 16, 2018 | 12:00 AMRocheda Bartley
Colleen Brown-Chambers is the CEO and co-founder of Generating Empowering Impacting Nations Transformational Enterprise. It's a self-development training company that creates development techniques and individualistic approaches that cater to all aspects of a person's life.
Her other entrepreneurial ventures include a publishing house, microfinancing loan business, and a motivational clothing line. She is also an international transformational speaker, who travels the globe to help others discover their worth.
"As a child, it was a struggle living my life to displease those who did not believe in me. I was not going to prove them right. I believe this motivated me to become a better version of myself. But at the same time, I was still trying to figure out what I wanted out of life. I did not want to live my life just trying to prove something to everyone," she explained to Outlook.
Reminiscing on her past, she recounts her family as being labelled as the least fortunate, especially since she has 11 siblings. However, her folks created the major driving force that she needed to steer her in the direction of success. Despite the challenges she endured, she assured Outlook that her experiences were nothing short of excitement, competition and life lessons.
ROAD TO ENTREPRENEURSHIP
A past student of the Convent of Mercy Academy (Alpha), Brown-Chambers holds a Bachelor of Arts in history with a minor in politics. Brown-Chambers noted that her choice of study served more as a compass, which she used to find herself, than pursuant to a particular career.
"In order to know and value who you are, you have to know where you came from. I chose politics because I am the voice of the people, strong and determined. I thought this combination would be great and I would be closer to helping people through law, which I aspire to. However, it was only preparing me for my role as a transformational writer and speaker," Brown-Chambers revealed.
By the end of her university years, she discovered what she truly wanted. Soon after, thanks to her love for motivating others, and an appreciation for life, she entered into the entrepreneurial arena. As an entrepreneur, she continues to reap the fruits of her studies. Her critical-thinking skills and an innovative mind are tools she developed from her studies. These are also a couple of the assets she invests in her businesses in order to excel.
PENNING HER BOOK
Her motivational instincts led her to pen her first published book earlier this year. She deems her novel, Your Success is 3 Questions Away, as one of her greatest accomplishments. Brown-Chambers, who is guided by a philosophy which describes true success as becoming an example to others through one's life work while becoming a server of mankind, inspired others to achieve their goals. In it, she emphasises that to acquire success you must ask yourself the right questions. And to get the best results, you have to capitalise on the answer to each question.
LIVING IN A MAN'S WORLD
Chambers is devoted to uplifting the males in our society. Last year she hosted the first men's empowerment workshop held in Jamaica. Although it was successful, she faced major criticisms that brought her back to the years of her childhood when she was underestimated. This time, however, it wasn't because she was unfortunate, but because she was a woman.
"One of the speakers who I invited told me that I was a small fish playing in a big boy's pond. He [encouraged] me to try something that was more feminine, like modelling. That drove me further to prove him wrong, but it hurt like hell. It almost broke my spirit, but then I revisited my purpose and showed him what a 'queen fish' looks like," Brown-Chambers said.
As each day passes, she looks forward to victoriously inspire others to obtain their success. She believes that victory, however, begins when you get to know and accept your purpose.
She advises, "Figure out your why, find your passion, cultivate it, create a consistent powerhouse routine and be consistent. This is how success will come. And when you become successful, always seek to empower others and lend a helping hand. Creating a powerful network is the icing on the cake."