‘Perseverance, character: the tools for success’

Perseverance, character, and unwavering commitment to family were key themes of a lecture from businessman Donovan Lewis, the final guest speaker for this year’s inaugural three-part St George’s College Lecture Series.

The third lecture place on Tuesday at the Abe Issa Auditorium located on the St George’s College compound in Kingston.

Themed, ‘Pioneers of Tomorrow: a Knight’s Dialogue’, the series is aimed at inspiring students to dream big, using the examples of pioneers who have led the way before, administrators said.

A decorated businessman, regarded as one of Jamaica’s leading investors and wealth managers, Lewis is the founder of the Ideal Group of Companies and the Children’s Health, Education, and Wealth Foundation (C.H.E.W. Foundation), among others.

Now retired, he previously served as director of multiple prominent financial institutions, including the National Commercial Bank, Century National Bank, Advantage General Insurance Company, and the International Trust Merchant Bank. He also served on the board of directors of CVM TV.

Unlike previous presenters, Lewis spoke less about his businesses, and more about the characteristics and discipline required for a successful life.

“The greatest joy a human being can know is the joy of accomplishment. You have time, the one thing that is completely outside the control of man, which cannot be stopped nor held back for even an instant,” Lewis told students from several high schools through a down-to-earth delivery that almost brought him to tears as he mentioned his family.

Noting the importance of education, he said that without perseverance it is stymied.

“The person who knows where he is going, and has made up his mind to get there is going to get there regardless of his education. Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence and determination ... . A person’s dreams and goals sometimes seem so far away, and our progress working towards our goals appears to be so painfully slow that we have the tendency to lose heart. It seems we will never achieve our goals and we come close to falling back into old habits,” he said.

“But the person who tries to live successfully one day at a time is going to reach his goal. Remember, a lifetime is nothing more than a number of days put into weeks, months, and years. A successful life is nothing more than a number of successful days,” he told the gathering.

Margaret Campbell, principal of St George’s College, described the lecture series as tremendously inspirational, and said it provide students with an opportunity to interact with some of Jamaica’s finest entrepreneurs and business leaders.

“We want them (students) to be inspired to do the same. We want them to recognise that they can accomplish things, and that they don’t have to fit into a box. They can do wonderful things to not only benefit themselves, but also Jamaica,” she said, adding that public service is one of the variables employed in choosing speakers.

“When you look at the young people here, there is tremendous potential, and sometimes all it needs is somebody to put a spark in them. We want these students to be the best they can be, leaders, and, as I tell them all the time, the fact that they are benefiting from such good education, they are obligated to use that to benefit Jamaica.”

Meanwhile, Deacon Ronald Thwaites, a past student of St George’s, underscored the fundamental importance of family and relationships.

“Relationships are key to any success, personal or business. What we are talking about is faithfulness and commitment,” he said.

“We hear the lessons of people with security in their lives because they know they have people who they can trust. There is a low societal trust right now in Jamaica [and] it is up to you to build that trust and texture of relationship in your life.”

Previous speakers in the lecture series were Philip H. Wong, esteemed alumnus and CEO of Deltana Enterprises, Inc, a prominent United States (US)-based group of companies in the field of architectural hardware distribution; and Jason Sharp, managing director of Cafe Blue. Sharpe addressed students in March, while Wong gave his lecture in September.

corey.robinson@gleanerjm.com