“Look within to extract the keys that underlie all accomplishment”, said the renowned author, educator, business school professor and motivational speaker Wednesday at 8 p.m. at the Hilton who spoke on “what makes the great great.”
Dr. Dennis P. Kimbro, business professor at Clark Atlanta University, has interviewed several African Americans in a variety of fields in and effort to determine the source of their success. Dillard students and faculty filed into the Napoleon Ballroom to listen to the motivational educator. “Why does one person succeed and the other fails?” Kimbro said. “Why is another rich and wealthy when another one is impoverished?”
Kimbro continually reiterated to Dillard students, “What is greatness? What makes the great great?” For the past decade, Kimbro has interviewed triumphant African Americans from Jesse Jackson to Ebony magazine publisher John Johnson and neurosurgeon Ben Carson. Kimbro presented the audience with nine virtues of greatness, virtues Kimbro said is present in everyone.
They are purpose, courage, imagination, integrity, wealth, work, prayer, triumph of the human spirit and leaving a legacy.
He continued, quoting several of his renowned interviewees and personal inspirations as well as giving personal anecdotes on how he has come this far. “Racism, discrimination, and sexism are like rain.” Kimbro said. “You can’t control it.”
Responding to Kimbro’s advice, English major Meagan Perry said, “He told us that we should keep our heads up and that we can defeat what’s happening to us. The things that are happening to us are for a reason.” Perry of New Orleans added, “I realized that we were really special. He was very entertaining.”
Kimbro, author of four best-selling books, Think and Grow Rich: A Black Choice, Daily Motivations for African American Success, What Makes the Great Great: Strategies for Extraordinary Achievement, and What Keeps Me Standing, has appeared on the Today Show, Larry King and CNN. Kimbro has been featured on the pages of theSuccess Magazine, Wall Street Journal, New York Times,and USA Todayon numerous occasions sharing the keys ofsuccess and achievement.
He has a doctorate from Northwestern University where he studied wealth and poverty among underdeveloped countries. He is listed in Who’s Who in Black America, a recipient of the Dale Carnegie Achievement Award, and is the past Director of the Center of Entrepreneurship at Clark Atlanta University.
“He gave us a good push to look to a brighter side of our situation, and to buckle down for the remainder of this session putting forward our best effort.” said Marcelus Ross, sophomore English major from Chicago, Ill.
Students and faculty members remained after the conclusion of Kimbro’s speech to give words of gratification to the motivational speaker. “This is definitely a speech that was absolutely necessary,” said Alcina Walters, international business and Spanish major from Trinidad and Tobago. “I think his personality had a lot to do with it; he spoke in such a way that you will remember, capturing my total attention using poetry and personal anecdotes.”
The audience remained attentive as the speaker came to a close, “Real life is about to show up Dillard.” Kimbro said. “What you are going through right now, all the great ones have gone through it. There are two kinds of faith; faith in self, and faith in others. Sometimes it’s risky not to take a risk. All things work for good for those who believe.”
