THE
'DRIVER'
OF CHANGE
In pursuit of a brighter future,
despite the odds...
by
Lance Brown
Copyright 2014 Lance Brown,
All rights reserved.
Published in eBook format by Lance Brown
Converted by http://www.eBookIt.com
ISBN-13: 978-0-6206-3486-1
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the author. The only exception is by a reviewer, who may quote short excerpts in a review.
To my wife, Nadine, and my daughter Mackenzie, who are daily reminders of all that is good in the world and who inspire me to persevere. Bless you.
Preface
“Opportunity is missed by most people because it's
dressed in overalls and looks like work.”
Thomas Edison
Lance Brown knows first-hand the opportunities available to those who are willing to work hard and challenge themselves to attain a goal to make a dream come true. There is no easy road to success but many rewarding ones where the journey changes the perceptions, possibilities and prospects of those who persevere. Through his personal journey and stories, Lance will convince you to embrace and love the challenge.
Lance shares his personal story progressing from a job as a delivery driver to a filing clerk to becoming a tax consultant with one of the world's leading financial services firms. Lance's message rings soundly with everyone who hears it. It's about motivating yourself to fulfill your true potential within the organization and within your life. Today Lance is a driver who delivers a message of change, who motivates individuals to find opportunities in their workplace.
Your journey begins now...
Acknowledgements
To all those people who have contributed towards my journey, I am truly blessed to have you in my life.
About the author
Lance Brown is a living testament to his 'Creating Opportunities' philosophy and presentations. Growing up in Mitchells Plain, a Cape Town suburb where dreams rarely stretch beyond one's street corner, Lance dared to reach for the stars.
From the small seed of a basic job as a filing clerk in his twenties, he discovered an aptitude for taxation and a road to a brighter world. He worked hard to earn a bachelor's degree in Financial Management through the University of South Africa and is now a tax consultant for one of the world's leading accounting and consulting firms.
Lance's talents and goals have branched out and touched many. He has given presentations in London on the South African tax system and has been featured in local and international articles on a variety of issues.
He also presented a speech entitled 'The Small Leap from Suspect to Success' at the 2013 TEDx Table Mountain conference. Yet his greatest joy is speaking to disadvantaged students, planting new seeds of belief and encouraging them to step out of their comfort zones.
Lance has always believed that 'Creating Opportunities' is a dish meant to be shared.
Introduction
In 2011, I was asked to introduce a guest speaker at a company event. Being fairly new to Deloitte & Touche, this was a great way for me to introduce myself too. I was called up to the front of the room and saw 350 staff staring directly at me, waiting in anticipation.
Lance Brown, Bill Russell (Consultant and Former Managing Director of Citigroup)
While I was standing in front of the audience, next to the Senior Director of Deloitte, and the speaker, a former Managing Director of Citigroup in the UK, I took a few seconds to reflect on my journey.
Just a few years earlier I was working for a financial services firm as a driver, delivering letters to clients and taking the Directors' cars to be washed. I was also a filing clerk, with one of my duties being to set up the meeting room for guest speakers - a room very similar to the one I was now standing in.
I continued with the introduction as planned and prepared, and just before I called on the speaker, I said:
“I am very excited about the presentation today, because it features some of the points which are very important in this industry, and some of the points which I have a passion for, such as creating opportunities, business development and doing extraordinary things.”
I didn't think about it at the time, but I had just introduced myself to the 350 people, including directors, managers and staff, telling them that I have a passion for creating opportunities, business development and doing extraordinary things.
You will be amazed at how many people will remember you for those few seconds and will refer to you as someone with genuine interest in the organization's well-being.
What I realized while standing in front of those people was that no matter what your background, education or job description may be, you can develop your skills at work.
In his book 'The Leader Who Had No Title' Robin Sharma says that:
“Work offers you a daily platform to discover the leader within. It is a chance to reclaim more of the potential you've buried and to awaken the dormant relationship between the current and your absolute best. Work isn't just merely a vehicle used to pass time and pay bills. It is a gift.”
What I want to share with you is my journey, progressing from a job as driver and filing clerk, to becoming a tax consultant with one of the leading financial services firms in the world. The way I did this was by changing my mind set about work, by creating and seizing opportunities within the organization.
This philosophy has impacted positively on my working career and personal life. It can also take you from where you are, to where you would like to be.
In the next few chapters you will learn how to:
