EACH year for over 20 years, Sagicor Life Jamaica, formerly Life of Jamaica Limited, has gathered the company’s agents for a motivational seminar aimed at encouraging self development and business acumen. Since 2009 the event has been open to other members of staff and the 2010 seminar — hosted over three days in Montego Bay — saw world renowned author and motivational speaker Les Brown and editor-in-chief of Essence magazine Susan Taylor among the cadre of powerful speakers.

It was an event to inspire this year’s seminar attendees and 24-year-old Tamark Douglas, a clerk at Sagicor, was honoured when asked to round out the array of speakers. He acknowledged the opportunity as a tremendous personal challenge.

“I like public speaking, but I had never spoken to such a large audience before,” he said. “It was a great feeling to know that as an employee I could be a role model and an example to my peers.”

The young Douglas had the complement of over 700 on their feet after his Obama-esque presentation titled ‘Yes I Can’.

Hailing from the community of Arnett Gardens in West Kingston, Douglas succinctly presented his own life story, describing his rise from gang recruit to full-time employee at Sagicor.

Douglas recalled his transformation from almost entering donmanship to being rescued and mentored by Dr Henley Morgan’s Miracle Club operating out of Trench Town. He encouraged colleagues to always say ‘Yes I CAN’ — an acronym for a new philosophy he is hoping will be embodied by his listeners, Committed Action Now.

“Where I am from if you don’t take action, you end up like the young men on the street with a spliff in their mouth, watching life pass by,” he said.

Douglas, who joined the Sagicor Life Jamaica team by recommendation from a friend, said, “I won’t be a clerk forever. I like marketing and that’s where I am heading.”