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By
PETER KENNEDY (News paper article, March 30th 2000)
 A
HARLESDEN business man has developed into a living advert for the
positive thinking he promotes – by becoming one of the world’s top
motivational speakers.
Errol A Williams, 40, of Roundwood Road,
left South Kilburn High School with no formal qualifications, but
through sheer self-belief, desire and determination he has worked
his way to the top of a highly competitive tree.
Raised in Harlesden
since the age of 12, Errol had his first taste of management at the
Bridge Park Project and decided to use his rise to prominence to put
something back into the community. Errol
said: "I read all the American motivational speakers and then
started developing my own techniques and showing them to under –
privileged and unemployed people.
"I discovered that
the programmes were working very, very well. They were bringing
people back to life. We take 20 unemployed people on the programme
at a time and help them fulfil their potential.
"They get a lot of
benefits: how to listen, how to communicate better, how to improve
their CV and be more assertive. We help them set up a plan of action
for their lives over the next three to five years."
Though he does a lot of work with business and managerial types,
it’s the success stories at the other end of the spectrum, which
give Errol the most satisfaction.
"When I was working
in Covent Garden there was a man called Peter who asked me for a
pound. He and a friend of his ended up doing 20 sessions of the
programme which prompted them to find a flat, get a job and start
moving forward with their lives."
Over the years Errol has seen innumerable positive examples
which reinforce his belief that people only need a little
encouragement to harness their potential.
"The key to success
is having a vision, without that you will perish. Most people come
to the programme very skeptical, and de-motivated.
"We will ask them
what their vision is and then help them crystallize that vision and
focus upon a strategy. You have got to believe in yourself."
Errol gives an
example of a 15-year-old girl who was dwelling on the negative
aspects of her life until she was asked to make a list of her goals
– the girl came up with 115 objectives that she wanted to achieve.
Now Errol has emulated the American motivators that initially
empowered him and written his own personal development book entitled
Pursuing Excellence.
He said: "I believe
that everybody on this planet has a God-given unlimited potential to
do great things." We have got to change the way we look at success
and drop all the self-defeatism that holds us back.
"My great ambition is
to train one million people in leadership. Whether they are leaders
of nations or leaders of their local community."
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