Where the pursuit of success often overshadows personal well-being, there shines a beacon of inspiration–Colleen Brown-Chambers. As the visionary founder and CEO of G.E.I.N Transformational Enterprise, Colleen embodies the essence of empowerment and growth. With over a decade of experience in the realms of leadership, management, and personal development, she has become a revered figure in the self-development landscape.
Colleen has a heartfelt mission to ignite the spark of transformation within individuals. Her passion lies in guiding others towards embracing self-improvement techniques that transcend mere professional success, reaching into the depths of personal fulfillment.
At the heart of her endeavors is her acclaimed work, “She’s Evolutionary” – a powerful poetry book that weaves the threads of personal growth and self-discovery.
In an exclusive interview with PVM Magazine, Colleen candidly shares the roots of her inspiration for founding G.E.I.N Transformational Enterprise, the invaluable lessons gleaned from “She’s Evolutionary,” and her commitment to philanthropic endeavors.
Can you share with us the inspiration behind founding G.E.I.N Transformational Enterprise and what drives your mission in self-development and leadership?
G.E.I.N Transformational Enterprise creates workshops and programs targeting the most important aspects of one’s life, and it’s to understand who they are and how they can become the best version of themselves every day in today’s society.
Self-actualization and self-love were not taught or seen as important to the growth and development of children or adults in the traditional educational system. We were taught to fit in rather than to stand out, and choose what looks good and is acceptable rather than what we love. The ultimate love is self-sacrifice, and that curse has been passed on from generation to generation. That had to stop, thus giving birth to GEIN. (Generating Empowering, Impacting Nations) Transformational enterprise.
To truly lead effectively:
- Know who you are and invest in developing yourself physically, mentally, and financially.
- Have personal development as the foundation.
- Know how to lead yourself before you can truly be able to effectively lead others. You must want to follow you first before anyone else.
- People buy into you before they buy into anything you represent.
These facts drive me every day to want to educate individuals on the importance of personal development and how it affects their leadership capabilities.
Your book “She’s Evolutionary” has powerful messages of personal growth and self-discovery. What inspired you to write this book, and what key lessons do you hope readers take away from it?
“She’s Evolutionary” is my poetic truth about self-evolution. It’s raw and takes you on a journey of self-reflection. It’s separated into two parts. The “She’s” is the discovery of who you are and falling in love with yourself and the “Evolutionary” is the growth or change you will go through to become the best version of yourself every day.
The key lessons to take away are:
- You have to first love and accept who you are before real change can take place.
- Once you’re not growing, you’re dying. Self-evolution is the perfect self-love gift you can give to yourself that will positively impact you and everyone around you.
- Always remember negativity will always be louder than the positive. Create a mental strainer to weed out negativity and use the book as daily affirmations to keep you grounded and mentally ready to take on the world.
Your work extends beyond writing, with active engagement in philanthropic efforts, including workshops aimed at empowering individuals, particularly focusing on male development in society. Can you tell us more about these initiatives and why they are important to you?
My workshops are created to help break down what seems to be irrelevant and difficult into practical, actionable steps that can be done every day. The key is to create a system that will stretch you but not stress you or else you will quit. Personal development and leadership are not taught at the primary or secondary level in schools in Jamaica, but we’re expected to know how to enter into the work world with leadership skills and are rejected, ridiculed, or even not promoted if we lack these qualities.
My philanthropic pursuits included going into inner-city high schools by doing a “Legacy Tour” for boys and speaking power into them with the help of successful men in various fields. I then ended it with a free workshop which included a 3-course meal at a four-star hotel where powerful and successful men poured into them on the importance of creating a legacy as a man.
The “Men’s Empowerment Symposium” was the first of its kind to be held in Jamaica. This vision and mission are so important because men rarely invest in the functions dedicated to personal development and our boys do not have strong successful male figures to idolize. Getting them both in one room actually saved a boy’s life, specifically, who tried to commit suicide three times.
What are some common obstacles individuals face when embarking on a journey of self-improvement, and how do you recommend overcoming them?
The common obstacles you face when embarking on self-improvement are self-doubt and negative self-talk. Everything starts with and ends with the self. You are the first person you have a conversation with and the last person to make any decision with. You will want to give more of yourself than you should and be hard on yourself.
When you are not performing at your optimal best, my advice is to: do positive mirror talks to yourself, get into rooms with people who empower you and believe in your vision, read motivational books and listen to audio, and make sure your association is on your level, give yourself grace and permission to have unlimited chances if you fail at something and protect your mind like your life depends on it. These nuggets will truly help you on your self-development journey.
As a leader in the self-development space, what strategies do you employ to continuously grow and evolve personally and professionally?
- Guard my association. Have friends and associates on my level and higher sharing the same goal of personal development and self-empowerment.
- Attend at least two functions yearly to learn as a student, so I may be better equipped to serve myself and my clients.
- Listen to self-development, leadership, and self-love audio every single day.
- Make time to date myself, congratulate, and celebrate myself on all my successes.
- Read books that empower me and my journey.
- Choose an accountability partner that’s brutally honest and that I can trust, so that I may be held responsible for all the goals that I have achieved or the ones I have not.
Can you share a particularly impactful moment or success story from your workshops or engagements that reaffirmed your commitment to empowering others?
One success story is a female client of mine whom I did a power planning session with. She broke down in tears in the session, saying that the answers that she had prayed for were answered in our session. She was able to get the answers she wanted, recommit to her business, and suicide was no longer an option. Now, she has a thriving business with my guidance. This absolutely is a full-circle moment for me. That is the main reason I do what I do.
In today’s rapidly changing world, how do you believe self-improvement and leadership practices need to adapt to meet the evolving needs of individuals and organizations?
Self-improvement and leadership should be a mandatory subject taught in elementary schools and upwards. With a higher level of suicide among our children and adults and the rapid social media standards that are being followed, it’s important that we try to prevent rather than cure. We will experience many changes, but if we have confidence in who we are, love what we look like, and tap into our leadership capabilities, we will be unstoppable.
What are your aspirations for the future of G.E.I.N Transformational Enterprise, and how do you envision continuing to make a positive impact in the lives of others?
G.E.I.N Transformational Enterprise has 12 specialized workshops that deal with leadership, and personal development both for individuals and corporations. The main aim is to do more
training with corporations with both management and staff, which will boost happiness and profitability in both parts.
I want to promote my books: “Your Success is 3 Questions Away”, “She’s Evolutionary”, “Lead Your Ship (Personal Development and Corporate Workbook)”, I also want to do more transformational speaking engagements and host events that will inspire while giving back to both children and adults.
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