Dr. David Banks wanted validation from his father and thought he would get it in the sixth grade when he made his school basketball team. Instead, his father told him he would never succeed at anything.
The words impacted him from childhood to college. Then he learned to overcome that hurt by living according to principles. He shared two of them with Camp REACH students this month.
“I want to share with you some thoughts, some concepts to help you succeed in life,” said Banks, an author and founder of Nobel Success Strategic Group.
He spoke to nearly 40 Camp REACH students after students ate cake and wished him and Elizabeth Tallman a happy birthday. Tallman, Mary Walker Foundation administrator, was born June 21 and Dr. Banks on June 22.
“One of my mentors is this man right here. He really helped me to identify my purpose in life,” said Tallman while introducing Banks. “Today, you’re going to be working on making yourselves better.”
The words, “you will never succeed at anything,” haunted Banks for years, he said. However, these are two of the principles by which he began to live that turned his life around.
First everybody is physically designed to move forward. And second, they must self manage to prevent any[1]one else from managing them.
He explained the principle of being built to move forward.
“Regardless of what happened in your past, it doesn’t have to affect your future,” he said. Regardless of what happened in your past, you still can have a bright and awesome future.”
Even the design of the human body reflects that people must let go of the past and move forward.
“Look at your feet. In what direction are they going,” he asked. “How are your shoulders built?”
Students answered “going forward.”
Dr. Banks also stressed the importance of self management.
“Whatever you don’t self manage, you basically give somebody else permission to supervise you,” he said. “That’s not good, because whoever has the power to supervise, they also have the power to control you.”.
Several students said they learned from Dr. Banks’ presentation.
“I learned to forgive myself and let it go,” said 16-year-old Taylor Mitchell.
Alexandria Harden, 15, said “Whatever happens in life, you should always find a way to be successful and trust in the Lord.”
By Blair Davis
Camp REACH student journalist
(Camp REACH is a program of the Mary Walker Foundation)