October 2017– THE MOTIVATOR – Page 3
ABOUT THE PUBLISHER
Spence M. Finlayson
Well known locally and internationally as the
master motivator, Spence Finlayson is the
President and C.E.O. of The Phoenix Institute for
Development, and Empowerment, Positive a
Human Resources Development Company based
in Nassau, Bahamas.
He is a graduate of St. Augustine’s College and
the Bahamas Hotel Training College where he
received an associate degree in Hotel Management
in 1977.
Additionally, he became a certified trainer in
1988 at the prestigious Integrity Training Systems
Institute in Dallas, Texas. Finlayson has created
and hosted numerous radio and television
programs including “The Possible Dream” TV
show which aired on ZNS TV 13, “The Essence of
Success” radio show on radio 1540 and “Mind
Your Own Business” which aired on Love 97 FM
and was syndicated throughout the English
speaking Caribbean.
Spence Finlayson has been thrilling audiences
for three decades, with his dynamic upbeat
seminars and workshops in the Bahamas , the
Caribbean and Central America.
CHRISTINE KING –
He is a results oriented individual who
catalyses people into action. A former Rotarian of
the year, Spence client list reads like a who’s who
in the Corporate Caribbean.
A former track & field star, he rose from
humble beginnings in Nassau, Bahamas to become
a recognized leader in his field. He is currently
celebrating his 30th anniversary in the personal
and professional development industry.
He received a nomination from the Bahamian
Icon Awards in the category of Entrepreneurship a
few years ago.
He is the author of three motivational books:
Reach For The Stars, Dare To Be Great and
Phoenix Rising.
Spence Finlayson have been hosting the
popular Dare To Be Great Radio Show on ZSR
103.5FM since 2013.
He is a noted Motown Historian and formerly
hosted a radio show called The Motown Hour
Finlayson is a much sought after motivational
speaker who can be considered ‘A Man for All
Seasons’
Continued from page 1
He did not just send for her but he
chartered a private plane to pick her
up...off to a new life she went with the
man she waited for. Christine
describes those years as the best time of
her life. After graduating from High
School Christine had to relocate for
college and again she had to move, this
time to Nassau the island where her
mom resided. She did not want to go,
but for a higher education it was no
other option. She lived with her aunt
Winnest for one year while taking extra
GCE at C C Sweeting which would
have afforded her to enter College. She
was finally reunited with her mom for
the second time in the 17 years of her
life. However, it was a dream that
awakened prematurely as a short two
year harmony was brought to an
untimely ending. Her mom died a few
years later. Christine the oldest of four
sisters at a youthful 18-years-old would
find herself caring for sisters she’d
never known. She says, “Because of
this complex situation, I first learnt the
true meaning of selflessness and
service.”
Instead of college, Christine now
had to find work. This unexpected
roadblock would change the course of
her life forever. Christine says, “This
was the most difficult time in my life,
after having an eventful but enjoyable
childhood I now found myself
somewhere I was not ready to be. I had
to put my education on hold and
assume the duties of a mother to my
three sisters.” So there she was, barely
of legal age, forced to become an
instant mom and deal with the
emotional toll of caring for a mom she
didn’t really know, sisters she’d never
met and a deadly disease that wasn’t
talked about. As it would be for
anyone, Christine says the situation
was tough and she even contemplated
not taking on the challenge and
heading back to her father. But at this
stage and age the little girl from Cat
Island who was raised to face
challenges says she remembers that she
had been a recipient of so many people
rallying around her, protecting her and
raising her when her parents were not
there, so despite the challenge she
made a quick decision to do the same
for her little sisters; her new family of
which she was now in charge. She
chuckles.
“I was just 18-years-old and all
three of my sisters were in school and
we lived alone in a rented house in one
of Nassau’s remote communities,” she
reminisces.
It was summer 1990 and with the
help of the Government summer work
programme Christine started her first
job teaching summer school at
Columbus Primary School. After six
weeks the programme ended. She said
she knew that teaching would not be
her career path and besides she knew
she had to find a real job. Again, with
others help, the government placed her
for the remaining four weeks of the
summer at the Maura Lumber
Company where she was recruited into
the paint department, handpicked by
the supervisor Mr. Rolle who
interviewed all of the students sent
there.
When summer was ended faith
had it that she was asked to stay on the
job if she wished to. “It was not what I
wanted but it was survival.” Christine
spoke passionately of wanting to
become a journalist. She says, “I knew
what was ahead of me and I said it had
to be God who would place me there
for this reason.” “I worked six days a
week, at this time mom was in and out
of hospital and it was not easy. Living
under substandard conditions began to
take a toll on me and I was very
depressed. The nature of mom’s
sickness made it even more difficult.”
She says, “To this day we never talked
about it; we never really talked about it
back then either. The one time my aunt
sat us down and told us that our mom
was dying, that was pretty much the
first and last time we spoke about it”
At this time I was taking home a
weekly salary of $125.26 cents.”
Christine decided to leap out in faith
and rented a home for $400.00
monthly; a home that would give them
space and comfort with the necessary
facilities like bathroom, clean water
and a safe environment. The desire was
made possible because of a generous
consideration of a gentleman who
learned of her situation from the
messenger, Mr. Taylor on my job who
would give her a ride every day to
work in the company’s car. She says,
“Again another blessing God opened
up for me because Mr. Taylor treated
me like his daughter.”
By this time word was out on the
job about her situation and persons
became concerned. It was the HR
Manager, Heather Smith, who also
attended the same church and knew of
her situation who brought it to the then
owner Mr. Michael Maura. Christine
recalls the evening that the big BOSS
approached her and she only
remembers breaking down in tears.
After very little communication she
remembers him going to the cashier
and writing her a (CPO) Cash paid Out
note for $800.00; two months’ rent.
When it was time to move she recalls
work colleagues gathering to assist
with items for the home and actually
assisting with moving in her family to
a modern, decent and safe home. As
she shares her story tears flows down
(Continued on page 4)
“I don’t care how much trouble you have had in
your life. If you continue to believe in the
PROMISE OF GOD,
He will see you through and you will finally
comprehend the peace that passes all
understanding and begin to live your life
with zest, zeal, passion, fervor and
steadfastness.”
– Master Motivator Spence Finlayson