What Can't You Do?

This article on James was featured in the PINE BLUFF COMMERCIAL 'First in Southeast Arkansas' 120th Year, No. 306 on Friday, February 23, 2001.

It was a sign of things to come. James Amps III got a standing ovation from his audience before he opened his mouth to speak.

There was music as Amps bounded down the aisle in Caldwell Hall's auditorium on his way to the stage, but it took only his smile and a lifting of arms to get the audience on its feet.

James Amps III, author, video and audio producer, motivational speaker and chief executive officer of AMPS Communicators, was at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff on Thursday. The occasion was the 28th annual Youth Motivation Task Force program entitled: "YMTF-A Carnival of Careers-Building Positive Attitudes."

As the keynote speaker for the all-school assembly, Amps gave the students in the full auditorium some straight talk about what they should and should not be doing with themselves.

"You ask, 'What can I do?" said Amps. "And I say the question is, 'What can't you do when you take the time to do what's necessary?'"

According to Amps, the students in the audience had taken a positive step simply by attending the assembly to listen and talk to other people.

"Sometimes you have to get away from some people in order to grow. You have to go in a different direction. The people who are not here are afraid to break out of their comfort zones," said Amps.

The road to personal success begins, he said, by breaking out of routines - those comfort zones - and "finding out what you love."

"Comfort zones," Amps continued, "can be spiritual - same church, same seat - or they can be racial. Of course there's racism out there, but it's not all about racism, it's about you. Nobody can do something to you that you don't want them to do."

This process of breaking out can begin, Amps told the students, by "getting your little butts over to Mary Jones and the Career Planning and Placement Office on campus" for information about such things as internships and job options.

He said that just deciding what to "be" wasn't always the answer: "I hear students talking about wanting to be doctors and lawyers - I don't want to hear that, I want to know what you love to do." Amps said, then recounted a case in point.

"A young man was sitting in front of me sketching portraits of the people around him and telling me he had no idea what he wanted to do with his life. Later in the day, he sold five of those sketches for $20 apiece - he was that good. He was an artist, and that's what he should be doing with his life," said Amps.

"So, find something you love to do." "And get to know people as individuals," said Amps. "Talk to people. Listen. Your destiny is in your hands."

Amps put in a plug for his own career choice by complimenting his articulate and outspoken audience before advising that motivational speaking was a $160 billion industry with salaries often in the six-figure range.

"I know some of you can do this," he said.

Another standing ovation ended Amps' presentation and was described by UAPB student Latanya Johnson as "very inspirational."

Student Elander Holmes was also impressed, saying "He really knew what he was talking about. He was very articulate and to the point. And he was fun!"

Written by Columnist: Judy Normand
Published: Friday, February 23, 2001
Copyright 2001 PINE BLUFF COMMERCIAL