Swinton talk motivates Lab employees
“Repeat after me!” motivational speaker Derius Swinton called out to Laboratory employees, hands raised in excitement. “This is my day! To find a new way! To overcome my limitations!” his voice cried out. The audience roars his message back to him.
Employees who heard Swinton’s talk Tuesday were treated to an interactive and inspiring discussion titled “When giving up is not an option. What’s next?” Throughout this presentation, Swinton emphasized the power of the individual. He encouraged employees to increase awareness of themselves and to learn to choose their attitude. He said the only thing affecting us that we cannot control is time. Don’t waste time having a bad attitude, he said.
Swinton also discussed some of the Lab’s core values: service to the nation, personal accountability, integrity, respect for others, and teamwork. He encouraged employees to honor these values and to take action to make the values come alive. He especially discussed teamwork at the Lab saying, “There must be a transition from ‘I’ to ‘we.’ ”
Swinton said the recent transition at the Lab may have made some employees want to give up. “When giving up is not an option, what’s next?” he asked. The answer is, “Proactive things, positive things, and moving forward,” he said.
Swinton described the six “D’s” that he said bring people from the brink of giving up. He says people must have a personal desire to do what is right and continue on. Each person must know what they are dedicated to and why. Individuals must have the determination to keep moving forward and the discipline to stay on the path even when it is difficult.
People also need devotional time to remain focused. Swinton suggested that employees take five minutes in the morning to focus and to think about the values of the agency. Finally, drive is necessary to move forward. Swinton asked, “When you put your car in drive, what way does it go?” The crowd responded, “Forward!” Swinton agreed saying, if people choose not to give up, they will move forward.
This talk was part of the diversity curriculum and was sponsored by Office of Equal Opportunity and Diversity (HR-OEOD) and the Diversity/Affirmative Action Board (DAAB).
