I’m not a promoter, I’m a parent.
By the time my mother died from heart and organ failure, I thought I was done with life-changing
experiences for a while. In fact, I had been running the foundation that my previous life-changing
experience inspired me to found for only two years when I got the call.
What happened was this: Four years before my mother’s passing, my then new-born daughter was
battling a rare chromosome disorder. I was witness to our beautiful girl’s extraordinary bravery as she
endured heart surgery and meningitis and epileptic seizures all within the first six months of her life.
During this time, I occasionally escaped for a short run around Queens Park Savannah to clear my head.
It was during one run around the decomposed asphalt track that circles the city landmark, looking for
answers to questions that had none, that I realized how I could combine my skills and passions to make
a tangible difference in the world.
I saw clearly that I could meld my skillset in marketing and network with my passion for family to help
create a non-profit organisation. I envisioned a foundation that would do fundraising and using
relationships to influence positive outcomes for causes other than my daughter, to build an ecosystem
of like-minded persons and organisations willing to assist with any causes we might be able to affect a
positive change to, provide opportunities for local causes to get much needed help without overreliance
on their families or the state. I wanted to make a real contribution toward a better
environment, and my daughter’s bravery was the deep well from which I could draw inspiration.
Four years later, my own mother’s passing, coupled with the unending support of my team and my
tribe, sharpened the clarity of purpose I had found. No one person and no one company can eradicate
the social degradation facing our country, but making strides in that direction has imbued our
foundation’s mission with urgency and intention: to improve our families and communities by sidestepping
bureaucracy or eliminating classist influences that are present in our everyday lives.
I encourage you—entrepreneurs, business owners and dreamers—to find fuel in your life challenges.
The most trying times can clarify what motivates, inspires and challenges you. When you see what lights
your fire, go for it. Even without a traumatic experience, you can take steps to clarify your purpose.
Successful entrepreneurs rise, grind, stretch and strive every day. They listen to clients, customers and
the marketplace—and to their guts. They ignore the voices that tell them business is just business; it’s
not personal. That’s because if you make your business personal in a positive way, you will be a
powerful agent for change.
Having a child with Jacobsen Syndrome was a bracing wake-up call for me about what really matters in
this life. The surreality of the whole experience forced me to stop and listen, pause my entrepreneurial
ambitions, and find a deeper purpose. Because I did, I was given the gift of making a difference. Yes,
there are many inspirational stories of people who have found clarity because of traumas that wipe
away the fog of the busyness of life. But it’s not necessary to experience trauma to find clarity. Just slow
down, listen to your inner voice and commit to change. When you clarify your purpose, it will be fun to
go to work—and your business will benefit exponentially.
Adrian A. Baker, 24/5/2019
