Growth & Jobs | ‘Celebrate small wins while running your race’

MICHAEL MARAGH, chief financial officer at the Ministry of Health and Wellness, urged JN Life Insurance employees to celebrate small wins while running their own race in life, encouraging them not to focus on others if they want to achieve their goals.

Maragh was guest speaker at the JN Life Insurance Staff Awards held at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel, recently. The ordained minister delivered his remarks using his experiences, mixed with humour and Bible verses.

Referencing his failure in the Common Entrance Examinations and passing only one subject at his first sitting of the Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) examinations, Maragh told the audience, “When the CXC results came out I got only one subject. While many were laughing at me, I was happy because it was the first time I had ever passed anything.

“I was also happy because the only certificate I had up to that point was my birth certificate. So, I learnt to celebrate some small wins,” he added.

He said he was so proud of his one subject, that he misinterpreted his teacher’s instructions and applied to the then College of Arts, Science and Technology (CAST), now University of Technology, Jamaica.

“I went to CAST to apply for entry,” he shared. “When I went up to the counter to hand in my form, the attendant at the desk asked me why I applied, knowing I had only one subject and if I didn’t notice that the form said a minimum of four CXCs?”

“When results came out, at no point did I hear the teacher saying I needed a certain number of subjects. I asked her if one subject could get me to attend part-time since the minimum was four. I am saying all that to say, you have to look at the current situation and say I am not where I want to be yet, but since I am here, I have to try to make the best of what’s before me,” he added.

The accountant said the experience did not discourage him.

“I was not put off by the encounter and saw it as a learning experience. I learnt where CAST was located and I learnt the minimum requirements for entry,” he revealed.

The licensed minister told the audience that he decided to retake his CXCs.

“I decided to take just one CXC because I knew my limit,” he said to much laughter from the audience. “I did seven previously and only passed one. I told myself I would only do one at a time because I knew my limit. I wasn’t listening to what others were saying. Many of us are not where we are supposed to be because we follow others and run their race instead of ours. We must run our races and stay in our lanes. 1 Corinthians 9:24 says “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize?’”

“If your target is $1 million, focus on achieving your target and not the other person’s target even if they achieved $1.1 million. Too often we get off track by focusing on other people’s results without knowing that they might have been working night and day while you were asleep,” he advised.

Maragh shared that his time at CAST was not easy because he had no bus fare or lunch money. He explained that attending school was so difficult that he got a job at the Kingston Public Hospital (KPH) in the Maintenance Department.

“At KPH someone asked me what I wanted to become. I asked them what was available. I asked about the top accounting position, and I was told principal finance officer, and I said I wanted to do that,” he said.

“I worked hard to achieve it knowing I had set it as a target. In my mind I knew that I may not have got there, but that was not the point for me. The point for me was getting up every day with a purpose, knowing I was working to get there. I surrounded myself with people who were positive and working towards a goal as well,” he added, while referencing Proverbs 18 verse 24 to reinforce his point.

He reminded the audience that life is filled with challenges, adding that although he wanted to work in the Finance Department, he was placed in maintenance which allowed him to understand all aspects of the operation of the hospital. He recalled that everything changed for him when he got involved in a dispute with a colleague.

“God had it that I should work in finance. One day someone gave me a ‘box’ (a slap in the face). I returned the ‘box’ and human resources (HR) got involved.” He shared. “When I attended the meeting I realised that the ‘boxer’ wasn’t there and it was just me, the ‘boxee’ and HR.”

He continued, “HR had pulled my file prior to the meeting and realised that I was attending CAST and decided to send me to work in finance. I say this to say when God is blessing you, you should learn to accept it. While I was going to the Finance Department, I remembered saying that God, do you know how long I have been in maintenance and was being overlooked? Now, I am being promoted. What man meant for bad, God meant for good.”

Maragh’s presentation resonated with JN Life employees who showed their appreciation with a resounding applause as he closed off with Psalm 23.

Natalie Henriques, marketing officer, described his address as an inspiring speech that would motivate employees for the new financial year.

“Mr Maragh’s address showed us that we can achieve if we are focused on running our own race. His story was very inspirational and showed us that once we are determined to achieve our goals we can excel. His biblical references also provided the motivation for us to know that what is ordained by God is a good thing. We are thankful that he was able to inspire us, and we will use his words as fuel for us to continue doing well as a company,” she said.

Thirty-one awards were presented to JN Life Insurance brokers, part-time agents, employees and sales advisers. Deon Graveney was named Sales Adviser of the Year while Assistant Manager, Underwriting, Ottieno Channer, received the award for Employee of the Year.