Arts & Culture quickfire with jeff martin

author of knew me

An author, coach and public speaker tell us a bit about Jeff Martin:

I grew up in Toronto; my family is Jamaican. I got tired of seeing my people struggle. I always want to see people become the best version of themselves and help people along that journey. Everything that I do is about uplifting others.

Was there a single transformative moment in your life that propelled you into this career?

Toronto in 2005 was described as the ‘Summer of the gun’ due to the high rate of gun violence. In that same year one of my biggest dreams came though - I became a police officer. While I grew up with the negativity and even police harassment, I really believed that I could use this opportunity and position to help my community.

15 days later I woke up to missed calls. I contacted a family member and got the news that my cousin Omar was murdered. I had a huge part to play in molding him; It was a struggle, a struggle to not want revenge.

I spoke to someone who taught me about putting out energy; I learned that in every circumstance you can find something positive and that I can turn the negative energy around. I’ve used that energy to become who I am today.

What are three quick tips you would offer to the young person currently seeking their purpose and place in life?

I would tell them to daily ask themselves these questions:

Who am I?

The world often wants to tell us who we are and will try to put us in a box, but we are here to define who we are.

What do I want?

What do I want for my life – what do I want to achieve.

What is my purpose?

There are no accidents. There is a purpose for my life and for your life – In pursuing that we become our better selves.

I ask myself these questions daily because my responses change as I evolve.

Learn more about Jeff Martin at www.jeffadmartin.com

BY: TANEYA ROGERS