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Ramsey Jay, Jr. was the keynote speaker at the May 11 Rotary Scholarship Banquet where he encouraged students to pursue their dreams.
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Jay tells Rotary Scholars success is
possible, probable and predictable
May 22, 2015
By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula News
Empowering, achieving and dreaming was a gift to high school scholars from motivational speaker Ramsey Jay, Jr. at the May 11 Rotary Scholarship Dinner.
Nine Santa Paula High School scholars received $22,000 to help them with college expenses, a group that aspires to be everything from a forensic investigator specializing in air accidents, computer game designer and nurse to medical researcher, teacher, physician and psychologist.
His father Ramsey Jay, executive director of the Santa Paula Housing Authority, introduced Jay.
Jay noted his namesake son, who “Inspires dreamers to become achievers,” has an MBA from Dartmouth’s Tuck School of Business and works in wealth management.
Jay is also a graduate of California State University, Fresno, where he was a five-time all-conference track and field athlete before he attended the Tuck School of Business where he was voted speaker of the 105th graduating class.
His true passion is inspiring others: a widely recognized leading expert on leadership development and motivational speaking, Jay was named EBONY Magazine’s top “30 Young Leaders Under 30” and within minutes of his presentation at the Rotary dinner it became apparent why.
Considering the overall population of the city and the probable number of students in the Santa Paula school system, Jay Jr. noted of the scholars being honored, “I would say we are among distinguished young leaders…empowered dreamers who become achievers.”
The definition of empowerment is based on three Ps: “Possible, probable and predictable…”
It’s a mantra that Jay explained starts with “Believe it is possible, get it in your mind that you can do it—and then make it work to be probable. Then, prepare for predictable.”
Jay said his own business beginnings were right in Santa Paula the now defunct Citizens State Bank, a job he said his father helped him attain simply by insisting that he not wear a plaid jacket to the interview.
He went from cashing checks for farm laborers that “Worked day in and day out,” to provide for their families to managing pension assets for other workers to preserve their financial futures.
“The first step is believing it is possible,” and then make it probable, such as Jay’s move to work on Wall Street.
The Wall Street firm had a recruiter at Stanford and Jay went to the school for an interview.
When asked, “Are you a student here?” Jay replied, “I am a student and I’m here!”
Further questioning and verbal jostling ensued; Jay finally admitted “I’m coming to where my dream is,” and although not hired that time and 54 times thereafter, he finally attained his dream of working on Wall Street.
“Never, ever, ever let anyone eliminate you from the race,” and if need be create your own race: Jay told the students how he had business cards made reading he was a speaker and an author, “And I was!” at least, as soon as a person he presented the card to hired him to emcee an event.
Jay had everyone at the scholarship banquet close their eyes so “I can give the kids the best gift ever given,” a “quintessential” motivator, repeating the words “I care, I believe…”
When the exercise was done Jay told the scholars, “Remember this night, May 11 when Santa Paula said they care for you and they believe in you,” nine graduating students that are the “bright lights” of the community.
