Jamaica
News - Real Estate - General
Source: The Jamaica Observer, Luke Douglas, March 25, 2007
'It's
all in the planning'
CHIEF executive officer of the GEON Group of Companies, Reynold Scott, told
students at the University of Technology (UTech) that he has written down his
goals for the year, as part of his formula for success for each of the last 30
years.
The real estate developer, who
is constantly reinventing himself, continues to learn and keeps himself healthy
in order to remain successful, he told the students at the university last
Thursday.
"You need vision, not
dreams. Plan with imagination. Write down your goals. For over 30 years, I have
written down my goals each year - of what I am going to do for the entire
year," said Scott, who was speaking at the eighth annual awards ceremony of
UTech's Faculty of the Built Environment.
A devout Christian, Scott's
written plan states what he intends to do for God, his family and for his
company. He also urged students to keep healthy, believe in themselves and
challenge themselves to complete difficult tasks on a regular basis.
"Motivate yourself to turn
out better work than others. Learn to accept failure early because most
entrepreneurs fail more than once before their successful venture," he
said.
In addition, Scott - also
president of the Jamaica Developers' Association - challenged the students to
continue their education.
"Life is life-long learning.
Even a graduation is a stepping stone to another graduation. Read as much as you
can, because that is the only way you will keep ahead of the competition
constantly nipping at your heels," he noted. "Finally, give back to
your school and your community."
The developer called on more
young people to develop their entrepreurial capabilities. "There are too
many persons dabbling in get-rich-quick schemes. That is not it," he
warned.
Explaining the concept of his
company, GEON, Scott said he was able to bring together in a single entity the
various professionals needed for projects to be successful. He said because he
was able to partner with industry professionals, such as engineers, land
surveyors and quantity surveyors, as well as property owners and purchasers, he
was able to reduce his dependence on bank financing.
"Since I am using other
people's money, I can reduce the demand on the bank borrowing and share that
with the various partners," he said.
A former nominee for the Jamaica
Observer's Business Leader of the Year Award, Scott told the gathering that as
an entrepreneur, he is driven by his Christian values.
"It seems that I have
always been ready to support the less privileged... GEON isn't driven by money,
it's driven by its values," he said.
UTech president Professor Errol
Morrison - in a message delivered in his absence by Sandra Glasgow, senior
vice-president for corporate services - said he was pleased that the faculty was
focusing on entrepreneurship as a catalyst for wealth creation and economic
development in Jamaica. The UTech president also noted that there was an urgent
imperative for the university to broaden its revenue-base.
"This faculty is well
poised to make a significant contribution to diversifying the university's
revenue stream, through the use of the considerable human capital
available," he said in the message .
Glasgow commented, as head of a
division that includes facilities management, that she was urging the faculty to
work closely with her division to develop the university to create opportunities
for lecturers and students to generate revenue.
"We are spending money
outside, when we could be spending it right here," she said.
George Blankson, meanwhile, was
recognised for his outstanding contribution to the Faculty for more than 25
years, while Carmin Kirkland was presented with a long service award.
Lydia Nelson was presented
with the E Nadine Isaacs Architecture Award for the Caribbean School of
Architecture Student of the Year, while Daveia Angus received the Gentech Award
for the School of Building and Land Management Student of the Year.
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