Ben Carson's unlikely triumph

By Avis Thomas-Lester

Ben Carson overcame childhood poverty, self-doubt and bouts of rage to become one of the world's most renowned pediatric neurosurgeons. At 58, he is the director of pediatric neurosurgery at the Johns Hopkins Children's Center in Baltimore, where he has performed thousands of life-saving procedures.

He's also a philanthropist who has handed out hundreds of college scholarships, and the author of several books, including "Think Big: Unleashing Your Potential for Excellence." Last year he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Why he's succeeded: God-given gifts. "He gave me great hand-eye coordination and a natural sense of what to do. It's hard to explain, but I always seem to know what to do." Even now, he says, God is with him in the operating room. "I say a prayer and He's always there, providing great guidance."

What he's had to overcome: He grew up poor in Detroit and Boston. His father abandoned him, his brother and mother when he was 8. "As a youngster, I really lacked confidence. I just felt I wasn't as smart as everybody else. I felt I wasn't as talented and that I would never achieve anything in life. Overcoming that feeling was difficult, but it was largely accomplished through reading, especially reading about all kinds of incredibly successful people and realizing that those successful people had the same feelings, but they didn't let those feelings control them."

Controlling his rage: At 14, his temper was so bad that he tried to stab a friend. When the knife was blocked by his friend's belt buckle, Carson locked himself in his room and prayed for help. "I was feeling sorry for myself." When he emerged, the anger was gone.

Worst job he's ever had: Encyclopedia salesman. "I was in college. I was probably about 19, and I lasted for almost a full day. I discovered that I don't like to sell things. I'm one of those take or leave it people. I'm not going to try to convince you."

Smartest move: "Finishing medical school, given that I was told by an adviser that I would never be a doctor" because he'd scored so poorly on comprehensive exams. "He looked at that and said 'You'll never make it in medical school, so why even bother?' It was devastating because it was the only thing I ever wanted to do, and the person the university had picked to help you get through tells you should drop out."

Biggest misstep: "Probably loaning people money, large amounts I never got back. You live and learn. Now I tell people who want to borrow money that that's what banks are for."

What he loves: Spending time with his wife of 34 years, Candy, and his three grown sons, and nurturing the Carson Scholars Fund, which has handed out 3,900 college scholarships to promising children over the past 13 years. "At the awards ceremony, the kids come in, there is music playing and the spotlight is shining on them. You can see them thinking, 'This is for me, because I achieved academically.' The look on their faces is priceless."

What he hates: Dealing with the deaths of patients. "There was a young child from a family in New York . . . It was a hemispherectomy," a procedure used to control seizures by removing or disabling half of the brain. "It went well. She was doing well. I left to go home, and my beeper went off. I found out she had arrested." Back at the hospital, Carson stood by the child and wept. "I know why they tell us in medical school not to get emotionally involved, but I never learned not to."

His own death: "Growing up in the tenements of Boston, I never believed I would live to be 25 years old. Both of my older cousins who lived with us were killed. When I turned 50, I couldn't believe it. I consider every day a blessing now. Neurosurgeons die on average of 10 years earlier than others. There's a lot of stress, and I've had [prostate] cancer," which was diagnosed in 2002 but is now in remission. "I would be shocked if I got to be 85."

What lies ahead: "When I retire, I'd like to learn to play the organ. I love baroque organ music and want to play it." He also wants to play a role in reforming the health care system. "If the Chesapeake Bay Bridge were in danger of falling into the bay, who would we get to rebuild it? We'd get someone who knows about building bridges. If the health-care system is broken, we should talk to people who know about health care and know how to fix it."

Advice to the aspiring: "Find out what talents you have, what you are good at and do it . . .The biggest mistake people make is doing what their mom or dad want them to do, or what their friends are doing and they don't figure out what their talent is. The next logical question is, 'How do you figure that out?' Think about the things you have always excelled at without trying. Ask people who know you well and do a little compilation of what they say about you."

By

Avis Thomas-Lester

 |  November 11, 2009; 8:01 AM ET  |  Category:  success stories Save & Share:                 
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