June 27, 2024 • 32 mins
What if your past experiences could shape a brighter future for others? Pam Ware, an inspiring entrepreneur, mentor, and motivational speaker, joins us on Small Talk to share her transformative journey from a licensed mortician and chief death investigator to becoming a guiding light for youth. Her firsthand encounters with the stark realities of life and death have fueled her passion for preventing tragic outcomes by inspiring better choices among young people. Pam recounts her powerful experience speaking to a juvenile court class, where she used her graphic knowledge to underline the importance of positive decision-making.
Throughout the episode, Pam emphasizes the necessity of making better decisions today for a brighter tomorrow. Her heartfelt reflections on the emotional weight of wasted potential offer a compelling message that resonates with kids, parents, guardians, and mentors alike. We delve into Pam's unique approach, which uses vivid descriptions of autopsies and crime scenes to highlight the dire consequences of poor decisions. Her transition from a professional background steeped in the aftermath of death to a proactive role in guiding youth underscores the profound impact that role models can have in our communities.
Additionally, Pam shares insights into her entrepreneurial journey, supported by Communities Unlimited. From setting up accounting systems to strategic financial planning, she outlines the meticulous process of building a successful business foundation. Pam also opens up about her travel experiences to places like Auschwitz and Cape Town, which have profoundly shaped her views on empathy and appreciation.
Join us to be inspired by Pam's story and learn how you too can foster positive change in your community.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:03):
If the kids only see what's inside of the four walls
and that's where they spend themajority of their time.
If they have no vision, theyhave no dreams, then they're
going to think that the lifethat they're living is the only
possibility for them.
Speaker 2 (00:25):
Welcome to another edition of Small Talk, the
Communities Unlimited podcast.
My name is Chris Baker.
The podcast at CommunitiesUnlimited is designed to empower
rural communities, emergingcommunities, and also engage
with them, and I think we'rehitting on the engagement one
here as well, maybe more so thanwe have in the past.
My guest and let me get to whatI'm actually getting at.
And we're hitting on theengagement one here as well,
maybe more so than we have inthe past.
My guest let me get to what I'mactually getting at.
(00:47):
My guest is Pam Ware.
Pam is an entrepreneur fromMemphis, tennessee.
Pam, you have an interestingbackground former chief death
investigator for the WestTennessee Regional Forensic
Center, you're a licensedmortician and now you're a
mentor and a motivationalspeaker.
Welcome, pam.
Speaker 1 (01:06):
Thank you, I appreciate it, Chris, what
you're doing with your businesstell me what your business is
and how your background kind ofweaves into that.
Oh, the business of marketingmy speaking services, and so my
target audience is educationaland organizational leaders that
work with youth and young adults, and the whole premise of my
(01:29):
business is to be able to helpour youth and young adults make
better choices so that theycreate better chances for their
lives.
All that came about.
I started speaking about twoand a half years ago.
I had a juvenile court director.
One of her kids was murdered inour city and was wearing an
(01:52):
ankle monitor at the time, andso we had to cut that ankle
monitor off.
And that was my interactionwith the juvenile court system.
And she asked me when she cameover if I'd be willing to come
and talk to the kids in theirC-SPAR program.
It was the first time I haddone something like that, but I
was like absolutely, because 15and 16 year olds shouldn't be in
(02:14):
36 degree coolers.
That right there.
Just seeing the kids in thatclass, just hearing their
stories, was very heartfelt forme.
Stories was very heartfelt forme and for what I felt like.
I started my journey at the end,in the grave, as I say, because
my journey in the deaf industrystarted as a mortician and
(02:40):
that's the last step of the deafjourney, and so what happened
is I kind of reverse engineeredback to the beginning, which is
death investigations, and that'swhere we get all of the
information once we're notifiedabout a death, and that's the
only time that we will get calls, once death has occurred, for
us to go out.
And so I have been speaking toceasefire class and I noticed
that every time I would go outto speak, it's a very demanding
(03:02):
career.
Out to speak.
It's a very demanding careerand I still love, still active
in some capacity in all realms.
But I came to the conclusion in2023 that I had assisted in
more autopsies, worked morecrime scenes and buried more
kids than I had been tograduation, and that birthed the
entrepreneurial journey to gointo this new phase of full time
(03:27):
speaking and coaching andadvising.
Speaker 2 (03:29):
OK, so the website while we're talking, if anybody
wants to check it out isPDWareInspirescom, pdware,
w-a-r-e, inspirescom and Pam.
What kind of stuff are youtalking about?
What kind of stuff are yousharing with them?
Speaker 1 (03:44):
about?
What kind of stuff are you, youknow, sharing with them?
I share the unfiltered truthwith them.
And so for the juvenileceasefire class, basically I
walk them through the journey asif they're with me, as that
crime scene death investigator,as that autopsy technician
(04:06):
because I was an autopsytechnician before I became a
death investigator and as anautopsy technician we're like
the assistants for the forensicpathologies that actually do the
autopsy exams.
So for those that may befamiliar with the autopsy
process where you make the wineseizures well, that was part of
my job as a technician.
Wine seizures Well, that waspart of my job as a technician.
(04:27):
You know, we do everything fromphotographs, fingerprints,
collecting evidence, doingx-rays and doing a part of the
eviscerations for the doctors.
So I walked them through that,from coming out to crime scenes
and like what's it like?
Like taking them from anon-reality world, like what you
may see on a video game, wherethey may think that death is
(04:49):
instant, is quick.
You know, some don't reallycare about it, but I tell them
you know, a lot of times it'snot quick like what you see on
TV.
As a matter of fact, I tellthem, you know, death is nothing
like what you see on TV, likewhat you see on TV, when you
have an intimate and up-closerelationship with depth, as I
have, where you're not only inthe presence of depth but
(05:10):
everything that comes with itthe smells, the different touch
of depth then it gives you adifferent perspective.
And so I try to share as muchof that experience so they can
get a glimpse of the perspectivethat I have.
And I tell them you know it'snot uncommon, you know a lot of
times to come out to scenes andyou got kids that got gunshot
wounds and as we're doing briefexams on the scene and
(05:32):
documenting with photography,and we're on the scene basically
with the eyes and ears for thepathologist, so I'm making sure
that everything is notated inpicture and written form for the
pathologist.
So when they get ready to dothe autopsy exam.
But I tell kids, for example,let's say you go out, you got a
gunshot wound to the chest, well, I want to be able to see the
back as well.
(05:53):
So what we'll do is we'll rollthem to the back and I tell them
when you roll somebody, theygot a hole in their chest.
You shouldn't be able to seethrough the chest to see any
portion of the heart or any typeof vessel.
But as you roll and then younotice that their blood
sometimes is just spilling outonto the concrete and then it
just runs through the groovesand cracks in the pavements.
(06:13):
Or you got a kid with a gunshotwound to the head and you got
brain matter that's exposed andthen what I can see I try to
collect, so you having to try toscrape brain matter off the
ground to preserve as much asyou can to send back with the
seed.
That's not common.
And one of the things that Ialso share with them is that we
(06:34):
always see that rest in peaceand it's rest in death, but
there's no peace in the mannerin which a lot of our kids are
leaving and also sharing withthem that there is hope beyond,
whatever their currentcircumstances are.
And so, even in talking to theparents, you know a lot of times
(06:54):
if, if the kids only see what'sinside of the four walls and
that's where they spend themajority of their time, if they
have no vision, they have nodreams, then they're going to
think that the life that they'reliving is the only possibility
for them.
And so I try to create hope forthem through my journey, you
(07:15):
know being wanting to be amortician at 14 years old and
that's not something that mostkids will aspire to.
And that all came about becauseI was with my mom.
One of her coworkers had passedand I was just there to watch
some purses and I just threwthose purses up on the back
bench and most kids at that age,we don't want to be in the
church on a Saturday morning.
(07:36):
So I started being nosy andfound out what a mortician does
and I was like, hey, I want tobe a mortician.
And I tell Don't ever deny thatdream, because you never know
where it will take them.
My journey took me from 14.
(07:56):
My mom didn't know that youknow 20 years, less than 20
years later that I would servemy community but also become a
mortician.
For my family and I do have alot, of, a lot of adults in some
of the classes hey, look, Iwant to be a mortician.
When I was young, when my familywas like, no, you can't do that
, but there is something foreverybody.
(08:17):
And I tell kids, if you canthink it, then you can believe
it and then you can implement it.
But they have to see somethingdifferent than what they're
accustomed to every day.
Sometimes it may be somebodythat looks like them, sometimes
it may be something differentthat they never even knew
existed, just the exposure to it.
(08:39):
And I think, as a parent, it'sour responsibility to put those
different things around.
So it was a vision and a dreamthat I had when I was younger.
But also to like telling kidsthat it's OK to want to do what
other people are doing, tellingkids that it's okay to want to
do what other people are doing,but the best thing to do is fit
out and not fit in, like be okaywith being your true and
authentic self, but in order tosometimes find out who you
(09:02):
really are, you got to be around, you got to be here in order to
be able to do that.
And then I shared.
The other unique thing about myjourney is I've always been a
hard worker, I've always beendedicated, but none of the
positions that I've had havereally been based on.
You know me trying to fit inwith something.
It's more of who I am as aperson, my traits, my character,
(09:25):
more of my values, and so Imake a position.
Not the position makes me,because walking from high school
being a four-sport athlete,two-sport athlete in college to
when I decided to put down myrunning spikes.
I started working for theathletic complex and I won
employee of the year every yearafter that.
So, regardless of what hat Iput on, it's me as a person with
(09:49):
the positive attitude, choosingto hang out with the right
people and choosing to be mytrue and authentic self.
Regardless of being a weird kidthat they thought of in high
school which was a lot of peopleyou know call me weird and then
also too like, it only takesone person to see that
uniqueness in you, and that'swhat happened to me, because I
(10:11):
went from entry levellevelautopsy tech to the chief death
investigator position in fiveyears.
Speaker 2 (10:17):
Wow, what a unique background and what a unique
story to share with folks.
Pam, do you find that mostpeople who are listening to you
speak this is the first timethey've heard from somebody
that's held that type ofposition or done that type of
work?
Speaker 1 (10:33):
I think so.
I think in a lot of thesettings it is, and I think
sometimes most people I'm olderthan what I look, so that's
usually a surprise.
But I think it definitely is,because a lot of people don't
know like they may hear of amortician or some people call
them undertakers.
(10:54):
Like they may hear of amortician or some people call
them undertakers, but as far asI'm going to work with the ME's
office, I don't think a lot ofpeople have exposure to that.
You know they probably wonder,especially when they see certain
vehicles that will pull up tocrime scenes.
So I do think it makes themperk up and like, ok, you know,
I've never been really familiarwith it and so now I have a
(11:14):
general idea of what they do andhow, how important that work is
, just like as as a mortician.
Speaker 2 (11:23):
Yeah, you know, one of the things that kind of
struck me when I was doing alittle research about you was
it's pretty simple on yourwebsite, right?
It's a better choices today,better chances tomorrow.
Is that the overarching messagethat you want people to come
away with from one of your talks?
Speaker 1 (11:40):
Absolutely, absolutely, even as parents, as
adults, and you could be mom,dad, grandparent, guardian, you
could be mentor, and that's forall of our lives is that the
better choices we make, thebetter chances we get, you know,
the more opportunities in apositive direction that will
open up for us.
Because that's been the guidinglight, you know, for my journey
(12:05):
and even just watching otherpeople's journey and, you know,
reading other people's stories,I truly believe that the better
choices we make, the betterchances that we create for our
lives.
Speaker 2 (12:19):
When you speak to kids, pam, do you find that
they're a little bit, I guess,shocked maybe might be the word
I'm trying to think of the wordhere Are you resensitizing them
to something that they may bedesensitized to?
Speaker 1 (12:33):
That's one of the goals is to reverse their
process of desensitization.
I think what I've heard as faras the feedback from going out
to speak is my delivery.
I'm not like how I'm talkingnow.
That's typically me, but Ipaint such a vivid picture.
That's typically me, but Ipaint such a vivid picture.
(12:56):
So, for example, when I tellkids, like part of the, the one
part of the autopsy that I focuson in the class is the last
part, and that's when we removethe brain because you take a
scalpel and you go from behindone ear across the top of the
head behind the other ear andyou reflect the face down and I
tell them, at that point youknow I can't see what the eyes
(13:16):
look like, the nose, and a lotof times I can't even see what
the mouth looks like, and thenwe take a special saw to open
the skull up.
And for me as a mortician soI'm a licensed funeral director
and embalmer so as a morticianone of the things is we do the
repair work and patching upwhatever needs to be fixed
that's damaged.
(13:37):
So I do a little bit more andbasically especially reflecting
the face down when I make thecut in the skull to take the top
of the skull cap off.
You know I want to make surethat it is as precise as
possible and it takes skill toto cut the skullcap off.
And then I do a little anatomylesson in there.
Most kids don't know you got anopening in the base of your
(13:58):
skull called the foramen magnumand that's where brain is and
your brainstem and your spinalcord they connect and so once we
take that skullcap off then youcan see the brain.
So as the head is laid back youcan see a little opening there.
So you take the scalpel bladeand you put in there and you cut
one way and you flip the bladeand you cut the other way and
(14:19):
then I tell him these fingersare pulled back so the back part
of the brain has the cerebellum, that's where the brainstem
comes up, and then you just flipback and then it's the brain.
And I also feel like deathdoesn't bother me.
But what bothers me is theamount of potential that I've
seen wasted, you know due topoor decisions.
You know be a poor association.
(14:39):
You know the gun violence, andso the human brain on average
weighs about three pounds.
An average handgun, about twoand a half pounds is loaded, but
we're choosing to load thewrong thing.
And the brain is such afascinating organ, it's the most
powerful organ that you got inyour body and just to see it and
to be able to hold it and to beable to have that realization
(15:03):
that at that point there'snothing else that can come Like,
there's no manifestation ofgreatness from this kid at this
point and just thinking about,like what could have been, you
know, the doctors, the lawyers,that's great, but even like
future entrepreneurs.
And I tell kids, like, if youhave siblings, whether brothers,
(15:25):
sister or even cousins,somebody is looking up to them
and so maybe they're the strongone in the family and you know,
something happens to them, theones that's behind them.
They may not be strong enough towithstand some of the
circumstances that they're goingthrough.
They may not be able to waitanother generation for somebody
(15:47):
else to come along.
So it's important that they,you know, think about the
decisions and the choices thatthey make.
Because, like I tell them, whenmy phone rings, grace is
expired, and that's the sad partis to see how much potential
that we've lost in our kids, butalso to the ones that didn't
have ambition, that didn't knowwhat it was like to dream.
(16:09):
You know, and maybe you knowmom, maybe dad, maybe grandma,
grandpa.
Maybe they didn't have thatopportunity either.
Maybe you know, and maybe youknow mom, maybe dad, maybe
grandma, grandpa.
Maybe they didn't have thatopportunity either.
Maybe you know, they're justliving based off of what they
had when they was coming up, andso I think it gives them a
profound perspective, likehearing it from me in such, in
(16:31):
such a vivid way.
Speaker 2 (16:33):
Yeah, no, I agree, I would think that it certainly
would.
I think one of the things aboutyour previous work experiences
that I'm curious about is yousaid you were a hard worker
yourself.
You know, you get in there, youdo the work and everything.
Where did that leap happenwhere you wanted to become, you
know, mentor, motivationalspeaker when did that leap
(16:54):
happen where you wanted?
Speaker 1 (16:55):
to become, you know, mentor, motivational speaker.
Where did that come in?
So when I started doing morespeaking engagements and I
noticed that I would come backand I would just go back into my
normal routine of working, andI was like you know, I'm not I
didn't have time to do both, tomake the impact that I want to
make, the impact that I feltlike God was calling me to make.
(17:17):
And so I had to make a decisioneither push the paper or pursue
.
The purpose he's allowed me togain over the last nearly 20
years was not meant to just bekept in an office space that the
(17:38):
kids need to hear the message.
Speaker 2 (17:46):
And the only way that I could effectively get the
message out is to get outside ofthe office.
I like it.
Let's talk about thatentrepreneurial leap In the
communities, Unlimited.
You're working with ourentrepreneurship team.
How's it been going for you?
Tell me what kind of stuffyou've been working on.
Speaker 1 (17:59):
It's been great.
I'm a very structured person,so typically the protocols are
lined up.
Having to be my own businessperson and boss, it's a
different.
It's a challenge, but a welcomeone, in learning how to do
something new.
But I tell you what being ableto work with H&I Communities
(18:21):
Unlimited has made it prettyseamless for me Walking through
everything from having mybusiness plan created, learning
different account options andactually not just learning about
them learning different accountoptions and actually not just
learning about them, but beingable to set up these entities
for my business to make surethat its foundation is solid.
Speaker 2 (18:47):
So it's going to ensure short term and long term
success.
Yeah, one of the things thatI'm always impressed with our
entrepreneurship team is that itreally gets down to like a
sentence.
They always say that we try toallow people the opportunity to
work on their business and notnecessarily in their business,
right, because when you're inthere in the day-to-day minutia,
it's easy to get caught up inthat and you don't get a chance
(19:13):
to work on your business.
And you're working with Sierraand Brian, correct?
What kind of?
So?
Other people would be listeningto this.
What kind of stuff do you guyswork on?
You're launching from, you know, from ground zero, essentially,
right.
So what kind of stuff have youguys been working on so that
people would know what thatinteraction is like?
Speaker 1 (19:30):
Yeah, so you're talking about taking a blank
canvas and they're walking methrough step by step, like
what's my mission, what's myvision, what's my, my core
statement, what's that visionstatement?
And then from there, likebuilding out, like what are my
offers?
Everything down to, like everyaspect of it.
(19:53):
So for me it's the speaking,the PUR Inspires, it's my
podcast, but also not justlistening to things out, like
listening out in detail what doI offer in the PUR Inspires
programs, like what like to andto who Like.
Breaking it down into detail.
But also the items that areneeded.
(20:15):
Breaking it down into detail,but also the items that are
needed, like what does it takefor me to be able to implement
my services as far as labor goes, as far as cost goes?
We're breaking all of thatstuff down, like everything from
the monetary part of it, likeif it's funding for businesses,
if it's donations, if it'spersonal funding, like how to
(20:38):
generate revenue, like listingout those streams, and we're
talking about down to weekly,monthly, quarterly, annually.
You're breaking all this stuffdown, they're walking through it
, so one of the things, and thenthey're able to make it so one
of the things, and then they'reable to make recommendations.
So, with the accounting piece.
So let's take, like a lot ofpeople, quickbooks, but one of
(21:01):
the things that they can do ismake recommendations.
It's like, okay, quickbooks isa little bit more difficult to
learn.
So for me we set up Wave, myWave account.
But not just them like say, hey, go set up this account, to
like, okay, pam, on this session.
We're say, hey, go set up thisaccount.
To like, ok, pam, on thissession we're going to actually
go and set up the account.
So they're in the account withme.
We're walking through the end.
(21:22):
So it's kind of like having apersonal tool guide and not a
video that you got an actualperson that's walking through.
It's like, ok, this is how youcreate your contract, this is
how you create your invoices,how you can schedule them out to
go out at a certain time, howto add your logo to these things
.
So we're talking about likein-depth knowledge of, piece by
(21:43):
piece, how to set up yourbusiness, how to structure it
and make sure that you goteverything down so everything is
accounted for.
So like even like your monthlyservices accounted for.
So like, even like your monthlyservices.
So my podcasting hosting, likehow much does that cost?
How much does it cost me for myCRM?
So you have an idea of whereyour resources are going, like
(22:07):
how much you got going out andhow much you got coming in.
So you'll know, like it's notjust me picking up, like if it
was me, and like, ok, it cost me.
Like, ok, I'm charging this.
But yeah, you also need to havea breakdown of like what that
goes to.
Ok, this, this amount goes totravel for my plane ticket, this
amount goes to my lodging andthis amount goes to the cost for
(22:31):
the books.
Like everything like knowing,ok, if I'm doing taking 100
books with me, it's not justtaking 100 books.
Like everything like knowing,okay, if I'm doing taking a
hundred books with me, it's notjust taking a hundred books,
it's like how much does eachbook cost?
So you're doing a full costanalysis and they're walking you
through that step by step.
Speaker 2 (22:46):
I'm always amazed that when I talk to
entrepreneurs I'm not a businessperson myself, I've never done
it there's a lot of work thatgoes into that, isn't it A lot,
a lot.
It's always a lot more than Ialways picture, and I'm always
amazed at the people that areout there doing it because of
that amount of work that goes onthat people just never see.
(23:07):
You know.
Yes, okay, we are talking toPam Ware.
Pam is based out of Memphis,tennessee.
Pam is a motivational speaker.
Her website pdwareinspirescom.
I encourage you to go check itout.
When you speak to kids, pam,about your personal journey,
what kind of stuff do you sharewith them?
(23:31):
I know we talked a little bitabout it earlier, but you said
something that kind of struck me.
You said death doesn't botheryou, it's the potential lost.
Do you think that message comesacross to them?
Do they realize how muchpotential they actually have, or
is that kind of?
Your mission is to make themrealize that?
Speaker 1 (23:51):
So that my Thrive framework is starting that
transformation process toinstill hope in them, resilience
, to inspire them, to teach themhow to dream, to create that
vision for their lives that theywant, but to also, you know,
teach them empathy, like how toconsider other people's feelings
(24:14):
, other people's livelihood intheir homes and in their
communities, because I feel likethat is the key in order for
them to be able to where theywant to go.
So, yes, that's definitely partof the mission is to help them
to realize that.
(24:35):
More so Because I find a lot,especially some of the
generation that we have now it'slike outside of just what we
see on a consistent basis.
They think that that's allthere is.
I mean, you have people thatdon't go outside of their
communities and you name a bigchain restaurant.
They don't even know what thatis Like, showing them that there
(24:58):
are so many other thingsoutside of where they are and
even people that are in moredire circumstances.
So I've been on two out of thecountry trips.
My first trip was to.
I've been on two out of thecountry trips.
My first trip was to Warsaw,poland, and I was doing athletic
(25:20):
ministry and when I was in highschool, my modern history
teacher.
He he told us about Auschwitzand the concentration camps and
I had a chance to go toAuschwitz in person and just
walking through the gates andjust walking through the gates,
you could feel like it was adifferent type of feeling than
just walking down another streetand walking through some gates
(25:41):
and then like just being able torecall what my history teacher
taught me and then reading likethe signs and stuff that they
had.
So there's a portion there.
It's like a closed offcourtyard.
It's got brick wall on eachside and they would line, line
them up, put them on their kneeson each side and just execute
(26:02):
them.
When you walked into the, intothe building, there were these
little bitty rooms down at thebottom and it was cold and the
rooms were.
I mean, they were so small.
They will put kids in there andthey would starve.
They would only get so muchamount of food and their little
bellies would be just distended.
(26:24):
And if I'm not mistaken, Ithink that term is called
kwashika.
They have a high vitamin Ddeficiency.
But seeing that, and then goingto Cape Town, south Africa,
where you had kids that wantedto go to school, that wanted to
get education, and they wouldget donations for books and
(26:44):
computers.
And then you'd have looterscome in, steal the computers,
take the books, turn the schoolup in the libraries.
And these kids lived in whatwas called shantytowns.
They didn't have running water.
These are just little shackswith little pieces of tin put up
.
And when I tell you those kids,I saw not one sad kid.
They were running through thestreets happy and laughing, and
(27:06):
so like being able to sharethose parts too, and then also
to giving the parents someinsight of what it's like when
you give your kids a differenttype of exposure, and I think
that too will create a deeperappreciation for, for what you
have, because it's always we aresaying a lot that you know it's
(27:26):
always somebody that's doingfar worse off than where you
might be currently, and soteaching them to appreciate life
to me that's empathy rightthere and being able to, you
know, put yourself in somebodyelse's shoes and also extend
them grace and mercy and liketreat them like you would want
(27:51):
to be treated.
You know, and I tell people,you treat people like.
If it's when I go out, myinteraction, if it's an older
person, you know I'm treatedlike it's my mom, it's my dad,
my uncle, my brother.
Treat it like it's my child, ifit's a child.
Speaker 2 (28:06):
Yeah, I share your sentiment my trips, whether
they've been out of the countryor just to a different part of
the country that I've never beento before.
I think I've discovered twothings.
One is that, generally speaking, people want to be good to each
other, right?
And then two, when I step outof my silo, I start to realize
(28:28):
that there's really not verymany differences between people.
Despite visual differences,despite the way we may talk or,
whatever the case may be, thelanguage we're speaking, we're
really not that different, youknow, and we need to be
empathetic towards those andcelebrate the differences, not
the not, not, not look for thesimilarities.
(28:49):
I guess you know what I mean.
Speaker 1 (28:51):
Yeah, because if everybody was the same, you know
and everybody.
Yeah, because if everybody wasthe same, you know and everybody
, you look at all thedifferences, that's what makes
everybody unique.
But when you put them together,you know, just you know reminds
me you know, everybody has adifferent guilt.
And when you can walk in yourgift and not envy somebody
(29:12):
else's but get good at what yourgift is and honing your craft,
then I definitely think theworld would be a better place.
And I think so many kids areworried about like wanting to
fit in or feel like maybe theyhave to keep up, you know, with
what family is doing, like it'sokay to be different, you know,
it's okay to embrace whateveryour uniqueness is, because the
(29:35):
world needs that uniqueness.
And I promise you, especiallywhen it comes to school, I tell
kids all the time, you know youmay not think so and they may
not tell you I said, but Ipromise you it's somebody that
look forward to seeing you everyday.
They may not say that you maketheir day.
You come in.
They look forward to seeingyour smile.
It's something about you.
And then too, if people look at, look for the good, even if you
(29:58):
got bad, and people.
I feel like you can.
You can find something good inevery person, and if you focus
on trying to find what that goodis instead of focusing on the
bad all the time, then I thinkthat makes a difference as well.
Speaker 2 (30:13):
Agreed, couldn't agree more.
What's next for you, pam?
What are you working on?
Speaker 1 (30:18):
We are working on some big projects I'm currently
working on.
I've got two big speakingengagements coming up this
upcoming week.
I'm going to be speaking to aC-SPAR class on Tuesday and then
another class on Thursday.
So Thursday will be a littlebit of a different crowd for me,
so I'm using a little bit of adifferent approach.
But this Tuesday is going to bekind of an eye-opener.
(30:40):
I'm doing something a littlebit different than I typically
would do, more of a little bitof a scare tactic, because
lately the ceasefire classeshave grown a little bit, and
then just kind of some of thethings that I've observed in
some of the other classespreviously.
I think it's time to step it upa little bit and try to make a
little bit more impact.
Speaker 2 (31:03):
Okay, look forward to seeing it.
Are you going to video it orsomething, maybe?
Speaker 1 (31:06):
Yeah, I'll definitely make sure you get the video
once it's done.
Speaker 2 (31:09):
Awesome, awesome.
Well, pam, I really doappreciate your time and being
on the podcast today.
I appreciate what you're doing.
Let me let me let you know thatas well.
The website PD where inspiresdot com, pam Ware is a mentor,
motivational speaker.
Pam, before we go, is thereanything else?
Anybody should know about theoutlets they can find you at if
they're interested in engagingyou.
Speaker 1 (31:31):
Yeah, the website.
Definitely jump on there.
There's a form that you canfill out for more information
and I'd be you know we'ddefinitely get back as soon as
we get that notification.
But I am not just based inMemphis.
I travel throughout the US andabroad if needed.
So if you have youth and youngadults in your organization
(31:53):
that's in need of sometransformation in their
decision-making process, thenPiggy World Aspires is
definitely who you want to reachout to.
Speaker 2 (32:00):
All right, great Pam.
Thanks again, and I reallyappreciate your time today, man.
Speaker 1 (32:05):
Yeah, I appreciate the invitation, Chris.
Speaker 2 (32:07):
And we'll be back in a couple weeks with another
episode of Small Talk withCommunities Unlimited.
Thank you.
If the kids only see what's inside of the four walls
and that's where they spend themajority of their time.
If they have no vision, theyhave no dreams, then they're
going to think that the lifethat they're living is the only
possibility for them.
Speaker 2 (00:25):
Welcome to another edition of Small Talk, the
Communities Unlimited podcast.
My name is Chris Baker.
The podcast at CommunitiesUnlimited is designed to empower
rural communities, emergingcommunities, and also engage
with them, and I think we'rehitting on the engagement one
here as well, maybe more so thanwe have in the past.
My guest and let me get to whatI'm actually getting at.
And we're hitting on theengagement one here as well,
maybe more so than we have inthe past.
My guest let me get to what I'mactually getting at.
(00:47):
My guest is Pam Ware.
Pam is an entrepreneur fromMemphis, tennessee.
Pam, you have an interestingbackground former chief death
investigator for the WestTennessee Regional Forensic
Center, you're a licensedmortician and now you're a
mentor and a motivationalspeaker.
Welcome, pam.
Speaker 1 (01:06):
Thank you, I appreciate it, Chris, what
you're doing with your businesstell me what your business is
and how your background kind ofweaves into that.
Oh, the business of marketingmy speaking services, and so my
target audience is educationaland organizational leaders that
work with youth and young adults, and the whole premise of my
(01:29):
business is to be able to helpour youth and young adults make
better choices so that theycreate better chances for their
lives.
All that came about.
I started speaking about twoand a half years ago.
I had a juvenile court director.
One of her kids was murdered inour city and was wearing an
(01:52):
ankle monitor at the time, andso we had to cut that ankle
monitor off.
And that was my interactionwith the juvenile court system.
And she asked me when she cameover if I'd be willing to come
and talk to the kids in theirC-SPAR program.
It was the first time I haddone something like that, but I
was like absolutely, because 15and 16 year olds shouldn't be in
(02:14):
36 degree coolers.
That right there.
Just seeing the kids in thatclass, just hearing their
stories, was very heartfelt forme.
Stories was very heartfelt forme and for what I felt like.
I started my journey at the end,in the grave, as I say, because
my journey in the deaf industrystarted as a mortician and
(02:40):
that's the last step of the deafjourney, and so what happened
is I kind of reverse engineeredback to the beginning, which is
death investigations, and that'swhere we get all of the
information once we're notifiedabout a death, and that's the
only time that we will get calls, once death has occurred, for
us to go out.
And so I have been speaking toceasefire class and I noticed
that every time I would go outto speak, it's a very demanding
(03:02):
career.
Out to speak.
It's a very demanding careerand I still love, still active
in some capacity in all realms.
But I came to the conclusion in2023 that I had assisted in
more autopsies, worked morecrime scenes and buried more
kids than I had been tograduation, and that birthed the
entrepreneurial journey to gointo this new phase of full time
(03:27):
speaking and coaching andadvising.
Speaker 2 (03:29):
OK, so the website while we're talking, if anybody
wants to check it out isPDWareInspirescom, pdware,
w-a-r-e, inspirescom and Pam.
What kind of stuff are youtalking about?
What kind of stuff are yousharing with them?
Speaker 1 (03:44):
about?
What kind of stuff are you, youknow, sharing with them?
I share the unfiltered truthwith them.
And so for the juvenileceasefire class, basically I
walk them through the journey asif they're with me, as that
crime scene death investigator,as that autopsy technician
(04:06):
because I was an autopsytechnician before I became a
death investigator and as anautopsy technician we're like
the assistants for the forensicpathologies that actually do the
autopsy exams.
So for those that may befamiliar with the autopsy
process where you make the wineseizures well, that was part of
my job as a technician.
Wine seizures Well, that waspart of my job as a technician.
(04:27):
You know, we do everything fromphotographs, fingerprints,
collecting evidence, doingx-rays and doing a part of the
eviscerations for the doctors.
So I walked them through that,from coming out to crime scenes
and like what's it like?
Like taking them from anon-reality world, like what you
may see on a video game, wherethey may think that death is
(04:49):
instant, is quick.
You know, some don't reallycare about it, but I tell them
you know, a lot of times it'snot quick like what you see on
TV.
As a matter of fact, I tellthem, you know, death is nothing
like what you see on TV, likewhat you see on TV, when you
have an intimate and up-closerelationship with depth, as I
have, where you're not only inthe presence of depth but
(05:10):
everything that comes with itthe smells, the different touch
of depth then it gives you adifferent perspective.
And so I try to share as muchof that experience so they can
get a glimpse of the perspectivethat I have.
And I tell them you know it'snot uncommon, you know a lot of
times to come out to scenes andyou got kids that got gunshot
wounds and as we're doing briefexams on the scene and
(05:32):
documenting with photography,and we're on the scene basically
with the eyes and ears for thepathologist, so I'm making sure
that everything is notated inpicture and written form for the
pathologist.
So when they get ready to dothe autopsy exam.
But I tell kids, for example,let's say you go out, you got a
gunshot wound to the chest, well, I want to be able to see the
back as well.
(05:53):
So what we'll do is we'll rollthem to the back and I tell them
when you roll somebody, theygot a hole in their chest.
You shouldn't be able to seethrough the chest to see any
portion of the heart or any typeof vessel.
But as you roll and then younotice that their blood
sometimes is just spilling outonto the concrete and then it
just runs through the groovesand cracks in the pavements.
(06:13):
Or you got a kid with a gunshotwound to the head and you got
brain matter that's exposed andthen what I can see I try to
collect, so you having to try toscrape brain matter off the
ground to preserve as much asyou can to send back with the
seed.
That's not common.
And one of the things that Ialso share with them is that we
(06:34):
always see that rest in peaceand it's rest in death, but
there's no peace in the mannerin which a lot of our kids are
leaving and also sharing withthem that there is hope beyond,
whatever their currentcircumstances are.
And so, even in talking to theparents, you know a lot of times
(06:54):
if, if the kids only see what'sinside of the four walls and
that's where they spend themajority of their time, if they
have no vision, they have nodreams, then they're going to
think that the life that they'reliving is the only possibility
for them.
And so I try to create hope forthem through my journey, you
(07:15):
know being wanting to be amortician at 14 years old and
that's not something that mostkids will aspire to.
And that all came about becauseI was with my mom.
One of her coworkers had passedand I was just there to watch
some purses and I just threwthose purses up on the back
bench and most kids at that age,we don't want to be in the
church on a Saturday morning.
(07:36):
So I started being nosy andfound out what a mortician does
and I was like, hey, I want tobe a mortician.
And I tell Don't ever deny thatdream, because you never know
where it will take them.
My journey took me from 14.
(07:56):
My mom didn't know that youknow 20 years, less than 20
years later that I would servemy community but also become a
mortician.
For my family and I do have alot, of, a lot of adults in some
of the classes hey, look, Iwant to be a mortician.
When I was young, when my familywas like, no, you can't do that
, but there is something foreverybody.
(08:17):
And I tell kids, if you canthink it, then you can believe
it and then you can implement it.
But they have to see somethingdifferent than what they're
accustomed to every day.
Sometimes it may be somebodythat looks like them, sometimes
it may be something differentthat they never even knew
existed, just the exposure to it.
(08:39):
And I think, as a parent, it'sour responsibility to put those
different things around.
So it was a vision and a dreamthat I had when I was younger.
But also to like telling kidsthat it's OK to want to do what
other people are doing, tellingkids that it's okay to want to
do what other people are doing,but the best thing to do is fit
out and not fit in, like be okaywith being your true and
authentic self, but in order tosometimes find out who you
(09:02):
really are, you got to be around, you got to be here in order to
be able to do that.
And then I shared.
The other unique thing about myjourney is I've always been a
hard worker, I've always beendedicated, but none of the
positions that I've had havereally been based on.
You know me trying to fit inwith something.
It's more of who I am as aperson, my traits, my character,
(09:25):
more of my values, and so Imake a position.
Not the position makes me,because walking from high school
being a four-sport athlete,two-sport athlete in college to
when I decided to put down myrunning spikes.
I started working for theathletic complex and I won
employee of the year every yearafter that.
So, regardless of what hat Iput on, it's me as a person with
(09:49):
the positive attitude, choosingto hang out with the right
people and choosing to be mytrue and authentic self.
Regardless of being a weird kidthat they thought of in high
school which was a lot of peopleyou know call me weird and then
also too like, it only takesone person to see that
uniqueness in you, and that'swhat happened to me, because I
(10:11):
went from entry levellevelautopsy tech to the chief death
investigator position in fiveyears.
Speaker 2 (10:17):
Wow, what a unique background and what a unique
story to share with folks.
Pam, do you find that mostpeople who are listening to you
speak this is the first timethey've heard from somebody
that's held that type ofposition or done that type of
work?
Speaker 1 (10:33):
I think so.
I think in a lot of thesettings it is, and I think
sometimes most people I'm olderthan what I look, so that's
usually a surprise.
But I think it definitely is,because a lot of people don't
know like they may hear of amortician or some people call
them undertakers.
(10:54):
Like they may hear of amortician or some people call
them undertakers, but as far asI'm going to work with the ME's
office, I don't think a lot ofpeople have exposure to that.
You know they probably wonder,especially when they see certain
vehicles that will pull up tocrime scenes.
So I do think it makes themperk up and like, ok, you know,
I've never been really familiarwith it and so now I have a
(11:14):
general idea of what they do andhow, how important that work is
, just like as as a mortician.
Speaker 2 (11:23):
Yeah, you know, one of the things that kind of
struck me when I was doing alittle research about you was
it's pretty simple on yourwebsite, right?
It's a better choices today,better chances tomorrow.
Is that the overarching messagethat you want people to come
away with from one of your talks?
Speaker 1 (11:40):
Absolutely, absolutely, even as parents, as
adults, and you could be mom,dad, grandparent, guardian, you
could be mentor, and that's forall of our lives is that the
better choices we make, thebetter chances we get, you know,
the more opportunities in apositive direction that will
open up for us.
Because that's been the guidinglight, you know, for my journey
(12:05):
and even just watching otherpeople's journey and, you know,
reading other people's stories,I truly believe that the better
choices we make, the betterchances that we create for our
lives.
Speaker 2 (12:19):
When you speak to kids, pam, do you find that
they're a little bit, I guess,shocked maybe might be the word
I'm trying to think of the wordhere Are you resensitizing them
to something that they may bedesensitized to?
Speaker 1 (12:33):
That's one of the goals is to reverse their
process of desensitization.
I think what I've heard as faras the feedback from going out
to speak is my delivery.
I'm not like how I'm talkingnow.
That's typically me, but Ipaint such a vivid picture.
That's typically me, but Ipaint such a vivid picture.
(12:56):
So, for example, when I tellkids, like part of the, the one
part of the autopsy that I focuson in the class is the last
part, and that's when we removethe brain because you take a
scalpel and you go from behindone ear across the top of the
head behind the other ear andyou reflect the face down and I
tell them, at that point youknow I can't see what the eyes
(13:16):
look like, the nose, and a lotof times I can't even see what
the mouth looks like, and thenwe take a special saw to open
the skull up.
And for me as a mortician soI'm a licensed funeral director
and embalmer so as a morticianone of the things is we do the
repair work and patching upwhatever needs to be fixed
that's damaged.
(13:37):
So I do a little bit more andbasically especially reflecting
the face down when I make thecut in the skull to take the top
of the skull cap off.
You know I want to make surethat it is as precise as
possible and it takes skill toto cut the skullcap off.
And then I do a little anatomylesson in there.
Most kids don't know you got anopening in the base of your
(13:58):
skull called the foramen magnumand that's where brain is and
your brainstem and your spinalcord they connect and so once we
take that skullcap off then youcan see the brain.
So as the head is laid back youcan see a little opening there.
So you take the scalpel bladeand you put in there and you cut
one way and you flip the bladeand you cut the other way and
(14:19):
then I tell him these fingersare pulled back so the back part
of the brain has the cerebellum, that's where the brainstem
comes up, and then you just flipback and then it's the brain.
And I also feel like deathdoesn't bother me.
But what bothers me is theamount of potential that I've
seen wasted, you know due topoor decisions.
You know be a poor association.
(14:39):
You know the gun violence, andso the human brain on average
weighs about three pounds.
An average handgun, about twoand a half pounds is loaded, but
we're choosing to load thewrong thing.
And the brain is such afascinating organ, it's the most
powerful organ that you got inyour body and just to see it and
to be able to hold it and to beable to have that realization
(15:03):
that at that point there'snothing else that can come Like,
there's no manifestation ofgreatness from this kid at this
point and just thinking about,like what could have been, you
know, the doctors, the lawyers,that's great, but even like
future entrepreneurs.
And I tell kids, like, if youhave siblings, whether brothers,
(15:25):
sister or even cousins,somebody is looking up to them
and so maybe they're the strongone in the family and you know,
something happens to them, theones that's behind them.
They may not be strong enough towithstand some of the
circumstances that they're goingthrough.
They may not be able to waitanother generation for somebody
(15:47):
else to come along.
So it's important that they,you know, think about the
decisions and the choices thatthey make.
Because, like I tell them, whenmy phone rings, grace is
expired, and that's the sad partis to see how much potential
that we've lost in our kids, butalso to the ones that didn't
have ambition, that didn't knowwhat it was like to dream.
(16:09):
You know, and maybe you knowmom, maybe dad, maybe grandma,
grandpa.
Maybe they didn't have thatopportunity either.
Maybe you know, and maybe youknow mom, maybe dad, maybe
grandma, grandpa.
Maybe they didn't have thatopportunity either.
Maybe you know, they're justliving based off of what they
had when they was coming up, andso I think it gives them a
profound perspective, likehearing it from me in such, in
(16:31):
such a vivid way.
Speaker 2 (16:33):
Yeah, no, I agree, I would think that it certainly
would.
I think one of the things aboutyour previous work experiences
that I'm curious about is yousaid you were a hard worker
yourself.
You know, you get in there, youdo the work and everything.
Where did that leap happenwhere you wanted to become, you
know, mentor, motivationalspeaker when did that leap
(16:54):
happen where you wanted?
Speaker 1 (16:55):
to become, you know, mentor, motivational speaker.
Where did that come in?
So when I started doing morespeaking engagements and I
noticed that I would come backand I would just go back into my
normal routine of working, andI was like you know, I'm not I
didn't have time to do both, tomake the impact that I want to
make, the impact that I feltlike God was calling me to make.
(17:17):
And so I had to make a decisioneither push the paper or pursue
.
The purpose he's allowed me togain over the last nearly 20
years was not meant to just bekept in an office space that the
(17:38):
kids need to hear the message.
Speaker 2 (17:46):
And the only way that I could effectively get the
message out is to get outside ofthe office.
I like it.
Let's talk about thatentrepreneurial leap In the
communities, Unlimited.
You're working with ourentrepreneurship team.
How's it been going for you?
Tell me what kind of stuffyou've been working on.
Speaker 1 (17:59):
It's been great.
I'm a very structured person,so typically the protocols are
lined up.
Having to be my own businessperson and boss, it's a
different.
It's a challenge, but a welcomeone, in learning how to do
something new.
But I tell you what being ableto work with H&I Communities
(18:21):
Unlimited has made it prettyseamless for me Walking through
everything from having mybusiness plan created, learning
different account options andactually not just learning about
them learning different accountoptions and actually not just
learning about them, but beingable to set up these entities
for my business to make surethat its foundation is solid.
Speaker 2 (18:47):
So it's going to ensure short term and long term
success.
Yeah, one of the things thatI'm always impressed with our
entrepreneurship team is that itreally gets down to like a
sentence.
They always say that we try toallow people the opportunity to
work on their business and notnecessarily in their business,
right, because when you're inthere in the day-to-day minutia,
it's easy to get caught up inthat and you don't get a chance
(19:13):
to work on your business.
And you're working with Sierraand Brian, correct?
What kind of?
So?
Other people would be listeningto this.
What kind of stuff do you guyswork on?
You're launching from, you know, from ground zero, essentially,
right.
So what kind of stuff have youguys been working on so that
people would know what thatinteraction is like?
Speaker 1 (19:30):
Yeah, so you're talking about taking a blank
canvas and they're walking methrough step by step, like
what's my mission, what's myvision, what's my, my core
statement, what's that visionstatement?
And then from there, likebuilding out, like what are my
offers?
Everything down to, like everyaspect of it.
(19:53):
So for me it's the speaking,the PUR Inspires, it's my
podcast, but also not justlistening to things out, like
listening out in detail what doI offer in the PUR Inspires
programs, like what like to andto who Like.
Breaking it down into detail.
But also the items that areneeded.
(20:15):
Breaking it down into detail,but also the items that are
needed, like what does it takefor me to be able to implement
my services as far as labor goes, as far as cost goes?
We're breaking all of thatstuff down, like everything from
the monetary part of it, likeif it's funding for businesses,
if it's donations, if it'spersonal funding, like how to
(20:38):
generate revenue, like listingout those streams, and we're
talking about down to weekly,monthly, quarterly, annually.
You're breaking all this stuffdown, they're walking through it
, so one of the things, and thenthey're able to make it so one
of the things, and then they'reable to make recommendations.
So, with the accounting piece.
So let's take, like a lot ofpeople, quickbooks, but one of
(21:01):
the things that they can do ismake recommendations.
It's like, okay, quickbooks isa little bit more difficult to
learn.
So for me we set up Wave, myWave account.
But not just them like say, hey, go set up this account, to
like, okay, pam, on this session.
We're say, hey, go set up thisaccount.
To like, ok, pam, on thissession we're going to actually
go and set up the account.
So they're in the account withme.
We're walking through the end.
(21:22):
So it's kind of like having apersonal tool guide and not a
video that you got an actualperson that's walking through.
It's like, ok, this is how youcreate your contract, this is
how you create your invoices,how you can schedule them out to
go out at a certain time, howto add your logo to these things
.
So we're talking about likein-depth knowledge of, piece by
(21:43):
piece, how to set up yourbusiness, how to structure it
and make sure that you goteverything down so everything is
accounted for.
So like even like your monthlyservices accounted for.
So like, even like your monthlyservices.
So my podcasting hosting, likehow much does that cost?
How much does it cost me for myCRM?
So you have an idea of whereyour resources are going, like
(22:07):
how much you got going out andhow much you got coming in.
So you'll know, like it's notjust me picking up, like if it
was me, and like, ok, it cost me.
Like, ok, I'm charging this.
But yeah, you also need to havea breakdown of like what that
goes to.
Ok, this, this amount goes totravel for my plane ticket, this
amount goes to my lodging andthis amount goes to the cost for
(22:31):
the books.
Like everything like knowing,ok, if I'm doing taking 100
books with me, it's not justtaking 100 books.
Like everything like knowing,okay, if I'm doing taking a
hundred books with me, it's notjust taking a hundred books,
it's like how much does eachbook cost?
So you're doing a full costanalysis and they're walking you
through that step by step.
Speaker 2 (22:46):
I'm always amazed that when I talk to
entrepreneurs I'm not a businessperson myself, I've never done
it there's a lot of work thatgoes into that, isn't it A lot,
a lot.
It's always a lot more than Ialways picture, and I'm always
amazed at the people that areout there doing it because of
that amount of work that goes onthat people just never see.
(23:07):
You know.
Yes, okay, we are talking toPam Ware.
Pam is based out of Memphis,tennessee.
Pam is a motivational speaker.
Her website pdwareinspirescom.
I encourage you to go check itout.
When you speak to kids, pam,about your personal journey,
what kind of stuff do you sharewith them?
(23:31):
I know we talked a little bitabout it earlier, but you said
something that kind of struck me.
You said death doesn't botheryou, it's the potential lost.
Do you think that message comesacross to them?
Do they realize how muchpotential they actually have, or
is that kind of?
Your mission is to make themrealize that?
Speaker 1 (23:51):
So that my Thrive framework is starting that
transformation process toinstill hope in them, resilience
, to inspire them, to teach themhow to dream, to create that
vision for their lives that theywant, but to also, you know,
teach them empathy, like how toconsider other people's feelings
(24:14):
, other people's livelihood intheir homes and in their
communities, because I feel likethat is the key in order for
them to be able to where theywant to go.
So, yes, that's definitely partof the mission is to help them
to realize that.
(24:35):
More so Because I find a lot,especially some of the
generation that we have now it'slike outside of just what we
see on a consistent basis.
They think that that's allthere is.
I mean, you have people thatdon't go outside of their
communities and you name a bigchain restaurant.
They don't even know what thatis Like, showing them that there
(24:58):
are so many other thingsoutside of where they are and
even people that are in moredire circumstances.
So I've been on two out of thecountry trips.
My first trip was to.
I've been on two out of thecountry trips.
My first trip was to Warsaw,poland, and I was doing athletic
(25:20):
ministry and when I was in highschool, my modern history
teacher.
He he told us about Auschwitzand the concentration camps and
I had a chance to go toAuschwitz in person and just
walking through the gates andjust walking through the gates,
you could feel like it was adifferent type of feeling than
just walking down another streetand walking through some gates
(25:41):
and then like just being able torecall what my history teacher
taught me and then reading likethe signs and stuff that they
had.
So there's a portion there.
It's like a closed offcourtyard.
It's got brick wall on eachside and they would line, line
them up, put them on their kneeson each side and just execute
(26:02):
them.
When you walked into the, intothe building, there were these
little bitty rooms down at thebottom and it was cold and the
rooms were.
I mean, they were so small.
They will put kids in there andthey would starve.
They would only get so muchamount of food and their little
bellies would be just distended.
(26:24):
And if I'm not mistaken, Ithink that term is called
kwashika.
They have a high vitamin Ddeficiency.
But seeing that, and then goingto Cape Town, south Africa,
where you had kids that wantedto go to school, that wanted to
get education, and they wouldget donations for books and
(26:44):
computers.
And then you'd have looterscome in, steal the computers,
take the books, turn the schoolup in the libraries.
And these kids lived in whatwas called shantytowns.
They didn't have running water.
These are just little shackswith little pieces of tin put up
.
And when I tell you those kids,I saw not one sad kid.
They were running through thestreets happy and laughing, and
(27:06):
so like being able to sharethose parts too, and then also
to giving the parents someinsight of what it's like when
you give your kids a differenttype of exposure, and I think
that too will create a deeperappreciation for, for what you
have, because it's always we aresaying a lot that you know it's
(27:26):
always somebody that's doingfar worse off than where you
might be currently, and soteaching them to appreciate life
to me that's empathy rightthere and being able to, you
know, put yourself in somebodyelse's shoes and also extend
them grace and mercy and liketreat them like you would want
(27:51):
to be treated.
You know, and I tell people,you treat people like.
If it's when I go out, myinteraction, if it's an older
person, you know I'm treatedlike it's my mom, it's my dad,
my uncle, my brother.
Treat it like it's my child, ifit's a child.
Speaker 2 (28:06):
Yeah, I share your sentiment my trips, whether
they've been out of the countryor just to a different part of
the country that I've never beento before.
I think I've discovered twothings.
One is that, generally speaking, people want to be good to each
other, right?
And then two, when I step outof my silo, I start to realize
(28:28):
that there's really not verymany differences between people.
Despite visual differences,despite the way we may talk or,
whatever the case may be, thelanguage we're speaking, we're
really not that different, youknow, and we need to be
empathetic towards those andcelebrate the differences, not
the not, not, not look for thesimilarities.
(28:49):
I guess you know what I mean.
Speaker 1 (28:51):
Yeah, because if everybody was the same, you know
and everybody.
Yeah, because if everybody wasthe same, you know and everybody
, you look at all thedifferences, that's what makes
everybody unique.
But when you put them together,you know, just you know reminds
me you know, everybody has adifferent guilt.
And when you can walk in yourgift and not envy somebody
(29:12):
else's but get good at what yourgift is and honing your craft,
then I definitely think theworld would be a better place.
And I think so many kids areworried about like wanting to
fit in or feel like maybe theyhave to keep up, you know, with
what family is doing, like it'sokay to be different, you know,
it's okay to embrace whateveryour uniqueness is, because the
(29:35):
world needs that uniqueness.
And I promise you, especiallywhen it comes to school, I tell
kids all the time, you know youmay not think so and they may
not tell you I said, but Ipromise you it's somebody that
look forward to seeing you everyday.
They may not say that you maketheir day.
You come in.
They look forward to seeingyour smile.
It's something about you.
And then too, if people look at, look for the good, even if you
(29:58):
got bad, and people.
I feel like you can.
You can find something good inevery person, and if you focus
on trying to find what that goodis instead of focusing on the
bad all the time, then I thinkthat makes a difference as well.
Speaker 2 (30:13):
Agreed, couldn't agree more.
What's next for you, pam?
What are you working on?
Speaker 1 (30:18):
We are working on some big projects I'm currently
working on.
I've got two big speakingengagements coming up this
upcoming week.
I'm going to be speaking to aC-SPAR class on Tuesday and then
another class on Thursday.
So Thursday will be a littlebit of a different crowd for me,
so I'm using a little bit of adifferent approach.
But this Tuesday is going to bekind of an eye-opener.
(30:40):
I'm doing something a littlebit different than I typically
would do, more of a little bitof a scare tactic, because
lately the ceasefire classeshave grown a little bit, and
then just kind of some of thethings that I've observed in
some of the other classespreviously.
I think it's time to step it upa little bit and try to make a
little bit more impact.
Speaker 2 (31:03):
Okay, look forward to seeing it.
Are you going to video it orsomething, maybe?
Speaker 1 (31:06):
Yeah, I'll definitely make sure you get the video
once it's done.
Speaker 2 (31:09):
Awesome, awesome.
Well, pam, I really doappreciate your time and being
on the podcast today.
I appreciate what you're doing.
Let me let me let you know thatas well.
The website PD where inspiresdot com, pam Ware is a mentor,
motivational speaker.
Pam, before we go, is thereanything else?
Anybody should know about theoutlets they can find you at if
they're interested in engagingyou.
Speaker 1 (31:31):
Yeah, the website.
Definitely jump on there.
There's a form that you canfill out for more information
and I'd be you know we'ddefinitely get back as soon as
we get that notification.
But I am not just based inMemphis.
I travel throughout the US andabroad if needed.
So if you have youth and youngadults in your organization
(31:53):
that's in need of sometransformation in their
decision-making process, thenPiggy World Aspires is
definitely who you want to reachout to.
Speaker 2 (32:00):
All right, great Pam.
Thanks again, and I reallyappreciate your time today, man.
Speaker 1 (32:05):
Yeah, I appreciate the invitation, Chris.
Speaker 2 (32:07):
And we'll be back in a couple weeks with another
episode of Small Talk withCommunities Unlimited.
Thank you.
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