Jesse Muhammad “Mediocrity is Not in your D.N.A”

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Published: January 24, 2010Posted in: BSCProfessionals, BSCTalkTags:

Meet Jesse Muhummad also known as Brother Jesse. Energetic, inspiring and effective are just some of the words audiences have used to describe the works, writings and messages delivered by writer, news reporter, motivational speaker, artist, publicist and photojournalist Jesse Muhammad.The theme of his motivational talks is “Mediocrity is Not in Your D.N.A”, to show that no individual was born to do anything mediocre but instead has the power to be extraordinary in everything that they do.

Brother Jesse is a staff writer for the Final Call Newspaper, a highly sought after motivational speaker, co-founder and senior editor of for Youth Teens and Young Adults (FYTYA.com). In addition to speaking and writing, Brother Jesse presents a multitude of workshops that target the youth to be great.

Here a few work shops he offers: Mediocrity is Not in Your D.N.A….So Why Do We Settle? Get your S.W.A.G. on? Stop Wasting Abilities & Gifts. Be a L.E.G.E.N.D. (Let Every Goal Evolve Not Die) . Leadership vs Management. I Am M.E.D.I.A.: The Power of the Pen. TAKS Test Motivation: Don’t Let It Stop You. Education is Your Torchlight. How to be an A-student and B-active too. Preparing Mentally For College Life. Pull Up Your P.A.N.T.S. (Personality, Attitude, Niche, Technique and Success: For Males Only) Financial Literacy: Avoid the early credit traps. Career Choices: What is my purpose? The Power of Focus: Got Goals? Internet Marketing: Where is Your Online Buzz? Click here for complete bio and press kit .


Get to know Brother Jesse : Brother Jesse Twitter ,   Brother Jesse Final Call , Face Book Brother Jesse ,  Global Grind Brother Jesse ,  You Tube Brother Jesse , Myspace Brother Jesse .

Below is an awesome interview with Brother Jesse Muhammad .


    “Mediocrity is Not in your D.N.A” I first saw this in a tweet and it stood out to me. It caught my attention. And that’s when I started to notice and interact with you Brother Jesse. You have an amazing energy about you that can be felt, even online. How did you realize that Mediocrity was Not in your D.N.A? What motivates you?
    I honestly came to realize that mediocrity is not in my D.N.A. being raised for a certain amount of years under the roof of my now 80-year-old grandmother. She actually used to punish me for making B’s in school as an elementary student. She told me that anything less than your best was unacceptable in her house. I carried that with me.  Then I had my mother always pushing me to be the best I could be. My siblings always have and still is my biggest cheerleaders, as I am theirs.  But all of this was magnified once I heard the voice of the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan and started learning for the first time the ancient history of Black people. After coming into that knowledge, I knew for a fact mediocrity is not our nature but mastery is.
    Love is my motivation. Love for uplifting others.
    Before you became a speaker what career path were you on? What was the catalyst that brought us the motivational speaker Brother Jesse?
    I grew up desiring to be a world renowned artist. It was in high school that I actually got an interest in engineering so I decided to major in it in college. But deep down I always wanted to be a professional artist. Well I went from working engineering jobs to teaching in the public school system. I have also done public relations, marketing, and graphic designing. How I got turned on to motivational speaking was actually when I joined the Nation of Islam. Believe or not, I was a shy person growing up! But when I became a part of the NOI Ministry class I started learning the mechanics of delivering a message. So I have been speaking since 1998 and learned to hone my skills by speaking at Prairie View A&M University events. Since, I have been speaking throughout the country and within the last three years I have been getting paid to speak to various audiences. But it’s not just speaking to me, it’s service. I love it!
    Your focus is often the community around you, and how you can help out. What made you decide to focus on empowerment, education, and bettering others opposed to developing and marketing a product marketed targeted towards those who you inspire?
    My grandmother started me out at an early age getting involved in my community via politics and grassroots organizing. Plus my mother has always taught us to give. She is a very giving woman. All that to say, serving my community was put in me naturally. But the magnitude to which I strive to do it now came from joining the Nation of Islam. I joined right before I got to Prairie View A&M and I was involved in so much. Since then, every year I strive to increase my service to the community.
    As for not developing and marketing a product, I actually do have a product. That product is service. For years I spoke at events and schools for free and I still do. But now I also get honorariums for speaking – but I don’t cancel if people can afford it because I love to serve. And I am a firm believer that the more you give, the more you shall receive. It’s not a cliché, it’s a lifestyle. But I have some products coming in 2010 and I hope you will at least buy it, if others don’t. (Laughs)
    In addition to being an awesome motivator you are a great journalist. You stories are well thought out, researched and presented in a timely manner. Where did you learn your research and journalism techniques?
    Ok, I have to be honest. I stumbled into journalism. I always considered myself a good writer because I was a poetry type man. My friends used to hire me in high school to write love notes for their girlfriends. I used to write speeches for my friends running for office in college. But I never saw myself as a journalist. Then at PV I did my very first article for the campus newspaper titled “Will the real leaders please stand up?”. It was an outright attack on what I deemed weakness on the part of student government. From there I never wrote again.
    Then in 2004, I got this bright idea. (Laughs) I desired to see more articles about the great works of Houston in The Final Call Newspaper and so I starting writing success stories about some of the local members and our community. I looked up one week and one of the stories got printed. Whoa, I went crazy! So naturally I kept writing and I soon was asked to come on as the Southwest Regional Correspondent. I did that for six months and then Hurricane Katrina struck. It was in my region, so I was given my first ever cover story. Boy I was nervous but with the guidance of the then-Editor Dora Muhammad, I nailed it!
    I say all that to say, I did not go to school for this. The root of my research for stories stems from my love to help people, inform the masses and inspired them to action. So for the first several years I did the best I could. I then started studying journalism books, listened to the critique of more experienced journalists, read the various styles of others I admire and stay up a lot of late nights just reading data. So I have learned multiple ways but at the root of it all I want readers to walk away raised one degree higher.
    I believe that your ability to remain in touch with pop culture and the youth broadens your appeal, and aides in your ability to communicate and make a difference. Who are some of your favorite artists (actors, musicians, writers, etc).
    Now you’re going to make me give away my secrets! (Laughs) But seriously, I am a huge Hip-Hop head. Before many of my speeches I could be found listening to artists like Jay-Z, Nas, Common, Bun-B, T.I., Lupe, Andre 3K, Jasiri X and others. I can list all day. As far as the queens I adore Sade, Mary J. Blige, Jill Scott and can somebody please ask Lauryn Hill to come back.
    I don’t really have a favorite actor per se but man I love mafia and war movies. So I can be found watching The Godfather, Gotti, 300, Gladiator, etc over and over. But I gotta mention that “Martin” is my silent enjoyment. Shhhhh.
    Who are people that influence and motivate you?
    There are so many but the first that comes to mind is my family. Without them being my constant cheerleaders, I don’t know where I would be. So I thank them all. And of course the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan, the man who became a father to me.
    In 2009 you had a busy and productive year. What are few things that must be accomplished in 2010?
    Yes, I was blessed with an awesome year. The top priority is to continue to improve my service to our people with all of my gifts and talents. I plan to expand my blog, release my first two books, host a photography and art exhibit, speaking in more cities to youth and the list goes on. I also have a new Brother Jesse website coming soon. But I am not one to share too much, I prefer to say it with my actions. So, just keep watching.
    I want to talk about your experience with finding your father. There was an amazing article on Global Grind about your search. You kept us updated from the beginning to the end of your search. You admitted that you had an attitude of  “I don’t need him anyway” and that attitude was an act. Secretly you longed to know who he was after you discovered that the man you thought was your father was not your father. What would you suggest for young men who are experiencing the same attitude as you had about your father? What are some things you can suggest to overcome these emotions? My Most Memorable Moment of 2009: I found my biological father…he’s deceased. But lives in me.
    That has been one of the most emotional and rewarding experiences of my life. My advice for young men who may have that same attitude is to face the fear of finding out the unknown. I had to be honest with myself that my “I don’t need him anyway” attitude was only masking my pain, fears and yearnings to know the truth. It was tough to face that reality and it was tough to humble myself. But I could not do it alone so I would encourage anyone to get a support network because I needed that to execute this desire.
    I honestly still quietly deal with the emotional weight of discovering that my biological father is deceased. I pray and meditate on it daily. It’s not easy but it was necessary. Everyone who desires to do it, I say go for it.
    How do you feel now that you have found out who your biological father is? And has this strengthened your relationship with your family?
    I feel free because now I know the truth. As stated before, I still have my up and down moments. I think it will be a while before I totally overcome the emotional sting. It has definitely strengthened my relationship with my family. All of them have been so supportive, loving and encouraging. Plus this was not only closure for me but this was closure for my mother, who did not know either until this moment.
    Bonus Questions for the ladies. Is Brother Jesse a Married or Single Man?
    Smiling. Yes I am married. I am married to Sister Shareefah Muhammad whom I have known since high school. We’re not high school sweethearts because we met as members of Muhammad Mosque No. 45 in Houston. And having girlfriends and boyfriends is forbidden in the Nation of Islam so we knew one another as workers in the mission of the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad under the leadership of Minister Louis Farrakhan.
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