I was in the White House for a year and a half. Up to that point, all my jobs had been very unglamorous.

My job is to make certain that I've done what I was asked and my department has done what we were asked to do by the president and the first lady and the State Department. I believe that we accomplished that.

I've always been searching. What am I going to do with all this - searching for that place where I could be me.

Johnson Publishing offered me an opportunity to build back iconic brands like 'Ebony' and 'Jet' magazines.

When I was a young person I went to the university and I learned a rational language, to think with the left side of the brain. But in the right side of the brain you have intuition and imagination. Words are not the truth; they indicate the way to go, but you need to go alone, in silence. Symbols have a language that kills the words.

The greatest lesson I've learned is that you have to fight and continue to strive for greatness, as nothing great ever comes easily.

I preach in countries if I say 'Jesus Christ is the only way, the truth and the life,' they'll arrest me.

I've learned in my life that it's important to be able to step outside your comfort zone and be challenged with something you're not familiar or accustomed to. That challenge will allow you to see what you can do.