THIS PROGRAM IS MADE BY MPT TO ENRICH ALL OF OUR DIVERSE COMMUNITIES AND IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF OUR MEMBERS.

THANK YOU.

LIVE FROM MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION, THIS IS "DIRECT CONNECTION" WITH JEFF SALKIN.

♪♪] >> JEFF: GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO YOUR "DIRECT CONNECTION."

WE BEGIN TONIGHT WITH THE NEW DIETARY GUIDELINES AND UPDATED FOOD PYRAMID.

JOINING US TO TALK ABOUT YOUR HEALTH IS GAGE BLOTTENBERGER FROM THE VOTERS VERSE BALTIMORE WASHINGTON MEDICAL CENTER.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> Jeff: TELL US ABOUT YOUR WORK.

YOU HAVE A FOCUS ON WOMEN'S HEALTH?

>> SO, I'M WITH HEALTHY PREGNANCIES HEALTHY FAMILIES OUR GEL IS WE WORK WITH HIGH-RISK PREGNANCIES AND PREVENTED GUESSTATIONAL DIABETES RESULTING IN FURTHER COMPLICATIONS.

>> Jeff: YOU ARE ALSO BY TRAINING A CHEF.

AND YOUR FAMILY HAS A FOOD TRUCK BUSINESS.

WIDE RANGE OF EXPERIENCE.

>> YES.

YEP.

BIG CULINARY GUY.

SO I LOVE TO COOK AND LOVE TO EAT.

>> Jeff: WELL, PERFECT SEGUE TO THE FOOD PYRAMID FROM THE USDA AND I THOUGHT PYRAMIDS HAD THE POINTY SIDE UP BUT THIS IS AN INVERTED PYRAMID.

AND YOU HAVE EVERYTHING.

YOUR FRUITS AND VEGGIES AND PROTEIN, GRAINS, WHAT TO SEE WHEN YOU LOOK AT THIS?

>> I THINK IT'S GREAT THAT WE'RE TRYING TO PROMOTE WHOLE FOODS.

TRY TO GET AWAY FROM THE PROCESSED FOODS.

I THINK IT'S GREAT THAT WE HAVE FROZEN VEGGIES AND CANNED VEGGIES PROMOTING ACCESSIBILITY.

I THINK THE PRIORITY OF PROTEIN IS IMPORTANT.

THE RECENT GUIDELINES WERE .8 GRAMS PER KILOGRAM WHICH IS THE MINIMUM TO SURVIVE.

THE UPDATED OF 1.1 TO 1.5 GRAMS IS A GOOD UPDATE TO PROMOTE AND SUITS STAIN MUSCLE.

I THINK IT'S GREAT.

>> Jeff: COME BACK TO YOUR POINT ABOUT THE FROZEN VEGGIES AND THE CANNED VEGGIES IS THERE A NUTRITIONAL FALL OFF, MAYBE THE TASTE IS NOT AS GOOD AS FRESH BUT THIS TIME OF THE YEAR WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO?

>> FROZEN VEG GANGS ARE HARVESTED AT THEIR PEEK.

THE TASTE MIGHT BE DIFFERENT AND CONSISTENCY, THE NUTRITION IS STILL THERE STHOOR THE OTHER THINGS THAT STANDS OUT IS THE CARTON OF WHOLE MILK DO YOU CARE IF PEOPLE GET THEIR NUTRIENTS FROM SKIM MILK OR 1% OR 2% OR WHOLE MILK?

>> I THINK EVERYONE IS DIFFERENT.

YOUR CHOICE IS THE BEST WHATEVER WORKS FOR YOU.

IF YOUR GOAL IS TO LOSE FAT, LOSE WEIGHT, MAYBE GO WITH THE SKIM OR 2%.

IF YOUR GOAL IS TO GAIN WEIGHT OR SUSTAIN, WHOLE MILK IS A GREAT OPTION.

IT PROVIDES GREAT NUTRIENTS.

>> Jeff: PEOPLE FOCUSED ON NUTRITION AT THE BEGINNING OF A YEAR AND PUT THEMSELVES UNDER PRESSURE AND IT IS A GOOD TIME TO DO IT YOU MAY HAVE SPLURGED OVER THE HOLIDAYS FOR PEOPLE NOW A COUPLE WEEKS INTO THE NEW YEAR, GIVE THEM A LITTLE EMOTIONAL SUPPORT TO KEEP GOING.

>> YEAH, DEFINITELY.

EMOTIONAL SUPPORT IS HUGE.

HAVING PEOPLE AROUND YOU THAT WILL BE THERE WITH YOU.

AND IT CAN BE OVERWHELMING.

A LOT OF PEOPLE SET THESE GOALS THAT ARE JUST VERY STRICT AND CUTTING EVERYTHING OUT.

AND I THINK THAT IS WHERE THE SUSTAINABILITY PART LOSES.

SETTING SMALL GOALS TO ACHIEVE YOUR GOAL IS A GREAT IDEA.

I LIKE TO SMART GOALS.

A LOT OF DIETICIANS DO AND IT STANDS FOR SPECIFIC MEASURABLE, ACHIEVABLE, REALISTIC AND TIME SENSITIVE.

SO QUICK EXAMPLE WOULD BE ONE OF MY GOALS IS RUN A HALF MARATHON BY THE END OF THE YEAR.

SPECIFIC?

YES.

MEASURABLE?

ONE YEAR, ACHIEVABLE?

I BELIEVE SO.

REALISTIC?

I THINK SO, SETTING SOMETHING LIKE A FULL MARATHON MIGHT NOT BE REALISTIC.

AND TIME SENSITIVE.

>> Jeff: AND I LIKE THE FACT YOU HAVE TOLD THE ENTIRE STATE ABOUT IT.

YOU PUT DOWN A MARKER WHICH IS ANOTHER THING LIKE A COMMITMENT DEVICE THAT PEOPLE DO WHEN YOU TELL YOUR FRIENDS, YOUR RELATIVES THAT I'M GOING TO STOP SMOKING OR WHATEVER IT IS, IT'S AN EXTRA DOSE OF COMMITMENT MAYBE?

>> DEFINITELY, I AGREE.

AND WRITING THOSE GOALS OUT HELPS, TOO.

THAT WAY AS YOU GO THROUGH YOUR YEAR YOU CAN CHECK THEM OFF BUT THE MAIN THING IS TO WE WANT TO CREATE A SUSTAINABLE HEALTHY LIFESTYLE NOT EAT A DIET FOR A MONTH OR A YEAR WE WANT HEALTHY HABITS TO CREATE SOMETHING SUSTAINABLE.

>> Jeff: GIVE US EXAMPLES WHAT ARE THINGS OUR VIEWERS CAN DO IF IT IS A BABY STEP TO IMPROVE THEIR NUTRITION AND IMPROVE THEIR HEALTH?

>> I WOULD SAY BUILDING A STRONG FOUNDATION.

BEFORE YOU GO OUT AND GET SUPPLEMENTS AND COLD PLUNGE, LET'S FOCUS ON BALANCING YOUR NUTRITION.

LET'S FOCUS ON SLEEP AND LET'S FOCUS ON MOVEMENT.

YOUR STEPS YOUR RESISTANCE TRAINING THOSE THINGS.

>> Jeff: WHAT IS THAT WELL BALANCED PLATE LOOK LIKE?

IN YOUR WORLD?

>> SO, I REFER TO THE 20, 25 DIETARY GUIDELINES OF MY PLATE WHICH IS GOING TO BE A QUARTER PROTEIN, A QUARTER OF STARCHES AND HALF NON-STARCHY VEGETABLES.

I LIKE TO USE PIZZA AS AN EXAMPLE BECAUSE YOU HAVE YOUR CHEESE AND MEAT PROTEIN, AND YOUR CRUST IS THE STARCH AND A SIDE SALAD TO MAKE IT A BALANCED PLATE.

>> Jeff: AND ONE OF THE THINGS WE WERE TALKING ABOUT BEFORE IS THE IMPACT OF WHAT YOU DRINK ALONG WITH THAT MEAL YOUR THOUGHTS?

>> YEAH, I MEAN -- >> Jeff: YOU HAVE A GLASS OF WATER, IF I OFFERED YOU A SODA WITH YOUR PIZZA AND SALAD, WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

>> I WOULD STAY WITH THE WATER.

I LOVE SODA IN THE PAST.

AND REALLY I LIKE TO THINK OF ANYTHING IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT FROM A FUNCTIONAL STANDPOINT IF WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THE SODA WHICH HAS SUGAR AND GLUE CLOSE, LET'S USE THAT GLUCOSE AS ENERGY AND NOT STORE IT AS FAT.

>> PEOPLE CAN BE HARD ON THEMSELVES, ESPECIALLY IF THEY'VE SET A GOAL AT THE END OF LAST YEAR, THE BEGINNING OF THIS YEAR AND FIND THEMSELVES FALLING SHORT.

WHAT WOULD YOUR ADVICE BE IN THAT SITUATION WHERE SOMEBODY'S MAYBE FALLEN OFF THE WAGON AND NEEDS TO GET BACK ON?

>> LIKE I MENTIONED STARTING SMALL.

DON'T OVERWHELM YOURSELF.

SET THE LITTLE GOALS THAT YOU CAN ACHIEVE.

AND JUST TRY TO BE 1% BETTER THAN YESTERDAY, RIGHT?

>> Jeff: THAT IS A GREAT LINE.

FOR PEOPLE AT RISK OF DIABETES, IT BECOMES MORE SERIOUS SITUATION.

WHAT RULES SHOULD PEOPLE IN THAT SITUATION FOLLOW?

>> SO AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, SLEEP IS IMPORTANT.

HAVING SOME KIND OF PROTEIN OR FIBER WITH YOUR MEALS AND SNACKS I THINK, YEAH.

AND MOVEMENT.

SORRY.

>> Jeff: ALL GOOD.

I WANTED TO COME BACK TO WHEN WE INTRODUCED YOU FOCUS ON WOMEN'S HEALTH WHICH IS SPECIFIC TO HIGH-RISK PREGNANCIES, WOMEN WHO ARE AT RISK OF DEVELOPING GESTATIONAL DIABETES.

HOW DOES YOUR PROGRAM WORK?

>> SO WE ENROLL WOMEN FROM WE HAVE FIVE ZIP CODES WE WORK WITH.

AND WE HAVE A COMMUNITY HEALTH ADVOCATE ON THE TEAM SHE HELPS WITH EXTRA RESOURCES IN THE COMMUNITY.

ACCESS TO FOOD BANKS.

ASSISTANCE SETTING UP W.I.C.

IF YOU NEED THAT.

DIAPER ASSISTANCE, PHYSICAL ACTIVITY CLASSES IN THE COMMUNITY.

AND AS A DIETITIAN I GO OVER FLUID INTAKE, PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, BALANCED PLATES, SNACKS, THAT KIND OF THING.

>> Jeff: WHAT DO YOU FIND WORKS IN TERMS OF HELPING PEOPLE STAY MOTIVATED AND STAY ON TASK?

>> I THINK JUST LEVELING WITH THEM.

TELLING THEM THAT IT IS OKAY THEY DON'T HAVE TO BE PERFECT.

AND JUST WORKING WITH WHAT THEY HAVE.

GREAT EXAMPLE I LIKE TO USE IS RAMAN NOODLES.

IF YOU TAKE -- >> Jeff: I DON'T SEE RAMAN NOODLES ON THE PYRAMID.

>> A LOT OF MY PATIENTS CONSUME THEM.

DOING THINGS LIKE USING HALF OF THE SEASONING PACKET TO REDUCE SODIUM ADDING CHICKEN AND FROZEN VEGGIES AND YOU'VE CREATED A BALANCED PLATE.

>> Jeff: AND AT PEEL OF THE RAMAN NOODLES IS THE PRICE, RIGHT?

>> EXACTLY.

>> Jeff: HOW ELSE CAN PEOPLE ECON MY ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU ARE PREGNANT AND EATING FOR TWO?

>> PURCHASING YOUR MEATS IN BULK IF THAT IS TOO EXPENSIVE GO TO THE CANNED OPTION LIKE BEANS, QUEEN WHAT, THOSE THINGS, QUINOA, BUYING PRODUCE IN SEASON IS CHEAPER OR GO TO THE FROZEN OR CANNED VEGGIES.

>> Jeff: WHILE YOU ARE PREPARING FOR YOUR HALF MARATHON AND EATING HEALTHY, DOES THE DIETICIAN EVER SLIP UP?

>> DEFINITELY.

NUTRITION IS ABOUT BALANCE.

SO LIKE I SAID BEFORE, THINKING ABOUT INGREDIENTS FUNCTIONALLY.

AND USING THEM SUCH AS OKAY LET'S SAY IT IS A HOT DAY AND I WORKED OUT AND I'M OUTSIDE RUNNING AND I'M SWEATY.

POTATO CHIPS GREAT OPTION BECAUSE THEY HAVE SODIUM, YOUR ELECTROLYTES AND PAIR IT WITH A PROTEIN FOR A BALANCED POST EXERCISE SNACK.

>> Jeff: YOU CAN COME BACK YOU'VE RECOMMENDED POTATO CHIPS.

GAGE BLOTTENBERGER WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND BALTIMORE WASHINGTON MEDICAL CENTER.

APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

THANKS VERY MUCH.

ON THE OCCASION OF THIS MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.

HOLIDAY, WE SPOKE WITH MARYLAND CONGRESSMAN KWEISI MFUME ABOUT Dr.

KING'S LEGACY.

[♪♪] >> ON APRIL 4, THIRTEEN 68 WHEN AN ASSASSIN'S BULLET ENDED HIS LIFE IT DID NOT END HIS DREAM THAT CONTINUES TO LIVE ON TODAY.

IT'S MORE CHALLENGED TODAY BECAUSE OF WHAT WE SEE COMING OUT OF THE WHITE HOUSE IN TERMS OF DIVISION, DISTRUST AND WHAT THAT HAS MEANT TO AMERICAN PEOPLE IN GENERAL WHO AT THE END OF THE DAY ARE ALL LOOKING FOR A BETTER WAY TO LIVE, A BETTER LIFE FOR THEIR CHILDREN THAN THEY HAD.

OPPORTUNITIES AND THE THINGS THAT ALWAYS HAVE BEEN A PRIORITY OF THIS NATION ARE SHROUDED IN A GREAT DEAL OF UNCERTAINTY AND SOMETIMES IN TEAR.

SO IT'S AN INTERESTING JUXTAPOSITION THAT WE WOULD BE HERE TODAY ON HIS BIRTHDAY.

EXTOLEING HIS VIRTUES AND REMEMBERING THAT WE SO FAR YET TO STILL GO.

IT'S NOT ABOUT HAVING COME A LONG WAY IT'S HAVING STILL A LONG WAY TO GO.

I'M HAPPY FOR THE OPPORTUNITY AND I URGE PEOPLE AGAIN TO RECOGNIZE THIS IS NOT A DAY OFF IT IS A DAY ON.

WE STILL DO PUBLIC SERVICE WE STILL REACH OUT TO PEOPLE WHO NEED TO BE TOUCHED IN OUR COMMUNITIES AND OUR LIVES.

AND IT IS A DAY THAT WE SET ASIDE UNFORTUNATELY, ONCE A YEAR NOW.

INSTEAD OF EVERYDAY TO DO WHAT WE BELIEVE IS RIGHT.

>> Jeff: WELL THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR AMERICA TO DO A LOT OF INTROSPECTION THIS YEAR.

THE MIDDLE OF THE YEAR WILL BE THE NATION'S 250TH BIRTHDAY FROM A CIVIL RIGHTS STANDPOINT, WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE AMERICANS TO FOCUS ON?

>> WELL, THE VALUES ENSHRINED IN THE CONSTITUTION.

IT'S PREAMBLE.

THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE AND THE PRONOUNCEMENTS THAT AMERICA ISSUED 250 YEARS AGO, AS WE PROCLAIM OUR INDEPENDENCE.

THOSE THINGS STILL HAVE VALUE THEY HAVE MEANING, THEY HAVE WORTH, THEY HAVE STILL NOT ALWAYS BEEN ACHIEVED.

BUT WE SHOULD FOCUS ON THAT.

THAT DEFINES WHO WE WERE AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS REVOLUTION.

BUT IT ALSO CHALLENGES US TO LOOK AT WHAT WE ARE NOW.

IT'S GOING TO BE SIGNIFICANT.

250 YEARS IS NOTHING TO SNEEZE AT AND YET WE ARE A JUDGE NATION BY ALL STANDARDS INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS AROUND THE GLOBE.

SO AMERICA IS STILL A WORK IN PROGRESS.

WE ARE AT A CROSSROADS RIGHT NOW.

INTERNATIONALLY WHERE PEOPLE DON'T KNOW IF WE ARE STILL THE AMERICA THAT THEY THOUGHT ABOUT AND GREW UP WITH AND SAW LEAD THE WORLD IN TERMS OF DEMOCRACY.

AND IT IS INCUMBENT UPON US, ALL OF US, PARTICULARLY THOSE IN ELECTED OFFICE AND INDEED, THE PRESIDENT TO UNDER SCORE THOSE VALUES AND WORK TOWARD THEM NOT TEAR THEM DOWN.

>> Jeff: HOW DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE FOUNDING DOCUMENTS, WHICH YOU WERE SPEAKING OF ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL WRITTEN BY PEOPLE WHO WERE SLAVE HOLDERS.

YOU USED TO RUN THE N.A.A.C.P., OF COURSE, HOW SHOULD YOUR CONSTITUENTS THINK ABOUT THOSE PIECES OF PAPER?

>> WELL, THEY SHOULD THINK ABOUT THEM AS LIVING DOCUMENTS NOT DOCUMENTS THAT WERE ONCE ISSUED AT THE BEGINNING OF THE INDEPENDENCE THAT WE CELEBRATE THIS YEAR.

THEY SHOULD SEE THEM AS LIVING DOCUMENTS THEY ARE ALWAYS TO BE IMPROVED ON AND SHOULD NEVER BE SEEN AS STATIC AND THE QUESTION BECOMES HOW DO WE ADD TO THEM AND MAKE THEM STRONGER.

IT IS ALMOST AKIN TO WHAT WAS GOING ON AT THE CONSTITUTION AT CONVENTION IN 1776 IN PHILADELPHIA WHERE THE FOUNDERS IF I CAN USE THAT TERM, GOT TOGETHER AND COULDN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT THEY WANTED TO PRO CLAIM.

AS THEIR INDEPENDENCE.

AND THEY SPENT THREE DAYS IN PHILADELPHIA TRYING TO HAMMER OUT WORDS AND CONCEPTS AND LAWS IN A PATTERN AND SEPARATION OF GOVERNMENT.

AND ALL OF THAT.

AND THE STORY GOES THAT BEN FRANKLIN ON THE THIRD DAY WANDERED OUTSIDE TO GET AIR AND HE WAS WALKING DOWN THE STREET, AND A WOMAN CAME UP TO HIM AND SAID Dr.

FRANKLIN MY GOD WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN DOING WHAT IS THIS ABOUT?

WHAT HAVE YOU COME UP WITH?

HE SAID WE WILL WE HAVE A DEMOCRACY REPUBLIC IF WE CAN KEEP IT.

AND THAT'S ALWAYS BEEN THE CATCHPHRASE IF WE CAN KEEP IT.

WHEN I SAY IT IS A LIVING DOCUMENT AND LIVING CHALLENGE AND LIVING PRINCIPLES THERE'S THREATS TO THE DEMOCRACY AND WE HAVE TO FIND A WAY TO KEEP IT.

>> Jeff: THE ROAD HAS BEEN BUMPY OF LATE.

YOU'VE SIGNED ON TO IMPEACH THE HOMELAND SECURITY SECRETARY, TELL BUS THAT?

>> WELL, I HAVE REAL SERIOUS PROBLEMS WITH THE WAY I.C.E.

ENFORCEMENT HAS OPERATED IN OUR COUNTRY.

THIS ALL STARTED A YEAR AGO WITH DONALD TRUMP SAYING HE WANTED TO GET ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS OUT OF THE COUNTRY.

INSTEAD IT'S GROWN TO WE WANT TO GET MANY OTHER IMMIGRANTS OUT OF THE COUNTRY WHETHER YOU ARE LEGAL OR NOT.

AND SOME INSTANCES WE WILL VIOLATE THEIR RIGHTS AND THE RIGHTS OF AMERICAN CITIZENS.

SO WHAT WE'VE SEEN IN MANY OF OUR CITIES WITH THE ESCALATION AND THIS THREAT TO USE THE INSURRECTION ACT, IS AN ATTEMPT BY THE PRESIDENT TO GIVE CARTE BLANCHE TO I.C.E.

ENFORCEMENT.

THEY HAVE NOT BEEN PROPERLY TRAINED THEY ARE NOT BEING OVERSEEM THEY DON'T GET REAL DIRECTIONS ONLY LOCK UP ANYBODY WE TELL YOU TO LOCK UP AND IT IS A VIOLATION OF AMERICAN CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS.

TAKE IMMIGRANTS OUT OF THIS.

THESE COMMUNITIES WHERE AMERICAN CITIZENS ARE LIVING, ARE BEING HARASSED BY I.C.E.

OFFICIALS.

SO IN THE CASE OF THE INCIDENT IN MINNEAPOLIS, WE'VE SEEN WITH OUR OWN EYES THE WHOLE NATION MANY TIMES HOW SOMETHING ESCALATES AND IN THIS CASE MS.

GOOD AND HER UNFORTUNATE DEATH CAME ABOUT BECAUSE THERE WAS NOT AN EFFORT TO DEESCALATE AT ALL.

MOST POLICE OFFICERS SAID THE POLICE OFFICERS HAVE TRAINING WHEN A SITUATION GOES IN ONE DIRECTION YOU TRY TO DEESCALATE.

YOU DON'T THROW FUEL ON THE FIRE THAT IS WHAT THE I.C.E.

OFFICERS.

THAT'S WHAT IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THEY DID.

AND THEY DO IT BECAUSE KRISTI NOEM AS AGENT OF THAT DEPARTMENT AS I SAID GIVES CARTE BLANCHE.

HER STATEMENT IMMEDIATELY AFTER THAT SAYING THEY WILL GET IMMEDIATE AND UNCONDITIONAL IMMUNITY IS LAUGHABLE AND FOR THE VICE-PRESIDENT TO SAY THAT AND THE PRESIDENT?

I BELIEVE THAT SHE NEEDS TO BE IMPEACHED WHICH IS AN INDICTMENT, BY THE WAY.

THAT WOULD GO OVER TO THE SENATE AND THERE WOULD BE A TRIAL.

NOW, I AM A REALISTIC I KNOW REPUBLICANS CONTROL THE HOUSE IN TERMS OF THE NUMBERS AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE PRESIDENT IS GOING TO SUPPORT REPUBLICANS AND THEY ARE GOING TO SUPPORT HIM.

BUT WE HAVE TO SUPPORT WHAT'S RIGHT.

AND WHAT IS RIGHT IN THIS CASE IS NOT TO HAVE AMERICANS AND THEIR COMMUNITIES HARASSED UNDER THE GUISE OF GOING AFTER ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS.

>> Jeff: MARYLAND'S SEVEN DISTRICT CONGRESSMAN, KWEISI MFUME WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> THANK YOU, JEFF, GOD BLESS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR.

[♪♪] >> JOINING ME IS GREG PEEL A FORMER INTELLIGENCE OFFICER WHO PIVOTED INTO A DIFFERENT LINE OF WORK, A LINE THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW EXISTS.

AND HE WROTE A BOOK ABOUT IT.

IT'S CALLED "THE PIVOT POINT: BREAKING INTO MEDICAL DEVICE SALES".

I HAD A CHANCE TO READ IT.

REALLY FASCINATING BOOK.

WELCOME, GREG.

BEFORE WE TALK ABOUT THE BOOK, TELL US ABOUT YOUR OWN PIVOT THIS 180 YOU DID IN YOUR OWN LIFE?

>> WHEN I WAS 1993 I WAS IN THE MILITARY I WAS 10 YEARS IN AND TRYING TO MAKE THAT MOVE WHERE YOU STAY IN OR YOU GET OUT.

I GOT A PHONE CAL FROM A RECRUITER TELLING ME I COULD BE INTERVIEWED FOR THE COMPANY JOHNSON & JOHNSON.

I -- I ONLY KNEW IS BABY POWDER AND TYLENOL AND I SAID I DON'T WANT TO SELL THAT NO IT IS A COMPANY THAT SELLS A SUTURE WHAT IS A SUTURE?

LO AND BEHOLD I WENT ON THE INTERVIEW AND IT TRANSFORMED MY LIFE FOREVER.

I GOT A SEGUE INTO MEDICAL DEVICE SALES.

>> IN THE BOOK YOU SAY THAT THE SALES REMAINS AMONG AMERICA'S REWARDING YET LEAST UNDERSTOOD CAREER PATHS.

>> MEDICAL DEVICE SALES, PHARMACEUTICAL SALES BIOTECH SALES THEY ARE B TO B SALES IF YOU ARE IN THE HOSPITAL OR THAT ARENA YOU KNOW ABOUT THESE INDUSTRIES.

EARLIER WHEN I SAID JOHNSON & JOHNSON SELLING BABY POWDER TODAY THEY HAVE 250 SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES UNDER ITS UMBRELLA YOU JUST DON'T KNOW IT EXISTS UNLESS YOU ARE IN THE FIELD.

THAT IS WHY IT STAYS UNDER THE UMBRELLA OR INVISIBLE TO THE AVERAGE PERSON.

>> THE BOOK FEATURES 16 PIONEERING AFRICAN-AMERICANS AND THEY REALLY ARE PIONEERING THEY BROKE NEW GROUND IN AN INDUSTRY THAT REALLY IS UNDERREPRESENTED WHEN IT COMES TO MINORITIES AND AFRICAN-AMERICANS.

IS THAT RIGHT?

>> IT IS.

IT IS.

WHEN I STARTED BACK IN THE 90s, WE REPRESENTED AFRICAN-AMERICANS, OR LESS THAN 1% OF THE TOTAL SALES FORCE.

TODAY, 30 YEARS RATER WE ARE PROBABLY AT 3.8%.

IT'S NOT JUST AFRICAN-AMERICANS IT'S ALL MINORITIES.

BUT WHAT I WILL TELL YOU IS THAT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE CURRENTLY IN THIS BUSINESS, THEY KNEW ABOUT IT THROUGH FRIENDS OR FAMILY MEMBERS NEPOTISM WHICH I SHARE AND TALK ABOUT IN THE BOOK.

BUT THE MAJOR ISSUE DEALING IN THIS SPACE IS LACK OF AWARENESS.

ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS WHY I WROTE THE BOOK.

>> AS FAR AS WHO YOU ARE TAR GETTING THIS IS REALLY FOR ANYONE WHO THEY DON'T HAVE TO HAVE A BACKGROUND IN SALES JUST LIKE YOU, YOU WERE IN THE MILITARY.

TELL ME ABOUT WHO YOU'RE HOPING TO REACH WITH THE BOOK?

>> MAKE IT VERY, VERY CLEAR.

I FEATURED THE 16 PIONEERS THAT WERE AFRICAN-AMERICAN THEY WERE INSTRUMENTAL IN HELPING ME GROW OVER MY 30-YEAR CAREER.

THE BOOK IS AGNOSTIC IT'S FOR ANYBODY.

OUR MILITARY FOLKS VETERANS AND OUR JUNIOR MILITARY OFFICERS THREE OF US WERE JMO'S THAT TRANSITIONED OR PIVOTED OUT OF THE MILITARY INTO THIS CAREER.

YOU HAVE MID-CAREER PEOPLE.

TONS OF PEOPLE WHO STARTED A CAREER NOT HAPPY WITH IT WANTED TO TRY SOMETHING DIFFERENT AND WHAT IS NICE ABOUT MEDICAL THE MEDICAL SPACE IS YOU CAN GET A JOB IN ONE OF THE DISCIPLINES THAT YOU GETTING YOUR DEGREE IN.

WE'RE TALKING HR, SUPPLY CHAIN, MARKETING, ET CETERA NOT JUST SALES AND THE BOOK DOES A GOOD JOB OF CAPTURING THAT.

STUDENTS WHO WERE TRANSITIONING FROM SCHOOL NANCY IT'S A FUNNY STORY I GOT A CALL FROM A LADY IN HER SENIOR YEAR SHE HEARD ABOUT THE BOOK AND HAS BEEN DYING TO GET INTO THE SPACE I COACHED HER AND YOU COULD ALMOST HEAR HER FEEL THAT REMOTION SAYING THANK YOU.

AND THE LAST GROUP ARE ATHLETES.

IN THE BOOK, I THINK HALF OF US WERE ATHLETES WE THOUGHT WE WOULD BE GOING ON THE GRIDIRON OR PLAYING BASEBALL AND WE HAD TO MAKE A PIVOT.

THOSE ARE THE GROUPS I CAPTURE AND SHARE THEIR STORIES AND PIVOTS.

>> ALL OF THE PEOPLE YOU PROFILED ARE SO DIFFERENT AND CAME FROM DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS THEY DID SHARE COMMON TRAITS ONE WAS ALL OF THEM FOR THEM THE BAR WAS EXCELLENCE.

EVERYONE VALUES EXCELLENT THEY DON'T WANT A SEAT AT THE TABLE, THEY WANT TO KNOW THEIR STUFF, STUDY THEIR CRAFT AND PROVIDE VALUE.

BUT THEY ALSO UNDERSTOOD THE POWER OF DEVELOPING RELATIONSHIPS WITH PEOPLE AND BRINGING UP OTHERS, RIGHT?

>> 100%.

KEVIN JACKSON, WHO IS A FOOTBALL PLAYER HE WENT TO THE UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND HE SAYS IT BETTER THAN ANYBODY.

HE SPENT 30 YEARS AT BAR.

AND YOU HAVE TO BE LEGIT.

THINK ABOUT THIS.

WE ARE SITTING IN SURGERY WITH DOCTORS, RESIDENTS AND NURSES AND WE ARE HELPING DETERMINE HOPEFULLY IMPROVING THE OUTCOME OF THAT PATIENT ON THE TABLE.

WE ARE AFFECTING PATIENT'S LIVES.

YOU HAVE TO TALK THE TALK AND WALK THE WALK.

THIS IS NO JOKE.

IT'S SERIOUS AND COMPETITIVE AND REAL WORLD.

>> I LOVE THAT STORY ABOUT THE GENTLEMAN WHO WAS SELLING TOBACCO AT ONE POINT AND I PIVOTED TO SAVING LIVES?

>> THAT IS ED McCREE.

HE WAS WITH RJ SELLING CIGARETTES HE SPENT 34 YEARS WITH JOHNSON & JOHNSON HE WAS MY MENTOR WHEN I STARTED OUT.

AND HE USED TO BE KILLING THEM AND NOW HE IS HEALING THEM.

THAT IS THE PHRASE HE WOULD SAY AND I HIGHLIGHTED IN THE BOOK.

>> AND ANOTHER THING YOU SAID A LOT OF THEM UNDERSTOOD THE ART OF STRATEGIC RECOVERY.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THAT?

>> IN THIS BUSINESS, IT'S SALES.

NO IS OFTEN PROBABLY THE MAJORITY OF THE WORD YOU ARE GOING TO HEAR.

AND YOU HAVE TO HAVE THICK SKIN AND YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO ADAPT AND ADJUST.

SO UNDERSTAND THAT NO MAY MEAN YES LATER.

AND YOU ARE GOING TO HEAR 16 PHENOMENAL PEOPLE TALK ABOUT HOW THEY OVERCAME THOSE OBJECTIONS THOSE CHALLENGES AND THEY HAD PHENOMENAL CAREERS.

>> WHERE CAN WE FIND THE BOOK?

HIM.

I WANT TO THANK YOU THIS BOOK IS MY CONTRIBUTION, MY WAY OF GIVING BACK.

I KNOW THERE'S PHILANTHROPISTS BIKE MCKENZIE SCOTT THAT HAS GIVEN MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO UNIVERSITIES I DON'T HAVE THAT TYPE OF MONEY BUT I HAVE INTELLECTUAL CAPITAL AND VALUE AND STORIES THAT WE HAVE SHARED.

I'M HOPING THAT THEY CAN HELP TRANS FOR A PERSON'S LIFE -- TRANSFORM A PERSON'S LIFE AND CAREER AND GENERATIONAL.

THIS IS OUR WAY ALL OF US OF GIVING BACK.

WHERE CAN YOU FIND THE BOOK?

ON AMAZON, THE "THE PIVOT POINT: BREAKING INTO MEDICAL DEVICE SALES".

OR YOU CAN GO TO OUR WEBSITE, IT'S WWW.THE PIVOTPOINT.VIP.

>> Jeff: AND THAT IS "DIRECT CONNECTION" FOR THIS WEEK.

WE'RE BACK FRIDAY WITH "STATE CIRCLE" AND THE LATEST ON MARYLAND POLITICS JOIN US FRIDAY EVENING AT 7:00 P.M.

YOU CAN SEE PAST EDITIONS OF OUR PROGRAMS ON-LINE AT VIDEO.MPT.TV.

AND ON THE FREE PBS APP.

FOR ALL OF US AT MPT THANKS FOR WATCHING AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

[♪♪]