Thinking big can not only lead to individual success, it can transform the world.

That was the message leading American neurosurgeon Dr. Ben Carson delivered to some 800 people who packed the Seventh-Day Adventists Youth Centre Hall on Saturday night.

Clearly eager to hear the renowned physician, author, and motivational speaker who overcame dire poverty, a pathological temper, poor self-esteem and poor grades to lead the first medical team that successfully separated Siamese twins joined by a major blood vessel at the back of their heads, people of all ages streamed into the crowded hall on King Street.

There, the visiting doctor, used anecdotes, medical data, and surveys to show that people were as successful as they allowed themselves to be.

He recalled sitting in hospitals, as a child whose single-parented family was on medical assistance, and thinking how impressive it was when doctors were paged through the public announcement system.

"I daydreamed about them calling my name,'' he said. "But now of course they have beepers, so I still don't hear my name.'' Dr. Carson explained his point was that people must first have a sense of direction, a goal.

People must also realise that every human being, unlike other creatures, has the ability to plan and strategise through the use of the frontal lobes of the brain, he said.

"But some people don't use them,'' he added. "They just want to react, complain and be victims.

"If you think you are a victim, you're a victim. And when you start making excuses you're not going anywhere because when you start to make excuses you wallow in self pity.'' Dr. Carson said the best thing his mother, Mrs. Sonya Carson, did for him and his brother, Curtis, was never to accept any excuses from them.

She was also the driving force behind him when his grades slipped rapidly in the fifth grade.

Dr. Carson told of how his mother limited television watching and required that he and his brother read at least two books a week and submit a report on them, even though -- unbeknownst to them -- she could not read.

Through the regular reading of books, Dr. Carson said he became fascinated with animals, then with rocks.

This, he said, led him to read everything about rocks.

And one day in a science class, he recalled, the teacher asked if anyone knew anything about a specific type of rock.

Dr. Carson, who was used to having his name substituted for "dummy'' in jokes, said he waited for the smart students to answer. But they did not.

He then waited for those who were considered the dummies to answer. And they did not.

Dr. Carson said he finally raised his hand and gave the answer, leaving the other students in awe.

This felt good, he recalled, and he wondered what it would feel like to be knowledgeable about other subjects.

From that day on, he said: "I read everything I could get my hands on and within the space of one and a half years I went from the bottom to the top of the class.

"I had a revelation in terms of my self-concept,'' Dr. Carson added. "I began to believe that I was smart. I began to use all that intellect that God gave me and that he gives other people.'' Today, Dr. Carson -- at 42 -- is the director of paediatric neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital, a position he has held since 1984. And he is an associate professor at the Hopkins School of Medicine.

His brother designs aircraft landing systems. And his mother -- who taught herself to read -- finished high school, and last year received an honorary doctorate degree.

Dr. Carson said after realising their intellectual potential, people must analyse their strengths and weaknesses and concentrate on their strengths.

"Self-analysis is essential in being successful,'' he said. "some people spend more time planning a birthday party than they do planning their lives.

"They take the path of least resistance.'' Describing the obstacles he faced to become the chief of paediatric neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins at age 33, Dr. Carson spelled out with an acrostic his philosophy of living -- think big -- which is also the title of his latest book.

The `T', he explained, was for the talent that God gave to everyone.

The `H' is for hope for good things and for honesty, he said.

"If you lead a clean and honest life, you don't have to worry about skeletons in your closet and you don't have to keep track of the lies you have told.

The `I', Dr. Carson said, was for insight which "comes from listening to people who have already gone where you're trying to go''.

The `N' is for nice, he said.

"Be nice to all people because once they get over their suspicion of why you are being nice, they will be nice to you.

The `K', Dr. Carson said, stood for knowledge, "the thing that makes us into a valuable person''.

The `B', he explained, was for book "which is the mechanism for obtaining that knowledge''.

The `I', he said, was for in-depth learning as opposed to superficial learning.

And the `G', Dr. Carson said, was for God.

"This is the most important,'' he added. "There is nothing wrong with having a relationship with God. There's nothing wrong with Godly principles, values, standing for something.'' Following the above formula "would be the mark of a great civilisation'', Dr.

Carson said.

"Then people will be able to put aside petty differences, like race or jobs, and recognise the inherent value of each other.'' "Think big,'' he urged those in attendance, "and success will follow.''