Another Birthday Come and Gone

Ahhhh yes another year has come and gone in the book of me. Yesterday I celebrated 29 years on this big ball of mud and I must say I had a chill day. Aside from having to go to work my day was filled with happy birthday wishes from family and friends. I was called/emailed/txted/facebooked/etc. and I thank everyone for their well wishes and for remembering me on my born on date.

I went to dinner with the homies Chuck and Calvin. We had a couple of drinks, plenty of laughter, and some flirting with our nice waitress. You know I am not much of a celebatory person when it comes to my birthday so yesterdays events suited me just fine. I am headed to Charlotte this weekend to learn some things about business and to hang out with some more true friends. I have never been to Charlotte so I am really looking forward to the trip. Next year is the big 30….WOW!!! I may have to do that one big. I’m looking forward to it and I am looking forward to another year of health, growth and prosperity.

Momma Knows Best

So I was thinking the other day “what was the most influential thing that my mother has ever taught me?” Now sure we all received the lessons from our mother about being polite, always saying please and thank you, think before you speak, and the hundreds if not thousands of other cliche type lessons that our mothers have told us over the years. I want to touch on that one thing that I have learned from my mother that resonates with me to this day. So as I sat and gave it a little thought the one thing that came to mind is more so how my mom has carried herself than something she has told me.

My mother has alway had a “no matter what others do; you do what you know you are supposed to” mentality. Now let me explain, in our society we are generally taught along the way by what we observe or what others tell you that if someone does something wrong to you then it is your right and almost your duty to retaliate. I think that in my years on this earth my mother has definitely lived the opposite of that. If someone wrongs you what difference does that make with what YOU do? If you know what the right thing to do is I think that you are best served in the long run to act on that right thought. I think that there are so many friendships and relationships that have become fractured or have even ended based on people thinking that it is ok to wrong someone that has wronged you. As Gandhi once said “An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind.”

So let’s observe the masses and do the opposite. If you feel as though a person has wronged you instead of trying to get them back make an attempt to let them know that you did not appreciate what they did and you may even find out that they did not mean to wrong you and it was just a case of mis-communication.

Man It’s Great to Be Blessed

So I recieved an email from a dear friend this morning that asked me if I had any plans for my birthday coming up. While I don’t have any plans I did tell him that I have been doing a lot of reflection lately. He then asked me if I had come up with any self discovery. In a shortoned and to the point form here is my response as I approach 29 years on this earth.

I am blessed to have the family and friends that I have. They are truly supportive and I thank God for them.

My tv has been unplugged for 3 weeks now and I have been reading a lot more. I just finished “Pursuit of Happiness” – Chris Gardner and “Why I Love Black Women” – Michael E. Dyson and am eager to continue on with my reading pace.

My business is growing and I am excited about that. The future is bright and as long as I am willing to plant the seeds and put in the work success is sure to come.

Overall I am excited about the direction in which my life is going. I hope you are too.

Be Blessed!

Wow How Time Flies

So here I am 6 days away from my 29th birtday and as I do a lot around this time of year I am reflecting. I am reflecting on where I thought I would be by this time as opposed to where I am. If you asked me as a young undergraduate in my junior year of college where I would be by the time I was 29 I would have surely told you that I would be married with at least a baby on the way. Funny how God has a plan that can be totally different from our own yet things tend to work out for the best. I always find it interesting how I always related being an adult to being married with some children. Like when you are only responsible for yourself it is kind of hard to feel like an adult. Maybe thats just me though. I have no idea what He has planned for me but I eagerly await the future chapters of my life.

One thing that I can say is that over the past year I have experienced a lot of personal growth. If you asked me last year as I awaited my 28th birthday if I was happy I would have most certainly responded with a resounding “NO!” but this year I can truly say that I have joy. I have joy in all that I have been blessed with up to this date, I have joy for the family, friends, and collegues I have been blessed to have in my life, I have joy in that I am a healthy soon to be 29 year old who is building a dream and I am so excited about the road ahead of me. Ahhhhh it is so refreshing to be at this place in my life. I am sure as my born on date comes closer that I will be doing more reflecting and go into some more detainl possibly about what is to come.

Have you found your joy?

Wow!!! I Must Say

So in light of yesterdays election I thought it was time to blow the dust off this blog and type something again. I must say that I am pleasantly surprised at the outcome of the election, but at the same time I want to take an objective view at what has happened. A black man is president. WOW as a 28 year old young black male in this country I can truly say that I did not think something like this was going to happen in my lifetime. I am truly blessed to be alive at this moment in history and I eagerly await the future. I can not wait to talk to my granparents and get their views on this historical accomplishment. Obama took three simple words “Yes We Can” and inspired hope and the desire for a different way of doing things in millions of people from black people to asians and from whites to latinos. There will eventually come a time when I can tell my children about the day I was truly inspired by the majority of Americans who decided enough was enough and that it was time for a change.

Now that I have clearly stated how excited I am for the United States to usher in a new form of leadership I must also urge everyone to look at this all as objectively as possible. Obama has 4 years to bolster an economy that is in peril, make some kind of sense and attempt to bring an end to two wars, and work to end the bi-partisan petty bickering that has engulfed D.C. politics for years. Hear me as I say this one time HE IS HUMAN!!!! I have no doubt that he is going to spark a change and force a new way of looking at things as we proceed forward. It is my prayer that God leads him and guides him to move this country in the right direction. I just hope that we as citizens do not crucify him if he falls a little short; or if the affects from the changes that he implements are not seen for several years. At the end of the day his being elected president is a breath of fresh air and I truly excited about what is next.

Dare To Be Great

So I was here when I came across this article. The article basically talks about how it is not some magical talent one is born with that makes certain people great at what they do. Rather it is contstant practice and a rigourous work ethic. In the article they mention people like Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, and Warren Buffet; They talk about how these individuals as well as others became great at their chosen fields of profession.

The article made me wonder. Am I really working to reach my full potential and more importandly am I working to become great. Well in my case the answer is NO mainly because I am no where near where I want to be professionally. I am on the right path but there are a few key moves that I have to make in the immediate future before I get to where I want to be professionally. Now I believe that you have to really have an appreciation for what it is you are doing in order to have the kind of rigorous work ethic that can lead to greatness. For example I love to analyze processes and find out how they can be better and more efficient in order to create a win/win situation for all parties involved. You know the idea of SYNERGY. I know that until I am in a positon where I can do this I don’t think I can be really be happy with my professional situation.

How many people know what they love to do? More importantly how many people know what they love to do and actually persue it? I know I am persuing what I love to do what about you?

True Friendships Never Die

When I woke up on Tuesday I had a voicemail. I checked the message and was surprised that it was one of my homeboys that I have not spoken to in quite some time. About two and half years to be exact. Although I did not have time to call him back that day I did call him back yesterday.

We reminisced about the good days when we were back in school and all the things that we got into. It was as if we just picked right back up where we left off. Now I know this is a bit of a cliche but true friendships last forever. True you may not speak to your friend as much or see them as often but they run across your mind from time to time and no matter how much they may have pissed you off in the past you still ginuinely care about them and wish them well.

So to all of my friends who I may not see or speak to on a regular basis any longer please know that I really do appreciate your friendship.

New Year Endless Possibilities

You know what? I always love the new year because with it comes a certain kind of refreshment. Knowing that you have 12 months in front of you to do what you wish with and make something happen. It’s sort of like an empty canvas for a painter or a flashing cusor on a computer for an author. The story is untold and waiting for you to act out your part. Sure you can say that each day is like this but it’s just not the same.

Last January started out rather tragic for me. I lost one of my line brothers (frat brothers) within the first week and a half of the year and then about a week after that my cousin passed away and then shortly after that as in a couple of days later another one of my line brothers lost his real life younger brother. So as you can probably guess I was pretty down in the first several months of 2006.

But with a new year comes new hope and new aspirations. I have never been one to make new years resolutions to me that is just a waste of time. Instead I try to see what it is that I can do to make my overall situation better. More like life changes (i.e. read more, eat healthier, watch less television) you know things that can make me a better person overall taking more than a year but rather a lifetime commitment. So this year I will be taking the GRE so that I can hopefully be in Graduate School to obtain my Masters Degree starting in the Fall of 2008. To study for this test and score well is my main goal for the new year. That and getting accepted to the programs that I will be applying to.

Do you have any rituals that you do every new year?

So I Graduated……..Now What?

So this past Saturday I went to my line brother’s graduation. Now normally this would not be all that significant since all people who attend college should indeed make it a point to finish what they started. This day was a very grand occassion worthy of celebration. You ask why…well let me tell you why. My freshman year started in the fall of 1998. I crossed my fraternity in 2002 and graduated in May of 2003. Well this past Saturday one of my youngest line brothers who crossed in 2002 with me graduated. So he has been in school for about 6 years. Granted he was an engineering major but damn that is a long time to be in school. So needless to say we were all happy for him.

Now this event made me reminisce a little on that day back in May of 2003 as I sat and ignored the commencement speaker just waiting to walk across that stage and get a piece of paper stating that I had successfully completed all of the requirements for a Bachelors of Business Admin. degree. I had no job, I had no money, I had no plan, but I did have a student loan to pay off and I did have ambition. Which is like having heart but no athletic talent whatsoever.

Now we supposedly live in an advancing society in these United State of America. Computers have gone from taking up entire rooms all the way to sitting on your desk, cars can now be run on electricity as well as gas, the little thing calle the internet allows us to be connected at a moments notice to people all over the globe, etc. But why in the world have we not advanced in the area of education. True we have learned more in certain fields but what does school actually prepare you for? Throughout elementary, middle and high school I learned about science, math, english, some form of history and I do acknowledge the fact that all of these things form a foundation that all of us need, but what prepares you for the real world. Why are there not classes that teach smart money management, investing, how to write a resume, home buying, etc. Now I am sure that some schools out there somewhere may have courses that teach this sort of thing but why is it not a staple in public education? You go thorughout your educational career without knowing how to survive. Next thing you know, if you are lucky, you have a college degree but no survival skills. While in college I had to take 2 semesters of English, 2 semesters of History and two semesters of an “Elective” (i.e. art appreciation, music appreciation, etc.) but not one class on how to survive once you graduate was given. Why not make an investment course part of the core curriculum or money management or have a class that allows you to work in different companies or at the same company in different positions to get a feel for what you will be doing upon graduation? Maybe even a course that teaches you how to find a job and helps you to make a job a reality after graduation.

History, I love history by the way, is one of the mandatory core courses that most people could do without. Hell I venture to say that you have had your fill of history by the time you get to the 13th grade. Some of these mandatory core classes at these colleges and universities can and should be replaced. Because who wants to graduate from any institution of higher learning owing thousands of dollars only to graduate having to say NOW WHAT?