Gain Momentum for 2010 Today

Most people set new year resolutions at the beginning of each year but fail to follow through with them. Why is this? Most of the time it is because we don't see quick results and we lose interest. It's as if something magical is supposed to happen just because we make the resolution. The truth is, these new goals that we set require hard and continuous work and we may not even see the fruit of our efforts in the year we have set the goal. If you want to be a better business person, athlete, husband, wife, and overall person, you must sacrifice the time, energy, finances, brain power, and self to do so. Your labor will be rewarded, but maybe not in the time you would like it to be. Be diligent and lock onto your future rather than your bleak today. And don't wait until the clock strikes 12 and the ball drops for 2010 either. Start today. Map out your plan for how you are going to achieve greatness in the areas you are seeking it in. Include trusted friends and family in your plans so they can hold you accountable and encourage you. I personally am looking forward to becoming stronger and wiser; spiritually, physically, relationally, financially, and mentally and I started on this journey about a week ago. I encourage you my friends, get busy living today!!!

Adapt to Change Quicker to Become More Powerful

There is no way around it, change is inevitable. Rather than try to resist this insurmountable force, the wise learn to embrace it and use it to their advantage. People that get locked into routine and who are unwilling to change are close to the graveyard, while those that adapt to their surroundings and circumstances end up flourishing. Nothing was ever meant to remain the same, except the Almighty, and those who understand this run circles around those who don't. If you become dogmatic in your outlook on life, you won't be able to survive the bad changes that come your way, nor benefit from the good ones. If you let it, change helps you become more agile, wiser, quicker, and stronger. Treat life as a judo master does his opponent, use its own momentum against it rather than exerting your own force against it. As you prepare to embrace change, be sure to keep your values and priorities in front of you (life may change, but these don't have to and if they do, perhaps you weren't that committed in the first place). Know where you want to go and have a plan for how you will get there, but be flexible enough to adjust your plan if a change occurs (it most certainly will). Don't fall in love with the plan, fall in love with the destination, and even still, allow room for a mental shift of thinking if the destination presents itself as unattainable given your current circumstances (then make plans to help create better circumstances that will help you reach that destination another way).

Humility Before Honor

Yes, you are gifted, talented, and brilliant! Yet for the greatness inside of you to shine at its fullest potential, you have to go through the process of humility. What separates the talented from the great is character. You earn character by working hard, experiencing hardships while maintaining proper perspective, and being willing to follow (even when you don't like the leadership). The process of humility is not supposed to feel good (just as lifting more weights at the gym does not), but you will find that those that allow themselves to go through it have a much more balanced and healthy perspective(along with more mental fortitude). People tend to develop big heads naturally when they garner success (no way around this), yet the big head can be tempered by humility. Humility will help you make correct choices and prove a valuable asset when you reach greater heights. Humility gives you boundaries that keep you safe and it helps you to remain on those heights without falling. Honor will come (just continue to work hard), but for it to last, it must be coupled with humility.

Use Doubters To Your Advantage

People that doubt your abilities can cause you to do one of two things, either make you quit or push yourself to success. Chances are that you prefer the latter to occur. Doubters help you to create positive momentum if you channel your energy the proper way. I am not suggesting that your sole purpose becomes proving your doubters wrong, but rather using them to help you focus even more on what you are already pursuing. No other human being should have the power to control your destiny, but you can utilize their energy to propel you to it. Proving doubters wrong should never be your main objective, only the cherry on top of the cake at best. Your main objective is to realize all of your potential before you leave this earth, doubters are stepping stones that help you climb to that realization. Doubters keep you on your toes, keep you humble, and help you to continue to work hard. I personally love them because they present me with a challenge to conquer. If I prove to others that I am able to accomplish something, that further solidifies that knowledge that I already believed about myself beforehand, which makes me even more confident to pursue my goals. Don't become vengeful when using doubters to your advantage, think of the process as a game and have fun with it so you maintain a healthy perspective.

Plan For The Best, Prepare For The Worst

Life is a complex phenomena. Even the best strategist cannot see every variation that it will present. The successful are those who put a plan in place to get to their final destination as well as calculate how to get there, watch for possible detours and obstructions, and develop exit plans. People who just let life happen to them will never be successful in their endeavors. They will wake up one morning and their reality will hit them like a ton of bricks. They have created a mountain of negative momentum that will be very hard to get past (though it is possible). Make up your mind today to set specific goals on who you want to become in the future and be honest about what it will take to accomplish that. Cushion the blow of devastating setbacks by preparing in advance for them. Those who have a plan for their life and know where they are heading have more power over life than those who do not have such a plan and no direction.

50 Cent Vs. Jay-Z (Who would Win)

This particular blog post is inspired by the brewing feud between Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson and Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter. These two men are not only heavyweights in music, but in the business world period. Both have graced the covers and been mentioned in influential business publications such as Forbes, Fortune, and Black Enterprise. The possibility of a "battle" between these two moguls is an interesting and relevant discussion for the business world to have due to, in my opinion, that these men represent a battle between private and public companies.
In one corner of the ring, there is Shawn Carter, with an estimated 900 million dollar net worth, according to him, he runs and owns 16 different companies including holdings in the New Jersey Nets, a night club, hotels, and a world renowned clothing line. In addition he is considered one of the best, if not the best emcee, perhaps musician of our time. In my opinion he represents the public conglomerate companies. I get the feeling that he is a figure head for a massive movement that has been around longer than he has. There are perhaps people way more powerful than him behind the scenes that have a superbly large vested interest in Shawn's success and that is partially the reason why Jay has enjoyed as much success as he has. There you have it, the investor owned brand Jay-Z.
On the other side of the ring, you have 50 Cent, the bionic business machine with an estimated 400 million dollar net worth. Curtis Jackson has diversified his brand into clothing, film, beverages, books, and a social networking site that rivals myspace and facebook. 50 Cent has thrived off a career of warfare from the block to the boardroom and his presence is felt in all of music. He is self made, plays by his own rules, and is accountable pretty much only to himself (maybe Jimmy Lovine too). With that said, he is the representation of the private company with as much power as the public companies. Part of the reason he is just as powerful as the public players is that he has a severe competitive advantage. His business acumen and strategic mind is unparalleled, plus you get the impression that this guy does not sleep.
There you have it, the two biggest giants in the hip hop business world. Who do you think will win if the guns come out the holsters? 50 Cent himself said that if battle were to occur between these two, one of them probably one not survive it. Whether he is talking about it being career ending or life ending, I'm not sure. I think he meant both because the stakes would be so high if these two titans clashed. Let me know your thoughts.

Positioning Yourself for Greatness

Our lives are designed for a specific moment in time where all of the training we have undergone will be called upon to be used. This is the time where we are at our finest and our greatness is revealed. But we must live a life of preparation in order not to miss this most important time in our lives. You never know exactly when this time will arrive, though there are events that occur beforehand that show signs that we are near it. If you fail to prepare in advance, you will not be able to meet the demand that your training would have equipped to handle. Everyday that you wake up is an opportunity to become the person that future circumstances require you to be. You must develop the self discipline to prepare for that future event that will define your life long after you leave this earth. The books you read, the experiences you encounter, the relationships you develop, the failures and triumphs you experience, and choices you make all tie together and determine whether or not you will succeed once your defining moment comes upon you. Therefore it is wise to have a mind to position yourself in advance so that when destiny reveals itself, you will already be in place to fulfill it.

Sharp Skills Press Release 11/08/2009

November 8th 2009

Los Angeles, CA

For Immediate Release: Sharp Skills Unveils New Website and Workshops

Hip hop artist and entrepreneur, Sharp Skills along with his business partner and wife Menzelle Jacobs proudly announce the unveiling of the new R.E.B.E.L. Firm Music Division website. The website will serve as the hub for Sharp Skills’ R.E.B.E.L. movement and will be comprised of blogs, twitter updates, music, concert dates, videos, and his newest venture, the R.E.B.E.L. Firm Workshops. The R.E.B.E.L. Firm Workshops currently consist of SASA (Superstars and Starving Artists) and The E.R. (The Entrepreneurial R.E.B.E.L.).
SASA is a workshop geared to the up and coming talent in the music industry on both the artistic and business side. Sharp teaches this workshop to equip budding music industry professionals how not only to survive in the music industry, but thrive in it. The E.R. workshop is designed for aspiring entrepreneurs who desire to one day become influential business leaders on a global scale. All of the information regarding these workshops can be found on the new R.E.B.E.L. Firm Music Division website.
Sharp Skills is seeking to network and partner with several professionals in a wide variety of fields in order to accomplish his ever expanding vision. Sharp, along with Menzelle are also building the brand for their new clothing venture “Choisi Company”, which is already receiving rave reviews on the internet. The address for the R.E.B.E.L. Firm Music Division website is rebelfirm.com. Choisi Company is found at choisi-company.com.

Your Behavior Determines Your Status

In this game called life we all have the choice to decide whether or not we will operate at king or queen status. When I mention king or queen status, I'm not referring only to money or possessions. I'm talking about attitude, behavior, and actions. There are many people who are not kings or queens, yet have a lot of wealth. Kings and queens operate in integrity, focus, purpose, and vision. The conversations you have and the company you keep also have a large bearing on your royalty status. Kings and queens recognize that they are above pettiness, gossip, small thinking, and mediocrity. Again I reiterate, we all have the choice to become regal, but the choice we make will determine whether or not we actually realize the royalty within.

If You Think Like Everyone Else Then...

You are more than likely not on the path of greatness if you find yourself thinking like the crowd most of the time. Greatness is a lonely path that few choose to follow and is reserved only for those with realized purpose on their lives. Everyone has access to this path, yet our own choices, decisions, and those things that we allow to influence us cause many people to choose the common road, mediocrity. People who are remembered after they die are those who were willing to take risks and make sacrifices that the majority were unwilling to. No one, absolutely no one is remembered for mediocrity. The graveyard is littered with vessels that never lived out their purpose due to fear from standing out from the crowd. Those in the land of the living end up as the walking dead because they allow fear to kill them slowly. The soul who does not fulfill its purpose is dead. To walk the path of greatness requires that you be strong minded, tenacious, courageous,and be able to walk alone. The spoils of walking in greatness are much greater that the spoils of walking in mediocrity, but it comes with a sacrifice, which is walking with a small few or alone.

How to turn Yourself into a Weapon

Becoming who you are purposed to be does not come without a fight. When you make up your mind to take the path of greatness, be forewarned that a war is in store. The truly courageous, wise, and strong are the ones who attain the heights of lasting success. Who do you have to become to get there? You have to become a warrior in mind, body, and spirit. This does not come over night. The warrior within is birthed out of deliberate intention. Work out your body and eat the right foods. Read books that will foster a war-like mentality ( My favorites are Sun Tzu's the Art of War and Joshua in the old testament of the bible). Hang around people that challenge and force you to grow. Lazy and complacent friends will be the death of you. Live your life as a general, with priorities, goals, and efficiency. A warrior is a man/woman of integrity, honor, self discipline, and purpose. There are many battlefields within the war for greatness. Train for the one that you were made for. Live with no regrets. Go for the gust-o, but do so in a calculated manner. Life is a game of chess and each move you make is critical for the next and larger battle.

Empowered for Power

Power is a very tricky and dangerous phenomenon. Some personality types are more inclined toward power and others shun it. Yet we all engage power in one way or another. Depending on your intentions, power can be used to help others and do a vast amount of good or it can be used to cause devastation and desolation. I believe that each person it made to possess and use power at varying levels according to each person’s capacity to hold it. Some do better with power than others because they are able to keep it from poisoning their hearts and minds, others turn into living nightmares. If you are a person inclined toward power, it is wise to develop your character and embrace circumstances that help you do this. Power has the ability to make people feel invincible (which keeps you out of touch with reality), when nothing could be further from the truth. Therefore it is important to keep true friends and advisors around that you can be accountable to because they will help you keep a level head. Remember that power is for the good of others, not just you. It is important to note that when I say power, I don’t mean anything spooky or weird. I am simply referring to the ability to “get things done”. The more people that you have that “get things done” on your behalf, the more power you have. Most times power starts with the individual and then expands to others. The greatest way to garner power is to live by example and exemplify success in your lifestyle (success varies greatly depending on what you and those around you consider it to be). More times than not, people who don’t go looking for power are the ones most suited to possess it. Therefore work at becoming a better person. Your progress will flow to other aspects of your life. People will see it and want to follow your lead.

You Determine How Far You Can Go

Many people blame others for their lot in life if it is bad. But on the flipside, we will take all the credit for it if it is good. Now there are many things in life that are out of our control, yet the choices we make either prepare us for the worst and equip us for the best, or they cripple us when the worst comes and block us from getting to the best life has to offer. Some people are dealt a bad hand, but they don't make excuses and some how climb to a spacious place in life. Whereas others are handed the world on a silver platter and end up ruined in the end. Therefore each person has the responsibility of making correct decisions, learning from previous bad ones, and seeking to gain new information that will help them in situations they have not encountered yet. At one time or another, we all have been dealt a bad hand, but those who become great are able to gain a solid perspective from both the good and bad life offers and use this knowledge to their advantage. At the end of the day, it is up to you to decide how far you want to go and how much of an impact you want to leave before you exit earth.

Lyrics for "What They Yellin"

Song Title: What they Yelling
Lyrics Written by P. Jacobs (ASCAP)
Music Produced by S. Phillips (ASCAP)
©2009 R.E.B.E.L. Firm Music Division


I’m a go go getter/flow more sicker than a hobo’s kisses/spit cold so vicious/voice box holds Christmas/got the game locked/more bars no visits/I know no limits/see eternity like I hold those minutes/all foes so finished/a young soul but the stroll so vintage/ grind so relentless/bank roll more spinach/what I got is classic till the casket/even then the spirit of a R.E.B.E.L. passing/to a young kid with passion/to go against the grain of what a system say we acting/a young black man/who dares to be great/prepare for my fate/ and slice through the layers of hate/got to go take your food/life aint sharing the plate/the young R.E.B.E.L. general striking fear from the gate/
I’m a real R.E.B.E.L./that’s what they yelling/from the president to the ex-felons/we gone ride out/we gone ride out/show ‘em what our grind bout/
The big big lion prowling/the young pistol whipper snapper out just a growling/R.E.B.E.L. so aggressive/Sharpie so progressive/could get it at any minute/so I keep my recipe for success/deep in the chest/breathing the West/I’m breeding the best/my seeds gone be blessed/no need for a vest/bye bye peewee’s/I’m big league till my death/knee deep in my quest/and it’s only getting bigger/only getting larger/only getting stronger/living through my Father/homie don’t even bother/Cano kicked back/now I’m back with the lava/the young righteous mobster/spitting Sinatra mantras/killing it till my times up/life’s scars keep my grind tough/never find fluff/it’s high stakes/and I can’t afford to try luck/R.E.B.E.L. to the sky what/
The it factor/hip hop’s Mick Jagger/potatoes used to be skinny/now the chips fatter/the lips split matter/reassemble and then shatter/even something simple makes the dip sticks scatter/tell me do you gather/reconvene the session/an obscene obsession/rap clings to my essence/deeper in the Son/feeling clean in His presence/my light beams deep tree green incandescence/R.E.B.E.L. this is confession/this is not a dream/where I’ve seen/I’m heading/kids call me that dude like I teamed with Devin/been through hell’s gate/so lyrically I’m heaven/lyrically I’m brethren with the likes of Martin, Malcolm, Obama, Nelson/lay that on a track and it’s a tailspin/present it well to my brethren to get the jails slim/and I’m a R.E.B.E.L. for life is what they yelling

Don't let IT consume You

I'll be the first to admit that I put my heart into what ever I make up my mind to do. That is because I am a passionate person. So what I suggest in this particular post is easier said than done, but it is doable. I am learning that I have to be able to separate myself from what IT is that I am working toward. Not meaning that I stop pursuing IT, but that I keep my ambition subjected and not become subject to my ambition. This is a very difficult pill for ambitious people to swallow because it goes against the grain of our mental make up. Often times we let what we are working on or towards take over our lives. We live, sleep, and eat IT. Our families and relationships suffer as a result and when we do accomplish what we were working toward, we are only left with IT. The we find that IT wasn't all it was cracked up to be. Then we are off pursuing another IT to fill the void that the previous IT could not. This is a very dysfunctional cycle that many people pursuing greatness get caught up in. So it is wise to put IT in its proper place. God and family come first because all the ITs of the world will never be able to touch the part of the mind, heart, and soul that the aforementioned can.

Just because your Road Changes, Doesn't mean your Destination does

We human beings are very emotional creatures and that is a gift and a curse. It is a gift because when good things happen to us or go according to plan we have the ability to stride in great confidence. Yet when the opposite occurs we have the ability to create a self inflicted paralysis. The more I live life, I realize that life is really a complex phenomena. There are no absolutes except the Most High. And the only thing close to an absolute within our realm that we can control is our own personal tenacity. I say all that to say this, when you catch a glimpse of your destination, don't fret when the means by which you thought you would get there change. There are several ways to get to the same destination. It is our job to stay focused on the final destination even when the road changes. This is where tenacity, our semi-absolute, comes into play. You must continue to hold on to the steering wheel of your vehicle on the road of life. When a change occurs on your path, DO NOT, I REPEAT DO NOT, just get careless because then you run the risk of crashing and burning. Hang on to the wheel and follow the new road, you may come to find that it is better than the previous one you were on.

Sharp Skills Press Release 9/16/2009

News Release
Los Angeles, Calif., September 16, 2009
Sharp Skills’ Mountain Movement (Hands to the Sky) featured in the official trailer for “The Takers”
The song “Mountain Movement (Hands to the Sky)” written and performed by up and coming hip hop star Sharp Skills is featured in the official trailer for the major motion picture “The Takers”. The Takers boasts an all star cast consisting of Tip “T.I.” Harris, Chris Brown, Paul Walker, Matt Dillon, Idris Elba and is directed by John Luessenhop.
The trailer made its global debut September 10, on NBC’s Extra at 7pm(EST) .Takers is scheduled to hit movie theatres nationwide on February 19, 2010. The Mountain Movement (Hands to the Sky) is the first single that was released from The Campaign, Sharp Skills’ sophomore album (2008, R.E.B.E.L. Firm Music Division). Production for the Mountain Movement (Hands to the Sky) was done by Eric Olson and Nate Thacker of Incorporated Elements. The trailer can be viewed at the Takers official website and the full length version of Mountain Movement (Hands to the Sky) can be heard on the official Sharp Skills MySpace page.

You Creative Genius You!

An essential step in flourishing in life is finding what you are good at and passionate about, then honing the natural talent that you have in what that particular thing is. In my opinion, everyone has the potential to be a genius because everyone has at least one quality in them that they can use to excel with in life. A lot of people are lazy though and never take the time to do some soul searching and find out what brings out their greatness. Unless your talent is super evident, you may have to work hard to discover the treasure inside especially if you grew up or are currently in a negative environment. As I said in a previous blog, greatness is a choice that has to be made. Many people have great potential but fail to work it into reality. Creativity stems from imagination, relative freedom, and refined talent. Let your mind think of great things, put yourself in a space where you can express yourself without hyper criticism (criticism that comes from within included), and work on improving/polishing your gifts. Once the aforementioned elements are in harmony, your creative genius has no choice but to reveal its brilliant light.

Pride’s Poison

If you are an individual pursuing greatness, then more than likely you have high self esteem. There is nothing wrong with high self esteem and valuing who you are. But you must be cautious to keep a level head, especially after triumphs, victories, and achievements. You will find that you are most vulnerable after a victory. Accomplishment and being gifted have the potential to make the possessor lose touch with reality if he/she is not careful. One must take the pill of success with a glass of sobriety to maintain greatness. You will also find that some of those who envy (one of the worst vices when not subjugated) you will over praise you in order to help you develop a big ego. They do this to set you up for a great fall. Therefore, keep an eye on yourself as you progress toward becoming a greater light in the world and stay grounded.

Use Enemies to Your Advantage

Think how dull life would be if you did not have any sort of challenges to face. Some people prefer to live without adversity, but these same people are the ones who lack the courage to take risks that have the potential to put them in a greater position. Therefore my philosophy is to embrace the benefits of dealing with foes. They keep you sharp, on your toes, and toughen your skin up (FYI, keep your heart tender though), if you let them. It is important to relaize that many of your enemies only act negatively toward you because they fear you (or your potential) so they are only doing what they feel they must to protect themselves. So remember to never take it personal when you find out someone is trying to prohibit your growth. You must learn to process and channel your emotions toward a positive outcome. Let your foes push you toward becoming smarter, even more positive, and wiser. Think of them as free personal trainers helping to prepare you for greater challanges that will yield even greater rewards. Do not let their negativity rub off on you. Let their darkness make your light shine brighter and in the end you will win!

Becoming Great is a Decision

Everyday that I wake up I have two options. To either be great or not. It is that simple. Great men and women leave legacies of greatness because they chose to be great more days than they chose not to be great. Greatness starts in the mind. You have to have a passion to succeed, excell, and become even better than you were yesterday even if what you accomplished yesterday was your best work. Everyday is a new opportunity to grow,expand, and be a positive influence on your allotted patch of the world. That excites me. I am excited to know that it is up to me to become better and that I actually have that option. It is my decision to learn from my mistakes, gain wisdom, and apply it next time a similar situation arises. Personal development is a high priority on my list, because in order to become successful in my field of work (any field of work for that matter), I have to become a successful person first apart from my work.

Don't get Mad at Dogs that Bark

This blog post is a special one. It entails a strategy designed to help you maintain a posture that will keep you above pettiness in a petty environment, and with petty people. It is simply this, don't get mad, upset, or take it personal when people, who have exposed their true character, do actions that coincide with their character. On the path to creativity, passion, and greatness, you will find that you will run across two groups of people. People that love and appreciate your courage to go after your vision and those who see you as a threat. This is perfectly normal and one should not over react to the latter group. People are just who they are. Even more, when you find people that (those of the threatened group) take actions geared toward your downfall, do not take it personal. They are only acting in their nature and more than likely could not help it even if they wanted to. Plus, you must take into account that they may have issues going on behind the scene that have nothing to do with you. Perhaps they have some sort of chemical imbalance or some childhood event left them scarred and you trigger that painful memory in the way you say "Hello". I know it sounds silly, but it is reality nonetheless. A better tactic to use when dealing with this group is to be aware of them and take the necessary precautions that will insulate you from their attacks. Necessary precautions may be to gather information on their personality type, watch what you say in front of them, and keep your interactions polite, but brief. There are several more strategies to employ, yet I find these three to be the most effective and ethical. But whatever you do, don't over react. They are only doing what they feel they need to do. Take it as a compliment that you are on their radar.

Every Home is a City

This blog post is directed towards my fellow men. Over the weekend, a concept came to mind about how our homes are very similar to small cities. If he will acknowledge and accept it, every man is a king and charged with the responsibility of governing his home(city) well. Every city has civil issues, an economy, industry, food and clothing distribution, politics, an educational system, entertainment, and recreation. It is no different in a home. Each king is charged with making sure that each sector of their home/city is operating efficiently and effectively. Often times, it is the queen who is left with all the responsibility and burden of governing the city. Many of them do a fantastic job, but there is a vacuum that causes many of our princes and princesses to grow up dysfuntional in one way or another when the king is not in position. It is the king's responsibility to lead, provide, govern, protect, and administer justice. The queen is supposed to assist the king in his efforts of governing a successful city and raising princes and princesses to continue the legacy. I guarantee that if kings begin to get in position in the home, we will see the positive effects on the larger city outside of our homes.

It Takes Big Character to do Big Things

Anytime I find myself in a rush to get to the point where I am larger than life, I am humbled by the thought that I may not be able to handle everything tied to that success once I get there. I by no means lack confidence in myself, its more so that I realize that in order to handle success you must have even greater humility to remain successful. I read and even see many stories of successful men who let power go to their heads and end up falling very hard as a result. This reminds me to be patient on the road to greatness and let true character permeate throughout my entire being before rushing to make a name for myself. There is a lot of responsibility that comes with being a person of influence and the standards we must live by are very strict. It's no easy task to lead others and it's an even harder task to lead them in a direction that is right. True character is probably one of the top 3 assets a leader can have and it does not come overnight.

The Passion Channel

Passion is emotional fuel. No great man or woman became great without possessing it. What set them apart and made them great was their ability to channel passion in the right direction. When passion is not guided correctly it can do more harm than good, but when passion is connected with integrity, knowledge, and intelligence it has the potential to change not only your individual life, but the lives of everyone around you. It is infectious! I am an extremely passionate person and realize that it is a gift from God. Passion can get you places that talent, smarts, and political connects cannot. But I understand the importance of coupling passion with other attributes and skill sets in order to get the desired results consistently. Passion must also come from the right sources as well. Passion that comes from greed, jealousy, bitterness, hatred, lust, and unhealthy anger is not what you want to use to fuel your vision (think Hitler). Therefore it is important to take inventory on what is driving us to succeed and make sure that our passion is always channeled correctly. Having good people around you that you trust can help keep you on track as well.

Couch Butts and Unhappiness

I recognize a common trait in many unhappy individuals. They are not fulfilling a passion that burns within them. You can have all the money, the best spouse, and the biggest house on the block, yet if your individual passion is not being expressed and recognized by others, more than likely you will have a hole in your heart. People that are unhappy due to unexpressed passion are very critical of others, especially those who are ambitiously working toward their vision. Whenever I find myself criticising someone I have to look in the mirror and ask: is my criticism justified or am I not fulfilling a passion in a certain area of life that the person that I am criticizing is? You will find that you will not have enough time to talk about others when you are working toward your vision. You will be so full of life that even your enemies can do no wrong or at least you won't harbor bitter feelings for long. The point is to stop complaining about how bad your life is, turn of the tv, video games, and get off the couch and do something to put yourself in a better position. It will not come over night. But each day you work at improving your situation, the better it will become. Most people do not gain financial freedom overnight, it is a process and comes by developing good habits. Get out of familiar places, stop making excuses and work a little bit each day at becoming who you are meant to be.

Your Immediate Sphere of Influence

I am a "big vision" person and sometimes to a fault. I am thinking about Z before I even get to A sometimes. I often think about all of the people that I want to reach, connect with, and inspire and they are in the millions. Even though that is well and good, there are people in my life right now that I should be focused on reaching, connecting with, and inspiring. These are the people that I call my immediate sphere of influence. People such as my wife, co workers, relatives, and friends. It's easy to get so hung up on the big vision that we neglect those that are closest to us. It's a sad day for the influential leader to realize that even though he has positively and profoundly impacted millions of lives, he failed to impact the lives of his spouse, children, and inner circle. Even though he reached all of these other people, he is still a failure in my eyes. The most important people in a influential person's life should be those within his immediate sphere of influence. Until you master building them up (A), don't even try to build up the masses (Z). Please share your thoughts.

Consistency is Key

I am at a place in my life where I recognize the importance of consistency. Consistency in life is something that many young adults tend to shun because of the perceived restrictions that come with it. But I have found that consistency is one of the hallmarks of freedom. When we dont allow ourselves to take on responsibility, we limit the process on the journey toward attaining our fullest potential. Not only that, we limit that same process for those who are in our immediate sphere of influence. The reason why is because when we are not lining up with the basic laws that govern the divine order, we are a piece of the puzzle that is missing, which makes our spouses, children, friends, co-workers, employees have to over compensate or put in a counterfeit. When I speak of consistency, I am talking about the daily repetition of doing one's purpose and that is something that only the individual can define. In one season consistency may look one way, another season may call for a different sort of consistency. For me consistency has been staying in the presence of God, working a regular job, building up my marriage, strengthening my relationships,exercising, and fine tuning my entrepreneurial vision. Your path may look different, but consistency is key in the life of each person if we wish to grow and achieve greatness.

Song Lyrics to Salute!

Song Title: Salute!
Alternative Title: Locked and Loaded
Lyrics written by P. Jacobs, Music produced by S. Phillips
©2009 R.E.B.E.L. FIRM Music Division

I’m so locked and loaded/part of the Son’s rays/too hot to hold it/ R’s in the air/man I rock for soldiers/headed for the top/ how they not gone notice

This the one where my Timberland’s laced up/ born to keep kicking I refuse to stay stuck/I keep a poker face/ man I see through the great bluff/ the enemy mean mug/ I give him the same look/ now’s not the time to be scared of the current/ stand like a man/ my advantage is perfect/ the vision is the prize/ get cash to work with and feed the fam/ but the Lamb I worship/ don’t talk about swag/ man I’m out of this orbit/ I just watch the culture/ sit back and absorb it/ the light of the real is exposing the forfeit/ I been through the pain now I’m teaching the courses/ R.E.B.E.L. Ph. D/ the melody’s 8 keys/ infinity HD/ a felon on great beats/ if that aint enough/ you get the boot/ real R.E.B.E.L.s in the building I tell you to salute/

Salute to my R.E.B.E.L.s that’s on the front line/ going through the pain but still on the grind/ Salute to my soldiers that died in the field/ wouldn’t bow down and declared what’s real/ Salute to my young brothers getting they grades up/ born to be a winner/don’t care what they say huh/ Salute to my young sisters better yet queens/ heads on straight/pursuing they dreams/ Salute!

I spit like it’s my last day living/give it everything that I got remain vicious/flows stay hotter than hotter than suede britches/these rappers fruit flies/ man the game switching/dudes rock skinny jeans/tapered leg/ YG’s in the hood aint afraid of death/ I tell these young cats/man your brain’s the threat/takes more than an AK to gain respect/ the locks and the cell blocks killing us slow/ dizzy with the henny getting plenty of dough/sitting pretty in a Bentley and the philly is rolled/ chain real chilly but aint feeling the hole/ I’m getting my black Moses Isaac Hayes on/black Prada sneaks/and the Oakley shades on/ only thing different/I aint singing the same song/R’s in the air/ the salute will stay strong/

I’m on another level in a different dimension/what the king sees are the things I mention/ spirit of David/ the king aint flinching/I talk reckless/ bring your henchmen/ what up KKK neo Nazis/ hatred in your blood/but you aint gone stop me/say bye to the days where the R.E.B.E.L. was knock kneed\brain is Gretsky/mind frame is hockey/ these kids too soft/ man I’m bringing the hardcore/spit acid rain cut tracks like lawn mower/beating eardrums till they lymph nodes all sore/could do a million songs/still my crowd would want more/ crown still shining/ loving my queens light/ keep the business tight/keep feeding the team right/born to conquer/ I care less what it seems like/ a legend’s on the hook fam/we got the green light

You are Your #1 Investment! Part II

In the last blog I wrote about how important it is to recognize that your personal gifts, talents, ideas, and concepts are the number one thing you should be investing in. What lies within you has just as much potential to create wealth as the stock market or real estate, perhaps even more potential. As promised I will now discuss some of the things that I am doing to investment in my #1 investment. These are not listed in order of importance:

1. Reading- I invest in myself by reading business, personal development, and spiritual growth books. The knowledge from reading that I acquire gives me fresh ideas, more information, and motivation.

2. Physical Exercise- Physical exercise is very important because it helps me balance stress plus stay in top physical and mental condition. It keeps me competitive and that is vital to tackling goals.

3. Practicing my craft- I spend at least 10 hours a week practicing my gift, sharpening it in order to ensure it that it does not get dull. This also helps keep me motivated.

4. Setting aside money just for my vision- This is probably a no brainer, but few people actually do it. It takes money to produce a tangible vision. Plus this makes me more committed to my vision, because I'm not only physically and mentally vested, but monetarily as well.

5. Building and Cultivating Relationships- Relationships are better than currency.They take time and energy to build yet they yield profitable results for myself and the person(s) I am building with. Most of the good things that have happened to me in life or got me closer to success were because of good relationships.

There a several other ways to invest in your number 1 asset. But in my opinion, these are some of the key ones. If you have one you would like to add to the list, please share in a comment.

You are Your #1 Investment! Part I

YOU ARE YOUR GREATEST INVESTMENT! Sometime ago I was talking to my uncle about how I was interested in investing in real estate and stocks and how I was in the process of studying these wealth vehicles. He said something very profound that has stuck with me to this day and even reshaped my thinking. He said you are the one you need to be investing in. Stocks, real estate, bonds, and other assets are excellent investments to make, but concentrating on developing your number one assett is the most profitable and rewarding thing to do. So many of us focus on everything outside of us that we can become succesful with that we lose sight that our own ideas, concepts, inventions, gifts, and talents will help us create wealth probably even sooner than the alternatives. It makes sense to me because even though I'm very interested in real estate, I'm much more passionate about my music and other ideas that I have that have the potential to become viable businesses. I can spend all day writing songs, perfecting my craft, and coming up with ideas and strategies on how I want to run my business. That passion is just not matched when I'm learning about the stock market. It may just be my personality but I enjoy the challenge of creating something from nothing and watching it take on a life of its own. So for those who may be similar to me in this way, I encourage you to start valuing the ideas, gifts, and talents that you have and see them for the gems that they are. They really are worth investing in. In the next blog I will describe how I am investing in myself.

Please share your thoughts.

Calling all Go Getters!

Even though I have a 9-5 job now and am grateful for it, I know that it is only a means to an end. I think all of us are born with a desire to create our own legacy whether we admit it or not. I look foward to the day when I am able to fully fund the vision that God has given me. I am a natural entrepreneur. Even in my 9-5 I am finding creative ways to do things. I feel like this is now preparation time for when I employ myself and perhaps my friends and family. It is important for me to succeed at working for someone else so that I can excel when I am solely working for myself. The two go hand in hand in my opinion, if you have an entreprenuerial mind set.

I'm curious to know your thoughts...

50 Cent Vs. Rick Ross and the insight I have learned from this battle

Many of you know about the recent hip hop beef between 50 Cent and Rick Ross. I have been following this battle for about the past three weeks and to say the least it has been entertaining. If you have no idea what I am talking about, go to thisis50.com of hiphopdx.com to get the recap on how this whole thing started. As of now, 50 Cent has done a pretty good job of humiliating the "Boss" and doing what 50 does best, that is destroying other rappers careers. He has done this multiple ways, using music, videos, radio interviews, cartoon drawings, Rick Ross' baby mother, financial statements, and pictures. The biggest foothold 50 has stood on through this bout is that Rick Ross use to be a Correctional Facilites officer, yet claims that he was the biggest drug dealer in Miami. A lot of the information that 50 is presenting to the public is factual and has been proven to be so, which has further tarnished Ross' image and street credibility. It appears that Ross has not gotten the memo that he is losing the battle as many media sources, journalists, websites, and other rappers have endorsed 50 cent as the champ. Ross' new single "Magnificient" featuring John Legend has not been considered a successful record due to the fact that most of the attention Rick Ross is getting is tied to the beef with 50 Cent, not Ross' new album which is slated to drop in March. Everyone knows that 50 is a master at destroying careers, we have seen this in the cases of artists such as Ja Rule, Fat Joe, Cam'ron, and others. It seems that Ross has gotten in way over his head and really has had no decent comeback even though I think "Mafia Music", one of his diss songs is actually a good one. The fact is is that 50 Cent is filthy rich, connected to Dr. Dre and Eminem, intelligent, athletic, resorceful, and just plain ruthless. He is in a position of power that few rappers, if any are able to claim. Therefore it would be wise for a person like Rick Ross to realize this and stop throwing punches while he still can, this is simply a battle he cannot win. 50 is unparalleled when it comes to doing things like this. So here is my spiritual insight into this matter.

Many Christians are similar to Rick Ross. We have an image, talent, nice cars, clothes, some good things going for us that we take for granted, but with this we also have a past and hearts full of pride and arrogance. We trick ourselves into believing that we are something that we are not, or even if we are something it may not be at the level at which we think it is. This last statement leads us into trouble because we can become delusional and try to fight battles that we are not built to fight. Granted we be able to win some battles, but some foes are just out of our league, like the devil. Now I'm not trying to call 50 Cent the devil, I actually admire and like 50 Cent, but I think in this case, 50 Cents exhibits some characteristics in hip hop battles that the devil exhibts in spiritual battles. Again I am not calling 50 Cent the devil, I am simply recognizing how a believer can fall prey to the enemy due to the tactics he uses which parallels 50 Cents tactics in the battle with Rick Ross. So how does 50 Cent exhibit the qualities of the devil in this present case. Well for one the devil is tremendously wealthy, he has the whole world under his control (those not under the control of Jesus), which gives him access to vast resources. The devil controls the media, much like 50 controls his own media website which is extremely entertaining by the way. The devil is extremely intelligent, one of the wisest beings one can ever encounter. He's been around for God knows how long, and only God does know. So the devil has had some time to hone his military prowess. The devil also is not lazy, he is not a heavy sleeper, if he even sleeps at all. And lastly the devil has no conscience. The holocaust, apartheid, genocides, two year olds getting murdered in cold blood by their fathers, this is the devils idea of a picnic. He enjoys to see his foes destroyed, much like 50 does. With all of that said, you and I, still try to fight the devil in our own strength. We do this everyday that we do not earnestly pray to God, read our bibles, and put ourselves in situations that cause us to sin. Not to mention, we still have horrible pasts and things that haunt us from before we were walking with Christ. Lets face it, we are easy targets for the enemy, much like Rick Ross is for 50 Cents. We have no hope of defeating someone as powerful as the devil without the help of God. Yet day after day we try to spar with Satan using our human intellect and will, and this just does not cut it. The devil has too much dirt on us and will remind us of our past which will make us studder and stumble if someone asks us about it much like Rick Ross did when a dj asked him if he was a c/o on a Miami radio station. We just end up humiliated and looking dumb to those around us when we try to play with the enemy this way. We will get picked off every time. The only hope we have for defeating the devil daily is to rely on Jesus' power. He is the only one who actually beat the devil up besides, the acrh angel Michael. Simply put, we must rely on God to deal with the devil and we do this by earnestly seeking God's Son and asking Him to fill us with his Spirit so that we can take our stand against the evil one. In this case, The Lord is the only one who can probably help Rick Ross, but even then Rick Ross would have to surrender to God, which would be a whole other blog.

A Greater Dependence on God

It has been a minute since I last wrote. My apologies to those who read my blogs. I just recently got married and am getting settled into married life, not to mention settling back into living in California once again. At the beginning of 2009, I wrote down some goals that I would like to accomplish before the end of the year and one of them was to get to know God better. My strategy to reach this goal is to spend at least one hour a day in prayer (communication with God) and by reading some selected books of the bible that I felt would be good to have in my heart. Praying everyday has not been easy. Many days it is a challenge because my mind is filled with so many other things such as bills, things me and my wife need, business ideas, career ambitions, lunch, and more. A lot of times I have to make myself think about God and how good he has been to me in my life and put in extra effort to focus on Him. It is so easy to get caught up in the affairs of this life that I can sometimes forget who is in charge of my life and my destiny. He already has a plan mapped out for me and all I have to do is talk with Him each day to know what it is. Every obstacle or problem that I am dealing with he has a solution for. Most times, if not all times when I try to figure hard issues out myself such as an argument with my wife, which bill in the budget should be considered most important, and other complex issues, I end messing things up even worse. But when I depend on Him and am honest about not knowing all the answers, he is then able to show me how to handle these situations. I think the reason a lot of times God does not give us the answer to a tough question we have is because we already think we know the answer and just want Him to agree with what we think is the right solution. I mean would you answer someone's questions or lend a hand to help them out if they kept saying "I got it" or when you give them an answer they never use it but insist on doing what they wanted instead. I think not. I guess the purpose of this particular blog is to let someone know that relying on God is the only way to be more than a conquerer in this life. He already has the road map of our lives prepared and is anxious to let us read it. We just have to depend on him to guide us and he will. Even though I may not get the answer when I would like to have it, he shows me what to do and what to say when it is most needed. So spend a little more time with God and rely less on yourself, it will probably a take a lot of stress out of your life.