If You Try

If You Try

Thursday, November 26, 2009

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.

Sunday, November 22, 2009

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.

Saturday, November 14, 2009

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.

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

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.

Saturday, November 7, 2009

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.

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

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.

Monday, November 2, 2009

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.