Help Sharp Skills Pick Graphic Design for New Mixtape

What's up R.E.B.E.L.'s, I'm getting everything together to release my new mixtape "Tablets of the Heart" on 11.28.13, Thanksgiving Day. But I need your help. My graphics design team for this project, Red Moon Entertainment, is putting the finishing touches on the art work for the mixtape singles and I wanted your feedback on which graphic you like the best. Post the number (1, 2, or 3) of the one you like in the comments below, click on the image to make it larger. Thank you and be sure to download (for free) "TOTH" on Thanksgiving Day." The link will be sent to you if you are on my mailing list, a fan on Facebook, or a follower on Twitter.

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Cover Art and Track Listing Revealed For New Sharp Skills Mixtape "Tablets of the Heart"

                                                   Artwork by Red Moon Entertainment

1) Tablets of the Heart Intro. (to 9th Wonder's "The Town")

2) The K.I.D.S.S. -The Kingdom In Dope Sneakers-(to Drake's "HYFR")

3) Take Me Home feat. L's (prod. by L's)*

4) I'm Easy (prod. by C and N Beats)

5) Turn Me Up (prod. by C and N Beats)

6) Mini Mogul (prod. by Alex Malone for Alex Malone Music)*

7) All Gray Everything (prod. by Pulse Beats)

8) R.E.B.E.L. Blues (prod. by Omito Beats)

9) Hang On My Cross (to Kanye West's "Blame Game")

10) Moving Under Fire feat. Foski (to The Fray's "You Found Me")

11) R.E.B.E.L.'s Paradise (to Coldplay's "Paradise")

12) My Ferrari (prod. by Tank)*
Bonus Songs
13) I'm Easy (Big Homie Version)
14) Turn Me Up remix feat. Tha Mic
15) Mini Mogul remix feat. SaulPaul

Songs with an * next to them indicate original production created specifically for Sharp Skills. Songs with pre-existing production are for promotional use only.

"Tablet's of the Heart" is scheduled to be released for free download, November 28th, 2013 (Thanksgiving Day). Only those on the Sharp Skills mailing list or following Sharp Skills on Twitter and/or Facebook will have the download link sent to them (Click on the links below).
Sharp Skills on Twitter
Sharp Skills on Facebook
Sharp Skills Mailing List

Build Something You Are Proud Of

I heard someone very wise say that as a culture, we've become obsessed with what we consume as oppose to what we build. That thought hit me like a ton of bricks. You know how it is when a light bulb goes off in your head when an idea deeply resonates with you. I had to look myself in the mirror and examine if I fit that description. Productivity has an interesting way of fulfilling us whereas consumption leaves us wanting. Being able to sit back and look at what we have worked hard to create is an amazing feeling, even though the delayed gratification isn't fun. It's worth it in the long run though.

Grateful Hearts Go Further

Have you ever found yourself complaining about your life or circumstances? Of course you have because we all do from time to time. The interesting thing is the affect that this type of "stinking thinking" has on our moods. It is impossible to be happy, no matter how good or bad your circumstances are if you only focus on the negative. Similarly, it is impossible to "not" be happy when you choose to focus on the good. Our thoughts are the drivers of our emotions, and happiness is an emotion that is primarily based on internal conditions, not external. We have to continually find the things that we are grateful for in order to stay upbeat in today's overly discontent world. Being grateful is good food for thought.

Re-Inspire Yourself

I once heard someone say that inspiration is for amateurs. To a certain degree, I believe that is true. There comes a point where you have to work when you don't get the warm and fuzzes anymore. However, if the work we are doing doesn't inspire us over long stretches of time, it will cause us to loathe what we are doing and mentally (and emotionally) check out. But I have found that writing out the reasons why I am going after a particular goal come in very handy when facing those tough stretches of time when there seems to be hardly any inspiration or motivation. Also, persevering through those times has a strange way of reigniting the fire I once had when I started the project. This is called the second wind. Sometimes we cannot count on external motivators to keep going, we have to dig down deep within ourselves (as well as look to our Creator) to help us get our focus back and stay the course. And the results will be glorious!

Finding Your Second Wind

If we are fortunate to live long enough, we will discover that life is a marathon. If you've ever ran a marathon or know someone who has, you know how important the second wind is. Second winds are crucial because they enable us to finish the race. The race may be starting a successful business, raising kids, cultivating a healthy and happy marriage, beating a sickness, finishing a college education or any number of things that require endurance. Sometimes while we are "running", fatigue will set in and we will be ready to quit from time to time. We may feel as if we don't have what it takes to finish the race. It is important to understand that these feelings are not the end all be all if we can find a way to keep moving. I truly believe it is important to have someone in our lives that will help us keep our focus and keep running until we find the second burst of fuel guaranteed to runners who don't give up. The in between time of being fatigued and waiting for the second wind to arrive can really suck. But we have to develop a mindset that is determined to finish the race and train ourselves, like runners do, to keep running even when our bodies and minds want to quit.

Work Your Creative Muscles

Creativity is a use it or lose it mental faculty. And it is also something that we must feed on a regular basis. The more we challenge ourselves to do things outside of the box and go above what we normally do, we are strengthening our creative prowess. One of the difficult tasks that naturally creative people have is finishing what they start. We always want to create something new which can lead to not finishing anything. Therefore, we must also use our creativity to find ways to stay inspired while working on long term goals.