Merry Christmas.....and Australia Photos...

MERRY CHRISTMAS

I will take this time to wrap up my Australian Trip.....


First… I would like to take back what I said about first class –vs- economy class. I think the fact that I was so tired and sleep deprived on the flight there, it made it more bearable then usual. The way home I was awake and cramped. I a fat pickle in a relish jar. I couldn't pull out the lap top and work, and sleeping was impossible. During that 14 hour flight, I would have given my right arm to be sitting there in first class. If you had an extra couple of thousand that would have been the way to spend it.

Actually I did some research and a 1st class flight is $12,500, $9000.00 more then my economy class. You have to be crazy paid to fly first class and actually afford it.

My last night in Australia was a bust. I was told I would be done working by 4:00 PM and instead, finished at 7:30 ish. Normally that wouldn't be a problem but they told me at 3:00 that I would still be able to leave at 4:00. That's like telling Rosie O'Donell, dinner is going to be ready in 5 minutes. So when I didn't get out until 7:30 I was a little perturbed.


The other problem with traveling so far in such a short time frame is the your stomach needs to time to digest to the various diets. I started off in the hotel with the “runs”, and it was a steady countdown so that I was normal for the 20 hours of flying. I remember thinking that I must have ate something on the flight to Australia that didn't sit well. During the return flight, we were given dried apricots, and I remember thinking….these were pretty good on the flight over……as I popped the last one in my mouth…..Putting two and two together, and feeling the rumble in the belly…I believe the apricots were the culprit.

PEDESTRIAN WALK BY THE TELSTRA DOME

HUNGRY JACKS - SAME AS BURGER KING, WITHOUT THE KING.

ONLY THE BEST........MY PALATIAL ACCOMMODATIONS

ONLY FINE FOUR STAR DINING

MELBOURNE TRAIN STATION

"CHINATOWN" - AUSTRALIAN STYLE

BIG CITY LIFE IN MELBOURNE

I USED THE RENTAL CAMRY TO PERFECT THE RIGHT HAND DRIVE GANGSTA' LEAN

VEGAS OF THE DOWN UNDER - GAMBLING AT IT'S FINEST

Australia....Baby!

Hey Sports fans…I’m in Australia. The Down Under. No, not the Down Low, the Down Under. Is that a good excuse for not posting?

The flight wasn’t so bad. My connecting flight from Detroit to LA was First Class. That was sweet. I think the major benefit to flying first class is the ability to get on board and off board first. The food is better and the drinks are “ever flowin”, but I can’t tell you how good it feels to be able to get on and off the plane first!

People could not believe that I was flying first class. The attendant that stands by the ropes at the airport put his arm out and said, “Business and first Class only economy class is over there”. When I lined up to get on the plane with the other people from first class, people were looking at me like I was cutting the line. “Yes People, I’m flying FIRST CLASS”. All the people who thought I was cutting got to see my smiling face as they walked by me to their economy seats. I was pimpin and sippin! Timberlands, Ekco hoodie and all.

I had a super long layover in LA and a 15.5 hour flight to Australia. I have to say that it wasn’t that bad. I think the price difference between economy and first class for this flight was like $4000. You really have to have serious paper to pay that much for 15 hours. That first class seat better have an automatic toe sucker for that much cheese.


The couple that I sat next to had been married for 47 years. They lived right down the street from my sister in New Jersey. Small World! Again, always be on your best behavior, you never know who you are going to encounter.

Australia itself is pretty phat. It was 114 degrees when I arrived and then cooled down significantly. Melbourne reminds me a lot of Chicago. It’s like a smaller cleaner Chicago.

What is unique about Australia is that there has been no unusual reaction to me being Black. I honestly have not felt any kind of reaction, to my race. There are tons of Indians and Asians but I have not seen any black people anywhere, but yet, it’s like I belong. Don’t get me wrong, the females notice, but it’s not negative.

They are an extremely healthy country, with people biking and running all over the place.
It’s the beginning of their summer season so the chicks are throwing it on, skirts, shorts, the whole 9.

Don’t get me wrong, they have their Chubber’s here too. They have McDonald’s and their Burger King is called Hungry Jack’s. I still haven’t figured out why; but I also haven’t seen that scary ass Burger King character in two days. (Did I tell you guys about the dream of me and the burger king guy at the club doing the “Kid N Play” dance? )

Everything here is pretty expensive. You get charged by the megabyte downloaded for your internet usage (Can you imagine?), and you get charged for every call you make on your cell phones and your house phones; even if it’s local.

Driving on the right side of the car is a bitch. It takes some time to get used to it. I have to get my gangsta lean going to the right instead of the normal left. I have a tendency to drift left while driving which can be dangerous. That’s why I opted for the additional insurance. The lady at Hertz said that I would be liable up to $3000 for any damage. I needed that number to be $0. I said, “Lady I’m ridin’ dirty…..sleepy and on the wrong side of the car”. I opted for the additional coverage.

Traveling for work is much different then traveling for vacation. There is no one picking you up from the airport or taking you out to dinner. The customer is trying to get the most out of me that he can, and I have to over deliver. My job is to show the company what we are made of, so that we can get more business. When I leave, he will be thinking that we have a building full of workaholic, funny ass, psychopaths that can get the job done.

I had to go straight from a 24 hour travel expedition, to a 15 minute shower and right to work. I worked until 9:00 PM and will kill it until 9:00 PM today. I hope my last day I will have time to shop for some novel Christmas gifts.

I am blessed to have traveled to 4 countries in 4 months, and I will probably be back to each on my own terms. Then I will enjoy myself and take in some culture, bur for now there is a job to do, that I need to get back doin.

Don’t forget I will be rich!

-MJL

P.S. Some Aussie pics coming soon! I said “Aussie” not Assy. Keep it Clean.

The last Word on Cosmo

Well…it’s been a long time since my last update. I have to really work on making more frequent updates. Thanks for the emails encouraging the blog, but don’t worry the blog doesn’t end until I’m a certified millionaire. Actually all of this is just the prequel.

Well I would like to quickly touch on the Michael Richards, aka KKkramer, as he is now affectionately known as. I know everyone is tired of it by now, as I am too. The problem is that he represents a certain majority of the rich successful population of America. This is why I still support Affirmative Action. If nature was allowed to take it’s course, mixed sex and races would slowly settle into society making the USA a global melting pot on all fronts. Rich powerful racists are doing their best to keep things segragated, working against the grain. They have the power and money to make a difference for their cause (which usually supports white women's roles as permanent housewives).

If what was revealed wasn’t bad enough, Michael Richards actually said some additional statements before the camera began to roll. He stated, “When I wake up in the morning I’m still rich but you will always be n---a.” He also made statements that he had enough money to buy them (referring to the black audience members).

Now if there was a punch line, then it would at least be acceptable in that environment, and possibly dismissed as bad judgment. I have been the butt of many a black joke at a comedy show. I’ve been called Dark Vader, Dark Gable. I’ve actually heckled a comedian when in college….his rebbuttal was "that when I get out of the car the oil light comes on." He was a white comedian, and he was funny. Michael Richard’s was not funny that night, nor was he trying to be.

As shocking as the incident was, it’s no surprise to me. I don’t think he needs to be sued, or apologize. He can apologize 100 times but it doesn’t change who he is or what he’s done. I can apologize to the officer for speeding but I will still speed because he can’t convince me with 100 tickets that 10 miles above the speed limit is going to cause me to get in an accident. I just got caught so I apologized. Cosmo is still a racist, he just got caught. He can apologize 100 times but he will not understand that he is wrong.

We all know that there are still people who think this way and I feel sorry for them. Now that I know that one of those people is Cosmo, I won’t support him. Will it affect my life or how I look at people or Hollywood? Hell No. I already knew. I’ve been a professional black person my entire life. I’ve seen it all and heard it all. I am just waiting for the rest of the world to get a clue.

As a big Seinfeld fan, I will not watch another episode.

I’m done. NO SOUP FOR YOU

-MJL

Thomas' Tip of theDay

Well, last week I had the pleasure of working with the infamous Mr. Thomas, and as usual I walked away with a golden nugget of advice. He told me that someone once told him, "that at the end of the day, all this is, is a bunch of guys playing factory. "

That is a true statement. Part of what holds people in their current surroundings is the fact that they get caught up in all of the hype. They build their jobs into something that absorbs all of their time and energy. It becomes this enigma that awes your family and friends. At my job people walk around like they are ER Doctors! Their families think they are out saving the world. We make auto parts for crying out loud. People are wheeling in bags with binders and laptops, we have teleconferences for silly szhit and enough meetings to think we were designing the next IPOD.

Part of me understands the hype. Who wants to come home at the end of the day and tell their wives that they spent the day filling out paperwork to allow the plant worker to add a piece of felt on a plastic beam; or better yet, "Honey they made me move my cube today". A real man wants to say, "Honey, I rolled out my new Corporate restructuring program and the board loved it. I just got the corner office with the bathroom"

Our job as future millionaires is not to get caught up in our jobs. This doesn't mean not to kill it. You still have to be the best, but don't waste unnecessary time obsessing over it or expelling extra emotional energy. During a recent episode of the Tyra Show (yes, I watch it...I am well rounded...in touch with my inner hoochie) she interviwed Puff Daddy. He explained how he used to clean bathrooms during his unpaid internship. At the end of that statement, he said that he was the best at it. That's the the mindframe that we have to keep. That's the perfect analogy. He knew he was on to bigger and better things but he still had to be the best at what he did. I'm sure at the end of the day, he didn't call himself a Sanitation Engineer, or a commercial disinfectionist. He was a kid cleaning bathroom. His energy was spent on bigger and better things.

This holiday I will go to NJ/ NY for the holidays. People there are killing it. If you think you are busy and stressed, forget it. People in NYC are in the gym at 6:00 AM on treadmills, talking through their bluetooths closing deals before the market opens. That's busy! That's stress! People are earning and gaining personal fortunes while you are still in you PJ's and bunny slippers.

If you are bigger then your job, then act as such. Kill it and get out. Save the energy that you spend worrying about your job or getting frustrated about your co-workers for the bigger things. Bigger things could mean raising your kids, coaching your son’s baseball team, or spending time with your family. Whatever defines you, deserves that energy. For me it's simple; becoming a mogul. If I get caught up in this small nickel and dime hustle, how can I handle a million dollar hustle? The small hustle is exactly what it is, a 32 year old man, sitting in a cube, playing factory. I'm ready for bigger and better things. Drop the unrinal cake in the urinal and go home.

-MJL

TAKING IT BACK TO 1997

Year of the mogul?.....Year of the chump stain. I have been taking it in the shorts everyday for the last two weeks. I have actually gotten used to weekly "bend overs" now I'm getting bent daily, and I was actually tolerating it. I finally realized what I need to do.....

TAKE IT BACK TO 1997

Hmmm......1997.

Best 5 films of 1997:

1. Titanic - The competition wasn't even close.
2. As Good As It Gets
3. Men In Black
4. Air Force One
5. Cop Land

MTV top Videos
I'll Be Missing You..............Puff Daddy
2. Mo Money Mo Problems.............Puff Daddy & Notorious B.I.G.
3. You Were Meant For Me............Jewel
4. Men In Black.....................Will Smith
5. One Headlight....................Wallflowers
6. Fly..............................Sugar Ray
7. Breathe..........................Prodigy
8. Hypnotize........................Notorious B.I.G.
9. Virtual Insanity.................Jamiroquai
10. Wannabe..........................Spice Girls

Biggest News Story: The world says the death of Lady Di, I say the Death of the Notorious BIG.

Back in 1997 I was in my last year of college. I had overcome every stereotypical odd out there to graduate with and Engineering degree, 5 job offers, no kids, no jail time, no venereal diseases, no abortions and no drug addictions. Big Deal...That's what you're supposed to do. I was an atheist, the only higher power I believed in was myself. I ran wild on the campus of Rutgers.

I didn’t sit back on anything for anything. There wasn’t any praying to God and waiting for my prayers to be answered. I didn’t believe in God so I had to make it happen. Period. The fact that I am taking it back to 1997 doesn’t mean that I don’t believe in God or prayer, but I think God has already answered my prayers. He’s given me everything that I need to get what I want out of this life. I will reserve God for things I can’t change or affect, like health issues for family and friends. I will pray for other people's salvation and things I can’t control.

1997 for me was survival of the fittest. I did what I needed to do to get where I wanted to go. If you were in my inner circle you benefited, if you were out, you were screwed. Run with me or get run over was my mantra. It was a much happier way of life, because I’m a control freak and I had control. I was much happier and very successful.

I’m not saying that I will take advantage of people become a prick or be rude, but I will not walk around giving everyone the same respect that I have been. I will respect no one unless they have earned it. If I see opportunity I am taking it. If someone can get over on you 8 times out of 10 they will (lately it's been 10 out of 10). People outside of your inner circle don’t care about you or your situation. They are protecting themselves and their inner circles, if y ou are not doing the same you are a diservice to yourself and those you care for.

The public portrays successful people as friendly, always smiling, shaking hands and laughing. These son of bitches are friendly and smiling because they are rich. Bill Gates is a ruthless dude. He is out to put his competitors out of business. Tiger Woods is one of the most ruthless people in the world. He doesn’t care about your feelings. No, scratch that, he wants you to feel fear when you are on the course with him. He is looking out for his career, his family, his friends and their well being. To accomplish that he must annihilate his compettitors; destroy them without any regards to their feelings, or the impact on his career.

Adopting this attitude will benefit and has benefited me already.

My truck for the small business was in the shop to the tuned of $1449.00. That’s fresh off a $2300 car repair. Those things you can’t control- that much. The first quote was $1600. After some advice from my Pops and a few calls, the price was down to $1449. The truck was finished and ready for work on Saturday. My operations manager picks the truck up on Saturday and it won’t start. He goes into the dealership and the guy says, “ It’s Saturday, sorry there is nothing we can do, there is no mechanic on duty”. He said all they do is oil changes and light repairs. My operations manager calls me and I’m furious; but I’m also back to 1997. All I care about is getting this truck on the road and my guys working. If we don’t work my inner circle suffers. When I hit the dealership I look at the dude behind the counter. I told him I need to talk to his boss. He said he was the boss. I proceeded to tell him how he was going to get someone somewhere to fix this truck. He could see it in my eyes that someone was going to get hurt if that truck wasn’t fixed.

Now before I got there he didn’t care. He was at his little 9-5, with his little title, and little business cards. My operations manager wasn’t a cute girl or had nothing to do with him, so why go out of his way. For a split instant he could see that none of that mattered to me. I could care less, and I would make his life hell. Complaints to his upper management, letters to the dealership owner, whatever I needed to do to make his life hell. He could see and feel all of this in our 30 second conversation. So what happens? They push the truck inside, take off the engine cover and find a loose wire. He sprays some sealant in it and the truck starts.

The old me would have told my guys they have the weekend off, and I would wait to Monday. 1997 me went in with his foot cocked and came out with a running truck. Everybody back to work.

"1997 me" would have never married my first wife. 97’me is "no joke". With God on my side and a new attitude will "2006 and beyond me" be stronger then 97 me? Only time and the blog will tell.

-97 MJL

32 Years Old - The Year of the Mogul

So each birthday you try and set some goals for yourself. You try and say that you are going to do things different and not make the same mistakes. Just like all the other birthdays, Friday I told myself I will celebrate this weekend but when Monday comes along I'm going to be a new me. I had all these great ideas about staying focused, eating right and excercisng, and becoming a great person. Then life kicked me in the nuts! I bring my car in for brakes and it ends up costing an earth shattering $2348.60. Damn!!!

Now if it was $563.50 (which happens to be the amount for the brakes) then I wouldn't even mention it. Don't get me wrong $500 is stil a ton of money but it's not $2348. So now comes the mad scramble for cash. Is my car worth $2348? Is the mechanic being honest?

All this stuff is what rich people don't worry about. They buy cars and get new ones every 100,000 miles. If you drive a Lexus they come and get it, and take it to the dealership. This type of surprise although they can afford it doesn't happen.

After taking the kick in the nutz, I eat a big piece of chocolate cake (compliments of my girlfriends Mom), and watch Jay-Z's new video, and now I'm back. What ever it takes to inspire you and keep the fight going. There is a bright side if one chooses to consider it. I get a day off while my car is getting repaired. I will use this day to get caught up and regroup. Get my mind right and nurture ideas. The question is not will I be a millionaire by 35, but how many times over. I have to start seeing little problems as such and think big. I have to think like a Mogul - Puffy, Jay, Gates, Buffet.

Tomorrow will be my new birthday. The regroup and refocus starts now. A Mogul is born.

Holla at your Mans.

-MJL

LET'S HEAR IT FOR BROTHER RAY.....

Another insightful occurrence this week has given me a paradigm shift.

While working my dream job, I stop in the cafeteria and am shocked to see my man Ray flashed up on the TV screen. The purpose of the screen is to display birthdays, quality alerts, and plant successes such as “130 days without accidents”. Well today Rays’ picture flashes on the screen and it says something to the effect of “Our Condolences to the Ray Hill family”.

WTF

I go to Human Resources and have found out, Ray has passed away. Not the best way to be notified, but it’s reality.

Now, let’s be truthful. Ray wasn’t my greatest friend. Nothing annoys me more, then when someone passes away and suddenly he or she was all things to all people. When Proof (from D12) passed away, suddenly everybody in the Detroit area knew Proof. “Aww I just seem him the other day” or “I was just kickin’ it with his cousin”. When Tupac died, everybody was a Tupac fan. When someone dies, people come out of the woodworks claiming all kind of unsubstantiated dealings with that person. Why not? Who can dispute it. The person is dead.

Let’s call Ray exactly what he was. He was a cool guy who worked on our assembly line. Not a good friend, not even a friend so to speak, but an associate. Ray was the guy who was a fatherly type, and when you walked out to the plant floor, he would take off his glove, give you a pound and ask how things were.

He was the guy who reminded you of your father and gave you the encouraging words that you needed to hear. After a difficult meeting he would tell you not to keep your cool, walk around the plant and go back and fight another day. As my marriage fell apart he let me know that I would be a better person and that I can move on knowing I tried my best. He pushed me to keep my small business up and running. With all the good advice, smiles and encouraging words, never once did he mention his Cancer. Ray lost his first wife and child in a fire years back, but you would never know from his demeanor and attitude.

These people are few and far between. Now I’m not necessarily over saddened by Ray’s untimely departure, but it has thrown me into one of my deep thought sessions. I know Ray would be telling me to keep my head up, keep pushing until I reach my goals.

Once you are an adult no one keeps pushing you to become a better you. Children in today’s schools are told they are doing a good job when they are average. At work people are told they are working hard, and doing a “Great Job” when in fact they are just performing their jobs to expected levels. Whatevery your trying to accomplish, Ray would remind you that people who aren’t nearly as talented, or smart, or driven as you have already accomplished what you are trying to do, so you have no excuse.

You can go years without hearing anyone telling you that you can work harder, that you can do more, exercise more, think more, plan more. Where is that motivating push in society. We have become pansy asses, afraid of criticism and failure.

Ray’s spirit will be another tool in my arsenal to keep pushing toward my goals. This blogsight, my Sisters’ my friend Big Steve, and my girlfriend are all motivators to keep pushing. I am surrounded by people who dish out honest advice, constructive criticism, and lead by example.

Let’s give a shout out for brother Ray! Rest in Peace.

-MJL

REPLY TO: SOCCER MOM, FOOTBALL DAD

Sometime I get comments that are good enough to be used as a post. The following is from a reader named Babs. Thank you for the colorful commentary!

Wow, all that is sooo true. I'm always amazed at how us women can go out in public looking crazy! it's takes just as much time and effort to put on a cute velour sweatsuit as it does an ugly big Hanes one! you NEVER know who you're going to run into! it may be an ex that did you wrong, so look cute, make him look twice and think damn why did I mess up! not damn she is tore up, I'm glad I left! But just for your own feeling, put on some lip gloss, it only takes a second to slick back a ponytail. It doesn't cost a lot to look "clean" and put together. You don't need a face full of make-up or your hair all done up, guys like a girl who can look natural and comfortable without looking like you haven't showered in a week. Invest in some cute jeans, cute (trendy) t-shirts (no they are not expensive), cute sweats, some clean t-shirts and at least 1 pair of nice tennis shoes. We all have out days where we want to just bum it, but do that at home when you go out look decent, be proud to be a woman, we are beautiful big and small.
On the note about weight, I believe now that it is important to exercise not just for looks but for our health, my daughter is 13 and I NEVER look like the soccer mom in the big mom jeans that go all the way up under your boobs, I don't work out all the time because I'm a single mom, I work full time, I go to school and my daughter is involved in piano, soccer, dance, etc...but I'm always put together and I now make time at lunch to go to the gym because it's important that I feel good about myself, no man wants a woman who has low self-esteem and no (good, decent) man wants a woman who just lets herself go, I"m not saying be a size 5, cause I'm not but just be presentable, I want my man to be proud to show me off, to be proud to take me out and know that I feel good and feel sexy. That is something that I have to work on myself and I'm getting there, but please listen and just put on some decent clothes when you step out even to the grocery store!

-Babs

THE MILLIONAIRE MIND

Really I don't have a topic for this post. I'm just writing this sort of as a log of things I'm working through personally. When the money is stacked, I can look back at this post as a testament of the problems I had to work through.

One of the last sunny warm weekends in Michigan and what was I doing? I was grinding. That means cleaning, planning, accounting, research, development, and organizing until I can’t read straight. Then I sleep for a few hours and go at it again. There is no regard to time, just peace of mind. When Sunday arrives, there is a sense of urgency to get to a point of completion where I can start the week feeling aggressive and confident enough to kick the ass necessary to start the week.


Well my small business is chugging away at a loss. I had to come to grips with this situation and the staggering loss I will have to sustain to bring this thing to profitability. It seems when all is going well there is always something to set me back from making this endeavor fully profitable.

I don't want to get caught up in my own ego and keep working at something that is going to bring me completely down and take years off my life. My small business is very personalized and it hurts for it not to be successful. Before I make the decision to continue at a loss, I bounce the facts off of a few key people and get their feedback. I might not agree with what they have to say, but I listen and think, and consider it. This is key to being successful. When all is said and done, I should be looking good April 2007. Yes, I said the same for May 2006, but all I can do is plan and consider the numbers, and they are positive. I have to leave everything else to God and fate. Plan the work and work the plan.



My corporate job seems to be going well. We landed two more GM contracts on Friday, so that means we are going to be running GM strong for the two years. This adds a certain level of complexity to my position, thus breaking up the monotony of the job, introducing a heightened level of risk, to continuing a successful track record. Everything I love, but it doesn't come with the check or the respect it deserves.

Now that I have a girlfriend (yes...sorry to disappoint) it adds a certain constraint on my activities, but it helps me balance myself. Time that I used to spend out late at clubs, I spend with her. This is way more enjoyable then going to clubs, getting drunk getting home at 3:00 AM. I’m gonna’ be 32 for crying out loud! She is very entrapanureal herself and it helps to have another successful person in my camp.


With all my planning almost complete, and a spotless apartment, I look to long term planning. This small business is just a window to bigger business ventures. The mind never stops.

Maybe that Sunday that I'm in the Gallardo returning from the perfect round of golf, speeding to my beautiful home, with a manicured lawn, circular drive and double doors. I'm greeted by my beautiful wife and kids. I can smell dinner cooking as I tell my wife about my golf round and hear the tales of the kids activities for the day.



Sounds like a great life. Will I be at peace then?

HELL NO!







I got the yellow Gallardo, I need the green.

I just shot an 85, I need to get my rounds down into the 70's

I'm feeling kind of chunky, I better go running after dinner.

Did my kids do their homework,

What's my schedule for tomorrow...

My wife’s birthday is coming up……..


That's how I roll! The Millionaire Mind never stops…….

Holla

-MJL

THE LAWS OF POWER III (Part 1 of 2)

CONCEAL YOUR INTENTIONS

"Keep people off-balance and in the dark by never revealing the purpose behind your actions. If they have no clue what you are up to, they cannot prepare a defense. Guide them far enough down the wrong path, envelop them in enough smoke, and by the time they realize your intentions, it will be too late. "

Ok, this one is pretty deep. Remember these tactics are to be used to gain power, not friends. Many of these laws are deceptive and manipulative but good. You can even see how on shows like "The Apprentice" and "Survivor" these laws are keys to success.

The first part of this law involves putting forth false intentions.

USE DECOYED OBJECTS OF DESIRE AND RED HERRINGS TO THROW PEOPLE OFF THE SCENT

Robert Green says, "Use false sincerity, send ambiguous signals, set up misleading objects of desire. Unable to distinguish the genuine from the false they cannot pick out your real goal".

In business, when talking with people I try to figure out their intentions before I think about what they are actually saying. Their intentions often gives true meaning to what and why they are telling me certain things. In turn, I assume that people are doing the same to me.

I have a slight advantage in this because I do not fit the mold very easily. I am not an easy read by anyone and my motives are very hard to decipher. I have a small select group of "friends" that I am open with, and everyone else can kiss my ass.

More from Robert Greene:
"Most people are open books. They say what they feel, blurt out their opinions at every opportunity, and constantly reveal their plans and intentions. They do this for several reasons. First, it is easy and natural to always want to talk about one's feelings and plans for the future. It takes effort to control your tongue and monitor what you reveal. Second many believe that by being honest and open they are winning people’s hearts and showing their good nature. "

I fight the urge to belt out plans and actions by confiding in close friends. You want to shout out every moment that you are going to rule the world but by being "unabashedly open you make yourself predictable and familiar". It is almost impossible to respect or fear you, and power will not accrue to a person who cannot inspire such emotions.

I have seen this first hand at my job. We had a high ranking official that was so predictable. He was so emotional that he could not possibly conceal his plans and his hatred toward me and other high ranking officials, allowing his every move to be countered until his demotion.

That's right, I don't play at work. I will take you down!

Another tactic mentioned by Robert Green is false intentions. "Hide your intentions not by closing up (with the risk of appearing secretive, and making people suspicious) but talking endlessly about your desires and goals- just not your real ones. You will kill three birds with one stone: You appear friendly, open and trusting; you conceal your intentions; and you send your rivals on time-consuming wild-goose chases."

Part 2 to follow.


-MJL

Back in Action

Well, after a week of hosting 3 Shanghai customers and 2 Korean visitors I am whooped. Last week pushed me to my physical and mental limit; probably the most challenging week for me this year.

My guests flew into Detroit on Friday and had to be hosted from Friday to Thursday evening. While hosting I also had to work with my customer 14 hours per day, during their stay. Of course they could not drive in the states so I had to drive them around town.

With all that being said, I built up an incredible admiration for them. The 3 customers were all in their late 20's and all very good people. They were really good at their respective positons and challenged me both intellectually and socially. Since most communication is non-verbal our guests were able to tell pretty quick, genuine people from fake-ass people. As I began to devlop their trust, they would let me know what they think about certain people they have met or worked with, and they were surprisingly accurate. What would take normally 3-4 months to observe about someone's personality they were abe to figure out in hours. I will try and pay more attentio to nonverbal cues in the future. I never knew how powerful they were.

Thanks for the email support, regarding my continued posts. Don't worry, I haven't left, I only took a week off. You can always scroll throught the archives for the "Best Of" posts. (Now I know how Howard Stern feels when he goes on vacation). I AM BACK IN ACTION

-MJL

SOCCER MOM, FOOTBALL DAD

Ok, on these pages right here, I am vowing never to be the football Dad. Of course I will take my kid to his little league games and watch football on Sundays, but I will never be that fat dude who lays around all day Sunday, no shower, in his PJ bottoms, ketchup stained wife beater, using his belly as a table, eating Nachos.

As I struggle to give my 100% the thing that is clear is my vision of myself in the future. I will always be East Coast to the core. When I read Esquire or GQ, I don't just look at the $295 shirts and $400 pants, I can see them on me. I can see that gear in my closet. When I'm at the supermarket, I'm still "clean". Not clean in the sense that I just took a shower, but I'm "Clean" as in "So Damn Fresh". If it's just sweats, or shorts and a T-shirt, they fit me nicely, they aren't too wrinkled or too ironed. My clothes are trendy enough to be timeless and tasteful. I always look presentable enough to meet someone's parents. No crazy T-shirts or pants hanging off my ass.

Here in the Midwest I am still surprised how people just succomb to their surroundings. You don't have to be flashy but you can have some self respect and take time to pull yourself together.

Recently I attended the Michigan State Fair. Now, I know it's just a fair, but the same event in New Jersey is like a music video. Yeah I know.....If I was in Jersey, I would be talking about how everyone is over doing it; but there is a sane middle ground that needs to be reached. I have never seen so many people who had no regard for their personal appearance in my life. Take that few extra minutes and pull yourself together. Ladies you have options. Pull the hair back, pull out a scrunchy from the 90's or even put a nice scarf on. Fella's keep doin' what your doin' becuase you are just making me look that much better.
HOT COUPLES & NOT COUPLES

This same thing applies with couples. They feed off each other, and my wife won't be a soccer mom. I understand that life isn't all glitz and glamour. I understand that very well. In fact 85% of the time, a movie, going out to dinner or watching some good TV is considered a good night; in most cases, a great night. The difference is: a hot couple is having fun and bugging out watching TV and having a dinner. They are looking good, feeling good and feeding off each other. The remaining 15% of the time is spent doing things outside the box, wine tasting, language lessons, traveling, loving and living life. Feeling and enjoying new experiences. I feel when you can't get the 85% right then no need to worry about the 15%.

Typically couples die when they get married. They don't have the energy to keep things fresh and exciting. The guy is just looking at hot chicks while he turns into one. He develops a gut and man boobs. He walks around unshaven and unshowered all weekend. No longer so fresh and so clean. No energy to do anything. In turn, the wife does exactly the same thing.

If you ever visit Chicago or other Big cities you can tell the "hot" couples from the "not" couples. The guy could be 50, but he is in shape, and smelling good. His wife although thicker, still has her curves and knows how to work them. They are still into each other 20 years later. They both work out, not for each other but for themselves. I'm sure she takes her kids to soccer practice and he watches football on the weekends but they look good and feel good doing it.

What does this have to do with being a millionaire? Everything. You have to act as if. You have to act as if you already made it. You are marketing yourself. You are a franchise player for your own franchise. Self made millionaires are typically well respected leaders. If you are frumpy, overweight and lazy how can you hope to inspire and lead a charge. What if you are at the grocery store and see a potential client and you are wearing torn oil stained jeans, with your Phuck the Police t-shirt on. Is this guy going to give you any business? Is he going to trust you?

What if you are at the post office and you have rollers in your hair, flip flops and a doo-doo face. The promotion you were up for, just got put on hold. Not fair, Life ain't fair and we all know that. Clean sneakers, a cap with your hair tucked in and a clean t-shirt is just as quick as that house coat you put on to get coffee and donuts on Sunday.
Represent yourself how you want people to see you. Perception is 95% of the game. Like Jay-Z says....."I'm not a businessman - I AM a BUSINESS........Man"

So tuck your shirt in, shine your shoes and lets get to work.

-MJL

AUTO INDUSTRY BLUES

Having the luxury of not living in an automotive based city my entire life, I realize it's hard for states in the coastal regions to feel the impact of Ford's most recent layoffs.

In Michigan if you work at one of, what is commonly known as the "Big Three" assembly plants you are doing well. The "Bit Three" refer to Ford, Chrysler and GM. Yes, you are a fork lift driver or you work on the assembly line, but you are also making a six figure income. Hard to believe but true. Until recently forklift drivers at Delphi were commanding six figure incomes. Six figures in MI is equivalent to making $145,000 in New Jersey. You are living quite well. No headaches, low stress (compareritively speaking), and a fat check.

Let's look at the typical lifestyle of a United Auto Worker. Say his name is Bill. He has been on the job for 20 years now. From 1996-2000 he made about $115,000 annually with proift sharing bonuses nearing $6700 bucks right at Christmas time. His wife has quit working to help raise their three kids. Bill has a house up North (very common in Michigan), with that property a mortgage, 2 snowmobiles and a small boat. His primary residence is valued at approximately $295,000. He decided to move to a bigger house when mortgage rates dropped super low a few years back. He drives a brand new Ford F150, and his wife drives a 2 year old Explorer. His 18 year old daugther drives the old family car that has 5 more payments left. When Bill brought the bigger house he upgraded to a riding lawnmower (compliments of a Home Depot card that he got 10% off his first purchase). You know Bill couldn't just get the lawnmower without getting a snowblower and a fancy little shed to store all of his new goodies. Also to compliment the new house his wife had to have furniture, not to mention all of the home theater equipment Bill got from Best Buy. It's Ok though. Bill didn't have to make a payment on the furniture until 2006!
Bill's credit rating is sky high, and so are his credit card bills. He's not worried because he will be getting a $6700 check ($4,2,00) after taxes just in time for Christmas.

That check doesn't come doesn't come in 2001. "Oh well, I will just use my overtime money after the Christmas holiday" , Bill says to his wife . Since 2001, the average UAW (United Auto Worker) overtime hours have been cut 5 hours weekly a year or $10,000 annually. The $6700 average profit sharing was now a measley $600 in 2004.
Bill and his wife were just hoping that the economy would bounce back, instead of making the necessary lifestyle adjustments that were needed. Now if Bill gets laid off, he and his family don't know what to do. Bill has driven a forklift for the last 20 years. He has no other marketable skills. This is typical, like the guy who puts the doors on the car you are driving. He has been working 60 hours a week, and snowmobiling, lawn cutting and watching football on his 42 inch plasma. When and why would he want any more skills.

Bill's scenario is probably typical for about 45% of the population in the Detroit area. (this figure is a guess, all other monetary figures taken from "The Detroit News").

That is why it is very important not to over extend yourself. A smart Bill would have been stacken his chips. Bill would be chillin' if he had stayed in the smaller house which he had about $50,000 of equity in. No furniture payments, no Best Buy, or Home Depot bills, no fees to pay the new housing community and lower taxes. He could have used all of that money to pay off his and his wife's vehicles. Then, if he gets layed off the buyout would be more then enough for him to land on his feet. He would see it is a cash cow, and possibly have the ability to relocate, or start a business for himself. Simpler then that, he could use it to go to school and become marketable in a different field.


As with any delcine in the economy there is money to be made. With the "to good to be true" mortgage deals everyone recieved, people are desparetly over extended. Those three year arms are now expired. The housing market is tanking and real estate is looking like a good long term investment.
Although I have my sites on many a real estate endeavor, the plan is defintley not to try to buy and sell. There is no one to sell to. I literally know 6 people with two houses becuase they can't sell one. The idea is to rent to people like Bill who have to foreclose on their house, while he takes a low paying job and his wife has to check me out in Kroger. (Cruel but true. I could be bagging for his wife tomorrow. ) I will only buy property here if I see an economic up turn in the near future. Will a company like Toyota come to Michigan and buy all of these plants that are already set up to support that type of business? Will Nissan partnership with GM like Daimler did Chrysler? Google has made a small move to Ann Arbor. Then I can make my move. I will have to buy, and hold, and hold, and hold, and then sell. I have no problem with that.
I will be like the Black Donald Trump in this Bitch (minus the hair flip). First I have to stop my small business from bleeding all over my bank account, then I can move forward. One thing at a time.

AT LEAST GAS IS CHEAP AGAIN (GOTTA LOVE ELECTION TIME) !


-MJL

THE KEY TO SUCCESS DISCOVERED!

Last week was a monumental week. The revelation occurred as me and my "all so frustrated" counterpart Big S brainstormed over our mediocre $4.00 lunches at a job that makes chewing glass look like a good idea.
We use lunch as a time to regroup and figure out a way to achieve the riches that continue to cruelly elude us on a daily basis.

We think we have found one of the key ingredients that make successful people successful. This is such a profound thought because in all of the numerous mind numbing literature I have read about success, self improvement, leadership etc. I have never been privy to this information.

Now I’m passing it on to my readers free of charge.

Here goes:

How many people actually give 100% of themselves at anything? You can always say you tried hard, but can you really say that you gave 100%? 100% is usually used for a select group of people like Olympians, recovering addicts, and professional athletes.

We tried to dissect ourselves to try and rationalize the reason that 100% effort is not given. The only thing that we could come up with, is the fact that the pay off is not guaranteed. I also think when you have a certain level of intelligence and commonsense you might go your entire life putting forth 85% and that’s been more then enough to propel you to society’s definition of success.

If someone told you that they would give you a million dollars to run a 6 minute mile 3 months from now, your life would change immediately. If you seriously signed a contract and the money was put right under your nose, you would put down the large fries and start training. Per the agreement you are not allowed to quit your job, or spend any less time with your family, but you can do anything else to prepare for your six minute mile. Somehow you would make time to train. You would replace all your reading material with running information. You would have sweat suits in your car for a run before you got home and before work. You would replace all of your internet browsing bookmarks with running sites, messageboards and blogs. You would be fitness crazy. Only a fool wouldn’t give a 100%

This is the mind game that some worldclass athletes are brainwashed into when they are young. A perfect example of this is in the Spike Lee movie "He Got Game". It's about a basketball prodigy, Jesus Shuttlesworth (played by Ray Allen), and his relationship with his father, Jake Shuttlesworth (played by Denzel Washington). During the movie they show flashbacks of the basketball prodigy and his father. They are shown on the basketball court at night, doing running drills. Jake is running with a young Jesus telling him, "The only two people up right now are you and Michael Jordan, and what is Michael doing, training. ". Then he beginns to instill the guarantee of success in his child, " What are you gonna by your mama, What kind of house? ". So Jersus is brainwashed into thinking that if he gives 100% he would be the best basketball player in the US. There was no doubt, so that 100% is not hard to do.

Tiger Woods had this same advantage since he was a kid and continues to enjoy it. He can give 100% daily because he knows that he will win and become the best in the world. Players like Phil Mickelson, find it hard to give 100% working on their game because Tiger has already defeated them mentally. Why give 100% when you know you will never be better then Tiger. Phil can give 85% and still be one of the top players in the world. For fat Phil, that is good enough.


What does all this mean? The reason that we don't give 100% is fear of failure. Fear that we would give everything we possibly have, to reach a goal and not hit it. We would rather give 85% percent and fail, saying at least I tried, then to go hard for 100%.

This applies to me and my resistance to give 100% to my outside endeavors. What am I afraid of? I will try and concentrate on the reward rather then the failure. If I realize the reward as concrete then I should be able to go 100%.

Sounds good in theory but can I apply it? 85% has been good enough to make me moderately successful in the past. Am I all talk and no action?
Knowing this information has put the responsibility of my success on me not any outside excuses. Knowing this information has put the responsibility on his success on Big S.

If you are reading this, you know it’s true, and your success has now been placed in your hands and know one else’s. I have chosen to accept this responsibility because I need to be successful, by our definition of success. There is no other alternative for me. Rich or nothing.

LET’S GO!


-MJL

AGGHHHHH!

7:00 and I'm still at work. Came in at 6:00 AM because I had a conference call with China. Went to bed at 1:00 AM because I'm sending emails. My entire goal in life today was to leave at 5:30 and work on my own shzit.

I feel like running head first into a brick wall. I feel like ripping my skin off and sending my skeleton for a jog. I am literally on the phone right now while my Korean and Shanghai counterparts are babbling about issues that they can solve without me. When will the madness stop.

I'm coming to work tomorrow with one of those big ass hands that you buy at sport events, and I'm just slapping anybody that talks to me. You can't get rich this way. This right here....This...This is the number one reason I'm not rich.

What do I do? Do I get a new job? Not so easy. I need to somehow figure this out...and quick. Before someone gets hurt. I can feel my pimp hand itching to come out of retirement.

......and yes, I just typed this entire thing while on hold listening to Korean and Chinese blabber.

Seacreast Out

-MJL

Labor Day Rant

Well it's officially September, and the end of summer. The good thing about starting this blog, is the fact that it keeps a log of things I've said I need to accomplish. The bad thing about the blog is that it keeps a log of things I've said I need to accomplish.

I still haven't been able to control my professional job, or market my small business the way I need too. I am a well-spoken, somewhat charismatic guy, but can't seem to build the confidence needed to market aggressively. My hours at my day job have not decreased and I have even less control then I have ever had before of the day to day work flow.

I ask myself what is the difference between me and the guy who really drives a Gallardo? Yeah, I can say that his parents are rich, or that he was lucky, but I think you make your own luck. What is that guy doing that I'm not doing? Well I need to find the answer and do it.



As a huge TV and Film fan I watch the show "The Contender". That's a reality show with boxers who all want to be headliners, pitted against each other with elimination bouts fought after each episode. When these guys are interviewed before their fights, they all say the same things. "I'm hungry Dog", "I have to do this for my family", "I live for this", "I sacrificed everything for this". Often when they get in the ring, one guy fights like he is hungry and the other guy fights like a bitch. When you see the mentally defeated fighter in his corner between rounds, they look like they want to quit more then anything in the world. That's how I feel. I am not fighting like I want it. I am fighting like success is my birthright. Sometime I think because I work slightly harder then the next guy then success is guaranteed.


Nothing is promised in this world. Look at the beloved Crocodile Hunter. Yes, he is really dead. No one is promised tomorrow. Like a very inspirational friend of mine says, “ There are no Guarantees”. The Crocodile Hunter got stung in the heart by a Stingray. By a damn Stingray! Experts stressed that stingrays are not usually vicious and rarely attack and kill humans, unlike the range of deadly creatures Irwin had confronted in the past. There are no Guarantees.








Those who are fans of the show Entourage, know the energetic Ari Gold Character played by Emmy Award Winning Jeremy Piven. Just watching him during one of his well-scripted masterfully directed tirades leaves you exhausted. There are numerous shots where the camera is following Ari as he walks in a room or runs through crowds. You feel the energy he brings to each situation. Ari takes his work to the extreme, doing whatever it takes to get the job done. Despite his drive and determination, he still finds himself hustling to stay on top. He gets fired from his agency, and then starts his own. Each set back makes him better and more successful.


For Tracking Purposes let's look at a few summer time setbacks:

1. Transmission blown in the business truck ($2800)
2. Loss of my biggest account
3. Loss of control over my China/ Korean Program at work
4. I have not visited my family all summer

Now the summer hasn't been all doom and gloom.
A few positive notes:

Although frustrating as ever I have significantly improved my golf game. This is key in the world of business.

I have built this blog sight into a nice little income stream thanks to all of my readers.

I have managed to get my weight under the 180 mark (the six pack is right around the corner). I’m currently weighing in at 179.999 thanks to an elephant Ear at a particular State Fair.

I have created a structure for small business tracking that will allow me to run my business with increased efficiency. This should decrease operating costs by more then 10% .

I have two business plans that have proved to be a lot more promising then I thought.

Labor Day is the door to the second half of the year, and I will start fresh on Tuesday trying to work smarter, instead of reacting. Things are going well, and like previously posted I will leverage the good situations to make things great. (See archive 2006-07-09 WHEN THE SUN IS SHINING PREPARE FOR THE RAIN)
I have to remember to use all of my God given talents to create my luck. I am not that guy that gets things the easy way. Like Ari Gold, I will outpace my set backs and turn each one into a “Gold-en” opportunity.


LET'S HUG IT OUT BITCH!

-MJL

AMERICA'S OLDEST TEEN

I’m not a big fan of award shows, but as a big fan of TV I do watch and appreciate the Emmy’s. Year after year, the Emmy's are delivered with extreme style and class (despite Sunday's airplane crash spoof).

During the airing, they gave tribute to Dick Clark. They proceeded to show dozens of clips from Dick’s American Band Stand series, clips of Dick in Time Square, & tons of historical guest appearances.

The tribute was delivered by a hairy “chested”, tacky lookin’ Simon Cowell. While attempting to be a beef-caked sex symbol, Simon was right about one thing; there are very few names that can spark recognition through three or more generations as Dick Clark can. After the video tribute and before Barry Manilow performed his tribute song, Dick Clark spoke.

Now I’m not the most sensitive dude, but I stopped what I was doing to look and listen to Dick. I was literally choked up. Dick Clark had a stroke in December 2004. All news reports referred to the stroke as mild. The affect the stroke had on Dick was nothing but mild. This is the man known for being charismatic, eloquent and well spoken. As he spoke last night, his words were slow, slurred and labored. He could not even walk out on stage or stand during his speech. He didn’t even look like Dick Clark. I haven't witnessed a contrast this dramatic since that of the great Ali.

Instantly I was in touch with my mortality. I will not live forever. As I start the work week, I will attempt to preserve this image of Dick Clark and his faltering health. Time is not on our side. I will not take my health and youth for granted; I will take each day to the limit and strive to get the most out of life. I will seize each opportunity to laugh, take every chance to turn up the music and dance to life. As I proceed to go about my weekly routine in a job that promotes suicide on an hourly basis, I will find the enjoyment and live life to the fullest.

No one is promised tomorrow, not even the Rich and Famous.

-MJL

THE THINKER

THE THINKER

As usual, I am busy as hell, and loving every minute of it. It's 1:49 AM and my mind still hasn't stopped. What goes on in there? You don't want to know, or do you? I had a meeting this morning at 10:00 and decided to write down my thoughts, exactly as I thought them in that meeting. No editing, pure raw thoughts.

At 10:03 AM they were as follows:

• F'ck this damn meeting
• F'ck Warranty
• How come I'm not rich,
• Did I get enough done this weekend?
• Damn, everyone in this room has a fat gut.
• If I let myself go like that, sneak up behind me and hit me with a 2x4
• My V.P. Sucks
• My job Sucks
• How come our lady at the front desk isn't Hot.
• Am I that shallow......Yes
• Everything cost f'kin money
• Damn my Mom is going to need help soon
• If I had a Gallardo - I would drive it butt naked with a clown nose on and an afro wig.
• How are all these fat bastards still married and I cant' make my marriage last 6 months
• F' my ex wife
• I should hit some golf balls today
• I got to work harder
• I need more money
• Is my posture as shzitty as his
• I need to get more customers for my small business
• Damn, let me out of this damn room
• Damn Pirates of the Carribean II made 136 million in it's first week
• How much would Pirates in the Hood make, starring Dave Chapelle?
• Snakes on a Plane - What the F'ck
• I could be getting so much done if I wasn't sitting here
• If I had a Gallardo, I would drive it butt naked with tube socks on.
• I wish I could do crunches in this chair
• I need a hot girl before I'm rich, before the Gallardo
• HOW COME I'M NOT RICH
• I wish I had an office
• At half speed I'm twice as good as everyone in this room
• Who in the hell is breathing that heavy
• An office with a bathroom is the shzit
• Run from MTV's Run's house, does he really have that much money?
• I did 110 mph on I-75 on the way to work this morning, I have to put away that Mobb Deep CD
• I need a hot car, I need a hot girl, Shallow Shallow..
• Girls make me loose focus, I need to stay focused
• Snifff, Sniff, Who's breath smells like butt and B.O. ?
• That's "B" B.O., ha ha ha
• Jerry Seinfeld has mad money
• If I had a Gallardo I would pull up to the club in tighty whites and tap shoes, and do the running man.
• I need to make more money
• I'm so frustrated. I need to do some push ups.
• Tiger was the shzit this weekend
• He is focused, and professiona, and rich.
• My golf game sucks, sucks
• Why am I not Rich
• Damn I only slept 3 hours last night
• Nip Tuck is the shzit
• I can't believe I ate a donut on Friday
• The Jefferson's are on TV Land
• I hate the new Lionel the old Lionel is hood
• Who would win, The old Lionel vs Lamont Sanford?
• Aww shzit I"m suppoed to be writing a recco letter for my boy!
• I can't forget to get cat food,
• Damn, I have to go to China again.
• If I had a Gallardo, I would drive it butt-naked with glittery gold cowboy boots and a neck tie
• 10:05 Damn fifty five minutes left.

-MJL

For your Reference: A Gallardo

No it's not mine, if it was I would be driving it butt naked.........

Thomas' Tip Of The Day: August 18, 2006

On my way to the book store this weekend I saw a huge Garage Sale. Hardcover books for $.50 Cents. Why Not? I went and took a look, and found a book called Power Thinking. It basically gives insight to how the mind, and our thought processes set us up to fail before we even start playing the game.

One of the stories that really stuck with me was that of George Dantzig. From some internet snooping, I discovered this cat was a pioneer mathematician that did his thing. There are reports that some of Good Will Hunting was based off his life. George passed away last year; he was known as the inventor of the simplex algorithm and is considered the father of linear programming.

All that's nice, but the best story comes from his college days. Georgie boy was a student at Berkeley, right at the peak of the Great Depression. Soup lines and hard times for everyone. He was poised to graduate with a mathematics degree. George knew that it would be impossible for a mathematician to find gainful employment. He learned that the person who scored the highest in his mathematics class would get a job as an assistant teacher. Now this was motivation for "Dat Ass". All he had to do was kill this course and he would have an instant job.

Now Georgie boy knew he wasn't the brightest kid in the class but he had what we all have. The "Grind" factor. He was going to grind out the best grade possible. He grinded every night until he felt comfortable for the exam. In fact, he put in so much work that he lost track of time and ran late for the test. He ran to his desk and looked at the test. It had eight problems. "That's What's Up" he thought to himself ( or "Golly Gee Willikers, 8 Questions" I forgot he was a nerd). He knocked all eight questions out the box. Then he noticed that there were two additional questions on the blackboard.

He wrote them down and started working them. After trying to solve the first one he was at an impasse so he started working the second equation. No luck and time was running out. When the bell rang, he went to the professor and asked if he could have a little more time. "Sure G, You have until four o'clock on Friday, but your paper must be in by then."

George knew that there were crazy smart people in his class and that he had to solve these two problems in order to stand a chance at the teaching gig. He took the paper home and started grinding. He knew that he had know choice if he didn't want to be in the unemployment line. Tuesday & Wednesday he had no luck. Thursday afternoon, BOOOOYAH, he solved the first one. This gave him crazy confidence, and by Friday morning he nailed the second. He turned his paper in on time and went home wondering if he was going to have a job.

Early Sunday morning, George heard a knock on the door. "What the fu...", "Who Dat?" He opened the door and it was his Professor. 'What up Doc? " . The Professor said, George! George! You made mathematics history". George said, "What you talkin' bout Willis". The Professor said, "George, I was thinking as I came over here. You came to class late for the test, didn't you?" He continued, "Eight problems were on the test paper that you picked up off my desk. You solved them all correctly. The two problems I had written on the board were not a part of the test! I told everyone that if they had a love for mathematics to keep playing with these two famous unsolved problems for a lifetime of fun. Then I put those two problems on the blackboard. Even Einstein, to his death, played with those problems and couldn't solve them. You solved them, you solved them both. Not only have you made history, you also have the job". George gave a fist pump and started thinking about his future dough stacks.

That story shows you how we mentally beat ourselves. If George would have heard the statements made in the beginning of the exam, not only would he have not solved the problems, he probably wouldn't even have attempted. That's huge. I'm sure you can apply this to something in you past or present. Believe in yourself. You can achieve much more then you think. It's OK to fail but try again. It's Ok to be disappointed but don't be discouraged by it. Use it as motivation. If you have never been disappointed you were probably aiming too low or moving too slow.

-MJL

EINSTEIN WAS A PIMP

ARE THOSE 22 INCH SPINNERS?

IS THAT THE NEW ROCAWEAR BUTTON UP?

ALBERT, HOLLA AT YOUR BOY!

THE LAWS OF POWER II

NEVER PUT TOO MUCH TRUST IN FRIENDS, LEARN HOW TO USE ENEMIES

Our friend Robert Greene states, "Be wary of friends- they will betray you more quickly, for they are easily aroused to eny. They also become spoiled and tyrannical. But hire a former enemy and he will be more loyal than a friend, because he has more to prove. In fact , you have more to fear from friends then from enemies. If you have no enemies, find a way to make them".

Hmmm! I am very mixed on this one. I have frineds that I have hired and I have made friends with people that work with me and for me. I believe that the term friend is used loosley in this law. It is from my experience that a true friend with every sense of the word has your best interest in mind and heart. There is no way to really stop a friend from becoming jealous, but a true friend will be happy becuase you are happy. Your success and joys are shared. Jealousy is translatted to self improvement for that friend, not friend destruction.

Now, associates and friends are often used interchangebly. This person can use jealousy to fuel destruction. Associates are just that, they are associated with you through common circumstances, and have no problems watching themelves get ahead at your expense. The difference between an associate and a coworker is very little. You might occasionally eat luch with, or even attend a dinner party with an associate, but you are not or should not go to far in trusting them. Don't confuse daily conversation, and a Christmas card with friendship. Friendship goes much deeper then that.


Let's read more from the expert, "It is natural to want to employ your friends when you find yourself in times of need. The world is a harsh place, and your friends soften the harshness. Besides, you know them. Why depend on a stranger when you have a friend at hand? The problem is that you often do not know your friends as well as you imagine. Friends often agree on things in order to avoid an argument. They cover up their unpleasant qualities so as to not offend each other. They laugh extra hard at each other's jokes. Since honesty rearely strenthens friendship, you may never know how a friend truly feels. Friends will say that they love your poetry, adore your music, envy your tase in clothes - maybe they mean it, often they do not. When you decide to hire a friend, you gradually discover the qualities he or she has kept hidden. Strangely enough, it is your act of kindess that unbalances everything." " The more favors and gifts you supply to revive the friendship the less gratitude you recieve. "


I think being successful you have to have a talent for looking into peoples' personalities and spotting weaknesses. Once they are spotted they can be managed for your success. This is a tactic that I use, that I must use at work daily.


"Working with friends confuses the boundaries and distances that working requires. But if both partners in the arrangement understand the dangers involved, a friend often can be employed to great effect. You must never let your guard down in such a venture, however; always be on the lookout for any signs of emotional disturbance such as envy and ingrattitude. Nothing is stable in the realm of power, and even the closet of friends can be transoformed into the worse of enemies."


-MJL

Race Relations

Race is something I try desperately to stay away from. Recently however, it's come up in a few discussions where people have made some absurd assumptions or statements and I must vent.

Friday a Black woman asked me out for a drink. I declined politely and she said, "You probably don't want me because you date white girls". Considering the source of the comment I laughed and shrugged it off. In reality, I declined her invitation because I don't date, 2 kid havin', 2 baby father juggling, bad weave havin, Sheneneh lookin, ghetto ass BIAACHES!


Sheneneh Jenkins
Age: 26

Occupation: Weave Technician

Status: Single and loves to mingle

Sheneneh says: "I'm very much a lady, and likes a Brother that's down. If he disrespects me though, I'll beat him like he stole something. I like to stay cute in the face, thin in the waist. Oh My Goooodness"




RACE & SUCCESS

To achieve a higher level of success you must eliminate race consideration in professional and personal relationships. Without doing this you will only be limiting yourself from having possible life enriching experiences. As a business person and future millionaire you should be trained to rely on personality, ethics, and intelligence. If you limit yourself to one race in your daily interactions you are greatly limiting the amount of resources you have in society.

Let's take Sean Puffy Combs. Look at Puffy's Making the Band 3 which airs on MTV. You might say that he selected the racial mixture of women to increase sales, as a marketing ploy, but if you watched from the beginning, he actually chose the most talented girls out of the applying field of women. He knows in order to produce the most talented band, he needs the best of the best regardless of race. Diddy even goes as far as to encourage each girl to stay true to herself, by not acting in ways that betrays their true identities, knowing that each girl will learn from the other's experiences and backgrounds.


MYTH: "BLACK CHICKS ARE FAT, AND DON'T WORK OUT"
I have heard this more then once or twice. This is not a black thing or white thing. It's an income an upbringing thing. It is harder for lower income families to lead healthy lifestyles. They are often single parent households resulting in a shortage of money and time.

You have just worked 12 hours at "Fashion Barn" rode the bus home, cooked dinner and helped junior with his math. Do you think you're going out for a jog after that? Heeeell no, you are going to kick back and watch some Judge Mathis, and dose off, so you can do it all again in 7 hours.

On a limited budget the family is forced to eat what is on sale and fattier cuts of meat. With limited time, the appeal of fast food is greater, for it's cost and convienence. Growing up broke health isn't stressed, the focal point is survival.


MYTH: SUCCESSFUL BLACK MEN AND WHITE WOMEN

"Girrrlll, that's what they all do: Cling to a sista while they're broke and in school. Then get a good job or a contract and put a ring on the white girls hand".

This might appear to be the case, but in my opinion it has less to do with race, and more to do with available options, and development of one's opinion of outer beauty.

Typically as a lower income black man attends grade schools and middle schools, he is surrounded by girls from the neighborhood, his family, and his mothers friends. His idea of beauty is nurtured from these examples of strong black woman. As he becomes increasingly successful, there are less black women or women of color that he interacts with on a daily basis. He is surrounded by more financially secure, physically fit, often slimmer type woman. When in Rome you are attracted to Romans. Does the successful black man go back to the hood and look for a date? That's how you get hood rats. Instead of going back to the hood you develop newer social circles and date within.
My current circle of friends all have the same things in common: a sense of humor, aggressive, intelligent, caring & thoughtful. Those are traits that can be found in people any age, race or gender. This new circle is often mixed races and backgrounds, and the successful black man's future partner is chosen from this diverse selection of equally successful people. If she happens to be white, it draws attention in society. If she is black it seems to blend in and doesn't get mentioned because it doesn't support the stereo-type.

Let's take a quick look at the most widely criticized group for this behavior The NBA:

Allen Iverson ................Married to African-American woman
Tracy McGrady ............Married to African-American woman
Alonzo Mourning .........Married to African-American woman
Vince Carter .................Married to African-American woman
Grant Hill ....................Married to African-American woman
Allan Houston ..............Married to African-American woman
Stephon Marbury ......... Married to African-American woman
Anthony Mason .............Not married
Dikembe Mutombo .......Married to African-American woman
Theo Ratliff .................Married to African-American woman
Glenn Robinson ...........Married to African-American woman
Latrell Spreweel ............Engaged to African-American woman
Jerry Stackhouse ...........Married to African-American woman
Jason Kidd ..................Married to Arabic-Indian woman
Kobe Byrant .................Married to Hispanic-Caucasian
Shaquille O'Neal ...........Married to African-American woman
Tim Duncan ................Married to Caucasian
Chris Webber ...............Not married
Kevin Garnett ..............Not married
Karl Malone ................Married to Philippino woman
Gary Payton ................Married to African-American woman
David Robinson ...........Married to Hispanic woman
Rasheed Wallace.......... Married to African-American woman

Aha, the list, although true, is a trick.

If you found yourself actually reading the names above to see who was married to who, then you care way too much.


There is no noticeable trend, you have successfull people married to those who they have chosen to spend the rest of their life with. PERIOD!



Kobe's Wife could be a martian from
the planet -babygotbackalon for all I care.
She is still smokin HOT!












MYTH: "Black people are good in football and basketball, not golf and hockey"

This too becomes a study of income levels. A young kid in the hood can play basketball all day long. He doesn't even need a ball. The local park just needs a rim, no net necessary. Most have chains instead of nets. You show up at the park and chill with your friends until the one kid in the neighborhood with the ball shows up. Then you play until either he has to go home or he takes his ball because he's losing. Playing football, you don't even need a rim or a park. A ball and open space is all you need for two hand touch.

Golf is out of the question. The only time a kid in the hood sees a golf club is the four iron his dad keeps in the back seat for protection. I didn't swing a golf club until age 30. A kid would need an adult to take them to the course, a set of clubs, a glove, shoes etc.
I would be stuck at the adult part. Nobody had the time or the money to take me to a golf course, let alone buy me a set of clubs.

Hockey, where the hell is the ice? You need like $400 in pads, and how much is that big ass jersey. If you get that hockey Jersey you not playing in it, you're wearing that to school. That thing is too fresh to get sweaty.


definitely lower income families are challenged in society. This world is survival of the fittest and I think it's great. The lower income kid does not get a chance to see Mr. Jones leave for work every morning, in his BMW. Doesn't see him kiss his loving wife, and raise his kids properly. Instead he sees Tyrone on the corner dealing drugs, smoking weed, with the newest sneakers on. He sees Milo going to college on a basketball scholarship, or sees rap stars that look like him on TV. These are hood heroes; people who the young women and men are attracted to and aspire to be like. Children hear how unfair life is by his Mom, and Dad if his parents are still together. "The Man will Never Let Us Get Ahead". Kids hears how impossible it is to get out of the hole that has been dug. When heard over and over again, this starts to become reality.

My sisters and I were able to overcome these pit falls. As a printer by trade my Dad would bring home books every day that me and my older sister would read by the dozens. They always depicted a life similar to that on TV. These ideal images of American life became our reality, forcing us to believe that there are other avenues to success. My older sister paved the way by breaking ground and going to college. A good college. Then law school. I soon followed in her footsteps.

Would I be where I am without her influence? I can say probably not, but life is unfair, and I was lucky to have my older sister. We did the same for my younger sister as we will do for my future nephew. This little guy will be starting from a better playing field then we have. If he wants to play golf or hockey, he has an Uncle who can get him started in anything he wants, an intelligent (streetwise & business wise) father with connections throughout New York and New Jersey and a mother who is an Attorney. THIS KID WILL BE SOMETHING ELSE - THE TRUE MEANING OF LIFE.

-MJL