Encountering doubt...#MerryNewYear

Show of hands, who thought I wouldn’t publish a New Year post? If you raised your hand, you would’ve been right, because I wasn’t :) But, just like Batman rose from The Pit to save Gotham, so must I rise from my hiatus to uphold the New Year tradition.

So, why the potential lapse in this not-so-long held tradition? Well, after multiple un-productive brainstorming sessions and several failed attempts at composing a post, I gave up. So much happened last year, but unlike previous years, I was unable to compose a concise recap that highlighted the progression of my journey to success or come up with an applicable theme.

But, the more I thought about the year, the more one theme stood out—doubt. Last year was filled with major decisions, significant milestones, and realization of goals I had set. While these changes brought excitement, walking in this new realization exposed me to a level of stress and doubt that I had not envisioned. Reading my previous New Year posts, I wondered if the old me would’ve spoken with the excitement he did if he knew the consequences his desires would bring—a level of doubt that would challenge his core values and basic approach to life. Boy, I am being dramatic.

Anyways, I will stop rambling and pose this question: If you died in this moment, what would be your final thought? Would it be some consoling thought affirming your presence and the decisions you made leading to that moment? Or would it be disappointment, a regretful reflection on what could have been, if the sacrifices you made were really worth the end-product?

In 2017, I wrote enthusiastically, correction, I wrote with certainty the path to success was filled with challenges and fulfillment, but not doubt—I don’t think I ever mentioned doubt. 2018 was a year. I am actually writing this sentence with 3 minutes left to midnight. 2 hours before I wrote that sentence, I was leaving work. That sucked, especially considering I was sitting by a fireplace sipping wine a year prior. Still, the doubt was a far sight in the distance that I had to squint at. Then I called my sister (I moved last year) who was at my brother's home with the rest of my siblings and my nieces and nephews; you know when you turn a corner and bump into someone? Well, waiting for me after I got off the phone was doubts smirk, looking at me like the Willy Wonka meme.

I can’t help but ponder that question more these days—what would my thoughts be if I died? Would I be okay with the sacrifices I made to get to the point I was? 

I Woke Up at 6 A.M.

This morning I woke up at 6 A.M. I don’t say this to impress you. Actually, my mother was probably clocked in 45 minutes away at her job at that time, some already knee deep in their work. The feat here is not that I woke up at 6 A.M., no. The feat is why I woke up at 6 A.M.

Before I progress, I will need to shed details on my current situation. Last year, which was about a week ago *commences schmoney dance*, I completed my first semester of graduate school. My schedule during that period was highly structured, each day methodological, leaving little room for improvisation, at least if I wanted to be in good standing with the program. The point is that I had a cyclical schedule. Nothing wrong with this. Actually, it was highly beneficial for me due to my scatter-brained nature. It forced me to be organized and work on a set schedule, quite opposite from my usual routine. See, I have what is considered the gift/curse of a creative mind; I relish the calm of the night. Energized by the deadening of my surrounding, my brain springs to life, neurons communicating at unprecedented velocities; I am a night owl. 

While I appreciated functioning on a different schedule and flow (variability is key), it was rather challenging for me. I had to wake up early each day which meant I had to sleep "early" the night before if I was to be marginally functional. This was not the case 95% of the time. While my colleagues complained about going to bed late, usually at times before 12 A.M., I hid my face, avoiding the questioning eyes that observed my compulsive yawning and lethargic state; falling asleep before 12 A.M. would have been a miracle for me! And like my fellow night owls, when asked about my nocturnal activities my reply was simply, "doing stuff." Maybe I should not clump all night owls together as responding this way, but I am going to say a sizable amount respond similarly, especially if their nocturnal inclinations are coupled with a hint of introversion. And sometimes this answer is for the best because "stuff" usually encompasses several activities, sometimes not even related, and can take a while to TRY explaining (which usually fails.)

But, I have been on winter break for two weeks and still have a week to go (is the schmoney dance applicable here?). So, as you can imagine, I'm back to my night owl ways. That is the law of entropy right? A night owl left to itself will stay awake? No? Okay, forget I mentioned that. Anyways, I have been mildly productive over the break, working on different "stuff", all accomplished at night as you will expect. So, this brings me to today. 

I woke up at 6 A.M. As I've mentioned, this is no great feat. I wake up earlier than that during the school session, and sometimes on weekends impulsively. The great feat today was that I woke up "inspired." For the creative mind, inspired isn't necessarily the willingness to do something, although it is a component, it is having the mental capacity and creative energy to do what it is we creatives do. Three days ago I had a rare afternoon where I was completely available. My room was clean and laundry was finished. There was nothing on my to-do list. By to-do list, I am speaking of chores and errands, basics that everyone does to maintain a habitable and functioning environment, hopefully. But, like most creatives, my to-do list for "stuff" was still full and piling up daily. Kanye West once said "does he write his own rhymes, well sort of, I think 'em. That mean I forgot better sh*t than you ever thought of." *Stops nodding to Yeezy* This statement at its essence is a representation of the plight most creatives face especially at night when our activity peaks. Our brain is constantly producing material and ideas faster than we can record or produce them, leaving a bulk of these thoughts lost memories in our head. But the few that are remembered occupy our work time.

Back to three days ago. So, my afternoon was free, which meant I had time to work on "stuff." I sat down for hours staring at my computer and got nothing done! I jumped from project to project looking for something to at least add content to but only ended up adding several mediocre sentences to a book I am writing, which will probably get deleted in the future. I was not inspired. I had the willingness to create, but my mind was not cooperating; my neurons were still slumbering and were adamant on staying that way, no matter how willing I was. 

Coming back to today once again, I sit here writing this post because I woke up at 6 A.M., inspired. It is not uncommon for me to dream ideas, as a matter of fact, it seems quite logical that I do. Left alone, I will be going to bed around 6 A.M. What is uncommon is for me to wake up from these dreams and be inspired to actually work on something. Now, the product of my inspiration was not this post, which is a nice addition seeing I haven't posted in a while and it is the New Year, but other “stuff” which I will be working on throughout the day. I'm not entirely sure what about the dream prompted me to wake up, the idea was quite basic actually, but after laying in bed trying to sleep for ten minutes without success, I figured I might as well make use of this inspiration. 

So, what is the point of this post? Perspective on the mind/personality and life of a night owl? Leisure read for you guys? Filler content? Update on what I’m doing with my life? Truth be told, I have no answer. While I am purposeful in having a lesson or objective in my posts, this one is rather random. What I do know is that inspiration woke me up this morning and I answered. So, here I am. 

Rant

I don't get it. The constant stereotyping and broad classification of individuals by others. Even more absurd is when individuals do this to themselves. As I've aged, I've developed a deep relationship with myself, traversing through many aspects of my self. This has translated into a union between my subconscious principles and my conscious behavior. In unifying my internal being I have detached myself from any social schema that might have once defined me. When I think of myself, I don't picture a black male, or an African male, or a young adult. One of the greatest illusions we have come to believe, is that we are defined by the arbitrary characteristics we merely inherited. Who we become is a choice. So why would you choose to abandon the unique traits, mannerisms, and propensities you have acquired from your years of living merely to define yourself by characteristics left to chance?

Saying you are gay is not an accolade. It is as relevant as stating your hair color. It is a superficial trait that lends no useful content on the individual. The way you respond to situations is not determined by superficial traits such as your skin tone, physical dimensions, or sexual orientation. Circumstantial situations shed light on the morale and motivational principles of an individual. That is who you really are. I know I'm a narcissistic and often hypocritical person. Unifying your being does not mean you're a good person, it just means you know who you are as an individual.

Simply saying you're gay, black or any other capricious adjective lends your audience no insight as to who you are. It is like saying all red wine is the same, which any avid wine drinker would dismiss laughably. I don't relate to the black or African struggle. I relate to the human struggle. The Mike Brown case was not a race issue. Neither was the Freddie Gray case. If all you see is a racially driven incident, then I feel sorry because you lack true empathy and I have to question the authenticity of your cries. That case was about a United States citizen, and even greater, a human being, killed for whatever reason by an official put in place to protect him. I am not going to dismiss race, or other superficial traits as having relevance in these situations. There is a greater evil that drives these incidents that transcends beyond race. Whether black or white, injustice is injustice and should be met with the same level of disapproval regardless of superficial traits.

In a recent interview with Oprah, Raven Symone denounced her labels because she believes she is much more than titles. Instead of trying to understand her wisdom, there was backlash, especially from the black community, because she didn't want to be labeled African American. I commend her for taking a bold approach and stating this on a public platform. There are too many people that go through life using these superficial traits to dictate their lives and it only enslaves them and prevents them from realizing their maximum potential.

GQ did an interview with Jason Collins that I found to be absolutely disgusting. Alright, I'm being a tad dramatic, but it was a useless interview regardless. For the interview, he starts by introducing himself as a gay black male on purpose. That introduction holds no substance and leaves me, the reader, with no relevant detail on your being. A more proper introduction would be to say, my name is Jason Collins and I am narcissistic. Although that would be a super weird way to start a conversation, it conveys more about the individual and gives some insight to their being rather than saying you're black and gay. I am not denying the role superficial characteristics play in defining someones identity. The issue I take is that, for most people, this is where the conversation ends. There is no elaboration on their being and no meaningful substance can be acquired from interacting with them. They are merely reflecting the stereotypes and compulsions attributed to these traits. Minorities, gays, and other oppressed groups wonder why they find themselves in some of the circumstances they're in, and my answer is that they've limited themselves to superficial traits and characteristics, failing to grow as an individual. Of course there are ignorant people that contribute to the problem, but idiots will be idiots, that you cannot change. How you respond and who you become is entirely up to you. Certainty in yourself is the foundation that will help you overcome trails and obstacles in life and if you don't have a sound foundation, you will falter in times of tribulation.

Detach from superficial characteristics, finding the truth within yourself. This will be the guide to liberate your mind and allow you to maximize your potential.

One Love

Creatures of Habit

First off, I would like to extend my greetings for the seasons, even though it is late!

For my first post of the year, I figured I would make it about New Year’s resolutions like the plethora of articles out there :) Although I feel the topic of New Year’s resolution is discussed in excess, I figured I would provide a slight input to this topic. I hope the information I present to you is insightful.

Creatures of habit. This term is characteristic of animals due to our propensity to act in predictable patterns. It's like the quote from Gandhi that states the progression of thoughts, manifesting themselves into character and ultimately dictating our destiny. I appreciate this quote because it is terse in depicting the progression of character and realization of our destiny. Regardless of your New Year’s resolution, your character will be crucial in determining how close you come to achieving not only your New Year’s goals, but every other goal you make in life.

The first step I recommend before embarking on your resolution goal is to do some introspection. By this I mean, question and inspect aspects of your being to truly find out who you are. I will use myself as an example. I realized upon continuous introspection that I am lazy, mainly due to a sense of comfort. I am also very competitive and will work hard to win. These two descriptions contradict each other but are very true to my being, and ultimately determine how well I will do in accomplishing specific goals. For example, I do better in short and competitive situations and have difficulty with the opposite.

The next step is to thoroughly analyze the goals you wish to accomplish. What is your goal? What needs to be done to accomplish that goal? What steps do you need to take to accomplish your goals? What do you hope to gain from achieving this goal? What are some obstacles you'll have to overcome? For most people, goals are simply an idea with sparse details. Usually when a goal is nebulous in this sense, it impedes on the progress of that goal at some point whether early on or in the advanced stage, and in some cases, it can even cease all progression completely. I can attest to this seeing that I have had numerous goals that did not pass infancy because they lacked structure. Even though I had envisioned the final product many times, I had never put much thought into the process. This is not to say that you should have it all figured out before you embark on your journey, it is meant to prepare you for the bumps and doldrums in your journey and incite proactivity.

The next step is to calibrate your goals according to your propensities. I believe many people stumble in their journey because of this step. They set goals that don't fit their "profile." I love the saying "aim for the stars and if you miss, you'll land on the moon." It is a great philosophy and approach to setting goals but there is a part to this phrase that is missing. That part is "but make sure you've hit all the bushes and trees surrounding you first." Like I've said, I am lazy! It is a sad but true realization. An issue I had when I was younger was that I would set magnanimous goals for myself when I had a hard time conquering the simple tasks that surrounded me. My room was always untidy, I was usually running late, I was unorganized, and my attention span was short. There were few things that made me move, and even if they made me move, momentum was lost quickly due to my laziness. Knowing this, it makes sense why i failed to achieve most of my goals. I was setting goals that didn't fit my profile. The goals I set spanned a long period of time and had few incentives. Most people are in this boat, setting goals and failing to achieve them because they lack the foundation to drive these goals. They have lived their lives in a certain manner for multiple years and expect to do a 360 within a short period of time. I'm not saying this can't be done, because I have heard stories of people doing this, and I'm sure it took a lot of hard work and consistency. These people were able to achieve such goals because they had tenacious characteristics. Those goals fit their profile. 

If you are unfortunately failing to achieve your goals, it will behoove you to follow the aforementioned steps and check the compatibility of your goals with your character. My advice for ultimately achieving your big goals (stars) will be to start with making multiple small goals (trees and bushes) and conquering those. You will have to be a creature of habit, finding little things in your life that you can build a habit of accomplishing daily, and ultimately make part of your being. For me, I've made it a habit of dressing my bed when I wake up, even if I'm late and need to be somewhere. It might seem silly, but achieving these little goals compiles and slowly transforms your character. You will have to be diligent, hitting at least 90% of your small goals daily. Don't waste your time setting magnanimous goals if you can't accomplish at least 90% of the smalls tasks that surround you! I am certain that if you take a look at the lives of accomplished people you will realize they have mastered the small tasks that surround them, allowing them to achieve greater goals. It is like running a marathon. Training does not guarantee you'll achieve a set time, but it will help you get a hell of a lot closer to that set time than winging it would. Training builds focus, endurance, and diligence! Train your being!

On that note, I will leave with these words; shoot for the stars so hard that you clear all the bushes and trees surrounding you, and if you don't reach the stars or the moon, you'll have a clearer shot next time.

I hope this helps and that you will be creatures of habit in 2015. I wish you all the best in your endeavors. Always stay positive and enjoy life.

One love

#1 Recipe For Success

To be successful in whatever business endeavor one may partake in, he/she needs to be cognizant of one single factor. That factor is exploitation. I feel that most people know about exploitation in this sense, while a few are unaware. Whether it is intentional ignorance or innocent oblivion, the exploitation persists. There are multiple industries that have a exploitative nature, but I will only use the fashion and accessories industry since it is an industry most people can identify with. The examples and context of this article have their shortcomings and will be more pertinent to capitalistic markets/countries, specifically the United States.

When shopping, what's the first thing you look for in a clothing? For most people, I will assume it is the brand. After that, we then look at the actual product. Sometimes this process is reversed, with the consumer looking at the product, then the brand. Whatever the instance, the brand is a major factor in determining the probability of the consumer purchasing that product over another. Why is this the case? Some brief reasons include the marketing, popularity, and personal experience you've had with that brand. These are all reasonable and obvious reasons. The discussion then becomes interesting when you have brands that people pay outrageous amounts for. What makes these products so much more expensive than their counterpart? Are these products really worth the price that they are being sold for? Do the consumers even know the production process that could potentially justify the price they pay for these products? Before I go more into the discussion and state my thoughts on it, here is a very useful clip about the eye-wear industry that will provide information that will help you better answer the aforementioned questions. Watch this video with an open mind, putting aside any preconceived notions and see how your response to the questions vary.

Sticker shock: Why are glasses so expensive?

• Before I continue, I just want to state some stuff on this video, so skip if you just want to continue with the discussion. 
• The CEO of Luxottica is brilliant! On one hand, he comes off as being arrogant and inconsiderate, which makes you dislike him; but then you realize the brilliance in the strategic advancement of his operation and the company's transformation of the eye-wear industry as a whole and you can't help but respect their business model. This is capitalism at its finest and it is not meant to be fair or friendly. It is a competitive space and only the cunning strive. 

This video and the represented company are a perfect case study for this topic, and is relevant to me because I have an obsession with sunglasses. What makes a particular product more expensive than its counterpart? Is the value of that product worth the price, and do customers even know why they pay the price they do for certain products? According to the CEO at Luxottica, "everything is worth what people are ready to pay." By purchasing products at a high price, we are affirming his notion and justifying outrageous pricing. This is simple economics, supply and demand. Rationale is questioned when you look behind the scenes of this consumer/producer relationship. As seen in the video, products can be produced for a low price and sold for up to ten times the cost of production based on the producers discretion. This is exploitation that clearly favors the producer. Not that there is anything wrong with this, but as a consumer watching that video and peaking behind the scenes, I question my consumer behavior. While I may feel like I am paying a high price for a brand because it is "premium" and has a better quality than its competitors, in reality I am simply paying that price because the producer knows we "are ready to pay" that price. Most people have similar rationales when it comes to purchasing popular name brands feeling that it is superior to its counterpart. While this is truer in other markets such as electronics, it is murky in the fashion/accessories market. The fact is that most consumers do not know the real reasons why they pay the price they do for certain products. The association of the product to the brand is reason enough for most. 

Another example in the fashion market is the Kanye West "hip hop t shirt", a plain white t-shirt with a retail value of $120. I am using this as the scapegoat for other popular brands that charge exaggerated amounts for basic products. This shirt sold out. Consumers are saying it is okay for producers to charge exaggerated amounts for basic products, and the producers continue to supply because of this demand.

A final example is the diamond industry. This industry functions similarly to the eye-wear industry, with the majority of production and sales coming from a sole company, De Beers. This monopoly has allowed De Beers to control the supply of diamonds and ultimately determine the pricing of diamonds by restricting distribution and creating the illusion of scarcity (scarcity increases the value of products.) This is a widely known fact about the company's operation. It is known that there is an abundance of diamonds, so scarcity is not a reasonable argument for their high pricing. Like the eye-wear industry, the diamond industry is the result of years of calculated marketing and progressive rebranding, which they've done impeccably.  People know of the monopoly and exploitation that surrounds the diamond industry but continue to purchase and place high value on these products. Societal and media reinforcement continue to perpetuate the brainwashing and acceptance of these products, thus allowing for the exploitation to continue.
Read more: http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/1982/02/have-you-ever-tried-to-sell-a-diamond/304575/

There is no good or bad guy in the relationship. This is the nature of capitalism and life. Someone will always be exploited. As people, we need to be smarter with our endeavors, researching on the logistics behind the products we pay greater amounts for. As a producer, exploitation is the game and you will generally have the upper hand. Understanding the consumer/producer relationship and the underlying exploitative nature of this relationship is key to achieving success, whether it's on your business endeavors or just everyday consumerism.

One love.

5 Things 20 Something Year Olds Should Not Be Doing

"10 things every 20 something should do, 20 behaviors of successful people," blah blah blah. I'm sure I'm not the only person whose news feed has been bombarded by these redundant and quite obvious  list of things you should be doing. Well this is a list of things you should NOT be doing in your twenties and are more insightful than "put some money aside for your future."

1) Looking To Others for Happiness

• This is such a simple concept that many fail to grasp. Emotions, for the most part, can be controlled and are usually voluntary at this point in your life. Getting angry is due to your voluntary allowance. I am still amazed when my friends or family complain and get worked up about someone at work, or some girl/guy they're talking to. The only two reasons you should get angry or worked up because of someone is if that person is family or yourself. Expectation is the root of all disappointment and if you keep putting expectations in people other than family or yourself, be prepared to be disappointed multiple times. Believe in yourself. Have the highest expectations for yourself and your family. Place yourself in situations that will make you the happiest and if you don't, realize staying in that situation is a decision.

2) Dreaming

• Having a dream is great when you're in high school and maybe your Freshman year of college. But after that, your dreams should become expectations, goals, milestones. Some people get lost in their dreams and wake up when they're in their 30s or 40s and are in situations that make it difficult to pursue those dreams. Your dreams are their freshest during this period and you will most likely be in an environment that will allow you to make connections and network with fresh minds that could help you realize your dream. And if you don't have the connections or are not heading in a direction that will enable you to achieve this dream, you can readily make changes as needed. This is a buffer period that will allow you to take risks and make some mistakes, unless if you have kids or other dependents, with little repercussions. Take advantage of this fact and work towards your goals.

3) Waiting for A Big Break

• Sometimes a big break is the result of a series of minor events that lead up to that moment. Whether its through the addition of small ventures that eventually sum up to that moment, or small moves that lead you to an opportunity to make a big move. Life is a process that takes time and each second of the process is valuable. Don't be blinded by your destination failing to appreciate and learn along the journey. A house is not dumped on a piece of land. Its foundation must first be built followed by progressive layers.

4) Looking Up to Others

• Lets start with the obvious fact that you are now an adult and are most likely midway through college and above. At this point in your life, you should be developing YOUR own ideas, not duplicating someone else's ideas. It is good to look up to people when you're young. They influence you and help mold your persona while young. As you get older these idols should become your peers. You should be striving to produce the best material in your field and be on the frontier. Strive to rival and overtake the works of your idols, not just gaze overwhelmed by their works. 
• This point is not to devalue the work of our predecessors or to promote arrogance. We never stop learning as human beings and there is always something to learn from others, but let us not be crippled by the works of our idols. Make your own lane and give future generations someone else to idolize. 

5) Blaming Others

• You're no longer a child. You're an adult. With adulthood comes sovereignty. Meaning you are the sole proprietor of your actions and ultimately your future. Your actions will determine who you become and what you become. Do not let outside influences be pivotal in your decision making, especially major ones. Be grounded in who YOU are and the GOALS you have set. Following these two factors will always lead you to your desired destination leaving no room for regrets. There are obviously things we can't control and just have to work around, but at the end of the day, we still remain the architect of our future. No one can defer us from our goals without our consent. 

I do realize the nature of this list is quite selfish, but isn't that what your twenties are all about. The period you progressively become independent. The period most of us leave the nest physically, mentally, or both. This is the period most of us experience loss of loved ones, grow apart from friends, fall in and out of love, or move to new places. So many events occur during this period, both good and bad, that will demand some degree of selfishness to be successful. Above all, keep loved ones close and never forget the true value of relationships, because no man is an island. Be tough on yourself and don't put aside your aspirations. Give yourself breaks and take the time to enjoy the simple pleasures of life like family, friends, laughter, traveling, experiencing the world, and my favorite, sky gazing.

Share this if you find it useful, comment on the article and enjoy,

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