Tag: #reach

THE EXPRESS ROUTE: WHY YOU SHOULD BE CAUTIOUS WHEN TRYING FAST ROUTES TO SUCCESS

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“If it comes too easy, it can leave just as fast.”

As a writer and soon to be photographer by the end of next year, I am building myself a platform. But that platform takes time and I mean a lot of time. And of course you see the people who don’t take the time to build, who inevitably grow faster and make money sooner. This is something that tends to make you a little bit discouraged when you see it. What has and will take you ten plus years has taken them all of 6 months to a year. But here is something that is interesting about those types of people. They don’t last in the broader spectrum of life. And what do I mean by they don’t last? There is eventually going to come a time where they do hit a wall. It happens to everyone, and that’s when you see the downward spiral of their careers. Well, what happened? They didn’t put enough time into building before it took off; and it more than likely outgrew them because success came too fast.

Now that is an example of something that happens out of the person’s control. Well, what happens when success takes place in the person’s control, but they chose the express route. What do I mean by the express route? The express route would be an example of some young cute girl who is taking all these sexually suggested images to gain followers on Instagram. Then once she has enough followers, she tries to flip it and promote a sports drink. She has a hard time getting through to people because she didn’t start off that way. Starting that way means building a base, and that takes a lot of time; and on top of it all no guarantee of success. Taking that express route means come in with sex, lead with sex, then try selling me on nutrition can be tough. So you have to know that it’s like that old saying” Be careful what you wish for, you just might get it.”

Another reason why that express route is not worth it and the building process is worth it is because you don’t appreciate what you have when you haven’t had to work hard to get where you’re going. People tend to make a living the fast way, and then go out spending their money on nonsense. And if they didn’t come from money, they tend to forget where they came from up until this point. That forgetting makes them lose their sense of survival because they’re not in that poverty position any longer. Before you know it, they’re back in that poverty position again. We stand around saying how did this happen. Money comes, and money goes. When you get it so fast, you tend to spend it just as fast. People who grow what they have usually don’t lose everything the way someone who gets things quicker loses their money. Because it took you so long to get to this point, you savor what you have amassed.

In the end, you want something in this world, it is going to take a very long time to climb. But if you want that express route, then take that route. But remember that whatever comes with that be prepared to live with it. Because it can be your greatest wish come true and your biggest curse.

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PODCASTING: DEVELOPING YOUR ON AIR VOICE

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“How will I sound: natural or unnatural?”

Since the beginning of the summer, I have been prepping myself for the podcast show that I am looking to create. It will be a scripted podcast geared toward motivation and inspiration. And the reason I chose to have a podcast geared toward this topic is because it not only puts me in better space mentally, but also society. People need an alternative to everything that is going in the world today. Especially with the politically divisive United States right now. The country is so split down the middle that we need an alternative to the daily news. So Faheem Jackson Words of Motivation and Inspiration Podcast Show will be live by the year 2018. But my main goal now is developing a voice for myself.

And when I say develop a voice for myself, I mean my sound. I know what I want to talk about and how I want to talk about it. But for me, I am working on getting used to hearing my voice. How does my voice sound to me versus how does it sound to other people? Will my message come across to people in a clear and concise manner? How will I approach reading to my audience from a script on my podcast? And all of this is something that I will have to continue to work on. I even practice through the use of Instagram videos of myself and posting for people to see and hear. To me, my voice sounds fine because then again, it’s my voice. But what is my voice to someone who doesn’t know me. We get so used to our own voices, we don’t really know what it sounds like until someone tells us.

Living in New York City, my accent sounds different to people living here. But to me, it’s a normal voice. I’m asked all the time, “Are you from the South?” And my reply is always, “No, I’m from the Midwest.” But to me, they are the ones with the accent. So, with that said, do I change my voice to fit into my environment? But, on the other hand, what if someone from New York hear my real voice outside of the podcast. Then they’ll see me as less authentic, and then it will turn them off of me. People might much rather listen to my real voice. Because me being comfortable in this different environment could be seen as respected. It’s hard to listen to someone talking motivation and inspiration, if the person is so viewed as unauthentic.

And in the end, that is the toughest job in trying to connect to people. Do they view you in an authentic light. That’s why it’s important to script out my podcast as clear and concise as possible. And practice what I plan on writing out, this way it comes across as if I am knowledgeable about what I discuss.

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AIM HIGH: ACHIEVING THE GREATEST YOU IN THIS WORLD

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“Keep going: never stop, never quit.”

We should all want to strive to be the best us we can possibly be in this world. Not just because we want to excel in our careers, or to make a lot of money. But we should strive because it internally makes us feel to good to achieve. Especially when the achievement comes from humble beginnings. What better way to go through life than to start at the bottom and build yourself to the top. And the top can be a very ambiguous word depending on the person pursuing the top. The top could be being one of the best school teachers in your school, or the top can mean the superintendent of the entire school board. The top could mean a head coach of a professional sports team, or the owner of the team.

But other ways you can reach the top is by means of mental greatness. Some people have average financial gains, but they have this mental awareness of who they are in life. That mental could be something connected to their spirituality. Reaching the highest level of spirituality is to some people what winning the Powerball lottery is to another. Well, is there ever a time where the mental is hard to achieve because something else internally is blocking that mental? And the answer is yes; there are plenty of instances where someone has a hard time with their mental greatness because of some extenuated circumstance they may be dealing with at the moment. Enternal issues such as Depression, stress, and anxiety can lead to you not being able to fully achieve such mental greatness.

Well, what about back to financial gains, what is wrong with wanting to reach a higher level of wealth? And the answer to that is nothing. There is nothing wrong with wanting to strive to attain a higher level of wealth for yourself. There are so many people who think chasing the almighty dollar can be a bad thing. I don’t think it is because everything is in context. If you want a nice estate, nice cars, vacations, then fine. It is a life that is well in reach. To me, it’s about how you’re going about attaining your wealth. If there are people you’re directly hurting to gain, such as selling drugs, then no. But if you start a company that grows into a multinational organization, then fine. Because you’re gaining wealth, but also, you’re employing people in the process.

In the end, striving to be the best you, you can be is very rewarding. It can come in both a financial, physical, and intangible form. You want to lose weight and that helps you become the best you, then pursue it. You want to gain wealth, pursue it. You want to be the best parent, pursue it. There are no guarantees, but the great thing about living in America is the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. And that’s the key word: pursuit.

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MOVING FORWARD: THE FUTURE OF AMERICA

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“Where are we going to go from here?”

Since Donald Trump walked into the White House, his supporters have all been waiting to see what decision he will make regarding employment in America. He has promised to open the factory doors of America and make products here in this country. A lot of our goods in America are made in China, a move that has cost a lot of Americans jobs over the past few decades. So the question remains, how does he plan on doing this in a society where automation is replacing manpower? And where should we move from here since the factories may not be coming back?

In the United States, for decades, this country made and bought within goods and services. But over the past few decades there has been a sharp decline. Jobs, mainly factory work, has been moved overseas to places like Mexico, India, and China. The cost to the organization is cheaper and the good is cheaper for us to pay for in the stores. Making the product here would drive the cost up because the organization must cover the cost of labor. The raw materials to make the good is cheap as well as the production. But the people working is what brings the expenses up. So people want these low prices, but want jobs here.

Now we move to Donald Trump coming into power. A man who has been criticized for his language. Yet I want to see how he manages to bring those jobs back. Better yet, why are we still focused on being an industrialized nation when the future of society is computer engineering. Everything is falling into the tech space. Whereas few people in the past were becoming engineers, now everyone is moving into the tech space. Especially in the recent years, considering so many young people have become billionaires from the ideas they have created.  It’s no wonder so many people are joining in. Yet the American workers feel this new technology could prove disastrous for them. But this isn’t anything new, we have always moved groups of people aside via technological innovation.

Back in the early 1900’s, mule pulling was a way of farming. Do you know how many people lost out once the combine was invented? Where is the sympathy to all these mule pullers. You don’t care because no one wants to pull a mule through the fields. And don’t forget all these public libraries closing because people are using the internet. We as a society have always innovated, but now that the generation who benefited from someone else hurting, is now complaining. This will also happen with my age group. Because we can’t keep a society one way for an eternity.  We have to continue to innovate, if not we lose to other nations that will.

In the end, we have and will always move forward with technology. And with that move, people will lose out, and others will adjust. You have to be willing to roll with the punches. Get on the bus, or risk getting left behind. Because America is not, and can’t afford to go back in time. This nations has to compete on a global scale, so if the new standard is tech, then it’s tech we must learn. Grow as a nation or die out as one of the world’s last dynasties.

LIFE’S REAL: THE STRUGGLE OF FINDING JOBS FOR TODAY’S YOUNG GENERATION

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“The tough times of a generation.”

You grow up and are taught in your life to get your education. Once you do get a degree, you get a job. Work five days per week until you’re 65 years of age, then retire until death. But since the 2008 economic meltdown, there has been a lot of adjustments. One of the adjustments is working less hours for less pay. Fewer opportunities and healthcare not available to you via your employer. But this is effecting no one more than the millennial generation. I, myself, am a member of this age group and let me tell it’s tough. But even though we are known as a generation that expects everything for nothing, the majority of us are not necessarily that way.

We are not dealing with the same playing field as our parents. I never thought the day would come where working part-time is commonplace. You feel lazy and unproductive, even when you’re a hard working male or female. It seems as if all your effort is never good enough. But is it all your fault or the society where we reside? In my opinion it is a combination of both us and the system. To what degree, I am unsure, but it’s both.

How is the society where we live? Well for starters, over the years, more and more jobs have been shipped outside the country. And with that are the opportunities for a younger up and coming generation. Financially for a company it makes sense to pay a foreigner $3 per hour instead of $30 for you and I. The only problem is that company’s expect American’s to fork over money for products and services. This creates a bind because if we are struggling as a country economically, then how do we really contribute? This has been a platform that the president elect Trump has campaigned for; job creation.

Now there is a keyword that we keep hearing; jobs. People say, we need more jobs. There are not enough jobs for young people trying to climb the socioeconomic ladder like there predecessors. But I ask, what is a job really? When you say, I need a job, what do you mean? Working fast food is a job, but it does not pay well. Some may say, they want good money. But once again, what does that mean; what is good money. Which brings me to another reason why my generation has it hard; no direction. Saying I want a good paying job making good  money is broad and ambiguous. It is not directed at any real goal. What job title, what salary range, what city, what benefits, what growth opportunities?

Now, what are the reasons we bring this hard life upon ourselves as a generation? We millennials, spend so much of our time having fun and not preparing for anything. But a major issue with our generation is that we are growing up in a now society. Anything we want we can click and get it instantly. But careers are not instant gratifiers. The road to success through your career is long and arduous. Gratification comes through years of labor day in and day out. It’s hard to reap the benefits when you want so much now.

So, in closing, we look at our lives and have fear about our futures. Fears about what’s to come, and the idea of not knowing is stressful. So many people who at my age would be on their own, still live in the house with their parents. Today’s parents never thought their children would be living at home at the age of thirty. But because of slim opportunities they’re back home. But is it all because of job lose, maybe, just maybe it’s skills. We have so many unqualified people, it makes the job hunt seem tougher than it really is. Whatever the case may be, if this trend continues, younger generations will be having fewer children and even fewer property owners will exist.

VISION: WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF

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“Ever get upset because they don’t know quite like you know?”

It’s tough when you close your eyes and you see that something. That something in life that no one else sees but you. It’s tough because a vision is only seen by the person and no one else until there is an execution of the vision. Ever go to sleep and wake up with an explanation of what you dreamt about? People look you in the face and have that confused stare. In your mind you see a vivid fantasy world, but to them you just sound utterly ridiculous. So why? Why is it so hard for the people around you, or even the people you try to convince in society to invest in you and your vision?

For starters, people want to know that you are serious about your craft. The dominant society could care less because to them you’re just another young man or woman with a pipe dream. They ignore because we all know that most won’t attempt to execute the plan. It will wind-up being some distraction that allows people to continue to go through life existing. And existing is easier than executing because there is less risk of failure and heartache. Which is another reason it’s hard for people to recognize your vision. They know that most will give up and quit from the level of difficulty.

Which brings us to the next reason why it’s hard for people to see your vision. All talk and no movement. Most people talk a good game, but then it’s time to execute, its a totally different ball game. Sitting in front of people sharing all these visions is easy when you’re actually putting in the work. Talking it up is good and everything, but what about the time put into the project. That’s when the excuses start to arise. “You see, I have to work.” “I need it to be perfect.” Its like what are you waiting for, winning the lottery. Create something, anything to give people an insight into what you’re trying to do in life. But we all know in the end you were never going to do it anyways. Something like I said before, keeping you distracted from your daily existence.

But there is another side to the vision not being seen by others. There is the hate you receive because someone does not possess the talents you do. To a degree, we know some true talent when we see it. And if someone has traveled down your road and it didn’t work for them, they will give you all the reasons not to yourself. It’s almost as if they are silently saying, “I tried it, and I know I’m better than you.” “And if it didn’t work for me, I know you’re not going to perform well.” These are people who are the result of not having the it factor they thought they possessed. They thought in their minds, I know I’m great, but it didn’t quite pan out that way. So the taste of soar grapes fill the inside of their mouths just hearing you explain your vision.

This brings me to my last reason why it’s so hard for others to see your vision. Why is it so hard? Because maybe, just maybe you’re not that good at what you are doing. There was a famous quote by Helen Keller where she stated, “I would have rather to have been born blind than to have sight and lack vision. Everything in our minds sound great, but what about to the masses. I challenge you to create something. Then put it out there for the world to consume. Most people can’t deal with the rejection, requiring them to go back and get better. That’s at times what they need is to get better. But the ego gets in the way and leads to the demise of their potential growth.

In the end, we all just want someone to believe in us. Believe in whatever it is that motivates us to wake up each and every day. That thing, that burning feeling, that internal sensation that gets us going. That felling when you can see it, taste, and now all you have to do know is touch it. But that vision most often must be cultivated and grown by not just you, but people willing to invest in your ideas. My advice, start small, work it, and rework; then rework it, and rework some more. And once you’ve done that rework it some more. Because a vision, without the combination of consistency and a lack of clear goals lead to resentment. Ultimately it will manifest itself in how you see yourself and how you live your life.

WAKING UP GOING TO SLEEP: TOMORROW REALLY IS PROMISED, SO PLAN

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“Live everyday not like it’s your last, but like there is a tomorrow.”

Have any of you ever heard of the phrase, “Don’t put off tomorrow what can be accomplished today.” Very important phrase, but far too often we live by the phrase, “Live everyday like it’s your last.” That sounds fine at all but what about tomorrow. We think that life is short, but in reality it’s long, very long. And the more you screw up in life the longer it’s going to feel. What do I mean by that, this is what I mean. You get arrested and have to go to prison, time seems to stand still. There are no clock nor calendars so every second is a drag. But someone who is in full swing into their career of choice feels like there’s not enough hours in the day.

So why, why do people waste time thinking they’ll get to it eventually. It’s because there is no sense of urgency in some people. When you’re young, this is very prevalent because life is set up for you to a certain extent. From pre-school all the way through undergraduate school, your daily schedule is laid out for you. But once you leave this undergraduate experience you’re thrust into the real world. So what do people do, you put stuff off, you put stuff off. Then before you know it, you’re 30 years of age and nearly a decade has gone by since leaving college. By this age, people start to really buckle down, unless you’re one of those people still with no plan.

Problem is, when you’re one of these people with no plan, you roam the world not knowing what you want to do. But in your mind you go, I’m still young. And then there’s the people who see individuals their age you came into success young at 30 or 31 years old. They compare themselves to these people, so they get down on themselves. Fatal mistake because they could start now and still be young by the time they come into their own. But what do they do, they regret. And go to sleep, wake up tomorrow and now they’re 40 years of age. And now you’ve wasted over two decades.

40 years old seems like a ways away, but I have a sibling almost 40 years old. With me almost 30 years of age, I see the value in preparing yourself in life early. Lucky for me, I was the baby, so I got a chance to see two siblings come before me in life. They left college and worked for a while in addition to traveling, until they came upon what it is they’re doing in life. So I had a template in life to work from. But the overall real problem for procrastinators is the worrying of what others are doing.

When you’re busy trying to figure out your situation, it’s hard to worry about others. If I’m in 5th place, the last thing I thinking about is who is in 6th or how 1st and 2nd are running a 1st or 2nd race. My goal is to surpass that point or the person in 1st and 2nd. And if my trajectory serves me right, I’m on that path at the moment.