"I'M Focused Man" Ebook focused on the Lyrics of Jay-Z

 

"I'm Focused, Man"

41 Hip Hop Affirmations to Change Your Life

Inspired by the lyrics of Jay-Z

(The Free ebook)

http://bit.ly/focusedman1

I recently created my first ebook and I want to make sure you have a copy and make sure your friends have a copy.  You have to check this out and it won't cost you a thing.  It's pretty cool and a great quick piece of motivation for you whether you are a hip hop lover, a Jay-Z lover or a motivational quote and affirmation lover.  The goal is to get to 1000 downloads and impact that many lives as quick as possible (of course that's just the beginning).

 

Your Ambassador,
Mike Bruny
Let's stay connected and make things happen:
website: www.runthepoint.com
blog: www.hiphopaffirmations.com
video: www.youtube.com/ambassadorbruny
facebook: www.facebook.com/ambassadorbruny
twitter: @runthepoint , @hiphopaffirms

A Piece of Classiscal Music and Leadership

A Piece of Classical Music and Leadership

You have to love TED videos.  Every so often I'll share some of them with you.  Here is one that moved me especially at the 16:50 (jump to that point if you are pressed for time) mark; If you have even less time jump to 17:30 (It will change the way you look at things...an Ambassador Bruny Promise)

 

Ambassador Bruny's Notes:

This guy really captured me towards the end of his TED talk.  As I am creating my new logo and trying to pull all the things that I have going on: speaking, writing, hiphopaffirmations.com, run the point.com, projects, etc.  I am striving to make it all fit into a coherent brand.  The truth is that I/we are so much more then just one thing.  I am hip hop, I am my collection of bow ties, I am into fitness so I can look good, I am interested in men's fashion, I am a life coach, I want to make a difference and I want to make 1.3 million dollars or more with my business.  The alignment of all of this has not been an easy task, but I am up to the task.  The following words from this video sums up what I am trying to do with all my work and I think you will find it helpful:

"The conductor of an orchestra doesn't make a sound.  He depends for his power on his ability to make other people powerful..My job is to awaken possibility in other people.  You know how you find out?  You look at their eyes.  If their eyes are shining, you know you are doing it.  If the eyes are not shining, you get to ask a question?  "Who am I being that my players' eyes are not shining?

Success= How many shining eyes I have around me! 

I can't help but think, the tagline to go along with my new Ambassador Bruny logo lives someone in the statement above.

What's possible for you, with a little support?

Your Ambassador,
Mike Bruny
Let's stay connected and make things happen:
website: www.runthepoint.com
blog: www.hiphopaffirmations.com
video: www.youtube.com/ambassadorbruny
facebook: www.facebook.com/ambassadorbruny
twitter: @runthepoint , @hiphopaffirms

How to Stop Your Past From Defining Your Future (short video)

Check out this great video sent to me by a friend. I can relate to the thoughts of the possibilities on the future. What jumps out at you from this video? I'm interested in your perspective.

Run the Point from where you are, with what you have!

Your Ambassador,
Mike Bruny
www.runthepoint.com
www.hiphopaffirmations.com

Jay-Z, Warren Buffet, Steve Forbes and Ambassador Bruny

What do all the names in the title have in common? It's not the bank account...yet (I have a little bit of catching up to do). What it is a sense of purpose, drive and a philosophy around personal growth as something no one can ever take away from you. Check out the Ambassador Bruny favorites below and check out the video (Length: 52mins)

These gentleman give me something to aspire to and I love it. They dropped a whole lot of knowledge. Here are some of the Ambassador Bruny favorites:

Ambassador Bruny Labor Day Garage Sale Tips / Lessons

I will not pretend to be the guru of garage sales but I did learn a few things at my first garage sale on Labor Day. I'm a huge fan of using transferable skills so I applied a couple of things I've picked up throughout the years to have a good sale.

It all started on Sunday morning when my wife and I woke up and decide to have a garage sale. We had been threatening to hold one for a long time now and with her sister visiting we had the additional support needed to make it happen. Here is what we learned and hopefully the tips can be valuable to you when you decide to have your own sale (hey, maybe it will even inspire you to have your own sale):

Ambassador Tip#1 - Plan ahead; you are not the only game in town. "Yikes! As I finished making my cardboard signs to hang at the entrance to our complex and one for the busy streets not to far away, I quickly realized that someone else already had a garage sale planned in the same complex. Their sale was only planned for Sunday (ours was Sunday and Monday, running until 3p.m.) from 9a.m. - 2p.m. (by the time we saw this it was already 1p.m.)

Ambassador Tip#2 - Learn from the competition and the situation. As a garage sale rookie I took note of the excellent places our neighbors put their posters and decided to put ours in the same place. I figured our yard sale went until 3p on Sunday (1hr after they would have packed up we would still be around-- whowho haha=my best Dr. Evil laugh with pinky to the mouth)

Ambassador Tip#3 - There is no competition. After witnessing the excellent signs my neighbors had for their yard sale, I decided to go over to their sale before they closed shop. I introduced myself and let them know that we are having a yard sale and would gladly display some of the items that they did not sell in exchange for their signs (the signs just said Garage Sale and had an arrow, but they were in key places to help drive business... at least that's what my gut told me.) They agreed and we no longer had competition but allies.


Ambassador Tip#4 - Teamwork makes the dream work. My wife, her sister and I were involved in making this thing happen. Sure anyone of us could have done it alone, but it was so much more fun and gave the opportunity for a rotation because we had a team. We each brought our own individual talent to the table. My wife has the retail / Merchandising background, my sister-in-law is a recent law school graduate so she schooled us on how she used Craig's List while at Syracuse all the time. Her skills put our garage sale on the virtual map, I provided my marketing, sales and analytical skills to the equation. *Important to note that I thought you had to pay to put an event like ours on Craig's List and would not have taken that step if it wasn't for my sister-in-law. We have to challenge our beliefs and be ready to be proven wrong for the sake of success.*

Ambassador Tip#5 - Pay attention to what is happening. Throughout the event we made sure we paid attention to what was selling, what people were checking out, was our pricing too high and how people heard about our garage sale (we had 1 person who came because of Craig's List and all the other folks swung by because they saw the signs on the road-- my gut feeling about the signs my neighbor was using was right...."yes" ). *What we discovered: The signs worked well to pull people in, jewelry, books and CD's focused on personal development sell well. My clothes and shoes with their limited sizing did not sell as well-- my belts did bring in a couple of bucks. I'm surprised no one touched the ties*

Ambassador Tip #6 - Set a goal. Sure, we didn't have the slightest idea how this garage sale would go, but we did set a goal of making $100 bucks for the day. It just made the day more fun and charged to "get that sale." It had me sending messages to my friends on Facebook who live in the area. A couple showed up. Thanks Kandi and DJ Rey! We did not hit the $100 but got pretty close with a $80.

Ambassador Tip#7 - (should really be #1) Have fun. You have a chance to make a little bit of money from stuff you don't want anymore and you get to potentially make new friends. "Shout out to the guy who was just taking his walk, but stop by and told me about some excellent cobblers in the area--now if I could only find a Taylor...sorry, that's another post."


That's all for now....keep Running the Point from where you are, with what you have left after your garage sale!

Your Ambassador,
Mike Bruny
www.runthepoint.com

Ambassador Bruny's 5 Tips From Net-Working In Boston

I took a trip to Boston earlier this week on a Net-working mission.  I've been hitting the street to spread the "Run the Point message," and making some new friends along the way.  I hit up two events this week.  The ECHO (Entrepreneurs of Color Helping Others) monthly meeting and a Tweach up at Lansdowne Pub near Fenway Park. 

First and foremost I want to introduce or remind my readers about my view on Net-working.  The hypen is there for a reason.  It's to remind you that you physically have a net that you have to put to work and that you belong to a net and you have to be willing to go to work for them.  I'm big on reciprocity.  Now back to the tips.

Ambassador Bruny tip #1: Be in the mindset of service.  Ask yourself, how can I be of service as you talk and mingle with the people.  I was able to think of at least 2 people that I just had to connect after having 5 minute conversations.  You have to give in order to get!

Ambassador Bruny tip #2: Introduce yourself to the speaker and host of the event.  They are the ones who got all the people out there and they can help you meet more people. At the ECHO event the speaker spoke about the value of blogging for businesses.  Her name is Angel Babbitt and she has a cool blog called The Bridal BFF (check her out).  We had a chance to talk a little bit after her presentation and we are now connected.  She even gave me a referral to a couple of guys who make bow ties.  I spoke with the host of the event and learned about Boston offline which puts on all kinds of events.

At the Tweach up, which is a combination of a reach out and a tweet up (basically asking you to bring a friend who has never been to a tweet up before to partake in the event), one of the hosts was actually kind enough to give me a shout out on Twitter following the event.

Ambassador Bruny tip #3: Be Yourself. Don't work overtime on trying to be someone that you are not.  It's spotted a mile away and it's just too much work.  Let the people love you for you.  I'm passionate about helping people take things to a next level and that shows.  I love my bow ties and that shows too. 

Ambassador Bruny tip #4: Love The One You're With.  Nothing is more annoying that trying to have a conversation with someone and their eyes are scanning the room.  Focus Daniel-son (remember the Karate Kid) and pay attention to the person who is in front of you. Listen to what they are saying and ask a clarifying question if you need to.  I met so many cool people this past week, just by listening.  I met the lady who is in charge of the PR for Boston University, a dean of students, a guy who is a dating coaching (the real hitch; check him out at The Professional Wingman), a woman who is super passionate about building community and even reconnected with a few people (My man Joselin from Boston Tweet up dot com) to name a few.

Ambassassdor Bruny tip #5: Keep it Moving. At some point your conversation with the person you just met will come to an end.  You may decide to exchange contact information or you may not (there is no hard and fast rule).  Do not feel bad about excusing yourself to network with some other folks.  That's why you're there in the first place.  You can simply say something like, "It was great meeting you, I'm going to mingle a bit."

Bonus Tip: All of the work begins tomorrow.  Whatever networking event you are attending is just a gateway to really getting to know the people you met.  The power is in the follow up.  It's in sending them an email the next day or sending them a card.  It's in fulfilling the promises you made to follow up and/or connect them with someone they should know.

That's how a net-works

As alway...keep Running the Point, from where you are, with what you have.

Your Ambassador,
Mike Bruny

Tiger Woods Meets "Coach" Ambassador Bruny

So we all know the situation Tiger Woods is currently in.  I won't label it as good or bad, because we don't know the whole story...yet.  It's still being written.  Ever wonder what would happen if Tiger Woods had a life coach?  Check out what happens when  Tiger Woods meets Ambassador Bruny, a Certified Profession Co-Active Coach (CPCC) who knows he is tough enough to bounce back from this because he believes he is Naturally Creative Resourceful and Whole.  Tiger is not broken!

Ambassador Bruny [AB]: Hey Tiger, what would you like to focus on today?

Tiger Woods [TW]: Well Ambassador, I've got myself into a Jam.  You see growing up I was an only child, so I was lonely.  My only refuge was golf.  I was really always considered a golf nerd.  When I was young I had braces that came with a head piece and was very akward with the ladies.  My first love has always been golf. [AB interrupts]

AB: Tiger, I'm going to interrupt you for a moment; what's important to you about that story?

TW: What's important to me is that I've gone through a lot of changes from golf geek to golf god, that the ladies love.  I've got all this fame, power and I don't know who really loves me (Eldrick) and who loves my golf persona (Tiger).

AB: I see.  Tell me this, what is it that you really want?

TW: Well I really want to live the life of a bachelor, but I know because of who I am and what I represent to the world, I have to  settle down.

AB: What's it like to "have" to do what the world tells you?

TW: It's really tough.  But I know being over 30 it's the right thing to do.

AB: I feel the toughness of it all in your voice.  So you "have" to do what the world tells you to do; it's the right thing to do.  It sounds like we are talking about your relationship to "living your life."

TW: That sounds about right.

AB: It sounds like your current perspective is, "I have to do what the world tells me."  Would you mind exploring a couple of different perspectives with me and seeing what else is possible for you?

TW: Sure

AB:  We are going to explore several perspectives in relation to "living your life."  I'm going to ask you to stand up.  I'm going to ask you to look through different windows in your house to represent the different perspectives.  Let's start with this window over here.  I want you pretend this window represents your current perspective which is,"I have to do what the world tells me."  Take a moment to take it in.  I really want you to feel what it's like in this place.  What's your body posture in this place of "have to do what the world tells me?"

TW: It's slumped over, it feels like I'm playing golf in the rain, i'm in the deep rough and have trees all around me.  In other words it's tight.

AB: so the perspective of "I have to do what the world tells me" has you feeling tight, not much wiggle room.  Ok, lets explore a different perspective.  Let's step over to this next window.  How about the perspective of "I do whatever I want?"  What's it like in this space in relation to living your life?

TW:  I'm still a little slumped over, not as much as before and not for the same reasons.  I'm slumped over a bit because in this place I did not get enough sleep.  I've been out all night.  It's weird, it's freeing and tiring at the same time.  It's like going for a crazy long shot when I should just lay up and get to the green in two instead of trying to go for it in one shot.

AB: Good.  Let's try a couple more.  Let's move to this next window.  What do you see out there?

TW: The Ocean

AB: Ok, what's "The Ocean" perspective on "living my life"

TW: It's complicated, beautiful and deadly at the same time.  My body posture in this place is to just lay down on the floor.  There are too many options and variables; it's paralyzing.

AB: Well let's lay down on the floor. (wait about 30 seconds) What's there?

TW: [sobbing] I see my dad.  I see him wanting me to be tough.  To be able to fight through everything and anything.  There's also a sense of frustration here because I want to control everything, but I know I cannot; similar to the sea.  All we can do is go with the wind and learn to use it to our advantage.  We can't control it.

AB:  What do you say we explore one more perspective.  You can choose.

TW:  I would like to explore the perspective of Eldrick.

AB: OK, let's go to this window over here.  What's the perspective of Eldrick like?

TW: It's naked, raw, kind.  It's a sunny place.  It's like playing golf on my own on a beautiful day.  It's a place of responsibility.  When I hit a shot, I have to replace the divot (no one's there to clean up my mess) or treat me like I'm great.  It's just me, the rules of the game and doing the right thing--because it's the right thing.  I don't move the ball if it's on a bad lie. I do the right thing for the sake of doing the right thing and for the respect I have for the game and for myself.

AB: That sounds like a powerful place for you.[wait 30 seconds to let it all soak in] Ok, we are going to do what's known as touch and go.  We are going to have you briefly revisit the feeling of each of the perspectives we discussed and then I'm going to ask you to select one to build from moving forward.

*We go through each of them quickly*

AB: Ok Tiger which perspective would you like to build from moving forward?

TW: I would like build from the "Eldrick" perspective.

AB: Yeah, I felt the resonance with that perspective for you.  We are coming to the end of our session today; I would like to leave you with an inquiry for you to journal about until we met again.  Are you ready?  Here it is: "Who is Eldrick?"  Will you take that on?

TW: Yes, I will Ambassador Bruny; Thank you so much

AB: Thank you...Eldrick; you did all the work [smile], I just asked you a couple of questions.  I want to acknowledge your courage to take steps to live your life your way.  Until next time, keep running the point from where you are with what you have.

What would you do if you were hired to coach  Tiger Woods?

Your Ambassador,
Mike Bruny

Planning

I thought you would enjoy this powerful note from Andre Taylor. I'm always looking for ways to help you run the point.

Your Ambassador,
Mike Bruny

From Andre Taylor (andretaylor.com)
I recently visited several colleges and
universities. These visits reminded me
of academia's focus on teaching the art
of PLANNING.

The old saying is true: "If you fail to
plan, you plan to fail," but I am struck
by how far apart sometimes theory is from
reality.

The business plan for example, is terra
firma at the university. However, most
successful entrepreneurs have nothing
resembling the dry,lengthy, boring, business
plans developed in school that gather dust
on book shelves never to be reviewed again.

Most entrepreneurs prefer marketing plans
as their key operating document but even
these are far different than plans developed
inside the classroom. For one, most are done
on yellow pads -- handwritten. And many
entrepreneurs don't realize the notes they
keep would be considered "marketing plans,"
at all.

With marketing being SO important for everyone
wanting success in this economy let me share
elements of a "Real-World Marketing Plan."

1. Describe your STRATEGY: List a few sentences
describing your strategy and tangible goals:
"Announce new health shake, build sales to
local business owners, college students, and
stay-at-home Moms. Add 100 new weekly customers."

2. List your TACTICS to get there: "Health Shake:
Circulate 'Buy One, Get One Free Coupon. Goal:
$1,000 in new revenue a week. Oatmeal Raisin
Cookies: Verbally offer wih every order at the
register. Goal: $400 in new revenue each week.

3. Create A CALENDAR: Identify what marketing
activities you'll do over time -- either
daily, weekly, or monthly. "JAN2010 -- New You
Eat Healthy promotion, FEB2010 --'Give Your Lover
A Cupcake' promotion..."

4. Define New TOOLS: List the new marketing tools
you're developing to support your activities.
Keep track of what it will cause to take
advantage of each tool.Put a date next to each.
"LOGO: MAR2010, WEBSITE: APR2010..."

5. New IDEAS/PRODUCTS: List your new ideas and products
in development. "Banana Muffins, Turkey Chili
Soup, Cranberry Chicken Salad..."

Got the point?

Make your marketing plan a short 2-page, "working
document" that'll be your daily guide to stay on
track. Refer to it daily. Keep it with you.

Other content typically described as important
to a marketing plan such as a competitive analysis
and all that "jazz" should be somewhere else.

A marketing plan is the answer to the question: "How am
I going to bring specific quantities of my product
or service, with a specific financial return to market?"

No matter what your business is, or where your business is
-- even if you have no business presently -- you can use
this thinking and marketing plan format to organize your
marketing approach.

I hope this helps you FLOURISH!

Until Next Time,

AT

P.S. Need Coaching To Develop Your Marketing Plan?
Send me an email: info@andretaylor.com

====================================================
(c)2009 André Taylor - Taylor Insight
====================================================
André Taylor is an author, speaker, and consultant
teaching individuals and organizations how to lead
and win. He's an accomplished business leader with
diverse experience including executive positions on
Wall Street, leading the marketing activities of
multi-national organizations, and building successful
entrepreneurial companies. Clients for his leadership
development work include individuals, well-known
personalities, professionals,and many of the world's
most recognizable organizations. More at
www.andretaylor.com.

Run the Point Highlight Series Presents: "Self Reliance"

Run the Point Highlight Series presents: "Self Reliance" by Ralph Waldo Emerson

This week I bring you The Run the Point Highlight Series. Run the Point Highlights are notes that I've literally highlighted with my marking pen while reading an article, essay or book. I share them with you in hopes that they move you as much as they moved me.

I start off with "Self Reliance" by Emerson. I was first introduced to Emerson while in college. I had one of those professors who made you enjoy a subject you previously had no interest in. Emerson and his transcendentalism movement was all about telling people to stop focusing on what someone else has done in the past and begin to recognize the greatest in the present movement.

Below are a few of the highlights I've taken from "Self Reliance." If you are interested in seeing all of the parts I've highlighted, send me an email to bruny@runthepoint.com, with the subject heading: Complete Self-Reliance Highlights.

Picture a textbook or any book for that matter. You read through it and you find yourself saying, "WOW" to certain words, sentences, concepts or paragraphs. You quickly highlight or underline that section. You can now go back and just read the highlighted sections. What I bring forth to you are the highlights that have moved me and I hope they have an impact on you as well. I've read tons of books, from the Bible, Think and Grow Rich, Rich Dad; Poor Dad, Do You, Interviews with Millionaires, The Power Behind Positive Thinking, The Power of Focus, "Oh, the Places You will go", etc. They include valuable pieces of information that I have highlighted and made notes on.

Here are my highlights from "Self Reliance":

Trust Yourself

• To believe your own thought, to believe that what is true for you in your private heart is true for all men, -- that is genius.


• Yet he dismisses without notice his thought, because it is his.


• Else's, to-morrow a stranger will say with masterly good sense precisely what we have thought and felt all the time, and we shall be forced to take with shame our own opinion from another.


• There is a time in every man's education when he arrives at the conviction that envy is ignorance; that imitation is suicide; that he must take himself for better, for worse, as his portion; that though the wide universe is full of good, no kernel of nourishing corn can come to him but through his toil bestowed on that plot of ground which is given to him to till. The power which resides in him is new in nature, and none but he knows what that is which he can do, nor does he know until he has tried.


• But God will not have his work made manifest by cowards.


• Trust thyself: every heart vibrates to that iron string.


• It is easy in the world to live after the world's opinion; it is easy in solitude to live after our own; but the great man is he who in the midst of the crowd keeps with perfect sweetness the independence of solitude.

Don't Imitate

• The soul created the arts wherever they have flourished. It was in his own mind that the artist sought his model. It was an application of his own thought to the thing to be done and the conditions to be observed.


• Insist on yourself; never imitate. Your own gift you can present every moment with the cumulative force of a whole life's cultivations; but of the adopted talent of another, you have only and extemporaneous, half possession.


• Every man is unique.


• The Scipionsim of Scipio is precisely that part he could not borrow. Shakespeare will never be made by the study of Shakespeare. Do that which is assigned you, and you cannot hope too much or dare too much.

Greatness

• You see great works--statues, buildings, machines, books and you feel belittled by them, put in your place, puny, unworthy. But you're looking at it all wrong. Their greatness awaits your judgment.


• Do not envy or feel inferior when you read of a great soul. So they were great. So what? Did they up greatness? No! your own actions have as much potential to affect the future if you would be exactly what you are--fully and truly.


• Why worship the past? The truth is here, now, as fully and completely as it has ever been. You need no ancient description of the color of the sky; you only need to look up. You can describe it however you want to describe it. Memorizing former descriptions misses the point entirely.


• We are not victims, we are creators.


• We have a tendency to make the mistake of measuring each other by what we have rather than by what we have become.It is ironic that we will travel thousands of miles to see great architecture rather than staying home and building our own great works--something the architects of these great foreign buildings obviously did.

Your Ambassador,
Mike Bruny, CPCC
Certified Life Coach, Speaker, Author
Run the Point Enterprises
www.runthepoint.com

Gone Digital:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/mike.bruny
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/mikebruny
Twitter: http://twitter.com/Runthepoint
==========================================================
Author of: "Move the Crowd: 30 Days of Hip Hop Affirmations To Change Your Life." www.runthepoint.com/products

Supportive or Sucker

I’m back from a vacation split between the Berkshires in Western, MA and NYC. They are two very different places that I have come to appreciate. In the Berkshires, I was surrounded by mountains (climbed Mount Greylock while I was there). In NYC, I was surrounded by a sea of people as I traveled on the “D” train to visit my alma mater, Lafayette High School in Brooklyn, New York. I have noticed something very interesting, at least to me, on the last few trips that I’ve taken from Massachusetts to New York City so I thought I would share the experience.

The last few times my wife and I have traveled from Massachusetts to NYC we have stopped at the first major rest area in Connecticut. Without failure we have run into someone who did not have enough money to pay for gas and just needed a couple of bucks so they could get to their final destination. I’ve given to their cause a few times, but then I started to think, “Why does this seem to always happen at the same location?” It started to feel like one of the social psychology experiments I ran in college to test the helping behavior of strangers.

I do have a soft spot for helping when possible but after the experience I had in NYC a couple of weeks back, I began to wonder if the “S” on my chest stood for “Supportive” or “Sucker.“ Read the story below and decide for yourself.

“I was on my way to the train station at Sterling street to jump on the 2 train. As I got close to the train station a gentleman approached me and said, ‘I don’t want to ask you for anything but I am sick and my daughter needs milk. Would you be willing to buy milk for her?’ I thought I would do my good deed for the day and purchase the milk for the gentleman. What could it cost me, $4 at the most, right? Wrong! What happened next was like a scene out of a movie. We walk into the store and I’m expecting the guy to go and get the milk or ask the store owner to retrieve it. Instead, he just nods and the store owner knows exactly what to do. He has one of his associates go on a latter to get the milk which is on the top shelf. When I asked how much the infant milk cost he said, $16. I froze with sticker shock. I made the commitment so I decided to follow through—in the back of my mind, I was thinking ‘I won’t let this happen to me again. The ‘S’ on my chest was definitely for Sucker at that moment. If that wasn’t enough, as I was waiting for my debit card to be processed the guy I was helping out had the nerve to say, ‘man if you weren’t in such a rush, I would let you take me around to get something to eat.’ I could not help but laugh as I left the store and jumped on the 2 train heading for Manhattan.”

What’s the lesson in the story above...There are a lot of people who can use our assistance. We have to decide how and where we want to use our skills and resources (time, money, and network) to help others. I have developed a plan that may be of assistance as you consider how and where you want to give back. I call my plan, “Give way back”—I just came up with the name, but have always had the concept. What I have discovered in my journey is that the places that can use our help the most are the ones that have the least resources to ask for that help. I listed the places that have had an impact on my life and decided to, “Give way back” by starting a giving plan that works chronologically with my life. Below is my work in progress.

Mike Bruny’s Giving Vision:
My church-->P.S. 189-->Pop Warner Football (Brooklyn Skyhawks to be Specific)-->Lafayette H.S. (now High School of Sport Management)-->Hartwick College(undergrad)-->Umass (grad school: Sport Management Department)-->The Partnership, inc. (leadership program in Boston)

Happy Giving and may the “S” on your chest stand for “Supportive” not “Sucker.”

My wife & I at Mt. Greylock in the Berkshires (Stoney Ledge Trail) My family in NYC (L to R): Nephew Johnny, Mom, Wife, Me


My Alma Mater, Lafayette H.S., in Brooklyn, NY

Your Ambassador,
Mike Bruny, CPCC
Certified Life Coach, Speaker, Author
Run the Point Enterprises
www.runthepoint.com

Gone Digital:
Facebook: www.facebook.com
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/mikebruny

Twitter: www.twitter.com/runthepoint

==========================================================
Author of: "Move the Crowd: 30 Days of Hip Hop Affirmations To Change Your Life."

www.runthepoint.com/products

Net-Working (What you need & What you have to offer)

This is a new section that I am adding for anyone who wants to unite as a network to offer solutions and share challenges they may be facing. Each week I will post what folks have to offer and what they are looking for. Just send me an email with the subject, Looking for or Offering.

Doing It-- F.O.S

Remember this acronym, F.O.S. (Focus On Service) as you read the information below.

Friday I had an opportunity to see LL Cool J (referred to as LL moving forward) at a discussion and book signing focused around empowering young adults. The event took place at a community college outside of the Boston area. For those who don't know LL; he is a man who has been in the hip hop Industry as an artist for over 20 years. If I could get my book, “Move the Crowd: 30 Days of Hip Hop Affirmations to Change Your Life,” into his hands and get his support, that would take things to another level.

I put on my thinking cap, knowing that people probably give him things (CDs, books, etc.) to review everyday. How could I be different? How could I stand out and create an opportunity to follow up with him at a future date? What would you do?

With only one day’s notice of the event, I started with a little bit of research; why was LL coming to talk at this school? I couldn’t find anything on the internet about the event, but I was able to gain insight into some of the things he has done during his long career.

It’s Friday and there are only a couple of hours before I head to the event. I’m focused on the thought of how I can leave a lasting impression with LL. All of a sudden it hit me; the best way to be remembered is to be of service. I pulled a page from JFK’s book, “Ask not what LL can do for you, but what you can do for LL.” Hmm…How could I, Mike Bruny, be of service to this multi-platinum recording artist who currently commands at least $1 million dollars for acting roles? I continued to focus on service; I wondered what charities LL is involved in? With limited time and a brief internet search I wasn’t able to come up with anything. What else could I give? Well, LL is not the only one with a book. I brought an autograph copy of my book for him. I selected my outfit, bow tie included—great way to standout. When I got to the event, I purchased a copy of LL’s workout book to be autographed. While others were focused on the weightlifting pictures, I focused on the words in search of clues that would allow me to make a connection in the brief 1-2 minutes that I would have when LL was signing the book I just purchased. Right away a quote in the book caught my attention, “Write something worth reading or do something worth writing about,” by Benjamin Franklin. Cool, I brought him something worth reading—my book. It felt as if the stars were slowly aligning in my favor.

During his talk, I listened carefully with faith that something said would provide me the opportunity to be of service and leave an impression. That opportunity came when LL was talking about his next endeavors. He is researching and looking to get into micro-financing in other countries. Right away it hit me, “I know someone who specializes in micro-financing and is very knowledgeable and connected in that area.” I immediately retrieved his contact information from my phone and copied it onto the back of my business card, with a brief note for LL.

The event ended and it was time to get my book signed. I waited in line and rehearsed what I would say in the 30 seconds I would be given as LL signed my book. Okay, it was my turn; I handed him my book (Move the Crowd) and said, “Here is something worth reading”—I took the line from the Benjamin Franklin quote in his book . As he autographed the workout book I purchased earlier, I told him that I heard what he said about micro financing and I am providing him the contact information for a professor at Northeastern University who could be of service. He responded, “My man” and gave me a handshake. I left the event feeling good because I was able to set myself apart, not only by being the only person with a bow tie , but also being aware enough to see an opportunity to be of service. Besides, how many people who were at that event can say they were of service to LL Cool J.?

Where are the opportunities for you to be of service? Are you trying to get things done, but are running into resistance? Look for ways you can genuinely be of service. Remember this acronym, F.O.S. (Focus On Service).

Your Ambassador,
Mike Bruny, CPCC
Certified Life Coach, Speaker, Author
Quarter Life Answers
www.runthepoint.com / Coming soon www.QuarterLifeAnswers.com

Gone Digital:
Facebook: www.facebook.com
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/mikebruny
Twitter: http://twitter.com/Runthepoint
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Author of: "Move the Crowd: 30 Days of Hip Hop Affirmations To Change Your Life." www.runthepoint.com/products

Don't Miss me When I'm Gone, Love me while I'm Here

DON'T MISS ME WHEN I'M GONE, LOVE ME WHILE I'M HERE

In the past three years I’ve seen a number of my friends under 35 pass away. For the most part these were healthy people. The first reports of their deaths included no explanation as to why they passed away. No foul play, drugs or alcohol involved. In some cases they were even vigilant about their health and went to the doctor when something didn’t feel right. Despite their best efforts, they are no longer with us. “Here today and gone tomorrow,” “you are not promised tomorrow,” are no longer just clichés but case studies.

In each case I have gone through a number of different emotions: disbelief, sadness and guilt. Other reactions have been questions: Why did they have to die? Are they really dead? Why didn’t I spend more time with them? Why didn’t I tell them how much I appreciated them? In the mix of all the emotions of losing someone and the reality that life must go on, this phrase emerged: “Don’t miss me when I’m gone, Love me while I’m here.”

As you go about your busy day don’t forget what is most important to you in the long run—that’s totally up to you to decide. That “most important thing” has several names; some call it values, others call it your essence; whatever name you give it, make sure you start on the journey to discovery what it is. It makes life really worth while.

Here is a poem that may help:

IF I HAD MY LIFE TO LIVE OVER...
I'd dare to make more mistakes next time. I'd relax, I would limber up. I would be sillier than I have been on this trip. I would take fewer things seriously. I would take more chances. I would climb more mountains and swim more rivers. I would eat more ice cream and less beans. I would perhaps have more actual troubles, but I'd have fewer imaginary ones.

You see, I'm one of those people who live sensibly and sanely hour after hour, day after day. Oh, I've had my moments, and if I had it to do over again, I'd have more of them. In fact, I'd try to have nothing else. Just moments, one after another, instead of living so many years ahead of each day, I've been one of those persons who never goes anywhere without a thermometer, a hot water bottle, a raincoat and a parachute. If I had to do it again, I would travel lighter than I have.

If I had my life to live over, I would start barefoot earlier in the spring and stay that later in fall. I would go to more dances. I would ride more merry-go-rounds. I would pick more daisies.
~Nadine Stair

You don’t have to go through the process alone! -- Could you use some assistance in clarifying your values? I am offering FREE 30 minute sessions ($100 value) called, Values Clarification. It’s the first step towards a more fulfilling life. Call me to schedule an appointment: 617-943-1417. There is no obligation to buy anything. It’s a two step process: 1. we will go through a few exercises to get you on your way to clarifying your values (you will have homework); 2. I will tell you how to get into coaching if you desire to.


“The truth is time waits for none of you. In fact he can’t wait for the date to snatch the ground right from under you.” ~Nas

Your Ambassador,
Mike Bruny, CPCC
Certified Life Coach, Speaker, Author
Quarter Life Answers
www.runthepoint.com / Coming soon www.QuarterLifeAnswers.com

Gone Digital:
Facebook: www.facebook.com
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/mikebruny
Twitter: http://twitter.com/Runthepoint
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Author of: "Move the Crowd: 30 Days of Hip Hop Affirmations To Change Your Life." www.runthepoint.com/products

DO YOU CALL YOUR OWN SHOTS?

*Based on a true story that happened to someone I am very, very close to. The names and locations have been changed to protect the innocent*

I was fortunate enough to be exposed to the following story and wanted to pass it along to my readers.

3½ years ago a young lady started working as a sales associate for a large department store. After 6 months with the store she was selected to become a manager in training—this did not automatically guarantee her a management position. She was trained by one of the best managers in the company. This was evident by her trainer winning one of the highest awards the company had to offer, the coveted “Glass Slipper” award. When her trainee saw her win the award, the trainee said [to herself], “one day I’m going to be the best manager and win the ‘Glass Slipper’ award.” Time passes and the trainer leaves the store to take an executive position in a different field.

Fast forward 3½ years later and the trainee is now a full fledged manager and has worked her way through different departments in the store until she has been given the most visible and stressful department in the store. She continues to work hard and one day comes to work only to be told about an emergency meeting that will take place in the afternoon. Given the state of the economy she hopes the meeting is not an announcement of anymore layoffs that will stress those being laid off as well as those who are left behind to an increased workload. To her surprise the meeting is the complete opposite. The call is with the corporate office and all the other department stores to celebrate those who have won the “’Glass Slipper” award. To her surprise—at least for now—her name was called. She is 1 out of 10 individuals who the company has selected to give this award to; The company has over 1,000 employees to choose from. Her boss quickly puts the conference call on mute and they commence to celebrate. Out of nowhere, cake, wine, streamers and the coveted “Glass Slipper” award appear. Holding back tears of joy, she stood up and thanked all those who helped her make it this far.

The biggest surprise—or should I say revelation—came right before she went to bed and started to think back to when she saw her trainer win the award. “Oh, my God,” as her hand covers her mouth in disbelief. She suddenly remembered 3½ years earlier she stated, “one day I’m going to be the best manager and win the ‘Glass Slipper’ award.” She called it and she got it.

The above story was written to remind us of two things:

1. To put ourselves in a position where we can be exposed to the best that life has to offer. That includes people, places and things.
2. To dare to call out what you want in your life, work for it and patiently receive it.

Your Ambassador,
Mike Bruny, CPCC
Certified Life Coach, Speaker, Author
Quarter Life Answers
www.runthepoint.com / Coming soon www.QuarterLifeAnswers.com

Gone Digital:
Facebook: www.facebook.com
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/mikebruny
Twitter: http://twitter.com/Runthepoint
==========================================================
Author of: "Move the Crowd: 30 Days of Hip Hop Affirmations To Change Your Life." www.runthepoint.com/products

Trying Times vs. Times to Try

Trying Times vs. Times to Try

The recession has been top of mind for so many people. For some the focus is on a change in 401K value, for some it's related to layoffs and company closings, for some it means difficulty selling their product to trusted customers and for some it's viewed as an opportunity to start anew in a different way.

I have been on the side of joblessness before and the feeling of, "why me?" and blame. Fortunately, I did not stay in that state of mind too long. I decided to do a couple of things that you or someone you know may find helpful:

I focused externally: I reflected on my job history. What did I enjoy about the places I worked in the past? What didn't I enjoy? How did I end up working where I did in the first place? Was it a clear choice on my part or a move strictly out of necessity? Are there any patterns I am seeing in my work history?

I focused internally: What am I all about? What do I really enjoy doing? If I could do anything in the world, what would I (key focus on "I", not "they" or "we") do? I took some time to focus on the above and I had a little bit of help from a couple of books that you may find helpful as well: "What Color is Your Parachute," by Richard Bolles, "The Purpose Driven Life," by Rick Warren. What I came out with following my process is clarity on what I wanted to do and what skills I wanted to use in the world. Here is an inside look at the formula I came up with and used during job interviews to describe what is important to me:

P2M3+N (It reads "P" Square, "M"Cube, plus "N")

Purpose, Passion, Meaning, Mentor, Money + Networking.

Let me know what comes out of your own journey. When times are slow it is a perfect time to take a look at what's important to you and build skills needed to succeed.

Your Ambassador,
Mike Bruny
Professional Life Coach, Speaker

Quarter Life Answers is focused on helping young adults aged 24-35 through the Quarter Life Challenge. By using one-on-one coaching, workshops and other various products I help Quarter Lifers become more profitable and gain clarity for life and career decisions. To learn more or set-up a FREE sample coaching session, email: http://us.mc11.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=bruny@runthepoint.com

http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=-1&msgid=0&act=11111&c=389341&admin=0&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.runthepoint.com%2F / Coming Soon: http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=-1&msgid=0&act=11111&c=389341&admin=0&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.quarterlifeanswers.com%2F
Find me on Facebook
Twitter - http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=-1&msgid=0&act=11111&c=389341&admin=0&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.twitter.com%2FRunthepoint
LinkedIn - http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=-1&msgid=0&act=11111&c=389341&admin=0&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fin%2FmikebrunyAuthor of: "Move the Crowd: 30 Days of Hip Hop Affirmations To Change Your Life." http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=-1&msgid=0&act=11111&c=389341&admin=0&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.runthepoint.com%2Fproducts or http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=-1&msgid=0&act=11111&c=389341&admin=0&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.authorhouse.com%2FCheck out how the lyrics of Hip Hop Artist can help you with such topics as: Winning, Time Management, Vision, Faith, Support, Decision Making and Living a more fulfilling life. Email me at http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=-1&msgid=0&act=11111&c=389341&admin=0&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fapp.icontact.com%2Fmc%2Fcompose%3Fto%3DBruny%40runthepoint.com for a free 3 Day Sampler.© 2009 Run The Point Enterprises All rights reserved.

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Quarter Life Answers FREE Tele-seminar on Networking

On Tuesday, March 10 at 8pm(EST) Quarter Life Answers will host its first Tele-seminar, "Allowing your Net-Work to work for you." FREE for all those who are part of my network (if you are reading this message you are part of my network) PLEASE RSVP BY SENDING AN EMAIL TO ADMIN@RUNTHEPOINT.COM W/ SUBJECT: NET-WORKING RSVP to receive the conference number and access code.

Learn how you can build and leverage the people you already know and are accessible to you to reach your goals while simultaneously helping others do the same. Expect to walk away from this call with concrete steps that you can implement immediately.

The End of the Beginning

I will keep today’s message brief. About 10 months ago I decided to take a leap from being a professional life coach to becoming a certified life coach through the Coaches Training Institute (CTI) and the International Coach Federation (ICF). On Tuesday, February 24 I will move one step closer to realizing that goal when I take my oral exams.

Being accustomed to striving to reach higher I have learned that a certification or degree may (and I stress the word “may”) give you a leg up on the competition it does not entitle you to anything. I like to use the metaphor of a Track & Field athlete. The work you put in (to get your degree or certification) helped you to build your muscles, but you still have to run the race. You are not automatically guaranteed a victory because of a certification or degree. With that said, I suggest you get your mind right and focus on running the race with confidence in your training and coaching. Don’t get overconfident and lose sight of what it takes to win the race.

I original found this passage in the book, “Built to Last” and thought you would enjoy it. If you like it, print it out and keep it close by as a reminder of what you are called to do.

The End of The Beginning

Picture a martial art student kneeling before his teacher in a ceremony to receive a hard earned black belt. After weeks of relentless training, the student has finally reached a pinnacle of achievement in discipline.

“Before granting acceptance, you must pass one more test,” says the teacher.
“I am ready,” responds the student, expecting perhaps one final round of sparing.
“You must answer the essential question: What is the true meaning of becoming a black belt?”
“The end of my journey,” says the student. “A well-deserved reward for all my hard work.”
The teacher waits for more. Clearly, he is not satisfied. Finally, the teacher speaks. “You are not yet ready to become a black belt. Return in one week.”

A week later, the student kneels again in front of the teacher.
“What is the true meaning of becoming a black belt?” ask the teacher.
“A symbol of distinction and the highest achievement in our process,” says the student.
The teacher says nothing for many minutes, waiting. Clearly, he is not satisfied. Finally he speaks. “ You are still not ready to become a black belt. Return in one week.”

A week later, the student kneels once again in front of the teacher. And again the teacher asks: “What is the true meeting of becoming a black belt?”

Becoming a black belt represents the beginning—the start of a never-ending journey of discipline, work and the pursuit of an ever-higher standard,” says the student.
“Yes, you are now ready to become a black belt and begin your work.”

Your Ambassador,

Mike Bruny

Professional Coach, Speaker, Author

www.runthepoint.com / coming soon: www.quarterlifeanswers.com
Find me on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn

Author of: "Move the Crowd: 30 Days of Hip Hop Affirmations To Change Your Life." Get your copy at: www.runthepoint.com/products, http://www.authorhouse.com/, or www.amazon.com

Check out how the lyrics of Hip Hop Artist can help you with such topics as: Winning, Time Management, Vision, Faith, Support, Decision Making and Living a more fulfilling life.

© 2009 Run The Point Enterprises All rights reserved

"If I Only Knew" - Getting The Info. You Need To Accomplish Your Goals

"If I only knew."
Getting the info you need to accomplish your goals?

I recall being told back in my college days, “anything that you want to know is available to you in the library or though the internet.” Very wise words and I now pass them along to you. It’s no secret that we have more access to information then any other generation. With our iPhones and Free Wi-Fi cafés information is literally at our fingertips. Even with that being said, we sometimes make decisions based on old paradigms and partial information. This may cause us to miss out on opportunities that are readily available to us. We may be left with the feeling of, “if only I knew.” Here are a couple of examples of the “if only I knew”, so hopefully you will strive to know.


Example #1: You must have tickets to the inauguration to attend. Several people I ran into missed out on the opportunity to be part of the historical Presidential inauguration in Washington , D.C. because they were under the false assumption you needed tickets in order to go. In one case I spoke with someone the day before I left for D.C. and mentioned that I would be leaving in the morning. Their response was, “Oh, how did you get tickets?” I let them know I did not have tickets and they were surprised to know that you could still go even if you didn’t have a ticket. This person already had a place to stay, available transportation, but he also had bad or missing pieces of information which left him in a position of, “if only I knew.”


Example#2: The cardboard people. I made it down to D.C. the night before the inauguration at about 10:30p.m. We were staying with a friend in D.C. who lived a couple of train stops aware from the National Mall. One of my friends really wanted to have a prime location for the historic event and was willing to stay out in the freezing weather beginning at Midnight if it meant he could see, without the aid of any magnifying devices, the president elect get sworn in. Our contacts in D.C. could not tell us if we got their early enough if we would accomplish that goal; so what did we do? We went on a recon mission that very night to see for ourselves and talk with the security folks to get the lowdown on what was really going on. With train map in hand we headed towards the National Mall at 11p.m. When we got to the mall we noticed that there were a number of people huddled together on the floor using cardboard boxes to help break the frigid winds as they slept there in hopes of getting the best position possible for the swearing in of our president. Taking this trip allowed us to do several important things: 1. We knew exactly where we needed to go in the morning (the best train stop to get off, where to position ourselves on the train so we would be near an exit and alternate routes if necessary). 2. We spoke with security and found out for sure that we would not be able to see the swearing in with our bare eyes no matter how early we were there. The non-ticketed section was just too far away. The best thing for us to do was strategically position ourselves so we could have seating, uh-um, I mean standing room in clear sight of one of the large viewing screens. Why didn’t the cardboard box people ask the same questions?


Example#3: Get in the Fast Lane. Whether you live in NY or New England you have a program on the highways for paying tolls that is know as EZPass or Fast Lane. This allows you to go through the tolls without waiting on the long lines of cars as people pay with cash and wait for their change. There are designated lanes at the toll booths that are just for the EZPass and Fast Lane customers. In my frequent travels between NY and Boston it never fails that there are traffic jams at the major toll booth areas. Most of that traffic is from folks who do not have EZPass or Fast Lane. Every time I find myself sitting in traffic at a toll booth because the cars without the EZpass or Fast Lane passes are in all the lanes and trying to crossover to the correct lanes at the last minute, I can’t help but wonder, Why don’t more people get in the Fast Lane[program]? Is there fear? Do they not know how to get started? Do they know they would save time and money by being part of the program (the tolls are actually $0.25 to $0.50 cheaper for using the program at some tollbooths in MA)?


As we continue to move forward in 2009 I challenge you to find the information and ask the questions you need to be successful. Do not be a “If I only knew” person.


Here are 4 tips that can help you find what you are looking for:

1. Acknowledge that you don’t know all the answers but they are available to you.

2. Search for experts and those who have actually done what you are looking to do and reach out to them.

3. Leverage the power of the internet to search for things. Don’t stop after one site.

4. Trust your instincts. If something doesn’t feel right then it probably isn’t. If you feel there has to be a better way, then start to look for new ways of doing a familiar thing. Don’t settle for what just anyone tells you.

Your Ambassador,Mike BrunyQuarter Life AnswersProfessional Coach, Speaker, Authorwww.runthepoint.com
Find me on Facebook
Twitter - www.twitter.com/Runthepoint
LinkedIn - http://www.linkedin.com/in/mikebrunyAuthor of: "Move the Crowd: 30 Days of Hip Hop Affirmations To Change Your Life." www.runthepoint.com/products or www.authorhouse.comCheck out how the lyrics of Hip Hop Artist can help you with such topics as: Winning, Time Management, Vision, Faith, Support, Decision Making and Living a more fulfilling life. Email me at Bruny@runthepoint.com for a free 3 Day Sampler.© 2009 Run The Point Enterprises All rights reserved.

8 Gold Medals and 4 Lessons

8 Gold Medals and 4 Lessons

 
The world was watching the Olympics in August as Michael Phelps secured 8 gold medals for Swimming. Considered one, if not the greatest Olympian ever, the media hype around the Olympics did not disappoint. I must admit I was drawn in. I caught a couple of MP's races, but missed the last one where he was going for the 8th medal. Of course it was covered on all the news stations so it wasn't long before I found out he did it. He captured 8 gold medals and is now the greatest. Wait a minute, I thought to myself, what's the story behind the story. The life coach in me asked, "Who is this guy they call Michael Phelps?" Fortunately for me I was able to catch a post 8 gold medal interview with MP, his coach and his mom. There were several things that caught my attention. The interview I saw shed light on more than the end result of 8 gold medals. Here is what I saw:

1. Overcoming Adversity: Being diagnosed with ADHD as a child MP had his share of trouble as he quickly finished his work and disturbed the other kids. He also was being picked on and had a bad temper. I recently read an article in Men's Journal that described the rocky relationship MP had with his coach. Despite the tantrons his coach saw something in him and gave MP something to aspire to. His coach sat him down and told him that he believed he could compete in the Olympics. Before that MP was looking to quit swimming so he could spend more time hanging out with his friends. After hearing what his coach had to say MP showed a sense of focus and determination that has helped him to be the athlete he is today.

2. Goal Setting: During the interview there was talk about MP and his coach writing down goals for the 2008 Olympics and putting them away. There is no way I can prove this for sure, but I have a feeling that the goals written down on that sheet of paper did not simply say, "Win 8 gold medals." Something tells me that his goals looked more like, "Set a personal record in the freestyle, swim this specific time in the 200m butterfly, etc."

3. Motivation: The media covered how MP cut out an article from the newspaper that quoted one of the gents from the French swim team talking trash. He kept this in his locker and used it as fuel to motivate his performance. During the interview with Bob Costas, it was mentioned that Michael Jordan did the same thing. Even if no one really did talk trash about him, Michael Jordan would make it up so he had fuel for motivation. For me this was a glimpse into greatness and some of the things that elite athletes do. How can we apply this in our everyday life?

4. Self-made...Not: 8 gold medals are great but it's also important to note that 3 out of those 8 came from relay events. That means there were 3 other swimmers he was counting on in order to win 3 of those 8 medals. No swimmer or person does it alone. It takes support from others for us to reach out biggest goals. Where's the opportunity for collaboration in your life?

No Man is an Island-- My 1st Book was Realized With Help from Many

“How can I move the crowd; first of all, ain’t no mistakes allowed….Cause I like to move the crowd.”
Rakim

Enjoy this Backstage Pass to the creation of my first book, "Move the Crowd: 30 Days of Hip Hop Affirmations to Change Your Life (www.runthepoint.com/products).

This page is dedicated to all those who have a dream and just don’t know how to get started or who have started but are at a standstill. My hope is that my journey serves as fuel for you to keep in pursuit of your dream. Below is a backstage pass into some of the struggles and roadblocks that could have prevented this book from being created. More importantly, it’s about how others have come together to help me realize a dream. I am forever grateful. “Go for yours, cause dreams come true.” ~Slick Rick

The concept for the book:

I had a vague idea that I wanted to combine my love of hip hop lyrics and my positive outlook on life. I originally started out trying to work with one of my good friends but that did not work out. I kept moving forward on and off with no real direction. One Sunday I was sitting in church and the words I needed to hear came to me. The pastor announced there would be a music section in this year’s Vacation Bible School hosted by our very own minister Emmett Price. The focus would be on hip hop. It was a sign from God so I moved forward, introduced myself to Minister Price and volunteered to work with him during Vacation Bible School. He turned out to be an unbelievable resource. He motivated me to move forward with my project, served as my editor and most importantly he held me accountable to my vision.

Front and Back Cover of the Book:

Me and Don at my first book signing

As I moved toward creation of my book, I was given a challenge to complete seven chapters that I could use as a Christmas gift. As I prepared to send out my draft, I had one of my good friends Don Sawyer take a look at what I was working on. I had a basic cover with my name and title of the book. No graphics at this time. During a phone conversation he said, “Is that what you are going to use as a cover?” I replied, “Yeah, it’s just a sample.” He remained silent and in a few hours he sent me a cover he created. It wasn’t exactly what I was looking for, so he took my feedback and then came back with the “HOT” cover you see before you today. Besides refusing to allow me to pay him for his company’s work, Harlem Son Enterprises (harlem.son@gmail.com), he raised the bar on the information that had to live between those covers. Thanks Don P.

Copyright:

One of my biggest challenges was figuring out if I could legally use the lyrics the way I wanted to. Without that piece all the writing could have been for naught. While flipping through my alumni magazine I noticed a picture of an alumnus who works in the music industry. I contacted my Alma Mater and asked to be connected with the music executive. Several weeks went by and I was not able to connect with him. To my surprise, my contact at the school, Josh Truman, had been working to find me another source. He gave me a call with a new contact who he actually knew personally. I was quickly in touch with my new contact and shared what I was working on and my copyright concerns. He put my mind at ease that the limited amount of information I would be using from the song and the way that I would be using it, would not have any legal ramifications. With that information in hand I moved forward with more confidence. Thanks for working for me Josh!

The Website:
Luis Inoa

His family: L to R- Mateo, Tito, Cha-Cha, Sara

I wanted a website to house my business and future book. I bought the name and got a yahoo account. The next step was to actually create the website. I tried it myself, but I knew I needed the help of someone with more expertise. While telling one of my friends and fraternity brother, Luis, about what I was trying to do, he quickly said, “I’ll do it for you.” I quickly told him that I must pay him out of my philosophy that “value deserves value.” He refused to accept my money. He simply made a request that I come and spend a weekend with him and his family. I accepted and a website was born. Thanks to Luis for the website; Ev, Sara, Tito, Mateo and Cha-Cha for allowing Macaroni to be part of the family.

The Printing and Formatting:

To my unbelievable contacts (Andrew, Leeann) at Kinko’s in Shrewsbury, MA for the dedication above and beyond the call of duty. I have to give a very special thank you to Ramia and Amira who kept me from taking my first run elsewhere.