Searching for Clarity

My mind is running at 100 mph right now. My term is about to come to an end. I have no clue what is about to happen in the next couple of weeks. There are so many ideas that I have running through my mind about what I WANT to do, but nothing is happening. I can't focus on any one thing. I need so clarity. ASAP!!

In The Lab: YahZilla

Here is some other projects that YahZilla aka Yahya Ismail has been working on. I have to keep like-minded people around me and this brotha is DEFINITELY one of them.

Art Work

The track, " For Your Love."






A short from a carnival in my home town, Willingboro, NJ.

Lazy Nights & Crazy Lights by Yahya Ismail from Yahya Ismail on Vimeo.

Check out more @ Yahzilla.tumblr.com

Spotlight YBE: Diva of All Trades

When you think of the epitome of a great woman, what comes to mind? Intelligent, sophisticated, driven and beautiful of course. What about poet, recording artist, radio show host, painter, and actress? Amanda Diva fits ALL of these traits. She has been on the scene for years, since her start on the hit Nickelodeon sitcom, "My Brother and Me." Ms. Diva has been all over the world, giving interviews to hip-hop elite and hosting a plethora of events including the infamous Roots Picnic in Philadelphia. She also guest hosted the Global Fusion Festival last summer. I volunteered for that festival but did not get the privilege to meet her. But from what I could see, she was very down to earth and approachable. And beautiful of course!

She is the quintessential renaissance woman, "Jack of All Trades," and entrepreneur in her own right. She's an  amazing influence on young black entrepreneurs to go out and hustle for what you want out of life.This woman is just flat out great, but when it comes to people like her, I just let their work speak for itself. Check it out!

Here's a little bit from her art collection. Ladies, she does bags too!! 


















This song is a little old but I love it. "Brand New." Download the new FREEP, MADAME MONOCHROME

And something from her comedic side. She does it all folks!

Leadership Conference

 

I'm kind of late on this but it's Inc.'s Leadership Conference. It sounds like a really good opportunity for business owners to network and receive some great information. Check the leadership link for more info.

Creative Connections

I just read a great article from Inc. magazine about a new breed of social entrepreneurial ingenuity. The exemplary company used was the Mozilla Foundation. The article says that in 2005, the non-profit Mozilla Foundation created a for-profit subsidiary called the Mozilla Corporation, to handle the web browser's success. Why haven't more businesses used this?!

I think this was an ingenious idea that definitely has the potential to be an answer for more non-profits to emerge in the future. As each company needs something, it seems like the other can assist in some way. When the non-profit needs some funding, the for-profit can make a donation and when the for-profit needs to expound on its philanthropic activities, it doesn't have to look too far for help managing its charitable efforts.

Now, there are some areas of gray, especially when it comes to the MONEY! There has to be tons of documentation for IRS so that there won't be any discrepancies as it pertains to money changing hands. There needs to be separate boards and management staffs that have to sign off on every transaction. In other words, a lot of paper work!

This is some info that I will definitely be keeping close to me. With creative relationships like these between businesses, the possibilities are endless for those who want to make social change and become wealthy while doing so.  The type of things that people create when they want to make things happen is amazing! Check the full article after the jump.

Ideas

I'm still trying to figure exactly what business I'm going to start. There are so many options to choose from. I know I want it to serve a social purpose and most likely serve our youth. But I also want it to be for-profit. If anybody has any ideas, please let me know because I would be willing to make this a joint venture if it's the right idea.

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But until then, back to the lab!!

Some Sound Advice

My term is almost over and I have been looking for another job but the search has come to no avail thus far. This job searching is for the birds. I turned my search tactics up a couple notches and now I'm back in my college mode grind, "By any means necessary." I just read some great tweets on twitter ( through a series of interesting rants) and two articles about the art of acquiring a job for the future by an upcoming entrepreneur and friend, Sakita Holley. She gave some sound advice that gave me a new perspective on how to approach the job hunt.

I guess I was doing it the old-fashioned way which OBVIOUSLY was not working, so I had to add some tools to my arsenal of tactics. Here's a snippet from one of the articles:

Pick the company. Don’t let the company pick you.

Why are you sitting around waiting for random Company X to start hiring? You’re in your 20′s, which means you’ll be working for 40+ years. I don’t know about you, but 40 years is a long time to be unhappy. After you finish reading this post you need to make a list of the top 25 places you’d like to work. Focus all of your relationship building and outreach efforts on these companies. Don’t waste time applying anywhere else if you really aren’t sure you want to work there.
Once you have your list, start doing your research. Who are the top execs in your area that work at the company? Do you have any connection to these people? Is there any way you can attend their next event? Can you get an introduction from a trusted friend or professor?
These are just some of the questions that you need to ask yourself. Stalk these companies. Learn their history. Learn their culture. Make sure it’s the right fit for you.

It's time to step my game up. 

Slow Down

Sometimes when you are moving at the pace of life, you tend to forget that you have to live it! Since I have began to slow down and learn more, I've realized that I don't have to go at the pace that everyone else is going. It's easy to get caught up in what everyone ELSE'S accomplishments are that you forget to focus on your journey and success. Ever since I started having trouble with the real estate venture, I stepped back for a second to see what I was doing wrong.

I'm still trying to figure that out but in the mean time I'm learning more information so that I can be better equipped when I jump back into it. The more I learn, the more I realize that I don't have to run the race at other people's pace, I just need to create my own. To all my young entrepreneurs out there, you need to work with a sense of urgency, but respect time and the learning process required to be successful. Just because Joe Black created and launched his company in a year doesn't mean that you will have the same victory. Learn and do as much as you can, but also take your time to do it right.