Connecting Risk-Takers, Doers, and the Makers of Things.
WHEN SIX FIGURES AINT ENOUGH
When most people think of leaving a "good job" the scenario is usually like this: You don't like the people you work for. You are bored with the work. You are just wearing the mask to get to the 1st & the 15, etc. Has anyone been in the scenario where you made the most money you ever made.. having the most things you've ever had, but you're still not satisfied with your position in the game.
For me, I started re-evaluating my position after about 5 years working for VIBE. "The Vibes" was a great time. I "seemed" to be free as a bird. Getting money. Living bi-coastal. Corporate card, and a in-house family that worked hard and played hard. But after a few life changing moments where I got to see some real fly living. I realized that I was not living up to ME. I was not the same dude that moved to NY with $200 and big, over-sized dreams scrapping to make them happen. I'd gotten to a point where I was seeing my dreams become more tangible yet, ironically, smaller.
There I was frolicking through life. Nobu on Tuesday, chow on Thursday, ha ha...Jump on a plane monday Chow LA..Then hit the circuit-Super bowl, All Star, Magic, spring this, memorial day that...
To reference The Lion King... I'd become Lion King Simba. Gone astray from my purpose just doing it up in life...So once I knew what it was, I thought about what Mufassa told Simba. It was time for me to take my place in the Circle of Life.
Has anyone felt that way before? Like you are doing it, but not really! Because you are playing below your skill level and not pushing yourself to do what you really know in your heart you can do?
For me, I started re-evaluating my position after about 5 years working for VIBE. "The Vibes" was a great time. I "seemed" to be free as a bird. Getting money. Living bi-coastal. Corporate card, and a in-house family that worked hard and played hard. But after a few life changing moments where I got to see some real fly living. I realized that I was not living up to ME. I was not the same dude that moved to NY with $200 and big, over-sized dreams scrapping to make them happen. I'd gotten to a point where I was seeing my dreams become more tangible yet, ironically, smaller.
There I was frolicking through life. Nobu on Tuesday, chow on Thursday, ha ha...Jump on a plane monday Chow LA..Then hit the circuit-Super bowl, All Star, Magic, spring this, memorial day that...
To reference The Lion King... I'd become Lion King Simba. Gone astray from my purpose just doing it up in life...So once I knew what it was, I thought about what Mufassa told Simba. It was time for me to take my place in the Circle of Life.
Has anyone felt that way before? Like you are doing it, but not really! Because you are playing below your skill level and not pushing yourself to do what you really know in your heart you can do?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by CathrynMarie on -
People allow money to guide their lives - settling for positions because the pay is GREAT. Probably never really earning the money they are making, just getting it because its an open position. I'm not afraid to work from the bottom to the top within a company for the position that brings my heart joy. My sister works for SonyBMG - started on the BMG side before the merge in 05 - her college internship pay was maybe $5.25 an hour, 20 hours a week. Everyone told her to get a real job (even though she was working two jobs, lol). In the end, she graduated, was offered a position in Dallas until offered another position in Houston and finally this March was moved to California working for Corp. The money didn't motivate her, she stuck with a company she believed in and now has "moved on up" LOL.
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Permalink Reply by theceo on -
First off, Congratulations to your sister on her passionate power move. Now on to your post - I have to smile when you say "people allow money to guide their lives".
A friend of mine (who shall remain nameless) settled for a position because at the time, it paid great. Now she realizes that she can't make ends meat, literally. She thinks that if she earns more money things will get better for her. But it won't! And with all lives pressures its only getting worst.
It's interesting because she makes triple my salary and requires a helping hand. Yet with my meager salary position I am still able to get to work, pay my bills and eat. Which leads me to wonder how could that be?
My mom always told me that I must first learn how handle $5 before I could get $10.00. Passion is about respect. First handle what is given to you then more will trickle your way.
Be Well.
-theceo
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Permalink Reply by theceo on
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Wow, this is like free therapy! Only I know that I'm gonna take home more than what is given. To answer your question - yes I feel like I'm playing way below my skill level. As I reflect and look back I noticed that I have made the most money when I did what I was passionate about.
I remember the first risk I took, I was an english writing tutor at LIU's Downtown Brooklyn campus (smiling). I got an opportunity to work for a small photography rep. company (Josea). I told my mom about the new job. She of course was very happy for me. She asked, what I believe all parents ask how money will you be making and I told her nothing.
I don't know about you but my parent are from the West Indies and mom went off, calmly of course in her deepest accent possible (cleaned it up a bit) "that makes no sense, your leaving a job making $90 a week for a job making no dollars." Let's just that she did approve of that job any longer.
The point of that story is that you sometimes have to risks despite what you have in hand. If you believe in yourself and what it is your doing nothing will fail you. Hardships will start to look like building blocks.
So what happened to me and the job, well I formed the best relationship with my boss so much so that we still talk to this day. And if I have projects of my own or know I pass it her way (my mini claim to fame is "FADE TO BLACK" with Jay-Z - her company did all the packaging). I have since then acted in a Hindi aka Bollywood film "Hum Paanchi Ek Daal Key" in Mumbi.
I was able to parlay that opportunity into working on other bollywood features - gaining full access to directing, producing and production. When I came back from India I worked for corporate - Time, Inc, Time Warner, Sports Illustrated, Comcast, Directv to where I am at now Tribune Broadcasting again.
It's time for me to take some risks again... This time I plan to have some help (smiling)
21Century Hustle - Good-looking! Let get that paper!
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Permalink Reply by Mr.Muhammad on -
No Doubt!!! That's what it is...
LOL @ your mother's "$90 a week to No Dollars" (in my mind i added a loooong west indian sucking of the teeth).
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Permalink Reply by Bilal on -
The circle of life, hmmmmmmmm. I recently watched The Godfather III. In the script a couple of the characters were discussing the game and how it is based on politics and economics. The emergent "don" was saying that he didn't know much about politics and economics. The other playa said, "Economics is a gun, and politics is knowing when to pull the trigger." I wonder if the uderlying messege of this metaphor has an application in the taking of ones place in the "circle of life. Let's kick this concept around.....
Global Dad
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Permalink Reply by Gaineous on -
Albert Einstein said "Any man who reads too much and uses his own brain too little falls into lazy habits of thinking." I met up with my man yesterday and while catching up, I asked him, "read any good books lately"? his response was, "sometimes we have to stop reading and come up with our own ideas"! Same hold true in regards to pursuing YOUR dream. No matter how much it is suppressed, if you are truly destined to find your place and leave your mark, eventually life will make that choice for you. It takes self-confidence to try and beat life to the punch. You have to look in and ask and answer honestly, have I sold out? For most people, no matter how big they talk, there is an amount for which they will sell-out. It is those who resist the easy way that truly find their riches (beyond money, peace of mind as well).
In Dec. 2005 I quit my job in Investment Banking with no idea of what I would do next. I had reached an en passé point in which my boss was trying to convince me of my worth, which is the wrong thing to do, so I said to myself, its time to man up. She thinks one thing, you think another, something has to give, someone has to go all-in with the chips (OK so, make another Hov!) So I quit, against all naysayers (bad advice, good intentions), who told me, "stay at least until you find something else". I flew down to Central America for about a month just to clear my head and get my centering back. Fast forward 2 years and I'm not only in a better place than I would've been had I stayed, I'm also discovering opportunities that I never imagined, not to mention with a salary that has nearly doubled what my ex-boss that I was worth.
(Should've been did it, but I've been in a daze though)
When you boil it down to the truth its about this, YOU HAVE TO KNOW WHAT YOU ARE WORTH, and not allow anyone to deny you of that. After that, then you have to prove it.
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Permalink Reply by Linda Hobbs on -
I think that everything comes down to having a relationship with God and knowing His will for your life. He unveils it all the time :) God's plans and purpose for us is always greater than the capacity of our mind. Oftentimes, He'll allow us to get "bored" etc., so that we can see that we are living on a lower playing field than our true calling. God operates in dimensions...therefore, you can never outrun him. When I feel somewhat "spent" after going through the motions, I have to go back to the drawing board...i.e. my prayer life. I ask God, "What's next? I think I've wandered off the path a bit. God, this isn't looking too good." What He does is reveal more of His will to me and He doesn't hand me a full portrait of my destiny...He gives me a glimpse into my future, and then He hands me a process. Revelation keeps me steady. And before I know it, I've elevated from glory to glory (i.e. level to level mentally, financially, spiritually, socially...) not by my power but by His favour and spirit.
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Permalink Reply by Mr.Muhammad on
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That's pretty Deep Lil Linda!!
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Permalink Reply by CathrynMarie on
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I work backwards - money doesn't motivate me. My cousin always tells me I've never had a REAL job because I've enjoyed every job I have ever had. My moving on from them wasn't because I didn't like it, sometimes because of a move. I'm talking the working at Ross Stores off and on from high school til 21, Manager @ Foot Locker, Assistant Sports Director @ The City of Oakland & YMCA, etc...Ive loved each job. I don't take jobs based upon pay because I like to "showout"; work my way up the ladder and be the talk within the company cause of my skills.
Although I am bored now, I don't blame it on my line of work but yet the environment I reside in; Houston suckssss! LOL Naw, I can live any where and not hate/like it but I think I've outgrown Houston. I feel I need people around me who live for the things I live for and actually making something happen - in Houston people want to be a local celeb and claim they are running the city. *blink* Its hard 2 take anyone serious when they want to nickle and dime you for the services you provide for them, which then makes me not want to do what I enjoy doing and I lose focus of the BIG PICTURE!
I've never had a role model until running across, Aaron Arnold (I tell him all of the time but he probably thinks Im kidding, lol). Not many people give up a GREAT paying job, as a married man, to become an intern for one of the worlds top moguls; like really, who does that when in their mid/late 20s? lol. If you aren't familair with him, his accomplishments thus far for following his heart, are one to take notice of. He is an example of things I've done with my life, taking a position that makes me feel whole & being the best at it which gives you experience and in his case, his own company & featured on CNN and Time Magazine, lol.
I'm all for following your heart and doing what makes you happy, no matter what society thinks of you; sometimes starting over can be a blessing in disguise......
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Permalink Reply by Njeri on -
Hell yeah I felt like that before! Sometimes we confuse comfort with fulfillment. In truth, we all want to "do it up" but ultimately, no amount of money or posessions in the world will ever fill the place of purpose. Knowing that we have much more to offer than we allow ourselves to release is the breaking point of complacancy. That "ah ha" moment is just the catapult we need to get moving in the right direction. I can say I havent yet seen all I want to see or experience, but I damn sure know that playing below my skill level not only cheats me, but cheats who ever is connected to benefit from my destiny... Sometimes it takes a message like yours to remind us there is more in there, and get it crackin'!
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