Business

Business

Prince Harry’s Swag, Serena Williams’ Bag and Other Stories of Fame & Fortune That Put a Spell on Fans

Posted by

0

The redhead’s in the building! When Prince Harry and Meghan arrived for the ESPYs, it turned a few heads. They were in town as Harry was being presented with the Pat Tillman Award for service. Tillman lost his life on the battlefield. After the events on 9/11, he decided to quit everything to serve his country.

In a sense, Harry’s story got a similar thread. He decided after the events surrounding his mother Princess Diana’s death, that when the time was right, he’d quit his Monarchy duties for a different career & life track. Maybe his upbringing of royalty and privilege was holding him back from living his best life.

Serena Williams Stylings

From the other side of the tracks, there’s Serena Williams who served as host for the TV broadcast. Hers is a more ‘rags to riches’ story. Growing up in Compton with her sister Venus, they started playing tennis at a young age. Daddy Williams saw it as a way for them to change the trajectory of their lives.

Williams has become bosom buddies with Harry and Meghan. She attended their wedding and reportedly gave Meghan a baby shower. Williams has had an impressive tennis career with record-breaking feats. Harry has turned the corner from military man to public figure and champion for veterans causes.

The Invictus Games, which he helped launch 10 years ago, is a kinda lifeline for those who were injured in combat. So, the Pat Tillman Awards he saw as an honor on behalf of those who benefit from his life’s work. It’s as if Harry, Williams and other celebs have a way of putting a spell on fans in areas of:

  • Sports:- As one of the most appealing displays of passion, sports is where teamwork comes alive. The lessons easily translate to work, play and the everyday. Even if you’re not good at a sport, there’s still the excitement of sports that gets our juices flowing.
  • Public Good:- When Harry met Meghan, it was while on a service assignment. He realized she had similar intentions and aspirations so their hearts would beat faster and grow closer. It wasn’t love at first sight but sounds like it was love at first kiss which sealed their shared purpose.
  • Enterprise:- Now that she’s retired from tennis, Williams is doing big things in philanthropy and commercial ventures. With a people focus, she’s got her hands in the pot of investing in other entrepreneurs and branding her net worth. Sista got the frame, fame and game for any court.  
  • Lifestyle & Legacy:- As she rolls out new products and prospects, her on-the-court personality got transferred to her fierce biz sense. Whether it’s in launching a new company or marketing her own fashion/makeup line, she’s ready for any red-carpet runway or corporate boardroom.  

What makes Williams and Harry such a treat for fans? In one sense, we saw them grow up right before our eyes. We think we can relate to any mistakes they’ve made or the gambles they’ve played. For Williams her ‘rags to riches’ story is truly amazing. For Harry, his royalty & privilege breakout is inspiring.

Prince Harry Receives Award

Some think Harry’s swag had the Palace tied-up in knots. When he chose to step away, they didn’t think he had options. With her new Netflix special ‘In the Arena’, Williams’ journey and her father teaching himself tennis to then train his girls for the next level, dem dollaz made she gonna throw it in the bag.

Talkback: What stories capture folks’ interest and money most: royalty & privilege or rags to riches?

Tip: You don’t have to be a celeb to put a spell on folks by how you flex passion and flash personality.

Tracks: Fabolous ft The Dream – throw it in the Bag – https://youtu.be/zJOeXh6HyvU?si=KgKwtLc57GY6RR8x

Pitbull & Stephen Marley – Options – https://youtu.be/xALCpLXcIYY?si=J7qLaF0ibh9GLKWS

When Work & Life Crossover: How Athletes, Pop Culture Stars and Biz Leaders Maximize Their Mojo Between Sun-up and Sundown

Posted by

0

It’s one of those events that seem to get better and better. As the Superbowl buildup came to its highpoint, many wondered who’d be named league MVP. While Lamar Jackson didn’t make it to the big game, folks got their eyes on what he’s gonna do next season to shake the post-season blues.

The TV ratings numbers suggest that the Superbowl pulled more eyeballs than any other program ever. The expectation for Usher’s performance at the halftime show was met with collab appearances from some main players in pop music. Then to top things off, Usher tied the knot and dropped new music.

He wasn’t the only one breaking pop culture news. Beyonce and Taylor Swift spilled the beans on their latest projects. Over the years, we’ve watched them go from green shoots to icons right before our eyes. They’re among an elite level of performers who have style, fandoms and ‘energizer bunny’ type mojo.

A recent USA Today news article suggests that professionals these days see work/life balance as important to their well-being. But it also showed that many are willing to give-up some dollars for having work/life meaning. It’s this modern-day mindset that points to them having more work/life mojo.

So how do athletes, pop culture stars and biz leaders maximize their mojo between sun-up and sun-down when work and life crossover? It’s true, many have the resources to hire nannies and assistants for their to-do lists. If they take-on a greater load in how they serve country and family, they’re focused on:

  • Legacy:- As the saying goes, “begin with the end in mind and work your way back”. It’s one of the 7 habits of highly effective people. It’s a way to not be limited by the now or the not yet.
  • Opportunity:- Some say luck is where preparation meets opportunity. But sometimes opportunities come disguised or hidden to the naked eye. You gotta have an ‘A+ eye’ as your AI.
  • Voice:- Finding your voice isn’t just about the sounds you make. It’s also about the leaps and bounds you’ll take. When truths are faced and voices get shaped then dreams get draped.
  • Earnings:- Are you earning your keeps? That’s to say are you getting better, smarter, calmer, wiser in your work/life activities? It’s not just about how you make a living but also make a life.       

Keys might say it’s all about the L.O.V.E. you bring to the table. Love for people reminds us to serve the ‘least of these’; love for country makes you wanna serve on the frontlines, whether in battle of war or halls of civics. A love for your game makes you wanna put in the work so folks know you’ve got what it takes.

The talk is that the Kansas City Chiefs are on a ‘dynasty streak’. With back-to-back Superbowl wins, they’re looking to do the unthinkable…a three-peat. Folks are wondering what’s it gonna take for them to raise their game. Well, seems like they’re already thinking about legacy, opportunity, voice and earnings.

Talkback: What does work/life mojo say about the love you bring to the table?

Tip: When work and life crossover, it takes balance and meaning to experience the greatest earnings.

Tracks: Buju Banton – Born for Greatness – https://youtu.be/mNXfca7eo14?si=siwGKirIliaESFNp

Hil St. Soul – Blessed – https://youtu.be/Tk6FKBT8tkk?si=W1FCzuRKq2aGle05

The Next Crop of Block-Busters: How Jay-Z and Mike Epps are Making Good on Their Connections in High Places

Posted by

0

There’re so many streaming media outlets trying to bundle their service. Industry experts believe that’s become necessary in order to survive. Gen Z’ers might not even know that before there was ‘Netflix and Chill’, there was mail-order DVD delivery. And before that was the Blockbuster store.

Well, the next crop of block-busters isn’t from the movie business. As Hip-Hop celebrates its 50th anniversary, a biz mogul is being celebrated with a multi-floor exhibition at the Brooklyn Public Library. “The Book of HOV” exhibit celebrates the life & work of Shawn ‘Jay-Z’ Carter, the first hip-hop billionaire.

Gayle King Interviews Jay-Z

While that’s happening in NYC, Comedian Mike Epps has teamed-up with HGTV on ‘Buying Back the Block’ in Indy. He and his TV-producer wife bought six houses where he grew up, turning them from ‘rundown to uptown’ in appeal. He wants to give the community a chance at a hometown comeback.

Jay-Z says it’s important to remember where you came from. This way it can keep you on course for where you’re going. For sure, the exhibit reflects that and captures his many multi-platinum albums. Epps has travelled all over the country and seen ‘blight by flight’ when residents leave and resources scatter.

They’re both making good on their roots, riches and relationships in biz. The fact that the exhibit is in Brooklyn seems to light Jay’s fire as a ‘full circle’ moment. For Epps, one of the houses that went under reno was once owned by his grandmother. They’re at a point of ‘flashback and comeback’ fueled by:        

  • Motivation:- Jay-Z says his upbringing was ‘normal’ but there were times of violence and bloodshed not far away. His success motivation came from not trying to fit-in but to break-out.
  • Mastery:- He and Epps have put in the work to be a master at their craft. That makes it easier to duplicate themselves in other areas even if it’s not the primary skillset that got them famous.
  • Membership:- As the credit card commercial likes to say, “membership has its privileges”. In their case they’re drawing on relationships over the years from their network and net worth.  
  • Meaning:- With many career tracks, there’s a time money is the driver. Then the focus expands to being a mainstay in the game. After a while, it’s about more meaning in your life’s work.           

When asked what’s next, album or enterprise, HOV wasn’t locked-in one way or other. His social justice work is front-and-center. Plus, his NFL collab led to production honors of a Grammy for the Superbowl halftime show in LA. That was nothing short of major considering his life’s journey growing up in danger.

Mike & Kyra Epps

These guys got lots on their plates to keep them busy on the road, in showbiz or family life. They’ve made the money, become a mainstay and are now banking on having more meaning. They’re showing us what it takes to not just make a living but to make a life as the next crop of block-busters. It’s how we’ll roll!

Talkback: What else might Jay-Z or Epps have up their sleeves as top dawgs in the marketplace?

Tip: While making a living gets you going, making a life keeps you on a path of money, mainstay and meaning.

Tracks: Ciara, Chris Brown – How We Roll – https://youtu.be/xnumI3_qt-w?si=49A_QxeAbHLbKdCE

Nailah Blackman – Jam of the Year – https://youtu.be/_EepymWJeXc?si=JnW2rgt-BcYQEKTQ

Next Gen Ready to Ball? How Aliyah Boston and Diamond Miller Show Up Not Just for the Fame But to Raise Their Game

Posted by

0

It was ‘lights out’ excitement at the recent NCAA Women’s Final Four Championship. The build-up was epic and the boost in game cred carried over from semis to Finals. The numbers speak for themselves, on the court in player stats, in sports entertainment as well as market stats. Why is all this happening?

Well, seems like next gen is ready to ball! Just look at team play and individual records of Aliyah Boston and Diamond Miller. Boston is prob the most heralded South Carolina Gamecocks player in history. While Miller is the second Maryland Terrapins player to achieve high first-round pick in the WNBA draft.

Aliyah Boston on GMA
#1 Overall Pick

Boston’s stat sheet reads like a long form record book of accomplishments. The highlights include three straight Final Four appearances, Finals Most Outstanding Player, multiple Defensive Player of the Year Awards along with Player of the Year distinction. You could easily run out of breath trying to list them all.

Miller is no slouch either as a product of Somerset NJ (hometown of this blog’s editor) and a scoring machine for the Terps. At the end of her high school days she realized she had what it took to be among the best. So, she just put in the work and feels blessed for the chance to grow as a player and person.

It’s a very proud moment not just for Miller in NJ but also Boston who’s a native of the U.S Virgin Islands. Friends and fam know that they don’t just show up for the fame, but moreso to raise their game. Plus, since the WNBA isn’t just a game but also a business, they’ll up-level their value as players by turning:

  • Skill into silver:- When they sign that contract they’ll be trading their talent for cash, coins and maybe a few pieces of silver? Going from NIL to the pro space gets dollaz added to the bag.     
  • Product into gold:- Every team starts out the season hoping to go as far as possible and to maybe one day win it all. This requires stellar performance for players to take home the gold (silver) trophy. 
  • Hustle into rubies:- That’s when passion for the game makes a player/team red hot. We saw that with Boston and the Gamecocks. The Indiana Fever hope she’ll light the same fire there.      
  • Status into diamond:- To have diamond status in the music biz is to forge impact in industry and beyond the charts. Miller’s fandom thinks she’s got the goods in the game and beyond the arena.          

Here’s some more on the market stats. The TV ratings for the Finals game was almost double from the semis two days earlier. It was also almost double since the last record high in 2002 when UCONN won the title. The jump in market appeal reminds us of what U.S. Women’s Soccer has done over the years.

Diamond Miller
#2 Overall Pick

In the next few weeks, the dust will settle before the start of the WNBA season. The veteran players and rookies will take the court to showcase their skills, improve the product, fire-up their passion and elevate the status of the league. You can bet Boston and Miller will be among names making the highlight reel.

Talkback: Did the Finals game between LSU and Iowa meet or beat fan expectations?

Tip: You go from ‘diamond in the rough’ to top draft pick by turning skill into silver, passion into rubies as well as hustle & flow into what makes winners go.

Tracks: Rihanna – Diamond – https://youtu.be/lWA2pjMjpBs

Ace Hood – Hustle Hard – https://youtu.be/r_dh16HQkqQ

Signing-off From the Office: What the “Great Resignation” Did to Create a New Vision for Work, Career and Lifestyle

Posted by

0

Doc Cunningham

In sports news, Tom Brady is on his way back! Retirement didn’t last long. Rumors kept swirling he’d maybe head to the 49ers since they’ve been his childhood dream team. But not this time, he’s staying put in a different ‘Bay’ area. Some weren’t surprised while others were annoyed that he just won’t step aside.

The numbers are major in his pro career. He’s been on more Superbowl winning teams than any other player in history. He has so many championship rings he could almost wear them on each finger. It seems Brady isn’t quite ready to sign-off, hang-up his cleats or “take the bridge” to an off-the-field role.

Tom Brady Rings

There’re some other stunning numbers though around news of the Great Resignation. That’s the large wave of folks who’ve been stepping out, moving up and shifting gears in their careers. The pandemic caused many to reassess what’s important in work, career and lifestyle.

What’s driving the job change numbers into the millions? Well, it’s a dream come true to be doing what they love. It’s a way of getting lost in the work and having fun. Plus, it’s about enjoying more time at the parks and 9-to-5 benefits in the perks which bring big energy, money and happiness.

Some opted to start a biz, grow a side-hustle or pause to redirect their passion. Some might have made the move from job to career, while others took the career to vocation route where “purpose in living” is priceless. A big takeaway from all this is in a new vision for work based on great résumés that:   

  • Crossover:- Some skills are tied to a job and some have crossover appeal. Life’s transferrable skills can move from job to job as easily as traveling over a bridge from end to end.
  • Connect:- Does your favorite song keep playing in your head? Is it the verse, chorus or vibe that connects with your core? Social & professional networks forge connections around a skillset core.
  • Callout Dreams:- Early education gives baseline knowledge. Then we go deeper within a subject area. The pandemic pushed folks deeper to callout goals, dreams and bucket-lists.  
  • Collaborate:- Adding two numbers gives us a sum. Multiplying two numbers gives us a product. A collab across two numbers creates greater visibility and a sum of products in the marketplace.    
Baseball Breaking News

Of-course there was more sports news with word the baseball season isn’t lost. Sports fans were full of joy knowing that the seventh-inning stretch will be in full effect. The athletes’ careers have a season’s window of games. Over time they get to showcase clutch performances, or even change teams.

Other careers have a season’s window too, maybe with promotion or crossroads decision. Those not ready to retire, whether “comeback jocks” like Brady or “bounce-back execs” like Starbucks founder Howard Schultz, are proof of times pushing us towards ‘joy & mojo’ at work or ‘gin & juice’ at Happy Hour.

Talkback: Alexa, did Tom Brady retire? Siri, is Howard Schultz back at Starbucks? Hey Google (or Cortana), is Colin Kaepernick still in shape?

Tip: On the road of career travels, pit-stops come and go but a dream is like fuel for the ride.

A WordPress Community & Lifestyle Feature in #WordPrompt

Megan Thee Stallion and Bryce Young Getting Raves on the Big Stage for Their Game That’s Like in Another League

Posted by

0

As folks wind-down another year, others getting ready to turn-it-up “like they don’t care”. The holiday season is a good time to look back on the year-in-review. Plus, some will party-on in “jingle bells” style. That might be the case for Megan Thee Stallion and Bryce Young who’ve become even hotter this year.

Megan made it known that while she’s gone from ‘hot girl summer’ to pushing her ‘hottie sauce’, she’s more than just a one-hit wonder. Now that she’s a college grad, she’s ready to top the music charts and market share. True, with her degree in the Healthcare field she hopes to open an assisted-living facility.

For Young, he’s upped his cred leaps and bounds in winning the Heisman trophy as a college sophomore. This gave Alabama’s football program consecutive wins. Maybe if he puts up big numbers again, he’d be right back here next year. It’s happened once before of a back-to-back winner as a player.

Considering that each year Time Magazine names its Person of the Year, they’re on track in a similar way. While they didn’t make that list, they’ve been getting that kinda press. Winning the Heisman makes Young like Player of the Year in college. She’d be happy to run with the title of Hip/Hop Grad of the Year.

They’re getting raves for their game that’s like in another league. Even if their style of play doesn’t fit some people’s taste, there’s more left in the tank. Megan says she got her mojo from watching women in her family make that paper. Young learned as an understudy to Mac Jones. Their success is built on a:

  • System of Excellence

The QB position has produced lots of Heisman winners over the years. Many have gone on to be pro-bowl players in the big leagues. But it seems there’s something about Alabama squads that turn out gems in players in all positions. Maybe it’s about a system of excellence that helps them rise to the occasion.    

  • Boxset of Skills

For those Christmas giving purchases, sometimes folks just want to order one of a particular type of merchandise. But for others, they’d like to pick-up the boxset with a combination of styles or flavors. Well, for Megan and Young, they bring a boxset of skills to their game with a winning combo of style & flava.   

  • Bucket-list of Goals

They might also know something about stepping outside the box to achieve a bucket-load in money or stats. For Megan it seems her push to be a college grad was more like a bucket-list goal. While her music career took-off for sure, she still wanted to show that she could finish her studies in Health Administration.         

  • Sense of Purpose

There’re stories like the “5 plays that made Bryce Young” or the “key collabs that put Megan on the map.” Those articles and sports clips might be just about on point. But to take a page from a famed college coach, to be an even bigger blowout and make a difference in their careers involves a sense purpose.

Megan’s prob working on her next project. In a few months we might be hearing ‘hot girl summer, part 2’. For Young, the season isn’t done yet since Alabama is in the College Playoffs. When the dust settles, they might look back and see lessons learned and look forward being ready to step hottie next year.

Tip: No matter the field of dreams, league of play or line of work, the standouts find a way to make big moves with a system of excellence and make a difference with a sense of purpose.

Talkback: Who’s got that end-of-year vibe or lala feeling?

Tracks: Alicia Keys ft Swae Lee – LaLa – https://youtu.be/fmx8ww3XYHg

Skip Marley ft Popcaan – Vibe – https://youtu.be/pTwMEpSZq9M

Ready, Aim, Aspire: The #Inspiration4X Space Crew On What It takes to Be Trailblazing

Posted by

0

The back-to-school drill is in full swing. Folks are returning to the building, kinda in a groove they once knew. The TV season is off and running. Some fav shows have had their first run. Elected Officials are back in Washington. They’ve got a tall order of bills to make happen, with the usual drama in play.

This time of the year also brings buzz around the next iPhone gizmo. That news came and went. With Covid still dominating the lead story, seems like there’s not much room for tech talk. One story that got major coverage is the first-ever all-civilian space flight. It reached a higher orbit than other such trips.

The crew members blasted-off with great fanfare and returned with excitement to spare. They included regular ‘Joes & Janes’ who did months of space flight training. They were celebrated by public officials, science enthusiasts and all levels of students. In other words, their achievement had broad appeal.

Their collective stories might be described as “ready, aim, aspire.” A couple of them won the chance to take the trip as part of a ‘space flight’ competition. Some say they’ve been preparing for this all their life based on their own professional training, personal trials and business triumphs.

The crew got recognized by all corners of society. One artist built a sculpture with the words “Leadership, Hope, Generosity, Prosperity.” Others might agree their trailblazing work is summarized by “Struggling, Hustling, Discovering, Tuning.” It’s all about keeping your life instrument working right and drawing on:

  • Courage

As with any new endeavor, they prob had some fears to manage. This might have showed up as having second thoughts or having butterflies in their stomachs with each new test, task and turning point. Courage doesn’t mean there’s an absence of fear. It’s about having those butterflies fly in formation.   

  • Curiosity

This can get the best of us or the scariest of us. The expression “curiosity killed the cat” didn’t hinder the experiments which put them on the edge or flirted with danger. It’s also said that a cat has nine lives. So maybe curiosity can help us to experience as many facets as possible of life in one lifetime.       

  • Passion

The things we love to do might be put in boxes like first love, second love, other love, etc. Plus, when we string together our abilities, strengths, skills and expertise this helps to give our passion some more push or pull. There’re times passion is good for pulling your goals along or pushing your vision ahead.     

  • Dream

On some level, this trip was a lifelong dream for each crew member. In their own way, the dream might be in the seed of an idea, the science of the mission, the thrill of achievement or the glory of philanthropy. What brought them together is a shared purpose that had them pulling together as a dream team.

Whether at school, work, public service or showbiz, we can take a page from #Inspiration4X to reach a higher orbit. Make sure your personal/professional instruments are working right to take you to new heights as you “ready, aim, aspire.” And to be trailblazing, add-in courage, curiosity, passion and dream.

Tip: Where the stars and dreams line-up bring a great feeling of achievement and sense of fulfillment.  

Talkback: Who’s got next for a ride to space or for a new level of ‘wow’ at work, play or gameday?

Tracks: U2 – Beautiful Day – https://youtu.be/co6WMzDOh1o

Elijah Blake Ft Trinidad James – Dreams – https://youtu.be/PTXBhlgLwVI

Dawn Staley and Lebron James: Fire-Brand Performers Who Push the Limits of Their Game and Help Light-up the Team Stats Frame

Posted by

0

So where are folks headed on spring break these days? Well, it depends on who you ask. Some travelled south to the warm weather of Florida. It’s always been the spring break capital for college students. This year with folks wanting to get past Covid restrictions, things have kinda gotten out of hand.  

Same time, the NCAA March Madness frenzy has landed in Indy! Yea, on the women’s side it’s in San Antonio. March Madness is also a place people go on spring break to raise their praise for breakout performances. Of course, there’s always the Cinderella team that busts up the brackets.

For those wondering or asked the question, Where do folks go to understand greatness? Well, we see it in the play of Lebron James and the eyes of coach Dawn Staley. James has had to sit-out a few games after a high-ankle sprain injury. He’s missing the chance of the Lakers being positioned for a playoff run.

Staley recently called out the NCAA for disparities in supporting women’s teams. After pics went viral on social media showing a less-than-stellar setup for their facilities, Staley wrote an open letter calling out the diss. Her take was the NCAA message of “togetherness and equality” was just marketing jargon.

James and Staley bring focus on issues of social justice. They’re admired by peers, players and the hometown posse for using their platform to spur reform. While they get attention for putting their names to causes, it’s also how they put passion on the line, reminding us of how greatness is tied to:          

  • Gifting

A proverb says, “a man’s gift makes room for him and brings him in front of great people.” Well, think of that in universal terms and you can see why James at his age is still performing at a high level and Staley has such impactful coaching. Your gifting when tied to passion makes you do stuff that folks can’t teach.  

  • Branding

James doesn’t only marvel us on the court, he also has his hands in biz ventures and social projects. His career track might have started out with basketball, but his branding has reached new heights in media, fashion, entertainment and sports. He recently became part owner in the Boston Red Sox franchise.          

  • Networking

A recent story on Staley shared how much her success has inspired other women to consider coaching. Plus, there’s a whole eco system of black women in particular who’re plugged-in to what Staley has done throughout her career as a player, recruiter and U.S. head coach for the upcoming Tokyo Olympics.       

  • Collaborating

After events of social protest prompted by the George Floyd killing, James rallied an investment group to purchase the WNBA Atlanta Dream. While he’s not the main figure in the new ownership structure, he’s the main player that helped bring together a collaboration of interested parties to secure the deal.   

The “Cinderella Team” stories will get told throughout March Madness. You might even hear some players being described as ‘supernova athletes.’ There’s room to do something special on the court or in one’s career for those whose performance push the limits of their game and light-up the team stats frame.               

Tip: You create your own “Cinderella Story” by how you bring passion to the table in ways that maximize your gifting, branding, networking and collaborating.

Talkback: Did the NCAA miss the mark or drop the ball on the women’s facilities in March Madness?

Tracks: Usher – No Limit – https://youtu.be/3w0yqAdJ1iY

Khalid – Disclosure (Know Your Worth) – https://youtu.be/aEDULPGIwcg

Russell Wilson is on Brand, Amanda Gorman is on Point and Their Passion is on Game!

Posted by

0

Well, lots of ground to cover, buzz to breakdown and chatter to scatter after the Superbowl. Alright, not everybody was happy about how things went lopsided in a hurry. Some think the refs were off their game, but that The Weeknd as halftime performer made up for all the things that were missing due to Covid.

Some frontline workers and health professionals were honored to see the game in person. But after the post-game interviews fans at home were glued to see Queen Latifa as ‘The Equalizer’. She was kicking butt, taking names and getting high praise for her new breakout show.  

Leading up to the big game was word that Russell Wilson won the Walter Payton Man-of-the-Year Award. That’s something many in the game aspire to get because of who Payton was to sports fans. When you think of Payton (aka “sweetness”) there’s a similar suave and swag that Wilson brings to the party.

We saw Amanda Gorman give another world stage performance. She’s the youngest poet laureate to speak at a Presidential Inauguration. It’s as if she’s poised to be like a Maya Angelou of our time, having recently made the cover of Time Magazine. She combines words with delivery into an inspiring story.

Folks say the TV commercials had some of the old and more of the new, with lots of celeb cameos. What we might get from watching the Superbowl is like what we get from watching Wilson and Gorman. He’s on brand, she’s on point and their passion is on game. They show how folks can get there too by how they:

1. Work

Wilson shared a few tips on how he gets ready for each season. He’s big on putting in the time, not for the crime but for the climb. It’s the things he does in mind, body and spirit that carry over to the things he does in pass, run and score. If his body is his temple, then the field is his place for getting fan praise.

2. Sacrifice

Gorman stays on point by remembering the part that sacrifice plays in one’s journey. To us it might seem like she came out of nowhere. But to her it’s been a slow and steady march towards a brighter day. Sacrifice for her in a sense means giving up something without giving up on yourself.        

3. Step

Ever watched the foot work of a quarterback while in the pocket? It’s a kinda dance with a backstep here or a leap step there. Every QB probably has a certain rhythm and flow to how they step to their game. He’s in the socket and in the pocket before passing like a rocket. That’s how you step to your game.

4. Represent

How does she at such a young age have the calm and composure of a seasoned veteran? How does he go from amazing on the field to a servant in the community? It’s how they pull it together to represent their brand, their talents and their love for what they do. To represent is to know how to rep your presence.      

So history was made in all kinda ways at the game. There was the first female on a referee crew in a Superbowl. The first team to play in the game as a home team. But even when you’re not in it to be making history, there’s still the chance to work, sacrifice, step and represent in giving it your best.        

Tip: In order to represent your best, you have to rep your presence in a way that is like sunshine of your essence.

Talkback: Who’s ready for more Queen Latifah or Amanda Gorman?

Tracks: Shalamar  – Right In The Socket – https://youtu.be/sNGyMe3bu1E

Fat Joe ft Amorphous – Sunshine – https://youtu.be/kuO9OC2H9Qs

Time to Check-in With Patrick Mahomes and Kevin Hart About Putting the Dream to Work in the Huddle or Around Your Hustle

Posted by

0

The Superbowl matchup is set! For the first time in NFL history, the host venue will have the home team in the big game. That’s where the Tampa Bay Buccaneers comes in. Led by someone seen as the G.O.A.T., the Bucs and Tom Brady are going up against Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs.

Mahomes is the franchise face for the NFL as a young quarterback in the game. After signing a mega contract for lifetime-years, he’s also trying to do something that’s not easy to come by: win back-to-back Superbowl games. The Chiefs bring a high-scoring offense with lots of receiving weapons on the roster.

Another franchise face (but in the comedy game) is Kevin Hart, who’s been laying low since Covid. Yet, he’s always looking for ways to build market appeal and keep it real. So Hart has teamed-up with a brand that’s focused on helping folks manage the emotional highs, lows and bouts with depression.

Not that he’s dealing with these struggles, but he’s mindful of how close he came to losing it all after a car wreck. That, coupled with quarantine rules nowadays kept him home for periods much longer than he’s used to. Maybe this helped tamper down his ‘wild side’ and put a spotlight on the family by his side.

Hart says he’s the hardest working dude in showbiz (let him tell it). Some sport junkies might see Mahomes as the ‘rising star’ who’s not just about scoring in the game but also adding social impact to his name. They’ve got a track record for going from huddle to hustle to giving hope by how they:  

1. Align

For Hart being able to align means getting to a decision point for “turning today’s BS into tomorrow’s success.” Not just the everyday BS but for him also going from big setback to major comeback. It’s all about how you align passion with purpose, effort with expectation, goal with role and calling with destiny.

2. Bond

Over the past year Hart has found new ways to bond with his kids now that he’s kinda always home. The bonds we share allow us to care and as the saying goes, “people don’t care how much you know but how much you care.” Like with his kids, it’s in how we bond that can be a source for feeling empowered.       

3. Grind

When Mahomes suffered a concussion in a recent playoff game, things seemed bleak for him playing the next week. But after passing the medical protocol he was back at practice. The grind isn’t just about what you do every so often. It’s about how you ‘bring it’ especially when you just want to say, ‘forget it’.     

4. Flow

One reason the grind is important is that it gets you closer to being in flow. This is when things just fire on all cylinders. It’s when things feel effortless or seem weightless. After a few snaps, just watch Mahomes as he goes to work making side-arm passes in ways the defense didn’t see coming or couldn’t stop.      

So will history be made at the Superbowl? It might be with the commercials as some regular sponsors are spending their ad dollars in new ways. Companies have had to adjust from taking a hit to their bottom line. But Mahomes and Hart remind us that dreams come thru when we align, bond, grind & flow.        

Tip: Just ‘do it’ by putting the dream to work around the clock or block to block and make it ‘do what it do’.

Talkback: Kevin Hart wants to know, “What’s your game, what’s your grind?”

Tracks: Notorious B.I.G.  – Juicy – https://youtu.be/PMM8wcQUcxE

Chloe X Halle – Do It – https://youtu.be/a9HIaGcBocc