The NFL’s set to kickoff. New season starts soon. The headliners? Tim McGraw and Black Eyed Peas. Oprah also good to go. Season premiere to feature Whitney Houston. Who’s got a comeback album. That’s sure to be a hit. Houston keeps on keeping on. And chasing her dream. What might she say?

Just have to follow the money. Hold up! Thought the love of money’s the root of evil? Yup. But following the money is not. Job seekers have a salary in mind. Businesses see cash flow as lifeblood. Both know money is not the end all. But think and grow rich is a priceless option.

Know when things took a bad swing? Ask Michael Vick. Fans hope to see him play. Others following the rookies. Winners follow the draft. Could be a Quarterback or a runner’s back. A media personality or grassroots project. Like driving behind a Mac truck. Wind resistance is reduced.

What “it” makes you click? Shine? Unstoppable? Movers and shakers follow their “it-factor.” The it-factor of a dog could be its bark. Or bite. More bounce to the ounce for a runway model. Smarts of a whiz kid. Lyrics that rock for a songwriter. It’s all about being in the groove.

Chasing the dream. Young or old. Barbra Streisand shows. Even in her late 60s. “Here’s to life.” The debut single on her new album. The words from a Parade Magazine article. “I still believe in chasing dreams. And taking bets. So give it all you’ve got. Hungry still…to see down another road.”

Hip Tip: Dreams aren’t built in a day. It takes planning your work and working your plan.

Blog Talkback: Chasing skirts or chasing dreams. Does success seem to come easy for some people? But a struggle for others? Who’s more likely to blow it?

 Can you name two popular radio jocks? Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck. Smart start. Then there’s Tom Joyner and Michael Baisden. These guys have a lot to say. Good examples of taking it to the next level. What’s their story? They can tell it best. But here’s a quick scoop.

Joyner became known as the fly jock. By doing a Dallas morning show. Then flying to Chicago same day. To host an afternoon show. Baisden started out on Sunday nights. Before landing afternoon drive in New York. Both went from niche content to national audience. Local market to broadcast networks.

Career or biz to the next level. What to do? Become a sponge. Learn everything you can. Master the fundamentals. Execute your plan. Go upscale. By reinventing yourself. Brand your identity. Or identify with a brand. Widen your influence. Supersize your value. Maxing the fun. Making a difference.

When ‘big G’ pulls the trigger. Get ready to go bigger. There’s no magic bullet. No one formula. For climbing the ladder. Or how long it takes. Sometimes a few semesters. Before the diploma. Three trimesters. Before child birth. A season before blowing up. It’s how hurricanes get named. And careers get famed.

Starts out on a roll. Spins around from sun-up to sundown. Follows a certain track. Then steps up the pace. Makes up ground. After a while has a name. That separates it from one and the same. National attention, it’s in the news. And not before long makes history. For impacting life’s rhythm and blues.

Hip Tip: The road to the top can have steep hills, sharp turns, sudden detours and bad weather along the way.

Blog Talkback. In going to the next level, what do successful people take with them? And what do they leave behind?

 Ready to become an all-star? On the court or at the job. In business or life. Lebron James has done it. Each year since joining the NBA. The all-stars play during mid-season. They represent players from across the league. Best of the best in their positions. Two teams compete as East versus West. So how is all-star status achieved?

Well, the selection is fairly subjective. The fans vote. With great play you stand a shot. But all-star success in life is more than just chance. Consider this for starters. Life is like sailing on the open seas. Your career is like swimming in a fish bowl. Success as an all-star is about establishing your name, growing your game, and reaching higher acclaim. Life, career, success!

Sounds good, right? Let’s connect the dots. On the ocean you have access to vast resources. You can live for weeks if you’re resourceful. True, there is the possibility of a storm every now and then. It takes ship-smarts to navigate the open waters. A fish bowl is a great training pool. A fish learns to survive and thrive in a safe environment. Develops bowl-smarts. Builds upon its natural gifts and talents.

How does this relate to the CEO of Me Inc.? Becoming an all-star or expert takes practice. Working your craft over and over again. Until it becomes like magic. That’s how you free-up creativity. An expert takes time to teach others. Mentoring a co-worker or teammate is a good thing. You grow by teaching what you know. Also, find ways to give it away. Some write blogs or volunteer in the community. The rich choose philanthropy.

Expert status takes one more step. Connect the fish bowl to the high seas. Maybe even jump from the fish bowl into the ocean. On the job, in business or as the CEO of Me Inc. Raise your game and attract more fans.  Develop sea-smarts (better yet, street-smarts). Establish your name as a go-getter. Deliver beyond expectations. With higher acclaim you might hangout with the movers and shakers. Ok, go ahead. Hook that thing up!

 Breaking News…Lebron James is being linked to miracle grow. Move over A-Rod! James has a step on you. But there’s more to this ‘hot news’ story. James was just named league MVP. His game is up in points, rebounds and assists. His value is up in leadership, sponsorship and showmanship. James is on track to surpass Shaq.

When you hear miracle grow you think ‘green thumb.’ Yards, gardens and flower beds. Some use it to stimulate growth. Others use a more conventional approach. Planting, Pruning or Priming. How does the Me Inc. CEO use miracle grow? To fire-up a new season of personal & professional growth.

First you have to nurture a new mindset. Get your mind right (so to speak). Then plant the seed. Water the seed. Watch it grow. So KFC has a new grilled chicken? The Colonel says “unthink what you thought about KFC.” That’s a new business seed. A new fast-food mindset. Original recipe with a gril-licious taste. When is your season of growth? Start by reviewing and renewing the ideas in your mind.

To stimulate growth you have to prune your skill-set. Pruning is a process of removing. Get rid of dead or dying branches. This makes resources more available. Pruning your skills means upgrading your abilities and capabilities.  Learn something new. Re-learn something you already knew. Increase your output and outcome. Your wattage and mileage. Bud new smarts. Flow new energy.

Just a little miracle grow and watch yourself glow. Prime the person on the inside. Bloom your personality on the outside. Deepen your roots. Increase your reach. Read books. Master your game. Reinvent yourself. Like James, you can sport a new ‘jet-set.’ Give your performance a boost. Raise your appeal to magnetic. Make your paycheck see more green. You’ll be flying high. Looking and feeling FABULOUS!

 This year has seen more 50+ point games by James. The team has set new winning records for the season. Is James that much better? Does the team have that much fire power? Yes and Yes! I also think it’s because James has found the ‘sweet spot.’

There is a sweet spot in the bedroom, on the playground and in the workplace. They all involve performance. It’s about how passion rises. It’s about how you bring the heat. Can you dig? OK, so let’s go with what we know. Time to talk sex (yea baby!).

For the grown and sexy couple, here’s a thought. To keep the magic alive you have to re-invent the lovin’. You have to find new ways to keep it fresh. There is a time for ignition and a time for release. You gotta get fired-up. You gotta get in the flow. After ecstasy you think maybe that was a 10, or 8 or 5 on the good lovin’ scale.

The same is true as CEO of Me Inc. You’re not fired-up about what you do? Find a new line of work. Success in today’s job market means you have to reinvent yourself to remain competitive. Stop holding back on your dreams. Release your fears and let yourself go. Let yourself grow. Rate yourself but don’t inflate yourself. How? Test yourself against your own actions. This way you take pride without having to compare yourself to others.

The sweet spot. Welcome to performance heaven. Where passion and praise collide. It’s like genius on high. You get to work it. You get to prove it. You get to feel it. You get to love it. The sweet spot might be a place, a feeling, a showing or just a knowing. As the CEO of Me Inc. you experience it for yourself.

 In case you missed it, Lebron James is on a mission. That was his message on a recent 60 Minutes interview. The NBA playoffs are near and James wants to win a championship. But there’s more. He also wants to be the biggest pro player brand ever. Bigger than Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan.

After a few years in the league James ‘saw the light.’ He began by firing his agent. Many sports analysts thought this was crazy. How can you fire the person that’s helping you get paid? Even the NBA Commissioner had some concerns. James remains confident in his decision. He believes success is tied to not being scared to fail.

How does this play out in the work world? Well, first things first. Fire yourself and then re-hire yourself as the CEO of Me Inc. Release your fear of failure and watch yourself go. You become more creative. This shows up in the way you roll. It shows up in the way you flow. Creativity is the skill that adds sharpness to your razor’s edge.

Once you free your creative juices then you can be more selective. This is about how you niche yourself. Creativity gives you the razor’s edge but being selective gives you the market edge. You are more easily recognized for what you do, make or sell. In time you’ll go from being hired to being electric. You just WOW those around you.

Watch James hit shots over and over again. Watch him hit them almost at will and from anywhere. You never know what next he’ll pull from his ‘bag of shots.’ It’s this combo of skill, decision making and execution that makes fans go wild. It’s also what makes being the CEO of Me Inc. so rewarding. Wanna be the biggest and baddest YOU ever? Then step outside the box and get jiggy with it.

Podcast Soundtrack – “Clips & Hits”

Play ‘R & B Flava’ Podcast track here

 People are asking what it means to be the CEO of Me Inc. Of course, that’s the subtitle of my book. But it’s also a mindset to career success. Lebron James showed how in his recent 60 Minutes interview on CBS. It’s almost as if he were telling you what’s in the book.

Here’s a guy who grew up poor in Akron Ohio. He was raised by a single mother who had some early challenges. Like most boys, he started playing basketball at a young age. This helped him stay out of trouble. Now he’s a multi-million dollar NBA Superstar and sports icon. How did he get there?

He sees himself as the CEO of Me Inc. Even though he plays pro hoops he also knows about being your own boss. This puts you in the driver’s seat of your career. It sets the stage for top-notch performance. Being your own boss is in knowing the difference between where you report to and who you work for. I work for ‘Big G-o-d.’ How ‘bout you?

King James (as he’s commonly called) is fast becoming a media magnet. He fired his agent and hired some of his childhood friends to run his other ventures. James shows how the CEO of Me Inc. means you are a brand. This gives you market identity. It gives options for multiple streams of income. It provides a ‘layoff proof’ model for the 21^st century gig.

The one goal that James is yet to achieve is an NBA championship. He’s doing everything he can to improve his game. James admits he hasn’t yet reached his peak. But he shows how being the CEO of Me Inc. is a setup for ‘good, better, best.’ Sports Illustrated once deemed him the chosen one. Well, that might be a stretch. But it’s a good reminder of how being the CEO of Me Inc. lines-up with your professional calling or vocation.

Podcast Soundtrack – “Clips & Hits”

Play ‘R & B Flava’ Podcast track here

Podcast Soundtrack – “Clips & Hits”

Play ‘R & B Flava’ Podcast track here

Play ‘Reggae Flava’ Podcast track here

 “Fly Robin fly, up up to the sky!” Remember that song from back in the ‘70s? OK I’m giving away my age, So what. I would never sing it but we sure can live by it. Getting your career to soar starts by giving your dreams a chance. You don’t have to wait until the Powerball payout is in the millions. You just have to move on purpose.

When you travel overseas you have to fill out customs forms. One of the questions on the form is, “purpose of visit?” In other words are you here on business or pleasure. Letting your dreams fly depends on knowing your life’s purpose. If your dream is by Divine design then your purpose gives the reason for going into flight. It gives the reason why for letting your dreams fly.

Once that is set you then need a plan. The plan helps to put the idea, concept or business on paper. The plan is how you line up your desired vision with the required action. The plan helps you see it on paper the same way a builder sees it in a blueprint. Letting your dreams fly also takes practice. Practice positions you for top performance. Every pilot begins the trip with a flight plan. He keeps his skills sharp with a flight simulator.

Probably the least discussed quality of a pilot is that of patience. The destination is known. The flight duration is confirmed. The only thing left is to get there. It takes sticking to the plan and being patient in the execution. Letting your dreams fly takes patience as well. You’ll get there in the nick of time between departure and arrival. Between Divine design and life’s natural course of travel.

The path to your dream takes purpose of action. It takes having a plan and working your plan. It takes patience in order to go the distance. It takes:

1.     D – Discovering your childhood wishes and adult passions.

2.     R – Raising your expectations and qualifications.

3.     E – Engine-uity that puts you in the driver’s seat.

4.     A – Attitude of gratitude and fortitude to see it through.

5.     M – Mission possible for doing what you love.  

That’s a sneak peak of my story leaving a techie job in Corporate America to pursue my dream. The journey continues.

Podcast Soundtrack – “Clips & Hits”

Play ‘R & B Flava’ Podcast track here

Play ‘Reggae Flava’ Podcast track here

Podcast Soundtrack – “Clips & Hits”

Play ‘R & B Flava’ Podcast track here

Play ‘Reggae Flava’ Podcast track here

 Know the 4 ways, 13 steps to a new career or business? It’s like one, two, three, money, money, money. Here’s a good place to start. Find your main thing. Choose your professional sides. Serve your purpose. You gotta know how to live it up. You gotta know how to tell your story.

Here’s what happened the last time you went to a restaurant. You were seated in your preferred section. You were given a menu. From there you ordered an appetizer, entrée and maybe dessert. Think back to the entrée. It came with a main thing. Maybe chicken or beef or fish.

That main thing came with some sides. Maybe rice or fries. Greens or some veggies. Well that’s a good way to look at where to start. Raise your game. Reinvent your career. Start a new business. First find your main skill, strength or marketable gig. Then surround that main thing with professional sides. This means looking around for multiple streams of income.

Now, suppose your food was not served on a plate? You’d be mad as shad, right? That’s where serving with your purpose comes into play. Your life’s purpose is like the plate. Talent makes you good at what you do. Purpose makes you good at serving-up what you do. Together, you’re just good at making it ‘do what it do.’

Let’s put your main thing, professional sides and purpose to work. Start by writing a letter to life. Begin this way. “Dear life, this is to inform you of my intentions for career, business, relationships and life itself.” Go ahead, finish the letter and tell life what you want. If you’re sick and tired of being sick and tired then buckle up. Work it out. When you’re done you would have just written what the experts call a mission statement.

Podcast Soundtrack – “Clips & Hits”

Play ‘R & B Flava’ Podcast track here

Play ‘Reggae Flava’ Podcast track here

 Coldplay and Jay-Z performed at the Grammys. Together! Who would have put these two on the same stage? Let’s not kid ourselves. It wasn’t really a match made in heaven. They did their thing and a few people cheered. Not sure we’ll ever see this on Youtube. But there’s something here we can work with.

How about Lil Wayne and Bruce Springsteen together? Can you dig that? One guy represents the ghetto while the other the Hills. Ok, it may be a stretch but they have a common story to tell. Both are recording artists, yes. Both are working on a dream, for sure. Lil Wayne’s coming from the ‘hood in New Orleans. He’s probably seen a thing or two. Springsteen Reinventing himself over the years. This says a lot of his longevity in the business.

In Lil Wayne’s pre-Grammy interview he described himself as Gangsta. I see where he’s coming from. But his work ethic helps explain his success. Working on a dream is not for the feint hearted. Even those as young as Lil Wayne or as old as Springsteen have a shot. It takes some attitude, fortitude and a proven formula.

1. See it. 
2. Build it.
3. Sell it.
4. Drink on it.

The life journey of Dr. Ben Carson was recently told in a made-for-TV movie. As a young man he remembered a story shared by his Pastor. It was about a Missionary Doctor who worked with the less fortunate. This stuck with Carson. He was not trying to grow up to be a Lil Wayne. Instead he wanted to become a Brain Surgeon. He saw himself through that story. Working on a dream involves visioning yourself. Vision helps to create your reality. Reality helps to mold your vision. Gradually your vision and reality merge into dream come true.

Some say Lil Wayne is more than a Gangsta. He’s a musical genius. He travels between events on two custom buses. One is his home on wheels. The other is his mobile studio. At any moment he can turn an idea into a hot track. He can build some new beats. It helps to have a scratch pad or a test track when working on your dream. You save yourself some public mistakes. You prove to yourself that the dream is doable. This way you can begin to build it as you see it.

 The first and toughest sell is to yourself. Self-talk can be a positive or a stumbling block. The best self-talk is the one that helps you sell your ideas. After you sell yourself (to yourself) you have to sell it to your target market. It’s harder to sell someone something if you don’t believe in yourself. So, I have a secret to tell. This blog is one way for you to eavesdrop on my sell.

 Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps was recently embarrassed by pictures of him smoking weed. No charges are being filed but he’s learned a lesson. It’s OK to celebrate your victories. There’s nothing wrong with having a drink on living your dreams. Just know that not everybody around you is for you. When you win have a party. Invite some friends (including me). Working on your dreams should include a time for work, for play and for hip hip hooray.

Living your dreams is a great way to pump new life into your workday. That’s because creativity shows you’ve got skillz. The results you produce show your creativity. This works no matter where you are on your dream journey. It’s like going through the seasons. Each year there’s Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter. So it is with living your dreams. You see it, build it, sell it and drink on it. Then you start the cycle all over again. Hopefully each new season brings more success.

Music Soundtrack – “Flashback to the Max”

Play ‘Lifetime by Maxwell,’ track here

Play ‘At The Party by Maxwell,’ track here