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

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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

Sloane Stephens & Drew Scott Know How Taking a Dream Idea or Career Move from Worst to First is Just a Dance Away

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The next season of Dancing with the Stars (DWTS) is ready to rock and roll. This year’s roster has the usual mix of ball players and entertainers. Some have retired from the game while others are trying to get their groove back. Even HGTV’s Drew Scott seems ready for the challenge to “breath, swing and move his feet.”

It so happens that those were the same words said to Stephens by her coach before the US Open Tennis final. The advice seemed to work well as she won in convincing style. The slogan of ‘Just Do It’ might work for Scott as he gets ready to strut his stuff on DWTS. But something else could also be a motivating factor.

drewscott

It may be a case of ‘Just Dance’ for Scott as he prepares for Showtime, but Stephens showed that for winning it’s a case of ‘Just Flow.’ That might be the best way to describe how she went from worst to first over the past eight months. She was ranked as underdog earlier in the year but now she’s got top billing.

Stephens pulled off a stunner! She used injury time to rethink her game. This helped to make a big difference in finals play. She kept her nerves in check to ‘shake, battle and roll’ with a performance that took its toll on her opponent. When we rethink our game it helps us develop our own shake, battle & roll.

It’s a kind of ‘Just Flow’ system that she was able to reboot. Think about those times at the computer or smart phone when things get hung-up with an application. When all else fails, the best thing is to do a reboot so that the internal settings get refreshed. You’re able to reset a new ‘intel inside’ for work or play.

That played-out for Stephens as it has for me. When I left my full-time job as a computer engineer to pursue my dream it was my biggest career move yet. There were times I had to keep my nerves in check to keep moving towards the top deck. I’ve gained a new kind of ‘intel inside’ that helps me to ‘Just Flow.’

With a new ‘intel inside’ Stephens went from career crashing to career banking. She couldn’t believe the $3 million amount on the winning check. They say professional tennis is the best game to play as a woman because there’s a more level playing field to make that paper. Stephens is ready to collect!

One of the hardest things to do in a career move is to relearn your game or yourself. The good part is the professional makeover you achieve. That’s already happening for Scott. Before the first dance move on DWTS he’s been able to lose some weight. Sometimes it takes loosing ‘dead weight’ to be great.

Stephens was able to lose her ‘dead weight’ and is poised to build momentum. It’s her time to ‘Just Flow’ and to see where her goals and dreams go. Scott can show us what happens when the groove is back, or when the ‘feels’ is strong or when the rhythm hits you. You get turned-up in new and exciting ways.

A good way to describe their ‘Just Flow’ experience is being ‘in the pocket.’ Stephens was ‘in the pocket’ in how her game rose to the occasion. It’s the kind of thing that puts us in the running as a rising star. Things seem to flow so well that your game is ‘in the pocket’ and your life performance is ‘in the socket.’

Tip: A new kind of ‘Just Flow’ experience will put your game ‘in the pocket’ and your life performance ‘in the socket.’

Talkback: How was Stephens able to keep things loose and will Scott be able to get loose on the dance floor?

Tracks: Shalamar – Right in the Socket – https://youtu.be/sNGyMe3bu1E

Calvin Harris ft Katy Perry, Pharrell & Big Sean  – Feels – https://youtu.be/ozv4q2ov3Mk