~ J.Cole
Life. It’s one of helluva drug. I’m back from my mini hiatus. I intended to drop a great new post, but I was a bit premature. I hope you enjoyed what little I wrote.
August.
Return to Ontario to much love from close friends. No matter how many times you leave, home seems to never change. Hit the ground speeding was the plan, unfortunately, my vehicle needed repairs (literally). I had negated my plan for a September departure to a December departure to a finalized June date. Many things can be said of home, but one thing it provides is much needed prospective.
I was honored to be Baby B’s best man, it was a honor I didn’t take lightly. Speaking to a crowd full of strangers, save for three tables was incredibly nerve racking. Especially since it was done ad hoc. Speak from the heart, I was told and that’s how I proceeded. It wasn’t the crowd of five thousand that #22 outlined, but it was a good barometer that I needed more work.
More work seems to be the focus of my time home. I need some fine tuning, flaws have to be corrected. One day, I wish to eliminate them completely, but for now, I’m content to notice my errs and crop them out. Surrounding yourself with like minded, positive people that hold you accountable has been my job. Rooting out the weeds that drain your energy and productivity is my task.
September.
I started my first remedial job working retail which is both a gift and a curse. Through this job, I’ve found a mentor whose perfected his own blog. His tips have sent me in the right direction. Stylistically, his online platform makes mine look like finger painting. I love that aspect of the job, nestling up to someone who is where you’d like to be is a great way to learn at an accelerated rate. Speaking to people is another bonus, I love people’s perspective on life and love.
The negative aspects are trivial. My proximity to the location isn’t ideal and the minor squabbles between coworkers is a negativity I don’t need in my life. I stay to myself whenever possible or just speak about things not pertaining to work.
My district manager’s blog really has inspired me to take a deeper look at how I view myself and my work. I know Project Carpe Diem is my legacy and as such I’ve decided to take it more seriously. Consistency in my writing and posts, along with adding some additional authors is a must. I met with my web designer last week and plans are in the motion to jazz up my work. Seriously, he almost seemed more excited than me. I love that positivity and enthusiasm.
October.
Fall brings change in weather, season and atmosphere. I began job number two during this season of change. What’s interesting is that I’ve never done this type of work before. Now that may sound strange, but I’ll elaborate. My employment history reads more like a grocery list than anything else. I’ve done it all, from childcare counselor to golf resort maintenance crew to financial advisor. I’m all over the map; well, now I’m a server.
By all accounts an easy job, but I’d be lying if I told you the learning curve wasn’t steep. I’m a beer drinker. I can distinguish brand by taste. On the flip side, I don’t touch hard liquor. Smirnoff, Captain Morgan’s, Patron, Tanqueray could all be vodka for all I knew. I needed to memorize everything, from menu to drink list to seating chart, etcetera. I found solace in the fact that others had done it, so it could be accomplished.
Learning curve aside, I’m happy to be back in the restaurant. Some of the best times of my life were spent as a line cook. Everyone is friendly and stepping out of my introverted self is a welcome change. It’s always been my goal to work at places that will add value to my personal growth. When I venture off again, my knowledge that Smirnoff is vodka, Captain Morgan’s is rum, Patron is tequila, Tanqueray is gin will come in handy as a bartender. What do you think?
November.
Well people, I’m here. Living my life. I hope you all are doing the same and capitalizing on all your good fortune. Eliminating your flaws should be everyone’s highest priority. Insanity is doing the same thing and expecting a different result. Don’t be insane. Where you notice something is wrong, rectify it. I read a quote from one of my favourite books, Drink, Play, F@#k, that set my mind on fire.
“I’ve been lucky and unlucky in my life, just like everyone. And, in the future, I’ll be unlucky and lucky again…hang on to the good moments, and let the crappy ones slide on by”
I hear comments constantly in my travels from people who believe that “this is unrealistic” or such and such “is so lucky”. The funny thing about luck is that people manufacture their own. Here, I’ll give you the recipe, Luck is a matter of opportunity meeting preparedness. Are you prepared or spinning your wheels attempting to catch up?
Formulated my plan, motivated by dreams
Parlayed wit’ my mans, motivated my team
~ J.Cole
Book Review: How to get out of your own way (22)
9 Nov“Remember, your words, your dreams, and your thoughts have the power to create conditions in your life. What you speak about, you can bring about.” ~ Tyrese Gibson
Singer. Actor. Model. Author??? Formerly known for his ballads to women, Tyrese hits you hard with a dose of potent inspiration. When I originally heard people praising this book, I had my reservations. My only experience with Tyrese, up until that point, was that he was a blossoming actor/songbird from the hood. First, I’d like to apologize for my ignorance and secondly, I’d also like to praise this piece of work as the triumph it is.
The book starts with a prayer and mini bio about the talented performers life in Watts, California. For those not in the know, Watts is a heavily populated gang neighbourhood; between 1989 and 2005, police reported more than 500 homicides (wikipedia). That is mind-boggling to me, I can’t even fathom growing up in that environment. While the song and dance of rags to riches has been overused in the hip hop and R&B community for years, Tyrese’s candor is refreshing. Primarily because he writes just the way he speaks and it adds another dimension to this book. It’s more like a conversation than a literary work or self-help manifest.
After reading the struggles he experiences and the providence that provided him an outlet to become what he is today. We delve into some deep topics about; self-love, mastering your environment, cultivating friendships (5 People), relationships and women.
All of the topics express something relatable to it’s audience. He motivates you to make a change, or, in my case, tweak some minor things to correct my circumstance. The chapter on ‘How Much Do You Love Yourself?’ reached into my mind and turned a broken cog that had stalled. Everything was illuminated once it was read on print, the cure to some self-destructive ills were made blatantly apparent. The gaps in past judgement and present follies were right there to rectify and I was missing the opportunity. I was completely sold on this book after the second chapter.
“I’ve watched Tyrese for many years – I’ve watched him succeed; I’ve watched him fail; I’ve seen him as a beneficiary of serendipity, and I’ve watched him suffer at his own hand. And in the recent years, as we’ve become friends, I’ve witnessed Tyrese Gibson learn how to get out of his own way as he wrestled his destiny from the fickle hands of fate.” ~ Will Smith
The book overall is truly brilliant, but I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention a flaw that rang out. The portion on women is contradicting in parts and as a whole, falls apart for me. His views on dating are strange, due to the fact he berates men for doing similar behaviour that he demonstrates under the shroud of honesty. The fact that he’s honest does give him the right to explore his choices, if the woman decides to stick around. However, his description of the perfect woman looks a lot like a 1960′s Barbara Billingsley cut out. It reads very odd, when put up against the rest of the material.
That chapter aside, this book is truly great. Add it to your collection and you won’t be disappointed, you may view him in a completely different light.
Carpe Diem Que