CAN YOU LEND AN EAR? A Lesson on Asking for Help

​CAN YOU LEND AN EAR?

A Lesson on Asking for Help

 This past week I was staying at a hotel and I didn't have any headphones, I'm an avid music listener so I can only go so long without them. After several days of not having any I finally had the thought of "maybe I should ask the front desk for some" so indeed I asked was there any place I could purchase headphones from within the hotel and Lord behold they gave me a free pair and I didn't even have to spend any money!

So the take away from this story is two key lessons: 1. Always be prepared to help yourself 2. When in doubt just ask.

1. Always Be Prepared to Help Yourself.

Before I received a free pair of headphones , I already mentally prepared myself to pay for the headphones. If you're always ready to pay the price for what you want, you won't be shocked when it's time to pay the tab.

          2. When in Doubt Just Ask

The entire week of my stay I wanted headphones because mine broke the day I was traveling to the hotel. If I asked sooner instead of contemplating when I was going to have time to purchase headphones and other nonsense, I would've been had headphones. All it took was my inquiry.

There you have it , it seems we tend to complicate the most simple things when maybe just a simple request for assistance can be the remedy we looked for all along.

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TRAITS YOU SHOULD EMBODY THAT THEY DON'T WANT YOU TO EMBODY

​TRAITS YOU SHOULD EMBODY THAT THEY DON'T WANT YOU TO EMBODY

All of us on the road to success each walk a unique path but there is something that each of us encounter along the way: people telling us what we should/shouldn't do and who we should/shouldn't be. Here are three traits that people try to label those who are brave enough to display bold ambition.

ARROGANCE

In reality, it takes a lot of confidence to make the bold move of pursuing a purpose. When average people see you take on a new attitude of self-belief they re-brand it as "arrogance". There's nothing arrogant about wanting to be your best or seeing your vision come into fruition. All the greats get branded as arrogant such as; Michael Jordan, JAY Z, Tom Brady etc, but notice no one is calling a 3rd string quarterback for the Browns arrogant that's because he doesn't matter! Only those who impact can truly be felt will be called arrogant because their confidence is perceived as threatening.

DELUSIONAL

Phil Knight's BLUE RIBBON SPORTS, an ode to his track days at OREGON

People who haven't took risks are the ones who possess the most limited mindset, they only can see as far as their natural eye. The state of delusion is something everyone possessed if they actually made a difference in the world. Back when Phil Knight first entered the sneaker market, he convinced Japan sneaker brand Onitsuka Tigerthat his company could sell their shoes in the United States. His company didn't even exist, he even made up the name on the spot! That's definitely "delusional" and out of your mind but any normal person with a limited scope couldn't have been that quick on their toes and without that delusion we wouldn't have the NIKE that we have today.

SELFISH

Even I have been called this numerous times as of late. If you're a person with ambition you will be called this too at one point or another but only because it's true! Selfishness has negative connotations but it's only when you put yourself first that you can go all in on your efforts! You could've called Lebron James selfish back when he first decided to join the Miami Heat. He had a goal to be a champion and while he could've been "loyal" to his home team he did what was best for his goal. He eventually went back and won a championship for Cleveland but again him winning a 'ship for Cleveland was HIS goal! People may try to sway you and guilt trip you but if you don't do what's best for you how could you possibly ever help the people that need you to the best of your ability?

So that's it, in a world filled with many positives and negatives you can always expect the positive to be spun towards the negative. However YOU always control the narrative and whatever is said about you, you can always control how to REACT to it.

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#THEKIDFROMAKRON OUT NOW!

A FUTURE YOU CAN'T RUSH

​A FUTURE YOU CAN'T RUSH

Another week another Future album it seems but no complaints here! Future stated in a recent interview w/ Zane Lowe that his latest album HNDRXX, is the album that he always wanted to make. In 2014, FUTURE released his sophomore project "HONEST" to mixed/negative reviews. Since his entry into mainstream stardom, fans criticized Future for going commercial/pop and assumed that he forgotten his roots. Also, add into the mix his past relationship with r&b singer Ciara, fans thought Future was too high off life(or maybe codeine) to give the fans music that they wanted.

Following a split with Ciara and a brief musical hiatus Future alongside with the superstar-to-be Metro Boomin dropped what most people consider the comeback of the century which was his "MONSTER" mixtape. FUTURE didn't stop there as he released the mixtapes "Beast Mode" , "56 NIGHTS" and the classic album "DS2". This run even placed him alongside Toronto superstar DRAKE for the collaborative mixtape "WHAT A TIME TO BE ALIVE" featuring the monstrous hit "JUMPMAN" and the highest grossing hip hop tour of all time "SUMMER SIXTEEN TOUR".

To get to a point of damn near a 100% creative freedom like FUTURE is at doesn't come easy. Most people would have faltered after a broken public relationship and a barrage of criticism from fans. A lesson for those in every walk of life, the point of life you aim to be doesn't arrive overnight and it often features more turmoil than joy along the way. The only way to ensure victory is to never stop playing the game and if you play long enough you'll be the one making the rules!

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SETTING ASIDE DIFFERENCES

​SETTING ASIDE DIFFERENCES

 Last night, the unthinkable happened during the 2017 NBA ALL STAR GAME. Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant actually cooperated with each other for one of the night's most memorable highlights. For those who are unaware of the significance, Kevin and Russell struck bad blood once Kevin decided to join the Golden Stare Warriors. A team Russell and KD almost defeated TOGETHER in the Western Conference Finals last year. Russell chose to resign with OKC and ever since then it's been a heated rivalry between the two NBA superstars.

 Comparing their situation to our day-to-day experiences, there will always come a time where you will have to work with an enemy or former associate of some sorts in order to get the job done. Russell and KD are recognized as two of the NBA's best players and they had to come together for a Win for the sake of their conference. You may have to align with foes for the sake of the community, a project, or even your employment.

 When found in this seemingly compromising situation just remember that the alliance is temporary and it's never as bad as it may seems.

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WLCM SERIES 002

LIFE IS OPEN WORLD GAMEPLAY

​LIFE IS OPEN WORLD GAMEPLAY

If you ever played games like Grand Theft Auto and Final Fantasy then you have played what are categorized as "open world" games. Meaning games that encompass the player to "free roam" and not follow a linear structure. In open world gameplay, you have the main storyline alongside a bunch of side quests/missions that are optional to complete but may give cool bonuses.

The gameplay is quite analogous to life in which, the storyline is our life's purpose and anything outside of our purpose may be positioned as a side quest. Knowing our lives are much more explorable/expansive than a video game it takes great responsibility to stay on track for our purpose. Often times we can get caught in the things that don't matter and it can delay the time on fulfilling our purpose[storyline].

Final Fantasy XV, available now for XBOX ONE/PS4

Life is meant to be fun and enjoyed from many different angles but we must remind ourselves that we are working with limited time. Learning to work efficiently and staying on track is key to enjoying our lives to the fullest extent.

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POWER OF REPETITION

​POWER OF REPETITION

 In my recent days of preparing for a big task ahead [I'll reveal at a later date], I've been required to do a lot of reading, I mean A LOT! It's been done with the purpose of me to understand and comprehend the concepts that are presented before me. I realized that repetition is what really drives information to our core.

 It's why our parents used to have to tell us things more than once and it's even why the radio play a song more than once. A song can't be a hit from being played once but you can understand what your parents mean by being hit once, lol.

 When a song on the radio is played constantly and constantly it causes a couple of things.It drives the melody into our sub-conscious and we take a liking to the song the more we hear it. Even if we don't listen to the song in our spare time we still know the words to songs we don't even like because how frequently it's played.

 The true power of repetition is when what we constantly repeat becomes second nature to us. If you can get it in one try kudos to you, but there will always be something that you will have to try again and only repetition will assist you in the task you're trying so hard to complete.

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PULL OUT | MEXICO

TRICK SHOT

​TRICK SHOT

Trick shots are unconventional, requires patience, and are mastered with a lot of practice (sprinkled with some luck).

Trick shots are just like the risks we take in life. Most people stick with the fundamentals and what always work. If people know they can always make a mid range jumper they seldom attempt to hit a three from a half court.

People that take risks in life are admired[sometimes shrouded as hate] by others who don't take risks. Seeing someone take a risk and succeed is amazing to see but if they fail it's generally expected because, most people don't attempt to go outside the norm anyway. It's equivalent to watching someone play pool and make a crazy shot, you write it off as nothing but luck if they succeed and aren't surprise if it fails because those are shots you're not used to seeing anyways.

The main objective of this article is show that the positive result people have in taking risks isn't strictly due to luck. People who take risks are constantly pushing themselves past their normal limits and the more they do this the more the supernatural becomes the very natural.

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KNOWING WHEN TO STOP

​KNOWING WHEN TO STOP

Sometimes it can be very easy to become addicted to winning. The thrill of achievement and overcoming can be a feeling many people don't want to let go. However everyone should proceed with caution and know not to go pass their intended mark of victory.

This is an idea mainly supported by one of the 48 Laws of Power but in recent history it can be seen enacted by NBA Player Zach Lavine. Zach Lavine is a two time back-to-to NBA SLAM DUNK Champion. After giving two historic performances people thought he was bound to go for a three peat. To the shock of many he declined the invitation to participate this year in New Orleans. He told ESPN "I feel like I've accomplished everything I could in the dunk contest".

To come to such a stunning conclusion one must know their self and know their true purpose. If Zach's purpose was just to accumulate another accolade for the hell of it, then there would be no reason to participate again. It is clear that his objective was to push the limits of the dunk contest and once he felt like he accomplished that he knew it wasn't a point of going any further. So the key is never to do something just to do it, always have a purpose no matter how minuscule it may seem.

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QUAVO HUNCHO

The Corner , #BadandBoujee

COMPETITION FOR THE SOUL

​COMPETITION FOR THE SOUL

 Today I will attempt to dispel the negative connotation of competition. When people think of competing they usually associate it with people comparing themselves to others ,which in turn leads to trying out shine them every waking moment. Although the previous statement is true for certain people, true competition is really about YOURSELF!

Check out "CAL CAST" featuring DRAKE, by clicking here https://soundcloud.com/user-974863256/drake-talks-about-his-past-current-projects-and-future-plans

 This awakening was sparked by a conversation Drake had w/ Coach John Calipari on coach's podcast "CAL CAST". Drake spoke about how he can't truly take a break because he fear someone is not taking a break and they would stumble upon something he would've stumbled upon had it not been for the brakes. This may seem to be fueled by the desire to stay ahead of everyone else but I believe it is a testament to the bar Drake set for himself. He also revealed to Coach Cal that his reason for continuing to do music is for his legacy and having music that he can appreciate from himself 20 years down the line.

 How can he focus on such a daunting task by constantly comparing himself to other artists and always worrying about ways to 1-up himself? The answer is he couldn't , this is why competition is about self when you out perform someone it is only a by-product of outperforming yourself. Say you set out to beat a previous sales record made by yourself and when you beat the record you also end up outselling your opposition. The only way you could outsell your opposition is if you worked on records that were strong enough to beat your previous endeavor, see what I mean?

 On an ending note, Coach Jim Harbaugh also spoke w/ Coach Cal on another episode. They both said they have a quote in their office that reads "JUST COACH YOUR TEAM". If they Coach their teams to the best of their ability that isn't a testament to out doing their opponents(though it plays a role) , it is a more of testament of due diligence to focusing on self.

 Hopefully that debunks this negative notion of competition. Competition is great because if it doesn't do anything else it gets you to look at yourself!

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HOW THE BAD THINGS IN LIFE CAN MAKE FOR A GOOD STORY

 HOW THE BAD THINGS IN LIFE CAN MAKE FOR A GOOD STORY

Vito Corleone's death scene in The Godfather

Barry gets dismantled in his first encounter with Zoom

Today on my morning commute, I was thinking about a great win we took last night and all the hardships we had to overcome in the past several years. I thought to myself "man if somebody was watching this on tv they would be going crazy after seeing all these rollercoaster rides" and that's when it hit me, as cliche as it sounds it really is about a journey. Think about how uninteresting it would be if The Flash beat every major villain in a single episode or The Godfather just showed Marlon Brando reigning supreme all day. No story is complete without drama. Even though, people strive to live without petty drama it is the dilemmas/problems that give our life story depth.

Michael Jordan didn't come out the gate being the greatest basketball player of all time, he didn't even make varsity squad in high school on his first attempt. Van Gogh only sold one painting in his lifetime...ONE! A major lesson I've learned is not to be outcome dependent, meaning being hyper focused on the results of an outcome instead of just taking it as it comes. That's equivalent to rushing ahead to the season finale without watching any of the core episodes.

The Red Vineyard was the only painting Van Gogh sold in his lifetime

If you are wanting to rush to the "good parts" of life chances are you're already in it, enjoy the show baby you're going to be here for a while!

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WLCM SERIES 002 FEB 2017

THE POWER OF COLLABORATION

​THE POWER OF COLLABORATION

Today the internet may have shattered in pieces all because two of the most recognizable names in fashion which is; SUPREME and LOUIS VUITTON just debuted their collaboration at PARIS FASHION WEEK. Here are a few things that make a collaboration work out in the favor of all parties.

I. OPPOSITES ATTRACT

Maybe someone with photoshop saw this coming but anyone that actually works in fashion see the distinct separation between Louis Vuitton and Supreme. LV is a luxury goldmine and Supreme is originally catered towards skaters and more recently people who love streetwear in general. Two brands on the opposite end of the spectrum is bound to make a noteworthy collaboration.

II. REPUTATION DOES HALF THE WORK

LOUIS VUITTON "JASPER" by KANYE WEST

SUPREME x THE NORTH FACE 

SUPREME has always collaborated with brands in the past (i.e. NORTH FACE, JUMPMAN, LEVI's, etc..) and LOUIS VUITTON isn't shy of high profile collaborations either (I.e. KANYE WEST, TAKASHI MURAKAMI, etc), so when it was rumored that this collaboration would happen, the collab already had positive expections because of their great work in the past.

III. IF IT AIN'T BROKE DON'T FIX IT

The SUPREME x LV collection sticks to each brand's signature items while adding an inverse spin on it from each brand's perspective. Everything that customers love such as the LUGGAGE TRUNK, SKATE DECK, FIVE PANEL CAP, and more are all present which doesn't make the collaboration feel forced but more so as if it was overdue for release.

Sometimes big brands make moves strictly off hype and a quick flip. Though this collection is generating extreme hype it isn't negative but it only shows the power of collaboration when it is done correctly.

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FORCE FIELDS

 FORCE FIELDS

 Ever wondered why Force fields in video games exist? I bet you thought they were nothing more than annoying nuances the developers created. However most of these Force fields serves a purpose. In most cases a Force field may appear because the player has not advanced far enough in the story, the space is not meant to be explored by the player and/or a player must posses a certain item for access. These Force fields are much like the Force fields/barriers we experience in real life!

 We may have a big end goal for our life in mind. Most of us if we had the option would skip straight to the point where our goal is accomplished and we can have a free-for-all unfortunately life doesn't work like that. Our story serves a purpose and we must patiently and diligently play out each chapter in order gain what we want in the long run.

 There are times in life where we would like to do something that necessarily isn't meant for us. A certain person may have a love for basketball but their destiny isn't in playing professional basketball. Much like the graphics that lies beyond the Force field, just because we can see what's on the other side doesn't mean it meant for us to go there. Life is simply giving a spectrum view of things and we should be grateful of what we get to see and continue on our own adventure.

 Have you ever tried applying for a position that require certain credentials (I.e. College Degree ) and was denied even though you possessed the experience. In video games you may progressed very far in the game you may have even "beaten" it but if you lack a certain item you would miss out on playing extra content within the game. We can posses a lot of things in life but for some our goals specifics may be required and without those specifics we sabotage ourself from having the one thing we truly want.

 So don't be weary of road blocks you may come to find out that they're for a good reason. Keep playing your game and life will always bring you to the areas you need to explore.

PEACE IN THE PRESENT

​PEACE IN THE PRESENT

It's not an ancient secret that being present or "in the moment" is the ideal state to be in yet many people still struggle with achieving this state of mind. Yesterday after I finished drawing I noticed that my mind didn't wonder anywhere else it was strictly focused on drawing.

Comic Book Artist, Paolo Rivera focused intensely on a painting. 

When you zone in a 100% on any activity you eliminate worrying and over-thinking because all of your energy go towards the here and now.

Imagine Phil Mickelson trying to get a hole in one or Kyrie Irving trying to make a game winning shot with their mind cluttered with "when is the mortgage due again" or "man I wonder when game of thrones is coming back on"? It isn't possible to be in the present without being focused.

After you've finished an activity or a chore think about how you felt, if you can reminisce on feelings of serenity and calmness then congrats you've achieved peace in the present.

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THE SYMBOLISM OF GREY

​THE SYMBOLISM OF GREY

"Descent on Gotham by Alex Ross" 

Today I was watching videos of comic book artist ALEX ROSS and I realized how much of an important role the color grey plays. Grey serves as a neutralizer; it is neither this or that but it's a mixture of both. Think of when people say the term "grey area". Much like in a painting the word grey can carry a dark tone or a light tone. Even in the worst of people you can find something good about them and vice versa, the "grey" serves as the enhancer and/or reducer of a situation. The color grey can act as a remainder to not take things a 100% as it seems but to always examine things with a second look.

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