The Secret to Success

Unfortunately for Bob and me, the church wasn’t the only environment in which we spent quality time. As we got older we spent more of our time hanging out on Mark Twain and less time on the 7 Mile and Trinity. Even though the two were close in proximity, they were like worlds apart. Detroit in the late 80’s was a weird city because one block could totally define what type of social economic status a person experienced. The houses on the deep west side of Detroit looked well manicured. They were made with beautiful red brick, had manicured lawns, and new cars in the driveway. If a person traveled further toward the east, he became more aware of the realities of poverty in an industrial powerhouse. When I use the term poverty it is much deeper than just living below the nation’s poverty line. Poverty was a mindset. For the first time in my life I was fully exposed and experiencing the realities of poverty. I had family members who lived in Cabrini Green, in Chicago’s housing complex, and some lived in the Herman Gardens housing complex. I spent the night at my grandmother and aunt’s house on a regular basis and hung out with my cousins.

Gradually, the street values began to have a heavy influence on the two of us. Bob more so than me because Mark Twain was his old stomping ground. Eventually, Bob started drinking, smoking and hustling. I was more into the apparel game and gambling. I helped my customers purchase name brand apparel at discounted prices. I would go into the mall of their choice, find their items, steal the merchandise, and sell it for 50% off the retail value. I always appreciated that Bob did not pressure me into smoking and drinking. When the guys rolled up the Tops and began passing the joint Bob would say, “Don’t pass that joint to E, ya’ll know E don’t smoke.” Even as far as the ladies were concerned, Bob knew that I was a virgin, but he never joked on me about it or tried to convince me that I needed to change my conviction. If I wasn’t feeling it, Bob never pressed the issue or used his leverage in our friendship to manipulate me.

Summary: Principles 7

•   Choosing friends is a matter of life and death.

•   Lesson 1: Look for people who believe in something and are passionate about their beliefs.

•   Lesson 2: Be a giver, not a taker.

•   Lesson 3: Always remain loyal.

•   Lesson 4: Maintain a positive outlook.

•   Lesson 5: Never underestimate the power of words.

•   Lesson 6: A true friend respects your values.

CHAPTER

7

Go Where You’re Celebrated Not Tolerated

“If you associate yourself with Eagles you will learn to soar to great heights.” - Unknown

I think I made it quite obvious why it is so important to surround yourself with the right people. Your destiny and your dynasty is determined or demolished by those closest to you. Now that we have established the need for you to take a thorough look at those you have selected in your Fave Five or your inner circle, it’s time to look at the next step toward your success—your environment. Here is the question you need to ask yourself before you enter any environment, “Is this soil the ideal environment for the type of harvest I am expecting to gain?” When I was a young man, my mother had a garden that I was equally responsible for. My mother taught me several things that I needed to take into consideration before planting my seed in just any dirt. First, I needed to examine the dirt. I needed to be certain to identify the best soil type for the growth of my seed. Next, I needed to select dirt that was disease free and that contained enough nutrients to feed the seed. Those who want success should think like a planter. They should understand that having the right seed is an essential key to success, but they must also understand that the soil that they entrust to the seed is just as vital. Those who understand this concept realize that the operative word for planting is not growth—growth can and will happen in most environments. The operative word is type! In the initial season, the success seeker is not anticipating growth; instead, he should search for the proper environment for growth to take place. Can you honestly say the environment(s) you are in will yield the kind of harvest you are expecting? If not, then you might want to get in position to reposition yourself.

That’s what I did over twenty years ago. I repositioned myself. One day Bob came to me and said he was going to give me an opportunity of a lifetime. He said it was only under one condition; I had to be ready to get ready. Although it was a great offer, he said he wouldn’t make the proposition if I wasn’t ready for it. It took me about two months to clear my head and finally make the decision to take Bob up on his offer. He offered me the opportunity to come and visit the environment that made him the person he was, his church.