Prospering From Ignorance

The way society is rigged, take advantage of people's ignorance, and you'll prosper beyond your wildest dreams 💯😓

— SelfMadeBluntz (@iDespiseJobz) November 17, 2014

This tweet caught my eye because it's on target. If someone's ignorant, all you have to do is cater to their ignorance and you can go higher than you ever dreamed. I'm not talking about ignorance as in not knowing, I mean general ignorance. You know better, but you choose not to do better; that's what I mean by ignorance. Watching RHOA (Real Housewives Of Atlanta) and Love & Hip Hop has me thoroughly convinced of that. Everywhere you turn, someone has a so-called "reality show". Most of these reality shows are nothing more than regulars trying to get their break in the entertainment industry. I'm not knocking anyone's dream, I'm proud of those who are stepping out on faith and trying to make it in the business. If you're going to prosper, prosper for the right reasons. Prosper because of your ability, not your ratchet mentality. It seems like it's easier to be ratchet and make $$$, than to have talent and make it the right way.

Why would you need talent to be ratchet? You don't. All you have to do is act like a fool, and networks will come beating down your door to give you your own reality show. If it's that easy to prosper from people's ignorance, maybe I need to jump on that cash cow. Then again, I couldn't sleep good knowing I'm profiting off someone's ignorance; that's not me, and it never will be. I've been raised right, so I care more about my good name than profiting off someone's ignorance. As I look around, all I can do is shake my head. It's not so much people profitting off ignorance, it's the ignorant who don't realize they're being used for financial gain. A little research and asking the right questions is all it takes to prevent yourself from being taken. I guess I shouldn't be too upset, because the way society is rigged, it's not difficult to prosper off someone's ignorance. If you can twerk, be ratchet and act loud, you're an instant star.

When I Shine, You Shine

@iDespiseJobz: Keep close the friends who were broke right alongside you, then take them with you on the come 👆 #EatWithWhoYouStarvedWith 💯📝 #fb

The above tweet came from Norm J. Blunt, a Facebook friend as well as someone I follow on Twitter.  My Twitter and Facebook pages are nothing but positivity, because there's too much ratchetness on social media, and I won't cloud my mind with that nonsense. Anyway, people have their nerve wanting to eat at your table when they weren't starving with you. Where do they do that at? It's that entitlement mentality of some people that irks me, and is exactly why I'm cautious of who I let in. Why eat off someone's plate when you can get your own food? What I mean by that is that there's more than enough success to go around, so instead of riding someone's coattails, get yours for yourself. Success differs for everyone, so what one person considers successful, may not be what another considers successful and that's ok. If I'm building a dynasty & it finally blows up, I'm remembering those who helped me build. THEY are the ones that will eat at my table, not the leeches. There aren't too many people you can call a friend because you don't know their agenda. Even your closest friend(s) have an agenda, they just haven't told you about it because they don't want you to think they're your friend just because you're doing well for yourself. In closing, only your loved ones should be able to share in your blessing because they've stood by you all the way. Your loved ones knew you before you blew up, and it's foul to forget about those who supported you from Day 1. I hate to see people become rich & famous and then that fame & fortune changes them. They forget about those who encouraged them to keep hustling when they wanted to quit.

Positive Friday

It's been a while since I did Positive Friday, but I'm back.

Look for opportunities, not guarantees.
— Learn Everyday (@WiseLearnings) November 13, 2014

Mistakes are proof that you're trying
— Learn Everyday (@WiseLearnings) November 13, 2014

Take risks: If you win, you will be happy; if you lose, you will gain wisdom.
— Learn Everyday (@WiseLearnings) November 13, 2014

Life brings tears, smiles and memories. The tears dry, the smile fade but the memories lasts forever.
— Life Diary (@diariezolife) November 14, 2014

If you never thank God after every smile, why do you blame him for every tear?
— Life Book! (@lifeshandbook) November 14, 2014

The chief cause of failure and unhappiness is trading what we want most for what we want at the moment.
— Life is Good! (@rulesolife) November 14, 2014

Sometimes you just need to accept that some people can only be in your heart, but not in your life.
— Life Diary (@diariezolife) November 14, 2014

Strawberry Letter | Steve Harvey in the Morning on WDAS

Strawberry Letter | Steve Harvey in the Morning on WDAS

Today's blog message is Ready For Committment. We have a 30-year old woman who seems to have a good head on her shoulders. She meets a man who she thinks the world of, but there's one problem: He's not ready for a relationship. Either he's turned off by her being a single mother, or he may not be THAT into her. Usually, a man will let a woman know early on how into her he is by several factors: Frequency of communication, his eagerness in getting to know her, they schedule outings together, etc. If a man is into a woman, he will move heaven & earth to show it. He's not about playing games because he knows she's got other potential suitors on stand-by. She may feel that he's the one, but does he feel the same way? From the lack of reciprocation he's giving her, it's safe to say he's not into her as much as she's into him. The question remains is does she want to waste her time trying to force what may not be meant to happen?

When I read these Strawberry Letters, I always look for answers to the question. 9 times out of 10, the letter writer seeking advice has already answered their own question(s). This letter is no different because she states "I don't want to feel like I'm wasting my time." There you have it, she already answered her question. Any further anguish that happens from this moment forward is her fault, because she can either give him an ultimatum or continue raising her children. Right now, her main focus should be on raising her children. Age has a lot to do with this letter as well, because sometimes, younger men like to play games with women. They teeter back & forth with their feelings on a woman. One minute he wants her, and the next minute, he doesn't. An older man doesn't have time for that mess. He either wants her or doesn't, and he moves forward. I don't think he's ready for a relationship, so she might want to move onto the man who is. Time is too short for play play.

Strawberry Letter | Steve Harvey in the Morning on WDAS

Strawberry Letter | Steve Harvey in the Morning on WDAS

This man and his girlfriend get into a fight, and she gets a black eye. Her mom isn't having that so she wants her daughter home with her, which is understandable. The daughter goes behind her mom's back and continues seeing the man who beat her. I will NEVER understand why some women allow themselves to be beaten like slaves by their husbands. It starts off with arguing, then the voices intensify, and before you know it, someone's getting in someone's faces. The shouting match continues where the (wo)man dares their spouse to hit them. Depending on how angry the spouse is, (s)he may(not) lay a hand on them. Personally, I'm not giving any woman the chance to hit me. I'll simply walk off and let her act stupid by herself. These men know the laws are slighted in favor of the woman, so why would any man willingly put himself in jeopardy? Makes no sense to me. The man has no right to be slighted at her mom for not wanting her to see him; He hit her for goodness sake.

The daughter must have low self-esteem to continue seeing the man who gave her a black eye. Her mom is trying to protect her from him, and she's hardheaded to go behind her mom's back, and see her. Do I agree with her mother threatening to disown her? No. No matter what your child(ren) do, you never disown them under any circumstances. Sometimes, you gotta give your child(ren) tough love, and as much as I hate to say this: The daughter may have to learn the hard way.

Florida Politics

All Of Florida's past governors, and our current Governor Rick Scott is from South Florida. South Florida makes up the bulk of Florida's population (along with the Tampa Bay Area and Metro Orlando) so that's who voted him in. Because South Florida voted for Rick Scott, of course he's going to do more for them because they voted him in. Tallahassee decided to go with Charlie Crist, and he lost by 70,000 votes. Because Tallahassee doesn't like Rick Scott, you can bet that he's going to continue NOT doing anything for Tallahassee. The bulk of the jobs created are going where? Central & South Florida. The irony of what I said is that Tallahassee is Florida's capital, yet Tallahassee gets the short end of the stick economically. Maybe if Tallahassee supported Rick Scott, he would probably do more for Tallahassee, but as long as some people continually vote against Rick Scott, Rick Scott will continue doing more for Central & South Florida. I follow Florida politics and notice a trend: During Rick Scott's campaign trail, most of his stops have been in Central and South Florida. 

Tallahassee is lucky, if ever, to see him campaign here. In short, Tallahassee is like that kid who gets picked last to be on the team. If I'm Florida's Governor, and Tallahassee didn't help me get elected, why would I make moves to benefit Tallahassee? That doesn't make sense. The Governor is supposed to make moves that benefit the entire state, not just the portions that helped him get into office. At the same time, if a certain group helped you get into office, wouldn't common sense say that you cater to them moreso than others? Throughout this election season, Rick Scott has campaigned in Central and South Florida because that's where he knows his support is coming from. Yes, Tallahassee is Florida's capital and you'd think with us being the seat of state government, Tallahassee would get first dibs on economic development & prosperity, but that's not the truth. If anything, Tallahassee gets the leftovers. We're the last to see any sort of economic development because again, many Tallahassee folks didn't help Rick Scott get elected. 

RHOA: For Better Or Worse

Last night's Season 7 premiere of Real Housewives Of Atlanta started off strong, so I know this season is going to be good. If you've followed the Apollo situation, you know he was facing 30 years for racketeering. The judge gave him 8 years, so I know he was glad for that. Still, that's 8 years of not seeing your children: Missing out on crucial milestones, the mother having to explain why Daddy isn't coming home for a while; no parent should have to go through that. Here's my beef: Phaedra, Apollo's wife didn't go to his trial with him. Yes, Apollo did wrong, but a wife still stands by her man. That was a time where Apollo needed his wife the most, and she wasn't there. Apollo went in on Phaedra and with good reason. Regardless of what your spouse did, you still have their back. You're going to be serving their sentence with them, so it behooves you to give as much support as possible. If Phaedra got caught up, and Apollo wasn't there, people would want his head.

Watching last night's episode taught me two things: 1. It's easy to say you'll have your (wo)man's back, but when it's time to go down, your loyalty is tested. 2. Phaedra is so worried about her image. Question: Was Phaedra concerned with her image when she married Apollo, who was a known criminal (according to some circles)? I'll wait. Last time I checked, she represented Bobby Brown during his legal issues, so she needs to stop putting on airs. I'm a rare breed of man because if my woman was caught up, I'd ride for her to the end. She's who I married, so I will honor the "For Better Or Worse" part of marriage. It's sad that most people have no loyalty. Oh wait, people are loyal when it benefits them. Then again, I do understand where Phaedra is coming from.
When Apollo made his bed, he had to know that he would have to lie in it at some point. You can do dirt for so long until it catches up with you. Apollo wasn't thinking about his family when he did that fraud, so he can't expect Phaedra to make his issues hers. She's got a career and children to think of, and it wouldn't be a good look for Apollo to drag Phaedra down with him. Somebody's got to raise those kids, so it might as well be her. When you've gotten to where Phaedra is, you're not gonna let anything or anyone mess up your good standing, and by right you shouldn't. A good name is hard to earn, but easy to mess up. In conclusion, I see where Apollo and Phaedra are coming from. Yes, you have your (wo)man's back, but as a man and the head of household, your decisions affect the rest of your family, so tread carefully with everything you do.