Ten Steps to Getting One Step Closer To Where You Want to Be

 Get to know JESUS! 

The bible says in John 14:6, “I Am the Way, the Truth and the Life.  No One Comes to the Father except through me.”  God has a wonderful purpose and plan for your life.  Each and every one of you are special and has a gift that GOD wants you to use to glorify him.  Read and study the word so that when the enemy comes your way, you will always be prepared to handle him.

Do Unto Others, As You Want Them To Do Unto You! 

Like I said before, you have to give respect in order to get it.  This world and this life doesn’t owe you anything.  When you are kind to others then others will be kind to you. Remember, a horse needs his tail to fan flies more than one day.  If you burn the bridges, you have to cross, when the time comes around for you to cross it again, it may not be there to carry you over. 

Respect Your Elders! 

Whatever happened to yes mam, no mam, yes sir, and no sir.  Would it kill you to show some respect!  They are the people who paved the way for you to get to where you are today.  How dare you treat them with anything less than respect?  Don’t you realize it is because of them that you can say what you want to say and do what you want to do and go where you want to go?  Don’t you realize that if it weren’t for them, you wouldn’t have all the opportunities and rights that you have now?  Show them you love and respect them by just uttering a kind word.  If you see them in the grocery store, offer to help them with their bags.  Help an old lady cross the street.  Help an old man find his way home. A simple hello would brighten their day.  Would it kill you to say it?  Acknowledge them and let them know that they are loved.  And it doesn’t matter if they are related to you or not!

Exercise YOUR Right to VOTE! 

If you don’t like something that is happening in your community, do something about it.  If you don’t like the law, try to do something to change it or make it better.  Mind you, laws are put in place so that the world we live in can have order. Therefore, while you on your bout of trying to change the law make sure that it will be something that will help us and not hurt us.  Use your power to make a difference and let your voice be heard.  If you choose not to vote, then when something happens that you don’t like, don’t complain.

Thou Shalt Not Envy! 

You have no reason to be jealous or envy anyone. Why?  Well, because each individual is a victim of his or her own circumstance. Our lives are structured around the choices we make and whatever those choices are, there is always a way to grow and change.  When we learn better, we do better.  Brothers and sisters, when you see another doing well for themselves, don’t think that they are sellouts and have forgotten where they’ve come from.  Find out what they did to get to their level of success, create your own game plan, and then make the same thing happen for you.  There are endless opportunities out there for those who seek them.

Look The Part! 

Young men, how do you expect to get a job if you go to the interview with your pants wearing saggy jeans that are four sizes too big?  If you don’t know what size clothing you wear, all you have to do is ask the sales associate where you buy your clothes to measure you for an accurate fit.  You make think its cool to wear your clothing like that but think about the long-term effect it has on your life.  Remember, you are the image you portray.  You may be as sweet as pie however, that’s not the way you are stereotyped.  Clean yourselves up!  Keep your hair freshly cut and groomed and your face neatly shaved.  Wear a nice pair of Jeans with a nice polo shirt with matching casual shoes and socks. It doesn’t matter if they are name brand or not.  Who cares?

Young ladies, COVER YOURSELVES!  How do you expect to get a job with your breast popping out of your shirt and your butt cheeks falling from beneath your skirt?  Is that the image you want to portray?  You may be as sweet as apple pie however, what your potential employer will think will be lack there of.   It’s okay to be sexy but be sexy with charisma and style.  Wear things that compliment your figure while leaving something to the imagination.  And stop wearing clothing that you know you have no business wearing at all. (YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE).  Now a days, a huge variety of clothing manufacturers make clothing that is appropriate for all shapes, sizes, and figures.  Find out what stores sell the things that compliment your simple yet tactful taste and take advantage. Who cares if it came from Wal-mart or Target?  Stop wearing hairstyles that look like someone created during a fit of mad rage or while they were having a seizure.  Stop wearing exotic colors on your nails and gaudy earrings in your ears.  Suppress that GHETTO mentality and take a dignified step toward your future. 

Get A Job!

If you’ve got time to hang on the corner or sit on your porch all day, then you’ve got time to make a run to the corner store to pick up the classifieds.  Working at McDonalds or Burger King doesn’t make you more or less than an executive for Microsoft.  You work to make an honest living, plain and simple. Its time for us to stop killing and stealing from one another just because we don’t have or we are less fortunate.  Get a job, work hard, and do your best at whatever you do.  It may not be the career you want, but it’s what I call “BUILDING THE FOUNDATION” to get where you want to be. 

Learn How To Speak! 

Enunciate and Articulate! How can you expect people to hear you and take you seriously if they don’t know and understand what you are talking about?     If you don’t know what something means, don’t be afraid to ask.  You’re not stupid because you don’t understand.  Nobody understands everything.  Communication is the key to survival.  Embrace it. 

Stop Thinking That People Are Looking Down On You! 

Nobody is better than you.  You are an individual and are only like yourself.  You have to like yourself before others will like you.  Seek and find your self worth and confidence.  When you find it, use it to your advantage.   You won’t be able to please everyone in life and by no means should you try.  When others seek the confidence you strived to build, don’t retaliate!  Learn that sometimes confrontation is not always the answer.  Learn how to use their hatred to fuel your energy.

Use Your Time And Spend You Money Wisely!

When you have some extra time on your hands, pick up a good book or magazine and READ IT!  Reading is the golden key that unlocks the door to opportunity.  You could take up a productive hobby or a social organization that does positive things in your community. Do something positive and make a difference.

As far as money goes, open a savings account.  Deposit something from each one of your paychecks no matter how small the amount and then leave it there. 

Stop buying everything you want and if you have credit cards, stop maxing them out just because you have the available credit.  If you have bills, develop a budget that will allow you to pay your bills, live comfortably to get out of debt.  Now, I never said that the road would be easy and by no means should you go hungry or without necessities.  Figure out what your needs are vs. your wants, try to live within your means, and do what it takes to survive.

We are the future and there is no future without us.  It’s time to stop pointing the finger at others and start pointing them at ourselves.  Create a positive plan and find a positive way to implement it.  Set some goals for your life.  Start small and work your way up.  Be all you can be. Find yourself before you let others define you.  If you care at all about yourself and the future of your children’s tomorrow you would stop, look, listen, and take heed.

Mahogany on the Real – Volume 1

February 14, 2008

© 2008 All Rights Reserved

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