“The older I get, the smarter my father seems to get.” – Tim Russert Last month, I had lunch with a man who had been recently released from federal prison. Rather than call him by his real name, let’s refer to him by his prison nickname, “City.” He is a 43 year old African American from the rough streets of Chicago. “City” happened to also be an upper-echelon leader in a prominent prison gang. He had spent the last decade incarcerated for drug trafficking. Our paths had crossed because of a mutual friend, Leonard. Leonard is a dear friend of mine in his 70’s. “City” is smart and possesses a warm and genuine personality. Youthful in his curiosity to learn and an eagerness to please our mutual friend, Leonard. Leonard had also become a mentor to “City.” It didn’t take very long for me to recognize a father-son type of bond between these two men. As time passed during lunch, my interest was piqued. I asked “City” about his background, specifically his youth. His story, though unique to him, is not, unfortunately, unique to our modern society. “City” grew up in a single-parent home and raised by his grandmother. His home was a government-funded apartment located in the “projects” of Chicago. His father had abandoned the family when “City’s” mother became pregnant. The daily trauma of violence, shootings, rapes, drugs, and bloodshed inoculated the boy from developing the normal and traditional underpinnings of a more stable, modern family in America. Yet, “City” knew deep down inside that there had to be a better life…somewhere out there. As a young teenager, he turned to the local gangs for protection. Those same gangs quickly introduced him to the drug culture. He told me that just in his one apartment building where he lived, over $100,000 of drugs were sold daily! The money he soon earned by selling drugs allowed him to purchase his grandmother a house far away from the projects. The gentle woman did her best to rear him as her son, but like so many millions of those living in poverty, the “streets” became his family. He quickly moved up the ranks but eventually, “City” was busted by Federal Agents for conspiracy and drug trafficking. Leonard happened to be visiting another friend in prison when he was introduced to “City.” Over time, they became friends and Leonard would become his mentor. Once “City” was released from prison, the bond he had shared with Leonard was strong. Leonard had assured “City” that as long as he did his time and kept his nose clean, he would help him with education and a job. Every day, “City” reads out loud to Leonard to practice his English, vocabulary, and reading skills. “City” is aspiring to learn an honest trade and Leonard is eagerly helping. I chose to...
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Most of you reading this are familiar with the phrase, “The Seven Deadly Sins” as they are commonly referred to. Such sins include: greed, lust, gluttony, pride, wrath, sloth, and envy. I do not wish to compose an article about those sins. Rather, over the course of the next several weeks, I am going to address another list of deadly sins – The Seven Deadly Sins of Leadership! Such pitfalls are ones that a great leader must avoid. There are many leadership mistakes that are worthy of mention but are survivable…and then there are the ones I consider “deadly.” We learned that General Motors was recently forced to issue a massive recall of hundreds of thousands of vehicles, yet, it’s stock is strong and there is no concern for GM’s or their CEO, Mary Barra’s future. Now, compare that negative news with Donald Sterling, the longtime owner of the Los Angeles Clippers. All of those years of successful ownership status were instantly washed-away by an indiscreet and undisciplined tongue during private conversation. Or, consider the former CEO of Mozilla, Brendan Eich. He was considered a smart and highly successful leader of his company. His mistake was writing a $1,000 check in support of California’s Proposition 8. No one knows, no one cares, right? Wrong. Once the mainstream media caught-wind of his fiscal support for Prop-8, he was forced to resign. The modern age of hyper-political correctness can be extremely toxic for today’s business leaders. Leadership in the modern business-world exists in quite a toxic environment. My goal is to help keep those toxins from poisoning your future, so let’s go! The first of seven deadly sins of leadership is RELEVANCY. General Motors CEO, Mary Barra’s position is safe and secure. She admitted to the faulty ignition switch that can inadvertently turn-off the passenger’s side airbag. It’s been reported that more than a dozen deaths have resulted from that faulty ignition switch. However, Barra was hailed as a competent leader and was even praised for her handling of the crisis. The recall will cost GM hundreds of millions of dollars and several dead costumers. Yet, she keeps her job with praise! Compare that to Brendan Eich’s sending $1,000 check to a cause he privately supported in which no one was killed or injured, yet he was tossed out of his job. So why the dramatic contrast? One word – RELEVANCY. Mozilla is not in the business to form or persuade public opinion with respect to gay rights or gay marriage. And the thousand dollar check revealed a breach in relevancy as perceived by the stockholders. You may wonder, how do you stay relevant? 1. Know your focus. Know your business, your customers, your bottom-line, and especially your job! 2. Stay away from the flash points that stoke the emotional fires on both sides of your...
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In this week’s DIY video, Andrew explains the importance of finishing the basement. Basements are common in many areas of the country. Many use the basement as a storage space and therefore leave the basement unfinished. Don’t make the mistake of cutting corners! Go the extra mile and clean up that basement space! It could be a deciding factor for some buyers. ...
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In this week’s DIY video, Andrew explains his thought process behind designing multiple baths. ...
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