It was my junior year in high school and also my first year ever touching a football. The courage it took to step on the field with guy’s twice my size ultimately brought me to where I am today. I stood at 5’10 145 pounds just finishing my 6 year career in the marching band. As I think back, I really did not know what I was thinking when I told myself that football was my new hobby or what I called my new “extra curricular activity”. I guess the peer pressure and the ridicule from my peers had a lasting effect on me, but everything inside of me wanted to prove to them that I could play football.
Once I finally got on the field (the practice field), what kept me fearless was the realization that the guys lining up across from me were my friends from the neighborhood. Unfortunately, that did not stop them from laying punishment on me in addition to helping me endure some of the worst pain that my body has ever experienced. As the year ended, I grew tired of lending my fresh equipment out during each game, which by the way left me almost bare without any equipment on by the fourth quarter. Furthermore, getting playing time only when we were down by 35 or more, was just as embarrassing as being known as the “human equipment room”.
By my senior year, after intense training and a disciplined eating habit, I returned with a vengeance and quickly became a key starter on defense. My teammates and I finished the season 0-8, but our record did not match the amount of talent we had on our roster. Being from a city that had a “bad reputation of breeding athletes with negative characteristics and low work ethic”, the chances of any college scout or coach coming to recruit me was very low. It was ONLY by chance that I came across a coach from Ferris State University (Division II) who gave me an opportunity to play college ball. One year later after my freshman year at Ferris, I transferred to Michigan State University football and landed a spot on the team roster. As a result of persistence, hard work and natural athleticism, I eventually locked a spot on the second team defense (considering I walked on and was behind an All Big Ten canidate). As of today, I am continuing my football career at the professional level playing Arena Football while still aspiring to play in the NFL. The many playing opportunities that were given to me are of high value. I would have never thought that I would be playing side by side with the same All Americans I envied while I was in high school nor did I think I would playing against great players in the Arena Football League.
As I look at top ranked University of South Florida’s roster and see how a majority of their players did not receive a single Division I scholarship, I speculate all the possible stories they may own. In addition, the USF football team has also helped produce three future 2008 first round picks who will finally receive all the benefits of their hard work and drive to better themselves as an athlete. There are many over rated athletes, but there are even more over looked athletes who desire for an open door of opportunity. We at DAASH ( a online recruiting business and academic assistance for athletes) know what an athlete needs because we are the athlete and athletes are us. Now standing at 6’2 260 pounds I am not just the President of DAASH Athletic Enterprises, Inc., I have been where many athletes want to go and have overcome many difficulties while getting there, now I am creating a way for more athletes to receive the exposure they deserve.
Life is filled with barriers that normally can stop most people in there tracks. I do a lot of consulting in my businesses.I operate a Mortgage Company, Tax and Accounting Practice and Small Home Improvement Company.So I get my fair share of people to see where most people have invisible bars installed in there minds.In my case my invisible bars were numerous and very real to me.Mine all came from self imposed limitations I put on myself, I was not tall enough, I did not have the best grammar, I was black, would anyone would take someone serious that wore hats all the time. Well I am living proof that most of your Invisible bars are just that invisible to you and the world. Take time after reading this to analyze what invisible bars you have imagined.The most frequently ones I hear are
·Man I could never run my own business, I could never do what you do
·I get nervous talking to a lot of people, I have stage fright
·I could never take a chance and do what you did
·The best one for last, but man you are different it comes easy for you
For all that may not know I have had all the same doubts, fears, and concerns, but I persevered through all of my fears. Why, you might ask, I was more of afraid of not doing anything.I know that I am not the only one that have worked in environments where you felt your superiors were not superior to you in any way, or that in blunt words were idiots. Well one too many inferior managers/ supervisors told me what to do and I finally had it.I made up in my mind that if they could do it I could do it 10 times better. This was the start of my insatiable appetite to be in change that I was, my gut told me that I could be the one in charge, could be the one making the decision, be the one to lead and not be left behind.
This is very important for all you that are afraid of taking unknown risk. Take the risk, but be prepared do your homework. Poor preparation leads to poor performance in most cases, be prepared for success.Success is a science, not something that happens to a select few by accident. Look for success and it can happen to you.This is for all those on the fence about change, it can happen to you in a matter of minutes, or over time, the key is to first believe and then change will happen.
In closing I would like to add that as I have stated earlier in my letter I have started a few businesses in my time and I know when I see a good one. I am not one to follow many, but the people and the clear vision YTB has in place is exciting.It is hard for me to keep my enthusiasm under raps in most cases. I know, not think, I know that with a couple years of hard work, I can have the freedom I have longed for, you can too, if you just open yourself to the opportunity that is in front of you.
We hear daily of the mass exodus of minorities being railroaded into prisons and other types of reformatory situations. Many of us know all too well that being Black in America is often synonymous with being “guilty” in America. Although blacks account for only 12 percent of the U.S. population, 44 percent of all prisoners in the United States are black. Census data for 2000,which included a count of the number and race of all individuals incarcerated in the United States, reveals the dramatic racial disproportion of the incarcerated population in each state: the proportion of blacks in prison populations exceeds the proportion among state residents in every single state. In twenty states, the percent of blacks incarcerated is at least five times greater than their share of resident population. (From Incarcerated America)
I grew up in a tough neighborhood where the use of illicit drugs was rampant and the one that most wanted to be like as they matured was either the neighborhood drug dealer or the cool but otherwise worthless elders that littered the streets. These characters hung out and about aimlessly, they puffed on cigarettes and they came up with cool names for all of the kids in the neighborhood. In short, these ne'er-do-wells were local area celebrities in there own right, but for all the wrong reasons. Still for kids it often seems cool to have a slick sounding nickname and to be associated with someone who at least appears to be well respected in the neighborhood.
Well, I am here to say that it does not matter in most cases to the masses that one is striving to create a better environment for him or herself. The only thing that most young people (and old) in many urban communities see or hear is the squalor, the violence, the drugs and anger that seem to permeate our communities. This is very unfortunate due to the fact that it is actually a very small percentage of individuals that actually cause most of the problems and negative conditions.In such cases, one bad apple may not spoil the whole bunch, but it does make everything worse than it has to be for everyone in its sphere of influence. In too many urban communities the worst of all social ills corrupt and spread like malignant cancers.
The positive, hard-working, drug-free and law abiding individuals of our society have become the true minority. This is not due to our numbers being small. It is rather due to our voices being left unheard. We have become marginalized, isolated and left without the ability to assume decision-making roles in our communities and even in our own lives. We are judged and scrutinized by the company we unwittingly keep by virtue of being a member of troubled communities.Therefore, without unity in our communities the good people become the minority.
Why are the voices of good and virtuous people in the African American community heard at such a lower volume than the negative rappers, worthless rapists, soulless murderers and incorrigible thugs? Is there a method behind the madness that has manipulated and created the current situation? Yes. There has been an evil system in place since Plymouth Rock bashed the stolen Africans in the their collective heads in order to exploit, subjugate and enslave them as a people. This enslavement was not simply physical. It set like cement within the minds and the emotions of people of African decent. The slaves may have been freed but their children still are not totally free…not really.
Shackles in one’s mind are far more challenging to loose. Cages clamped around a woman’s heart are inconceivably more pernicious and difficult to escape. Chains wrapped around a man’s soul are far more difficult to break. Invisible bars nailed atop a Black baby’s crib are almost impossible for him to rise up from. You see, we were tricked by an evil force that taught us that we were less than. Less than what? We were taught that we were less than everyone and everything. We were lied to and we believed it! There you have it. In the Bible it tells us, “As a man thinketh, so shall he be.” Our oppressors knew this from the impetus of their campaign to use black labor to build their so-called New World.
In The Mis-Education of the Negro by Carter Godwin Woodson, it states, “If you can control a man's thinking, you don't have to worry about his actions. If you can determine what a man thinks, you do not have to worry about what he will do. If you can make a man believe that he is inferior, you don't have to compel him to seek an inferior status, he will do so without being told and if you can make a man believe that he is justly an outcast, you don't have to order him to the back door, he will go to the back door on his own and if there is no back door, the very nature of the man will demand that you build one."
We now have the power and the capacity to rise to a new level of thought provoking action. Shall we stop and think about our thinking? It does not serve us to think like slaves about our communities, our physical and mental attributes, our abilities, our economic potential, our men, our women, our children and our God-given genius Uplifting ourselves and our communities starts with our thoughts, our empowered decisions and the actions we choose to take.
The shackles of slavery were removed from our feet in this country 300 years ago, but because they were not loosed from our minds we continued to think and act as slaves. Thus, the shackles have been replaced. This is evidenced by the high percentage of Black in prisons, the outrageous number of Black males leaving Black females to raise their children alone, the obscene rate of poverty and crime in our communities and the ridiculous numbers of Black youth who refuse to be educated. Make no mistake; though there are Blacks who have achieved some modicum of success, until we as a people are free, we are all enslaved.
In almost any endeavor we engage ourselves in we can choose to dominate or at least hold or own. Failure is not an option. Failure is a lie that we do not have to accept. Consider Tiger Woods and the way he has transformed the way the game of golf is played. Behold Ms. Oprah Winfrey. She was born into poverty in the south. Now she is one of the richest and most influential human beings in the world! Martin Luther King Jr. literally changed the whole world! Again, shall we stop and think about our thinking?
We have far too many examples of our greatness for us to fail to see what we can accomplish if we set our minds to it and seize the many opportunities for greatness, success and abundance that exist for us in the world today. Between 1983 and 2001, the number of black households with net worth of $1 million or more increased 79 percent, from 61,000 households to 109,000. These Black millionaires built their fortunes in large measure by owning their own businesses such as real estate, funeral homes, medical practices, construction, retail and service sector businesses. It is time for the African American community to begin to nurture more millionaires or at least financially stable, free people and far less prisoners. It’s time to think ourselves out of our constriction.
Friday, December 7, 2007
When you arise (Is it a blessing or a curse)
When you arise in the morning what's on your mind, are you excited about the day at hand or are you more concerned about the fact that you were woke up by the sounds of your annoying alarm clock.Is this really what life is all about, you wake up only to dread the next 8-10 hours of your day. The only thing you really are excited about throughout the day are breaks, lunch and quitting time.
Really is that what your life has evolved to, from elementary, high school, college, and now your profession everyday is chore, it's a job you are not looking forward to at all. Well when I rise in the morning I can't wait for the day to come, I am upset when night comes, due to the fact that I am limited to what can be done, but excited about rising in the morning, excited about the new tremendous possibilities that are in store for me in the coming hours.
Why just exist, why let life dictate to you your terms of existence, fight back and you become the dictator, and you say that my life will be exciting and full of vigor, why because you say so. You can look at life as if the glass is half full like I do or you can join the 90% of the population and look at the glass as half empty, its your choice either way and guess what were all looking at the same glass.
I will be honest when I am at my worst, all the areas are flawed, the mirror will not lie, but who says that the mirror is telling the truth.
I know at times when I look in the mirror, I am almost afraid of what I see, so I take different angles to insure a different vision, but the mirror does not lie.
Until recently I did not like pictures due to the fact it was a permanent mirror that did not lie, it showed all the things I thought I could hide the blemishes, the discoloration of my skin, the lack of hair, the unusually large features I have, the mirror does not lie, who said.
In closing look in your mirror love what you see and it will love you back, the mirror does not lie, but it tells you only what you think you need to see.
My mirror now is my friend, pictures are my accomplishments, its all in what you think you see, the mirror does not lie, who said.
I’m probably not the only one that asks that question for time to time. The reason I used to ask that question was that I was sick and unhappy all the time. The first question I would always ask, maybe it was more of a request, Lord why do you make me so irritable all the time, please let me stop scratching, Lord why me, I have enough problems, I am short with little to no self confidence, why would you make my hair fall out, Lord why me, have I not had enough problems, why would you make me lose vision in my right, Lord why me. Lord why me, I have had problem after problem, now you have given a more potent dose to my daughter, she has a more severe form of atopic dermatitis and it has cause her to be put on steroids at an early age and her growth was stunted due to the extended use of steroids, why me. Now as an adult with a Beautiful Wife, a beautiful family and a great business as a motivational speaker and small business coach, I ask the Lord why not me.
For more information on how to overcome adversity and obstacles Please read
The big game is over, Ohio State has won again, I am a true blue Michigan fan, and I know all the stats of Michael Hart, Henne, and the rest of the bunch at U of M. I may even bleed Maize and Blue, but in the grand scheme of thing does it really matter.This not a knock on anyone that went to the game, watch it on TV, and even made a rather hefty wager on the event. The reason why I use this as a topic is that we usually get more excited about something that is happening in someone’s life other than ours. Why is that, if Michigan won would that have changed your life, probably not, since Ohio State won again what has happened, probably nothing, but now you have to find something to get excited about now, what is it going to be.
Well I have a clue, what about your life, why not plan your life the way you do, for your favorite TV show, I mean I can’t count how many times I have had to reschedule appointments due to get this American Idol,( again someone else living there dreams and shooting for the stars not the Millions of devoted fans watching, Simon earns 50 million a year telling people how bad they are and we tune in week after week) Dancing with the Stars, or maybe its 24 or Cold Case. Have you ever researched what the actors make on the made for TV dramas, some make what we make in a year, per episode.I like watching a good game like the rest of you, I have my Michigan Jacket, of course hat, jogging suit, socks and all the other Michigan gearI can pay for, but there is one big difference between me an you. I understand the best way I can give back to Michigan is to become a great success and give back to the University.In the grand scheme of things which one do you feel the University of your choice would appreciate more, your undying devotion to watching the game or your extreme generosity in donating a new wing to the University of your Choice.As for American idol why not just make enough money and go watch it live, stop being on the sidelines, lets get in the game we all call life.
I can only speak for myself; I know that I am not currently living the life I think I deserve, so I am willing to work day and night to change it.I have stopped blaming everyone else for my misfortunes and decided to devote the next 12 months to living the life I deserve.Well what are you going to do over the next 12, if you are like most it will just be a snapshot of your current circumstances.It does not have to be that way, you are the only one that can change that, stop the dreaded P (Procrastination) word and do something about it today, not tomorrow.Life is short so you really only have a short window of opportunity to really enjoy it.We are young and dumb first, then we become older and supposedly wiser, then we truly age and start reflecting on all the mistakes we made and the dreaded What if syndrome.So whatever your current situation except it, embrace it, and make a commitment that today is the first day of my new life, the old which I lived for so many years are a thing of the past, today I will reinvent myself, I will start living the life I always dreamed of.Food for thought, someone today is buying the home of there dreams why aren’t you, someone today is taking the vacation of the lives, why not you, and today someone will become a millionaire, why not you.
So for all that believe in fairy tales and that dreams do come true, you need to attend today’s YTB meetingat 3 Pm in Farmington Hills,
YTB in less than 6 years has produce many millionaires, get this they have 12 in there short existence that have done it in 12 months or less, dream a little what would you do with 1 million in the next 12 months. Someone’s going to make $1,000,000.00 in YTB in the next 12 month why not you.
I love YTB. Well, let me first say that it is not due to the large checks that everyone receives from the YTB business. I am not a Dream Team recipient nor am I a Level 1 Director--yet. No other networking program that I have ever tried before has given me what YTB has given me. I have tried several network marketing businesses from Link Communications, (phones and cellular), Mellaluca, Amway, Pre-Paid Legal, and Primerica. They are all great companies. If marketed correctly they will give you exactly what you put into it. Yes, they are good companies but I never had any love for them. I love YTB!
In the past, I always just showed up. I did nothing between the meetings. If I had any conversations about the business, it was always filled with negativity. I would constantly say things like, “This stuff doesn’t work.”“I’m not good at this.” “Even though Donald Trump and Robert Kiyosaki say that network marketing is the best way to build wealth today…I don’t think they meant this business!” There was a load of negative tapes playing in my head and I just couldn’t hear past them.
I knew individuals personally that had made money with YTB. Yet, for some reason I never gave the business my all. Well, something about YTB suddenly clicked with me one day. YTB somehow connected with that inner voice that had been deep within me for 38 years. The volume on the negative thoughts began to diminish steadily. The positive influence of YTB began to change my thinking on a lot of things. The once tiny repressed voice began to grow in volume and resonance. It all rang true. And when it clicks, it just clicks!
I joined YTB in March of 2007, site unseen. I had no product knowledge, but I joined on the strength of two great men that were very successful in their fields. In life if you are going to follow someone at least follow someone who has what you want. These gentleman were success personified. I wanted what they had. I knew even if I didn’t succeed at the business, I would have access to the minds of these two gentlemen. That was well worth it for me. Still, there was so much more in store for me with YTB.
The process has been a journey to say the least. I have diligently called and emailed. I have worked at inspiring people. I have sincerely put effort and creativity into demonstrating to people that there is more to living than just existing. I’ve urged people to ask themselves why they would settle for just getting by when they can truly live the lives that they have always dreamed of living. I have even showed people a plan in which I reveal to them how they can achieve the success of a lifetime within a mere 1-3 years of hard work.
Objections? I’ve encountered it all. Still, objections, resistance or rejection have never deterred me. I have heard and I have likely said it all myself before. I have a little phrase and series of questions that I use when individuals give me excuses. I say, “Well, what’s the alternative? Would you rather work 30 years at one job? And that’s if you don’t get laid-off or downsized. We all realize that jobs today no longer have a 30-year lifespan. Right? So you will not even be able to obtain the gold watches and pensions that your grandparents and parents used to get. Do you feel that your future is secure? Will you just work all of your life just to work all your life until you die? Is that what you are telling me you want?” No one has ever honestly been able to say that they really want to embrace any part of those losing scenarios.
The problem for most people is that they are afraid. They fear failure. Truth be told, failure is not really failure if we learn from it. If we keep following a consistently failing path, however, that’s a very serious problem. Most of us can clearly see that business as usual today will lead the majority of Americans to a life of lack, struggle and failure. Yet, so many people continue to run like little rats on wheels. They know they’re going in circles but they’re afraid to jump off the wheel. The definition of insanity is; doing the same things over and over again and expecting different results. I know the fear that holds people back. They must push past it though. As one of the top motivational books out there advises; Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway.
Let’s get back to why I love YTB. It’s not for the money. There was a YTB presentation or something that mentioned Coach. He was destined to do great things as his mother had always told him he would. He struggled and had to deal with death as well in his life. Through all of his many struggles he kept that burning desire for greatness within him. He held fast to what his mother told him on her dying bed. He could almost hear his mother whispering to him saying, “You are going to do great things in your life Son…Great things.”Thus far in Coach’s life, everything his mother spoke over his life has come to fruition. He has done and continues to do great things.
My father consistently spoke those same words over my life when I was a boy. He said, “Darrick I do not know what or how, but God will pour a great blessing on you and you will not even know where it came from!” Well, I now know exactly what vehicle God is using to pour great blessings on my life. I found it with YTB. My thought patterns have changed dramatically. Understand that it is not the monetary success that I am referring to here, though monetary success is a major component of YTB. I have seen many people who have gotten into YTB and within a few short months they have completely replaced their salaries. Others have doubled and even tripled their salaries. That is exceptional, but that is not why YTB has been such a blessing in my life.
My thoughts have changed due to YTB and with the change in my thoughts my life has also changed. It is just as Dr. Wayne Dyer says in his book, “Change Your Thoughts - Change Your Life”. That’s really how it works. The voice of success and the spirit of abundance that have taken over in my life are simply undeniable and irresistible. It drives me forward. It’s that voice that comes out when it can no longer be kept down. It drowns out all negativity. It moves me to take positive actions everyday. It won’t allow me to be idle. What is that spirit? It is the spirit of success and hard work. It is a blessing from God. Failure is not an option. YTB awakened the sleeping giant of ultimate success within me and I am doing things that I never even dreamed of doing before. I’m unstoppable!
Individuals do not believe me when I tell them that I have never consistently written before. Well, prior to joining YTB, I had not written consistently. Greatness propels me forward and I just have to go with this blessing that my father told me God had in store for me. I remember it all started with an email that I sent out about the YTB opportunity. I wrote a message to tell others about what this business was doing for me and how in just a short time it had change my family’s life and my life. And “BAM!” A light flashed on. Someone called in response to my message. A few people answered my e-mails and wanted to learn how gain their financial freedom with YTB. I was and still am amazed.
Writing about YTB made me really see and appreciate the power of the pen coupled with YTB. I found a new gift thanks to YTB after writing my first few messages. So I decided to send another message and another. It was like discovering a new calling in life. I’ve found that I sincerely like to write. I have a lot to say. People need to hear my story because it inspires them to connect with their own story. What’s even more of a blessing is that people tell me all the time how much they enjoy and appreciate my message. That means more to me than words can say.
As the light within me grew brighter and brighter I asked myself a significant question. Why not write a book? I don’t want to just talk about writing a book as so many people do. I want to write it. Being a part of YTB has stirred up something very powerful within me. I’ve tasted success. I know what it means to set a goal and work for it. I know how very satisfying it feels to reach my goals. I have enjoyed the sweet taste of success thanks to YTB. It’s touching every area of my life and now I want more!
I want to share this feeling and the satisfaction of building wealth with others. I want to create something that will share the secrets of true success, help others to change the way they think, thus changing their lives in a profound and powerful way. So with that said, my first book will be done by January 1, 2008 thanks to God pouring blessings into my life through YTB. I also know that my business will blossom from this point on.
The name of my book is “Life Behind Invisible Bars”. Thanks to the inspiring story from Coach and the book, Shoot for the Stars, I asked myself why not write this book? There was nothing to lead me to believe that I shouldn’t. In fact, everything seems to indicate that I should. All the profits from the book will go to The Michigan Lupus Foundation of which I act as treasurer.I know the importance of making a decision and dealing with it. The foundation is officially known as the LNFMSF Foundation. It has been in existence for 5 years and it is growing. The year 2008 will be a breakout year for us at the LNFMSF (http://www.LatreeseFagan.org/) because I am speaking that over the foundation. There is power in that. I am also willing to put in the work and effort to make it a reality. My goal is to make Michigan’s Lupus Foundation a household name, raise funds for the foundation and to help countless lupus survivors in the process.
In closing I would like to make a special request. If YTB would be willing to sponsor a portion of the book, I will include an entire chapter devoted to my 7 months in this extraordinary business. If YTB helps me to help make this worthy project into a shining success, I will also include an entire page with the YTB information on it recognizing the company as a sponsor. This will make YTB known to a greater target market and it will demonstrate to people what I already know about the company. That is that YTB is more than just a business, it’s people helping people. That’s why I love YTB.
Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently.
Well maybe you can’t run a sub 4 minute mile so what, but can you become a director Level 1 or even a director level 5 yes, why because it has been done. The difficult part has been done for you. In 1954 it was a supposed fact that no one would ever be able to run under a 4 minute mile, now that seems like a long time, but 50 years in the entire scheme of thing is very short. Well since Roger did it in 1954 over 20,000 additional individuals have done it since, including high school students, what changed gravity, no it’s just that once someone sees that is it possible it gives everyone the confidence that it can be done. Well I know that within a short period of time I will become a director level 1 then level 2, level 3 then level 5 like Judy and Ron Head, or Bill and Anne Hoffman, they did it so it is possible, did it take hard work, did it take some sacrifices yes, but if you want it bad enough you will be willing to make the sacrifices necessary to make your dreams a reality. Think to yourself, what would you do if you had $100K a month coming in month after month, what would your life be like, well I have already decided the home I will buy the car I want, the Financial planner to help me manage the money. In life sometimes you have to speak success into existence, it is not that difficult, start by telling the ones closest to you, once that happens nature takes over, it’s in the universe that he or she has a commitment to do something different, if you just persist long enough you will succeed. Most give up quit to fast, what if Russell Simmons of Def Jam gave up when things were not easy, at one time he was 5-7 million dollars in debt without a plan to get out, but he did not give up, he did not quit, he stood strong when others laughed. The same for Phat Pharm the powers to be in the clothing industry blew him off when he said he wanted to produce a line of clothes specifically for the Hip Hop world, it had never been done before, well the powers to be, the suits I call them with the Harvard MBA’s all said it will never work, well I did some research before writing this article and he and his empire did almost 800 Million in 2006. So much for the nay sayers, don’t worry if 0 people believe you will be a director, the only one that counts is you. Become thick skinned oblivious to criticism, you will be on your way. There is a very famous saying by Henry Ford If you think you can do a thing or think you can't do a thing, you're right. In closing I would like to ask all that think they can change their current situation, you have decided that enough is enough you need to give me a call, I am on my way to becoming a director at YTB and I want to take you along for the ride. Your next opportunity to become a Director
Sunday November 11th 313-790-3680 2PM /31800 Northwestern Hwy Ste 205 Farmington Hills Mi 48334
There is no fuss and fanfare about Bannister. When he was asked to explain that first four-minute mile—and the art of record breaking—he answered with original directness: 'It's the ability to take more out of yourself than you've got.'"
Is there a specific plan behind my writing? Is there a greater purpose in place? I am writing to find that inner voice inside of myself. My intention is to connect with that creative force within that creates best selling books and programs that will help people change their lives. I also want to help people help other people. Together we can change the entire world one person at a time. Writing is one of the tools that I have chosen to use toward that end. The goal is for me to become a better writer everyday. I want to become the best writer that I can possibly be in order to effectively communicate ideas, concepts and explain systems and success strategies. It takes practice, however, to become more than one might be. I'm up to it though. I have got to work at it day in and day out. It is a life-changing process to push myself in this way, but I know that to be able to change the lives of others, I must first change my own. And so on I push.
To build and accomplish great things in life, one must have a very motivating and powerful WHY--a reason that is so compelling that one can leap tall buildings in a single bound. What is my WHY? You would be correct to assume that to push myself in this way I would have to be divinely inspired. I am. The idea to write a book has come to me over the past couple of years. Over time the idea has turned into a dream and the dream has developed into a goal. Yes! I have finally disciplined myself and have taken the dynamic action required in order to make my goal into a reality. I diligently put my nose to the grindstone day in and day out to bring this goal to fruition. The fruits of my efforts are already evident and my vision of becoming a published author is well on its way.
I write with a very specific purpose in mind as write this message to you. You need to really hear me. There is much more at stake here than just my desire to become a published author. I ask now that you hang in here with me on this. It's very important. I ask that you push yourself beyond most people's typical attention span. Please focus on what I am communicating to you. We are all in need of assistance from time to time. I usually do not ask for help. Wait. Let me change that. While I seldom ask for any personal favors, I will ask and ask often for help for the Lupus Foundation of which I am the treasurer.
The Lupus Foundation serves a mighty purpose in this world. It exists solely for the many people who need help and perhaps cannot ask for themselves. I am truly honored to be able to ask for them. Help! The CDC reports that lupus affects an estimated 239,000 (conservatively) people in the United States. About nine out of 10 people who have lupus are women. Approximately one third of deaths occur among men and women younger than 45. During 1979-1998, the annual number of deaths from lupus rose from 879 to 1,406 and the crude death rate increased from 39 to 52 per million population, with a total of 22,861 deaths reported during this 20-year period. Help! Please recognize here and now that my life's mission is not solely focused on creating books or a brand for myself. There is a real purpose behind my plan. My goal is also to make Michigan's Lupus Foundation into a household name and help countless lupus survivors in the process.
Lupus must be combated. This can and will happen with your assistance. I am looking for individual and corporate sponsors to help me publish my book, Life Behind Invisible Bars. The total cost for development, production, marketing and advertising will be around 10K. This is a very modest figure considering what it takes within the scope of writing and publishing a book. What's more is that this is a book that will no doubt touch the hearts, minds and lives of people all over this country. All profits from the book will go directly to the Latreese Nicole Fagan Memorial Scholarship Foundation .This foundation came to be because of a loving, intelligent, beautiful, hard-working and ambitious young woman named Latreese Nicole Fagan. She was a lovely young woman and a beautiful spirit who has inspired the founders to build the Lupus Foundation as a memorial to her short but very meaningful life.
Life Behind Invisible Bars, will focus on helping people to achieve success despite the barriers or bars that surround and try to hold them back. This book will incorporate and bring together a body of important information, education, resources and unique features. It will serve as a blueprint for success as it chronicles my own path through challenges, over obstacles, around problems, under barriers and on to success. This book will show every reader that there is absolutely nothing that can stop a person if he or she will just hold on and keep on keeping on—day in and day out. As Zig Ziglar puts it, "Failure is an event—not a person."
There will also be special bonus chapters included in the book that will feature the words of some extremely successful friends of mine who have graciously agreed to donate their expertise and knowledge of success systems and wealth attainment for this worthy cause. Trust me, these stellar individuals are at the top of their games. An hour consultation with any one of them would run into the thousands of dollars because, the information, insight and advice that they have to share is the STUFF of dreams and true transformation. Every reader will be able to take something solid and life altering from this book. It will change lives!
In addition to the bonus chapters provided by my exemplary friends, there will be the poignant story of how The Latreese Nicole Fagan Scholarship Fund was created. Make no mistake, this is an important story that desperately needs to be told because, as quiet as it is kept, the death rate among African American women ages 45-64 years has increased seventy five percent (75%), and more than one-third of all deaths from SLE occurred among persons less than forty-five (45) years of age. Lupus is three times more common in black women than in white women. It is also more common in women of Hispanic/Latina, Asian, and American Indian descent. Black and Hispanic/Latina women tend to develop symptoms at an earlier age than other women. African Americans have more severe organ problems, especially with their kidneys. This book will not allow what is happening with lupus to be kept quiet any longer. Lupus will be exposed with this book.
This powerful book will also help current lupus survivors and their families to better understand the why, how and the 'what' of dealing with lupus. They will be able to read about what dealing with the disease has meant for other lupus patients and their loved ones. It will offer support, provide them with a way to reach out to one another and let them know that they are not alone. Life Behind Invisible Bars, will let lupus survivors and their families know that people really do care.
The Lupus Foundation has been a labor of love not only for myself but also due to the close nit relationship I was blessed to share with Latreese. She was my cousin, but Latreese was more like the sister that I never had. She was and is an angel in my life. Everyone who was fortunate enough to know Latreese will attest to the same. My dear mother and Latreese were far more than mere relatives. They were the best of friends. During the course of any given day, my mother would often pause and say, "I need to go and see how my Tricie is doing." Soon after she'd uttered the words my mother would be off to see Latreese. They shared a very special bond.
The ironic thing about my mother's and Latreese's relationship is that they passed away exactly one year apart from one another. Get this; they both passed away in the month of May. My mother was buried in May of 2000. Latreese passed away the following year in the month of May and on the very same day of the month. They are both my angels and this project is a labor of my undying love for them both. It is also a labor of my love for all of the beautiful hearts and souls out there that have been and will be affected by lupus. I want us to help those people. I know that my mother and Latreese would want us to help them. Will you help me help them?
Help! I need your help to offset the cost of producing this book. Your donation of any size will be greatly appreciated. I am asking you to please get out of your shell and rise from your comfort zone. You can make a difference. We can make a difference in the lives of so many precious people. I send letters and emails of encouragement to let you know the many strategies and resources available for you in this world if you decide you want it bad enough. I freely give all of my knowledge and expertise to you. I want you to succeed. I've proven that. Today there are people counting on you to decide that you are going to make a difference and give of yourself to help someone else. Whether you can donate $25.00 or $2500.00, it will all be used toward further development of the vital work of The Lupus Foundation.
Most of us have heard of Jerry's Kids or The American Cancer Foundation, but most have never heard of the LatreeseFagan.org Lupus Foundation. This is not because the other foundations are doing anything better or more meaningful than theLupus Foundation is doing. It is due to lack of education, lack of exposure and to a huge degree, lack of funding. FUNDING is always the key to getting resources in place to help those facing a debilitating and deadly disease like lupus. Again, the death rate among African American women ages 45-64 years has increased seventy five percent (75%), and more than one-third of all deaths from SLE occurred among persons less than forty-five (45) years of age.
We need funding to fight lupus. It's that plain. It's that simple. When I look within my heart I see a vision of Latreese and what this foundation is doing to honor her memory by helping other lupus survivors. I know that she would be so pleased that we are helping people with lupus through scholarships, education and information. She was a very hard-working student and studied throughout her life to excel academically. There are many young women appreciate Latreese who would like the same opportunity to succeed. So please find it is your heart to assist us with this very worthy project to fund The Lupus Foundation here in Michigan. There are NO paid employees and there is NO compensation for meetings—well, sometimes we do get some great chicken wings during our monthly meetings. Seriously, it is a labor of love for everyone involved.
This project will happen. This is your opportunity to be a part of something that will affect the lives of thousands of patients suffering from this excruciatingly debilitating disease. Are the people affected and who will be affected with lupus worth the effort and concern? Do you feel that more people should know about lupus? Can you see how much good a project like this will do? Have you ever wanted to really be an important part of something bigger than yourself? Will you help me help?
The deadline for this book is January 1,2008. Time is short. We know that in life it is better to give than to receive. Without a shadow of a doubt, I know that I will be blessed for serving this cause. What I am working to accomplish is going to touch people's hearts and save people's lives. This is an opportunity for you to touch people's hearts and save people's lives. You too will be a blessing and therefore blessed. What we work to manifest through God, here and now with this book, will continue to grow long after you and I have passed away. That's just how POWERFUL this is.
Please fight any temptation to just toss this request aside as so many do when it comes to donations. I know that it's a challenge. I have a family. I have bills. Believe me, I understand. I hear you saying, "Man money is tight! I can't afford to help others." Yes, you can. Can I afford to take my focus off of YTB and real estate and finances? No—but YES I CAN! Actually, what we can't afford is to block our blessings. I know how giving and receiving work in this world. We must plant seeds. I can almost guarantee that you will receive back at least twice the amount that you donate to this cause. Yes, you are going to receive back everything you give and then you are going to get double for your trouble. That's just how it works when you give.
I am willing to do one better. I am willing to work for it. If you need your grass cut, house cleaned, repair your credit for free, (you heard me!) I will do it. I am committed to this cause. I will do whatever it takes to help life-changing project to become a reality. I am asking that you think about what you can really afford to give. If all you can donate to this cause is $25.00, that's fine. I just request that you give what you can and please let other caring folks know about what we are doing. Ask five of your closest friends to give with you. Whatever you do, please just find time in your busy schedule to give to a good cause.
I am giving of my time and money to make this a reality. Move out of your comfort zone please. Find out how much your friends or family members have to donate to this cause. I know for a fact that many of us have seen the 9 th installment of "The Pirates of the Caribbean" or even the newly released, "Why Did I Get Married?" Many of us went out after watching the picture; we ate, laughed and talked about how talented Tyler Perry is. Maybe you went to work the next day and openly discussed aspects of the movie. Many cast their votes as to whether they like it or not. Listen. It doesn't matter whether you liked the movie or not or if you have any idea why you got married. The movie created a conversation. (Just getting you to talk about the film is the result of hidden sales techniques by the way. When I come back to you for YTB.com next week we'll discuss some of that. This will all be in addition to getting a very worthwhile book published. Actually, this will help you to start to find your own voice.)
You, yes you can make a difference today if you decide to. Just take action! Call me. E-mail me. Visit our site for a donation form at: http://www.latreesefagan.org/donate.htmlor go to http://www.paypal.com/ and send your donation through PayPal to info@latreesefagan.com please.Everything else that you may have been chatting about lately regarding Freedom, the movies, politics, the weather, etc., are all well and good, but you could not cut your teeth on a better subject to network and discuss than what we are doing with the The Lupus Foundation.
Tell your friends, family and co-workers about what is being done here in Michigan with theLatreeseFagan.org Foundation . Tell them about our fast approaching deadline for a cause that will help countless people forced to deal with an awful disease that is affecting so many people. Help!
Help me to do something positive that will ultimately be a blessing for us all. Sure, Brittany, her antics and her visitation rights may out-rate this cause in the daily news and gossip columns, but when real history is examined and reviewed, it is causes like this that will make a lasting impression on the world. Let's do something that really matters.
I appreciate you for taking the time to read this letter. I thank you in advance for any donations that will help us make this happen.
This will be a day by day depiction of what can and will be accomplished with a mind set on change. It is truly amazing what can be done with a made up mind. Think back to your earliest memories of childhood, when you really put your mind to something, it did not matter what anyone else said or did, you found a way to get it done. This is a book about what you can do when you have said enoughs, enough I want more that I have, sick of living in the just enough world, I can have more and do more. My mindset is that I am craming for the final exam, and my grade depends on it. Well in this case the quality of my life and my families life depends on it. I have a 12 month plan to create total financial independence for my self and my family. I wont to live life on my terms, I want to dictate when or why I do something, not having to be always wishing or wanting, but never could have. There is an old say, that a very wise elderly gentleman said to me, In life you can really have or obtain anything in life that you truly set your mind to.
THis is the beginning of a 65 day Chronicle to get complete control of my life. I figured if I can from start to finish create my life story then I can do whatever else it is I want to accomplish as well.
