Above Average

It was a very humbling experience to be told "No" or nothing at all when I applied to jobs after I graduated. When I graduated in December 2008, I really felt like I would kick down doors and I would be on my way to a higher place. This horrible economy has forced me to be humble in ways un-imaginable. I haven't bought myself a pair of new shoes/clothes in over a year and a half. And for those of you who know me really well, YOU KNOW I like to be "fly as that one thang" I've had the pleasure of having good people in my life because Lord knows I've borrowed enough money, food,shelter and other things to last a life time. Because of God's grace I've been able to keep my head above water and maintain a quality of life that shouldn't have even been possible without a job. But I've done it and this is my testimony to the world.

It's a very humbling experience to walk amongst your peers that have seen you at your highest peak and to now see you searching for a new direction in life. People who used to be your biggest fans will now say "what the f*** are you doing with your life????" Oh yes, even family members will doubt your veracity. I've told my reasons for my position in life countless times but people still give you the suspect look like "yea n**** whatever, get a job". Luckily I'm a humbly- arrogant person who doesn't listen to people because If I didn't know myself enough to know my heart and Gods plan as well. I would have caved in to the ignorant thoughts of others. I have taken the left,right, up and down route to even move one inch closer to my dreams. I'm still searching for that one particular thing that gives me the most joy but trust me my heart and God are working hand in hand nowadays.This experience has taught me to hold steadfast in your belief in God's promise and your own heart. I knew all along that me not finding a job didn't have shit to do with me. It wasn't my time. If you believe that God doesn't make mistakes then your unemployment is no mistake. I knew that my RESUME SHITS ON 80% of the people in the job market, it just wasn't my time. So instead of being impatient and getting down on myself, I kicked it. Why be depressed about some shit that you cant control. Yea yea fill out some job applications for a job that you can get without your $80,000 degree so you can make minimum wage while your boss with no degree can tell you what to do. Have fun!!!!(BTW Subway can "S my D")

This leads me to another issue I have. I'm so happy that this recession hit because if it didn't I wouldn't have gotten the gumption to start my own business. I thought to myself why am I selling myself short and wasting my time applying for these SUS-ASS jobs that I can get without a college degree. Why spend $80,000 plus on a degree for a job you can get without one???? Thats hella dumb and if you did it big shoutouts to you and I'm not knocking you for it. BUT AS FOR ME, Daunte Martez Henderson, I'm not doing it. Why would I??? I don't have a problem with a regular job but I don't like the idea of being regular when I have above average qualities. I don't think I'm more special than the next person BUT I have a firm belief in the BEAST inside of me that's why I'm not settling for a regular job. Regular job=paying the bills, but if all you do is PAY BILLS and go to work .That shit sucks. And most likely you're unhappy. Why be unhappy and u only get one life???

So after countless times of overdrawing my bank account and being broke. I thought to myself. I run my mouth tooooo much and toooo well not to get paid for it. I give excellent advice, I'm motivational(big shoutouts to Jeezy and Yeezy), and I believe in 100 % of anything I say. Make it Happen Daunte!!! I'm started my own business, and its called M.A.D.E.M.A.N(Making a Difference for Each Man). I will be going around to local high schools ,middle schools and community centers talking to youth about the importance of getting your education and doing more than graduating from high school. I fully believe in going to college. College is more than just the books for me. I've grown into a well-equipped human being for the experiences I've had in school. There is a large number of people out there that don't know/feel that they deserve this opportunity. So yea Daunte has his own business.

Oh yea I'm moving to Chicago this Thursday September 15, 2009 to be an assistant manager-trainee at U.S. Cellular.. I gotta be "regular" until Diddy calls me.

Success is Manufactured

by: Lawrence Watkins

I remember it like it was yesterday. I’m sitting in Perkins Restaurant as we finished our Friday morning bible study class in Louisville, KY. With me was Carl Brazley, my closest and most creative mentor. We were about to start one of our usual mentoring sessions that we had about once per month. This session was special as he shared his wisdom about success that has become fundamental in my life philosophy.

Mr. Brazley asked me two questions right off the bat: “What does success mean to me?” and “How will I go about achieving it?” I shared with him my personal mission statement that I had recently developed at the LeaderShape program in Champaign, IL. It states that “I want to become a tycoon politically, socially, and economically so that I may have a positive impact on my community.” Mr. Brazley then said, “That’s great! Now how are you going to ACHIEVE your mission?” This was the question that I was still trying to figure out. I had seen ultra-successful all around me in person or on TV, but I found the process mystifying at times.

Mr. Brazley continued, “Lawrence, don’t believe the hype that you see on TV when it comes to people who you view as successful. The media loves stories about self mad millionaires and billionaires, but rarely are they self made.” What he said next changed my perspective, “Here is what they [the media and often the individual in question] don’t want you to know: Success is manufactured! Many successful people have other hidden influential people in the background guiding them on the right path. Giving them the connections that they need to accelerate their success. This is what I am going to do with you Lawrence.” Whoa!! Talk about some heavy material!

The Real Secret Sauce of Success

I researched the statement that Mr. Brazley made further and I started to read more about individuals who I view to be successful. I was very surprised at the results/trends that I found. Let’s start with Donald Trump, the King of the Self Made…His father had over $100 million in real estate by the time he was born. Warren Buffett (a major influence in my thinking), the Sage of Omaha… His father was a stockbroker and four-term congressman from the state of Nebraska. What about Bill Gates? His mother sat on the board of directors of a bank and his father was a prominent Seattle attorney. The more people that I researched, the more surprised I became. Then I started to feel apprehensive, “What do I need to become successful?”

There are two things that I don’t want to happen by sharing this story with you:

1. I do not want to relegate or belittle the accomplishments of successful people just because they come from a well connected family. The people mentioned above are all extremely intelligent and have a strong work ethic. It’s also important not to hide facts about people’s environment as if that doesn’t play a critical role in success.

2. I do not want you to feel like the situation is hopeless if you don’t come from a rich and powerful family. Throughout this article, I’m going to teach you how to create your own “synthetic power family.”

Your Synthetic Family of Networks

If you don’t come from a rich and well connected family, do not worry about it. It is not the end all, be all. In fact, I know many people who come from well-to-do families, but their lives are in shambles. Money and entitlement can be hindrances to living a WEALTHY LIFE just as much as they can be assets. I come from a solidly middle class family where my father was a high-ranking police official and my mother was a high school guidance counselor. I was able to use this base to expand even further and broaden my experiences to study at Phillips Academy Andover, Carnegie Mellon University, and now Cornell. The most beautiful part is that I have paid very little for my educational experience and it’s because I created a synthetic family to help me achieve my goals.

A synthetic family is not the family you were born with, but one that you created that helps provide the resources you need to accomplish goals. I’m not just talking about money, but also advice and connections as well. Having a synthetic family is not a substitute for your real family, proper planning, or an intelligent work ethic (see my Pareto and Parkinson article). I view the synthetic family as an accelerator of the success process. The great thing about the synthetic family is that it is easy to start and replicate.

Be Your Own Barack Obama

After President Obama (wow, that sounds great) won the election for United States President in November, he had to move his actions from campaigning mode to governing mode. Immediately, Obama selected Rahm Emanuel as his chief of staff and then dozens of other appointments were announced in the following weeks. President Obama surrounded himself with individuals who have a greater knowledge about different aspects of governance than he does. When President Obama and his advisors meet about the current economic situation, the advisors give their expert opinions about what Obama should do. After that, President Obama escorts them out of the room and then makes the decision he feels will be best for the country.

I ask, “What’s keeping you from being your own Barack Obama?” I urge you to assemble your own personal board of advisors to help you when you have a tough decision to make. There is not a human being on the face of the planet who knows everything. Seek out those individuals who have general wisdom as well as those who have specific expertise. Bring them into your family and achieve your goals more effectively.

The Early Bird Gets the Worm

One of the great myths of networking is that you start reaching out to others when you need something. The people who really succeed in building relationships know that you need to start building way BEFORE you need anything. This is especially true if you are thinking of opening your own business. Many people start the networking process too late in the game. Prospective entrepreneurs think about details like incorporating or the specific name of their company. Although those tasks are important, they have much less influence over your business success compared to relationship building.

Immediately after graduating from college I worked for my brother, Dr. Boyce Watkins. My job was to book him for speaking engagements and manage his growing national media profile. I knew long before I started to work for him that I wanted to start my own company and I took steps to achieve this goal. For example, when Boyce would appear on a national TV show, he was often on the show with other high profile guests. We would make sure to collect that person’s contact information and follow up with him/her right away. When I started Great Black Speakers Bureau, those were my first speakers. Make sure to always begin with an end in mind!

Overcome your Fear of Rejection

Bestselling author and networking guru Keith Ferrazzi calls this the “genius of audacity.” If you never ask for what you want, very rarely do you ever get what you want. The two major emotions that stop people from asking are the fear of rejection from the other person and a feeling that the other person is better than you. Question: What’s going to have a longer impact on your life? FEAR of rejection or FAILING to reach your goals? The answer to this question for me is not reaching the goals I set out to accomplish. In this scenario, rejection MIGHT happen but failure WILL happen.

Follow Up and Stay in Touch

If the yin is overcoming your fears and asking for what you want, then the yang is following up with your contacts. This is something that I have personally struggled with lately as my number of contacts has grown significantly. However, I have noticed a direct correlation between my rate of follow up and the amount of success I achieve over any period of time. It is funny how people spend so much time making new contacts and so little time following up with them. This reminds me of the local ladies man who is only interested in the chase of a woman. Once he gets her, he then loses interest. In business and in life, don’t be this person! It is much more expensive to attain a new client/contact/friend than to maintain the ones you already have. I am not telling you to not meet new people, just do right by them when you do meet them for long lasting business/personal relationships.