Asking For Access: EDUCATION

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While the economy is in recess, I need not be. I wish to continue building my skill set. Continuing my education is key to that effort. Developing more essential tools on a higher educational sphere will enable me to contribute even greater to the new American economy. By developing additional technical skills necessary to gain lasting employment; and or credentials which create entrepreneurship, I can achieve many things.


Ultimately, with a Master's Degree, I will be tooled with the components to develop commerce and leadership potential. Applying what I learn is the end goal to utilize my new degree. Becoming a better, more productive member of society is my dream and work in progress. Simply put, the more you know the more you can do and should do. My mission is to successfully achieve a platform to work toward completion of this degree.


Thank you for the opportunity to describe why getting this degree is important to me.
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REMOVING THE UNMOTIVATED: Self

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So I decided to leave the unmotivated individuals I attract alone. They know by now. Today I share the lessons learned with you. 


In this market, I strive to connect from a place of "recycling black dollars". Actually, there are very few choices in my urban community to do anything else if you are in my profile. If not but for a little while, I look within to find peace. I am always "on" or so it would seem as I network,  build websites,  access and design platforms for myself and clients.  As an African American male, in this economy, network, and positive transactions are all I'm about. Most of my acquaintances in the daily milieu see the same local economic decline in work, network, and social opportunities as I do. Many of us however, do still look to build clean business relations in an effort to legitimately make more income. This is good when it works. 


But when it does not work is my issue. Far too often many of my cohorts simply talk a good game, but never deliver. Like, anything! They never follow up its been years, even decades in some cases. A person had a good idea or plan. They presented it to me for my consultation. I may have given them counsel or simple instructions; or not. Many of these people I still see. Even this week. Still no plan. No follow up on their part. And, they are not  progressing in those regards in general. Then almost by plan, they hear about me currently and admire my web presence.  After eventually hearing from most of them nowadays, most seem to wish they had followed through with something.  I always let folk know that today is a new day.



I just stare.  In most cases, I dismiss  the fake folk quickly. Every so often, my soft heart allows me to try to work with these cohorts again. So it fails again! Then the self mind created "I told you so's"  kicks in. Now I feel as if my time, value and sincerity is devalued; again. Adrenalin and self esteem is all most of us trying to maintain have left. Every opportunity to build and grow economically is so important. Small business people must have environments beyond our immediate relationships to grow. In my community, we have forgotten the value of  basic business. At the base of most successful deals is a meeting, follow up, and commitment to a goal or accord. The need for integrity and honest assessment of an individual's goals must assist every discourse. Even in minor cases, we should strive toward simple resolution of fact and theory to separate workable ideas from hyperbole. Then I look within to transform the workable ideas into workable relationships. And, begin the cycle again....






by
Marty Smith
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The UNMOTIVATED

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This topic is but a step toward a deeper set of unresolved issues facing my nation of thought. My narrative is my insight into common scenes of living. These quips and antidotes reflect trends in my view of life's episodes. 


Many people approach me for all kinds of assistance with a variety of task and projects for which I am capable. In this economy,  often I trade or barter my services. I was building web sites and placing clients in and on social media, network sites.  The client faked. No call no show after weeks of planning and confirmation the day before. So I went to my next appointment. I have found the best way to serve everyone's interest, is stack appointments. This client was very pleased with what I constructed for him (and company). He is taking a one on one course with me. I always offer consultations. Many people need help managing what is put together. Despite them owning and telling me how tech savvy they are, I have seen otherwise. So my client sees me twice a week, at his request to learn how to grow his web presence. Each week we build upon his web knowledge, site development and concept architecture. 


But my issue is with the one, more familiar client who always seen to fake. I will not mask the fact that I do not think he is on his "A Game" . This guy is the thirty five year old swag rapper, producer, D-Boy, hustler,  father, and all that. Every since I have known him, he has never been motivated about the things he represents. But over the years he and I connect from time to time. Now, don't get me wrong; he has some great qualities. But his execution on the real issues he kicks is not there. In this, he is very much the dreaded "typical black man". I guess that is the root of my displeasure. Trying not to be typical, especially in these times, I will not disdain the obvious, but can we level this reality. All relevant statistics reflect that the African American males are having a disproportional hard time in the current daily economic reality, at this level. 


So why can't all folks just work together and take advantage of each other and the current technological revolution or bubble? I wish I knew. I can no longer care, from my selfish black male corner of the world; however, I do care about community success. Global and local. At the root of all success lies with the individual. Even my friends are worthy of basic, timely technological  progressions and success reward strategies that yield profit. So I wonder why some of the public chooses to talk it up but do not back it up.Still I do not care. I am pissed about this one client. It could be personal. But he agreed that he needs my services and he knows it takes effort. Yet, we consistently fail to connect. I know it is his fear of me. And, his fear of progress. Self defeatism or maybe karma. The fact that our skill to action ratios are so far apart. 


I can only make excuses. It is not fair but my opinion is clear.  My urban community suffers from lack of will or intentional failure. Many of my other clients have spoke on this condition of hubris and living skill priority. I do believe that most hip hop thinking and living people are callous and dis-concerned with the value of verbal commitment, execution and self actualization. 
It is my hopeful fantasy that this trend in my black community stops. People acting as if they need expertise, only to fail to connect; then bring it up again. I am trying to make more contacts to increase my business traffic both on line and in person. I feel let down when I cannot move a client forward. 
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A Republic Turning On Itself: Congressional Deadlock Pt 4 of 6

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After months of back and forth debate Congress finally passed a flawed debt ceiling bill to fund the governance and business of America. President Obama signed into law legislation that creates a Super Congressional Committee which essentially will begin dismantling federal spending by cutting entitlements such as medicare, educational and social service programs. The public showed its disgust with both parties and the President's decision to allow these programs to be sacrificed to appease unyielding Republican bent on not raising taxes on the wealthiest of American. This decision has caused our economy to continue to sputter downward while millions of Americans are without work, hope and trust in the American values they once  held in high esteem. Consumer confidence is down and the public outlook for positive change is diminishing rapidly. Meanwhile, partisan bickering and insolvency has created a clime ripe for distrust, propagandizing, and eventual civil strife. The media has willfully misreported or misinterpreted the realities and conditions that make our political and economic systems thrive, giving  way to public disproportional  ignorance of factual civic and economic realities. The end result is the average person has a very dogmatic and strongly opinionated about non-factual, delusional views of government and their role in it. The trend is for America is to self destruct do to poor political choices and non voting patterns while believing whatever most  corporate, pandering talking heads and corrupt politicians that suggest is truth. This trend will destroy the "American Dream" as we know it!
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