Rick Ross said “These dudes won’t hold me back!” Of course that’s the nice version. Even though many don’t like rap or act like they don’t but secretly listen to it or if you are like me, you listen when the kids aren’t in the car and you prefer the elicit version. Oh that’s just me? Yeah right, whatever I know the truth. Lol. Well like me, many of us are just hooked on the “hook” and the beat so often times we don’t listen to the actual words. But within this song, Ross is describing a situation that makes someone decide to hustle (sell drugs in this instance) but the term “hustle” can be used to describe anything. 

I hustle everyday…9 to 5 like most of you. But the intensity of our hustle is different. Some may just show up and wait to be told what to do. Others may show up and do the regular same ole tasks, nothing more…nothing less. And then you have those that show up with their game face on, pumping out assignments, volunteering for more, being proactive, and solving problems. The latter shows up with a goal in mind so in that world, they could be referred to as ‘hustling hard.’ 

Bare with me for a second, I’m going somewhere. Here is a verse of the song “Hold Me Back.” A few curse words, N word… Disclaimer: ain’t nobody telling y’all to go sell drugs. That’s illegal 1, and negatively affects the health of those involved 2, and I’d never encourage foolery 3. Let’s continue…

Ross raps: “I look in my fridge, my shit lookin’ scarce. I got a few kids, we need some shit on the shelf. I get a knock at the door, they say my rent overdue. And while my niggas sell dope and don’t know what else to do. The only thing on my mind, I’m tryin’ to keep on the lights. I call up my slime, I need a kilo tonight. Everything whipped well, I’m eatin’ steak, no more soup. Then I parked the Capri, I went and bought me a Coupe. Everything takes time, but this shit came fast. Niggas standin’ in line, they wanna hold me back. I multiplied my hustle, stimulated my mind. Motivated my niggas and we’ll never divide, no. These niggas won’t hold me back…”

To paraphrase, kids are hungry, rent is due, lights will be turned off soon, so he decides to sell drugs. Not the regular weight but he wants to sell massive amounts so essentially he is thinking big. Made it big, bought a fancy car, got richer and learned more and guess what? He reached back, grabbed a few friends and motivated them to hustle the same. 

Wow. Look what some strong motivation can do! Can you imagine that same drive for your career or your dream goal in life? Well can I share why you won’t make it there? Because you got a job! That’s simple. You got a job and got complacent. And now you are too afraid to chase your dream. Nothing is driving you for 1, your kids aren’t starving 2, mortgage and other bills are paid on time 3, and you can finance any car you want 4. 

You’ve never thought about that huh? You chopped it up to not having enough time and/or money. But the real reason is that we do like most people do, we have to be independent so we jobs, many of us work hard at those jobs while others do little out of resentment, we invest in our kids in hopes they follow their dreams, and we down play our dreams thinking it’s too late for us so we might as well pump up our kids. Well I’m here to scream IT’S NEVER TOO LATE! And again how can you encourage your kids to do something you didn’t do??? Yes it can be done but ever wonder how kids pick up things so easy that you haven’t purposely taught them? Well they learned through your actions, what they’ve seen you do. Let them see you be awesome and sit back and watch how awesome they can become. Kids are extremely smart as they can’t do fake! Only us adults master fakeness. Tell them to seek their dreams in life and mean it! 

Is having a job being fake? Heck no! You got bills! I can’t pay your bills so you better keep your job. Unless you got family that approves of you bumming off of them while you chase your dream, you better keep your job and develop you a plan. That’s right, plan it out. Figure out a schedule you can adhere to daily towards your goal. Next work that plan! How long you ask? Until your dream comes true, that’s how long. Giving up is NOT an option. When you want something bad enough, giving up is NOT an option. It’s not on your plan so you can’t do it, like you didn’t write that down, did you, so don’t consider it. 

“Thomas Edison’s teachers said he was “too stupid to learn anything.” He was fired from his first two jobs for being “non-productive.” As an inventor, Edison made 1,000 unsuccessful attempts at inventing the light bulb. When a reporter asked, “How did it feel to fail 1,000 times?” Edison replied, “I didn’t fail 1,000 times. The light bulb was an invention with 1,000 steps. (But They Didn’t Give Up; retrieved 24 June 2017 from https://www.uky.edu/~eushe2/Pajares/OnFailingG.html)”

Don’t give up! PRESS…until your dream comes true.

Thank you for your attention. Remember you are your own competition.

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