How I Got Over

How I Got Over

Walk alone, I walk alone, you know I walk it alone
I always been on my own, ever since the day I born
So I don’t mind walking alone

There comes a time in everyone’s life when they have to walk alone. You may have to make a tough decision. The conclusion that you reach may even be unpopular to some. It is hard to step out and walk alone in the face of skepticism, doubt and indecision. Yeah, in life often times we must rely on others.

In fact, I think that there is power in numbers when trying to complete a worthy task. You know the sayings…there is no I in team; teamwork makes the dream work.

I Agree.

However there may come a time when the team needs you to step up and step out and make something happen on your own.

The Chicago Bulls were a great team but in the clutch, 4th quarter 1 second to go, it was MJ isolated with the ball in his hands…Alone.

So I don’t mind walking alone.

Dear God, I’m trying hard to reach you
Dear God, I see your face in all I do
Sometimes, it’s so hard to believe it…
But God, I know you have your reasons

We live in a cold cold world. I watch the news sometimes and wonder how anyone can watch this daily and keep their sanity.

Everybody all in everybody’s dirty laundry
Acid rain, earthquakes, hurricane, tsunamis
Terrorist, crime sprees, assaults, and robberies

Wars and atrocities
Look at all the poverty
Ignoring the prophecies
More beef than broccoli
Corporate monopoly
Weak world economy
Stock market topplin’
Mad marijuana oxycotton and klonopin
Everybody out of it?

I can honestly understand why someone would ask, “God why?”

When the cruel realities of life hit home everyone’s faith is tested.

We are taught from an early age that God has a plan. If you are honest though, you will admit that at times you question why his plan must include so much pain and suffering.

Why is the world ugly when you made it in your image?
And why is livin’ life such a fight to the finish?

I don’t have the answer. I just know that I see God’s face in all that I do.

I feel like there is a path that I’m on and that the destination is already predetermined. Just not by me.

When I look back on all my experiences especially the ones that I perceived as negative at the time, I see how those experiences serve me and have added value and wisdom to my life.

Dear God, sometimes its so hard to believe it…but I do.

Everything’s changing around me
and I want to change too
It’s one thing I know
It ain’t cool being no fool
I feel different today
I don’t know what else to say
But imma get my sh** together
It’s now or never

I often hear people say, “I’ll never change.”

I personally see change as a part of the growth process. If you are not growing you are dying. Think about it.

We live in a world of constant change. If you are not evolving you will get left behind. I always find it interesting that people fear change. Me, I see change as progress. I like shaking things up. I always take a historical perspective on change.

If the great inventors of the past were afraid of change we would still be riding around on a horse and carriage. If the great social activist of the past were afraid of change, would we have laws against various types of discrimination?

I’m sick, sick of waiting in vain, tired of playing the game
Thinking of making a change, finally breaking the chains

I cannot be afraid of changing because of what other people will think. I can’t wait until everything is perfect in my life before I take action. I must start living life to its fullest…right now. I can’t be afraid to make mistakes.  I will go after the things I am passionate about. Even if it means I’ll have to change.

We only live once.

It’s now or never.

Out on the streets
Where I grew up
First thing they teach us:
Not to give a f***
That type of thinking can’t get you nowhere
Someone has to care.

I grew up attending school (K-8) in the middle of the Mill Creek projects in West Philly. I learned the code of the streets at an early age. I’ll never forget it, I was in the second grade and a kid named Samuel stole my hat one day while we were outside. Another time I was standing outside watching a fight, which was a daily occurrence at my school, and Samuel came by and punched me in the face and took the change I had in my pocket. I made a decision soon thereafter that I wasn’t going to let that happen again. The next year Samuel approached me in the schoolyard and told me to give him my money. I defiantly looked him in the face and told him he’d have to fight me for it. He left me alone from that day forward…but I ended up fighting many times over the next few years to prove myself in the streets. I had to prove that I didn’t give a f***.

How I got over
Where the people come apart
Don’t nobody care about cha
Only thing you got is God.
Out here in these streets
If you get down on your luck
You can stand up
With a hand down
But nobody give a f***.
Out here in these streets
Every man is for himself
They Ain’t helpin’ noone else
It’s a hazard to your health.
Livin’ life in these cold streets.

By the time I got to high school I was conditioned to fight at the drop of a dime. I was an angry kid. My parents even had me evaluated by a psychologist because of my anger problems.  It’s hard not to be angry when you see violence, crime, and hopelessness all around you. When you see family and friends struggling financially and you see loving relationships failing all the time. It’s easy not to care about anything.

That type of thinking can’t get you nowhere
Someone has to care.

How I got over? I had people around me who continued to love me and care for me. No one more so than my mother. My mother continued to pray for me and continued to be there for me and continued to trust me and encourage me. Her love was unconditional and it was there when I was finally mature enough to understand what it all meant.

I care.

I care about every child who is growing up under similar circumstances to the ones that I did. Many times people in our society do not understand why some low -income teens are floundering in life. Many people look upon them in disgust. I look upon them and I understand that they need guidance.

Someone has to care. I choose too.

When I wake up, I look into the mirror
I can see a clearer, vision
I should start living today
Cause today is gonna be the day, is gonna be the day

Today is going to be the day! Everyday I wake up with a feeling of anticipation.  A feeling of expectation. An expectation that I am one day closer to accomplishing something great. You see, I just can’t cope if I am not up to something.

I got to try different things in these trying times
Twenty-ten is different than it was in nine-five
It’s come alive time, I picked a fine time
for getting open off life like a fine wine

No matter what setbacks or failures I may encounter in my pursuit of accomplishing something great I continue to wake up with a renewed vision each day.

Cause today is gonna be the day…one day soon!

I keep it doin’ it again
Oh, I’m doin’ it again
Yes, I’m doin’ it again

Persistence. You got to have it. It’s the key ingredient that leads to a fulfilling life.

Uh, remix, rising up out of the flames like a Phoenix
Straining to carry the weight of my brain like a genius
Knowing I’m sowing seeds, let’s see whose thumb is the greenest
If I said I mean it, I did it because I need it

I realized a long time ago that this game called life was going to be challenging. I also noticed that the people who were winning at the game weren’t necessarily better than everyone else. More often than not they just didn’t give up or give in when most other people would. So why should I.

I’ve got to keep goin…I’ve got to keep doin it.

Again and again and again.

There’s something in your heart
and it’s in your eyes
It’s the fire, inside you
Let it burn

It’s the passion to compete. It’s a strong resolve to get things done. It’s the desire to reach my full potential. It’s the fire!

I love it!

You don’t say good luck
You say don’t give up
It’s the fire, inside you
Let it burn

Sometimes I think to myself that life would be so much easier if I could just go to work and then come home and live for the weekends. Watch lots of TV and chill out.

But I can’t.

There’s something in my heart and it’s in my eyes.

It’s the fire… So I let it burn!

That’s HOW I GOT OVER.

This Blog post is an ode to, and includes lyrics in italics from, the best Hip Hop Album that I have heard in a long long time.

“How I Got Over” by The Roots

Posted Up on The Corner,

Scott Speed

www.TheNeighborhoodSpeaks.com

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“The Bridge Youth Leadership Movement”

The Neighborhood Enrichment Project Incorporated (NEPINC) is a non-profit organization founded in April 2010. We are using my (Scott Speed) Blog site as a temporary landing place for you to gather information about our organization while our official site is under construction. Thanks for visiting and after you read the info below about “The Bridge Youth Leadership Movement” feel free to take a look around!

The Neighborhood Enrichment Project Incorporated

Presents

The Bridge: Youth Leadership Movement

Mission Statement

The Bridge Youth Leadership Movement (BYLM) is a program designed to eliminate the gaps in achievement that plague high needs youth in inner city and rural communities across America.  The program is designed to enrich the whole child by providing “Intelligent Inspirations” in the areas of academic, cultural, financial, health, social, and emotional intelligence. An increase in intelligence, the ability to acquire and apply knowledge and skills, in these areas for our children will assist them in crossing the bridge that leads to success.

“Intelligent Inspirations” Model

There are six “Intelligent Inspirations” that will serve as a framework for the program:

Multiple Intelligence

Cultural Intelligence

Social Intelligence

Financial Intelligence

Emotional Intelligence

Health Intelligence

The “Intelligent Inspirations” model is an intelligent approach to bridging the gap in achievement that plagues low socio-economic communities and schools. We created this model with the intent of transcending youth mentorship, as we now know it. Rather than focusing on the problems and behaviors that we want to eliminate in our youth we must focus on the type of people that we want them to become. We believe that a failing child is an adult problem and we are radical in our belief that all children posses the seeds of intelligence necessary to succeed in life. With the proper nurturing and guidance all children can prosper.

It’s been said that knowledge is power. However it is our belief that knowledge in itself has limits. Our stance is that Intelligence, defined as the ability to acquire and apply knowledge and skills, produces an individual who is capable of acquiring and adapting knowledge to the several challenges that accompany the pursuit of success into the next decade and beyond.

“Intelligent Inspirations” Objectives

  • Multiple Intelligence
    • Howard Gardner’s Theory of Multiple Intelligence argues that intelligence, particularly as it is traditionally defined, does not sufficiently encompass the wide variety of abilities humans display.
    • We believe that providing children with an awareness of their Multiple Intelligence’s (strengths and passions) will build their self-esteem and feelings of self worth. We will nurture each child and provide growth opportunities through their strengths and passions. We will provide college tours, career awareness, and exposure to professionals who share the same strengths and passions.
  • Cultural Intelligence
    • An important ingredient to enriching the whole child is providing them opportunities to gain awareness of their cultural roots, while also exposing them to cultural diversity.
    • Positive cultural awareness activities, trips, and discussions that challenge youths beliefs will eliminate the negative stereotypes and self-fulfilling prophecies that feed poverty and hopelessness in inner city and rural communities.
  • Social Intelligence
    • Will provide youth with a consciousness and awareness of, their impact on and the needs of, the people and community around them.
    • Group activities, rigorous discussions, community service projects, and case studies will develop the consciousness our youth need to be agents for positive change in their communities.
  • Economic Intelligence
    • Will provide youth with the financial literacy skills needed to build wealth that empowers families and sustains communities.
    • Youth will be trained in the basics of financial budgeting and savings and progress to learn about interest, investments, real estate, credit etc.
  • Emotional Intelligence
    • Will provide youth with the awareness that they have the power to control their emotions.  Our youth will be exposed to the mental toughness techniques that successful people use to persevere in the face of life’s inevitable challenges.
    • Discussions, readings, speakers, workshops, and group activities will provide our youth with opportunities for growth in this area.
  • Health Intelligence
    • Will provide youth with an awareness of the proper nutritional and lifestyle choices that lead to a long healthy prosperous life.
    • Discussions, readings, speakers, workshops, and group activities will provide our youth with opportunities for growth in this area.

Program Culture

  • The program is designed for youth between the ages of 8-18. The youth will be called VIP’s (Very Intelligent People).
  • The program will be held two days weekly on Wednesdays from 3-5pm and Saturdays from 9am – 12pm.
  • We will utilize a group-mentoring model. Each team of 5-10 youth will have 2 Intelligence Mentors (Teachers, community members, professionals, and/or college student volunteers). The culture of the program will be one of respect, camaraderie, and teamwork.
  • We will create a document (VIP Card) that the youth will take to school with them to obtain a weekly accountability reports from their teachers. The report will measure academic effort (not grades), social & emotional behavior, and respect for teachers and classmates.

Recognition Plan and Incentives

We have created an exciting rewards and a recognition model that will create a buzz around the program and will encourage our youth to make positive choices that will lead to their success.

Our model requires youth to recruit other youth into the program and provide leadership to them throughout the program. A youth participants’ long-term success is contingent on their own personal growth as well as how many other youth they recruit and help achieve success.

The students will earn points for doing things like attending mentoring sessions and activities, doing good deeds, displaying good academic effort, having good behavior in school and at home, community service, reading books, etc.

The incentive plan will include prizes and rewards like movie tickets, video games, gift cards, clothing, amusement park tickets, I-pods, lap tops, video game consoles, parties, cash, Disney World trip, etc.

Get Involved!

Please join us for our fund raising event on Thursday July 1st at 6:30 pm. Serpas True Food, voted one of America’s top ten best new restaurants by GQ Magazine, has offered to host our event. You will love the food, the signature cocktails, the networking, and learning about our wonderful new non-profit organization with innovative ideas to save our youth!

Serpas True Food
659 Auburn Ave Northeast
Atlanta Ga.

If you are unable to attend but would like to give a donation please send to

The Neighborhood Enrichment Project Inc.

835 Autumn Bluffs

Fairburn Ga. 30213

Thank you,

Co-founder/Executive Director

Scott Speed

Win Win Win No Matter What

Win-Win-Win No Matter What

All I do is win win win no matter what…

Every time I step up in the building everybody hands go up

And they stay there, and they stay there.

-DJ Khaled-“All I Do Is Win” (2010)

As I sat there watching a former Summer League B-Ball teammate (Sonny Hill League-West Philly to be exact) of mine claim his 5th NBA title all I could do was smile… and take it all in. I sat there and watched him and his teammates celebrate like they were on top of the world. I sat there smiling because I know how hard he worked for it and how focused he was on getting it. And he got it…Again. And as I sat there taking it all in I couldn’t help but get excited thinking about the next time I was going to do it…Again.

Yeah Mike got 6, Magic got 5, Kobe got 5 too. Shaq has 4, Bird has 3, and Olajuwan two. Me…I’ve been blessed with so many that I’ve lost count.  You see, in my world, NBA Ballers are not the only ones who win.

You win, I win, we all win. We all experience wins in this game called life. Sure, there may not be millions of people watching and cheering for us but our victories count no less.

Having a strong mother…Win! Graduating High school…Win! Having a father who was there…Win! Graduating College…Win! Surviving the streets of Philly…Win! Surviving the ignorance of my youth….Win! Getting married…Win! Fathering a child…Win! Loving family…Win! Cool friends…Win!

So now I’m ready for my next win. Yeah, there have been some defeats but that is what makes winning so sweet.

Are you ready to go after your next win? If so, work hard for it. Focus on getting it! And celebrate every one of them like you were on top of the world!

Serving up Food For Thought at The Corner Store,

Scott Speed,

www.TheNeigborhoodSpeaks.com

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MAY I Adore You

MAY I Adore You

The month of May has been a special month every since I was in primary school. I remember my kindergarten teacher Ms. Sadler teaching us about the months and the seasons. You know the saying, “April showers bring May flowers.” I learned that May was the month of pleasantly warm weather, singing birds, and blooming flowers. MAY, I adore you!

Growing up in Philly we had long winters so May was the month when we finally started to get consistently nice days. That meant hanging outside with my friends, playing football in the streets, or playing basketball on a milk crate with the bottom cut out, a tree branch, or whatever else we could use as a basket.  MAY, I adore you!

During my high school years May was the month for proms and most importantly when the weather got hotter the girls dressed less…and got hotter. MAY, I adore you!

And when college rolled around I was excited to learn that summer break started in early May which was way better than waiting till late June like I had to do from K-12th grade. I also graduated from college in May. MAY, I adore you!

Adore: To love and respect (someone) deeply.

As an adult my adoration for the month of MAY has wildly increased. In fact, my understanding of Adoration has never been clearer. Here’s why:

May 5th

Happy Anniversary! On this day four years ago I was blessed with the gift of a wife. I’ll never forget the day. It was something out of a storybook type of wedding and I just felt fortunate to be there. It was so special to share that moment with my family and friends that evening in Boca Raton. I’ve made some good choices in my life and I’ve made some bad. Marrying Jennifer Foster was, hands down, the best choice I’ve ever made.

Second Sunday in May

Happy Mothers Day! My wife and I welcomed a beautiful baby girl into this world two years ago. It is an honor to celebrate my wife on this day each year. I get a kick out of watching her care for, love on, and entertain our daughter. She takes so much pride in being a great mother and I can’t help but love her even more for that.

May 14th

Happy Birthday (Times 2)!! On this day many, many…many years ago my wife was born. So on this day I get to celebrate her being brought into this world, just for me. At least that’s how I see it.

This day is also special to me because our daughter was born on this day in 2008. She was our first and, at this point, is our only child. She is a unique child to say the least.

MAY I certainly adore you! I appreciate all the blessings that you’ve brought to me and I ask for just one thing.

May I adore you… for many years to come?

Happy Anniversary!

Happy Mothers Day!

Happy Birthday!

I love you Jennifer!

Kicking it on The Stoop,

Scott Speed

www.TheNeighborhoodSpeaks.com

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“Dear Hip-Hop”

Dear Hip-Hop

I might’ve failed to mention that this chick was creative

But once the man got you, well, he altered her native

Told her if she got an image and a gimmick

That she could make money and she did it like a dummy…

But I’ma take her back hoping that the sh** stop

Cause who I’m talking ‘bout y’all is hip hop

By Common “I Used To Love H.E.R (Resurrection, 1994)

Dear Hip-Hop,

What up. You’ve been on my mind a lot lately so I figured I’d take this opportunity to get some things off my…I mean share some things with you.

Sometimes I just sit back and reminisce. We were both introduced to the world around 1979, though it would be a few years later before I got to know you.  I remember meeting you briefly when we were both very young. It was while listening to “Jam On It” (by Newcleus, 1983) riding along with my father in his truck. You know, the song with the “Wikki-wikki-wikki-wikki” in the chorus. Over the next few years with songs like “Basketball” (Kurtis Blow) and “The Show” (Dougie Fresh and Slick Rick) you began to grab my attention.

A few years would pass but it was around 1989 when I decided that I wanted to get to know you better. A friend of mine brought me a dubbed tape of EPMD’s Unfinished Business album. That was the first time that I took you home with me to listen to you. I was impressed… and I wanted to hear more. So you introduced me to Public Enemy and N.W.A, and I saw a different side of you. Your confrontational side…and I wanted to hear more.

As the years passed by and we got older we both continued to mature. I’ll never forget when you introduced me to A Tribe Called Quest and De La Soul… you showed me you had a conscious side. I found myself spending more and more time with you. I listened to you while getting ready for school in the morning and before going to bed at night. Every minute of the day I could steal away I’d spend it with you. Like when my mom would leave the car while running errands. I would pop Public Enemy into the tape deck and listen to the chaotic sounds of “Welcome to The Terrordome” and “Fight The Power.”

In the mid to late 1990’s our relationship grew stronger as I went through high school and college. I was captivated by your diversity. There was something for everyone no matter where you were from. There were artists like Common, The Fugees, Mos Def, Talib Kweli, and The Roots… Biggie, 2 Pac, Nas, Wu-Tang Clan, Big Pun, Busta Rhymes, and Jay-Z… Ice Cube, Dr. Dre, and Snoop Dog… OutKast, UGK, Scarface, Master P, and The Goodie Mob…to name a very few. They were all rockin the Mic during the same era.

Those were the days…

Lately though, I’ve been feeling like maybe you’ve changed. Where has the diversity in your sound gone? Where has the creativity in your lyrics gone? I remember loving that Das EFX track  “bum stiggety bum stiggety bum hon” (They Want EFX, 1992). That song was crazy creative!

It seems like every time I turn the radio on these days I hear the same type of songs. The list is something like this:

-       How big a girl’s backside is.

-       How much money someone has.

-       How much dope someone has sold.

-       How many different ways someone can get shot.

-       What types of cars, jewelry, and clothes someone has.

I’m not mad that people are rapping about those things…this is America…you can say what you want. However I am upset that this type of music dominates radio, music videos, and Hip Hop popular culture. Did all the money and recognition impede your growth?

Like I said before you’ve changed…or, my bad, maybe it’s me.

Maybe I’m the one who has changed now that I really think about it. Maybe it’s because I’ve gotten older and my experiences have broadened my mind so now I just crave more. I guess I just figured that we would continue to grow together…just like we started growing together in the 80’s.  Am I crazy? Was I foolish to think that this would be the case?

Maybe I’m just confused.

I still listen to you with appreciation for who you are. I’m just a little more cautious now. I’m hesitant to give you as much attention as I did in the past. I’ve lowered my expectations.  But I’ll admit it…you do surprise me sometimes. When Lil Wayne dropped “A Milli” I caught glimpses of the days when you were hungry for success. Jay-Z keeps producing good if not great music and I heard Andre 3000 jump on a remix of a song recently and rip it!

So, I guess what I’m trying to say is…

I still love you. I love you because I see your potential. I see you one day using your cult like influence to make a positive impact in this world. I love your raw energy and passion. Everyone listens when you express yourself; whether it’s to clap or complain we all still listen. I like your realness. Like EF Hutton, when you talk people listen. You are a trendsetter.

You know what? I’m going to set my standards high. I know that you can reach them. There is an entire generation of youth that are dying to hear from your futuristic conscious side. That side that sparks a higher level of awareness. That side that will be the soundtrack to the movement of intelligence and higher thought which will enrich neighborhoods and stomp out mental, social, and economic poverty. We’ll call it Empowerment Music. You down?

Let’s Get It!!!!!

Posted up on The Corner writing,

Your Homie Scott Speed

www.TheNeighborhoodSpeaks.com

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Sports Rap

Sports Rap

I haven’t been to The Neighborhood “Park Bench” in a while to talk sports. So I figured I’d stop by to talk some trash and make some bold predictions. Although I stay busy with family, work, and school I always stay plugged into the latest goings on in the world of sports.

NFL

The Saints and the Colts are about to do battle in the Super Bowl next week. I can’t remember the last time that the two best teams from the NFC and AFC during the regular season both actually made it to the Super Bowl. It should be a really good game. Peyton Manning may be the G.O.A.T when his career is over and it has been amazing to see him and the Colts lose only one game this year with a new coach and new young receivers. Drew Brees and the Saints have been exciting to watch all year as well. Their offense is explosive.

Being that I’m a die hard Eagles fan I really don’t care who wins but if I’m going to make a bold prediction I guess I have to choose a team.  So, I’m going to go with the Saints. I think that they are a team of destiny this year. I also wouldn’t mind the people of New Orleans getting something to celebrate about. The city really identifies with that team and a victory would be a real morale boost. Another plus is that I’ve met several people from New Orleans since moving to Atlanta and they’ve all been really cool so…

Go Saints!

NBA

I’ve been slow to get into the NBA this season but I’ve been catching some games here and there. Here is what I know.

The Lakers look tough and my Sixers don’t.

Lebron James is a freak of nature but Kobe is still the man.

Shaq needs to retire.

Kevin Durant is next.

D-Wade needs some help.

Derrick Rose is the most athletic PG I’ve ever seen.

The Atlanta Hawks are, surprisingly, really good.

Nate Robinson is only 5’8” and he goes to the hoop like he is 6’8”. Amazing.

A.I is a Sixer again… but they still suck.

Can’t wait for the playoffs.

Bold Prediction: Lakers vs. Celtics in the Finals. Lakers repeat in 7.

NCCA B-Ball

John Wall is the best PG I’ve seen play the college game. 1st pick in next year’s draft.

Villanova is tough. Their guard play is real strong.

Syracuse is playing good ball. Matter of fact the Big East conference as a whole is playing good ball.

Watch out for Georgia Tech in the tournament.

What happened to UNC? I guess they can’t win it every year.

March Madness is the best sporting event of the year for me. One month to go!

Bold Prediction: Kentucky vs. Kansas in the Championship game. John Wall and Kentucky prevail.

Random Thoughts

Tiger, Tiger, Tiger.

I hope Floyd and Paquiao figure it out one day. Would be a great fight.

Can’t wait to visit Dallas stadium.

Go Phillies.

Kobe is ice cold.

I Hope Tebow does well in the NFL, just don’t think it will be as a QB. But then again…

Chillin at The Park,

Scott Speed

www.TheNeighborhoodSpeaks.com

The Keys To Achieving Your Goals in 2010

The Keys To Achieving Your Goals in 2010

Happy New Year!!

You will find below some words of wisdom from personal finance guru Mr. Dave Ramsey. Enjoy!

Another year and another set of resolutions. If you’re like most Americans, you’ll probably forget your goals by mid-February. So how do you make your resolutions actually happen this year?

First, keep in mind that goals are dreams; but don’t stop at just dreaming. Turn your dreams into bite-sized pieces that will gradually create a big event in your life. If you’re waiting on an outside variable to change your life, you have a long wait. You have to do something. It’s your responsibility to fix your life, not someone else’s. It’s time to sit down, make some goals, and take control.

Goal setting is how you win. Once you’ve made your resolutions, they will drive you forward. The goals will motivate you to seek activities that will help you succeed. It’s not always fun, but those exercises bring you closer to your goal and make you a winner.

If you want to actually achieve your goals this year, then consider the following:

Be specific.

When setting goals, be specific in what you want to achieve. Vagueness will only cause you to feel overwhelmed, and you will just give up.

Make your goals measureable.

In order to know if you achieved the goal, it must be measurable. For example, if you want to lose weight, don’t simply write down “lose weight” as a goal. How much weight do you want to lose? Or don’t just write “spend more time with family.” How much time do you want to spend with your family every night

Are they your goals?

Only you can set your own goals. If your spouse, co-worker or friend sets a goal for you, you’re not going to achieve it. Taking ownership will give you more incentive to meet your goal.

Set a time limit.

Setting a time frame will help you set realistic goals. For example, if you want to save more money, list how much money a month you want to put into your savings account.

Put them in writing.

Putting your goals in writing will make you much more likely to achieve them. Write down your goals and review them often. This will give you motivation to make them a reality.

This is the process to succeed. Successful people reassess their lives and then start living intentionally, in writing, on paper, on purpose. Make your resolutions a reality in 2010.

This is a repost from Dave Ramsey at www.DaveRamsey.com

Serving Food for Thought at The Corner Store,

Scott Speed

www.TheNeighborhoodSpeaks.com

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All The Way Turned Up

All The Way Turned Up

There is a song that’s been on the radio a lot here in Atlanta called “All The Way Turned Up.” I can’t say that I like the song lyrically but I do like the energy of the song. It has one of those catchy hooks that makes the song stay in your mind all day. The song’s artist uses the phrase “All The Way Turned Up” as an analogy to being fired up and giving 110% in whatever it is that he is doing.

I often listen to music and take certain lyrics from songs and use them as motivation. When I hear the hook, “I’m All The Way Turned Up,” I feel like I need to step it up in this game called life. I feel like I need to Turn It Up! I need to Turn Up my creativity, imagination, goals, visions, and drive.

Think big, think bold.

You know the feeling. I’m sure you have been there before. That voice in your mind that tells you that you are capable of doing more. The voice that tells you that you were meant to accomplish something significant, or impact change in a major way. It’s the voice that most people suppress (turn down) because to follow it is to walk out of their comfort zone.

I don’t know about you but I’m ready to Turn It All The Way Up and I challenge you to do the same. Whether it’s in your relationships, business, career, hobbies, fitness, education, or whatever, I say Turn It Up!

I’m in the process of exploring doing something really meaningful. It’s going to take time and research but I’m very excited about it. It will allow me to really stretch all of my creative muscles and impact lives in a positive way.

So what are you up to?

I’m All The Way Turned Up Kickin it on The Stoop,

Scott Speed
www.TheNeighborhoodSpeaks.com

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The Blueprint

THE Blueprint

I’ll show you how to do this son

(Jay Z “La-La-La”)

Jay Z recently dropped his latest album, “The Blueprint 3”. Good Album but I don’t think it will crack the top five all time Jay Albums. I’ll never forget the original Blueprint album that he dropped back in 2001 on 9/11. It’s one of my favorite Jay Z albums of all time. Top 3. The original Blueprint introduced Kanye West to the world as a producer of hot soulful beats. Many rappers followed Jay Z and began using soulful beats produced by Kanye and others.

I personally think that Biggies “Life After Death” album was a hip-hop album blueprint because for years after that album dropped rappers were copying the format that Biggie used. He made an album where he included songs that had a West Coast, Dirty South, and Mid-West vibe to go along with his traditional New York flow. Classic album no doubt!

Blueprint Defined

When used as figurative language the Oxford dictionary defines the word blueprint as something that acts as a plan, model, or template.

I consider my grandfather Willie Speed The Blueprint. He is my biggest role model in life and always has been. He’s my template.  Through the ups and downs of my childhood there was always one constant, a trip to Florida during the summer to visit mother and granddaddy. They were my father’s parents and even though my parents weren’t together they still treated my mother like family and opened their home to us yearly.

It’s funny because I was poor all year long in Philly but when I went to Apalachicola, FL. my friends there thought that I was rich.  They saw my grandfather driving a Lincoln Town Car or Mercedes Benz every few years so I guess that was what gave them that impression.  My grandparents were very stable and successful people.  They were respected in the community and loved by many.  My grandfather served his small community for many years as a teacher, principle, and school district administrator.  He was very stern and taught my siblings and I many valuable lessons on life.

Going there gave me another perspective on life that many of my peers did not get to see.  I saw a strong loving marriage between my grandparents.  I was able to go to the beach and play in the sand.  My grandfather took me fishing and shared stories with me that I will never forget.  My grandfather taught me the value of earning an honest dollar.  My job around the house was to keep the yard clean.  Every Saturday I had to cut the grass and pick up all of the trash that may have blown into the yard during the week.  My pay was $10 dollars a week. That was big money for a 8-12 year old.  Every week when I was finished my granddaddy would go around the yard looking for any trash that I missed.  Every piece he found cost me a tongue-lashing and a .25 cents deduction in pay.  You see… he was always teaching me a lesson, always preparing me for life.  The lesson was simple.  Doing a job half way or cutting corners was unacceptable. Always go hard! Man, I used to hate missing a piece of trash, believe me.  I did not like being screamed at and please believe me, I did not like loosing money. Lesson learned.  When he paid me with ten one dollar bills every week he always said the same thing, “ Grandson, anybody can make a dollar but it takes a wise man to spend it”.

My grandfather, born in 1920, was raised by his grandmother and later by his oldest sister in the segregated South. Without a mother and father he had to start working as a young child to help out around the house. He eventually graduated from high school and enlisted in the Army and served during World War II. During his time in the Army a program called the G.I. Bill was created which gave soldiers an opportunity to go to college. My grandfather took advantage of the opportunity and went on to graduate from Florida A&M University. He worked several jobs in his life and made several sacrifices on his journey to earning a degree and becoming an educator. I don’t know many people who have a grandparent who went to and graduated from college.

Growing up in inner city Philadelphia I had many opportunities to make the wrong choices in life. However I always knew that I was expected to do the right thing because of the example that my grandfather set. Yeah I may have gotten into a few fights and a little mischief but I never took drugs, sold drugs, or did anything that would get me put in jail. And going to college was never an option, I just knew that it was a forgone conclusion that I would go because my grandfather and all of his children went to college. I could go on and on extolling the virtues of my grandfather because he truly lived a life of discipline, excellence, and purpose.

Today he is 89 and his health is diminishing. I recently visited him and it was sad to see that he wasn’t his normal healthy self anymore but I’ll tell you this… I still want to make him proud and I still strive to live up to the bar of excellence that he set.

He is The Blueprint.

Live life on purpose. Persist through obstacles. Love hard. Value family. You just may be living a life that will impact future generations in a major way.

You just might be someone’s Blueprint!

Kickin it on The Stoop,

Scott Speed

www.TheNeighborhoodSpeaks.com

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Neighborhood Update

“Neighborhood Update”

If you have been a regular visitor to “The Neighborhood” you may have been wondering where I’ve been. I have not been “Kicking it on The Stoop” , “Chillin at The Park” , “Posted up on The Corner”, or “Serving up Food For Thought at The Corner Store” (If you do not know what any of that means click on ‘About The Neighborhood…’ at the top of this page).

Well I’ve been at The Neighborhood library lately because I am back in school pursuing a higher degree and I’m on an accelerated track so I have a really heavy work load. I’m also going through a learning curve at work that has been challenging. And you know that I have to spend time with my lovely wife and wonderful baby daughter. Add that all up and it equals a busy Scott.

With that said… I am working on my next post and I can’t wait to share it with you. I’ve gotten so much love and positive feedback since launching this blog this summer. I appreciate the continued support. If you have a chance check out some of the older post to see if you missed any and make sure that you Subscribe to this Blog so that you can receive new post in your inbox as soon as I write them.

Trying to stay focused in The Neighborhood Library,

Scott Speed

www.TheNeighborhoodSpeaks.com