Intro
Little over a year after I wrote Chapter Two, I find myself at the end of another story about to embark on a new journey.
This time it’s quite a big transition I am facing and I will be heading on a whole new adventure.
A Dream
Remind yourself. Nobody built like you, you design yourself.
Not so long ago I was an enthusiastic musician with aspirations of dominating the music industry as a world renowned DJ/Producer. My DJ career however took a nose dive when I attended Music Academy and I couldn’t afford to buy a home computer, so I sold my DJ setup to fund my first mac. What I would soon realise, is that I made the wrong decision, as I was a damn good UK Garage DJ (If you remember Upfront 99.3FM you’ll smile at the good old days).
At University, I understood quickly the importance for networks. Universities are made up of hundreds of small groups of networks and generally the people who can operate in and out of multiple networks are considered the most powerful students; as they can influence the most people.
Ignorant Shit
Having opened my eyes to the possibilities in student business and then setting up my own ventures at University, I quickly changed my direction from being a creative musician to acting in the business side of the entertainment scene. It wasn’t long after finishing my higher education I realised that being just another enterprising student with ambition wasn’t gonna cut it.
I graduated from University with a 2:2 in July 2009. My tutors were proud that I had even achieved that, albeit suprised, because honestly, I never showed signs of passing the course.
Real As It Gets
I’m not afraid of dying. I’m afraid of not trying.
I don’t come from money, I live with my mum who raised three kids on benefits, two of which have their own families now and are successful in their own right. My vision is and has always been to become successful so that my mum doesn’t have to worry any more. However, money has NEVER been my motivation.
After speaking with an array of extremely successful individuals over the years, I found that they all sing from the same hymn sheet in terms of seeking fulfilment. Everyone wants to change the world in their own way, and no matter how much money they make, they generally always crave for more, because finding self fulfilment in money is not possible.
Legacy is what it’s all really about. Making an impact that you leave a positive dent that lives on long after you have vacated the scene. This is what entrepreneurs really crave. It’s the feeling that you have built something unique and there is an underlying need for it, a desire from a mass market for what you offer that gives their lives added value. That’s the art of fulfilment.
Can’t Knock The Hustle
I’m a hustler homey, you a customer crony. Got some dirt on my shoulder, could you brush it off for me?
I’ve never had to prove anything to anyone, but always felt like I had to. When the closest people in your life think you’re gonna be a fuck up like the rest of the council estate you live on, it doesn’t do much for the inner self esteem.
I have always tried to help those around me and even with the Industry Spotlight series I did. I documented the stories of 14 great individuals with an attempt to find out more about my network, my audience and myself. It was a lot harder than I thought it would be but I enjoyed seeing the engagement between those I had interviewed and others find inspiration from someone else’s journey.
I taught myself the skills that make me who I am and I am proud that I have ability in a variety of areas.
I learned my craft by staying on the edge of the latest news, researching the key influencers in the industry and surrounding myself with multiple networks of successful people.
I have excelled in what is considered to be a short period of time. I’m not one to frequently shout about achievements in the the social space, but when I do, I make sure it’s loud and clear, so everyone knows.
Onto The Next One…
Baby i’m a boss, i dunno what they do,
I don’t get dropped, I dropped the label,
World can’t hold me, too much ambition,
Always knew it’d be like this when I was in the kitchen
So here I am; climbing the layer cake of shit on my path to fulfilment and where last time I was announcing the start of a new opportunity with a global brand, this time I’m crossing paths to the other side of the fence.
I Made It
He who does not feel me is not real to me. Therefore he doesn’t exist. So poof… vamoose son of a bitch.
I leave this global Football Club to become Chief Digital Officer at a Central London marketing agency (sure you’ll all find out which soon enough). A board level position with all the trimmings and I’m sticking my middle finger up at anyone that ever doubted.
It’s a chance for me to really see what I am capable of, because honestly, I have no idea. I have developed products, hit targets and built winning strategies for the companies I have worked with and it now looks like my time has come to step up to the challenge.
If I flop, then fuck it. It’s all part of the adventure anyway but I go into each venture prepared for anything that gets thrown at me and what I don’t know, I quickly learn.
Outro
And I cant help the poor if I’m one of them
so I got rich and gave back to me that’s the win/win..
No, this isn’t where I build my legacy, but I believe I am growing. I have my long term vision and I know I can’t contribute to society in the volume I would like to, but with every step up the ladder I take, I know I am that little bit closer to making a significant impact.
The world that I am changing, is my world. Once I’ve conquered that, I’ll get to the rest of you.