Darrell Davis

Success: Between Here and There

There is a place that people who want to be successful must go through. Of course "success" is relative. But if you want to grow, expand and achieve bigger goals or seek change, you must go through "there".  What is "there"? That space between where you are currently and where you want to be.

Many people have opened that door or stuck their toe in it only to pull back. They found that the stress, discomfort or uncertainty of progress is too much to bare. So they pull back and accept. They stay at their current level of achievement.

If you want to be successful, if you want growth, you MUST go into uncomfortable and uncharted waters. It is normal to feel challenged when striving. Otherwise, you are just staying in your comfort zone and going nowhere.

Success and the Company You Keep

It is a well known success principle that in order to achieve the most in life, you should surround yourself with good people. "Good " meaning people having those skills and qualities that your line of business prospers from.

What is not given enough attention though is the opposite. Surrounding yourself with "bad" people can be a disaster! "Bad" meaning people possessing those skills and qualities that retard your efforts to achieve certain goals.

I think the most important type of bad guy to avoid at all costs is the negative person. The one who is always complaining about life, work or anything else. Nothing is a bigger energy zapper than having to listen to someone bitch all the time.

Also be on the lookout for those who tell you you can't do this or that. Or that you are misguided. These usually are people who have no ambition beyond the next beer or football game. You don't need their chatter in your life.

So just remember that having the right people around you definitely affects your level of success. But equally true is that having the wrong people around you has the same affect.

Looking for Another Income? Almost There...

For the past several years I have been searching for ways for the average person, with little or no money, to start their own business. I think my friends, I am almost ready to share with you what I have found, and what I can suggest for different people in different situations.

For me personally, I have always had a side business going. Sometimes, that was all I had. But what worked for me to earn money, does not work for everyone. Whether you have a job or not, one source of income is risky. This blog has focused on Personal Development for the most part, and we will continue to do that. However, while I am a fan of many inspirational speakers, I was always concerned that after the speech, and while I was feeling good, I found that often I didn't know what to do next. I wasn't presented with a vehicle to progress financially or career wise. I want to change that. I want to give you real, tested methods that lead to you earning money.

Over the years I have tested many systems and been ripped-off many times. But I can tell you this right now; there are real systems out there that we can use successfully without spending a ton of money. Please sign up for my email list so I can send you updates and tips for where we are going. Talk to you soon!

Carrots Aren't Just Good For The Eyes

CAR-ROT: the nutritious, orange to yellow root of this plant, eaten raw or cooked.

I love carrots. I like them raw or cooked. And who hasn't heard the saying that "carrots are good for your eyes?" In spite of what many people think, carrots actually are good for your eyes. But I have a different use for carrots. In fact, I have a use for a different kind of carrot. A carrot on a stick. Or, in a word: motivation.

We all have those days when you just don't feel like doing something. No matter how important the task is, you still just can't get motivated enough to start and complete a project. This can quickly turn into a bad habit. So you need a tactic to break through. I get moving when I promise myself something as a reward for completing a particular task. It is like a carrot on a stick. I focus on the reward and that helps me move the task closer to completion.

What you use as a carrot depends entirely on what motivates you and how big, difficult or time consuming a job is. You won't reward yourself with a trip to the Bahamas for cleaning out the attic. I like simple things for everyday chores. I might promise myself a treat at a nice restaurant, or buy myself a new DVD.

When you find yourself staring at a task that you just aren't into, take a deep breath, think of your carrot on a stick and get to it!

Forbes' List of Tech Billionaires

The Forbes world's riches people list has come out. What is interesting is all the tech billionaires on it. This is good news for people who are looking to start their own business but have very little cash for start-up. The Forbes billionaire tech club boasts several people, such as  Bill Gates, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and venture capitalist Peter Theil.

What this means is that the internet is there, growing and ready to be exploited. Social networking tools like Facebook and Twitter make free or low cost marketing a major tactic now.  All we need to do is learn to use them and prosper. This changes the game.

Send an Angry Email Today

I am known for being outspoken. My radio show, out of Peekskill NY, is the only one on the station that runs a disclaimer before and after the show! It is like" the views on this show...yeah, we got nothing to do with them and we hardly even know this guy." Good to be loved.

Since I got involved in community organizing right out of my teens, I have had to say things that many people want to say, but for one reason or another, either can't say, or won't say. The fact is there can be any number of reasons people tend to keep silent, even in the face of gross injustice. I have just never been one of those people.

So, I have a solution for those of you who feel the need to be heard on an issue. Maybe it is something that has been bothering you for a long time, maybe it is something you saw on TV this morning. I want to convince you to send an angry email today.

Why an angry email? Why not just an argumentative email or a question or comment?  What is so special about an angry email? I will tell you: an angry email lets the recipient know that they have crossed the line with you and probably others too. They are important to shaping the struggle for ideas, what information goes out and what people believe. They get attention and often a response. Now don't confuse this for an obnoxious email which is different.

I have sent angry emails to reporters, millionaires, governors, senators, you name it. I even sent emails to Steve Jobs (who replied) and Tiger Woods manager (who didn't reply). It can be a little empowering to speak your mind to the rich and powerful.

It is a good habit to get into- expressing your mind. And for those who don't have an outlet they are comfortable using, then send an angry email today :-)

Honor Black Wall Street

I am very excited to announce a new social network for African Americans who celebrate the spirit of the entrepreneur. It is called Honor Black Wall Street, named after that thriving Black community in Tulsa, Oklahoma around the turn of the century.

I receive emails from all over the country from people asking advice about starting their own business. The reason I think this network is so valuable is because most networks today are crowded with people already in business and are using the networks to market. I want to do that too, but also provide a forum for people looking to start their business and need some help getting there.

Having said that, I don't consider myself to be a master, but still a student. But there are a few things I am absolutely clear about. 1) We, African Americans, need to be more industrious and self-reliant. One of the best ways to do that is by starting your own business. And 2) We need to not depend on a political party to provide us with our freedom. And, finally 3) The state of Black America today tells me we need to do things differently as a people.

With that, I want to invite you all to visit Honor Black Wall Street and bring your questions and proposed solutions. Let us together explore ideas for new businesses. Let us network and do business together. Whether you are starting out, thriving or somewhere in between, help make this the site to be on.

What's Your Plan "B"

We live in a time of great uncertainty. The economic news, generally, has not been good. More and more companies are laying off. People are talking. They are talking about their uncertain futures. Will they be next? Will they avoid the budget ax? The conversations continue. Unfortunately, what I am not hearing in these discussions is a "plan B."

I hear the concern in people's voices, the worry. And more than a few times I asked "So, what is your Plan B?" And was looked at like I was crazy! I continue," What are you doing, right now, in case you are one of those who lose their job? The blank looks are frightening.

I ask this question not only because jobs are at risk in today's economy but because, even in the best of times, I am preaching, "start your own business!"  It can be a side or part-time business while you keep your job. The best time to do this is when you already have an income. If you can launch, adjust and proceed or abort a business while you have a job, you are in a much more secure position than if you don't.

I believe, from hard experience that no job is secure and one source of income can be a fatal mistake. After all, any jerk can walk in one morning and tell you you're fired. And, had you put a second income in place, a part-time business, you are in much better shape. You now have the option of growing your business. This because you had a plan B.

Now, I realize starting your own business is not such a simple cut and dry thing. There are issues of having a viable idea, writing a business plan, funding and so on. And probable the biggest reason that people don't take action-fear!

In coming articles, we are going to explore all of these issues and more.  But for now, I just want to know, what's your Plan "B"?

Martin L. King Jr. and Starting Your Own Business

This week millions of people in the United States and other parts of the world remember and celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. While Dr. King's work in Civil Rights is highlighted by many, I want to focus on a phrase by King that I think exposes a major reason many people never start their own business. That phrase was what King called "the paralysis of analysis."

Too many people, most of whom, get caught up in the everyday grind of life and work, dream of going into business for themselves.  They have "a dream" and plan on doing it "someday."  But they just never quite get there. They get so caught up in doing their planning and analyzing and waiting for the right time that they never get the business going.

The example from King that some of us need to remember is that King was far more than a dreamer. He was a doer!  He took action. And you need to do the same thing!  Obviously an important part of a successful business is the analyzing and planning. However, if you want to be a business owner, you also need to take action!

Break Time is Over

It's been a while since I've posted. Sometimes you need to take a break and set down responsibilities that can wait. We let pressure drive us past our healthy threshold. That should not be.

I was feeling the pressure and as a result, feeling that I didn't have my best work to offer. That is a good time to break. So, I am back. So much going on in the world. Historical times in the political arena with Obama and Palin. The world is full of violence and war. People are losing their homes and the neighborhoods are going to hell. You must be at your best to succeed and to affect change. That is what Required Reading is all about. Be at your best, be prepared- regardless of external circumstances. Peace.