I assume most people reading this have at least heard the name Jay Z but in case you’re not familiar I’ll give you a quick rundown. In short, he’s drug dealer turned grammy-winning rapper turned businessman (clothing lines, professional sports team owner, and now sports agent). Aside from success in these various avenues, Jay and the family are no strangers to visiting the White House as guests of POTUS. Oh, and that family of his happens to include Beyonce playing the role of wife. Not bad.
So what does it take for a person to make it in the streets and in corporate America? I was driving home the other day when a song from Jay Z’s first album, Reasonable Doubt, came on and the answer to that question hit me square in the face.
“In order to survive gotta learn to live with regrets.”
I’ve been listening to this album regularly since it came out in 1996, but this was the first time I heard it this way. I played it on repeat a few more times and the more I listened to it the more I thought this is great career advice you don’t often hear it shared. You get a lot of people saying don’t be afraid to shake things up and change is good but the reality is sometimes you make the wrong decision. And even when you make the right decision you still may have some regrets.
I’ll share a quick example with you. When I switched over to management consulting from my industry accounting position, the new job came with a great raise and a opportunity to learn things that wouldn’t have been possible in my previous career. It also came with a move under the assumption we’d be able to sell our house (we couldn’t) and I had no idea my brother would pass away three months after I left Chicago…two completely different scenarios but both made me regret having made the change when I did.
Having a home you wish you could sell sucks and I have to tell you it sucks even more when you don’t have someone living in it paying you rent. We’re on the right track now though.
Of course I regret not knowing when parting ways with my brother that the next time I’d see him would be in a casket. Part of me unreasonably thinks maybe I could have helped my brother live longer had I not moved and part of me just feels like at least I could have used the time better if that’s all we had. I have a friend I used to work with who will read this and think I need to see a professional since that’s what she said when I shared similar thoughts with her. I appreciate her concern but like Jay said, I’ve learned to live with my regrets. And to be honest with you my brother would want me to be kicking ass and taking names so that’s what I intend to do.
Once you decide within yourself that no trauma or bad outcome will consume you, there’s no limit to the success you can have.
If you have your own story of regrets you had to overcome share it in the comments.
If you want to hear the whole song, check it out here.
First, let me say that I’m glad you enjoy my comments, and I do like your blog.
As for Jay-Z, people give him way too much credit. Jay-Z may indeed be a success to some, but realize what you and others view as “success” is really his rewards for advancing the agenda to lead blacks to slaughter. Unfortunately, he is extremely competent in
this role. Jay-Z has realized his success
because he was SELECTED for success… provided he continues to successfully carry the mission. If you and I partner with the most influential people to advance their agenda, we’d be handsomely compensated as well. This compensation will appear to the outside as indiscriminate success… but don’t be fooled. Keep in mind that people like Jay-Z are CREATED…There is no limit to the opportunities that will find their way to a
good steward like Jay-Z. So I’m not so
quick to tout the man as a business genius.
It’s easy to be falsely accused of being one when opportunities are granted and/or created for you.
You asked for examples of mind poisoning, but one doesn’t have to look back too far to realize Jay built a name for himself by glorifying and promoting unhealthy activities (e.g., drug dealing, promiscuity, disregard
for the law, etc.) to black people. In my book of reference that qualifies as mental poison. The mental indoctrination keeps young black
men ensnared in a very profitable criminal justice system due to our abject acceptance and indifference to the promotion of this behavior (as demonstrated by Jay-Z).
We are in a very sad space as a people when they are creating college classes centered around deconstructing Jay-Z as if he’s Chaucer. This man receives so much promotion in all circles of the black community that it’s a definite reflection of how truly
masterful he is at advancing the agenda.
While you didn’t say Jay-Z was the only model for success, I find it very telling that as a black business professional, Jay-Z’s work is what resonated with you to the point where you felt moved to promote him (via a blog posting). And based on your own words, if you wouldn’t
encourage your children to follow Jay-Z’s rise to success, then what’s the point? Either he’s an inspiration or he’s not. And if he is, then what he’s done (and continues to do) to get where he is can’t be all that bad, now can it?
Sorry, but this is one black man that is neither enamored with or fooled by Jay-Z. I see through him as if his daddy was a glass maker.
So I just found this flagged as spam for some reason but in any case, here goes. With regards to the kids, of course I don’t want them dealing drugs or sleeping around, but do I want them to excel at whatever they do? Absolutely. Do I find inspiration in the fact that someone has gone down a dark path and been able to transition out? Of course I do. I’ve seen too many people stuck in cycles of self-destruction not to respect someone who gets out, however that may be.
On the whole conspiracy of Jay being able to control the masses as a puppet master, you’re giving him a whole lot of credit…then again, if he’s penetrated college curriculum you might be onto something.