SEEING YOURSELF IN YOUR ROLE MODELS IMPROVES YOUR ODDS OF SUCCESS! – A RAINBOW OF ROLE MODELS {WEDNESDAY SERIES}
I celebrate ACHIEVEMENT EVERY DAY! WEDNESDAY’S “A Rainbow of Role Models,” I do not see race, skin color, religion, sex, attractiveness (ok, I like beautiful ladies), age, or other nonsense. I love learning from inspirational people that inspire me to drop MY EXCUSES and DO IT! Role models who stretch my ambitions and model GIVING BACK!
There is dignity in achievement and success—in becoming a great factor in civilization.” Carter G. Woodson.
I hope you will share these short articles; perhaps a few people will be curious to learn more.
Disclaimer: Good Day, Readers. WealthBuildingPowers blog is a financial literacy/competency blog and does not provide specific investment recommendations.
BREAKING STEREOTYPES: FINDING ROLE MODELS WHO DEFY YOUR EXPECTATIONS!
I often hear unfamiliar names when I ask young black boys to name their heroes. They call out professional athletes earning millions of dollars. As a kid, these athletes are larger than life. They wear expensive jewelry, own expensive cars, and live in mega-mansions. The odds of a high school football player making it to the NFL are around 0.09%. Some children may have the necessary skills and drive to succeed, but many factors outside their control impact their chances of reaching the professional level. YOU MUST HAVE A BACKUP PLAN!
SEEING ROLE MODELS WHO LOOK LIKE YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE
My basketball skills are underwhelming. Putting it nicely, I suck.
My role models included authors, doctors, teachers, bankers, etc.
My aspirations following college included:
- Being a great and loving Dad
- Earning a corporate VP-level position.
- Achieving financial freedom
I achieved my aspirations by surrounding myself with mentors/role models who resemble me (Tall, Dark, and Handsome-LOL): Bill, my brother- Pharmaceutical SVP; Haves – Operations SVP; Marlow-Operations VP; Ron – Fortune 500 COO and Clifton, Engineer. Seeing people who look like you in positions of influence, success, and power will impact your self-esteem, confidence, and sense of possibility.
WHEN CHILDREN SEE ROLE MODELS WHO LOOK LIKE THEM, THEY ARE MORE LIKELY TO ACHIEVE THE IMPOSSIBLE!
Dad was not only my first role model but also my best. He inspired me and many others with actions that spoke louder than words. He showed us how to live a life of selflessness and kindness. One of the things that always touched my heart was how he always put family first. Every pay period, he would give money to his Mom and Mother-In-Law. On Saturdays, he would purchase groceries for his Mom. He sacrificed his own needs and wants for the sake of his loved ones, and he did it with a smile, never complaining.
He was a family man and an inspiration to the community. As a Principal, he preached the power of education and encouraged all his students to strive for excellence. He was a Boy Scout Leader, a Church Officer, and, most importantly, a great Dad. He was a role model who looked like us, with the same kind of curly hair and the same color of skin. He showed us that anything was possible and that we could become great if we worked hard.
He taught me the value of hard work, kindness, and selflessness. He showed me how to live life with purpose and passion, and most importantly, he loved me unconditionally. His actions spoke volumes about the kind of person he was, and I will always be grateful for his impact on my life. He was my hero and will always hold a special place in my heart.
ROBERT SMITH MATTERS
Robert Smith is the founder, chairman, and CEO of Vista Equity Partners, a private equity firm that invests in software companies. He was born on December 1, 1962, in Denver, Colorado, and grew up in a predominantly African American, middle-class family. Smith attended Cornell University, where he earned a chemical engineering degree before earning an MBA from Columbia Business School.
Under his leadership, Vista has become one of the world’s most successful private equity firms, with a portfolio of over 60 software companies and over $73 billion in assets under management.
In addition to his work in the private equity industry, Smith is also known for his philanthropic activities. In 2019, he made headlines for his pledge to pay off the student loan debt of the entire graduating class of Morehouse College, a historically black college in Atlanta, Georgia. The gift was estimated to be worth approximately $34 million.
THE IMPORTANCE OF SEEING PEOPLE WHO LOOK LIKE YOU SUCCEED!
When you are part of a minority group, it is easy to feel like you don’t belong or that your experiences are not understood. Seeing people who look like you in positions of power helps to counteract these feelings by providing a sense of connection and belonging.
Blacks of every age need to see the numerous role models in the world today, especially some that look like them.
CONCLUSION – THE POWER OF REPRESENTATION WILL IMPACT YOUR LIFE!
Earlier, I listed a few of my black role models, but I am blessed to have a rainbow of role models: Asian American, Indian, Chinese, White, Female, etc. They each inspire me and lend a hand when asked. They make me a better Dad, brother, friend, and man. I hope I bring value to them.
My “A Rainbow of Role Models” blog series is a labor of love aimed at proving to young people representation matters. You don’t have to settle for a narrow, one-size-fits-all definition of what a role model should look like. While President Bill Clinton may not seem like an obvious choice for a communications role model, he’s inspired me. And who knows, with the wonders of modern DNA testing, maybe Billy and I are distant cousins. If that’s the case, I’d like to officially welcome him to the family and thank him for strengthening my public speaking skills. He can help me improve using a teleprompter at the next family reunion!
Find role models who push you to perform and achieve MORE than you dreamed possible!
WHAT SUBJECTS DO YOU WANT TO READ NEXT? WHAT QUESTIONS CAN I ANSWER? UNTIL NEXT TIME!
LET’S MAKE SOME MONEY! CRYPTOCURRENCY IS BACK – I PREFER STOCKS MYSELF!
YOUR GREATNESS IS NOT WHAT YOU HAVE; IT’S WHAT YOU GIVE! CHARITIES I SUPPORT
St Jude Hospital: The mission of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is to advance cures, and means of prevention, for pediatric catastrophic diseases through research and treatment. Consistent with the vision of our founder Danny Thomas, no child is denied treatment based on race, religion or a family’s ability to pay.https://www.stjude.org/
Wounded Warrior Project: An American charity and veterans service organization that offers a variety of programs, services and events for wounded veterans of the military https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org
Folds of Honor: Providing life-changing scholarships to the spouses and children of America’s fallen or disabled military. And now, our mission expands to the families of America’s first responders. On our watch, those who protect our freedoms and our families will know they are not forgotten. https://foldsofhonor.org
Wilson’s No-Kill Animal Shelter: A N0-Kill shelter that is a top-rated non-profit. They compassionately care for all their animals. https://wcnkas.org
Tunnel To Towers: Since 9/11, we have been helping America’s heroes by providing mortgage-free homes to Gold Star and fallen first responder families with young children and by building specially-adapted smart homes for catastrophically injured veterans and first responders. We are also committed to eradicating veteran homelessness and helping America to Never Forget September 11, 2001. https://dogood.t2t.org/give/320847/#!/donation/checkout
TRUST ME – YOU WILL LIKE THE BELOW POPULAR BLOGS!
YOUR GREATNESS IS NOT WHAT YOU HAVE; IT’s WHAT YOU GIVE!
YOUR GREATNESS IS NOT WHAT YOU HAVE; IT’S WHAT YOU GIVE!
A RAINBOW OF ROLE MODELS {WEDNESDAY SERIES} – BADRINARAYANAN KOTHANDARAMAN, ENPHASE ENERGY, CEO
RAINBOW OF ROLE MODELS– TEACHER RAYMOND NELSON CREATES GENTLEMEN’S CLUB TO TEACH LIFE LESSONS TO BOYS WHO HAVE NO DADS AT HOME
A RAINBOW OF ROLE MODELS {WEDNESDAY SERIES} – MARIO HOOVER – 16 YEARS OLD!
A RAINBOW OF ROLE MODELS {WEDNESDAY SERIES} – LEGENDARY INVESTOR JOHN ROGERS JR
https://wealthbuildingpowers.com/2022/03/09/black-and-brown-role-models-series-legendary-investor-john-rogers-jr/
BLACK HISTORY MONTH ROLE MODELS {SERIES} – ROBERT L. JOHNSON, FOUNDER BET – FEBRUARY 24, 2022
BLACK HISTORY MONTH ROLE MODELS {SERIES} – JAMES AND JILEA HEMMINGS BECOME THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICANS OWNERS OF AN AUTONOMOUS GROCERY STORE – ON FEBRUARY 25, 2022
https://wealthbuildingpowers.com/2022/02/25/black-history-month-role-models-james-and-jilea-hemmings-become-first-african-americans-owners-of-an-autonomous-grocery-store-february-25-2022/
BLACK HISTORY MONTH ROLE MODELS {SERIES} BILLIONAIRE ROBERT F. SMITH – FEBRUARY 23, 2022
BLACK HISTORY MONTH ROLE MODELS -REGINALD LEWIS – FEBRUARY 22, 2022
https://wealthbuildingpowers.com/2022/02/22/black-history-month-role-models-reginald-lewis-february-22-2022/
“WHAT WE BECOME DEPENDS ON WHAT OUR FATHERS TEACH US AT ODD MOMENTS, WHEN THEY AREN’T TRYING TO TEACH US”
https://wealthbuildingpowers.com/2021/11/03/what-we-become-depends-on-what-our-fathers-teach-us-at-odd-moments-when-they-arent-trying-to-teach-us/
WE NEED MORE STEM MAJORS AND LEGACIES LIKE MYLES JOHNSON!
WE NEED MORE STEM MAJORS AND LEGACIES LIKE MYLES JOHNSON!
DADS WHO RAISED ME TO BE MORE THAN I COULD BE!
DADS WHO RAISED ME TO BE MORE THAN I COULD BE!
CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY – “EDUCATION IS THE MOST POWERFUL WEAPON WITH WHICH YOU CAN CHANGE THE WORLD” NELSON MANDELLA
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ABOUT ME
I am a proud nerd (as my beautiful wife and daughter have told me) investment and finance blogger with an N.C. State, Chemical Engineering, University Rutgers, MBA and Harvard University, Advanced Management education.
I left a corporate career because I desired to make a difference as a speaker and writer. I was blessed to be coached and mentored by strong women and men in my family and professional life. It is my time to serve and give back.
DISCLAIMER
I started my first business at ~13 years of age (a small but brilliantly created plant nursery). I am a successful investor in stocks, options, and real estate and am happy to share my finance and investment lessons. I am NOT a licensed financial advisor. Please do not construe my suggestions on this blog as recommendations for your situation. As an investor, you must establish your risk/loss tolerance. Investment in any asset involves risk, including complete loss.
Please seek your licensed CPA or fiduciary financial advisors for individual financial advice.
I write this weekly blog to make an impact by reaching an audience and demonstrating the need for financial literacy. I will help you get there.
