KUUMBA | CREATIVITY - Creativity Comes in All Forms

 Day 6 of Kwanzaa bring us Kuumba, or creativity. Full disclosure: I have tens of cousins and extended family members named Kumba so first I want to send a shout out to all my second born girl cousins who all seem to be creative souls. 

For me I wanted to speak on Creativity in a slightly different matter. When I think of creativity I think of resilience. I'll start with people I find creative:

Stevie Wonder - One of the youngest musical prodigies, Stevie overcame his disabilities to make music that touches the soul and creatively matches the activist mood of the country every step of the way.

LeBron James - As a 20 something, he was a super resilient athlete who knew his legacy would be tied to competing at the highest level and winning championships. Despite an owner and city bad-mouthing him (for leaving Cleveland) and fans burning his jersey he maneuvered the National Basketball Association (which primary is managed and coached by white males) to win championships with the Miami Heat. He returned to Cleveland and "delivered" a championship, and returned the luster and shine to my beloved LA Lakers franchise by winning a 4th title. He creatively did this when no other players did these types of things. He recruited players, now negotiates short-term deals so he can maximize his value (sound familiar), and uses his brand and platform for a school in Akron, his management team are people of color, his agent Rich Paul is black, and he is active politically... when most players previously didn't want to impact their business dealings and brand. Remember: "Shut Up and Dribble"

Streaming Content / Cord Cutters - A whole industry has been built off a simple premise I've written about here of the years. Why do I pay for channels I don't use?? When we cut the cord this year out of frustration with Comcast jacking their prices up (even though we could afford it), my technology boundaries led me to install an HD antennae. This was perfect for the kids as we get PBS, not much of a drop of there. It wasn't bad for the wife as most of her shows are actually non-cable TV shows. But boy, I took a hit, which the industry knew, because I follow sports and a few cable TV shows. Our family has saved easily over $150 a month by cutting the cord and just going to high speed internet and we showed resilience by not crawling back but creativity by treating ourselves to a ROKU streambar. A small investment got me a soundbar (not the best but decent) and introduced us to the creative world of streaming content. I can stream news channels and stock broadcasts and the kids can stream PBS and a few different cartoon options. My wife tapped her social network and now flips through Apple, Netflix, Hulu, HBO, and who knows what else. The most ironic thing is I recommended this stock and didn't fully understand the flexibility its technology was providing for this new generation of streaming and cutting traditional cord options. I now understand why Hulu wants to sell Live Sports and why Fubotv, a sports only streaming channel, skyrocketed 330% this year. 

State's Get Creative - Maybe the most creative thing I do, because of my job as a consultant/auditor is I am forced to listen to both sides. So I am one of the rare people that you will meet that wants to hear all angles before I begin my own investigation. I roll over in laughter as state and federal politicians preach those good ole puritan values. But the data tells me and it should tell you...they are doubling down in vices or supposed sin to fill their budget coffers. I won't go Boardwalk Empire on you...but you don't find it odd that your state:

• Offer Lottery Tickets
• Expanded Casinos and now is offering or looking into the growing world of sports gambling
• Offers Medicinal marijuana and many now make bank off of recreational marijuana (after years jailing minorities for something that magically becomes legal with the stroke of a pen?)
• Many cities are discussing reducing or removing drug tests because with the saturation of Meth throughout poor and middle-class America, Corporate America now can't find lower income white talent who can pass rigorously screening that often kept minorities out of their ivory towers. In my state, we've even discussed remediation centers, so these persons don't fill the jails and get a different path. Where was this creativity during the crack epidemic? Where were the work release programs for minority dealers selling weed, which we can't seem to control because the people have spoken: they were buying all that weed being sold and don't see the harm?

Front Line Workers - A personal message to the persons on the front lines. To be a part of the richest nation and day after day you had to patch together solutions so that you could try to have effective PPE, because we didn't stockpile or purchase enough is unacceptable. That is creative and God Bless You

My creativity I believe comes from going against the grain. When people turned against Tesla and Elon Musk, I decided to invest. When, I saw COVID-19 ravage China, I spoke out early. When many said the Sprint deal couldn't get done I creatively looked to simple clues like my Billionaire buddy and Sprint Chairman Masa Son selling his mansion (Mission Hills, KS) months before the deal as vindication this deal was gonna get done. Finally, in late Nov/early Dec I landed my 2nd corporate cyber project in as many months. The meetings were very smooth, so smooth our client decided to contact me directly via LinkedIn immediately after our discussion. Due to my company size, I often work through a middleman (because I still have a 9-5 job)...so when I learned I didn't receive the project I was floored. How could everything go so right with my client and this middleman tell me it's not going to happen. So I thought creatively, reached out on LinkedIn and voice my surprise but willingness to help him and his organization now and in the future. Strangely, a week later I get a call, the middleman now needs my help as the client wants me and my organization for the cyber project.

Don't be shy like Black Lives Matter was to be the voice that goes against the grain. The grain sometimes means you have a bunch of people entrenched that don't want to see change. I'm not sure city halls, police unions, and some people in our community want to see change...many love their comfort. Like my contract negotiation, some want to cut you, and maybe offer a lower priced vendor. I represented change a minority partner that was demanding my fair and sizeable share of the revenue for the work my company would be performing.  They didn't account for my subject matter expertise and my subtle comment to my client that we has so much in common there was no way we didn't have common colleagues in our line of work. That sowed a seed that creatively bucked the system wanting to cut me out of what I was entitled to. 

Please be resilient and use your KUUMBA. It's New Year's Eve, I wish you all a Happy and prosperous New Years. Peace and Love

NIA | Purpose - Purpose Driven Investing

 What is your Purpose? I've heard the best inventors, investors, musicians, and operators in the world are driven almost to madness to achieve their mission or purpose. If you recall my post of Netflix movies, you'll find a show called "Mindhunters". This show follows the development of the FBI's first behavioral analysis unit. No disrespect to local law enforcement, but it helped them stop guessing and use clues from the crime scene to narrow down a subject based on their behavior. One of the key persons in the show was an academic that first assisted the FBI as this unit was being developed. What stuck with me was she said after years of interviewing and analyzing people, CEOs and Politicians often have similar traits to the psychopaths they were tracking, interviewing, and studying. So a subtle reminder to be careful in your purpose driven mission because it's a thin line between helping people and filling your self-interest bucket.

So on day 5 of Kwanzaa I challenge you to find your purpose by finding ways to serve. The inventors who solve society's problems are celebrated. Facebook is my rolodex to everyone in my life before their were cell phones (I know imagine there was a time without cell phones). And what a compromise, I hate their data privacy practices but occasionally log on so I no longer have to keep a spreadsheet of my contacts (yes years back I kept a spreadsheet). Today my buddies on Wall Street are falling over themselves for ESG Investing. ESG is short for environmental, social, and corporate governance. So you mean the smartest nation in the world just NOW realized that we should be interested in preserving our planet, social justice and diversity issues, and ensuring that those CEOs who use their power to have relationships with their subordinates maintain good corporate governance. Wow it's 2020 and I need my billionaire friends on Wall Street telling me that ESG is in vogue and now is the time to move away from coal and eventually transition to electric, wind, hydrogen, and other solutions. I need my billionaire buddies to tell me its time to measure how many people of color and women are employed at some of the largest companies in the world AND more importantly how many of those persons are in senior management and C-Suite roles (positions of real power). It's hard for me to take them seriously because I see historically what I saw with colonialism. You stayed with strategies (slavery, coal, colonization, globalization) until they served your "purpose"...and then you peaced out.

So for me my overriding purpose is to serve by teaching those how I continue to build my core, my pillars. Being independent, able to strategically think on my own, able to complete in any setting in any part of the world means I am not easily influenced. We all have obstacles:

• When my last employer couldn't support the need for me to take care of an elderly parent in their golden years -- my approach allowed me to leave
• When I was told not to purchase a home on the South Side of Chicago - my purpose was public/private, a play on doing something that was good for me and my community. My home will double in price soon as I bought during the depths of recession (buy low, sell high) and I assisted in stabilizing my community
• When I first started as an independent contractor people told me I needed the safety of Corporate America -- haha I remembered laughing often and telling people companies stopped offering pensions decades ago. My CEO buddies come on CNBC and speak everyday and must hit quarterly earnings targets. Let's just say, they'll do what they have to make the numbers. I'm not concerned because with my dedication to my craft and 3 certifications, I have the confidence that I will be one of the few left standing --- but am I describing a job or the cutthroat show "Survivor". So I struck out on my own, negotiated deals in my favor, and actually stumbled into the best of both worlds. I have both a Corp job and a startup...funny thing is my client asked me to come on full-time...not me.

My startup company is to invest in people that are underrepresented in Corporate America so we can get them in the door. Next, I plan to invest in real estate for persons that usually get the worst housing selections because no one there isn't much choice for low-income Americans. I also want to create a hedge fund or wealth advisory/family office firm in the next 5-7 years. They don't know it but my mentors: Peter Lynch, Warren Buffet, Cathie Woods, Mario Gabelli, Seth Klarman, John Rogers and a few others have dropped enough nuggets over the years that my investing portfolio is achieving it's purpose - giving me an opportunity to retire early, invest in other projects, and donate to worthy causes.

So I challenge you to define your NIA, and together let's serve with a purpose by investing in our community and the world. God bless 

Stock Update: Today I am employing Tax Loss Harvesting. If you had a big year, many wins in your portfolio...did you know that yes the tax code allows you to sell losers in your portfolio and they offset the gains. You can carry a loss of $3K into the next tax year, no fear the government is here. But imagine that, most middle class Americans can't take advantage of this because they don't own stocks or manage their own portfolios. 

Ujamaa | Cooperative Economics - Master P + Baron Davis to Buy Reebok

 I got my toughest challenge a few months ago when someone tried to label me. I'm not one for labels, so I stumbled when asked "What are you?": a Mentor, Wellness Trainer, Personal Finance Advisor, Life Coach. I simply tell people I am a businessperson. I challenge everyone in the world to begin to act and think like one. Why??? Because once you leave the safety net of your parents home (usually @ 18 years of age), everything else in your life with be a contract --- economically and spiritually. I think back to leaving college and everything from the cell phone, apartment lease, rental truck, job offer, car loan, and monthly credit card bill were all contractual obligations. If I'm not a businessperson, then why am I signing a contract??

So it's only fitting that the black candle of Kwanzaa on Day 4 symbolizes my most blogged about subject, Cooperative Economics. Economics was one of my favorite subjects in school because it had basic assumptions that focus on what humans do when they are facing certain options --- the guns vs butter theory. A quick trip down memory lane:

A nation, and I apply this to your concept specifically to your household, must determine how to spend its monies (budget). If you spend it all on butter (food, schools, etc.) then everyone's bellies are full but this nation may not be safe. If you spend it all on guns (fences, alarms, rifles), then you may feel very safe but go hungry. Ironically, these are the simple items most people and politicians still fight about today. 

• Increase the security defense budget?
• Decrease the budget for food, school, and health assistance?
• What about arts, culture, drug mitigation, violence mitigation?

In your home, one must decide:

• Do you buy a home, how much?
• Do you buy that new car or take the bus?
• How much do we spend on food, toys, education?

All tough decisions but necessary ones that must be made. So my challenge is for people to be humble, focus on strengthening your knowledge and collectively working together to build and expand the economic profile of yourself and your family. Work hard, then harder as we have one life to live. If you're pop culture, you now call this concept the gig economy or accumulating side hustles. 

I call it UJAMMA - I look at how history has treated the middle class in America and across the world and more importantly I looked at how history has treated people of color, anyone who looks different. I took Economics and loved it and realized very quickly the data doesn't lie. The middle class is getting gutted and poorer, year after year. Communities of color make advancements, but due to government policies or the lack thereof suffer massive setback during recessions, depressions, and periods of health pandemics. If you've read my previous posts on this subject, this equates to a person of color losing a massive amount of their equity or wealth roughly every 8-12 years. 

So I challenge you to focus on where I spend most of my energy, achieving balance and UJAMAA. I have a cooperative of investments that ensure I will withstand things I cannot control and the things I know people will try to do to hold me down. 

• I have a saving account that will withstand 1-2 economic recessions
• I have an investment account to supplement my retirement and fund investments
• I work a Corporate job, earning pay and benefits such as a 401K which I've maxed out every year for 18 years (someone is giving you free money)
• I have a side hustle, where I work with persons of color, veterans, woman, single moms as I try to diversify Corporate America while bring them value in the Cybersecurity space
• I own real estate which pays for itself and provides income for my next real estate venture

I just learned that Master P and Baron Davis are looking to buy Reebok for roughly $2.4 Billion dollars. Ironically, what I was more interested in is who is the investment team that came together to pitch the deal terms. Fact is most deals done are done as a cooperative, in Silicon Valley they rely on Venture Capitalists and in our community we must embrace this concept. I also challenge you to shop with black owners but I challenge my black owners to think bold. My cyber services are not limited to a group of people, many of your products will need to be able to supply the world. This helps you achieve SCALE. A level where you can supply many people across the country and eventually the world. Sky's the limit

Ujima | Collective Work and Responsibility

 We often hear the phrase..."It Takes A Village", but as COVID-19 rages on I truly wonder if as a country we share those collective values. Growing up in the African community, Ujima or the belief in communal society was on display everyday. As a child, my parents were so avid that we did most things as a group...a community.  For example, when the seasons changed and spring was upon us my parents would remind our large family of the importance of being unified (Umoja) in our work and each of us being determined (Kujichagulia) in adding value to the garden we spent endless weeks of cultivating. Digging, tilling, seeding, watering, and fencing were the activities completed together until the project was done. I remember looking over at the basketball court that was calling me and my younger brothers names but my parents were adamant that we must collectively finish the task at hand first. Weeks and months later, it was hard to believe all of the plants and vegetables that were sprouting (some native to West Africa) in our backyard. I would laugh, my new "responsibility" was keeping our basketball away from the garden. 

The principle of Ujima is so important in my daily life. It helps me collectively work in Corporate America, it assists me in collaborating and debating contracts with companies/vendors, and it deepens my ties with my friends and colleagues who span many races, cultures, and points of time in my life. Successful people in Corporate America constantly talk about the importance of their network --- I call it their Ujima. Why because they use their network to collectively invest, manage risk, and build businesses together. There is not a day that goes by that I don't speak with persons in my network to grow my knowledge, challenge my thoughts, or to invest alongside with me should an opportunity exist. Unfortunately, there are not enough people of color yet that are able to invest in some of the assets I'm interested in. 

I'm sure my parents were teaching us life lessons each year we went out to garden, plant, and work together. Due to these lessons learned as a child, I was able to handle college group projects, Corporate America's hourly team meetings, and the responsibility of communicating goals and objectives that benefit my stakeholders (me, my family, my community). This is why I'm so outspoken about the African and African-American community getting stronger about defining their top 5-10 goals. Then going on an awareness campaign to educate ourselves and other communities about how helping us achieve those 5 - 10 goals will better the global community. For example, I do this for my business, myself, and I truly think this is what people like Ice Cube are trying to do when they create "plans" or "bill of rights" for our community. To avoid missteps made, this is not something to go at it alone, we need a collective to manage the risks, the optics, and fund the push.

My dad laid out our family's Ujima goals, which I think are similar to my pillars:

Education First - I remember having a stern discussion when I brought home all A's and 1 "B"; he knew I had it in me to consistently bring home all A's

Work - At 14, he used his "network" and the CEO of a local retail company gave me my first job at 14. I've never forget that summer I put in 40 hours a week @ $4.25. Boy was I tired that summer.

Health - To many peoples surprise, my father would randomly have us run down the block, and began having us participate is sports an early age. It was critical in our physical development, team/collective awareness, competitive nature, and humility in the face of defeat (we always shook hands). 

Spirituality - No matter what, we always made it to church. I remember reading scriptures to the Church as I completed confirmation and more importantly I remember how my father could lead prayers in both the Christian and Muslim faiths...not an easy task but what a way to collectively bring people together.

I wonder if our community and our plan could rally around some of these principles?? Finally, I would add in this day and age it takes financial support. We need to look to the government but also to these celebrated figures in our community to do their part. To be fair not all of them are billionaires but here a few examples of what some of my billionaire buddies give their money to which helps their communities:

David Tepper (Worth: $13.5 Billion, former minority share owner in Pittsburgh Steelers, now owner of the NFL Carolina Panthers, and MLS soccer team: Charlotte FC) - His donations of $67M to Carnegie Mellon will impact many in that community

Seth Klarman (Worth $1.5 Billion, investor trying to bring MLS soccer team to Las Vegas) - Mr. Klarman is a value investor like myself so we go way back just not as far back and me and Warren. Seth founded a foundation that clearly lays out the communities and areas of interest his donations serve: 

• Advancing understanding of the biological basis of health and illness
• Ensuring a healthy democracy
• Expanding access to vital services and enrichment opportunities in Greater Boston
• Supporting the global Jewish community and Israel

So on the 3rd Day of Kwanzaa, I remind people of Ujima. Don't just call on me for my vote. My community has needs that differ sometimes from that of other communities. It's okay to invest with me to advance, expand and support the global African community. My belief is that investments in my community will ensure a vibrant, diverse, and healthy democracy. Finally, to our growing list of million and billionaires (Jay Z, Robert F. Smith), please continue your collective work and focus on our community's goals just like my buddies David Tepper and Seth Klarman do. Your work will help our growing list of millionaires to learn how to do their part. Peace and love

Quick Stock Note: I finally bought a Roku device. I cut the cord many months back and love the decision. I do miss my sports and wonder if FUBO TV will benefit from those like me willing to pay for live sports. I'm nibbling at this trend, needs more research: Fubotv Inc (FUBO:NYSE)

Kujichagulia | Self-Determination - Own Your Destiny

 On the second day of Kwanzaa, I wanted to chat about Kujichagulia (self-determination). With so many obstacles affecting middle and lower class America, no matter your race you must be personally accountable every day for your actions. These actions each and every day are shaping the path you are and will take in life. I train people and coach them on how to improve their financial and personal well-being and often the common responses I get are:

"If you can do that for me"

"If you think this will work for me"

"So what do you think"

"I don't like all the changes/instructions/direction"

I remind those persons each and every day you choose your own path. I can't do anything for you (you can). I can provide my experiences and journey but you must tell me what works for your life. It doesn't matter what I think, it's your life to live. If you don't like what you see --- why did you choose it? And if you didn't choose anything yet, why do you feel compelled someone has made a decision for you...when they haven't. Do you feel the personal responsibility of having to decide, being accountable for the decision you made, and being on the hook for seeing it through.

For me, when I was 18, I looked back and had already seen a life of systemic oppression. In kindergarten, I was told I'd be yanked out of my public school path and put into a magnet school because of my then smarts. Yes a blessing, but a new path that meant two different buses to school each day and classes where most people did not look like me. I remember my 12th Grade teacher give me a surprising look when I told her I needed my National Honor Society document signed by her. I remember every white person in college, at work, and in my personal life asking me and my friends do we play sports. I remember most vacations, young white teens asking me if I could sell them drugs. I vividly remember coming back to my alma mater to assist with intern interviews and calling a candidate's name and no one came up. As I went to go back to my company's cubicle, a young white man called out, hey I "think" you're looking for me. I said you been sitting in the waiting room the whole time (with other students), why would you NOT answer after I've clearly read your name out loud. He said: "I was scared, I saw a big (pause) man standing there...and". I quietly knew the code he was speaking of. This young white man was willing to miss an interview with a premier consulting firm because a black man IN A SUIT, in a large room full of recruiters (and students) in cubicles (tens of us) --- called his name. Again I repeat, he almost missed an interview because of his privilege and prejudices. 

This is why roughly two decades ago I started this blog with one thing in mind. A determination to always be balanced because I have and will always face obstacles in my life. I needed options so my balance stems from my pillars and I vowed to never be financially dependent on anyone or any company (entity). That why I work in Corporate America on terms I find manageable, own my own startup consulting firm, managed a growing investment portfolio and have a rental property to mine name. I can individually live of each of these separately except for my rental property. I technically retired a few years ago (2 years behind my goal of 35) as I humble enough to retire to a modest ranch home paid off in most urban cities of America. But I'm also determined to help people understand how to be personally responsible for their own path and independence -- but you must be determined to roll up your sleeves and do the work yourself.

Kujichagulia (self-determination)

New Stock Shout-Out: Game Stop (if you read until the end, now tell me how can I like a company so hated)

Umoja | Unity - Unity in Life, Investing, and Service

 I start of this post remember the acts of my late father. He was a professor, spiritual leader, and African elder who took the responsibility of passing down history and culture seriously.  I am a better servant and businessman because of the life principles he shared with me every day. As a professor of geography and sociology, he taught me about how human society developed and evolved and as the world evolved I had deep recognition of different countries and cultures of the world. So I begin my post as he began his prayers: recognizing our ancestors and their contributions, praying for those who've left us but still watch over us, and a principled message to all, but in particular the youth who will carry the torch in the future.  After Christmas, this principled message was about the teaching of Kwanzaa.

Umoja | Unity

My parents were and are the depiction Umoja. They believed so much in unity that for over 20+ years they held a multi-cultural New Year's Eve party that would pack our tiny 3 bedroom 1 bathroom ranch home with over 50,75, 100+ people each year. The goal was to bring Africans from entire diaspora, Americans, and anyone that needed a safe place to ring in the New Years. People would travel from all parts of the US to be at this party. And each year it started the same way:

Prayer - We prayed for Unity, Love, Good Heath, and so much more

Libation - We poured libation and remembered our ancestors and loved ones that have past. This is critical is a year marred by COVID-19. Don't forget

Lighting of Kwanzaa Candles - Finally after teaching the youth about the principles of Kwanzaa (yes Africans bring their kids to a party), a young person from the crowd would light the Kwanzaa candles.

Today is first day of Kwanzaa and I want to remind everyone of the importance of UNITY. We are a village and your actions or inactions can have collateral damage to your network. For example, you have a right to not wear a mask, but if you are the reason why some contracts COVID-19, have you no responsibility in their outcome? I remind people that I have billionaire buddies (not really but you get the point) that most people outside of the business community have no clue who they are:

Bill Ackman, Seth Klarman, Paul Singer, Mario Gabelli, Carl Icahn, Reid Hoffman, Jack Dorsey, Marc Lasry, Steve Cohen, Robert F. Smith. (I held off naming: Mark Cuban, Bill Gates, Warren Buffett, Elon Musk to make my point)

I say this on a day of Unity --- You are not my competition. Truss...so when I or someone asks for a vendor referral, ask for advice on a new investment, help you increase your net worth I implore you to be principled in helping others. This mentality that you did it on your own, you got that great mortgage, house, job, investment on your own is flawed. Everyone has had help along the way. So many where influential in helping me, and yes I did the heavy lifting but the key they gave me to opening that door was so important. We will need to be unified to play in the Big Leagues against my buddies I mentioned above...and truss they believe in herd mentality. Many invest together, donate together, and influence politics together because they realize their is strength in numbers. There is a reason why most of my buddies own sports teams, outside of the countries that own a majority of the oil deposits around the world, sports is the last known cartel. The price NEVER goes down, need proof: just from the list above Marc Lasry (owner of Milwaukee Bucks), Steve Cohen (owner of NY Mets), Tillman F (owner of Houston Rockets)...the list goes on. They partner and invest together often through knowledge sharing and compensating each other when they've truly been helped. I haven't even mentioned my Asset Management and hedge fund billionaire buddies at Blackstone, KKR, The Carlyle Group, and Apollo who often collect 2% of all assets they manage annually and 20% of any profits they make for their uber wealthy clients. We call this 2 and 20 in the industry and the wealthy across the world line up to invest in their funds...not for a hook up or for free...but so that they continue to collectively win.

It's time for us to collectively win...Umoja

Managing Dave Chappelle's Contract | Leeds x Roc Nation | Chris Paul + Bill Ackman

 My job is to manage risks and for some of the largest organizations around the world. They run some of the most complex business activities and I often keep my head on a swivel to ensure that the impact of various risks (political, economic, social, technology, legal, and environment) are thoughtfully considered. It often leads me to believe that people often incorrectly:

a) take on too much risk

b) assume risks they were unaware of

c) calculate risk vs reward (can lead to not taking action when things are actually in your favor)

Here are the concepts I consider everyday when managing risks and negotiating deals:

1) Leverage / Strength in Numbers - I list this as my first concept I often think about when I'm doing business negotiations. It's necessary because far too often the persons on the other side of the table do NOT look like me, may not take/respond to my call or business offer, or take your meeting BUT do not take you seriously. Here is Dave Chappelle with little leverage when he was first pitching his show:

Chappelle revealed that he pitched the concept for “Chappelle’s Show” to HBO before it landed at Comedy Central in the early 2000’s. The comedian claimed that the premium cabler’s execs “kicked me out of the office,” and asked him “what do we need you for?”

2) Own Your Work / Know The Terms of the Deal - You often hear me cite this as my most important principle because everyone signs contracts/agreements in life. IF you do not know what any terms in that document mean...use my rule: stop / question / demand. Being a risk manager, I read many of my own and other people's contracts - so I stop reading, question a section, and demand a change that's more favorable to my cause. A recent example of this is I was awarded my 2nd contract in as many months. I spent over 4 hours reading the 18+ page contract and made significant changes to the language that were NOT in my best interest. If you have "Leverage" (like I shared before) it will be easier to get these changes across. And always know which terms/risks are dealbreakers --- yes some terms are not meant to be compromised. Once you hand me a contract, I trust no one. And for very complex items, I am NOT afraid or too cheap to go and get additional legal representation to further review the deal. 

Dave on his first Contract: “I was desperate, I needed a way out,” Chappelle claimed was his reasoning at the time. “It wasn’t good money and it wasn’t good circumstances, but what else am I going to do I said? All these white people sitting at that table told me trust us Dave it’s a good contract, and I looked around the table and they all seemed to agree it was a good contract. But what if it was like that game of three-card monte? What if they were all friends and I didn’t know it?”

I often focus on terms that indicate "all the ways" I might owe you money (usually I'm on the receiving end of being paid as an in demand consultant) and "all the ways" you owe me or might make money off of me. It's unclear but I think Dave may have had a resident deal - meaning he got paid as long as he worked/was an employee of the company. My question to a younger Dave is: a) Who owns the work, you or them?? b) what happens if you leave -- do you still get paid? c) What happens if your show hits syndication, re-run status, sold to another network do you get incremental / royalty / payments for your work still being used?? (Notice a simple question like this is not unheard of as the Cosby Show went into syndication if I am correct AND it would have address future situations and oddly enough new tech like streaming)

Dave on NOT being paid after leaving ViacomCBS: "They (ViacomCBS) didn't have to pay me because I signed the contract" "But is that right? I found out that these people were streaming my work and they never had to ask me or they never had to tell me. Perfectly legal 'cause I signed the contract. But is that right?"

3) Know Your Value / "ADD VALUE" to your Customers - At the beginning, negotiating deals was difficult because I would often think every deal is the most important deal and then I would be frustrated as the deals were close to being completed but NOT ultimately the terms I wanted. I had my lightbulb moment one day, when 3 companies called me about the same deal. haha the funniest or most maddening thing was the terms of the deal were very different even though all 3 companies were calling about THE SAME PROJECT. I started with the highest bidder and forced the others to match and/or come in higher -- amazingly I got the following "please allow me to escalate this to my senior level executive we don't want to lose you". Yeah that's what I thought. So from then on I set my own terms, take it or leave it. I know my value/my worth and what I offer and I'm sure it's hard to find in the industry. Please put me in contact with a decision maker. As you know, I am owner of Manchester United's stock so I was pleased to see another English Premier League club in the news and THEY had decided to partner their marketing/growth vision with Roc Nation. Leeds is tiny compared to Man U but relax and take notes, they wanna go places and teaming up with a black-owned enterprise when you participate in a sport that has many black, African and international players is simply strategic. I hope more ownership in the NFL take note as Colin Kaep is still not on the field...unacceptable. Here is the Leeds Mural celebrating their partnership:

4) Social Justice (No Longer Be Silent) - Affordable housing is becoming a bigger issue as the United States is becoming more of a renter nation. The new trend is new homes are built and being sold to investors like myself who in turn rent those immediately to renters. Not sure who can afford to rent a brand new house but I am just sharing the latest trends we talk about. Well my billionaire buddy Bill Ackman (who is worth $2.2 Billion) and Chris Paul appear to be investing through their family foundations (yeah you're rich when your family has a foundation) in affordable housing. The $357 million investments appear going to Bobby Turner the CEO of Turner Impact Capital to develop affordable housing for working families. This appears to have a social impact to it, but to be clear, I've not read the prospectus for this fund. I truly hope it targets the communities of color that are disproportionately affected by the affordable housing crisis. But again I don't judge, maybe I'll see if I can learn more about the investment fund and if I like what I see...why not invest.

Bill Ackman and Chris Paul Affordable Housing

Stitch Fix (SFIX) -- How Your Shopping Actually Helps My Wallet

 Stitch Fix reported quarterly earnings today and they blew their expected earnings number out of the water. The online personalization shopping experiment is here to stay for now. I tiptoed into this stock probably around the middle of May 2019 and the ride has been bumpy since then.  Being that I'm a bit old school, I actually like this stock for a simple reason...if my online personalization shopper (likely a combo between a computer and real person) finds something that works for me, I joke I don't even want you to experiment...just get me one of every color of that shirt. And comfortable pair of jeans, nope don't need new ones until these are worn out. Now I'm sure their tool is way more sophisticated then that but heck as long as they don't veer too far off from what works and fits well --- I think many people will give up the department store shuffle. Clothes off rack --- race to the fitting booth ---- damn how does a size smaller fit me in this designer and I need a size bigger with a different designer. 

I think the lazy habits of us all makes this an ideal play for measure me, I try it on, once you know what works --- bingo, keep repeating that model.  So back to the reason for my post. 

Stitch Fix is UP more than 30% and it just occurred after they reported earning. SFIX was one of the few retail stocks that was a downer in my portfolio and I'm surprised to say no more. I have a healthy profit and hope you do too if you've been following and stuck with the downers in my portfolio. Little tip, these are the stocks in the last few weeks that are starting to outperform. Don't remember those names, well just click here for SFIX and my retail stocks that are now soaring:

How My Defensive Stocks Are Now on Offense

Chart Game:

And yes if you eat Red Robin, by shoes from Foot Locker, use Kohls cash, buy Coach bags, watch CBS, ready USA Today or watch your local news station --- I'm a fan of your and appreciate you.

Stock Motivation 101 - Standing Ovation: Your 1st 10 Bagger

These are more than words, this is more than rap

This is the streets and I am the trap

Standing ovation

Standing ovation

Once upon a time, I used to grind all night (grind all night)

With that laptop screen, that was iPod white (yeeeeeah)

I'm a boss, I got Juice like the magazine (jeah)

And everyday I see CEOs like a magazine (ha ha)

Psychopathic wordplay, schizophrenic flow (flow)

I guess it's safe to say I got schizophrenic dough (daaaaamn)

Artist: Young Jeezy / Album: Thug Motivation 101 / Song: Standing Ovation

Not too long ago, I watched two rappers, Young Jeezy and Gucci Mane square off on the VERZUZ platform. For me, VERZUZ is a musical boxing ring - one artist plays/performs a song and then the next artist gets their opportunity to play a memorable track. This internet only event live streamed over 1.6M+ people watching two titans of the south battle over of the world's favorite trap rap classics. Before I segway, I want to remind people this is the power of positivity as this internet only event easily competed with the viewership of the American Music Awards and many other prime time events that week. This event showcased two talented people of color who have been at a literal cold war for over two decades and shows how growth, maturity, and time can begin to heals old wounds. Imagine the business that can be done for our people in Atlanta if these two dare to work together in the future...powerful stuff.  Shout out to Stacey Abrams for making a brief appearance during the show. She reminded us of the important work that needs to be done on the streets. Voting, changing hearts, changing lives.

I'll segway to a first ever event I've had as an investor, Collectors Universe deserves a "Standing Ovation".  Why does it deserve a standing ovation? Well when I first taught myself to begin trading stocks at the age of 17, I use to listen to my dawg, the big homie Mario Gabelli. Yes, he's on the Forbes Billionaire list, has a business school named after him, has large stakes is a shitload of companies...and most people don't know he's one of the top 1500 of billionaires. 

Over the years on CNBC, Mario would describe this almost magical feeling (in my mind) about owning an asset that increases over time to a monumental threshold called a "10 BAGGER"! This sweet utopian moment is when your investment has increased over 10 FOLD! Collectors Universe has been on an amazing tear this year and hit this unicorn status for me, for us this year. Here was the latest news that jointly cemented our legacy in history:

Collectors Universe to be Acquired by Investor Group Led by Entrepreneur and Collector Nat Turner for Approximately $700 Million.  

Note: Don't forget Steve Cohen, yes the investor who just bought the New York Mets is a part of this investment group as well.

Steve and this Nat Turner fellow ended my run but let's take a bow. Here is a nice montage to CLCT, they were a part of the family. Here is what Collectors Universe does: 

A 10 bagger means if you would have invested $1K with me it would have gone to $10K. This deal closes in in 2021. Can't wait to get into some "Good Trouble" with such a profitable investment. 

#mariogabelli #natturner #stevencohen #collectorsuniverse #10bagger #youngjeezy #stockmotivation101