The Cycle of Poverty: Jordan Shoe Investment

Last week in Dallas, TX riots broke out as consumers rushed to purchase the "Cool Grey" Michael Jordan shoe. For years Jordan shoes have been considered collectors items, fashionable necessities and definitions of style. In 2001 Jordan issued the same shoe for only 24 hours and the 2001 version now sells for over 400 dollars on eBay. What is the significance? I went to the mall two days after Christmas to see at least 3 people wearing the “Cool Grey” shoe. Still isn’t clicking yet? Well, since the beginning of the Jordan shoe empire the shoes themselves have proven to be worthy investments! However, many consumers buy, wear and tarnish their worth in the sake of fashion! It is not surprising that the largest consumers of these shoes are those in the lower and middle class, which is evidence to the thought process of many low income citizens. Too often we cheat ourselves, making emotional decisions that ultimately contribute to our demise. We buy a shoe that a few years later could be worth triple what we paid for them. We wear them because we want others to know we have the money to buy them, we then flaunt them at every function to possibly catch a glimpse of recognition from our peers and while the rich are building interest on their investments we are losing it. There lies the cycle of poverty. We don’t have, so we buy and act like we have to feel like we compete with those who do have and because of our poor decisions we will never have, at least not consistently. Time is money. Investments take time and emotions can often get in the way of us using our time wisely!! I encourage you to look carefully at what you do and buy in the times ahead. Strive for long term wealth instead of quick meaningless affirmations of self worth. Sacrifice now to celebrate later. The decisions we make today are the keys to our success in the future.

YOU"VE JUST BEEN CARESSED

THE 3 AMBITION TYPES: WHERE WILL YOU BE IN 5 YEARS

Have you reached your peak, your plateau your highest point? Have you done all there is to do? There are 3 types of people in the world, and no I don’t mean personality types but ill classify these as ambition types. There are those who are complacent with mediocrity, those who are happy with enjoying the “now” without regard to the future. On the other hand there are those who couldn’t sit on a porch and do nothing without going completely crazy, those who must strive for the future because the “now” just isn’t good enough. Lastly there are those who live in the future and want so desperately to silence their cell phones, cancel their meetings and enjoy a glass of wine by the fire. The question now is, which ambition type are you? Those over the age of 50 may identify more with ambition type #1, sipping lemonade on a hot day, naming each car by make and model as they pass by. Type # 2 are the 25 and up crowd working to make life better and easier in the future, paving the way as some would say, constantly striving to “one-up” their parents and grandparents. Type # 3 should be those 25 and under who flash full speed ahead creating and innovating! As the type 1’s always say, “we are the future”, or are we? Society has reversed the ambition cycle and now more and more youth are content with life as it is! They no longer spend their nights planning and inventing, we now play video games, check friend statuses and reach for nothing beyond the table in front of us. Where has the ambition gone? We sit idle watching celebrity news but know nothing of real news! We spend nights at bars instead of coffee houses, planning business ventures. We can find friends from elementary school on Facebook but we cant find a job. We have deserted determination and no longer push for progress. Now is the time! It’s now or never, where will you be in 5 years? Sitting on the porch watching cars pass you by or will you self motivate yourself using every bit of the energy God has blessed you with to fulfill a purpose beyond you or the present. Be the future once again!!!!!!!!

YOU'VE JUST BEEN CARESSED