Charm

Good Day Peoples,


Hope the weekend was fruitful for every body. Here's a little something to get you all through the day and end it with a more positive note. I embrace all that I'm gonna share with ya'll.

Call it what you want, personal magnetism, charisma, chutzpah, or allure but it’s something every man wants and very few actually have, charm. Some think that you’re either born with it or you’re not. And while it’s true that some of us ooze the stuff without even having to try, for others it’s a quality that can be learned, so pay attention and I’ll tell you how.

I consider myself as always being a charming devil, you my readers know that. It goes back to my school days when I was a little crazy kid, and no matter how naughty I was, I could always count on my charm ability to make the adults smile, ruffle my hair and send me on my way. This is because even then I knew about the importance of charm.

In fact, charm is such a powerful tool that it is sought after by virtually everyone. Politicians, actors and businessmen have all craved it (and so have many others). This is because, once you’re equipped with a degree of charm, you’ll find that you can open doors that would otherwise remain closed.
So how do I get it, you ask? Here are seven tips to help you get started:

Remember and Use Peoples' Names
This lets people know they are important enough for you to have remembered them, and it makes them feel special. You might think it’s a very minor thing to do but, really, you’d be amazed at the number of people you can win over just by using their first name. But, be careful not to use it too much or you may come across like a used car salesman.

Project Confidence
The truly charming simply exude poise and grace, so keep in mind that the way others see you often says more than the words you utter. First impressions are paramount, and if you want to be taken seriously, you must have good posture. Unlike the fairy tales you read or the bad movies you watch, hunchbacks and slouches never end up saving the day or getting the girl.

Be A Good Listener
Ask plenty of questions in social situations, especially with people you have just met. It shows that you are interested in others and, in turn, they will find that endearing. If you try too hard to be the center of attention, people won’t find you charming, just annoying.

When To Check Your Pride

Good Day Peoples,

Something they don’t teach you in the streets is the “when” and the “where” to maintain your composure. As much as there is a time to stand up for yourself and hold your ground, there is also a time to concede a little gravitas. If some clown is making an attempt on your reputation, you have a right to call 'em out. However, heed this warning: Your pride can be as much of a blessing as it is a curse. Take a deep breath and reflect upon a situation before making any rash decisions. Would you take a crack at building a house without looking at the blueprint first? When dealing with certain people, it’s better to act instead of react. So here’s how to know when to check your pride or not.

When There’s Rewards To Be Had
The workplace: Like it or not, success in life was conceived here. Unless you want to grind it out day in and day out to make ends meet, I suggest you stick with the programme and do your job without complaining. Hey, I understand your pain. Everybody wants to be his own boss, it’s human nature, but sometimes you gotta know when to check your pride and bow down to those with the power to make or break you. Recessionary times call for recessionary measures. If your boss asks you to do some BS busy work, don’t protest like a little child. Lose your pride for a moment, wait in line for your promotion and stick it to the man when you’re on top. A better paycheck and respectable title are closer than you may think.

When You’re Fighting A Battle You Can’t Win
It seems like everybody’s using this phrase these days: don’t bring a knife to a gunfight. Maybe it’s a bit cliche, but it still rings true, especially when you’re on the job. Have you ever found yourself on the wrong end of an argument with your coworkers that you know you can’t win? Try to be agreeable and don’t force your agenda if all its gonna do is make you look like a proud little girl. Be man enough to admit you’re not always right and you’ll save some embarrassment.

While Dealing with Family
If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a million times, Nothing is more important than family. You may have your differences, and guess what? I bet most of the time you’re on the right side of the debate. However, some relationships are more important than your pride, and this is true while dealing with your family. If you want to know one instance of when to check your pride, it’s when dealing with family.

Never Forget Mother's Day

Good Evening Peoples,

Hope all's been well. Today's topic is from the heart as it always is. An important day passed and I realized that a bunch of us men gave little regard to it. Gentlemen, as you all know, Mother's Day was just around the corner. For those of you who forgot, this is the day to honour the woman that brought you into this world. Since everyone knows how much sons love their mamas, I feel it is my duty to write this piece, so pay attention.

 

Mothers: Unsung Heroes

Mothers Day is the time to recognize our mamas as the unsung heroes of our society. My grandmother once told my mother, "From the day your child is born to the day you die you will never stop worrying." Now that is what I call pressure. Most of us can barely stand worrying about ourselves, imagine having to worry about three other people too.

It is often said that a mother holds an intimate, inexplicable bond with her child. When her child feels pain or joy, so too does she. The path of motherhood is not an easy one, and the women that chose this path should be commended; they have chosen a road filled with hardships that we men will never fully comprehend. 

Mothers: Lifelong Dedication

From the day her child is born to the day she dies, a mother will laugh, cry, ache, and ultimately feel what her child feels. As men, we don't understand this very well, however, it is crucial for understanding our mothers. Although our society increasingly shuns the role of a mother, I am not about to dismiss the idea that mothers are at the center of families. A mother is the glue that holds a family together. Mothers don't get the credit or respect they deserve these days, so, show her some love on Mother's Day, dude.

African Mother

Of course, being African just about assures that I love my mother and that I would do just about anything to help her out. I'm a mama's boy, you got a problem with that? I didn't think so. But the love and respect I have for my mama is not blind. She has earned it through blood, sweat and tears. She has earned it through countless nights by my side when I was feeling ill. She has earned it through the innumerable evenings and weekends spent taking my siblings and me to all sorts of events. She has earned it by living less large so she could put her kids through school. Of course, my father had a lot to do with that too, but he'll get his turn on Father's Day.

She has earned it through self-sacrifice; some mother would go one week without food so that their child could eat one meal. She has earned it through her strength as a person. When she was sick, depressed or tired, she did her best to not let it show and still took care of us. She didn't burden us with the pressures of the outside world. She carried those pressures, her pressures, our pressures and the family's pressures, on her back the whole time. She didn't complain, fuss or make a big deal about it; that is what a good mother does. And a great, hold on, extraordinary, mother she is.

She taught me fortitude in the face of hardships, courage in the face of downfalls, confidence and strength in the face of adversity, humility in the face of achievement, perseverance in the face of failure, and pride in the face of a job well done. My mum taught me a lot more things, but I can only write so much. I'm sure you all get the idea (for those of you who don't, why don't you check in to the local guest for a permanent stay?).

Family Is Key

Our was not always rich, we never had a brand new Benz parked in the house garage; come to think of it.   At the center of it all was my mama. I'm not trying to sound sappy here, boys, but I must give credit where credit is due. From birth to adulthood, my mother nurtured me and to this day I do not think I'll be able to repay my mama for all that she has done for me. But I can assure you, guys, of one thing: I will try hard and you should all do the same.

Happy Mother's Day to all mothers!

Watch your back, boys, and keep your noses clean.

the audacious truth

Should You Vouch For Anyone

Good day peoples. It's been a long minute since I last graced you with my thoughts. I'm back now so here goes:

Do you know the difference between a "friend of mine" and a "friend of ours"? If you're not up to date on your Sopranos lingo crap, I'll clue you in Sherlock. A friend of mine is someone I know and do business with, and who I will vouch for as trustworthy for you to do business with as well. A friend of ours is someone who is part of my other Family, who is in La Cosa Nostra , you know, a wiseguy. Vouching for him goes without saying.

What do they have in common? In both cases, when you are speaking on their behalf, you are giving your personal seal of approval and your assurances that he is the guy. You are essentially saying, "I know this guy. I trust this guy. He's like my brother and you can trust him, too. I give you my word. I give you a money back guarantee, if he screws up, you can take it out on me.

Whether you realize it or not, when you vouch for someone, you're also taking responsibility for anything that goes wrong, as if you're co-signing a loan for someone. Now, you wouldn't co-sign a loan for a degenerate fool, would you? So you shouldn't vouch for anyone who will make you look bad.

WHO SHOULD YOU VOUCH FOR?

This is the million dollar question, who deserves your putting your reputation on the line? If you tell me "everyone I surround myself with, I would vouch for," I'll slap you across the head three ways to tomorrow. You should be able to count on one hand the amount of people you would go the whole nine yards for. There is only a handful of people I would trust with my life and my rep.

A man you vouch for has to be beyond reproach, beyond corruptibility, beyond being careless, and your faith in his abilities to deliver an end product has to be unquestionable. Anyone you vouch for, you have to have some kind of history with. You need a track record with that person because only time and opportunities allow you to see if your good buddy is a good buddy under any and all circumstances.

Like I said before, when you vouch for someone, you have to ask yourself: "Would I give this guy my bank account number and trust that he'll never steal from me? Trust, reliability, responsibility, and accountability are all traits of someone you want to vouch for. But nothing beats the test of time and the test of having been around the block with a guy a few times.

Even if a guy is reliable in business, if he's useless in his personal life, it won't take long for the apple to fall from close to the tree, or whatever that goddamn expression is. Eventually the "stupid" gene spills over into his business life. I've heard of many stories and personally done plenty of business with guys like this, but I have never given anyone reassurances about them.

CAN YOU VOUCH WITHOUT VOUCHING?

Because the number of people you'll give your bank account number to is limited to one hand, and since there are plenty of other good people you know, but not well enough to vouch for, you have to come up with some middle-ground solution. If you need to do a "quasi-vouch," always qualify it. Tell whomever that you have no complaints about the person but you can't put your reputation on the line...