The First Feelings of Fatherhood - Seko Varner

The 1st Feelings of Fatherhood
'Sunday Schooled' is a collection of blog posts from Seko Varner's former blogs. This original post is dated 09/06/2008 while Seko's father was alive. Originally posted here: http://daddyvarner.blogspot.com/2008/09/first-feelings-of-fatherhood.html 
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Roman calendar June ninth in the Christian year 2000. This was a Friday morning. I'd secretly call him Kofi (male child born on a friday) and he would be known as "Trooper" for the first seven days of his life. The hospital recorded him as Baby Varner. Weeks prior the staff at the hospital shared with me and the expectant Wifey that a child had to have a name prior to leaving the hospital. I told her than it wasn't the tradition of my culture to name the child upon birth. She asked me what my culture was. I said 'Pan-African' (I had to come up with something, I wasn't prepared for that question). I then asked her if she would have this conversation with me if she thought I was Jewish. She admitted that if she thought I was Jewish she wouldn't have asked for the name prior to birth. Seventeen months later as the Wifey and I had our pre-delivery session at the hospital the hospital staff smiled at me when she omitted the section for the child's name saying "You'll name the child in seven days right...?"

The first time I held my child was marvelous, magnificent, and truthfully ............ I don't remember it. I remember doing the counter-pressure pushing against Wifey's back as she screamed bloody murder providing me with the 'natural' birth that she knew that I wanted our child to have. She was a trooper also. He came out screaming bloody murder as I fell onto my knees to worship but ended up barking like an Omega as the doctor stated "You have a son." The look on the doctors face was priceless. He didn't know what to think of me in earlier sessions and today I'm in the Grand Buba that I wore at my nuptials, and that I plan to be buried in barking loudly. The family was in the room outside the delivery room and they came rushing in after I scared the Doctor and delivery staff excited awaiting the newest VArner child. My brother Daniel videotaped the whole event, he almost fainted when the son came through the delivery canal. On the video that he captured you can see the baby's head pop though and then Daniel says "Oh my God" and the camera lens goes from the delivery scene to the ceiling with the sound of a thud as his head hit the wall. That day: I remember pouring libation and praying, thanking God for a safe delivery and a son. I remember taking him to the nursery and I remember how he wouldn't stop crying in the hospital room. I don't remember touching my son. I know I cut his umbilical cord. I know I changed his diaper. I know I fed him. I know I cleaned him. I know I wrapped him in swaddles. I just don't remember holding him.

This became important to me as I was watching "City of Men", the Brazilian film of one of the worst areas in Brazil. During the film a depiction of the nurse encouraging the father to hold the child for the first time. He was afraid. I had held and guided children for over 15 years prior to this day...... I was afraid too. What struck me the most was while watching this movie I realized that I can't remember holding my son for the first time. Seventeen months later I don't remember holding my daughter for the first time. Now the son is eight and the daughter is six and I'm about 50 pounds heavier and I hold them as often as I can. I perform "the blessing of the head ritual" everyday as they prepare to board their bus. I ask God to "bless their head so that they may think of you, bless their face so that they may face you, bless their eyes so that they may seek you, bless their noses so that they may breathe your spirit, bless their mouths so that they may speak of you, bless their ears to that they may hear you, and bless their shoulders to carry your cross." As I finish this the son and I try to punch each other leaving a religious/sentimental moment with a fun filled macho guy touch. The blessing of the daughter's head ends with a big huggie and blown kisses. I may not remember the first touches, but I'm ensuring that they will remember the embraces we shared. Hopefully those embraces will mean as much to them as they mean to me.

My first fatherly feelings: Struggling for cultural continuance, feeling the resistance as the wifey pushed them through, feeling a reason to worship, feeling as reason to express joy, and then fear........... Thanks Almighty, we bless your presence.
Seko
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Let's be improved ! 

Seko Varner is from Positive Vibes Financial, a World Financial Group team of financial services agents. We are able to held reduce debt, make better use of income, and invest for the best results. Seko also has ownership in and works with Positive Vibes DJs and the event marketing service Happily Ever After.Be. Seko has a background in counseling and special education. He was employed for 14 years with Portsmouth City Public Schools (Virginia) as a counselor and as a teacher. Seko has also worked as an Intensive In-Home Counselor for over 10 years. In addition to his business ventures Seko is active with numerous Youth Mentorship programs and has a background in radio and television media. Visit http://www.HappilyEverAfter.Be for more details.

Happy Hispanic Heritage Month Afrikan People !

From September 15th to October 15th America celebrates the cultures and traditions of the citizens that trace their language roots to Spain. It is estimated that the Hispanic population consists of over 48 million Americans, making it the largest ethnic race or minority. One of the elements that has limited exposure while we celebrate Hispanic Heritiage is the African presence in the Hispanic/Latino. To that end, we step in:

Check our links: Learn our story:

http://blackimprovement.blogspot.com/search/label/Latino

http://blackimprovementmedia.blogspot.com/search/label/Latino

http://blackhistoryclass.blogspot.com/2008/11/lesson-16-of-27-afro-latinos.html

Back when we were Negroes

Hotep All,

Was forwarded this and I must say an interesting read. But I implore the author and all who read this to think … What about back "BEFORE" we were Negroes. When our Ankhcestors created the world's first calendar, first alphabet and writing system, gave the world the knowledge of the Universe, created the world's first system of science and medicine, and most importantly gave the world its first concept of spirituality. Oh how we forget…

If we do not question history as it is popularly written, we only learn what the writers of history want us to know. If we spend the time and effort to do our own investigation, we might reach different conclusions, conclusions based upon facts previously unrevealed to you in traditional spiritual (religious) writings. If we don't learn how to sort out fact from fiction, we will never be in control of our own destiny.

I now conclude by sharing with you what I was told by one of 'OUR Black Historians' a while ago about the word "facts." Facts, I was told, are stronger than argument, more profound than reasoning, more dependable than opinions, silences dispute, supersedes predictions, and facts always end the discussion.

Nehast (Wake-up),
Asar Maa Ra Gray

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Subject: Fwd: Fw: Fwd: Back when we were Negroes

Back When We Were Negroes

There was a time until the early 1960s when the terms to describe those of African decent, like me - African-American or Black or Afro-American - were almost unheard of. I remember a distinct conversation with a friend discussing descriptive terms for ourselves in 1963 or '64. The term "black" was just coming into vogue and he didn't like it one bit. "Call me a Negro," he said, "but don't call me black."

Now, the word "Negro" (publications used a lower case "n") has almost become a pejorative, so I was a little surprised when my pastor, the Rev. Willie Reid, used it during Thursday's revival. "Back when we were Negroes," he said, and listed several things that were different about black life in America back then.

That got me to thinking. Back when we were Negroes in the 1950s, "only 9 percent of black families with children were headed by a single parent," according to "The Black Family: 40 Years of Lies" by Kay Hymowitz. "Black children h ad a 52 percent chance of living with both their biological parents until age 17. In 1959, "only 2 percent of black children were reared in households in which the mother never married." But now that we're African-Americans, according to Hymowitz, those odds of living with both parents had "dwindled to a mere 6 percent" by the mid-1980s. And check this, in Bibb County! (GEORGIA), more than 70 percent of the births in the African-American community are to single mothers.

Back when we were Negroes and still fighting in many parts of the country for the right to vote, we couldn't wait for the polls to open. We knew our friends, family and acquaintances had died getting us the ballot. Dogs and fire hoses were used to keep us away and still we came. But now that we're African-Americans, in a city of 47,000 registered! - predominately black voters - more than 30,000 didn't show up at the polls July 19.

Back when we were Negroes, we had names like Joshua, Aaron, Paul, Esther, Melba, Cynthia and Ida. Now that we are African Americans, our names are bastardized versions of alcohol from Chivas to Tequila to C(S)hardonney. And chances the names have an unusual spelling.

Back when we were Negroes, according to the Trust For America's Health's "F as in Fat," report, "only four states had diabetes rates above 6 percent. . The hypertension rates in 37 states about 20 years ago were more than 20 percent." Now that ! we're African-Americans, th at report shows, "every state has a hypertension rate of more than 20 percent, with nine more than 30 percent. Forty-three states have diabetes rates of more than 7 percent, and 32 have rates above 8 percent. Adult obesity rates for blacks topped 40 percent in 15 states, 35 percent in 35 states and 30 percent in 42 states and Washington, D.C.

Back when we were Negroes, the one-room church was ! the community center that everyone used. Now that we're African-Americans, our churches have lavish - compared to back-in-the-day churches - community centers that usually sit empty because the last thing the new church wants to do is invite the community in.

Back when we were Negroes, we didn't have to be convinced that education was the key that opened the lock of success, but now that we're ;African-Americans, more than 50 percent of our children fail to graduate high school. In Bibb County last year, the system had a dropout rate of 53.4 percent.

Back when we were Negroes, the last thing a young woman wanted to look like was a harlot and a young man a thug, but now that we're African-Americans, many of our young girls dress like hootchie mamas and our young boys imitate penitentiary custom and wear their pants below the butt line.

If I could reverse all of the above by trading the term "African-American" for "Negro," what do you think I'd do?

Charles E. Richardson is The Telegraph! 's editorial page editor.&n bsp;

XOXOXO











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Beyonce - God Bless The U.S.A. (9/11/01 Memorial)

In memory of those who became ancestors on 09/11/2001.........Asheee x 3

God Bless The USA - Ashee, Ashee, Ashee.

Beyonce Knowles performs "God Bless The U.S.A."

Download the song by clicking this link:
http://dc299.4shared.com/download/pZ_LDXMo/Beyonc_-_God_Bless_The_USA.mp3?tsid=20120911-102525-a93d9b0a

Check the video !
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ESHHJfNj7Cg

Sunday Schooled - Family

 'Sunday Schooled' is a collection of blog posts from Seko Varner's former blogs. This original post is dated 11/24/2007 while Seko's father was alive. The original post can be found here:

http://drivingmrdaddy.blogspot.com/2007/11/family.html
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11/24/2007

Most Friday nights we have "Family" night at Dad & Mom's/Mom & Dad's house. Dad cooks, as he has most of my life, and we all enjoy. Tonight while sitting with my arms around Mom, Dad told a story about Advent Community Church, the church he began in Columbus Ohio. The United Church of Christ intended the church to be a bi-racial church where (so-called) Blacks and Whites worshiped together as they had been aware that naturally only a 90-10 rule would apply.

The U.C.C. gathered the 5 white families for Dad although he wouldn't begin the church until he had a black group as well. The church met with 15 whites and 35 blacks until the decision for a name surfaced. Pops really wanted to name the Church 'The Emaeus Road' yet the whites wanted to name the church "The New Hope" to recognize the hope of racial conciliation through integration. Pops shared how the blacks decided, without regard to the name, that they were not going to let the whites name their church. Dad & Mom then noticed that the church was deeply into studying early christian celebrations and they were in the time of Advent. A vote allowed the divided groups to come together in a name...Advent. A name that is a big part of my life came about to bring the races together.

Interestingly enough the church my family attends has as one of it's tenants the concerted and deliberate effort to be Trans-ethnic as a ways to destroy racism. I love the church for it's children-based offerings, the trans-ethnic drive isn't really a draw for me but somehow it had a familiar twang. I then considered my desire to place my children in a Black-owned elementary school while my wifey wanted a Christian-based school. We found a mix of the two in New Light Baptist School of Excellence. I also enjoyed the fact that New Light had a diverse African-descendant experience for my kids as American, Caribbean, Hatian, Afrikan, and Latinos of African descent all placed their kids into New Light.

As my son became a first grader I/We decided that it was time for him to be placed into a school that offered a........(I hate this word).....transethnic experience that involved more than children who were of Afrikan descent to ensure that my son could conquer the world. As Dad finished his story I looked around the room at my family and realized that my Afrikan-centered family has always made strides to immerse ourselves into a morally-high quality Afrikan-experience before entering the more diverse world. I couldn't help but smile as Mom shook her head in agreement with Dad's story. My Dad, who broke racial barriers with institution-creation, my Mom who broke racial barriers by being strong enough to face the devils of the white supremacist paradigm, and our family who have always made decisions to break racial barriers only after becoming firm in our African/Indian experience. My family is your family......Let's be family.
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Let's be improved ! Seko Varner is from Positive Vibes Financial, a World Financial Group team of financial services agents. This team began in 2010 and is coached by WFG's Team Unstoppable. Seko also has ownership in and works with Positive Vibes DJs and the event marketing service Happily Ever After.Be. Seko has a background in counseling and special education. He was employed for 14 years with Portsmouth City Public Schools (Virginia) as a counselor and as a teacher. Seko has also worked as an Intensive In-Home Counselor for over 10 years. In addition to his business ventures Seko is active with numerous Youth Mentorship programs and has a background in radio and television media. Visit http://www.HappilyEverAfter.Be for more details.

NEW Public Enemy with DMC SONG and HEROES ALBUM Check It OUT!

 

CLICK ABOVE for LINKS to the Brand NEW http://www.publicenemy.com/ Check and GET the song RLTK by PUBLIC ENEMY featuring DMC.. and others. CLICK HERE CLICK on the picture and GET the NEW SONG by DMC and PUBLIC ENEMY called RLTK PRODUCED by DJ JOHNNY JUICE ROSADO CLICK Here to check OUT the NEW CLASSIC video RLTK CHECK THE VIDEO HERE FOR I SHALL NOT BE MOVED , CLICK PIC CLICK , HEAR and even GRAB down your own copy of I SHALL NOT BE MOVED CHECK AND GET THE NEW ALBUM , MOST OF MY HEROES STILL DONT APPEAR ON NO STAMPS here The INCREDIBLE PROMO Commercial for MOST OF MY HEROES STILL DONT APPEAR ON NO STAMP Coming PRE SALE on iTunes September 11 2012 World release DATE October 1 2012 via SPITdigital / iTunes CDs and Vinyl also ©2012 Enemy Records distributed by http://www.spitdigital.com/ | Earthwide Americas, Africa, Asia Australia and Europe a BTNEastlink Company All Rights Reserved

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ARE WE BETTER OFF SINCE OBAMA ? H. Khalif Khalifah

From: H. Khalif Khalifah <khalifah23844@yahoo.com>

 

I say yes!

Not because the Obama Administration's Economic policy delayed the "fall of America" He lowered the Jobless rate from 10% to 8%; Or that a core of Black people around me doubled their work to do the things that is possible, rather than what they could do IF someone else had done this or that. Expecting Elder Congressman John Conyers to get a Reparations Study Bill into Congress has just about run its course...Black people have survived four more years to fight another day for our Freedom...........Khalifah

 

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GIVE YOUR ASSESSMENTS OF WHERE BLACK PEOPLE ARE, AS A RACE: At an "open mic" during the festivities to commemorate the last Earth Day (November 10, 1831) of Nat Turner. The Commemoration will be at the Nat Turner Library and Campus,  November 10, 2012. Festivities will include: A Nat Turner Trail Tour, Good Vegetarian & Vegan Food, Good Music, Good Company (Smart Black singles and couples), Tour the TKKVV: All Assessments/statement will be duly recorded and become part of the archives of The Nat Turner Library:

Call 434-378-2140 or 434-378-5536 for more info: go to ww.black-e-books.com to donate go to paypal: khalifah@khabooks.com

Sunday Schooled - A Song For Mama

Sunday Schooled - A Song For Mama

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Originally posted on http://showthemtheworld.blogspot.com on 4/22/2011. The original post is located http://www.showthemtheworld.blogspot.com/2011/04/song-for-mama.html . The 'Sunday Schooled" posts are posts from Seko's former blogs. This posts is re-posted to celebrate Seko's mother's 70th birthday celebration on 9/1/2012. At this celebration a video montage spotlighting her life was showcased: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ApJmyajMl0Q

From 4/22/2011:
Recently my children and I surprised their mother by creating a song, and subsequently creating a video about their Mama. Using the crazy group name 'Grandpa Crunk' we've released the song "I Love My Mama" online on I-Tunes and released the video on YouTube. The song is a combination of rap verses by my children and a chorus sung by my friend Zoe Wilks. The process of writing the song, creating the music, practicing the song, recording the song, writing the storyline for the video, and shooting the video was a great joy. I had a chance to force my children to focus their creative juices on celebrating their mother. One of the lines of the song is "When I'm in doubt you tell me I can do, when I look at you (mother) I kinda' see God too." I've often told my children that in addition to being a word referring to the Supreme being, GOD can also refer to Good Orderly Direction. Later my children and I re-released the song using the group name DIVAGirl as my lil' girl has decided she wants to become a Disney star.

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Many of the African-centered scholars and lecturers that I used to follow in the 1980s through the early 2000s used to urge blacks to guide their children in business ventures early on the provide them with a business background which will result in Blacks becoming and acting in a more business-like manner. The rationale at that time was to create 'Black Owned' businesses to employ our children to reduce the influence of the streets on our children and to eradicate the experience of poverty from the Black experience. These lecturers also described using a process of meeting with the elders in our communities to learn the stories of our people forcing America to become a better place. Those stories from the elders and being involved in business activities, according to these scholars, would give our children a launching path towards success. My parents heeded their call to action and involved our family in the recordings of oral history from elders in the community during my youth in New York and Ohio.

My choice to guide my children in this 'Song for Mama' adventure was done to celebrate their mother, to teach them about aspects of the business of the music industry, and to lead them through the process of making a commercially viable good that they might profit from . One of the things I didn't expect were the discussions about the lyrics which centered on the Good Orderly Direction towards improvement that children should learn from their mothers. My children were emphatic in the inclusion of Aunties, Grandmothers, Church mothers, and teachers in their song as these women also taught Good Orderly Direction.

11/21/2011 - We began our 2011 Spring break trip by dropping off my widowed mother (Mum) at her family's home in Atlanta Georgia. As we traveled from Hampton Roads to Georgia my Mum and I spoke to keep me awake at the wheel. Her stories included the struggles her mother while she was a child growing up in Georgia in the early 1940s through late 1960s. En-route to Atlanta I realized that we would be in proximity of Decatur where Mum attended and graduated from theological school in 1966. She attended Columbia and according to my father, who became our ancestor in September 2009, Mum was the first Black to graduate from Columbia Theological. As a side trip I decided to visit Columbia's campus. Mum stated years ago that she never intended to step foot on the campus again after she graduated. Since 40-some years have passed I thought it might be fun to do an impromptu campus tour to obtain some photos of Mum on her ol' stomping grounds.

On 11/13/2007 Dad needed to go to the conference office to teach a class for the newest ministers in the Southern Conference of the United Church of Christ. While driving those sleepy country Suffolk Virginia roads dad began drifting into stories of Mama. Pops met mom as he returned from ministering in Scotland. A minister supervising him shared to pops "when you return to the states and go to Atlanta I want you to meet a friend of mine who is in the administration at Columbia (Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur Georgia). They took in their first female Negro student and they need help."
One of Mom's Ministers and mentors was the first Negro male to attend the school a few years prior. He did not graduate from the school and only was able to take a few classes. Pops then shared how Mom was that female "Negro graduate" and she caught hell from the other students studying to be ministers. This administrator and the administration of the school were courageous..... they courted this negro after her Presbyterian church-college, Agnes Scott College, refused to take her (since they sent their negro-money to Stillman College to help their Negro Presbyterians). Pops shared how mama would sometimes be the only student in her classes as others peers would drop the course as soon as they saw her. By providing support to this hard-headed girl catching death threats and harassment from her 'Christian' peers Dad fell in love. He was there as my grandmother lost jobs when they found out mom was marching in the civil rights marches and was going to their school. Mom took the pain, cried her tears, passed the tests, and graduated. Mom shared with me that she caught Hell from the 'Christian' professors and her 'Christian' peers because she was both a woman and Black. She shared how the only outright support came from the ladies who were attending the college as they were facing the evils of sexism. Some of the professors hated the fact that women were being trained in the ministry. Mom was leery of the women, but she accepted their support.

A female "white-peer" who supported Mom painted a masterpiece full of color with many faces looking forward. Those eyes were said to be Mom's classmates as her female peer explained to her. Interestingly enough Mom's classmate painted the faces of the evil eye folks brown. I remember seeing this painting hanging in the basement-closet of our home in New York. I always wondered why a painting would be hanging in a closet. I remember seeing this painting in our garage while living in Columbus, Ohio. I always wondered why Mom would look at this work of art and stiffen her bottom lip with tears welling in her sleep deprived eyes. I remember getting a 'whupping' for something I did and shouldn't have done and mom catching a glimpse of those brightly-wicked eyes. She fell to her knees and sobbed. Then I didn't care, my beating ceased. Mom hated that painting and gave it to an aunt who hung in prominently in her college dormitory. Mama's pain, Aunties' propeller. I am thankful for those eyes and the experience it provided. Mom made history and opened doors for our people. Mom became the first Black and the first Black Woman to graduate from Columbia Theological Seminary...Daddy fell in love. Thank the creator.

Today we slowly walked around the college and allowed Mum to reminisce about her classes and the times she spent as a grad student on the campus. A bulk of her time on campus was spent solely in the classes. She left campus as soon as her classes were over as she didn't feel brave enough to try to force herself into the school's social life, and also felt anger towards her classmates and the school staff for the behaviors they exhibited towards her. Mom looked radiant and discussed painful memories in a very triumphant manner. Columbia was a great college who took a difficult stand against racism and sexism in the late 1960s. She shared the triumph with the administration who courted her attendance, supported her stay by finding a support for her who ultimately became her husband of over 45 years, and aided to find financial support to aid her way. She also felt humbled that she was a great part of the history of the school.

A young white female student stopped and asked if she could help us by taking a photo of the entire family. As she raised my camera to her eyes my wife noted Mum's history. The student stopped and thanked Mum for being for her bravery and heroism. She then stopped all of the students who walked by and shared the story making Mum a Rock Star Alumnae. Mum reveled in the reverence and smiled in a deep manner that has been fairly absent since my father's death. My children danced and smiled for the photos and shared how their grandmother was like Rosa Parks and Ruby Bridges for aiding America to move in 'Good Orderly Direction' towards improvement.

(Photo - Ruth Suggs graduated from Columbia Theological Seminary in 1966)
Unexpectedly I realized that my father and those African centered lecturers were right; Every Black child should know of and revel in their family's history of improvement. Every Black child should be involved in the creation of commercially viable and valuable products.

As the photos continued my Lil' girl began humming the tune to her song "I Love My Mama" as she and her brother hugged their grandmother, my Mama. I extend those hugs and the song to all of the mothers who have been an intricate player in the improvement of America, and the improvement of Blacks. To you mothers we say Thank you. To you mothers we sing "I Love My Mama"! This song is for you. Be Improved Ya'll !

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Let's be improved ! Seko Varner is from Positive Vibes Financial, a World Financial Group team of financial services agents. This team began in 2010 and is coached by WFG's Team Unstoppable. Seko also has ownership in and works with Positive Vibes DJs and the event marketing service Happily Ever After.Be. Seko has a background in counseling and special education. 

He was employed for 14 years with Portsmouth City Public Schools (Virginia) as a counselor and as a teacher. Seko has also worked as an Intensive In-Home Counselor for over 10 years. In addition to his business ventures Seko is active with numerous Youth Mentorship programs and has a background in radio and television media. Visit http://www.HappilyEverAfter.Be for more details.
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South Africa police fire on striking miners, several dead

Hetepu,

There is never any discussion about the fact that europe, regardless of the country has no mines of any type to profit from. Europe has no platimun, oil, diamonds, gold, silver, basalt or any other natural metal that is sold on the european stock market but europe is wealthy from the sale of the commodities. Africa is home to all of the commodities that are sold on the european market but Africans starve and fight among themselves.

Being that I have been over to Africa (Ghana) and seen how they would love to have people who look like them invest in their homeland, unfortunately because of our ignorance we don't or refuse to do so. I have made it a concerted effort to try and educate black people on Africa and the opportunities abroad but many turn a blind eye refusing at times to even want to learn more.

If you are interested in more info on how to invest and learn more about how things really are in Africa, don't hesitate to contact me. If you will not invest in your own country …TRUST ME… someone else will leaving you to do nothing but complain and be stained.

Click on lick. photos and comments interesting.

http://photoblog.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/08/16/13317646-south-africa-police-fire-on-striking-miners-several-dead#.UC12bsAy1n0.email

Asar Maa Ra Gray
~Nehast~



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You need to be independent - JoAnna Colasito

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You need to be independent - JoAnna Colasito

I'm a bit spoiled....
I'm trained by the best....
I'm truly value the gifts that I've been given access to...
Ashee, Amen.

I've found that a scheduled incremental investment in training / education / understanding can aid the movement from "Ashy to Classy" (Obvious Biggie Smalls reference - He's the illest'). So I ensure that I get some form of weekly spiritual educational experience such as church, Bible study class, World Religion studies, or meditation. I do the same musically, with 'Conscious Enlightenment', and in the area of self-motivation. I also ensure that I attend a seminar, workshop, webinar, and the like to improve my lines of business. Recently I attended a seminar provided by my home World Financial Group office focused upon taking "Charge of your business." I entered the room ready to rock, I left the room charged !

Our presenter was JoAnna Colasito. She has built one of the most impressive businesses I've ever been exposed to. Her message was deceptively simple. "You can never become a leader if you keep letting people take care of you."............................... I was done. I was floored. In one sentence she laid out the main difficulty I have struggled with in my profession in the Human Services field. As a school counselor I struggled to get the students to recognize their power and responsibility in obtaining their education. I also struggled with attempting to guide educational professionals to recognize their power and responsibility in managing their classes and emotions as they guide our students. I have certainly struggled with parents who wanted the schools to 'fix' their children or wanted the schools to accept the nonsense from their children that they permitted. In all these cases guiding others into greater responsibility was the key. Folk had to take charge of business. I instantly connected this statement to the problems of the inner city as well as the problems in dependence on government that has stifled people of African and Indian descent in America. I was going deep until minutes later JoAnna simply stated "You need to be independent before you achieve independence."

FLOORED AGAIN ! That statement channeled Dr. John Henrik Clarke, The Honorable Elijah Muhammad, Marcus Garvey, Madam C. J Walker, Rush Limbaugh, and possibly even Sean Hannity in one fell swoop. After a while I was able to leave the weight of her insight scribbled on my handy-dandy notebook alone and follow the remaining guidance in her presentation. I walked out of the session with three pages of 'copious notes'. The next day I reviewed my notes over a brisk coffee and allowed the message to imbue itself into my life. I later met with a client and shared with her "You have to claim your independence from difficulty. You need to stop spending money on entertainment and fund your emergency fund. Starbucks, McDonalds, and the club will never save you when Murphy's law hits you. You got in this mess when you didn't know better. Now that you know better, do better. It's time to graduate into better things."

I want all of us to move towards independence. My senior partner Michael French's blog ( http://mwfrenchfinancial.wordpress.com/) states "Many people say that their dream is unreachable because it cost too much.  What a sad excuse to give up on your dreams.  When you look at a little kid that wants a toy, they do not stop until they have it or are punished, by their parents, for throwing a temper-tantrum.  They are willing, at that time, to give their life for their dream toy." We can begin that movement to independence once we develop the child-like tenacity that Mike spoke of. The path to your dreams begins with a step towards independence.

If you don't have an emergency fund, make that step towards independence. Independently suspend your investment into others financial success. All of those places in the mall and restaurants and clubs will be waiting for you once you return to them with a fully funded emergency fund. Take a temporary fast from spending money on entertainment, food, and things that will not support you if you find yourself in need of money. I often tell my clients "Once you have an emergency fund you (will) stop having emergencies. You'll start have some situations, but your emergency fund will pay for those situations." I recently shared with a client who just graduated from High School "Think back...... The only people who were bullied were the punks who wouldn't or couldn't stick up for themselves. They all needed someone to stop the bullies for them. That's how life is. Once you have a funded emergency fund you'll find that life can't easily punk you." She laughed and planned to open an emergency fund that day following the plan I provided for her. She didn't want to follow the lead of her mother who lived paycheck to paycheck and was always in a bind when something happened. This former student didn't like it when I said "It's your mother's fault, she's not taking charge of her life and preparing for problems. She's a slave to emergencies and doesn't act like she wants to be free." At the end of our session she was determined to be the leader her parents, family, school teachers, church members, and community haven't been. She wanted independence. I gave the a map. I look forward to watching her move towards independence. Question....... What's up with you ?

I'd love to hear what you think. Holla' at cha' scholar (leave a comment). I always give complimentary sessions to recent graduates. If you or anyone you know can benefit from financial guidance, contact me !

As Michael French says "If you do not have a personal financial advisor, get one. PERIOD! I will refer you to a Financial Advisor in your area, or I will help you personally. Do not ever give up on your dream. Fight until you realize it or they bury you in the ground."  - Asante Sana JoAnna, Asante Sana Michael !
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Let's be improved ! Seko Varner is from Positive Vibes Financial, a World Financial Group team of financial services agents. This team began in 2010 and is coached by WFG's Team Unstoppable. Seko also has ownership in and works with Positive Vibes DJs and the event marketing service Happily Ever After.Be. Seko has a background in counseling and special education. He was employed for 14 years with Portsmouth City Public Schools (Virginia) as a counselor and as a teacher. Seko has also worked as an Intensive In-Home Counselor for over 10 years. In addition to his business ventures Seko is active with numerous Youth Mentorship programs and has a background in radio and television media. Visit www.HappilyEverAfter.Be for more details.

Click this below link to leave a comment, complaint, or whatever !
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Harli Jordean - The Youngest CEO in the World

Meet The Youngest CEO in the World.


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/18/harli-jordean-8-year-old-entrepreneur-builds-his-fortune-selling-marbles_n_1101604.html
Harli Jordean, sets world records academy.




Sleeping with marbles under your pillow sounds like an average 8-year-old thing to do. Selling marbles for 500 bucks a pop? Not so much.
Harli Jordean isn't your average 8-year-old apparently. The London-based entrepreneur has turned his love for the game of marbles into a bonafide business, selling the colored glass orbs on his website, marbleking.co.uk, and fetching as much as 500 pounds per item (such as this limited edition Duke of York table). Harli's business is said to be bringing in thousands of pounds per year, with orders rolling in from as far as the U.S.

Before earning the title of the world's youngest CEO, Harli's parents had long been referring to him by another name -- The Marble King.

"Harli has been obsessed with marbles ever since he was six," his mother, Tina, told the Daily Mail. "He used to sleep with them under his pillow. The last thing he talks about before going to bed is marbles and they are the first things he mentions in the morning...His obsession became so big we started calling him the Marble King," she says.

Harli's marble mania led him to the web, where he found only a limited selection of his beloved toy, sparking the idea to start a site of his own.

Now, with his mother and brother serving as "behind the scenes co-partners," as his site reads, Harli's on his way toward dominating the marble market, eventually becoming co-owner and even creating a branded collection of "Marble King" marbles...once he's old enough.

The World's Youngest CEO has been running the successful website – marbleking.co.uk – for two years and, when he's not playing with his friends, the tiny tyco

on spends all his spare time buying stock, handling orders and liaising with suppliers.

The mini mogul spends his spare time buying stock, processing orders and liasing with suppliers for his website www.marbleking.co.uk.

The business is now turning over thousands of pounds and demand for products is so high that Harli has had to recruit help from his mum and two older brothers.

Harli, from Stoke Newington, London, said: "I like having my own company. I like being the boss."

The tiny tycoon found his flair for trading when he swapped marbles with his friends at school, reportd The Daily Mirror.

But when some older schoolkids took all his stock, Harli turned to his mum, Tina, to help him buy some more from the internet.

After struggling to find what he wanted online, Harli begged her to start his own website and within months, orders were flooding in from around the world.

A simple tub of marbles at Marble King goes for 7.99 pounds (S$16.40), while a limited edition Duke of York solitaire tables can set you back 599 pounds.

In an interview with The Sun, his mum, Tina said: "Harli has been obsessed with marbles ever since he was six.

"His obsession became so big we started calling him the Marble King - so when he wanted to set up a website it was the natural name for it.

"I never thought it would become so popular - we are struggling to cope with the number of orders at times. "I helped him set up the site, but he's now trading with the world instead of just the playground all on his own, he has a hand in everything.

"As a boss he is very amenable and has his own ideas of how to do things."

The ambitious little boy now dreams of expanding his business, and has even created his own brand of marbles, which are made in China and sold on his website.

 

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/18/harli-jordean-8-year-old-entrepreneur-builds-his-fortune-selling-marbles_n_1101604.html 

Freedom Rider: Michael Eric Dyson and Barack Obama

http://blackagendareport.com/content/freedom-rider-michael-eric-dyson-and-barack-obama

Wed, 08/01/2012 - 01:38 — Margaret Kimberley

• Michael Eric Dyson |
• Obamarama

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by BAR editor and senior columnist Margaret Kimberley

The presidential election cycle is underway, which means that Michael Eric Dyson is pledging his undying love for Barack Obama. Apparently, the president's handlers have favored Dyson with "access" – a quality that is worth far more to some folks than truth and self-respect. "What it all comes down to in Dyson's world, is rubbing elbows with the president and bragging about it."

 

Freedom Rider: Michael Eric Dyson and Barack Obama

by BAR editor and senior columnist Margaret Kimberley

"Why does the only response to Obama have to be slavish devotion and a political stand down?"

Not only is there no longer a black press which represents the interests of black people, but the presence of black people in corporate media is also of dubious value. Take the case of "public intellectual" Michael Erick Dyson. Dyson has recently been a substitute host on MSNBC's Ed Schultz Show, and he has displayed his unique gifts for spouting nonsense and/or boldly displaying opportunism when speaking on the subject of Barack Obama.

Dyson can't seem to make up his mind about Obama. In January 2008 Dyson debated Black Agenda Report Executive Editor Glen Ford on the subject of black support for Obama on Democracy Now. Dyson made it clear that he was a wholehearted Obama supporter who advocated suspending any and all criticism or questioning of the candidate in order to reach the holy grail of seeing him elected president.

That debate took place shortly after the Iowa caucus victory proved that Obama could get votes from white people. At that time Dyson proudly proclaimed his unwavering support of Obama, gave him a pass on speaking up for black people, and directly stated the phony mantra of the Obama sycophant in 2008, that they would "hold his feet to the fire" after he won.

The Dyson/Obama love fest didn't last for very long, however. Just a few months after Obama's 2009 inauguration, Dyson was interviewed by Davey D and had rather scathing words of criticism for the man whom just a year earlier he said should be treated as if infallible.

"He is willing to sacrifice the interests of African Americans in deference to a conception of universalism because it won't offend white people."

"We are so grateful for having a black person in the office we don't demand anything of him."

"I expect the president of the United States to address issues of race."

"He's fallen short and we must hold him accountable."

These words, while truthful, didn't last long either. Now Dyson is not only an Obama lover again, but appears to be in part because he now has up close and personal access to POTUS. Dyson can now preface his statements with words like this, "A couple of years ago when he and I were in the Oval Office talking…"

On the July 25^th broadcast of the Ed Show, one of Dyson's guests rather obliquely mentioned that there is some criticism of Obama because he delivers on issues of importance to the gay and latino communities while doing nothing of the sort for black Americans.

"What is wrong with questioning or criticizing Obama?"

According to Dyson, this mild observation unleashed the wrath of Obama worshippers in social media, and on the July 26^th show Dyson let everyone know that he is still an Obama guy and the president is a Dyson guy too. "I ain`t one of them [haters]. How do I know? He [Obama] told me so at the Olympic warm up game the other day in D.C. when he hugged me and thanked me for my love and support. When you get at that level, holler back at me." Yes, that is what it all comes down to in Dyson's world, rubbing elbows with the president and bragging about it.

He went further. "Make no mistake, I`m riding hard on the Obama bandwagon. I`ve been on that journey a lot longer than the Black Willy come latelies who voted overwhelmingly against Obama when he ran for Congress and who initially spurned him when he asked for their votes for the presidency because they were beholden to Hillary and Bill Clinton."

Dyson is an academic, a writer and a minister, but as guest host on The Ed Show, he should act as a journalist. The response to his critics should have been that as such, he has a duty to present a wide variety of viewpoints, even as they relate to dear leader Obama.

Dyson had a unique opportunity to ask questions which are still fraught in the black community. What is wrong with questioning or criticizing Obama? Why does the only response to Obama have to be slavish devotion and a political stand down?

Of course, it may be unfair to expect professional ethics from Dyson when the rest of the journalistic profession is no better. There are huge incentives to being a court scribe instead of a journalist. Scribes get plum assignments, access to movers and shakers, prestigious prizes, and big paychecks because they represent the interests of the people they cover when they should be asking them hard questions.

Dyson's routine makes it easy to make fun of him. His gift of gab borders on buffoonery, but it has made him a hot commodity. He could put his glibness to good use and spark a conversation about Obama, but that is not to be. Now we get "black Willy come latelies" and man crush hugs.

The hard truth is that Black Agenda Report and its allies are unique in their determination to continue advocating for self-determination and movement based leftist politics, and not just idol worship of the black face in the high place. Dyson is not alone in changing his mind about Obama depending upon whether or not he has access to the Oval Office. There are not many principled people in the world of political commentary, but anyone reading these words doesn't have to be concerned about that. No one at Black Agenda Report is in danger of mincing words about Obama, or the rest of American political leadership. We also aren't in danger of getting any hugs.

Margaret Kimberley's Freedom Rider column appears weekly in BAR, and is widely reprinted elsewhere. She maintains a frequently updated blog as well as at http://freedomrider.blogspot.com. Ms. Kimberley lives in New York City, and can be reached via e-Mail at Margaret.Kimberley(at)BlackAgendaReport.com.

http://blackagendareport.com/content/freedom-rider-michael-eric-dyson-and-barack-obama

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Malik Al-Arkam's Comment:
 Several months ago Dyson proclaimed that "Obama is not Moses, he's Pharoah." Apparently he has done an about-face and now rides on Obama's bandwagon.  There are many ambivalent Afrocentric scholars who simply don't understand that slave descendants have no future in white America's diseased and dying government, regardless of who is at the helm of the New Titanic.  The New Noah's Ark is our rising Afrodescendant Government whose first President is the capable and courageous Ajani Mukarram.

As-Salaam-Alaikum,
Minister Malik Al-Arkam
www.muhammadspeaksonline.net