"Go for Yours," a guide for ambitious, faithful and progressive individuals who yearn to break conventional models of living; is a collection of stories and examples of young, African Americans who followed their dreams no matter their age, background or years of work experience. This book uses examples of celebrities who portrayed a certain attitude that led them to their success and unveils the world to young and fearless trailblazers, entrepreneurs and leaders. By taking a glance at people who followed their dreams in spite of their adverse encounters, you will be left encouraged to create your own opportunity instead of wait for it. More importantly, this book highlights individuals who are successful in a world that tends to focus on the negative aspects of African Americans.

GO FOR YOURS

A compilation of young, African Americans who were brave enough to reach for the stars.By ERIKA R. MCCALL

AuthorHouse

Copyright © 2011 Erika R. McCall
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4670-4364-9

Contents

FOREWORD..............................................................................ixINTRODUCTION..........................................................................xiiiGo for Yours: The Definition of Success...............................................xviiChapter 1: The Go for Yours MYTH......................................................1Chapter 2: Go for Yours with a GREAT ATTITUDE and POSITIVE SPIRIT.....................17Chapter 3: Go for Yours KNOWING WHO YOU ARE...........................................37Chapter 4: Go for Yours MAKING POWER MOVES............................................47Chapter 5: Go for Yours BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS........................................67Chapter 6: Go for Yours READY FOR ADVERSITY...........................................79Chapter 7: Go for Yours KNOWING HOW TO HANDLE COMPETITION.............................97Chapter 8: Go for Yours WHEN FACING DIFFICULT PEOPLE..................................107Chapter 9: Go for Yours AND PAY IT FORWARD............................................123Chapter 10: Go for Yours MOVING FORWARD...............................................137Chapter 11: Go for Yours with SWAG....................................................153Chapter 12: Go for Yours with FAITH...................................................173Chapter 13: Go for Yours WITH THE SPIRIT OF A TRAILBLAZER.............................189Chapter 14: Go for Yours Now..........................................................203Author's Story........................................................................207Creation of Go for Yours..............................................................211Acknowledgements......................................................................217Index.................................................................................221

Chapter One

THE GO FOR YOURS MYTH

"The greatness of a man is not in how much wealth he acquires, but in his integrity and his ability to affect those around him positively." –Bob Marley

GLAMOUR does NOT equal SUCCESS

"He think he ballin cause he got a block?" –Young Jeezy, Ballin

AS PREVIOUSLY stated, we are caught in the superficial standards of success. As a result, myths have been created about what it means to be successful. When you Go for Yours, don't get caught up in the hype. Success is deeper than a having a Maserati in your driveway. Besides, the people who are seen driving fancy cars and wearing nice clothes are usually the ones struggling to "keep up with the Kardashians." Also, remember success does not always mean you have a glamorous job in corporate America with your own office and administrative assistant.

President and CEO of JB Sweeping Services, Jerome Boykin, has a job that is all but glamorous, but it has brought him great success. Jerome was planning to attend graduate school at Southern University at New Orleans, when Hurricane Katrina hit. He lost all of his belongings and was left with no money.

This incident prevented him from pursuing his MBA and led him back to his parent's home and sleeping on the couch. He was also left discouraged and wondering what his next move would be.

Jerome's dad did not want him to give up and introduced him to the parking lot cleaning business. Jerome opened his mind to learn about the business and discovered it's important to keep parking lots clean because it's the first thing a customer sees when they go to the store. With the help of his dad, he invested in an industrial sweeper and started a parking lot cleaning business. Jerome landed his first contract with the local Wal-Mart in his hometown of Houma, Louisiana, and eventually landed numerous contracts with Target, Home Depot, and a host of real estate development properties.

Humbled by his success, Jerome chooses to work alongside his employees, instead of simply giving out orders. He remembers being spotted by local residents wondering why someone with so much potential was picking up trash at their local Wal-Mart. They had no idea picking up trash led him to working in a billion dollar industry, and the ability to make in one day, what some people don't make in one year. He even recalls a time when a woman outside of Wal-Mart told her children, "If you don't get a college degree, you will be outside picking up trash like him." Little did she know, he had already received a Bachelor's Degree in Business and was featured in Black Enterprise magazine for making $850,000 in revenues in 2008.

Jerome has developed professional relationships with his clients and prevents competition because of his quality of work and great customer service. While his intent was to just have a local business, his business has expanded to other cities within his home state, such as Baton Rouge and New Orleans.

He has also been an inspiration to others, specifically Marcus Clemmons from California, who was almost homeless after the real estate market went down. Reading about Jerome's story inspired him to contact Jerome in order to learn how to start his own parking lot cleaning business. Marcus implemented everything Jerome taught him, and as an act of "paying it forward" he opened up a homeless shelter.

Jerome may have gone to college with the vision of landing a job with a little more glamour, but his not-so glamorous job led him to achieve glamorous wealth. Don't be so quick to think wealth and success only exist in corporate America, sports, and entertainment. Open up your mind to new ideas that can provide you with the opportunity for greater wealth.

In success there are no HANDOUTS

"You better get up, get out and get something. How will you make it if you never try?" –OutKast, Git up, Git Out

A myth we have adopted in the African American community is the mentality of the hook-up. If you seriously want to Go for Yours, don't expect handouts. Work hard instead of waiting for a big time record executive to come to your town (anticipating they can get you a record deal), or trying to convince people, like Oprah, to give you money. People who wait and expect handouts will never succeed. Your blessing will not come from someone else's hard work. Every successful person worked hard for what they have, no matter where they come from, or who their family is.

Craig Wayans, Damien Dante Wayans, and Damon Wayans Jr. also referred to as the second generation Wayans, did everything but expect a handout. Coming behind family members Keenan Ivory Wayans, Damon Wayans Sr., Shawn Wayans, Marlon Wayans, and Kim Wayans, it may appear to some people that their success was handed to them. Although they reign from a family tree of comedians and actors, who have made a prominent name in the entertainment business, they had to work just as hard, if not harder, as the next person who is trying to "get on." Rather than expecting anything to be handed to them, they decided to share their talent and add to their family legacy.

Entering show business after their family couldn't have been...