Looking to 2024 — The year of “the Mamba”

Just remember, everyone speaks a “language” that if you connect with you will see who them for who they are. Listening doesn’t mean hearing the words they say. Listening means understanding the way they communicate. I think people think the way I am is magic. Its not. I promise I spent the early years of my life tripping over words, looking down at the floor, and not able to make eye contact with almost everyone.
I did graduate with a degree in communication. But that is not how I learned. Let’s just say I’ve worked with and for enough people to know the difference between the ones that got my attention and got more out of me, and the ones that I would rather have hurt their reputation than do good work. Luckily — I was a journalist first and therefore that is my most professional quality is doing what maintains a person’s reputation and likeness even when I feel like they don’t deserve it. It’s important to remember in those moments, we are all human, we all make mistakes, we don’t always have to get along, and we rarely understand why someone is the way they are. Also in most situations it isn’t that important.
But I have spent a lot of years working in a lot of industries and that’s what gives me the ability to study behavior for what I have seen do well and what I have seen not do well. For those who believe I just want to help those I like, I 1. Apply objectivity in every situation. That is the number one thing all good journalists must do. 2. I love basketball and have wanted to be a basketball coach all my life. I played college basketball video games where I recruited and built teams based on certain personnel / play styles when I was in middle school. I have also spent the last 7- 8 years filming and setting up live events. I’ve worked a Super Bowl. I’ve been in nearly every major Atlanta setting up and working corporate events. Believe me when I say I have SEEN Atlanta in just about every way possible.
Every time I work jobs I see at least 5 people I know…which is why I’m taking a break from working right now. Theres a good and bad to knowing everyone and having worked everywhere. But that’s exactly how life has changed in the last decade. I went from an awkward kid / guy looking at his feet talking to most people to someone who has literally seen and done almost everyone and anything. So I can say this…JUST WORK. Sorry if people think that is a mean thing to say…but literally JUST WORK. Because that’s how life gets better. You don’t like someone has something you don’t? They probably worked for it. And if you work you will get something similar for you. Go into nature…what is a bird building a nest doing? THEY’RE working…because if they don’t they die.
The contradiction is that I’m not working because I can’t work or don’t want to. I have simply worked so many places that there are places I just can’t walk into. Only because of past history that I just don’t want to repeat for me or for anyone I know working there. I’m taking time to make sure that what I do next is something that fits my personality, life, and the people / friends I want to be able to help going forward. Good things are happening. Some may understand from the details I’ve been hinting theres stuff developing. But at the moment theres more to it that may still take time before I can say exactly whats happening. Just know if you are close to me…if I have reached out to you recently or you are someone I DM I will be updating you on what’s going on. As with everything with me…its always something extra and never simple, though I coined the phrase this year several times with my best friend “Simple Always Wins.” I’m trying. But for now things are good and that’s what I like.
But yeah…everyone speaks a language that if listen to not what they say, but how they communicate, you can learn how they want to be perceived. Some people are easier. Some people its a very small circle that will coexist with them. When they find it…LEAVE THEM ALONE AND LET THEM BE HAPPY. For some people it is hard. Do not be mad when someone finds happiness in their life. Just find yours. Happiness is never guaranteed. Sometimes, you just have to work for it.