Playing The Bigger Game - PART 2

The MEGA World of Lil Mogul

by Lil Mogul

STEP 2: Get Honest with the Truth of Who You Are (And The Value That You Provide)
Maybe you’re not playing a bigger game because of fear about who you are – you’re stuck in the “I’m not good enough” or “People are going to think I’m a fraud.” Let me tell it to you straight:

Unless you are committed to being a quitter, “I’m not good enough” is BULL you’re hiding behind. First of all, you’re better than you give yourself credit for because I know you’re taking yourself for granted. Second, you can’t tell me you can’t get better. Maybe you’re not willing to, but that’s “won’t,” not “can’t.” Practice and training can make anyone with a pulse better.

Unless you actually trying to defraud people, you have no reason to see yourself a fraud. You have certain skills you can offer the world, and whether or not you don’t appreciate them, other people can. You may not see yourself as a 10 on the old sliding scale, maybe you’re a 5, but let me tell you this: To people who are a 0, 1 or 2, your 5 might as well be a 10. You have value they need.

So let’s talk about value: It all comes down to what you can do for other people, and it has absolutely nothing to do with all that emotional baggage and drama you’ve wrapped yourself in. I don’t care who is a better __X___ than you are. I don’t care if ___X____ has a bigger following than you, more credentials than you or whatever.

If you can provide value (which you can), you need to get honest about that. Honest with yourself. Because that’s the only way you’re going to get other people to see it, and pay you for it. The MEGA Motto: People Believe What They See and Buy What They Believe!!! You may not be good enough for you (oh, the drama!), but if you’re good enough for them, freakin’ give yourself credit already.

Imagine: You know CPR well enough. Someone stops breathing, and what do you do? Do you start asking yourself if there are better CPR practitioners than you? Do you wonder if your certification came from a prestigious enough teacher? Or maybe you have no certification at all, someone just showed you how to do it (correctly)? Are you going to dredge up every loser feeling you’ve had about yourself and dwell on that while that person slips off into the great unknown?

No!!! You’re going to get on your knees, do that CPR thing, and save that person’s life. Without a second thought, because the situation calls for value, and you have value to offer. Even if other people are better at CPR than you are, you could possibly save a life TODAY. Now quit imagining, and get real. You can do things other people find valuable, but since they come naturally to you or you’re just used to having the skills and hanging around people with the same (or better?) skills than you have you’re feeling sorry for yourself. Dra-ma. PLAY A BIGGER GAME!!! It’s not about what everyone everybody else is doing, it’s about what you can do for people who need what you can do. Don’t make it more difficult than that.

You can build a six-figure business catering to people who need 5s. Why are you worrying about being a 10. It’s not worth it. Be the best 5 you can be, serve the people who need 5s, and if you want to go upwards, do what it takes to become a 6, 7, 8, and so on. But quit with the drama already. Your skills are not worthless and you can absolutely add value. When I started out as a model talent agent with my small entertainment management company, could I compete with Ford Models, William Morris or Bad Boy Productions? NOPE and sticking with that drama killed my bottom line for years. But once I realized “Hey!!! , I don’t have to compete with them. I still know how to scout, develop and manage talented people and get them to be more productive,” I was able to go out there and fill my talent roster (faster than I thought). Was it because I was a 10? Absolutely not. I was a 5, and believe me, the people who were 2s and 3s got a lot of value out of what I provided. Now they are 5s. Win.

Seriously, if you want to play a bigger game than get a bigger view of who you are and what you offer. Start defusing the lies you’ve been telling yourself about why you’re not good enough and everyone is better than you are. Draa-maa.

I’ll walk you through this process in so you can get into gear so you can appreciate what value you truly have to offer and ultimately get people to pay you what you’re worth. Game on.

Until Next Week… Have a most valuable week.

Lil Mogul

Myles to the Rescue

It takes a whole village to raise a child and Robert Lee Myles Jr PERIOD is doing just that. I have a very dear friend that has been in my corner since I was in high school and serves as a mentor for an entire community that is expanding everyday. Robert is a role model who has created an organization that trains boys to men and prepares them for the world. Robert is the core founder of an organization that is contributing in making men of color a positive statistic instead of a negative one I could brag for days about what Robert and his organization is up to or I could just allow you to see what he has to say about Myles Boys Recovery and how we as a community can reach out to America’s youth.

1. So who is Robert Myles?
Robert Myles is 36yr old young African American male that puts everything into helping others.

2. What is Myles Boys Recovery?
Myles Boys Recovery is a non profit organization that is out to help young males dealing with pure pressure, home issues, is a part of me. I help with getting them on the right track to keep them as productive parts of society by teaching them life management skills such as working on vehicles, house hold training, money management, and how to become strong men with dignity.

3. What made you start Myles Boys Recovery?
Living life and seeing the ruff road I had to go down with little to no help. I wanted to make at least this part of a young mans life to be a little bit easier.

4. Where is Myles Boys Recovery based out of?
Although this began in my home town of Dumas Arkansas in 1988 we have established homebase in Little Rock, Arkansas.


5. Will the organization be branching outside of this area? When?
Yes. The goal is to open a branch in 48 states. As soon as funding is available federal and/or private. We believe that there should be no barriers to help young men become everything they need to be, including state lines.

6. Who has been your largest influence in wanting to give back to your community?
My father. By his absence in my life I needed to work harder to become the man that I needed to be. His absence affected me in such a way that I wanted to do whatever I could to keep other young men from going through the emotions and motions that I had to. With the necessary life tools we provide I believe we can prevent unnecessary struggle; the roads in life are already difficult enough.

7. What are some of the things you are teaching your mentees through you organization?
I teach them how to come out of being a teenager to become a productive, educated man. Educating on life and give them an alternative route to life. They are taught to respect self and others and that hard work is the key to most things in life.

8. Who is your specific target?
Young men ages 13 to 25 that are in or have been in a broken home environment, such as the ones with parents on drugs and/or with alcohol addiction.

9. What is your goal with the organization?
The goal will be to achieve national services and even a branch in South Africa. The goal of South Africa is providing an education on how to become that strong man in a school setting.

10. How can the community assist you in making this vision excel?
By donating funding of types but more so supporting and educating the youth in their community.

Get more information on Myles Boys Recovery and contribute by visiting http://www.mylesboysrecovery.org/

The Greatest Gift of All

I am asked all the time, Lil Mogul, give me one piece of advice which you think every entrepreneur must have or do to be successful. To me the answer is very clear, FIND a mentor and/or mentors. Business and Life Mentors are trusted friends, counselors or teachers, usually a more experienced person in a specialized field. Some professions have "mentoring programs" in which newcomers are paired with more experienced people, who advise them and serve as examples as they advance. As an entrepreneur, you must seek out that special person and/or people who will provide expertise to assist you in advancing your business choices, enhancing your education, and building your networks. I have personally benefited from being a part of a mentoring relationship in many different arenas of the business.

I was introduced to entrepreneurship at an early age by my parents as well as aunts and uncles. I watched, listened and learned how my family ran a venture capital fund, a construction company, a paper cup factory, a mini supermarket, an aluminum foundry and a business consulting firm. My Dad, Lil Mogul Sr. is my go to business mentor. He is my biggest cheerleader. Charles Kelly is my business and life mentor. He tells me what I need to hear. I have a number of mentors that I don’t talk with everyday; but, I watch and try to emulate because I look up to them and respect their position.

On Sunday, August 2, 2009, George Faison, Founder/Artistic Director of Harlem’s new Faison Firehouse Theater and Tad Schnugg, Co Founder of the Faison Firehouse Theater created and hosted the Special Event celebrating the 85th birthday of one of America’s most celebrated author James Baldwin. The standing room only event was not only attended by family and friends of James Baldwin; but also by, people of the literary, performing arts and entertainment communities that were influenced by him. As you know my concentration and interest in business are fashion, beauty and entertainment. Not only do I look up to both George and Tad as entrepreneurs, producers, teachers and my mentors but their large network of associates too.

Such honored speakers that shared part of their late afternoon on Sunday at the Firehouse were: Playwright/Poet, Amiri Baraka; Award Winning Poet, Sonia Sanchez; Editor-at-Large of Vogue Magazine, Andre Leon Talley; Nephew of Mr. Baldwin, Trevor Baldwin, Sister-In-Law of Mr. Baldwin, Helen Baldwin; Protégé, Alexa Birdsong, Historian & Writer, Herb Boyd; Musician & Singer, Genovis Albright and Chair, English Dept. Howard University, Eleanor Traylor.

“… we are preparing the next generations of leaders here in Harlem.” says, Faison.

After the event, I walked home and reflected on my mentors and what they all mean to me. I look at myself an entrepreneur living in Harlem who is a creative businessman, producer, manager, leader and a mentor that enjoys living this exciting career path. I can’t thank all of mentors enough. So, I ask you, who is your mentor and/or mentors?

All Photos Courtesy of Dex Star G. The Peoples Photographer