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holla in New York them . . . tell ya I’m loco And the plan is to put the rap game in a choke hold I’m fully focused man, my money on my mind Got a mill’ out the deal and I’m still on the grind…
50 Cent In Da Club ♦ Get Rich or Die Tryin’
Okay, what modern rap tune is not about making money? This one is too. It is also about planning and discipline. It has what many executives do not – a mission statement and commitment to execution. People discourage you, criticize you, and call you loco, once you tell them your aspirations. Maybe you should play your cards closer to your vest and not let them know your game plan. You should however not lose sight of the plan even after you initially have a modicum of success. “50” is in the grind beyond the million-mark. I think it best that you stay similarly focused beyond the level of immediate success. This is true of institutions as well as people.
Everyone recalls the company that turns a profit or cashes in on an IPO and suddenly loses the mission focus, by creeping into new tangential industries or straying for its “core competency” for a sexier endeavor. The company dilutes its resources and never realizes the full potential that comes from focus and grinding it out in the area of expertise. When you fail to grind it out, you leave money on the table. WWFD – What would 50 do?
BPM TAKEAWAY#7:
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GRIND OUT ALL INCREMENTAL REVENUE
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IT’S EPS NOT EZ-$
C.O.D.E. Mizell [.com] 
Yes, yes, “Stay focused beyond the level of immediate success.” Long term. Absolutely. Really like second paragraph. Must hold fast to core principles; cashing in quick leaves work undone “money on the table” and is irresponsible (if you’re a dreamer trying to change the world!). Learning a lot here (Took me a minute — just one– to figure out what WWFD meant!) and on associated sites. Devising new strategies but making sure to keep it moving… Good stuff.
Guess I could have just summed up my comments by saying, “Tru dat!”
🙂
All good….folks just checking in should also check out globalroundhouse.com….lots to learn there….
Aw… thanks! Actually finally watching/listening to your Harvard Hip-Hop talk now (hated missing that). Hip hop as a “common language” yes – cultural connections. Love your comments (26:00 – 26:15) about the need to have POC involved in business side and inclusivity (56:00 – 57:24). Your work in this area = admirable. Loved the “rhyme therapy” question (great answer) near end.
I have deep academic roots but, wow, I just don’t fit in. OMG! WTH? Ok, so here’s questions I would have asked as moderator: (1) In what ways has hip-hop helped you build or extend your community within the business world and how has it influenced your outreach efforts? (2) Hip-hop is so edgy, in what ways does that edginess influence/shape your daily work environment? (3) What connection do you see between the global business community (multinationals) and the culture of hip-hop? (4) What are key areas of convergence/divergence between hip hop and business? (You answered this but the question should have been more pointed to allow you to draw broader strokes that could have given more nuance to the Q&A) and (5) Where does scholarship end and entrepreneurship begin? What lessons should we be learning outside the classroom?
I mean geesh, Prof is smart as a tack I’m sure but where’s the energy? How ya gonna talk about hip hop (and archive it… well, LOL THAT’s the thing!) and not exude energy and vibe? I know you can’t answer these questions here! They’re “rhetorical” until you’re in NYC and I can treat you to lunch! Ha!
I’m thinking you should have rhyme therapy sessions at work to loosen up new-bees (You’re hiring interns, right?) and fire up regular employees; get them stoked for the week and pumped for key meetings, discussions, etc., but then you’d need major Bikram after. We’ll call it, “Shout Ouch!”
Cheers!
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