Author Archives: codemizell

Takeaway #30: Future Exit or what Linton Kwesi Johnson taught us about the game

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mi know dem have work, work in abundant
yet still, dem mek mi redundant
now, at fifty-five mi gettin´ quite ol´
yet still, dem sen´ mi fi goh draw dole  ***

Linton Kwesi Johnson        Inglan is a Bitch (1981)

LKJ is really a dub poet, but you can’t talk about Hip Hop and ignore influence like this.  Gil Scott, Last Poets and LKJ.  Besides who wants to ignore this fundamental statement about making sure that workers should not forget that each person (even you CEO) can just be another cog in the machine.  Even if you are a big cog or key gear, if the machine is made obsolete or sold, how big are you?  You are a team player and loyal, but if the industry is changing and the organization’s interest is to suck you dry.  Do you want your future to be that of the cleaned out husk or something more meaningful?  Recognize the signs.  LKJ sees that there is an abundance of work, yet he is somehow laid off and told that his services are redundant.  If your work is drying up but the firm is bubbling along, maybe you need to check your parachute.

You need an exit strategy.  You don’t want to be a retiree and finding out that you are standing in the employment line wondering what happened.  Savings and investment are essential, but you need to visualize the actual terms on which you will leave.  Severance, COBRA, relocations, full life insurance, job placement, allowances, etc.

BPM TAKEAWAY#30

  • YOUR FUTURE MAY NOT BE THE SAME AS THE ORGANIZATION’S

  • GET OUT OF THE GAME ON YOUR TERMS

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Takeaway #105: lean with conviction, as inspired by Rass Kass

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Yeah, I heard you don’t grind, you don’t eat

Don’t eat, get a fragile physique, I’m agile and sleek

I run through rappers like my boss had cleats

Beef ain’t shit but cows is resting in peace

 Ras Kass  ♦    Eat or Die

Takeaway 105:  Stay lean and mean on the competition.  Also, you cannot operate in fear of conflict.  The business minded, must be willing to also be litigation minded.  People only respect your negotiation stance or product when they know that you are willing to go to the mat to defend it.

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Takeaway #184 inspired by @MsLaurynHill

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It’s funny how money change a situation

Miscommunication leads to complication

My emancipation don’t fit your equation

 Lauryn Hill:   Lost Ones

Takeaway #184:

Monetary return often leads to corporate jealousy.  People may have a limited view of hierarchical status.  The view is often fixed for both you and viewer.  Don’t get trapped in someone else’s misguided world view.  It is limiting only for them – not you – unless you let it do so. 

Additionally, the notion that your new skill set/empowerment (“emancipation”) does not always jibe with other’s  “equation” is important.  As the pupil becomes the teacher, many ex-teachers are reluctant to end the teacher-student relationship.  Be cognizant of the tension, but do not let it limit you.  As your skills reach fruition, it is incumbent on you to communicate in a manner that is digestible for those who are grappling with your growth, i.e., avoid miscommunication leading to complication.  Unfortunately, sometimes they will not hear you, being distracted by their own memory of the unemancipated/former you.  Don’t worry, your new skill set  will allow you many different ways to communicate and make sure that they hear the new successful you.

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Takeaway #17: Value Investing inspired by “lyte as a rock” @mclyte

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All in the way, just little obstacles

Chew em up, spit em out, just like popsicles

Suckers out of my way, we’re not on the same wavelength

I show stability, potential and strength ***

MC Lyte   ♦  Lyte As a Rock; Lyte As a Rock

 

Takeaway #17:   This is quite simply the key to investment success.  Warren Buffet has exhausted the topic of becoming the Value Investor for our generation.  Minor obstacles and glitches in performance must be ignored when investing in the market.  Ignore the day-traders and those flipping companies for quick return.  Dust off your edition of Value Line, check out the P/E ratios, roll up your sleeves and crunch the numbers yourself.   MC Lyte was never a paper-weight in stature in the industry and I credit her approach to the stability-potential-and-strength mantra that she serves up here.  Lyte As a Rock…solid.

 

BPM TAKEAWAY#17:

  • INVEST FOR THE LONGRUN

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