Friday

Listen to the Message

Do You Feel Me?


[click "play" (the arrow button) to watch]



About the host:
Rich Fitzgerald is the author of the short story "One to Remember" featured in Love and Redemption (Bloggers' Delight Vol. 1), a collection of short stories by authors who blog. To read excerpts or to order a copy of the title, visit i-Lit. The book is also available on Amazon.

Wednesday

Money, Sex and ...

POWER


In this world system it really isn’t about the former two items above. What it all boils down to in the end is power. Power will attract both money and sex. This is not to say that the object of power is either of those things. However, as power increases, it’s like a magnetic pull, it can’t be helped; those two entities will surely rear their heads.

Some people would say that money is power. Others would say that sex is. I both agree and disagree, because I tend to look at power as an element all its own. Power has structure. Power has rules, and if you follow the rules, you’ll maintain whatever level of power you have. If you break the rules, you will not only lose your power, but you’ll also pay a price. Some may ask, “What if I don’t want to play the game of power?” and to those I’d say, “You are already playing, you are probably just on the wrong end of the game. Denying that the game exists likely means that you my friend are being “defeated” on some level, and you obviously don’t have much power at all.” We all play the game, whether we like it or not. The best thing to do is to learn the rules of the game so you can minimize the negative impact that comes from transgressing the law.

I’ve always been a “hood” type brother, just more of a “Robin Hood”, so get comfortable, pull up a chair and come back weekly as we break down the irrefutable Laws of Power. Our guiding text will be The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene.




Any man who tries to be good all the time is bound to come to ruin among the great number who are not good. Hence a prince who wants to keep his authority must learn how not to be good, and use that knowledge, or refrain from using it, as necessity requires.

THE PRINCE, Niccolo’ Machiavelli, 1469- 1527


As I read the manual I’m often reminded of times that I have either seen the power of a law in motion through actions of my own or via someone I came into contact with. I have also witnessed first hand the negative impact of violating these laws. I would like to think that I’m pretty “up” on how to maneuver in a variety of circles, yet when I came upon rule #1, I realized that I had broken it on more than one occasion.


Rule #1

Never Outshine The Master


Always make those above you feel comfortably superior. In your desire to please and impress them, do not go too far in displaying your talents or you might accomplish the opposite - inspire fear and insecurity. Make your masters appear more brilliant than they are and you will attain the heights of power.



I was always told to do my best. Be two to three times better than the man/woman next to you if possible, especially if I’m the sole minority in a setting. So, I have always set out to “kick butt and take names” but one particular time early in my adulthood this strategy backfired. At the time, I had taken a part time job during the holidays in the retail sector. Part of my pay was built on commission so needless to say, I was “shaking hands and kissing babies” to make sure that my checks would be fat. I had bills to pay. The manager of the store was quite pleased with my performance, but there was a problem on one of the days that I arrived. The manager pulled me into the back to commend me on my sales numbers, but asked if I wouldn’t mind swinging her some sales, her numbers were a bit on the low side that week and she needed a little help. My response came in a facial expression that read like the 80’s music commercial where the guy says “No my brother, you have to get your own.” I begrudgingly threw her a couple of sales, keeping the better ones for myself, but she already knew my heart.

The end of the season arrives and I was the #2 sales guy overall, second to an Italian cat who had a regular customer base that he had built for about a year or more. I was looking to stay on the rest of the year based on what the manager told me upon hiring, “if you do a good job, we’ll look at hiring you on permanently after the holidays,” but I was let go. Supposedly the sales forecast didn’t warrant keeping any of the temporary help. That was fine, although I didn’t totally believe it. I figured she was still salty about my not dumping my money into her lap. It was cool, I had made some friends in some neighboring stores, so I put in for positions in stores that were actively hiring and still I came up with nothing.

I knew one of the brothers who worked as an assistant manager in the shoe store next door and I asked him what was up. Why couldn’t I get on? I never was late at the other store, I had great sales, and I worked extra shifts. The reason, he said and I can still hear the words now almost 20 years later. “Kathy,” not her real name, “said you weren’t a team player.”

It took me a while to find a job. Not to mention, this was the only mall in the college town of Gainesville, FL so most of the managers were friendly with each other. I got iced out because I broke the first law of power, Never Outshine the Master. In this instance, the manager reminded me who really had the power.

What are your thoughts regarding the 1st Law?

Monday

Money Mondays

Dream Deferred

What happens to a dream deferred?
Does it dry up
Like a raisin in the sun?
Or fester like a sore--
And then run?
Does it stink like rotten meat?
Or crust and sugar over--
like a syrupy sweet?
Maybe it just sags
like a heavy load.
Or does it explode?

Langston Hughes


For this episode of Money Mondays we are going to continue to pursue the theme of "Don't Get Played For Your Paper". All of us learn via different methods so for this lesson I'm going to prescribe a bit of homework. For this lesson, I'm recommending that you watch the theatrical release of "A Raisin In the Sun", featuring Phylicia Rashaad, Sean Combs, Sanaa Lathan, and Audra McDonald. It's at Blockbuster or wherever you get your films, so pick it up. I know this story deals with so much more than money, but after watching it I just felt it spoke to the heart of how we can often make decisions hastily because our dreams have seemed to have gone deferred. Although I have watched the original movie in the past, I really enjoyed this version. I also want to speak to the chatter surrounding Sean Combs' performance. I heard what the haters had to say, but despite that I enjoyed his performance tremendously. I think he did an excellent job bringing the character of Walter Lee to life.

Watch the film. Study the themes and walk away with some timeless messages that go a long way in reminding you not to get played for your paper.

For those of you who have seen the film or just have an opinion, speak to any of the following:

Tell us about a time when you have made a decision surrounding money because you felt you needed to "make a move". How did it turn out? Why did it take the direction that resulted?

Have you ever laid it ALL on the line? What was the result?

Are you currently in a situation where you feel you could get to where you wanted if other's around you would see the big picture and "help a brother/sister out"?

Is the presence of money being available a "sign" of an opportunity being golden?

How would you protect yourself in a business arrangement when all parties aren't known by you?



Enjoy the holiday.


About the host:
Rich Fitzgerald is the author of the short story "One to Remember" featured in Love and Redemption (Bloggers' Delight Vol. 1), a collection of short stories by authors who blog. To read excerpts or to order a copy of the title, visit i-Lit. The book is also available on Amazon.

Friday

The season is upon us

Bathing suit time is approaching. Are you ready? Getting there? Putting it off till next year? If you are, this caption may apply.


Frame 1: In swimwear we rely on prints and embellishments to draw the eye where we want it to go!

Frame 3: LOOK HERE.


Enjoy the Holiday Weekend.



Wednesday

Ask The Rich House Reader

I'm thinking of reviving this "advice column" that I started over a year ago. To see previous letters, view the links to Reading By The Labels and choose "Ask The Rich House." These situations do not reflect my life, but situations that I feel are common in today's society. If you have an issue you would like advice on please send an email to therichhouse@yahoo.com with the words "Ask The Rich House" in the subject line. Your anonymity will be maintained and we will let the readers of this blog chime in on your letter. And now, today's letter.


Dear Rich House Reader,

I am a single, 34-year-old male in my first relationship. For most of my life I avoided sexual relationships because I thought I was to be a minister. However, I decided to start dating a woman at work that I've known for 12 years. We've been together for over 2 years now and are engaged. The problem; however, is her youngest son. He's 16 and is known to be a problem child and loves to bully people and instigate fights at school and in the neighborhood. I've tried talking to him about his actions and about whether this has anything to do with me and his mother. He says that he likes me, but his actions say that he doesn't want to share his mother with anybody. People have told me that I am too nice a guy to marry a woman with a mean, hateful child. I have no kids. She has two. She is also nine years older than I. Any conversation we have about her child causes an argument, yet she refuses to go with me to seek advice on step families. She feels that I am looking for excuses to end the relationship, but I love this woman. What help can you suggest?

Signed

Frustrated and in love

Monday

Don't Get Played For Your Paper


** THIS IS THE START OF A NEW SERIES: MONEY MONDAYS **

At every turn someone is making a play for the money you work for. You have snake oil salesmen promising you beauty, health and wellness and a body to make the gods jealous. Advertisers and marketers are working overtime bombarding you with messages on your way to work, over the internet, on your way home and through your television. And if that wasn’t enough you have every Tom, Dick and Pastor trying to hit you up for whatever you have left. So how do you decide what to spend your money on? Your disposable income that is, because we all have the four walls (food, shelter, clothing, and transportation) in one form or another. Do you simply spend as you go and make decisions based on the amount of money on hand, or money that’s just around the corner? Or are you a planner who saves up for purchases or plan them out as you go? Do you have an amount of money allocated to clothing, entertainment, and recreation? I'm sure that quite a few folks will find that they are in that first category, because by and large decisions get made based on what is on hand or what is around the corner. No thought is given (or little thought is given) to previous purchases, savings, or emergencies. The decision is just made that says, “I want it.”

The problem with the standard approach is that you waste a lot of money. More money than you care to think about. Often times if you would just change where you place your money it could be the difference between making ends meet and having the money to do what you love in life without it being a struggle. For the sake of “living” we give away a lot of money. We have decided that there are a lot of “must have’s based on what is being marketed to us. Then we find ourselves complaining about not having the money we want when we have voluntarily given it away. Have you noticed how everything has a price on it these days? Nothing is free anymore. Not even water. We are being played at every turn for “things” and it’s not going to change as long as people keep offering up their hard earned dollars. I know we have to “live” but we also have to play a little defense if we are going to win at this game of money.

The money game is the oldest game around, yet people still try and play it by their own rules. You can bend the rules, but you can’t break them, because when you break them, you end up broke. So rule number one that I want you to remember is, Don’t Get Played For Your Paper.

Can you highlight some of the ways people are getting played for their paper? Also, tell us about some of the “gimmicks” you have fallen for so others won’t do the same. I’ll start you off. If you know you are lazy when it comes to working out, and only you know if you are, that new piece of equipment or video isn’t going to make it any better for you, you will still be lazy. Losing weight requires WORK, so save your money if you aren’t ready to put in the WORK. Now it's your turn. Discuss whatever you like as it relates to the subject, nothing is out of bounds.


About the host:
Rich Fitzgerald is the author of the short story "One to Remember" featured in Love and Redemption (Bloggers' Delight Vol. 1), a collection of short stories by authors who blog. To read excerpts or to order a copy of the title, visit i-Lit. The book is also available on Amazon.

So You Want Some More

I searched and searched (well, not that long) for some "clean" comedy to put up, but it was hard to find. I've seen this before, but maybe you haven't. I enjoyed it, and I'm sure you will too.
[click "play" (the arrow button) to watch]


Online subscribers Video Link: CLICK HERE

Tuesday

Hunted Prey


When I was in my late teens I took my hunting game to the next level and went after my first cougar. They weren't called that back in those days, but that didn't stop us "young bucks" from going after one of these prized specimens. It wasn't like we couldn't catch any of the young foxes that were around our way, in fact, that was part of the reason guys like me went after the cougars; everybody had a fox. Cougars on the other hand were prized possessions. They didn't frequent the low lying areas where the foxes played. They lay among the tree tops where only the best skilled hunters were capable of taking them alive. Cougars knew their way around the bush so they weren't falling for the tricks that the foxes fell for. In order to catch one of these beauties you had better learn the art of casting your net proper the first time, because that was the only way you would come up big. You learned early on that catching a cougar was a novelty, and not anything to be taken lightly.

Since my youth, a lot has changed. Cougars are rising in numbers, they are no longer an endangered species. They are well represented within the jungle. Because of their numbers, hunters today don't seem to value their hides as we once did. Nowadays you can find their carcasses laying on the side of the road, covered in flies. It's heartbreaking to witness. I guess we should have seen this day coming since many of these cougars weren't raised in their natural habitat. They are a different breed which makes me wonder if this breed of cougar can make the transition from domestic feline to hunted prey. I sure hope so for their sake or we may have to start taking donations to create urban reservations for them. Either that or we'll have pussy cats running all over the place and we can't have that, now can we?



About the host:
Rich Fitzgerald is the author of the short story "One to Remember" featured in Love and Redemption (Bloggers' Delight Vol. 1), a collection of short stories by authors who blog. To read excerpts or to order a copy of the title, visit i-Lit. The book is also available on Amazon.

Friday

Can't Do Without It

Since I should be getting my “I’m Rich Bytch” check soon, I figured I’d treat myself to some music. I also figured I’d give it to the good people at Apple for giving me all those great free podcasts (probably part of their marketing ploy in the first place). Anywho, I’m only showing them some love to the tune of about $100, which should get me about 100 songs (.99 cents each). So, what are your MUST HAVE songs for your Ipod? Any genre will do, except Country and Western and Hard Rock. I’ll consider anything else. I also like timeless music, so none of that trendy type stuff. So, what are your top 5 to 10 must have songs that you would purchase? If you have more, then feel free to list them by name and artist and album if you know it.



About the host:
Rich Fitzgerald is the author of the short story "One to Remember" featured in Love and Redemption (Bloggers' Delight Vol. 1), a collection of short stories by authors who blog. To read excerpts or to order a copy of the title, visit i-Lit. The book is also available on Amazon.

Not Again

Here they come with this "Dream Ticket" talk again. Now that Billary have shown their true colors, I have two words for why Hillary Clinton would NEVER be my choice for Vice President.


Basically what I'm saying is that Hillary wants to be President so bad, anyone in front of her would have to constantly watch their back for the forthcoming "accident". Having her on the team is like sleeping with the enemy. I wouldn't do it.


About the host:
Rich Fitzgerald is the author of the short story "One to Remember" featured in Love and Redemption (Bloggers' Delight Vol. 1), a collection of short stories by authors who blog. To read excerpts or to order a copy of the title, visit i-Lit. The book is also available on Amazon.

Thursday

PSA: Just cause she fine...


There is something about a pretty face and body that men just can’t seem to get away from. But have you ever wondered why more average looking women have men than the supposed “beautiful ones”?


Haiku #362436

Yes, she is so fine
A dime among dimes that’s true
Crazy, Deranged too.


Summer is approaching fella's, be careful out there.


About the host:
Rich Fitzgerald is the author of the short story "One to Remember" featured in Love and Redemption (Bloggers' Delight Vol. 1), a collection of short stories by authors who blog. To read excerpts or to order a copy of the title, visit i-Lit. The book is also available on Amazon.

Saturday

The Voice of Love

I was asked to pen a poem for the birthday celebration of blogger, Love Babz. Initially, I resisted a bit because I'm a bit of an apprehensive poet. I tend to like commentary more and just plain ole "trouble making". Not to mention there are so many others who "make a living" at it. But since I enjoy speaking with her from time to time and trading emails I accepted the call. Initially, I went the easy route and created something whimsical in her comment section, but after reading all the serious offerings, I decided to reach beneath the surface and do the same. So, Babz, let it be known, I flipped the switch for you. And while this is a birthday wish for you, it's also a heartfelt thank you to all the bloggers out there who also move me.


The Voice of Love

when i first heard your voice
my heart was immediately arrested

i had dialed a different location

yet, the familiar chords reminded me of one
who had eloped from the files of my existence

but as i began to partake in your
goodness

i knew u represented a gift of love
sent from on high

we would rewrite history
u and i

heal each others pains
bury each others transgressions

provide each other with a second chance
a better existence than what we lived in the past

that's what happens in this world of ours

celestial citizens of the earth
seeking to be loved
we ultimately collide

providing a soothing balm of compassion
that slowly disintegrates each other's pain.

the voice resident in you

hosts the wisdom of time
reassures me that I can conquer all
lets me know that I am not alone
builds my confidence that all is not lost

when i laugh out loud at something you laid down digitally
I'm reminded that calling you up is just a few key strokes
away

you are there for me night or day
always telling me what you think
always lending your voice

its the medium that connects us
your voice is my choice

the way you laugh
the way you speak
it's all there

both in my mind and in my heart

I must admit
your voice has given me so much

So this time
I'm trying to get it right

This time
I plan on cherishing the love

This time
I won't take love for granted.

This time I admit

I recognize that you are
The voice of love.

Happy Birthday Love Babz

Also, i want to express gratitude and appreciation to all the bloggers who unselfishly give of their voice and aid in my growth (in no particular order). I read so many of you and I don't always get around to leaving a comment. [I'm definitely not providing links today -- sorry -- but I will update my link list soon.]

CapCity
Don @ Minus the Bars
Mizrepresent
Sojourner
Eb The Celeb
Torrance - Raw Dawg Buffalo
Tony Oh!
Ticia
Sharon - Just Write Now
Ced - A New Man
Saadia
Sheletha
Lance (Blogger with no blog)
Shai
KiKi
Nikki
Jali
Sheila
Sheila G
Muze
Jewells
MysTery
Verbal Vixen
Gotta Let It Out
Gecko Girl
-1-
12 Kyle
Jaded Nyer
Slause and Co.
Verbal Vixen
Literary Felonies
Field Negro
Dave J
Lea
DJ Black Adam
Cortney Gee
Lolita
DC
Tabu
Diva's Thoughts
Diva's Opinion
Xavier
Queen of My Castle
Suite B
Denea
Xcentric Pryncess
Femi Gog
What Lola Wants Lola Gets
Pro
The Karrie B
Pocahontas
James Tubman
Smoking Guns
Ecclectic
B More Bap Life
Ms. Behaving
Ms. Puddin'
The Cast of writers at Bloggers' Delight
Pretty Black

Anyone that I may have forgotten, blame it on the head and not the heart.


About the host:
Rich Fitzgerald is the author of the short story "One to Remember" featured in Love and Redemption (Bloggers' Delight Vol. 1), a collection of short stories by authors who blog. To read excerpts or to order a copy of the title, visit i-Lit. The book is also available on Amazon.

Thursday

Let Him Speak

The ladies had their say, now it's time to hear from the men. I will add that because of the power of the "P", some of the guys didn't want to go on record. So my advice to women is simple -- Stop punking your dude, punishing him for keeping it real. You should also stop trying to turn us into women. We aren't going to be as sensitive as you are, we are men, we weren't created to be soft - we are the protectors, providers and lovers of you, so accept that about us. You are the nurturers and help meets. Some of you are more, but we'll cover that in the video. This isn't a bash session, it is a heartfelt plea for you to hear what we have to say.

Online Subscribers Video Link


[click "play" (the arrow button) to watch]


About the host:
Rich Fitzgerald is the author of the short story "One to Remember" featured in Love and Redemption (Bloggers' Delight Vol. 1), a collection of short stories by authors who blog. To read excerpts or to order a copy of the title, visit i-Lit. The book is also available on Amazon.