THE POWER OF BEING BROKE

By Vernalee

Being broke is not a good feeling. Raise your hand if you agree! In fact, can I get an Amen? But being broke can be your greatest motivator. Just ask Daymond John who started selling his home-sewn

t-shirts on the streets of Queens on a $40 budget that later became the incubator for the $6 billion dollar global phenomenon FUBU (For us, By us) brand. John had a “stand by your side Mother, a heart full of hope, and a ferocious drive to succeed by any means possible.” So, FUBU’s founder and star of ABC’s Shark Tank demonstrate that being broke may be your “greatest competitive advantage as an entrepreneur. It forces you to think more creatively, use your resources more efficiently, connect with your customers more authentically, market your ideas more imaginatively; and finally, it forces you to be true to yourself, stay focused on your goals, and come up with innovative solutions required to make a meaningful mark.” Yes, that’s right. John shows in his book, “The Power of Broke: How Empty Pockets, a Tight Budget, and a Hunger for Success Can Become Your Greatest Competitive Advantage. “When your back is up against the wall, your bank account is empty, and creativity and passion are the only resources you can afford, success is your only option.” Are you motivated yet? Sometimes, we have to use what we have as John did. With no advertising budget, he asked his fellow Queens' neighbor and rapper L.L. Cool J to wear one of his caps in a GAP commercial in the 1990’s. Not too shabby; right? Great advertising, I’ll say. The rest is history! Here’s my take.

It’s a mindset.

Our thoughts plant seeds of reality. It shows that thinking out of the box will land you farther than the idleness of not pursuing your passions.

Don’t be afraid to ask! How can you receive if you don’t ask?

Use your available resources. Eliminate excuses. Don’t give up! Dream big! Think bigger!

Be persistently motivated. Motivation can make your paycheck bigger. Work hard ...and harder... and harder. Work your passion to achieve your greatness! Don’t take NO for an answer. Where there is a will, there is a way!

I will go out on a limb and say, "The power of being broke is not to be!" I take you back to the old folks in Mississippi when they told me, "Child, stop spending every penny that you get on clothes. Save something for a rainy day." Once again, they were right!

So ... let's not stop pursuing our dreams! Daymond didn’t! Neither should we!

Besides jingling coins in our pockets outweigh empty pockets everyday of the week! Photo credit: www.chicagotribune.com