Profuse Habits

Day One: Turning the Faucet On - The Live Wealthy Newsletter

Fri, 21 Nov 2025 20:32:32 GMT

From Hoarded Drafts to Daily Drops: Embracing the Habit of Sharing—and Thinking Out Loud—Every Day

I woke up this morning ready to start something new.

Not a “new idea.” Not a new platform. Not a new hack.

A new habit.

Since I was about 17, I’ve had this itch to write a daily newsletter. Long before I knew what “content strategy” or “personal brand” meant, I was just a kid obsessed with words and the people who used them well.

I grew up glued to media.

One of my clearest memories is sitting with my dad every Sunday watching Meet the Press. Most kids were watching cartoons; I was watching Tim Russert grill politicians before we headed to the mosque or the basketball court. By the time I was 10, I could follow a political segment, understand the stakes, and argue my point at the dinner table.

That early obsession with politics expanded into business news, current events, and the news cycle—local, national, and global. If there was a publication, I was reading it. If there was a conversation about how the world worked, I wanted in.

That’s what led me to study political science in college.

Studying poli-sci meant I was always reading: newspaper articles, academic papers, research, and theory. I went deep into the academic world—and I loved it. Structure, argument, proof, discourse. It shaped how I think and how I write.

Academics are brilliant at ideas and terrible at distribution.

The ideas were strong. The marketing was weak. They could spend years on a paper that twenty people read. In 2013–2015, watching that gap between insight and impact is what pushed me toward media and marketing.

So in 2016, I started a music and culture blog called The Prep Boys .

That was my first real lab.

I wrote about Indianapolis, about Afro-pop culture, about the zeitgeist. I’d already been experimenting with personal blogs and using Twitter as a microblog, but my first Wix site, The Prep Boys, was where I started to understand how words, culture, and distribution fit together.

Since then, I’ve tried almost every platform you can think of:

Medium
Substack
Ghost
Wix
Duda
Webflow
ReadyMag

I’ve got thousands of unfinished drafts sitting in apps, docs, and journals. Hundreds of ideas in half-sentences and bullet points. Voice notes. Swipe files. Headlines with no bodies. Bodies with no headlines.

If you’re reading this, you’re catching me at the moment I decided to stop hoarding.

Because under all the experimentation, tools, and templates, one truth has been constant:

I’ve always had a strong desire to share my thoughts, my perspective, and any valuable information I can with the world.

Not just for the sake of “content,” but because writing is how I think. It’s how I connect. It’s how I make sense of faith, culture, marketing, and this strange digital world we’re all building together.

Today, I’m done overthinking the container.

I’m choosing the habit.

I’m committing to publishing something every day—here. Not just journaling in private. Not just filling up swipe files. Actually shipping.

This is day one .

If you stick around, here’s what you can expect from me:

Stories from Brooklyn, DePauw, Indianapolis, Oakland, and everywhere in between
Lessons from building brands, running campaigns, and studying the craft of storytelling.
Reflections on faith, discipline, and what it means to live intentionally in a distracted world
Examining media, culture, and tech through the lens of a first‑gen Nigerian-American kid who grew up in the early 2000s in Brooklyn, NY.

Some days might be long essays. Some days might be short riffs. But you’ll hear from me. Daily.

I’ve spent years preparing for this without realizing it—reading, writing, building, failing, restarting. Now it’s time to turn the creative faucet on and leave the water running.

Welcome to The Live Wealthy Newsletter

I’m your host, Profuse Habits .

Let’s boogie.

The BJ Grand Prix: A 3 Month Sprint In The Bay

prepmanagementinc@gmail.com (BJ Teriba) — Fri, 15 Nov 2024 19:16:48 GMT

In this life: There are no guardrails. I've known this fact since I can remember. I didn't always live like it. This year: I've approached things my way. And I plan to; every year of my life moving forward.

In June: I took a leap of faith, moving the country across from NYC to the Bay Area. I started an advertising program at @TheAcademyatGoodbySilverstein. Launched an experience design company. Joined a startup to lead the go-to-market motion. Taking that leap to chase my dreams: has created the kind of happiness you chase once you get a taste.

Embracing the Chaos: August

August marked the dawn of our third month at the Academy. The experience has been invaluable to my perspective:

On advertising.
On writing.
On concept creation.
On life.

Diving into Intro to Copywriting was rough in the best way. Having already exposed myself to the world of bad copy, I have some unlearning to do.

(Screw you, LinkedIn direct response marketers).

(J/K I love (some) of you). Not the ClickFunnels dudes. GoHighLevel better chill out too.

Anyways, Trevor & Rachel softened the landing for me. They helped shatter this glass ceiling that corporate sterility puts on creativity. Big props to them.

Shoutout Trevor for loaning me a physical copy of Hey Whipple Squeeze This. Really my G.

Advertising is an obscure craft with far-reaching known impacts. Its root: the generation of great ideas. The craft of making good ideas is (almost) dead. I’m trying to help keep it alive.

We wrapped up our Intro to Strategy class with Kelly this month. I am more dangerous as a strategist after listening to her. Her superpowers of observation are what I learned from the most. She can see an idea and articulate it as a finished vision. She's a bowl of pop culture references, and one of the best presenters I've watched. I hope a little bit of her angel dust sprinkles on me.

New Startup Journey: Joining SERV

SERV(ing) an Industry

In July, I consulted with a CRM startup in Campbell, CA. It's in the South Bay Area if you don't know. They expressed a need for a Demand Gen leader.

I thought the product SERV(ed) a market with a huge need. It aligned with my professional & personal endeavors. This felt like more than a career move. It was a commitment to help a great founder grow a product that has a chance to impact an entire industry. I started on August 1st.

The MYX didn’t just host Milk & Honey.

We dressed down in white and gold. We ate, drank, and sang together. We gave to an amazing local cause. We blended creativity and community. For conscious consumption. We became part of the community. We've got a few activations planned for the rest of the year, but this was the perfect way to wrap up Q3.

Building Momentum: September

September became a training camp of launches and learnings. SERV 2.0 wasn’t a website update. We redefined our message and digital presence. And my first real mark on the organization.

Springboard 2024 In Philly

Attending our first trade show in Philadelphia expanded our horizons. Spending time with Nickhil was helpful. Hearing his passion for the brand and mission strengthened my belief in my decision. I'm excited to help build a world-class product.

GSP Team Projects: Big Green Egg with Ray

We started in September and finished in October. I’m gonna talk about it up here. Gabe is an amazing creative/instructor. His feel, ability to create a strong voice, and feedback helped me grow as a creative. Ray and I started off rough. Life was rough—for both of us. We pushed through, though. The growth from Week 1 to Week 3 is something I’m proud of.

A Note On "The Town".

This month: Oakland became more than a city I live in. It became a playground for (symbiotic) growth. I experienced its essence. I attended events. I met new people. At First Friday. At Oakland Run Club. On the street. I connected with vibrant minds. Spirited souls. Personal and professional connections.

The Academy @ GSP: Reflecting on Month One.

prepmanagementinc@gmail.com (BJ Teriba) — Wed, 24 Jul 2024 19:24:16 GMT

Since relocating to the Bay Area in June, I've been moving nonstop. I started classes with my cohort at The Academy @ Goodby & Silverstein. I've also been consulting with startups on GTM & Digital Strategy. I took a monumental leap of faith at 30, not knowing what to expect. I'm glad to report that this experience has already transformed my life in profound ways.

ALCH3MY: The Academy's 3rd Cohort

The experience starts and ends with our cohort. I got to connect with and learn from 12 of the most talented people I’ve ever met. They inspired me in ways I didn’t even think possible.

From the application process, I could see that everyone had unique talents. The GSP team (shoutout Dan, Zach & Chelsea) picked us from over 400 applicants. I remember thinking to myself on the way to orientation: "Each member of the cohort has something to bring to the table". From the moment I walked into the room, I knew that much was clear.

Meeting everyone at orientation crystallized that fact. If we're talking background & discipline, we’ve got a diverse pool of talent to say the least. We have comedians, photographers, filmmakers, screenwriters, poets, recording artists, fashion designers, and entrepreneurs. The diversity of our backgrounds and perspectives is beautiful as well. We cover almost every box I can think of from a demographic standpoint.

Some of us are making a career transition to the creative world. Others have been in the creative world their whole lives. The thing that ties us is an undeniable ambition to break into the advertising space and be our best selves in it. Sharing that kind passion, perspective and experience in one group is invaluable.

October.

I turn 31 in October. As I self analyze, I've lost a bit of the youthful spark I had as a kid. My "why" is a powerful force, but for a while, I felt like I was losing that ability to think "what if". When I met this group, I could immediately read the ambition and passion everyone emitted. I found a group of "dreamers" right when I needed to.

We’re fun, quirky, and energetic. We’re focused and playful at the same time. We bounce off one another's energy in a way I’ve never seen a group gel in any space. We come from different places. We have different objectives, strengths and weaknesses. All of that makes for an amazing melting pot of ideas, experiences and perspectives that make this process an "iron sharpening iron" experience.

Advertising 101: A Crash Course In Creative Thinking & Agency Anatomy

Our first class was a Creative Thinking course with Jeff Fang, Creative Director @ GSP. Jeff is a man who pushes you to think not outside the box, but outside the frame. His skillful explanation of story, point of view, and narrative sparked childhood creativity. I last took a creative course in person when I was in kindergarten. So, this was the reframing my mind needed.

The activities pushed us to think about situations, brands, and stories. We were forced to connect culture, context, and customers in unconventional ways. We explored the fantastical and gruesome with open minds. We got both playful and vulnerable with our ideas. We got personal. We made some pretty cool things. And we got closer as a group.

On the business side, we studied the "Anatomy of an Agency." A team of great strategists taught it. Our Academy Founder, Chelsea Bruzzone, Sr. Brand Strategist @ GSP, led the course. I’ve worked at a B2B agency, so I understood a few things about Agency Anatomy coming in.

Chelsea and the team stressed the importance of the communications team in execution. They also stressed the operational duties of the account team. They stressed the role of the creative, production, and analytics teams in execution. We still have Production and Business Affairs to cover. The first few classes were so informative. So going forward, we're in for a treat!

We had our first class on Strategy. It was with Kelly Evans-Pfiefer. She won the 2023 US Strategic Planner of the Year award for Campaign Magazine. She is also the Deputy Director of Brand Strategy at GSP. It was epic. She thinks about customer research, campaign concepting, and hacking culture with incredible clarity.

We got major insight on how some of the top campaigns in the world get conceptualized. We broke down timeless advertising case studies. We even got to see cool things that GSP’s got under the hood (#AcademyPrivilege). I am happy with my experience thus far. And glad I took the leap.

I’ll be back to fill you in on month 2 @ The Academy. Till then, later, gang. ✌��

Quick Reflection: Seeing Spike Lee For The First Time

prepmanagementinc@gmail.com (BJ Teriba) — Sun, 04 Feb 2024 20:44:32 GMT

Getting the chance to see the Spike Lee exhibit a second time before it closed was heartening.

It reinvigorated my passion for documenting life, creating around the things that matter to me and reinsured my belief in my own "werk".

Success is defined as “an event that accomplishes its intended purpose.” Life is an event in itself. If nothing else, Spike comes across as a man who means to inspire the masses through his werk.

That is a man who lives in his purpose. There in lies where my deep respect for him stems.

As successful a man as he is, I don’t aspire to be like Spike. His context isn’t mine. His vision isn’t one I share. His goals aren’t the same as mine.

The way he shares his story through his collection, works and productions, helped to glean an ever so slight sense of who he is, what he values and why he feels he was put on this earth.

And that ability — to tell his story through the mediums of his choosing — and invoke both this shared sense of understanding amongst viewers & and the unique message for each of us he forces out of us is something to be both admired & inspired by.

That’s why the small message he wrote in my signed copy of Spike Lee: Director’s Inspiration actually meant something to me. He’s done his werk — to the point where the world knows him for that.

And now it’s my turn to do the same.

Push vs Pull - A Tug Of War & Life

Mon, 24 Jan 2022 15:13:00 GMT

Our lives are composed of the various outcomes that our actions & habits produce and enable.

Squid games is one of the best shows I've seen in the last 5 years. My favorite scene was the tug of war game . Seong Gi-hun , the protagonist of the show and his team were pitted against Jang Deok-su and his band of theives.
It's tug of war, so while the physical action was pull for both sides, the strategies on how to use energy came down to push vs. pull. In the end, the team that won was able to redirect their energy and allow themselves to be pulled, then at the point of impact push themselves to victory.
Push and pull are two key words in this post, so we'll define them before getting into the story.

Push actions are actions that direct energy outwardly to produce effects. Pushing a weight. Sending an email to someone. Drilling a nail. These are things that require us to use our force and the tools at our disposal to create the energy needed for an outcome to form.
Pull on the other hand is to direct energy toward oneself to create an outcome. Dragging a heavy bag, creating a strong brand that forces people to reach out for your services, the law of attraction -- these are all versions of creating energy and redirecting to create outcomes. Now that that's out of the way, back to the story.

Our heroes were outmatched from a physical standpoint right out of the gate and struggled early. Their strategy was to use brute strength to push & coerce he other team into the pit, but the other team had the advantage.
They fought hard trying to push their adversaries for two minutes to no avail, using their energy and pushing their bodies to the limit to fight.
Then, Sang-woo, Seong Gi-hun's childhood friend turned backstabbing traitor (spoiler alert) came up with a plan: Let the other team pull us at the right time so they fall. Then while they're down will pull them to win.
The team had their apprehensions, but with no options left, agreed to the plan. They gave it one hard pull and went limb. They slid and stopped right at the pit. Seong Gi-hun was one foot off the platform hanging with his life in the balance.

Push actions are actions that direct energy outwardly to produce effects.

But the other team had fallen. They were pushing themselves so hard that when Seong Gi-hun's team redirected their energy and let themselves be pulled, they couldn't pump the breaks to stand upright.
So Seong Gi-hun's team rallied. They got up, used the last of their energy to pull and pulled themselves to the wall of the platform, pulling the other team to their death.
So another chapter of the typical hero's story comes to an end there. But what does this mean for our daily lives? Our lives are composed of the various outcomes that our actions & habits produce and enable. The current status of our lives is the culmination of the building blocks of the actions we have commit ted and banked throughout our time on this earth.
Both kinds of actions serve us in a complimentary way to one another. Discerning, how, why and when to use each form of energy is key to creating desirable outcomes in this life.
So when you're thinking about the outcomes you want and the actions you need to commit to: ask yourself if push or pull is better in this case.

Pull on the other hand is to direct energy toward oneself to create an outcome.

Can I stand on those principles?

Wed, 19 Jan 2022 01:02:00 GMT

Our values are the only thing binding us as people.

The power of humanity lies in our ability to work in teams. For a purpose greater than ourselves. The biggest and best things to come from humanity may have been sparked by an individual but took the will & work of a collective to be brought to fruition.

But there’s a catch.

Humanity isn’t so gullible that it will follow any and everything that sounds good.

People are only able to come together under the umbrella of systems like nations, businesses and organizations because they share a similar set of beliefs, standards and ethics that guide them in their way of life -- principles.

Without them, we are left to the various wills of the many, which can never come to a consensus, and can ultimately create no path forward.

In a world where we now have access to so many different people, places, and prospects, principles are a leading indicator of whether a relationship, situation or opportunity is something you should pursue.

You may find yourself really interested in working at a startup, volunteering at a non-profit or even moving to a new country. The first thing I would do in any of those situations is figure out what their value systems look like. Then I would ask myself:

“If forced to abide by every single one of these principles, could I do so willingly?”!

The answer to that question usually gives me all the clarity I need on a situation.

Go Slow.

Sat, 15 Jan 2022 18:46:00 GMT

We are always in a rush. I've lived in the fastest place in America in New York & the slowest in Indiana, and for all of the socio-economic & geopolitical differences the people inhabiting these two places have one thing in common: the need to get on to the next as soon as possible.

From texts back to a successful career, we want it all and want it NOW. The feelings of instant gratification that drive this mode of action, however, are only satisfied momentarily. We're on a constant quest for consumption, but somehow we're left empty. Devoid of fulfillment and trying to satiate our need for stimulation with...more stimulation.

Going too fast and consuming so much without stopping to think with the value of your actions is an endless cycle that leads to nowhere. When we go too fast we miss the details that come with every situation in life. The context clues in the text. The key detail in a business document. These are the things we take for granted when we live for stimulation and not gratification. When we live life like a blur.

Take a breath. Go Slow.

Trading Imagination For Stagnation.

Tue, 11 Jan 2022 16:34:00 GMT

Imagination is the key to unlocking a world of possibilities in life. It cannot, however, exist where scarcity thrives. The moment you believe you’re capable of making the best of a situation, you’ve already won. The moment you’ve accepted defeat, you’ve lost. The power of imagination is present in both instances.

When you’re a child, you dream about your future in the wildest way.

You put no limit on the things you can accomplish.

The person you will become.

Imagination is unlimited currency as a child and we spend like there’s no tomorrow.

You plan ahead and do your best to make it happen.

As you get older, you start to understand the concept of scarcity. Time is limited. Money is finite. People are fickle. Things don’t always go your way. Plans don’t always succeed.

One thing leads to another. Life & its various weights begins to compound. You're drained of the imaginative force you still vividly remember from childhood. It's been replaced by feelings of complacency, hopelessness and self contempt. You're a believer.

You never stop to think about the possibilities. Only what is in front of you. Life has become about survival. The trap of human existence. Where we trade imagination for stagnation. The currency of our childhood for the false currency of dejection.

The moment you lost was the moment you started believing: the world was right and you were wrong. Take back your imagination.

A Man Unafraid To Walk Alone Is A Man Worth Following

Tue, 11 Jan 2022 14:18:00 GMT

When it comes down to it, man’s entire existence is based two things:

Paradigm, how he sees the world

& values, how he chooses to act in and upon it.

Most men do not walk alone because they don’t believe

that their cause, idea or philosophy is good enough to walk a lonely path with.

As a child, I was extremely social.

I hated doing things alone.

I was afraid of loneliness. I loved being around people

At the same time, I enjoyed certain aspects of it.

I was awkwardly comfortable with silence in the presence of others.

Writing in my journal brought me peace.

Working out in the park early in the morning was solitude.

Meditating through prayer was therapeutic.

As I’ve grown older, I realize why I needed the presence of others so much in my life.

It wasn’t so much that I needed people,

So much as it was not knowing myself.

When you look at great leaders, thinkers and societal architects there is only one trait that connects them: It’s an unwavering belief in their chosen path. An unyielding belief in one’s self and with it: A willingness to do what they feel is right Even if the consensus does not agree.

The most dangerous man in the world is the man who sees the world as he believes it should be and walks toward without fear of reproach.

A man unafraid to walk alone is a man worth following.

Focus

Fri, 07 Jan 2022 00:36:00 GMT

It’s an easy thing to talk about.

Hard to implement in everyday life.

Like every ideal, it’s elusive.

It must be pursued constantly.

One must center his entire existence

Around (its) manifestation.

It requires sacrifice, discipline

dedication and patience

to attain this skill, meaning:

Anyone can develop it.

It’s not for the faint of heart,

But once found, learned,

understood & controlled...

It’s very presence

positively impacts

every potential prospect

One is faced with in life.

Focus improves the odds

Of productivity, efficiency,

Attention to detail,

and success.

Change We Fear The Most Is Change We Need To Make

Wed, 05 Jan 2022 16:56:00 GMT

I decided to head back to NYC.

I gave up my freelance business in Indy.

I needed a way to dive into the entrepreneurial world and find my tribe.

When I first moved back home, even though I wasn’t there under the pretense I wanted, it felt like the first big step in reconfiguring my life and getting back on track.

A year later, I figured out my business model and have the foundation I need for exponential growth in 2022.

Not in Indy, where I was working my ass off for 6+ years to build my network, platform and skillset, but NYC -- home.

I always envisioned coming back home as this big success. I felt like I had to keep the pressure to make it on myself and shoulder it alone.

Being home helped me realize I was wrong.

I need God. I need support. I need family. I need friends. I need a tribe.

We all do.

And making the move I’ve been dreading since graduating college was the best move I’ve ever made.

Change we fear the most is change we need to make.

Stay Ready: Check Your Bags Twice

Tue, 04 Jan 2022 19:45:00 GMT

Life has a funny way of humbling us when we least expect it.

I have a bad habit of leaving home without the most important thing(s). From my wallet to my phone, somehow I find ways to forget those things at home. It’s gotten to the point where I keep a checklist for going out (that o my out may not curb depending on the day).

In my most recent episode. I was in TSA, getting my bags checked at JFK for a trip to Atlanta. While getting my bags ready for security check, I opened my camera bag on the belt to pull out my laptop. As I pulled out my laptop, I noticed something even more important was missing: my CAMERA (the very reason I was being flown to Atlanta).

I looked on in horror as the flood of negative thoughts came to my head. I had been packing from 5AM and already knew where I left it -- right on the table where it was charging the night before. I had even grabbed the charger, however I simply blanked on grabbing the most important possession.

Then I thought to myself “Why am I always getting caught in situations like this?”. And after a few hours I believe the answer is this: even in the most meticulously planned situations, something unexpected can (and more than likely will) happen.

In all honesty: I visualize myself as reliable & prepared -- well at least I’m always FOCUSED on preparation. I’ve always hated being caught in situations that could easily be avoided by thinking ahead and mitigating roadblocks before they obstruct my path (wherever it may lead).

Simon Sinek broke down the Dwight Eisenhower quote "Planning is everything, the plan is nothing", during an interview with Capture Your Flag, saying that while plans break down the moment you try to implement them, planning prepares you for the unexpected.

That morning, when I got the call to bring my bags downstairs, I was still pulling all kinds of gadgets from charges. I knew what time I was supposed to be ready. And because I wasn't prepared when it came time, I payed the price at the airport that morning.

Thankful for the simple solution, I went back home, got my camera and boarded a later flight. Luckily I didn’t miss any major aspects of my trip. I was able to recover and still make it down for my engagement.

What if I’d have gotten on the flight I was supposed to be on without my camera? Only God knows the answer to that question, but I know for a fact that narrative wouldn’t have played out far better than the current one.

One of our divine abilities as humans is the ability to plan ahead in every facet of our lives. When we set plans, give ourselves the time to prepare and stick with them, life tends to be a lot more enjoyable, pleasant and placid. When we lack any three of those ingredients, it spells disaster most of the time.

Simply put: stay ready so you never have to get ready.

And check your bags twice before you pack ‘em.

Value Over Vanity: The Key To Discernment

Mon, 03 Jan 2022 19:00:00 GMT

In a world that seems like all anyone cares about is how we look & what we have, life can start to feel transactional at times. It is easy to confuse one for the other, but understanding which one to place emphasis on is the key to discernment.

You might find yourself feeling like you have to engage in the game of comparison like people around us. Digital communities like Instagram provide a perfect platform for people watching and arbitrary comparison. Unfortunately the things we see and track on those platforms are only leading indicators that don’t help us tell much of a story in the grand scheme.

The only way to understand a situation in whole is by asking the right questions (something I believe we should all hold ourselves more accountable in doing) and tracking indicators that show signs of growth, not arbitrary metrics that don’t tell a story.

I’m a marketing strategist. In my work, there are two kinds of metrics to track the progress of any campaign or initiative we launch: metrics and key performance indicators. Metrics are quantifiable measures used to track progress from a live source, like social media or a websites. They are useful for understanding progress in raw totals, but, individually, hold no real value.

This thought process can be applied to vanity on many levels. When we look at things like money, appearance or even social media presence, we can look at them and get a general understanding of what a person has accumulated over time, but that is all we can assume. We cannot contextualize those understandings looking at them as individual components of success because they don’t tell a full story.

KPI stands for Key Performance Indicator and is the other type of metric we use to track progress. KPIs are like “ vital signs for your business ”. They are milestones that “ most closely align with your critical business objectives .

These are the things that move the business forward and give us a tangible understanding of how well the business is doing. like conversion rates, leads and downloads. They give you an understanding of performance in relation to inputs and give context to the metrics. They help tell a story.

When we discuss value we look at it in context and relative to the situation a person finds her/himself in. We contextualize the data and information at our disposal which usually includes metrics, but we ask questions that give us a greater understanding of a situation in whole instead of its individual parts. Seeing value is the ability to interpret the metrics that matter to assess the right path forward

Ultimately everyone has a different perspective when thinking about the world. For me, value and vanity are two factors I can look at in any situation to better understand the context of a story, which ultimately helps me make better decisions. It’s a value system I’ve developed that helps me discern between things that matter and things that don’t. We need filters in a world of full of noise & propaganda.

Truth Is Found In Tension

Sun, 02 Jan 2022 16:19:00 GMT

Truth Is Found In Tension

Tension is one of the most important tools in any relationship. You can meet someone you have a lot in common with, hit it off, communicate and even spend lots of time together, but without tension those interactions do very little to inform you of who a person “really is” or how a person really feels.

Why We Need Tension

Since the dawn of time, we’ve seen tension shed light on truth for humanity. We need only to look at innate human behavior patterns like “fight or flight” to understand the connection & context between tension & truth for humanity. We react to pressure with our most genuine reactions -- for better or worse and this has been the case since the dawn of modern humanity.
In a digitally centric world, where people constantly post about their thoughts and feelings, you may fool yourself into thinking you know a person. As we get older, there are simply less reasons to connect with people.
Once you’re out of school and in the workforce, there’s really no reason to have to connect with people unless you’re entrepreneurial or big into networking. And with less touch points, our relationships suffer, becoming surface level & mundane.

Surface Level Relationships

A majority of the time, the company we keep is dictated by our environment and more exploratory than defined. We don’t have years of experience with a lot of the people we’re around and have to learn about people on the fly, basing opinion more on observation than rooted opinion.
We hang out with people and develop relationships, but never really put ourselves in a position to see who each other truly is. If you don’t find even a bone of contention or adversity, your relationship is doomed to a superficial connection until you have to react to a moment of tension. And in that moment, a lot can be revealed.
A lot of relationships fall apart in moments of tension. Not everyone is willing to embrace tension. Some run away from it. Sometimes the truth about how a person feels about you isn’t what you thought. That's nothing to blame yourself for. You can find comfort in knowing that you attempted to build a connection genuinely and that act was not reciprocated. Remember: you do good things because you're a good person and for no other reason!

Building Tension Into Relationships

For me, I like to build relationships with my friends by building a bit of tension into the relationship. I like to train with my friends, play games online with them, build businesses together, do philanthropy work together -- anything that forces accountability and teamwork usually works.
In those moments I learn more about my friends & associates than any other time. I’m able to see how you react in pressure situations. I can learn how you respond to adversity. Human relationship either break from tension or grow in a beautiful way when tension is faced and addressed head on. And the latter is a beautiful bond worth pursuing.
I encourage you to examine your relationships and find ways to build a little tension into it. Find a positive way to fight adversity with your friend, a family member or a significant other. It will not only help you learn more about the person but will also give you both a great story to remember (assuming all goes well).
And if it happens to go left, at the least you will be able to understand where you stand with a person and clarify the story behind your relationship. Because in the end: all we are left with is stories and memories.

Controlling Your Thoughts

Sat, 01 Jan 2022 13:22:00 GMT

Negative By Nature

The human mind is a work horse that is constantly working for us -- and sometimes against us. Studies show that humans conjure up over 6,000 thoughts a day on average. Of those thoughts, here are some stats to consider:

80% were negative.
95% were repetitive thoughts from the day before.
85% of what we worry about never happens.

These stats illustrate how the human mind is set up: to defend us in the state of nature. Our mind is first and foremost a defense mechanism for any change in our immediate environment. When the numbers are added up, about 97% of our worries are baseless and the result of a natural pessimism to the world.

There’s a reason why morning routines are so important. From workouts raising endorphins to the fact that early rising directly correlates with high levels of positivity, these rituals are important for raising our happiness levels because contrary to popular belief: it’s not our immediate nature to think positively.

It can be difficult to apply at times, but try and practice some intentional thinking today and going forward through the new year. Push yourself to lean more on the positive and watch the people, possibilities and prospects in your life follow suit.

An Encounter I'll Never Forget

Sat, 13 Feb 2021 12:40:00 GMT

I was about 13 years old in Nigeria with my family at the time. It was myself, my two siblings, my mother and my Grandmother. I remember coming from Ijebu Ode and it getting dark while we were still on the highway — something I dreaded because of how dark the roads got.
Growing up in Brooklyn, even at night streets seemed extremely well lit compared to Nigeria which felt super rural and technologically limited to me. It’s funny to think about, but even at that age I already fully understood the wealth disparity between the countries at this point. I also came to contextualize why my parents worked so hard to build their business in America: to bring it all back to Nigeria to help provide infrastructure to their family back home.

In any case, as we drove I looked outside to the black of the night with an ominous feeling. In a second, we heard sirens, our car was pulled over and we were approached by fully armed police officers with AK47s in hand screaming orders. Bewildered, I looked around at the officers and mom as they went back and forth in a heated exchange. And in another moment: everything was over. The cops walked away. We were able to drive away safely. No one was harmed. No one was killed.
When I asked my mom what happened, she told me that those were simply corrupt police officers, but locally we were close enough to where we lived that the group had heard of my grandmother who was pretty involved in the Lagos community as a whole. And once I heard that explanation, I became completely unnerved by a single question:
What if we didn’t have my grandmother to lean on in that moment: what happens to my family and I?
This reality is not one unique to my life or my family’s — countless Nigerians have been placed in this embarrassing scenario and even more have been less fortunate than my family and I in the outcome. If you’re from Nigeria then you’re well aware of the damage corrupt armed forces have delivered to our people.
Thousands of Nigerians have been killed at the hands of SARs and our nation’s police force for no reason other than a selfish & corrupt view of power. And on October 20th, 2020 the Nigerian Government put its corruption on the world stage with what is now known as the “Lekki Massacre”.

What Is SARs?

SARs stands for “Special Anti-Robbery Squad”. It is a special branch of the Nigerian Police Force created in 1992 to deal with crimes associated with robbery and firearms. The group quickly gained notoriety for its corrupt activities including extrajudicial killings, robberies, torture and other illegal activities.
Amnesty International, an international human rights organization based in the UK, has been one of the biggest detractors of the SARs organization. In June of 2020, the nonprofit released a report suggesting that SARS officers have continued to commit human rights violations, including at least 82 cases of torture, ill-treatment and extrajudicial execution between January 2017 and May 2020.
On Saturday 3 October 2020, a video showing a SARS police officer shoot a young Nigeriani front of Wetland Hotel, Ughelli, Delta State went viral and sparked the social conversation we are now having across the world.

What This Means For Nigeria?

For the Nigerian community, this is just another chapter in a sad story of injustice against the Nigerian citizenry, but to the world watching in disbelief, many are asking for accountability. “Who gave the order?” Is the question on everyone’s mind. **Operation Crocodile Smile**, the Nigerian Army’s latest military operation is supposed to be directed at both physical and cyberwar tactics against Boko Haram, but many believe that #EndSARS protests were a part of the strategy as well.
According to TheCable.NG, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, governor of Lagos, the centre of the executions, has denied culpability for the order saying that the order came from above his jurisdiction. Many speculate that President Buhari is the one who sent the order specifically because he is the only person in the nation with absolute military power. Whether or not the president or governor is behind these senseless acts of violence against peaceful protestors is beyond our scope of knowledge, however one thing is certain: the Nigerian government is unfit to effectively govern a people in 2020.
As a result, not only are Nigerians both naturalized and abroad, but also people across the world are speaking out against the injustice in the country, spreading awareness and calling for the Nigerian government to be held accountable. Nigerian government is spearheading state sanctioned genocide a this point and must be stopped at all costs.

What You Can Do To Help!

The organization that is leading the mobilization effort to #EndSARs as of now is the Feminist Coalition 2020 .

Reference Links

Why I'm Choosing UX: ROI MATTERS

Sun, 31 Jan 2021 20:43:00 GMT

B ridiging the Gap To the Bottom Line

The key to any success in marketing is a cohesive experience. I've been in marketing for over 7 years. Worked with over 30 brands. Been on the brand side. The agency side. Seen more failed projects than success, though victory is quite savory when treated. Businesses spend so much on marketing and advertising and, whether it’s due to their own experience or the rising cost to advertise on digital, see far too little reward for t heir efforts. The goal is to enable the people I work with to better understand that connection and better track their ROI.

Thinking back on my career so far, the biggest problems I've been dedicated to helping businesses solve is their lack of experience when it comes to building effective digital experiences for customers.
In the end, a funnel is only as good as its conversion metrics and too many business owners are putting their money into an investment that (for one reason or another) isn’t yielding results. And like a financial manager would tell his/her client about the fundamental purpose of the investment, the role of the UX Designer is to tell the client: ROI MATTERS.

UX is the most important aspect of a marketing effort, yet very few marketers seem to understand the level of cohesion it takes to create a marketing funnel that CONVERTS. Content across each platform should not only tell a meaningful and engaging story, but also be functionally efficient and speak to the needs of our users.
The front end (social media) is something that most business owners seem to have a grasp of, but the back end (email sequencing, landing pages, forms, ad campaign managing, tagging & tracking and analytics & performance review) is a vastly unexplored area for most.

B ehance Project by Polina Kunitskaya .

For me, UX De sign allows me to live in the gray area and help to connect & optimize the various aspects of a successful digital marketing program for the benefit of the user and the client/brand. I’ve discovered a passion for both brand redesign & architecture. I enjoy helping clients find their brand voice and develop a true sense of individuality as an entity.

For the past 5 years, I’ve been blessed to find myself executing various functions in the marketing space -- from social media manager to Web Designer. Since November, I’ve developed been working on developing my personal portfolio to make the operational transition to being able to operate in that grey area.
And while I am still learning every day, I believe I am getting closer and closer to achieving my goal of helping as many people deliver a clear and effective digital experience to their customers.

In short, I w ant to help people build digital products that are effective.
Platforms that deliver on the promise of ROI that so many marketers have failed to recently.

Profuse Habits

Day One: Turning the Faucet On - The Live Wealthy Newsletter

From Hoarded Drafts to Daily Drops: Embracing the Habit of Sharing—and Thinking Out Loud—Every Day

The BJ Grand Prix: A 3 Month Sprint In The Bay

In this life: There are no guardrails. I've known this fact since I can remember. I didn't always live like it. This year: I've approached things my way. And I plan to; every year of my life moving forward.

Embracing the Chaos: August

New Startup Journey: Joining SERV

SERV(ing) an Industry

The MYX didn’t just host Milk & Honey.

Building Momentum: September

Springboard 2024 In Philly

GSP Team Projects: Big Green Egg with Ray

A Note On "The Town".

The Academy @ GSP: Reflecting on Month One.

ALCH3MY: The Academy's 3rd Cohort

Advertising 101: A Crash Course In Creative Thinking & Agency Anatomy

Quick Reflection: Seeing Spike Lee For The First Time

Push vs Pull - A Tug Of War & Life

Can I stand on those principles?

Go Slow.

Trading Imagination For Stagnation.

A Man Unafraid To Walk Alone Is A Man Worth Following

Focus

Change We Fear The Most Is Change We Need To Make

Stay Ready: Check Your Bags Twice

Value Over Vanity: The Key To Discernment

Truth Is Found In Tension

Truth Is Found In Tension

Why We Need Tension

Surface Level Relationships

Building Tension Into Relationships

Controlling Your Thoughts

Negative By Nature

An Encounter I'll Never Forget

What Is SARs? ﻿

What This Means For Nigeria?

What You Can Do To Help!

Reference Links

Why I'm Choosing UX: ROI MATTERS

B ﻿ ridiging the Gap To the Bottom Line

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Crying blood tears, we feel the pain as we greave.

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What Is SARs?

B ridiging the Gap To the Bottom Line

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