An Excerpt from the book How I Changed Careers : Haters, Enemies and Schadenfreude
Continued from Haters Enemies and Schadenfreude, Part II
I was the first African American company on the cover of the LA Times Business section. This was in June of 2008. I ran into a friend and pulled the paper out to show them. I told them it was the cover. Their dad walked into our conversation, cut me off, “No its not.” And playing off the major press like it was no big deal. He was a civil servant who I doubt ever received any positive press, unless in a community newsletter, and likely did not understand what it meant to an entrepreneur to gain such coverage.
I shook my finger in his face and said” You take nothing from me, When have you been on the cover of the business section or had a product at 5 star resorts?!” Sounds harsh of me. Kind of disrespectful even.
His wife came out and said, “oh, we were having breakfast this morning and he read the paper and told the whole restaurant, I know this guy, I know this guy.”
This happens repeatedly. I gain a new celebrity client. These people show it off to their friends and brag about their association with me.
I would have more respect if they said, “here’s the the guy who I think is crazy for having the balls to do what I really wish I could but I’m too much of a weak bitch risk averse to try. Oh yeah, Angelina Jolie uses his lip balm.” (she doesn’t)
Keep the people around you who will tell you the truth but also energize you to live your passion.
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OMG, you have some demons driving you!
I found you on Facebook, and read a few posts. I don’t think I can take it anymore…you are so angry. There are always jerks who won’t praise a person. This is not as interesting as other things on here like, the guest posts with practical tips. Or your interviews. I hope you take this as helpful. I only note it as you say you are writing a book. A book full of the haters stuff will be hard to pick up. Sorry, just an opinion from the blog-osphere.
I wish you the best. You products sound cool, I wanted to learn more about the journey to creating, not the anger.
Don’t apologize for your opinion. I appreciate your comments.
I knew that the most recent post would be tough…more negativity.
Life and business is not all rainbows and unicorns.
This blog is about my journey. A story that I will tell without fear of criticism. There are many portals for collections of interviews. I’ll include stories of others from time to time but not as a general rule.
Its seems like you choose to focus on 3 posts in the entire blog and condemn the whole thing. I can’t control that.
I really hope you will continue reading, because there is a lot of inspiration about the journey to come. There are some beautiful posts scheduled for this week.
One will simply be a forum for readers to ask questions. Ask a question.
I think we all have demons, I am just honest about the items that bug me and I knew that the hater stuff in various posts could cast a negative light. A risk I do not regret.
On the flip side, lots of people express gratitude for the “hater” series as it helped them to be honest about those dragging them down.
By the way, the “hater” series ended with the last post.
Check in if you have time. Try the products if you like.
T.
Some can handle the truth.
Like Jack Nicklaus said, “You can’t handle the truth!”
While I don’t admire the character he played in “A few good men.” However, as I grow older and more experienced, I find that there are some of us who can handle the truth. Some can accept criticism and some can handle a little griping.
I know Terry Carter. And Terry Carter is not an angry man. He’s a loving man. He’s a smart man. He’s a confident man. He will never be an angry man (well, not for more than a few minutes…).