“If You Stay Ready, You Ain’t Gotta Get Ready”

Y’all will have to excuse me for a moment. I watched the Samsung/Jay-Z commercial last night and got all types of excited. First of all, they had a 3 minute commercial during the NBA Finals. You know how much a 3-minute commercial costs at ANY time of year, let alone during the Finals? THEN they announced the deal: 1 million albums given FREE to Samsung Galaxy owners. I’m #TeamiPhone all day but I had to take a minute and say…

Wow.

Now, Jay-Z isn’t a young mom; as a matter of fact he’s an “old dad.” LOL. But that type of business acumen sets me on fire. I love seeing people build legacies. And that’s what he’s doing.

How are you gonna go platinum before you even announce that you’re releasing an album? That’s just…major. I’m inspired.And it reminds me that I need to be ready. I’m trying to build a legacy too. Something my kids can step into and their dreams become a little closer to reality because my legacy gives them a lift. There’s nothing wrong with wanting more for your kids than you had.

My favorite quote is “If you stay ready, you ain’t get ready.” Here it is in full:
You’re not going to out-work me. It’s such a simple, basic concept. The guy who is willing to hustle the most is going to be the guy that just gets that loose ball. The majority of people who aren’t getting the places they want or aren’t achieving the things that they want in this business is strictly based on hustle. It’s strictly based on being out-worked; it’s strictly based on missing crucial opportunities. I say all the time if you stay ready, you ain’t gotta get ready.” ~Will Smith
I’m working my butt off to make sure when opportunities arise, I can meet them. Here’s three questions to ask yourself to see if you’re positioning yourself for success:
  • Are you reading? Not just the latest on NecoleBitchie or JustJared. But reading. Fiction, nonfiction, memoirs—all of that feeds your mind and gives you new perspectives.
  • Are you taking care of yourself? Drinking enough water? Exercising? Going to the doctor regularly? If you’re struggling with health problems, it might be a sign that you’re not making yourself enough of a priority. Take a step back and assess how you can get back on track.
  • Are you giving yourself enough challenges? “Coasting” isn’t in my vocabulary. I get bored doing the same ol’, same ol’. Pick something that’s challenging for you—maybe it’s signing up for a 5K or a half marathon. If you’re a writer, maybe it’s committing to writing something every day for the next 30 days. Give yourself a challenge…and then meet it.

 How do you “stay ready”?

Comments

  1. I don’t. But I’m gonna start! Thanks for the motivation,Tara.

  2. I love this idea of staying ready. I need to get my butt into gear for sure. Thank you for sharing Tara!

  3. I saw a link to this blog on the GoalDiggers Facebook page and I am SO inspired! What a wonderful and necessary reminder to work my butt off. Thanks!