Month: April 2004

Momentum and excitement is building for The Pittman Inc. in a rapid way. Over the last couple of weeks and months things have solidifying with the contacts made, support delivered, and numerous unforseen blessings. Things still have quite a ways to go before they reach their full potential but at least they are within grasp, tangible, and have a chance.

Editorial, business, and publishing experience are coming into the mix now that I am networking with likes of Martin Leflore of www.the-real-scoop.com, and Chuck Bennett, special to The Detroit News and Editor of www.the-real-scoop.com online magazine. Other key contacts have also been made that look promising as difference-makers for the company.

Exciting as all of that is, it is also equally great that I have things that I can contribute to all other’s endeavors rather than just take handouts. The relationships I’m building are of mutual benefit, which I believe makes a world of difference when conducting business.

Another good read sent to me…

They call it the “Quarter-life Crisis.” It is when you stop going along
with the crowd and start realizing that there are many things about
yourself that you didn’t know and may not like. You start feeling
insecure and wonder where you will be in a year or two, but then get
scared because you barely know where you are now.

You start realizing that people are selfish and that, maybe, those
friends that you thought you were so close to aren’t exactly the
greatest people you have ever met, and the people you have lost touch
with are some of the most important ones. What you don’t recognize is
that they are realizing that too, and aren’t really cold, catty, mean or
insincere, but that they are as confused as you. You look at your job…
and it is not even close to what you thought you would be doing, or
maybe you are looking for a job and realizing that you are going to have
to start at the bottom and that scares you. Your opinions have gotten
stronger. You see what others are doing and find yourself judging more
than usual because suddenly you realize that you have certain boundaries
in your life and are constantly adding things to your list of what is
acceptable and what isn’t. One minute, you are insecure and then the
next, secure. You laugh and cry with the greatest force of your life.
You feel alone and scared and confused. Suddenly, change is the enemy
and you try and cling on to the past with dear life, but soon realize
that the past is drifting further and further away, and there is nothing
to do but stay where you are or move forward. You get your heart broken
and wonder how someone you loved could do such damage to you. Or you lie
in bed and wonder why you can’t meet anyone decent enough that you want
to get to know better. Or maybe you love someone but love someone else
too and cannot figure out why you are doing this because you know that
you aren’t a bad person. One night stands and random hook ups start to
look cheap. Getting wasted and acting like an idiot starts to look
pathetic. You go through the same emotions and questions over and over,
and talk with your friends about the same topics because you cannot seem
to make a decision. You worry about loans, money, the future and making
a life for yourself… and while winning the race would be great, right
now you’d just like to be a contender! What you may not realize is that
everyone reading this relates to it. We are in our best of times and our
worst of times, trying as hard as we can to figure this whole thing out.

– Written by Brenda Della Casa

I recieved the passage below in an email and thought I would share…

Good Black Men are indeed all around us. We pass them on the streets, in the malls and the halls at work. Most we can’t see because we don’t know what a good man really looks like. He usually isn’t flashy enough or rich enough to turn our heads. He might not wear a suit, push a Lexus, be a
thug, rapper, or baller/shot caller. He might not have a body like Tyson with a Denzel face. But, as you mature, you realize it’s better to find someone who’s got your back rather than someone who turns your head.

A good man doesn’t agree wholeheartedly with everything you say. He doesn’t just tell you what you want to hear and do the opposite. He doesn’t declare how sensitive, sweet, caring, sincere, yada, yada he is (he won’t have to because it shows). He has his own opinions and yours may clash, but he doesn’t have to degrade you to prove he’s right. He even admits at times to being wrong, especially if you are willing to do the same.

A good man is not going to meet every item on your checklist. He is human with frailties and faults mixed in with all of his wonderful, strong attributes. He needs! your love and respect. He needs to feel that you don’t live to “catch” him doing something wrong so you can declare, Aha! I
knew you were a dog!

A good man isn’t insecure about his woman having great achievements. In fact he is her number one supporter and becomes disappointed with her when she begins to lose herself, for the sake of “not hurting his feelings, or I just want to make him happy.” His happiness comes with seeing her
excel in her dreams and accomplishing her goals. For as she excels and is exalted, a good woman will bring her good man right along with her.

A good man doesn’t necessarily give you a huge birthday or Valentine’s gift. He shows his love in the ways that are comfortable to him. Don’t judge him by TV standards. No one is really living a fairy tale. You’ll miss out on your own fairy tale by buying into the myth that our men are no good. It’s just not true.

A good man takes care of his children. He does not need to be told to do this or how to take care of his other responsibilities, he does it because he is suppose to. He may falter at times, but he consistently meets the demands put on him by God, society, family, and particularly himself.

A good man does not have to scream to be heard. His actions scream loud enough for one who is listening to hear.

A good man does not fight every battle, just the important ones. He knows when to walk away and when to come back and fight another day on his own terms. A good man knows how to say “I’m sorry.”

A good man never gives up, but stands up for what he believes is right.

A good Black man does not bring you down nor make you even, instead he support! s you to make you better through word and deed.

Black Men, we salute you, and thank you for who you are and all you’ve done.

Pass this along to some of the “Good Black Men” you know and a few
women that need to read it … so that they can recognize a Good Black Man.