Comfortably Living

Psalm 139: 1-3

2011-08-18T11:17:00.000-05:00

"O Lord, You have searched me and know me. You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thoughts. You comprehend my path and my lying down, And are acquainted with all my ways."

The Decision

2011-08-18T10:39:00.000-05:00

August 17, 2011

To whom it may concern:

It is with great excitement I am writing to you today about my future. I can honestly say I have reached many goals in the past 10 years with a simple formula of charisma, ambition, and honesty. For this reason, I have every reason in the world to believe the best is yet to come!

At this time, I have decided to defer my educational pursuits indefinitely in favor of entrepreneurial desires and family needs. If I were an athlete this decision would basically amount to me going pro, and that’s the perspective I am taking moving forward. While I sincerely understand the indefinable value of knowledge, my inability to secure fellowships, grants, and financial aid to provide sufficient housing, adequate food supply, and excess currency to enjoy the fruits of life has led me to this decision.

Chiefly, I have recently incorporated Team SHIFT, a community development firm which I am choosing to take into growth and increased momentum. This summer my team successfully piloted the Team SHIFT Academy, and this fall we will unveil Team SHIFT Personal Development Services. We will aggressively seek to expand Team SHIFT over the next 18 months and I will eventually take an advisory role once Team SHIFT is sustainable.

Also, I also have decided to earn my Texas Real Estate License. I will use the fall to study, take course work (Champion Real Estate), and pass the state exam. My goal is to incorporate a Real Estate investment company in 2012. Finally, I am moving closer to publishing a memoir and self-help book which will enhance Team SHIFT programming as well as my ability to accept speaking engagements.

I ask that you continue to show your support rather it be in an advisory role, partnerships, or financial support of Team SHIFT. This is what God is calling my life to at this hour and I am up for the challenge. I also like my chances. You should too!

Regards,

Ethan Brisby,

Executive Director

Team SHIFT, Inc

www.ethanbrisby.com

http://www.theeagle.com/schools/Schools-prep-for-STAAR

2011-07-16T15:13:00.000-05:00

http://www.theeagle.com/schools/Schools-prep-for-STAAR

Why Team SHIFT? Part 4

2011-07-15T11:39:00.000-05:00

Why Team SHIFT ? Part 3

2011-07-15T11:38:00.000-05:00

Why Team SHIFT? Part 2

2011-07-15T11:37:00.001-05:00

Why Team SHIFT? Part 1

2011-07-15T11:37:00.000-05:00

The Century of the Self - 4 Translation(s) | dotSUB

2011-07-03T21:45:00.000-05:00

The Century of the Self

- 4 Translation(s) | dotSUB

Edward Bernays---Father of Public Relations

2011-07-03T15:42:00.000-05:00

Propaganda is a 1928 book by Edward Bernays. It argued that the scientific manipulation of public opinion was necessary to overcome chaos and conflict in society:

The conscious and intelligent manipulation of the organized habits and opinions of the masses is an important element in democratic society. Those who manipulate this unseen mechanism of society constitute an invisible government which is the true ruling power of our country. We are governed, our minds are molded, our tastes formed, our ideas suggested, largely by men we have never heard of. This is a logical result of the way in which our democratic society is organized. Vast numbers ofhuman beings must cooperate in this manner if they are to live together as a smoothly functioning society. [...] In almost every act of our daily lives, whether in the sphere of politics or business, in our social conduct or our ethical thinking, we are dominated by the relatively small number of persons [...] who understand the mental processes and social patterns of the masses. It is they who pull the wires which control the public mind.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Propaganda_(book)

The Road Less Traveled

2011-06-25T22:37:00.000-05:00

June 15, 2011

Right now I am sitting in the Ft. Lauderdale airport in Florida. This is where I will be spending the night. Mostly by choice, but also because I made an executive decision to come to the area for a procurement conference, which I believe will go a long way in allowing Team SHIFT, Inc or any future business entity I am part of to secure lucrative government contracting rights. It’s crazy how God works. While I am a professed devout Christian, I also like to call the energy which sends blessings ‘the universe.’ With this in mind, the universe has been sending me signs and opportunities of divine nature for about two weeks strong.

The latest sign came last Sunday as I was sitting in a quiet area with my long time girlfriend, Courtney and we were completing the corporation process for Team SHIFT, a not for profit organization we co-founded to assist in the area of community development. I’d registered for the conference around June 1 just as I do for so many opportunities rather I have resources to attend or not. This one is free, and hosted by American Express. According to the marketing campaign and schedule or events government officials as well as other small business executives will be on sight networking about the procurement process.

With this in mind, I knew I needed to be here if for no other reason than to get that exposure. I am a big fan of exposure. It was the 2006 National Association of Black Journalism conference in Indianapolis that exposed me to minorities operating on a level I hadn’t seen before in Bryan, Texas. So then, no sooner than ten minutes after I completed the incorporation process, showed Courtney the details about this conference, and deep exhaled as to say, “Maybe next time” Courtney’s phone rings.

On the other end was Moriah, one of Courtney’s friends, and she needs someone to ride with her from Houston to South Carolina. She is taking a job in the New York area and wants to spend time in her home town before making the leap. Initially, I was not interested. I could not find the motivation to make such a bold move. Then Courtney made mentioned that it may be an in route to get to Miami. At the end of the day, Moriah ended up buying me a one way ticket from Miami to College Station, and I got her to drop me off in my second home, Atlanta. If you are wondering, Courtney and I made the investment to buy a plane ticket from Atlanta to Fort Lauderdale and I will be taking a shuttle to Miami in the morning some time.

I said all this to say, that we have to be on the ground and available if you expect the universe to be working in your favor. The options are simple. The task is not easy, but the options are simple. I am moving closer and closer to my goals each day. And the key word in that last sentence is goals. My life has been utterly amazing since I have adopted a goal setting system, made use of the ten second miracles, and realized the impact of a positive mental attitude. Granted, I realize the joy that I have comes from a greater power than any idea I could ever fathom, but it’s the notion that I can create my own destiny if I just use a little focused energy in addition to my prayer life.

I do not know what to expect in Miami. What I do know is that I am here now and it is up to me to present myself as a young up and coming deal-maker when I arrive for the conference. My new business cards read “President/CEO.” It’s not the most comfortable thing seeing that yet, because I was always taught to get a job. But I left a good job with a decent salary in 2006, because I was not for the everyday hustle of conforming to someone else’s schedule. More than that though, I am a creator, a teacher, and now a father. I cannot leave my job to my son. Nor would it be any fun to teach other people how to make other people rich. And I certainly cannot be my creative self sitting at a cubicle. So then I am choosing to build. Thank you for coming along for the ride.

Tell your friends. Alert your parents. Let the world know generation now is here. Let us take risks while we are young and allow our opportunities to multiply as we take advantage of them!

EJizzle!

2011-06-23T22:27:00.001-05:00

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You will become what you think about

2011-06-20T20:55:00.001-05:00

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Charles Barkley Wants to Give Your Startup $25,000

2011-06-09T09:07:00.000-05:00

Charles Barkley Wants to Give Your Startup $25,000

2011-06-07T16:10:00.001-05:00

Tweet from Tweetcaster

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2011-06-02T09:34:00.001-05:00

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The Five Best Small-Business Resources You're Not Using

2011-06-01T23:29:00.000-05:00

The Five Best Small-Business Resources You're Not Using

7 Tips For Getting The Salary You Deserve - Investopedia.com

2011-06-01T21:58:00.000-05:00

7 Tips For Getting The Salary You Deserve - Investopedia.com

2011-05-31T01:41:00.001-05:00

Tweet from Tweetcaster

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This is the face of a high school graduate. My cousin graduated today. I salute all graduates on this day!

2011-05-28T13:23:00.001-05:00

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Where to find investors for your business

2011-05-25T15:07:00.001-05:00

http://www.bcscredit.com/small-business-financing/find-investors/

REIT Invesco Mortgage Capital (NYSE: IVR) Yielding 18.7% | InvestorPlace

2011-05-20T00:31:00.000-05:00

REIT Invesco Mortgage Capital (NYSE: IVR) Yielding 18.7% | InvestorPlace

5 Must Read Finance Books - Investopedia.com

2011-05-09T15:19:00.000-05:00

5 Must Read Finance Books - Investopedia.com

2011-05-08T11:33:00.001-05:00

"If you want something you've never had, you must be willing to do something you've never done." - Thomas

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5 Economic Concepts Consumers Need To Know

2011-05-06T15:24:00.000-05:00

5 Economic Concepts Consumers Need To Know

Capital Raising Strategies Series: Angel Investors

2011-04-26T23:36:00.000-05:00

Here's an article I found on Linked In

By moneycat

This is our new series about capital raising strategies, we will cover different strategies and explain definitions and reasons in different ways to raise capital for your venture.Angel investing has become an increasingly popular source of capital for businesses — and an important first step on the way to more formal sources of capital, such as venture funding or an IPO. Here are some of the reasons:Most angels expect a lower rate of return on their investments than venture capital and other professional firms do. (A desire to double their investment in three years is not out of the ordinary for many angels, whereas VCs and other firms might expect returns that compound at more than 30 percent.)Angel funding can often be obtained much more quickly than venture capital.Angel investors are often less aggressive in their demands for ownership and control of the business than venture capital firms are.The process of due diligence (where the investor checks out a potential investment) is less rigorous than in more formal funding situations.For these reasons and others, finding an angel investor is often the strategy of choice for young and high-growth businesses that are looking for cash infusions in the range of $100,000 to $1 million — too small to land on the radar screens of venture capital firms and investment banks — but that do not yet have the track record to get this kind of money in the form of a bank loan or line of credit.As much press as angel investors get these days, you'd think that they're falling all over themselves looking for places to park their money. That is not quite the case. First of all, the universe of people with enough extra money to invest in fairly risky ventures is relatively small. Second, the recent dot-com meltdown has made many potential angels wary of investing in relatively risky start-ups and high-growth companies. That being the case, it pays to understand where you're most likely to find angel investors and what kinds of investments they look for.A rise in income and a robust stock market have created enormous wealth, at least for the top tier of U.S. taxpayers. That wealth has enabled individuals to set aside a portion of their capital for what are called alternative investments — investments other than securities and rated debt, including early-stage companies.Angels have played an increasingly significant role in this sector because there are more of them, and they have more money than in prior periods — the wealth factor academics frequently cite. Personal wealth has a good deal to do with entrepreneurship. Data show that rising residential real estate prices stimulate the venture economy, as entrepreneurs and angels put their newfound wealth to work by borrowing against the value of their residences and putting the capital in emerging-growth opportunities.Also, the celebrated wins in venture capital have drawn more players to the game. Reading about the sensational good fortune experienced by the early shareholders in Microsoft, Cisco, Intel, and the like has encouraged others to play.During the past 10 to 20 years, many major business successes have become angels — they are still fairly young, they aren't ready to retire yet, and they want to keep their fingers in the entrepreneurial pie.Finally, early-stage opportunities have pulled in angel capital because professionally managed venture capital has largely deserted the early-stage sector, preferring to go after bigger fish.The dearth of venture capital for brand-new ventures opens up an opportunity for angel capital — nature abhors a vacuum. Angels, by and large, are not competing with professionally managed funds.That doesn't necessarily mean that angels get good deals, but they do have the advantage of avoiding competitive auctions with prices spiking upward because of bidding from venture capitalists with more money than they know what to do with.Just as the number of angel investors has been increasing during the past several years, so too has the average size of angel investments. A decade ago, the average investment size was in the range of $48,000 to $60,000.Today, that range has grown to an average investment size of $145,000. And even when angels pool their money and invest in syndicates, the size of the average startup deal is only about $600,000, raised from six to eight angel investors. The size of the investment often depends on the type of angel involved. First-timers like to put their toes in the water slowly; serial angels are semiprofessionals — and they're much more willing to invest larger sums of money in their chosen companies.