Choose Wisely

10,000 Hours sounds like forever. If someone asked you to do ANYTHING for 10,000 Hours you would probably look at them like they’re crazy. But what if meant mastering a skill you always wanted to master. What if it was the difference in living out your dreams or living with regrets. It’s been a long running theory that it takes about 10,000(+ some natural ability) to become a expert at something. I’m not a math expert so bare with me lol. At a normal work schedule of 8 hours a day that means in 3 1/2 years you COULD become a master of a skill. Now 8 hours is probably overwhelming for some especially those with kids an other duties of life that consume most of our time. So what if you break it down to half. 4 Hours a Day for 7 years? Are you willing put yourself and your dreams 1st for at least 3-7 years. I meeeean, we’ve put ourselves and our dreams 4th and 5th for waaaay longer. Life does get overwhelming at times but that is what defines our legacy. Who was able to beat the odds when everything pointed to Quitting being the “easy option.” Are you willing to put in the 10,000 to master your craft. Master your gift. Master your skill. We all have choices.

Life comes down to decisions. Doing or Not Doing effects more people than we think. Our decision to put our passion into our dreams might inspire a person that sees us everyday. It might influence someone who comes across your work online. It might spark a kid to train harder at basketball practice or read more books outside of school. Of course we want to think that the things we do only effect our homes. Newsflash. We have a community that is depending on and needs each other. But we have to decide are we willing to put in the work. 10,000, 5000, 1000 hours. But I know for too many years it has been 0 hours put in. There’s a whole world out there waiting for each other to decide. You can be that spark that gets it going. I can be that spark that gets it going. But it’s time to make a move. Life is about choices. Choose wisely.

“Service to others is the rent we pay for living on earth” – Muhammad Ali

This Weekend

Tell your friends you can’t go out this weekend. You’re working on your dreams. Tell your spouse “Let’s cook in instead of going out for dinner this weekend and start saving for our dreams.” Tell your kids to give you 10 ideas this weekend. Make that dream thing a family thing. Tell your job you can’t do voluntary overtime this week. You need this free time to work on your dreams. Tell your TV it gets no love this weekend. Falling down the rabbit hole of just FINDING something to watch is not an option. Nope..not this weekend. Tell social media you’re gonna need 2 days to lock in. Just 2 days. You’ll be back on Monday recharged. 2 Days. This weekend. Not next weekend. Not New Year’s Eve. Not the 1st. No New Year New Me. That way didn’t work the 1st 12 times. Well at least for me it didn’t. I dont even know if this new way of trying is gonna work. But the old way didn’t. And they say the first sign of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. As long as the purpose remains genuine, the plan should be flexible. But start NOW. Make this weekend be the weekend you decided to show yourself how important you are.

I Am Ishmeel (continued)

I Am Ishmeel Blakewood

I Am Broadway Blake

I Am The Founder/CEO of Vibes In The City LLC in Newark,NJ. Vibes In The City LLC provides platforms for independent Talent and Creatives. We launched in January 2016 and produced over 150 shows and showcased close to 1000 artists since launching. Vibes In The City is my Passion Project. I would probably be miserable without it lol. Seriously.

I Am a long time Wrestling fan. Long long time. My earliest memory is Wrestlemania 4. That’s when Macho Man won the tournament for the Heavyweight Title. I was a big time Hulk Hogan fan back then so yes a part of my childhood was ripped away when the tapes of him going on a rant of racially provoked language was leaked. I’m not sure if I fully got over that yet but it doesn’t really bother me anymore. Mid 90’s Wrestling is my favorite era. Hollywood Hogan. Stone Cold Steve Austin. Four Horsemen(Arn Anderson is so underrated) Black and White Sting. As I got older I gained more appreciation for Bret Hart. I do believe he is the GOAT. I’m still a fan of Wrestling today but I’m not nearly as invested as I once was.

I Am a Long Time San Francisco 49ers fan (Montana final years before the Steve Young Transition)

I Am A Long Time Ohio State College Football Fan( Eddie George Days)

I Am A HUUUUGE PENNY HARDAWAY FAN which lead me to be a Die-Hard Orlando Magic Fan(Nick Anderson 4 missed Free Throws in the Finals against the Rockets still haunt me. I was a kid what do you expect)

I Am A Long Time Seattle Mariners Fan(The Kid. Ken Griffey Jr. Days. Can’t forget Young A-Rod. Buhner. Edgar. Big Unit.)

I Am So Jersey but for whatever reason as a kid. I didn’t connect with the local pro teams. But I did fall in love with that 2001 Seton Hall Basketball Team that was led by Shaheem Holloway. And Yes I do fell like they would’ve made a stronger push to the Final Four if he didn’t get hurt. Even though Ty Shine held it down. I also Love Jersey Highschool and Youth Sports. If we can find a way to keep the talent home our College Programs will start to get mentioned with Duke, Alabama, UCLA, Miami,Texas etc.

I Am a Big Barry Sanders Fan an I think he’s the best Football Player to EVER PLAY. Just my opinion lol.

I Am A Big Hip Hop Fan. 2Pac was the 1st Rapper I felt a emotional connection with. Biggie, Snoop and Bone Thugs were the 1st Rappers where I realized how important Flow was. But Ma$e was the 1st Rapper where I said that right there is my favorite and that’s who I wanna be. Only as a kid though lol. Not now. I only wanna be the best version of me now.

I am a HUUUUGE fan of local music scenes an its something that I have studied and researched since I decided to be a artist. It’s a really big reason that I started Vibes In The City.

These first few Posts on my blog is me pretty much introducing who I am to people who don’t know me and even the people who do know me but don’t know a lot about me. But I’m looking forward to tell more stories about why my Goal was to aim for Russell Simmons, Quincy Jones and Berry Gordy status instead of Jay-Z and Nas. Of course over time Jay and Nas…especially Jay have become much more than Rappers since then. But Def Jam. Motown and just about EVERYTHING Quincy was doing was my initial aim.

I’m also looking forward to just posting random thoughts and experiences. It might turn into a daily blog. It might not. But I have a story to tell an I have stories to create.

Broadway

I Am Ishmeel

I Am Ishmeel Blakewood

I Am Broadway Blake

I Am A Father. I Am A Son. I Am A Husband. I Am A Brother. I Am A Friend.

I Am A Leader. I Am A Visionary. I Am A Creative.

I Am A Rapper. I Am A Writer.

I Am giving myself Permission to Pursue My Dreams. My Passions. My Purpose. My Goals. My VISION. My WHY.

I Am Accepting Responsibility that If I don’t Pursue those things with Persistence. With Perseverance. With Faith. With A Sense Of Urgency. Then My Time Here Was Wasted.

I Have A Story To Tell. I Have Stories To Create.

I wanted this to be my first post to always give myself a reminder of when I DECIDED to LIVE.

“The Saddest Thing In Life Is Wasted Talent” – A Bronx Tale

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