Living Beyond Limit

Free, Independent, and Completely in Control

There are many times during ones journey of life when an unexpected detour occurs, where one reaches a fork in the road, and at that fork there are two pathways. The first more defined way is to continue on the current rocky and uncertain path, or the second way is break off the path and blaze a new trail. Both paths still come with their own unique challenges and situations, but the new trail promotes a better understanding and a deeper connection to knowledge while ultimately supporting in the achievement of ones dreams. Which path do you take?

To gain a better meaning for life and acquire knowledge one must invest their time in activities that promote growth. One such activity can be as simple as watching online videos from the comfort of your couch. TED.com is devoted to promoting Ideas Worth Spreading, which is also the companies tag line. The purpose of TED is to bring together the best thinkers and doers in the three worlds of Technology, Entertainment, and Design; and challenge them to talk about their lives in eighteen minutes or less.

Featured on their website TED.com, one can view the best talks and performances online for free. While doing this I came across a video that has special significance with me. Amy Prudy is a name that many of us haven’t come across before, but is also the name of an amazing person who has an equally as fascinating story.

Amy is now a professional snowboarder with many titles under her belt, but had many challenges and obstacles she has had to get over before this. When Amy was nineteen years old, she begin to experience flu-like symptoms, soon after she was rushed to the hospital in septic shock while experiences respiratory and multiple organ failure on the way. Doctors diagnosed Prudy with Bacterial Meningitis and following the diagnosis Amy remained in a coma for nearly three weeks with a two-percent chance of survival. But that’s not it, due to the lack of circulation she suffered during the beginning phases of the virus, doctors had to amputate both her legs below the knees, remove her ruptured spleen, kidneys, and Amy also loss hearing in her left ear.

The significance of Amy’s story really struck home for me because I lost my oldest sister Nakia, to Bacterial Meningitis in 1995. She was only 17 years old, two years younger than Amy. Unlike Amy, my sister was discharged from the hospital the same day with a diagnosis of the flu, and unfortunately she passed away a few hours later in her sleep.

But Amy’s story gave me hope! Many people would not be able to make it back from an ordeal such as hers, but Amy’s resilience really spoke volumes to me. Amy encourages the audience to take control of their lives and limits, by drawing inspiration from life’s obstacles. The defining moment when Amy decided to let the old Amy go and embrace the new is when she said “If my life is a book, and I’m the author, how would I want the story to go.”  I believe that many of us can draw inspiration from Amy’s story especially dealing with ones imagination and creativity.

“Our boarders and our obstacles can only do two things. #1 Stop us in our tracks. Or #2 force us to get creative.” Amy states in the video that most may see what happened to her as a disability but she says her “legs did not disable but enabled her,” to be more creative, courageous, and truly propel her off of the boarders.

Finally I just want to restate Amy’s lasting message; She believes “that our imagination can be used to break down boarders, because in our minds we can do anything, and be anything. Its believing in those dreams and facing our fears head on that allows us to live our lives beyond our limits.”

Take some time and view her inspiring story

http://www.ted.com/talks/amy_purdy_living_beyond_limits.html

Peace & Blessings

-RB

Realistic Possibilities

Recently I had the pleasure of speaking with Stewart L.Levy, a partner in the New York City law firm of Eisenberg, Tanchum, & Levy (ETL), who are “dedicated to quality legal representation and counsel to the business, real estate, entertainment, and the financial communities.” Mr. Levy, a partner, specializes in all facets of the entertainment industry, and represents many recording artist, film stars, and athletes. The entertainment division of ETL has an emphasis on every aspect of IP, copyright and trademark matters within the entertainment and sporting community. Levy offered practical and theoretical knowledge, which I found very valuable to an up-and-coming entertainment professional, like myself.

Levy has been in the notable figure in the entertainment industry and has represented some very high profile clients. Currently, his clients range from wrestler Jeff Hardy to entertainment mogul Queen Latifah, and he even had the pleasure of representing the legendary Tu-Pac. He is filled with a wealth of knowledge that I was briefly able to tap into for expert legal advice.

            I was able to summarize my interview with Stewart Levy into three essential matters. The first legal matter addressed, was what Levy dubbed “The Garbage Truck Theory”, which, basically states that both parties need to have agreements in writings, “oral agreements are not substantial if one of the parties gets hit by a garbage truck.” Levy advised to have everything in writing, in plain, clear English. Agreements should state what the deal is, whom the parties involved are, specifically what is expected/needed, and a designated term. By taking precautions, personal liability will slightly decrease, but we must “be realistic” and get everything in writing.

            Next, Levy advised that we use should utilize our best judgment concerning deal making and future career growth, “do what makes sense”. Essentially you have to weigh every decision; “if money was no object and you were Bill Gates, you would have a legal staff, insurance, and corporations set up to limit liability, but your not, so we have to do what makes sense.” .” Therefore we have to do what “99% of the times” make sense. “You write in plain English what the deal is, establish use a in the market, start making money, and that is when you start paying money to protect your assets and interest.” There are always variables, but nonetheless, make wise decisions.

            Finally, Levy stated, “you’ve got to be in it to win it.” Before my interview with the New York City entertainment lawyer, he directed me to a very informative speech by Duke University alumnus, Bryan Unkeless, who was the producer and driving force behind ‘The Hunger Games’ movie. Much of my third essential element of the interview correlates directly with this insightful article “From Dressing a Pickle to MakingThe Hunger Games.”

Unkeless stresses the importance of being passionate in what you do, find something your passionate in “and then learn more about it. Then learn a little more about it. Then more.” Its important to remember that, education is for life and we must continue to learn. Unkeless said that the best way to further growth is by consuming “mass quantities of content — read, watch, figure out how other artists you respect do what they do.”

  With a realistic outlook and the fundamental legal advice I received, I am re-assured that success is attainable, it will take hard but necessary work, but in the end it’s a realistic possibility.

I will close with very fitting quote by a Nigerian lawyer, Gbenga Oyebode, who specializes international commercial law, “Life is a marathon, not a Sprint. It is not the fastest guy that achieves objectives, but it’s the guy who, over that marathon, is most consistent in trying to achieve his objectives.”