Wednesday, August 20, 2008

The Power of Persistence

Today, Jimmy DaSaint and I were working out on the weight pile when the word 'persistent' came up in our conversation. We both agreed that persistence is the one trait that all successful people have in common. Without persistence you will not be successful for long. Everybody goes through ups and downs in their life journey, but it's not what you go through but how you deal with it when trouble or situation arrive. It made me think back to the one time I almost gave up on everything.

The year was 1995, I had just been arrested for trying to purchase 100 kilos of cocaine from an undercover DEA Agent. On that strange bizarre day it felt like I had the whole weight of the world on my back and shoulders. One of my closest friends had betrayed me and set me up for an undercover drug sting. The worst part about the entire situation was that I had been doing a favor for a friend. What a fool I was. Once again I had separated myself away from my children. Something that I had promised them I would never do. See, it's alright to break a promise to yourself, but it's not cool at all to break a promise to your children. They never forget it.

Around that time of my life I was just ready to shut down. Life was no longer fun for me. For the first time in my life, I felt like a victim. Blaming the world for all my problems and making excuses for why I had put myself in that position - again! It was truly one of the worst moments in my life. Then one day a good friend of mine named Gordon Hall came to my cell and offered me some words of encouragement. He also had a book in his hand called "The Richest Man in Babylon." After a touching conversation with Gordon, he challenged me to read the book. I accepted his challenge and a few days later I had finished reading the entire book. I learned some very important things as I turned those pages. What put me in prison wasn't fate or destiny or chance, but my persistence to further my drug empire. From reading the book I learned that persistence can be used for good or bad. The book completely changed my life, and the way I thought and looked at situations that I faced. I turned my negative persistence to a positive persistence. At that time I was flat broke, everyone had abandoned me except my mother. Still I was persistent and determined to succeed with my life, no matter how hard the obstacles were that were placed in my path. I had no choice but to start from the bottom and work my way up. As each new day came and passed, I became more and more persistent with turning my life around. I had refused to be broken.

Now after all of these years spent in prison, my persistence has become a part of who I am. In the book "The 12 Universal of Laws of Success," it says, "persistence is to complete whatever you set out to do." I set out to win the chess game of life. With each new day, my persistence is bringing me closer to my checkmate.

18 comments:

Anonymous said...

mr ross i would like for you to keep your head up and be persistent.i know what you are going through because i have face the long sentences that they give out,but with lord's help i didn't have to do 60 years fresh out of school.i gave up the drug life due to friends getting lockup because i felt sorry for them,but now it's very personel because i have i uncle sitting in jail in el dorado ,arkansas facing kingpin charges.he says that he was set-up also because the feds and local have been harrassing him for the kast 10=11 years becasue he wrote a letter to bill clinton.they thought he was threating him so they had the secret service pay him a visit,then hit him with 90,000 back taxes for something.the last 4 years have been hell now he get's busted on his birthday right before christmas last year.the pain i see on my grandmothers and my mothers face tell me about the pain that they are feeling because i feel the same way everday.i wish sometimes i could take his place but i know that things do happen for reasons and most of time the reason is good,if we only open our eyes to what's really going on.brother i will send some books and maybe my church can visit you to give you inspiration.i will pray for you and if you will pray for my uncle his name is travis manning at the union county jail.may god keep his hands on you,always.g.roach

Anonymous said...

what up rick ross whats good! listen i read the article of your interview on allhiphop.com and was really touched. Man u are a legend and im both happy and proud to u decided to make a change for the better. Persistence, you are right can be used for both good and evil, its really krazy!! but Jah bless you are gonna be a major force when u get out and you are gonna touch more lives doing right than when you were in the game. my name is Byron green I am a MC and poet. If theres anything i can do i dont have much u let me know i got ya! I am definitely interested in being apart of your cause and movement as i have music, poetry, and i write. I have exemplified persistence in my artistry even thru the trials and setbacks, tribulations and lack of support. Initially as a teenager my parents aint even really support me wanting to get into hip hop but i continued and pressed on even in despite of. I have an independent album on the way called The Sample and a book of poetry entitled Lighthearted Frustations coming. Ross if u get a chance check out my material at www.myspace.com/hardheadprod. If u need an artist or whatnot i got u! and besides, if there is anything i can do till u got out reach out to me my email is lightbizness@yahoo.com! U keep your head up boi everything gonna b alright! We gotta teach our people not only be persistant, but to do so for the right causes! Jah Bless! I'm Highlight...peace

Anonymous said...

"persistence is to complete whatever you set out to do." - That line alone will change your mindset. I'm going to have to check out "richest man in babylon". Great writing Rick.

Thomas

Anonymous said...

Great writing man. I think that's going to push me a little harder. I'm definitely going to check that book out. If you can touch the world like this from where you are imagine when your free. The world needs wisdom like this. Especially the youth. And although I do agree with fate and destiny not controlling everything in our life because we do make decisions on our own, but, your struggle and experience with what you've been through and done make you this great advisor as well as the knowledge you've chosen to take in. You haven't given me any useless info yet. Shout Out to you Rick.

KP said...

I have attempted to submit some of my music to Freeway Enterprise. I don't see how to submit material and no one has gotten back to me. What is the process? Thank you.


-kp

Ricky Ross said...

G. Roach, thanks for the encouragement. I'm glad you didn't have to do 60 years. Drug life is no joke. Hey, I hope your uncle comes out well. Man they sound like they were after him, huh? Well you keep your head up too. I know that pain, my mother went through it. What you can do is fight to get him out, that would be better than taking his place. Yea, we have to open our eyes. Hey thanks for offering to send books, but to be honest, I have more books than I can read. Have you sent your uncle some? Let me tell you my three favorites: Richest Man in Babylon, Think and Grow Rich. As a Man Thinketh. That would be nice if your church came down. Ok, I will pray for your uncle and you too. If you know of some good gospel singers, would you please tell them to check out my website and put some music up? www.freewayenterprise.com. $Triple R$

Ricky Ross said...

Highlight, it's all good. I am glad you read that artical. Yea, you can only do the fool for so long. I'm glad you agree with me. I hope I am a major force, and I need people like you to help me. Hey, you can do put some music, pictures, and poetry up on the site. www.freewayenterprise.com. Well, we all go through trials and setbacks. Yea I know what it's like not having the proper support. Well that's why we are here, to have each others back. Hey,make sure you get a copy of that album to my people. Holla at Adrain at alfraizer1983@yahoo.com. I can't go on myspace, I definitely need an artist. Maybe we can help each other. Alright you do the same. Good point for the right cause, I will be getting at you. $Triple R$

Anonymous said...

i got you my nigga....shout out to the Real Ricky Ross

Ricky Ross said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Ricky Ross said...

J. Young: Man I'm glad you like it. I just got a letter out to you yesterday. Really enjoyed the picture of the family, too. Have you got a profile on the site yet? Well you know I am going to push you to the limit. Yea, they are in trouble when I get out. And thats who I am going after, the youth. Decisions that we make today willl determine what happens tomorrow. I love giving advice to our young people, I want to see them grow. I have read over two hundred books now. If it's useless, I don't want it. It belongs in the trash. Love J. Young. $Triple R$

Ricky Ross said...

KP: Hey, email americandrugwar(at)gmail.com and speak with Ryan. Thanks. $Triple R$

Anonymous said...

Rick,
I sent out my contact info, should be there tomorrow. included a cd (description included) with just one song on it. feel free to hit me up after you get it.
Thomas

PHASMATROX said...

Mr. Ross-- your writings are 1000% true. Hang in there, and we all know that your unceasing persistence will be of good in our society :o) As you can tell, we need it!

- C. Gomez

Anonymous said...

Just wanted to know. When you said "push it to the limit" I know you meant it but it did make me laugh cause the guy playing the role of you in rap had that song. (lol)

Anonymous said...

Hey Lil Charlie,

It's the Homie Big Steve, Peace be unto you my Brotha; just saw you are able get on the net which is a good thing keeping you computer savy with all this technology. Man your soldier's been alright and pursuing my Bacherlor's Degree from Langston University. Brotha I hope to see you when you get out. I saw that Busta tryin to glorify yo name too. That fool dont even have an clue Homie! Out of respect for you Loc, I dont even patronize that Fool's music. I bet his punk azz didn't even break bread for a real cause because some of our people suffered from the poison that was spread throughout the community. I know you asked Allah for forgiveness because you are a Father and possibly a Grandfather, like myself. Yo Homez, if you get this email hit me up at sdsturgeon@hotmail.com so we can kick some knowledge, I know yo time is limited and they monitor you like the secret service but I will definitely hit you up, Peace.

Da Homie

SDS AKA Big Steve

Ricky Ross said...

BigSturge: Big Steve!! What's up baby? Its been a long time. Man, you got to holla at your boy. How have you been doing? I am trying to learn about this internet. Ain't been easy. Congratulations on continuing your education. We are definitely going to hook up when I get out. I want to have a party for all the old timers. Hey man check this out; my dude is finishing up my book. He wants to talk to people that knew me back in the day and I would like for you to call him and holla at him. You can feel free as you are comfortable with. His name is Dutch and his number is 910-736-8995. You can also do it anomonously if you like. The last I heard you was in the Army. Man that clown don't have a clue. Yea nobody should have patorinized him. You already know he didn't break bread. No question a whole lot of us suffered. We are going to make a difference when I touch. No question I am asking for forgivness. And I plan on making a big public announcement when I touch. Man you know I got 8 grandbabies and loving it. I got your email address so we are defintely going to stay in touch. Yea you are right they, do only give us a limited amount of time on the phone, though the email is not bad. Man I am excited to hear from you. My basketball game has picked up too. Yea you know they are monitoring. But I ain't trippin, I have cleaned my act up. Foolish is over with me, no more destruction. Uplift from here on out. Peace and Love. $Triple R$

bigsturge said...

Yo Rick,

This website is great man because of the communication link. Homez, I will get at Dutch with your approval of course, because I am making a journal about my past experiences with the Click. We definitely need to link up and he can call me also at 405.706.5976 I reside in OKC. I will hit tha blog up every chance I get so keep me informed and I can possibly do some writing for the website and the book. Peace be unto you my Big Brotha.

Big Steve

Ricky Ross said...

Steve. Whats up homie. Hey, Dutch told me he holla'd at you. That was a good look. Yea stay in touch with me until I get my email together. After the 15th you can email me directly at freewayrickross49@yahoo.com. Hey, I definitely want you to holla at Dutch and let him see your journal. You should write a book yourself. I will give him your number. Homie what are you doing in OKC? Man please do some writing for the website I need it. Also tell some other people about it at least ten. You can holla a Ryan about writing for the site. AT amerciandrugwar@gmail.com. Man promise you will stay in touch. I could be touching in Feduaray. Have you talk to L Wayne or Eldan or Cart? $Triple R$