Podcast Summary
Politics and Building Wealth: Understanding politics is crucial for creating and maintaining wealth. Adversity and resilience are essential for overcoming challenges and building an empire.
Politics and the political climate play a significant role in how we make and keep money. The speaker, Bedros, shares his personal experience of growing up in the Soviet Union and how the political environment limited his father's ability to create wealth. He argues that understanding the political landscape is crucial for building an empire, whether that means financial wealth or the ability to help others. The speaker also emphasizes that racism and social unrest can have a major impact on businesses and communities, and invites Remi Adeleke, a former Nigerian prince turned Navy SEAL, to share his story of overcoming adversity and defying odds. Overall, the episode highlights the importance of resilience, adaptability, and the role of politics in shaping our financial futures.
The need for change in policing and addressing systemic racism: Thorough background checks and mental health evaluations for police officers, understanding complex dynamics, and continued dialogue and action are crucial for addressing systemic racism and police brutality against the African American community.
The tragic death of George Floyd, a black man, at the hands of a white police officer has once again brought attention to the long-standing issue of systemic racism and police brutality against the African American community. The speaker, who has experienced poverty and discrimination himself, expressed deep frustration over the lack of change despite numerous incidents of police violence against black people being documented over the years. He believes that a fundamental shift is required in the way police officers are screened and selected, with more thorough background checks and mental health evaluations to ensure they are equipped to serve and protect all communities fairly. The speaker also emphasized the importance of understanding the complex dynamics at play in these situations and the potential consequences of intervening. He urged for continued dialogue and action towards creating a more equitable and just society.
Recognizing and Addressing Systemic Racism: Systemic racism affects marginalized communities beyond individual actions, requiring collective societal change. Pride and the desire to save face can hinder necessary adjustments, leading to harmful consequences.
The issue of systemic racism goes beyond individual actions and involves the collective responsibility of society. The speaker shares his personal experiences of being profiled and the impact it has on him as a black man. He also draws parallels between the behavior of the police officer during the George Floyd incident and the reluctance of policy makers to pivot during the COVID-19 pandemic. The speaker emphasizes that pride and the desire to save face can prevent necessary changes, leading to harmful consequences for marginalized communities. Overall, the conversation highlights the importance of recognizing and addressing the systemic issues that perpetuate racism and inequality.
The power of allegiances in preventing acknowledgment of wrongdoings: Allegiances to political or tribal groups can hinder acknowledgement and addressing of harm or death, rooted in a culture prioritizing individualism and self-interest.
People's pride and loyalty to their political or tribal affiliations can prevent them from acknowledging and addressing wrongdoings, even in instances of harm or death. This was exemplified in the discussion about the situation in Minnesota, where bystanders did not intervene to stop the death of George Floyd, likely due to their allegiance to the police officers and their own tribe. This issue extends beyond politics and is rooted in a culture that prioritizes individualism and self-interest over the well-being of others. The conversation also touched upon the concept of bilateral stimulation in EMDR therapy, which can aid in problem-solving and creativity. However, the main theme revolved around the importance of recognizing and challenging harmful behaviors and biases, regardless of our affiliations.
Personal experiences of discrimination and feeling like an outsider: Understanding historical context and using personal experiences can inspire change and create solutions, regardless of race or ethnicity. Everyone has the potential to make a positive impact in their communities.
Experiences of discrimination and feeling like an outsider can lead to complex emotions, including anger and a desire for understanding and change. The speaker shares his personal experience of growing up as an immigrant and facing discrimination, which made him feel like he didn't belong. He also talks about how he felt anger but then found inspiration to use his experiences to initiate change and solve problems. The speaker emphasizes the importance of understanding historical context and using personal experiences to create solutions. He also shares that everyone, regardless of race or ethnicity, has the potential to be a problem solver and make a positive impact in their communities. Additionally, the speaker reflects on how past experiences can shape perceptions and biases, even if they are not based in reality. Overall, the conversation highlights the importance of empathy, understanding, and taking action to create positive change.
Early experiences shape lifelong biases: Early experiences can negatively impact perceptions and biases, but later experiences and understanding can help challenge and change them. Thorough background checks and screening processes can also build trust and improve community relations.
Early experiences and encounters, particularly during formative years, can shape perceptions and biases that last a lifetime. The speaker's experiences with crime, gangs, and law enforcement in his youth led him to harbor negative feelings towards certain groups and authorities. However, later experiences, such as making friends from diverse backgrounds and serving in the military, helped him challenge and change those biases. It's important to recognize the impact of these experiences and work towards understanding and reducing prejudice. Additionally, thorough background checks and screening processes for law enforcement and other positions of authority can help build trust and improve community relations.
Bias in Perception of Groups: Avoid judging entire communities based on limited experiences or media portrayals. Seek out balanced perspectives and be aware of media biases to form a more nuanced understanding.
Our perception of groups, such as police officers or certain communities, can be skewed based on negative experiences or media portrayals. It's important to remember that there are good and bad individuals in every group, and it's not fair to judge an entire community based on the actions of a few. Additionally, our brains are wired to focus on negative experiences and sensational news, which can lead us to form biased opinions. It's crucial to make a conscious effort to seek out balanced perspectives and avoid jumping to conclusions based on limited information. Furthermore, the media plays a significant role in shaping our perceptions, often focusing on negative news to sell ad space and further political agendas. It's essential to be aware of these biases and strive for a more nuanced understanding of the world around us.
The Power of Perseverance and Challenging Negative Stereotypes: Born in Nigeria but educated in London, Baba Oloyede was determined to change negative stereotypes by creating a thriving business sector and exchanging ideas globally. Despite losing his land, he persevered and created an island using his engineering skills.
Despite facing numerous challenges and setbacks, including being stripped of his land by the Nigerian government, Baba Oloyede, the father of the speaker, was a determined problem solver who refused to let go of his dreams. Born in Nigeria but educated in London, he was appalled by the negative stereotypes of Africans and was determined to change the narrative. He established businesses in Nigeria with the goal of creating a thriving business sector and exchanging ideas with people from around the world. When he was unjustly stripped of his land, he fought for it for ten years, eventually asking for the lagoon instead of the money back. Using his engineering skills, he hired Dutch engineers to dredge the foreshore and create an island, ensuring that his creation would be a lasting testament to his determination and ingenuity. This story is a reminder of the power of perseverance and the importance of challenging negative stereotypes.
The pervasive nature of corruption in Nigeria: Corruption deeply affects Nigerian society, impacting everyday life and leading to immense wealth for those in power, often leaving individuals and their livelihoods in jeopardy.
Corruption is deeply ingrained in Nigeria's government and society, to the point where it affects everyday life and can lead to immense wealth for those in power. The speaker's father, who was born in Nigeria and developed an island, was a victim of this systemic corruption. Despite developing the island, the federal government claimed it did not have the authority to give him the foreshore, and later, when he passed away, his widow was left struggling to make ends meet. Bribes were commonplace, from customs officials to police officers, and even tourists, including those of Nigerian descent, were not exempt. The corruption reached unprecedented levels, with politicians and high-ranking officials disappearing billions of dollars during their tenures. The speaker's experience illustrates the pervasive nature of corruption in Nigeria and its detrimental impact on individuals and their livelihoods.
The speaker's mother's resilience during financial hardships: Mom's strength and determination during tough times shaped the speaker's character, helping him overcome adversity.
Despite facing significant financial hardships after investing all their savings into a business venture that didn't succeed, the speaker's mother managed to maintain her composure and provide for her family. She hid the reality of their situation from her young children to shield them from the stress and ensure they remained focused on their studies. The speaker admires his mother's resilience and perseverance, which has influenced his own character. Although the speaker felt sad about the loss of their family's wealth and the fact that they couldn't claim the developed island as their own, he eventually came to terms with the situation and made a decision to find a father figure to help guide him. The speaker's mother's strength and determination during this difficult time played a significant role in shaping his character and helping him overcome adversity.
Childhood experiences shape us deeply: An incident from childhood fueled determination, instilled values of perseverance and problem-solving, and shaped the speaker into the person he is today.
Our experiences, especially those in our youth, can shape us in profound ways. The speaker shares how an incident from his childhood, where his sister was treated unfairly at work, fueled his determination to become successful and provide for his family. This experience instilled in him the values of perseverance and problem-solving, which he attributes to his mother and father, respectively. The speaker also emphasizes that it was the challenges and hardships he faced that made him the person he is today. He believes that it's a combination of nature and nurture that makes us who we are, and that every experience, no matter how small, holds value. The speaker's story highlights the importance of resilience and determination in overcoming adversity and achieving success.
The power of hard work and smart thinking: Success often requires a combination of natural talent, dedication, marketing skills, and the ability to identify and capitalize on opportunities
Natural talent is important, but hard work and smart thinking can help turn potential into success. The speaker shares the story of Michael Jordan and how his dedication and recognition of his need for improvement set him apart. He also discusses the importance of marketing skills and the ability to identify opportunities, even if they involve unconventional methods. The speaker's own experience of making extra money by selling shoes in a store demonstrates this concept. While some may view this as a scam, the speaker encourages listeners to look deeper and appreciate the brilliance of the scheme. Ultimately, the key takeaway is that success often requires a combination of talent, hard work, and the ability to identify and capitalize on opportunities.
Adapting to Changing Circumstances and Finding Opportunities: Be smart, adaptable, and strategic in business to capitalize on opportunities and differentiate oneself from competitors, even when dealing with potentially illegal activities.
Identifying opportunities and adapting to changing circumstances can lead to significant financial gains. The speaker shares his experience of capitalizing on the demand for sneakers and using his business acumen, learned from his father and experiences growing up, to make a profit. He also shares how he expanded his business by selling in less competitive areas, reducing risk. However, his journey eventually led him to selling drugs, but he eventually left that behind and moved on to selling cell phones illegally. The key takeaway is the importance of being smart, adaptable, and strategic in business, even when dealing with potentially illegal activities. It's essential to find unique opportunities and differentiate oneself from competitors to succeed.
Learning to Sell Stolen Cell Phones: Started selling stolen cell phones with low risk due to lack of oversight, eventually got caught and learned to make more money legally and with less risk.
The speaker started selling stolen cell phones while working a legitimate job, and he was able to make significant profits with low risk due to the lack of oversight during that time. He learned the process from a coworker and sold the phones to former drug dealers and acquaintances, building the cost of the phone into the phone bill. The risk was low because there was minimal oversight and cell phones were becoming popular. However, the speaker eventually got two warrants for his activities, one in New Jersey and one in New York, when he was 19 years old. This experience showed him that he could make more money legally and with less risk, eventually leading him to leave the drug game behind.
Mother's influence and pursuit of excellence inspire Navy SEAL career: Mother's emphasis on excellence and the rapper's determination to achieve greatness led him to pursue a career as a Navy SEAL
The desire to become a Navy SEAL, inspired by movies and instilled in him by his mother's emphasis on excellence, served as a dormant dream that resurfaced when the rapper and music mogul aspirations of his youth no longer seemed attainable. Pride and the pursuit of excellence played significant roles in his decision to join the Navy and eventually become a Navy SEAL. The influence of his mother, who instilled in him the importance of striving for the best, and his determination to achieve greatness, even after setbacks, ultimately led him to pursue this challenging and prestigious career.
A recruiter's belief changed Remy's life: Belief in someone's potential can change their life, even with past mistakes and warrants.
Sometimes, when we least expect it, we encounter individuals who have the power to change our lives for the better. Remy's story is a testament to this. Despite his past mistakes and warrants, a recruiter named "Robin Hood" in the hood saw his potential and gave him a second chance. She advocated on his behalf, and both judges expunged his record. This experience made Remy realize the value of freedom and patriotism, which he had taken for granted before. It's important to remember that everyone deserves a chance to turn their lives around, and sometimes, all it takes is a helping hand from someone who believes in them.
A casual conversation about military experiences leads to meaningful insights: Unexpected discussions can lead to profound realizations about life, patriotism, and personal growth
Meaningful conversations can emerge from the most unexpected places, like a casual conversation between two friends at a bar. During this discussion, Remy shared his experiences in the military and how they shaped his perspective on life and patriotism. The conversation was particularly timely, given the recent events surrounding social justice and racial equality. Remy shared that he went into the military to escape potential danger, but ended up discovering a deep appreciation for the United States. As a token of appreciation for listening or watching, the host is offering a signed copy of Remy's book to one lucky viewer or listener. The conversation touched on themes of reflection, personal growth, and the importance of having open and honest discussions.
