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Subomi

@subomiplumptre

Oct 11

𝗕𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗔𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗕𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗶𝗮𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗿𝗮

I watched the movie, The American Society of Magical Negroes on the plane. It stars Justice Smith and David Alan Grier.

Scripted as satire, the film suggests that some African Americans make themselves small in order not to be threatening to white people. It alleges that when Caucasians feel threatened, they may "unalive", implicate, or call the cops on black people, like the stereotypical "Karen."

However, life soon turns into a perpetual knife-edge where African Americans scarcely feel safe. They cannot fully express what they think or feel, as they are often misunderstood.

The film was not well received by critics and it tanked at the box office. There were also accusations of generalizations and stereotypes. (For instance, not every black person living in the US is an African American.) But, Justice Smith's monologue at the end was instructive for me. At that point, his character finally lets loose; explaining his personal experiences as a black man in the US.

Interestingly, the white character seemed oblivious to his own implicit biases. It was more important for him to not be perceived as racist, than to acknowledge the black character's feelings.

𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗹𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗕𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀

As someone who has set up a company in the US, the movie evokes interesting parallels. You see, as an African, I never had a consciousness of "blackness," until I lived in America. In my continent, we struggle more with tribalism and ethnicity than racism.

Hence, the movie made me think about what it's like to be African in a global world, and the implicit bias that Africans face.

Read 17 tweets

Subomi

@subomiplumptre

Sep 9

𝗧𝗮𝗹𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗧𝘄𝗼 𝗪𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻: 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗢𝗻𝗲:

There is a fascinating story in the biblical book of 2 Kings 4. I urge you to read it first for context.

In the story, a widow approaches Elisha the prophet, in desperation. Her husband had died leaving debts, and the creditor wanted to make her sons slaves, as a form of payment. Hence, she was appealing to the prophet for help.

There are many life lessons that I learned from this story. I will share some of them.

𝟭. 𝗜𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗣𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗲𝘀

I'm unsure what the window expected from the prophet exactly. It seemed a financial matter, not a spiritual one. Was he to miraculously make the creditor disappear or conjure up money from air?

But, the widow appealed to the only power centre she knew. She couldn't reach the King, and the matter was urgent. She knew the prophet had wisdom, power & influence, and he was accessible.

Which power centers are within your reach?

𝟮. 𝗖𝗮𝘀𝗵 𝗶𝗻 𝗚𝗼𝗼𝗱𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹

The widow showed wisdom. She first reminded Elisha of her late husband's service. She had inadvertently pulled out a legacy goodwill chip that could be cashed in the present.

There are places I've been to where my name elicits the response, "I knew your father." Or, I say where I worked and the response is, "Oh we know your former boss." Then, things become easier for me.

Many of you will be favoured because you have served faithfully or someone else has done so before you. Don't waste your goodwill.

Sometimes, people use their goodwill on silly requests or on third-parties that are far removed from them.

Once your chip is cashed, you can't use it again.

𝟯. 𝗞𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁'𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗛𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀

It is interesting that the prophet first asked the widow what she wanted him to do for her. But seeing the widow came to him for that wisdom in the first place, he changed track. He asked a question she could answer - what do you have of value?

We all have something we can contribute to our own deliverance. And someday, life will ask that question of you.

𝟰. 𝗕𝗲 𝗩𝘂𝗹𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲

The widow was humble enough to admit a crisis and to ask for help. She was vulnerable enough to reveal her family problems to a trusted person who could help.

Are you vulnerable?

Read 5 tweets

Subomi

@subomiplumptre

Sep 2

I recently qualified for an Insurance Agent license in the great State of Texas. Our company has a US office there.

As an African "Efiko", I scored over 90% in the exam. But this post is about why I got the license in the first place.

My life's work is helping the honest & hardworking create wealth. Especially, the middle class who toil at their jobs every day, only to sadly get the short end of the investing stick.

So, when our African firm set up a US office, @VolitionBlue, I set out to understand generational wealth in America.

𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗟𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘆

You cannot create sustainable wealth for yourself and others without financial literacy. Everything rises and falls on information, followed by access.

While I had some foundational knowledge of Entrepreneurship, Equities, Real Estate, Trusts and Philanthropy. Insurance was the field I knew nothing about.

Therefore, studying for a license was a disciplined way for me to learn about the sector. And if I was going to spend time reading the material, I wanted something to validate that knowledge.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗣𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗿𝘀

While studying wealth in America, I discovered 7 main enablers:

1. Entrepreneurship
2. Equities
3. Real Estate
4. Insurance
5. Trusts
6. Philanthropy
7. Credit or Debt

Beneath each pillar is a strong foundation of tax breaks. The wealthy engage professionals to specifically advise them on tax, and to protect their interests.

Read 5 tweets

Subomi

@subomiplumptre

Mar 13

𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 & 𝗗𝗲𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

When I moved into a new apartment, I noticed things started breaking down after a year. They no longer looked shiny or new.

There was the orphan line where a cleaner scratched the wall with her cleaning cart. Scuffed baseboards. The weathered look of the patio after exposure to the elements.

The same thing happens with companies. A process that begins with full compliance starts slipping, usually after a year. It's as if the energy at inception slowly dissipates over time.

Thus wear & tear, degradation, lethargy and inertia become the fourfold enemies of excellence.

Read 16 tweets

Subomi

@subomiplumptre

Nov 15, 2023

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗸𝗲𝗲𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀

There are gatekeepers in every society. Self-appointed overlords who having reached the zenith of their industry, decide who gets in behind them.

#Career #Work #Life #DearCEO

I once heard an African-American actor speak about his experience in Hollywood. My heart broke a little when he said it didn't matter that he was talented or good looking. He needed someone to let him in.

Even after scoring some great roles, they still determined whether he remained successful or not. This narrative is a familiar one in different sectors.

Read 20 tweets

Subomi

@subomiplumptre

Oct 4, 2023

𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗚𝗶𝗳𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲

I used to be religious and then one day I stopped. I was exhausted by the incessant requirements and accompanying condemnation - one always seemed to fall short. And so, I embraced a relationship with God instead.

My mum introduced me to church quite early, like most African mothers do. But I disliked the traditions and soon grew tired of doing the same things over and again.

But my real problem was I thought Christians lacked joy. They appeared mean, judgmental and uptight, and that wasn't a life I wanted.

Read 23 tweets

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