It’s no big secret:
I am a ferocious, die-hard hip hop fanatic.
It may seem odd, but I rarely look to people in the business world (like fellow Tarot readers and other metaphysical industry peers) for inspiration and motivation.
My heroes are rappers and vocalists, forged in the fires of Compton, Inglewood, Brooklyn and Queens, fighting to rise above humble (and often dangerous) beginnings, unapologetically speaking their truth. Unapologetically making fat stacks of money, too!
Hard work. Steady hustlin’. Big rewards. That’s what I admire and aspire to roll like!
I don’t usually listen to hip hop when I am reading Tarot for a client, working on a new e-book, or blogging (I need silence or super-chill ambient tunes that won’t interrupt my concentration).
But when I am preparing to start the day’s work, getting pumped to dive into a big project, generating new ideas, or just putzing around my office in between readings, you can bet that I’ve got hip hop blasting — it gets me in the mood to BO$$ UP!
Music is a transformative force that can turn a crummy mood into a pro attitude — all in a matter of minutes.
If you are feeling blah, bored, distracted, or frustrated with your biz lately — or just feel like your music collection could use a few new hot summer tracks — check out this playlist that I put together for you: The Bo$$ Playlist!
You will be ready to get down, roll out, and add some diamonds to your grillz in no time!
Kendrick Lamar – King Kunta
Straight from the bottom, this the belly of the beast
From a peasant to a prince to a motherfuckin’ king
I can’t get this insanely catchy track out of my head!
Listen when you’re feeling low, small, or frustrated with your biz.
Take a note from Lamar: even if you’re a kid from the mean streets of Compton, the world can be your oyster. You’ve just got to work for it!
Rick Ross – Hustlin’
Every day I’m hustlin’… Every day I’m hustlin’…
Even if you’re not a rap or hip hop fan, I can guarantee: you’ve heard this hook!
Got a launch coming up for a new product, service or seminar? Blast this one. Sing along. Roll like Ross and remember that “marketing” doesn’t have to be “sleazy.”
Own your awesomeness. Tell the world what you’re offering… but ultimately? Let the quality of your work speak for itself. If you roll like a BO$$, your reputation will spread.
Queen Latifah – U.N.I.T.Y.
Instinct leads me to another flow / Every time I hear a brother call a girl a bitch or a ho /
Trying to make a sister feel low / You know all of that gots to go
When you run your own biz, you are a public figure… and that isn’t always a cakewalk. You are vulnerable to haters, jealous industry peers, snarky commenters, and all manner of nonsense. You might be plagiarized. You might get publicly mocked or shamed. It can sting and make you want to hide. (I’ve been there, many times over.)
Channel your inner Queen: Walk away from that noise and hold your head high.
Even better: channel your anger into your art — write a rap, publish a passionate blog post, find your cause, start a movement!
Eminem – Guts Over Fear featuring Sia
I was afraid to make a single sound / Afraid I will never find a way out, out, out / Afraid I never before / I didn’t wanna go another round / An angry man’s power will shut you up / Trip wires fill this house with tip-toe love / Run out of excuses with every word / So here I am and I will not run / Guts over fear (The time is here) / Guts over fear (I shall not tear)
In this vulnerable track, Eminem shares how — throughout his career — he has been viciously attacked by critics, has questioned his own talent, has felt like a stale, dried up artist (“Sometimes I feel like all I ever do is find different ways to word the same, old song”) and has wondered if he even belongs in the rap game at all.
So many opportunities to back out and quit on his dream — or soften his rough edges in an effort to be “accepted.”
But… no longer. He’s choosing guts over fear.
Take a cue from Em and commit to your vision fearlessly. All guts. All in.
No Apologies – from the hit TV show Empire
I say what I want with no apologies / And they won’t shut me up, hell naw, hell naw
You are watching Empire, riiiight? Get. On. It. Grit, glamour, music, dance numbers, family drama, money, power, sex — and a ferocious female matriarch leading the pack. This show has got it all!
This song will fire you up to speak your truth. Pump it loud when you need to tell a client the unvarnished truth (instead of sugarcoating it) or when you feel called to tell a bold, courageous story on your blog (without watering down your opinions in an effort to “please” everybody). SO good.
Hip hop might not be yo’ thang — and that’s cool. But whether it’s hip hop, jazz, country, or a classical violin concerto, every entrepreneur needs to discover his (or her) own personal ritual to get electrified, get focused, and get projects in motion.
What have you been obsessively playing (and re-playing) lately?
Tell me on Twitter — I’m at @thetarotlady — or just go ahead and crank it up right now!
After all: you’ve got big work to do, homeskillet. Get on it. #GutsOverFear #NoApologies #WordToYoMama
Theresa
I’m Theresa Reed (aka, The Tarot Lady). I’ve been a full-time tarot reader for 30+ years — which, in my industry, makes me pretty badass.
I’m definitely not your average Tarot expert — I drop the F-bomb, I quote rappers, and I’m obsessed with pop culture + reality TV. Folks come to me for straight-talk + tough-love — without the woo-woo fluff. 
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