What Would Jay-Z Do?

The question is a fair one, in midst of one of the worst economic recessions since the great depression, individuals shouldn't be looking towards the government for the complete answer. Instead, they should be asking themselves one simple question, "What would Jay-Z do?"

Your first reaction or idea would probably be borderline stereotypical, but what can this TRUE rag-to-riches entrepreneur teach us about turning around this economy?

A quick background, Shawn Carter was born in Dec '69, in a housing project in Brooklyn. With his father jailed at an early age, his story begins to sound like numerous disadvantaged kids. But he had a natural talents, quoted by his mother Gloria, "young Jay-Z used to wake his siblings up at night banging out drum patterns on the kitchen table". Eventually, she bought him a boom box for his birthday and thus sparked his interest in music. He began freestyling, writing rhymes, and followed the music of many artists popular at the time(King of Rap). He took his own talent, and capitalized off of that. From there he made his moves, gained credit to his name and was the ideal example of an entrepreneur.

I am not talking about the basic run of the mill rapper/musician who makes their 5 minutes of fame, stack of bills, and same recycled slew of groupies. Jay-Z didn't make a lucky investment into Vitamin Water to make his fortune, "wanksta, you need to stop frontin".
Jay-Z took his talent, ambition and drive to create something out of nothing. Jay-Z owns his own record label, clothing line and movie production company - generating almost half a billion dollars a year in sales. Not only that, he donates a heavy amount to the American Red Cross. Jay-Z isn't simply an American Gangster, he is an entrepreneur, music industry innovator, and political activist.

That is the innovation America needs, individuals who take their own god-given talent and create a name for themselves. Move over Mr. Rockefeller, Hughes and Ford, it's Mr. (Shawn) Carter's innovative model which we as 21st century Americans should follow.

The principle is simple, and can be applied to a vast range of professions/personal life decisions. Take what you've, apply it and Show 'em What You Got.

Stop complaining, being reactive will do nothing but regress you further. We all have a restraints and obstacles, but why should that stop us from shinning? Take that step forward, start thinking progressively and take a lesson from H.O.V.A, start your American Dreamin'.

I look forward to individual Americans who are in need of direction, ranging from businessmen to public librarians, to look themselves in the mirror and ask them the serious question, "What Would Jay-Z Do?"