“Never tell anyone your plans, goals and dreams UNLESS they can help you”
As black people, we have such a dire need for approval. Mostly because it drives not just us but the human race. But we must realize that people will never see for you what they can never see for themselves. If a young awkward looking, tall thin black girl tells her family or friends that she wants to be a model, they may laugh at her and she may accept that they are right and forget about her dream. Even though she grows up to be outrageously beautiful and her dream could have very well been a reality. The people she depended on didn’t believe in her which caused her not to believe in herself. This is why black entrepreneurs would never tell someone else they can’t do something. Because we learn through doing business that anything is possible and our confidence to have our own businesses skyrockets to a level we never thought possible. If the potential model pursues that goal without telling her family, they will usually be the same people who will say “I always saw something special in her, I knew she would be a star” My cousin used to tell me “Everybody Loves a Winner!” and they want to be associated with them, even if they have nothing to do with their success. That’s our need for approval on the reverse. We want to take responsibility for all that’s great and shy away from what is negative. That’s not just black people, that’s the human race. So in essence, it is best to pursue your dream and keep your mouth shut, especially if the people you want to tell have no understanding of what you are pursuing. I have to tell the truth about my people, we can be some of the most negative people when it comes to encouraging each other.