The Crack Commandments

One of the great things about being human is our diversity. I don’t watch TV but I am an avid movie attendee and movie rental kind of guy. I’ve found myself drawn to a couple of HBO specials like The Wire and the American Gangster Series. There is something alluring about guys starting from nothing and rising to great heights. So I watch these only to glean insights that I can apply in a harmonious way in my own life.

In the first season of American Gangster they highlighted The Chambers Brothers. They were a group of four brothers who rose from very humble beginnings coming from one of the poorest counties in Arkansas to build a $50 million dollar a year crack empire.

I am certainly not glorifying selling drugs but let me share with you a little lesson that I learned from these brothers. They came up with 17 commandments that they called crack commandments. These commandments were handwritten on a sheet of paper. This demonstrates that when you want to do something big it doesn’t have to be fancy.

Here are a some of their crack commandments. Also its important to note that there were consequences and fines for breaking each of these commandments.

Stealing among the group.
Fighting among the group
Failing to follow instructions.
Revealing secrets about the organization.
Playing loud music while picking up or dropping off.
Bring strangers to the house.
Two must ride together at all times.
When riding dirty (with drugs) you do not stop at your friends house.
Lying for another worker.
Causing confusion among the members.
Speeding while dropping off or picking up.
All money must be picked up before 6am in the morning.
You are on call 24 hours.
If you hire a worker and he or she runs off you must pay for the lost.

There are two things that I really like about the crack commandments. I love the simplicity of the commandments. I also liked that these commandments created boundaries within the organization.

A commandment can be defined as a list of moral standards by which we can base our life and morals. One thing I lacked in both my personal and business life are moral standards. I’ve failed to set boundaries and therefore any and everything has crept in through all of the cracks and crevices.

Here are my commandments and how I feel I can piggy bank off what the Chambers brothers did in a more harmonious fashion.

I will get my car serviced regularly. Eventually will be outsourced to a personal assistant.
I will keep my house clean and do a regular cleaning at least once a week. The goal is to make so much money that I can have this outsourced to a cleaning company.
I will not let anyone control my time. I will select who I choose to talk to and when I talk to them.
I will not entertain negative thinking for more than 2 minutes with myself or with another.
I will exercise daily for at least 15 per day.
I will build my online business to at least $50,000 per month.
I will payoff at least one of my rental properties within 24 months.
I will keep myself well groomed by visiting the barber and nail salon at least one per week.
I will read at least 15 minutes each day.
I will eat healthier foods.
I will be honest with others about how I am feeling.
I will build my network marketing business to a 6 figure a year business.
I will embrace the philosophy of each one teach one.
I will support my family without them asking for my help.
I will be honest in my relationship even if what I say is unpopular.
I will improve my credit rating.
I will use debt only to create more income not to buy consumer goods.
I will open an upscale men’s salon.
I will travel around the world.
I will have a state of art computer system in my home.
I will entertain friends and family on a regular basis.
I will not allow just anyone into my home or my life.
I will connect with people on a different level.
I will face my fears.
I will drink less alcohol.
I will party less and study more.
I will love more deeply.

The Chambers brothers taught me that you can start from where you are and go to where you want to be with a little bit of ingenuity and focus.

That’s my spin on it.

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{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }

Jacque August 3, 2009 at 1:32 pm: Referencing your recent post entitled Love, I believe this is your ‘first step’ to loving yourself. All of the ‘commandments that you listed leads back to loving yourself. Once you love yourself, then everything else seems to fall in place. Kudos!!!!!

J-licious

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