One of the hardest things in life is finding your purpose and being able to sustain a livelihood through
the initial discovery and pursuit of that purpose. I actually believe that modern day slavery is bondage by
those pesky distractions that have U focused entirely on achieving someone else's purpose.
In 2015, it is truly my desire to return to school to pursue my Phd to formally study more about our
family's passion, vision and findings.
I have found it somewhat challenging to fulfill my mission of reaching our African American 0-6 year olds
to infuse a VISION of success and high self-esteem through a NEW BRAND of CLOTHING AND GIFTS
called HBCU kidz.
Many of my friends seem to say, "Great concept! But I have NO KIDS!" or "Great concept! But WHY bother
to promote college to kids who are NOT LIKELY to afford college? Why reach out to include low income
single moms?" I even vividly recall speaking to a white business owner over the phone who patiently
explained the industry, "Black people don't send their children to college at the same rate as white
people. There is NO market in HBCU paraphernalia for kids!" Who can forget the face to face advise
from a Professional Legal Advisers, "What U are DOing is too good for just blacks...U need to market to
mainstream instead!"
Well prayerfully my friends and the nay sayers should now all know the truth...W.A.S.S.
"WE ALL START SMALL"TM. Galatians 6:7-8 says that we reap what we sow. Why is dysfunction
comfortably and acceptably promoted just to blacks? Don't see it happening?
Well...take a visit to any historically or predominantly minority low income area and count the # of
pawnshops, liquor stores, pimps, prostitutes, drug dens, strip joints, crack houses, etc. Analyze the
value of real estate "across the railroad tracks". Compare the household incomes and education levels
by zip code. Better yet. Attend a council meeting and ask the audience, "Why come?"
My goal is to promote INCLUSION and NOT EXCLUSION. COME WHO MAY ON MY JOURNEY!
Of course now...I have to publicly admit...I used to feel that my own personal comfort was most
important in my life! I had my MBA, my MRS. and my MOM credentials all in check. Check it.. My life's
theme song seemed to be .FINALLY!
Finally I had acquired all that I prayed for day and night.
I was a University of Michigan MBA, a newly married Mrs. Gosier and the mother of two beautiful and
healthy daughters. I seemed to have done everything in proper sequence and order...so with what else
did I have time to concern my head and heart?
Finally! After my name... I had the 3 Ms that I DREAMED MOST ABOUT HAVING ONE DAY!
So there I was enjoying my individual journey out of corporate employment to my ultimate dream to
become self-employed. Along comes Hurricane Wilma in late 2005. The monster of a storm hit our
Pompano Beach (South Florida) home and blew the roof right off of my home office! We prayed and
asked GOD, "WHY?"
Through our actions in rebuilding and calmly sitting in the dark for 2 weeks, my family and I became
inspired to dare to dream about making a difference in a NEW and CREATIVE way.
So our journey began...one baby at a time. However, only a few days after this discovery of purpose, my
mom passed away during a very brief hospital visit. Upon recovery of this personal blow, I began to
aggressively pursue this life purpose once again with vigor. BAM! I faced another personal blow to my
heart when my only brother suddenly died from a heart attack in summer 2007.
So a gradual but oh so deliberate transformation has taken hold of my LIFE to bring me to this insightful
current place that I find myself authoring my very first book, "COTTON PICKIN' PAYCHECK-A 21st
Century Journal of Escape from Slavery".
It feels like my triumphant victory of staying the course, and finding personal peace despite the nay
sayers and personal circumstances. It was time to rebuild!
In hindsight, through self-discovery, I now realize that it was simply using God's word in completing 3
Steps Every Day in Life to gain my FREEDOM!
1. EXPLORATION! 2. DISCIPLINE! 3. APPLICATION!
E+D+A=FREEDOM TM
CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
the initial discovery and pursuit of that purpose. I actually believe that modern day slavery is bondage by
those pesky distractions that have U focused entirely on achieving someone else's purpose.
In 2015, it is truly my desire to return to school to pursue my Phd to formally study more about our
family's passion, vision and findings.
I have found it somewhat challenging to fulfill my mission of reaching our African American 0-6 year olds
to infuse a VISION of success and high self-esteem through a NEW BRAND of CLOTHING AND GIFTS
called HBCU kidz.
Many of my friends seem to say, "Great concept! But I have NO KIDS!" or "Great concept! But WHY bother
to promote college to kids who are NOT LIKELY to afford college? Why reach out to include low income
single moms?" I even vividly recall speaking to a white business owner over the phone who patiently
explained the industry, "Black people don't send their children to college at the same rate as white
people. There is NO market in HBCU paraphernalia for kids!" Who can forget the face to face advise
from a Professional Legal Advisers, "What U are DOing is too good for just blacks...U need to market to
mainstream instead!"
Well prayerfully my friends and the nay sayers should now all know the truth...W.A.S.S.
"WE ALL START SMALL"TM. Galatians 6:7-8 says that we reap what we sow. Why is dysfunction
comfortably and acceptably promoted just to blacks? Don't see it happening?
Well...take a visit to any historically or predominantly minority low income area and count the # of
pawnshops, liquor stores, pimps, prostitutes, drug dens, strip joints, crack houses, etc. Analyze the
value of real estate "across the railroad tracks". Compare the household incomes and education levels
by zip code. Better yet. Attend a council meeting and ask the audience, "Why come?"
My goal is to promote INCLUSION and NOT EXCLUSION. COME WHO MAY ON MY JOURNEY!
Of course now...I have to publicly admit...I used to feel that my own personal comfort was most
important in my life! I had my MBA, my MRS. and my MOM credentials all in check. Check it.. My life's
theme song seemed to be .FINALLY!
Finally I had acquired all that I prayed for day and night.
I was a University of Michigan MBA, a newly married Mrs. Gosier and the mother of two beautiful and
healthy daughters. I seemed to have done everything in proper sequence and order...so with what else
did I have time to concern my head and heart?
Finally! After my name... I had the 3 Ms that I DREAMED MOST ABOUT HAVING ONE DAY!
- I had my MBA
- I had my MRS
- I had my MOM
So there I was enjoying my individual journey out of corporate employment to my ultimate dream to
become self-employed. Along comes Hurricane Wilma in late 2005. The monster of a storm hit our
Pompano Beach (South Florida) home and blew the roof right off of my home office! We prayed and
asked GOD, "WHY?"
Through our actions in rebuilding and calmly sitting in the dark for 2 weeks, my family and I became
inspired to dare to dream about making a difference in a NEW and CREATIVE way.
So our journey began...one baby at a time. However, only a few days after this discovery of purpose, my
mom passed away during a very brief hospital visit. Upon recovery of this personal blow, I began to
aggressively pursue this life purpose once again with vigor. BAM! I faced another personal blow to my
heart when my only brother suddenly died from a heart attack in summer 2007.
So a gradual but oh so deliberate transformation has taken hold of my LIFE to bring me to this insightful
current place that I find myself authoring my very first book, "COTTON PICKIN' PAYCHECK-A 21st
Century Journal of Escape from Slavery".
It feels like my triumphant victory of staying the course, and finding personal peace despite the nay
sayers and personal circumstances. It was time to rebuild!
In hindsight, through self-discovery, I now realize that it was simply using God's word in completing 3
Steps Every Day in Life to gain my FREEDOM!
1. EXPLORATION! 2. DISCIPLINE! 3. APPLICATION!
E+D+A=FREEDOM TM
CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
| All Rights Reserved. © 2008-2011 COTTON PICKIN’ PAYCHECK-A 21st Century Journal of Escape from Slavery by Joan E. Gosier HBCU kidz, Inc. 120 E. Oakland Park Blvd, Suite 105H, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33334 1-888-HBCU-kid |
| About the Author (Cont'd) |
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A 21st Century Journal of Escape from Slavery
COTTON PICKIN' PAYCHECKTM by Joan E. Gosier
| Introduction |
| Purpose |
| Conclusion |