The Art & Science of Respect: A Memoir by James Prince

by James Prince

I was either in a storm, just got out of a storm, or was on my way to a storm, but no weapons formed against me have prospered.

I was taught that you must believe in something bigger than yourself in order to get something bigger than yourself.

it is always better to have and not need rather than to need and not have.

I work hard so I can play even harder, on my own terms, on my own time. My goal is to win at everything I do.

When you’re born into poverty, you know that death comes for you first.

There’s two ways to reach rock bottom: you can either fall all the way to the bottom, or you can pull the bottom up to you.

When you’re acting within your purpose, with your divine conviction, nothing can stop you.

God is the reason I move without fear, the reason I’ve been able to take the risks I’ve taken. I’ve seen moments that defied any explanation other than God’s grace and mercy.

Believing is not enough. I’ve seen miracles, but I don’t wait on them.

Failure has birthed far more champions than privilege. I am the man I am today not just because of what I had early in life but also because of what I didn’t have.

There really are only three types of people in this world: leaders, followers, and loners.

The vulnerability of a leader is often their own ego, which makes them unable to submit. Everyone, at some point in life, must learn to submit when necessary. In the streets, you may have to submit to a supplier who switches up the terms, or a police officer who’s riding you pretty tough. At home you may have to submit to your spouse to keep the peace. In business, submission can be a great short-term tactic towards a long-term goal. But if your ego won’t allow you to submit when necessary, it becomes a liability.

Remember, the sheep follow because they’re benefitting from you. You can’t lead if you don’t have anything to offer.

Rich people often wonder why poor people destroy their own neighborhoods. The answer? Because they can’t get to yours. Proximity.

Every friend can’t be a business partner.

The truth is, working for someone, putting in your time and building equity within a company is commendable. But if you don’t own it, you have no control over how much time you have.

Anyone who’s ever set out to do something great will tell you that the road is paved with potholes of self-doubt, plenty of detours, and numerous roadblocks.

It’s interesting when your reality offends someone else’s idea of what your reality should be.

I’ve listened to many people criticize rap music without ever discussing ways to improve the environment which birthed us. I’ve learned that America is okay with us living in these conditions, as long as the rest of them don’t have to hear about it.

the hardest, and perhaps the most important, part of moving in faith. Your vision is your vision.

gangstas. Real gangstas go to the polls.

“Just don’t stop swinging at them,”

Fortune favors the bold, so never be afraid to stick your neck out on your own behalf.

The media thrives on logic. But the streets are too desperate for logic. To us, context is everything.

Growing up in the hood can be such an isolating experience. You’re more concerned with who’s running the block than who’s running the country.

The first priority of impoverished people is survival, and everything else falls in line after that.

Always know who you’re fighting, no matter the arena. A little bit of homework can give you the advantage and make the difference between a big win and a big loss.

The people you surround yourself with determine exactly how far you’re going to go. Staying in the company of people who aren’t doing much limits your network. So I try to always make sure I’m surrounded by people as dedicated and driven as I am.

How much you’re paid is determined by the choices you made.

When you’re an entity, your first job is to make sure your art or your skill is at the professional level. Your second job is to make sure you’ve surrounded yourself with qualified people who are on the same page and will do what’s best on your behalf. Your third job is to stay on top of them.

That’s what a businessman does: he keeps working on his product until he gets something that’s good enough to sell.

Someone who has “heart” is a stand-up guy. (Or girl.) You can’t punk them. You can’t put fear in them. A loyal person has my back, even when I’m not looking. They’re gonna be real with me and tell me the truth, even when it’s not popular. And a committed person is someone who’s going to be there in the rain, sleet, or snow. They don’t make a lot of excuses; they do everything in their power to get the job done. They’re gonna be there on time, and they’re not looking at the clock all day in a rush to leave.

Some people are just born with the heart to fulfill needs and help, I guess.