ICEWEAR VEZZO
on being a man, clarity 4 & “drank” meaning motivation
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Committing to Goals & Relationships
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FEATURES 14
COVER STORY
ICEWEAR VEZZO Clarity 4
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Committing to Love
Committing to Your Goals
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Commit to a Healthier You
“Sauce, juice and drank… it’s all the same thing. You motivated, you got some energy, we call that juice, you got the drank. You’re moving, you’re working.”
—Vezzo
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
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VOLUME 5 • ISSUE 2 • JULY 2015
s the months of heat began to roll by, it can be quite the challenge to stay focused on your commitments when there are so many activities to partake in.
Your friends may call you to meet up at the marina for a boat
ride; your favorite artist is scheduled to perform and you want to go or maybe your family is planning a reunion and you are excited to be united with your kin again. After all that is said and done, you are left with your responsibilities. You are still waiting and wondering if you will ever get certain tasks done. You are still trying to meet goals that would really make you proud if you actually accomplished them. One of the deciding factors on whether you are going to get further in your life is through commitment. If being committed is a challenge for you, then you’re reading the right material at time right time! This issue of Top Flight Magazine is dedicated to examining what commitment is and why being committed is so important. Without commitment, not much can be accomplished. A relationship would not grow to be healthy and long-lasting. Businesses would be null and void without a committed staff. Sporting events would cease to exist without committed players. Every great life decision involves commitment. Through these pages you’ll find ways to commit to being a better you through
chief editor
cryss walker managing editor
britney embry editorial director
healthy eating habits, loving relationships and goal-setting.
ryan whaley
Inside, you’ll get tips on ways to make commitment a part of
photography
your daily routine.
michael vandiver
As you read, don’t hesitate to jot down some ideas of your own, so grab a note pad and a pen while you’re at it! Don’t forget to write the plan, make it clear and let’s get motivated! Journalistically yours,
contributing writers
antoine moore bria brown eric thompson leslie fields demario browning kirthmon dozier das’ja thomas art director
Cryss Walker chief editor
sales inquiries
@ topflightmag
topflightmag@gmail.com 248-783-6037
topflightmag@gmail .com
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tyrone owens, jr.
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com路mit路ment (noun) 1. the state or quality of being dedicated to a cause, activity, etc. 2. an engagement or obligation that restricts freedom of action.
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Committing To Love B y D a s ’J a T h o m a s
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ppreciate what you have by taking care of what you have.” - Pastor Cortral Barnes of VIP Church Have you ever wondered to yourself, “why is it so hard to commit to a relationship?” If you’re fortunate enough to get into a relationship, how can you stay in it? Statistics show that almost half of marriages end in divorce, which can scare some from a long term relationship. Long term relationships have a few goals and marriage is at the top, so if many who get married end in divorce, then why even try… right? Some say, “wrong” and that being in love is a beautiful experience that many deep down inside desire. Many obstacles will occur and it won’t be easy all the time but if it’s real, it will all be worth it. It’s proven that past relationships, previous hurts; inappropriate childhood memories, rocky upbringings and more could all result in being afraid or having trust complications. Being afraid can stop a person from being fully committed. The fear of betrayal, the fear of being heart broken, the fear of rejection…the list is never ending. Then here comes the really scary part! Learning how to trust someone, 100% with
your life, your heart and flaws. It can be just as scary to be the one who someone confides in and depends on. “Relationships are not 5050”, says Clinical Therapist Latonya Mallet-McLemore. “Individuals need to give 100% of their best efforts in a relationship in order for it to have a chance of success. If you only gave 50% of your best efforts in the workplace you wouldn’t maintain your employment, so why should one of the most important relationships in your life deserve less than your very best?” Many make the mistake of thinking a relationship is a 50-50 effort. Mallet-McLemore says 50% is only half the battle and still leaves a lot of room for error, so always give your significant other all of you and nothing less if you’re expecting the best results. “Every day I make a point to prove to my wife nobody is going to treat her better than me,” says Pastor Cortral Barnes. When in a relationship you must never get too comfortable. You have to treat your significant other like the king or queen they are. Don’t allow yourself to slack because you won their heart, the real challenge is keeping their heart and making sure it is in better condition than it was prior to the relationship.
Pastor Barnes insisted that when you love, you have to love so hard that hurting your mate would mean hurting yourself. You must consider their feelings before yours in certain situations and that can be where it gets hard, but only if you allow it to. Making your mate happy should be a part of your daily routine. Making them happy shouldn’t be looked at as a task, it should be something you want and enjoy doing. In doing so, the reward is mutual happiness.
♥♥♥
“W
hen I had back surgery my husband was there every day for any little or big thing I needed,” says First Lady Barnes. “I always knew he loved me, but I mean he went above and beyond for me during that time and that’s when I learned the true definition of love and the real meaning of ‘ for better or for worst’!” First Lady Carolyn Barnes says after 23 years of marriage, she and her husband are still going strong and living in their marriage everyday like they first met each other. She says you have to keep it fresh! The couple said the reason they think most J U LY 2015
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♥ relationships don’t last or don’t begin is because of trust issues, secrets and unforgiving mistakes. “You have to be a sincere individual and you must not play with anyone’s feelings,” says Barnes. “You have to know how to communicate and you have to know and understand your partner’s love language. You have to know exactly what your mate desires from you, what they need from you and what you need from them.” From forehead kisses and holding hands, to watching the game and having dinner and a six pack of beer waiting, we all have certain things we need in order for us to feel loved. “Building a friendship and learning how to trust God together is most important,” says Pastor Barnes. “God is the head of our relationship and without him, we wouldn’t be.” Having a friendship is essential to having a great relationship. You have to know your mate inside-out and with a real friendship, you will. 9
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Chances are the relationship will last longer. “It is important that we look for compatibility not availability when choosing a partner”, says McLemore. “Too often we settle for whose available, but not who’s best for us.” A relationship won’t last if you just settle. You won’t be fully committed or happy if your mate isn’t what you really want. Everything they do will always be a little off to you because they’re not really what you want and you’ll always wonder what else could be out there and question if you made the right decision. That’s not fair to you or your mate and you’ll never truly be satisfied. You’ll always be looking for what you don’t have in your mate. Just because it seems convenient or easy at the time, that doesn’t mean you’re compatible… that could just mean you’re just both available. “Individuals who have successful relationships tend to be self-aware”, says McLemore. “These individuals have a handle on who they are and
what they want. Take some time to explore your most important asset, you, and create a wish list of what you’re looking for in a relationship. You probably won’t find someone who meets all of your criteria, but if they meet a majority of your criteria, you will be off to a good start.” Know what you’re looking for, what you will and won’t stand for, and remember no one is perfect and everyone is flawed. McLemore states that if your mate meets 85-90% of your needs, you can live without the other 10-15%. Compromise and communication is the key and everything else will follow. At the end of the day, if a person loves and values you and the relationship, they will take the proper steps to create a long lasting relationship. They won’t give up at the site of troubled waters, because running away and giving up is the easiest thing to do. Instead they’ll grab their surf board and get ready to ride the wave… and remember, “Love conquers all!” ♥
—American President Abraham Lincoln
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Commit To A Healthier You By: Leslie Fields
S
etting a goal is easy but staying true to the journey can be difficult. Daily, we set goals for ourselves, whether it’s something as simple as doing laundry or writing a paper. The challenge is committing to the process. Commitment is essential when it comes to staying healthy. It’s as if you are entering a personal relationship with yourself… mind, body and spirit. If you are committed to staying on that path, whether it’s more exercising, more water, more sleep, better eating, or quitting a smoking habit; you have to stay focused on the journey ahead in order to reap the results. Here are five ingredients to becoming healthier and most importantly why and how to commit to staying healthy:
Exercise
Exercising is all about commitment, from waking up early to doing daily workouts it’s a never ending cycle. In order to stay loyal to the process you have to give up your regular activities and replace them with things you may not normally do and substitute it with working out.
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In order to truly reach a fitness goal you have to stay motivated no matter what, even if you fall off, the point is to never give up. Physical activity improves your overall health, mentally and physically. “Regular activity can relieve tension, anxiety, depression, and anger,” says Tara Tomcsik, Event Director of the American Heart Association. “You may notice a feel good sensation immediately following your activity and most people notice an improvement in general well-being over time as physical activity becomes a part of their routine.” Working out shouldn’t seem like a task, it can be an activity to enjoy. • Enjoy the warm weather by going for a hike or jog. • Workout at home with your favorite workout DVD. • Workout with a group of friends, get a group together and motivate one another to reach those fitness goals. It may be helpful to learn to be
more active in all areas of your life, even if it is something as simple as playing with your kids or cleaning up, just get up and get your body moving!
Drinking More Water
Although water is a basic need for any diet, it is taken as a luxury for some. It’s essential that the human body gets water. It removes toxins, it regulates your body temperature, takes the edge off of hangovers, helps people think more clearly, helps the body digest food and most importantly, the body is 55% to 70% water. According to author Joe Leech’s article, ‘Seven Science-Based Health Benefits of Drinking Enough Water’, mild dehydration can impair energy levels, alter mood and lead to major reductions in memory and brain performance. The average daily water intake is 6-8 glasses, so how can you achieve this goal daily? One way is to purchase a water bottle to regularly refill or get bottled water to have on the go. Secondly, you can add flavor by infusing it with lemons, mints, strawberries, cucumbers, grapefruits, or tangerines.
Eating
Healthy eating has proven to be a challenge for many. With so many different temptations, how can anyone stay committed to eating healthy? Tara Tomcsik gave a few facts about nutrition and what poor nutrition leads to. “Nearly 70% of American adults are either overweight or obese,” said Tomcsik. “Being obese puts you at a higher risk for health problems such as heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, diabetes and more.” There are different ways to eat healthier. For example, meal prep plans, fruit smoothies and juicing are all ways to exercise portion control and include fruits and vegetables in your diet. Many people live to eat, rather than eat to live and several Americans are on the go, which makes it difficult to regularly consume a healthy meal. Yet when committing to eating better you have to make healthier choices even when there is temptation around you. “Some but not all, fast food restaurants have grilled chicken, salads, low-fat milk, fruit, and even oatmeal choices
for breakfast,” said Linda Van Horn, Professor of Preventive Medicine at Northwestern University. “Figure out which restaurants offer such options and try to frequent those more often. Consumers behavior strongly influences what restaurants choose to serve, so if you want healthier choices, choose them and let it be known.”
Sleeping
Sleep deprivation is a lingering issue due to the new era of social media and staying up all night. The lack of sleep can weaken other areas in your health. Sleep deprivation causes forgetfulness, depression, aging skin and serious health problems such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke and high blood pressure. According to the National Sleep Foundation the average adult needs about seven to nine hours of sleep each night but most don’t even get that much. If you are truly serious about becoming healthier, a healthy sleep is essential.
Smoking
Smoking is killing more than 480,000 Americans each year and is the leading cause to many health issues.
“Smokers have a higher risk of developing many chronic disorders, asthma, including certain cancers, and atherosclerosis (the buildup of fatty substance in the arteries) which can lead to coronary heart disease and stroke,” says Tomcsik. “Controlling or stopping atherosclerosis is an important part of preventing future heart attacks and strokes.” Not only does smoking affect you but also others around. By truly committing to stop smoking it takes time and patience. Here are a few steps to start on that path: • Set up a quit date • Choose a method for quitting • Decide if you need assistance with medicine or other help
Here’s a little motivation:
In the end the reward will be greater and by cutting back on smoking it increases your life span and also the loved ones around you. For more friendly advice for quitting smoking go to the American Heart Association online, heart.org. ♥
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—BEST SELLING AUTHOR AND MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER DENIS WAITLEY
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No Pressure, No Diamond:
clarity 4 by: bria brown
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P
ressure produces results. In order to create the perfect diamond, it must go through a couple of stages before it has raw and uncut clarity. Detroit’s ‘Drank God’ Icewear Vezzo explains the purpose of clarity and why flashbacks of his past struggles pushed him into grind mode. Not only did Vezzo release his latest mixtape ‘Clarity 4‘ on June 28th, but he has opened a multitude of business ventures coming throughout the city of
the wordplay… my choice of words, meaning slang… like everything… it’s all me. It’s Vezzo.” The emerged rapper admits that he didn’t look for opinions when creating Clarity 4 and his vernacular or slang comes from the neighborhood he grew up in. “Usually I get opinions and I let my homies hear it and you know how that goes,” Vezzo added. “You know we create as we go, we talk and we kick the
“In the diamond world, clarity means being pure, it means a good diamond. It’s real, it’s raw, ain’t no cut on it. That’s why I’m stuck to that word so much because you know looking at my life, it ain’t no cut on a lot of parts on my life.” Detroit that have advanced his ‘Iced-Up’ brand. There is a big difference between the Clarity 4 and the Clarity 3, which was released last summer. This time around Vezzo made sure that everything was hand-picked by him, from the beats to the lyrics. “That’s my baby, I did that for me,” said Vez. “I chose the beats that I like to listen to when I’m in my car. I said the lyrics that if I were in the car listening to another rapper, what I would want him to say? Just everything from
juice. They love the slang and we gone keep giving it to them just like the music.”
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nlike other artists who name their mixtapes or albums something different each time, Vezzo gives insight on the purpose of staying with the name ‘Clarity,’ why it’s so strong and how it’s a part of his life. “It’s pure,” said the rapper.
“In the diamond world, clarity means being pure, it means a good diamond. It’s real, it’s raw, ain’t no cut on it. That’s why I’m stuck to that word so much because you know looking at my life, it ain’t no cut on a lot of parts on my life.” During the interview, you can’t help but notice the clarity of his GGE (Green Guy Entertainment), IUR (Iced Up Records) and two diamond chains hanging around his neck. Nevertheless, Vezzo made it clear that everything about him is clarity and it means more than jewelry. “Everything about me, clarity. That don’t even stand for jewelry no more,” said the Detroit artist. “If you have a pure heart you have clarity to your soul. I’m with God, He gave me a pure heart, so I got clarity.” Though some would think that since he is in the spotlight and a successful rapper, looking back, now he is able to do nice things for himself. “I mean it’s all about how you look at it, I’ve always been able to do nice things for myself,” said Vezzo. “Doing nice things for yourself ain’t always about the financial reasons. I’m able to walk myself to the store without getting harmed… that’s something nice for myself. I don’t look at it like that. The minute I look at it like that I will start slipping.” J U LY 2015
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As Vezzo picked up his IUR chain he said, “Three years will go by and I’ll still be looking at the same jewelry congratulating myself when I could have been moved on 10, 12 times and ain’t thanked myself yet.” Icewear Vezzo doesn’t stop at just music, he’s a businessman. Advancing from the music industry into the business world has put a lot of pressure on Vezzo but he believes the pressure has allowed him to create his Iced-Up brand. “I move better when my back is against the wall,” said the east-sider. “Every time I feel any pressure, I go harder.” As Vezzo talked about where he was in life with Clarity 3, he didn’t feel any pressure on him when he released it last summer. “I didn’t feel no pressure on me, it wasn’t many local rappers at the time,” 19
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Vezzo explained. “We have a lot now (Detroit artist) and they are all doing their thing… they making count. Everybody making good songs, everybody doing shows, paid shows, everybody representing their self the right way. Everybody keeping up with their own image, that looks good.” He continued, “last year it wasn’t nothing there for me and I didn’t have no pressure, so I got bored and lonely and it slowed my work ethic up.” Putting together the Clarity 4 made him wake up and produce what may be his best work. “The minute all these other rappers started coming out and going hard, it pushed me against the wall,” said Vezzo. “These boys working! You better wake up. I like the pressure, the
pressure is everything.” Expounding on his work ethic, he loves rapping and being on stage, most would think Vezzo is committed to the music, but Vezzo is committed to his family. “The commitment ain’t to me or to music, it’s to my family, that’s what drives it,” said Vezzo. “I’d be selfish to do it for me. I love rapping. I love being on the stage and everybody singing my song. I definitely want to know what that feels like once the whole wide world able to know my song and I go fill up 30,000 to 50,000 seats and everybody knows my song. You know I’m in it for that reason other than that, as far as the financial end and the gaining end, I’m in it for my family. It ain’t even about me. My family drives me, everybody family should drive them.”
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ezzo’s Iced Up brand now has multiple business ventures such as Iced-Up Hand Wash, a car wash located on the east side of Detroit at 12311 Gratiot Ave. His record store, Iced-Up Records is right next to Iced-Up Hand Wash and a restaurant specializing in chicken wings. Executing all these ideas and having them come to life, one might get distracted but Vezzo credits his team and manager Chanel for keeping him focused. “Nel is a huge help,” said Vezzo. “That lady does everything but bathe me, that’s my sister. My team though really, she keeps me on top of everything.” When it comes to planning, everything that deals with
On the other hand, when it comes to his personal life, that’s what he plans for. “I plan the important stuff first,” said Vezzo. “I know what car I want, I know what suburban area I want to live in already. I know where I want to retire at. That’s the stuff I plan, everything else I just come as I go.” When asked about the name ‘Drank God’, Vezzo recalls it starting off when he was younger, but sees it has become bigger than him. “Drank is having the juice, you know… just as well as sauce! Like Lil‘ George says, ‘you got the sauce’, said Vezzo. “Sauce, juice and drank… it’s all the same thing. You motivated, you got some energy, we call that juice, you got the
“Sauce, juice and drank… it’s all the same thing. You motivated, you got some energy, we call that juice, you got the drank. You’re moving, you’re working.” music surprisingly isn’t necessarily planned. “I can’t lie when it comes to music, ain’t no planning. I do as I go. It drives Chanel crazy but I just do as I go. I don’t plan music, I don’t plan recording songs. I don’t plan video shoots. Every video I got except five of them out of the 50 I got, I literally just woke up and shot a video.”
drank. You’re moving, you’re working.” Vezzo also gave other examples of having the ‘drank’ by completing missions you’ve put your mind to, executing plans and looking good to name a few. On a more serious note, when asked about what the Drank God influence has had on his young listeners Vezzo
responded, “That’s just why I said it started off as those reasons (as in drinking Lean).” “The older I got… and up until now, drank is motivation for me so I would love to rub off on these kids. Drank is motivation. I don’t refer to it as Lean. Drank is another word for motivation. Other than that, what else they come out and grow up to do I feel that’s on their parents. That’s where the influences comes from, inside the home.” Vezzo also expressed his love for the community. “Out of everything that I do, as far as giving toys away to kids on Christmas, giving food to homeless men and women, before I was rapping, buying presents for 300 kids and buying two businesses at the age of 26, I’m doing all of that, if they get out of all of that a drug habit then I would blame that on the parent.” If you look at Icewear Vezzo and the influence you get from him is a drug habit, then, maybe you’re looking at the wrong motivation. Vezzo didn’t let his obstacles and setbacks stop him, with over 100,000 followers on Instagram and his city behind him, Vezzo’s progression continues to rise. Now he has a new audience looking at him, and he’s hoping they “get the drank”… or the motivation to live their own life of clarity and pureness of heart. ³ J U LY 2015
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"YOU NEED TO MAKE A COMMITMENT, AND ONCE YOU MAKE IT, THEN LIFE WILL GIVE YOU SOME ANSWERS." —AUTHOR, RADIO HOST AND MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER LES BROWN
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"Love doesn't mean anything if you're not willing to make a commitment." —"The Notebook" Author Nicholas Sparks
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COMMITTING TO YOUR GOALS By: Kirthmon F. Dozier Jr.
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t was character that got us out of bed, commitment that moved us into action and discipline that enabled us to follow through.” - Zig Ziglar Is commitment really that hard or does life sometimes turn your tunnel vision into a blurry vision? There are endless reasons to why people cannot stay committed to achieving their goals but there are more reasons why people decide to battle adversity and be productive. We make decisions everyday but our commitment pushes us forward. Getting up for work every day is commitment. Spending the rest of your life with the same person is commitment. Making it an obligation to thank God every morning and night is commitment. Top Flight Magazine spoke to a couple people who personify commitment through careers, relationships, and religion. Here is a look into how these individuals got to this point in their lives. If you have played or know sports on any level, then you know how much hard work and dedication goes into preparing yourself to perform to the best of your abilities. Arande Stanton, a two year defensive lineman of the IFL’s (Indoor Football League)
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Nebraska Danger and Detroit native, talked about staying committed to pursuing his dream and marrying his dream girl. “At times, committing to your goals can be hard, but at the end of the day if it is something that you really want, you have to keep fighting for it, pray and stick to your responsibilities,” said Stanton. “Eventually it will fall into place for you.” With commitment comes road blocks that are placed to deter you from the bigger picture. While some use road blocks as excuses to give up, others, who are committed, use the distractions as motivation. One of the biggest obstacles for Arande came at the age of 20 when he and his future wife at the time had their first born son. “I had to juggle school and football, but I had to be a father first,” said Stanton. “I had to grow up a lot faster than my teammates and friends, but it was what I had to do. I think God and my son have pushed me to where I need to be.” On top of dedicating himself to his son and football, Stanton recently took on one of the biggest commitments any man can take, marriage. After eight years of commit-
ment to each other, Arande decided to put a ring on his high school sweetheart’s finger. “I love my wife and I love God,” said Stanton. “I do not want Him to look at me in any other way other than a servant to Him. I think God is the overseer of everything and I do not want to disappoint him.” Stanton’s commitment helped him to being a part of the first Detroit Public School to win a high school football state championship at Martin Luther King High School. That led him to Youngstown State where he overcame his toughest obstacles and later received his bachelor’s degree in business administration in 2012. Stanton continues to stay committed to God, his family and football as he continues working hard to live out his dream of playing in the National Football League.
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omething that stood out while speaking with Stanton was his devotion to God. He expressed how his love for God overshadowed everything and led him to a better life.
Aronde Stanton Who better to talk about commitment other than someone who works with numerous people trying to make their lives better? Pastor Robert Robinson of Greater Missionary Baptist Church (G.M.B.C) in Hamtramck, Michigan also sat down with Top Flight Magazine to discuss his input on commitment and how it goes hand in hand with religion. Pastor Robinson has been the pastor of G.M.B.C for over 40 years. When asked if commitment was as hard as some people made it out to be Pastor Robinson had a few words to say about it. “I would not say it [commitment] is hard because once you are committed to something then it becomes a part of you like eating breakfast in the morning,” said the Pastor. “Once you get committed to something then you will make
the sacrifice to do it.” Some of the steps Pastor Robinson uses to practice commitment are first and foremost staying focused on Christ. Praying and studying scriptures also helps him focus on his devotion to his church, which involves getting to know all of his members and educating himself more in order to pass knowledge down to his members. Pastor was not always “Pastor Robinson”. He admitted that even he had a cloudy past conceived by bad habits which included smoking and a short temper. “When you get committed, it will not be easy,” said Pastor Robinson. “If you have a commitment to sweep a small floor and you are committed to doing it, sometimes it will be hard to sweep. People may throw things down and it may frustrate you
into saying, ‘I am tired of this’, but if you are committed then you will do what you have to do.” Sometimes fear is the main factor stopping you from committing. Pastor Robinsons says, “You have to stick to it to do it. It comes with ups and downs but you have to remain focused.” After Arande Stanton and Pastor Robinson expounded on their ideas of commitment, it can help you realize that success in life will not come easy. Sometimes you may want to give up, but according to Stanton and Robinson, the battle is what makes you tougher. Giving up is the easy route, but easy is not always good. Adversity builds character, so whatever obstacles stand in your way, use it as a positive tool to achieve your goals, whether big or small.
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Sales Associates Wanted No Experience Necessary Lynn Rabb-Clark • 313-319-1100
"Most people fail, not because the lack of desire, but because of the lack of commitment." —American Football Player and Champion Coach Vince Lombardi
Watch motivating video interviews about successful people doing what they love or catch up on the latest stories at topflightmag.com
2015