Black Men Building Wealth through Investing
A Building Agreement
Hello there, great you stopped by to visit my site. My name is Kevin Thicklin and I’m a builder. What do I build? I’m building a neighborhood. It is a place where magic happens, conditions change and progress is made. It is a big place and it has really high potentials. There is only one thing standing in the way of the neighborhood really blossoming. It is embroiled in a series of differences of opinion. There are many views and beliefs. I started this site to test a universal theme to the success in this neighborhood. That by building our own homes and businesses, we can have a beneficial effect across a broad spectrum of lives in every city. This is the premise of this Blogsite. We can rebuild our neighborhoods with our own hands.
A cooperative is an association that sets a strategic objective of like-minded individuals for the advancement of the whole group. I believe we can form a co-op of men who build estates for their families. This will bring value to our communities. I also believe in showing how things are done. This site will do actual projects and use a simple format. It will be a blueprint for real world solutions. We will lead by example to show what works. Hopefully this can form vibrant, energized, and lively communities for people who call Black neighborhoods home. If you agree we can build our own homes, businesses, and communities, by all means send me a message. Come, join the journey to improve the neighborhoods we live in.
Kevin Thicklin, Coach T
First State Development
2021
builders, developers, producers
Look at the two pictures above. In both pictures you have vacant buildings, but these pictures are different. One has new plywood and the other has plywood that has been there a few years along with graffiti. On closer inspection, tell me what you see? I’m asking you to use a little VISION. One is an investment. A person is rebuilding an old structure, turning it into new housing. The other picture is an opportunity just waiting for some visionary to put time, effort, and investment into new neighborhood housing. If you couldn’t see these scenes were wealth just sitting there, that’s okay, you are in the right place because we want you to develop vision to understand the treasure hiding right beneath our noses.
In the United States, there are 300 metropolitan cities with populations of at least 100,000. Most cities have African American neighborhoods with declining economic bases. Men not building wealth is the reason our neighborhoods look the way they do. No one is building anything we own, no one is conducting business on our behalf, and not many paychecks are going into our family budgets from our labors. The good news is we have a starting place. We have plenty of room to advance.
A New Year has started, 2024. You have a decision to make. There are so many opportunities today for you to shine on your own behalf. Rise to the occasion, stand up and be counted. Do you know what eliminates poverty? BUILDING Do you know what stops mayhem? BUILDING Do you know what calms grievances and complaints? BUILDING Do you know what heals pain and suffering? BUILDING Do you know what sets you apart from the losers? BUILDING It’s official, from this day forward we will begin a Master Wealth Builder’s Program to reclaim, repurchase, and rebuild our own neighborhoods. What’s the benefit? Wealth, health, happiness, unity, and love. Sounds like winning to me. Men willing to put themselves at risk for their family will change our neighborhoods positively for future generations. If you are not willing to try, please do not waste your time. Proceed Quickly!
And the house, when it was in building, was built of stone prefinished at the quarry, so the entire structure was built without the sound of hammer, axe, or any other any other tool at the building site. 1 Kings 6:7
What's your OGOG Score?
Do you know who this gentleman was? Look at the picture. We know the picture is old taken over 100 years ago, but who is this impressive looking man. His name is Ottawa W. Gurley, born on Christmas Day in 1867. He was definitely a Christ-like gift to his fellow man. What makes this man so important? He understood the simple law of empowerment. In order to achieve prosperity in any community, you first have to empower other people to reach their highest aspirations. Most of you may not know who he is, but you do know his work. He is the man who founded the Greenwood District in Tulsa, OK during the early 1900’s. You may know it better as Black Wall Street.
Mr. Gurley was the Original Gangster. I used the word gangster delicately, as in being able to lead a large group. Since his name was Ottawa Gurley, he was the OGOG. He also understood another simple law. A chain is only strong as its weakest link. He didn’t surround himself with yes men and sycophants. He went out and found the smartest, strongest, and bravest men he could find to build a commercial juggernaut. Men like AC Jackson, JB Stradford, and RT Bridgewater were just as intelligent as he was in conducting business on the street. He didn’t discriminate either. He found talented women such as Lula Williams, Annie Partee, and Jennie Wilson to open their businesses on the street as well. Mr. Gurley was no slouch. He led this commercial juggernaut from the front. He directed, owned, or participated in 200 of the 660 businesses operating in the 40 square block district.
Ottawa Gurley was an incredible builder and businessman. He left us with something more valuable than silver or gold. He left us with a blueprint on how to prosper a Black American community. Having money does make you wealthy, but how many other men and women you invest in determines how prosperous your community will be. Will you follow in Mr. Gurley’s footsteps? What’s your OGOG score?
JB Stradford RT Bridgewater Jim Cherry JH Goodwin John Gist Lula Williams Annie Partee Jennie Wilson A Brown Elliot & Hooker AF Bryant TR Gentry AC Jackson Prof JW Hughes Jackson Funeral Directors
Where do you rank on a scale from 0 - 100
Rankings as a Business Power Player
OGOG scale
100 the greatest score
0 the worst score
Investment Banker starting 5 – 100+ businesses
100 Grade A+
Business Mogul starting 1 – 4 businesses
95 Grade A
Business Owner running successful business
92 Grade A-
Gainfully employed and responsible for family
Gainfully employed and responsible for self
Employed with others supplementing your expenses
Partially employed, partially unemployed
Unemployed living at the mercy of charity
Unemployed living on family members
Homeless
Stealing and taking from others
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