Baisden, who was in the Air Force for a short while, also went to college.
“I would have completed it had my business not necessitated me leaving college. I tell my young men I will pay your way to college, but if you invent the next Apple computer, I’ll invest in that and you can leave school and make that money. But until you master that, your butt is going to finish school,” he remarked.
Baisden said his latest book, Raise Your Hands If You Have Issues, was written because he also has issues.
“I’m not standing on the stage and looking down on people. I have been a father who did not take care of his child. Been a man who cheated on women. I’ve been the guy afraid to step out on faith and living my dream. I understand decisions people make,” Baisden related.
Issues he face today include trying to make a difference and problems with people who are “dream killers.”
He said, “I have issues with negative people. I’ve got issues [with people] who think you have to be in a relationship. There is a chapter called ‘Being single is not a disease.’ We are not born married, in a relationship. Being in a relationship is not mandatory for happiness,” he said.
Baisden said too many girls and women are out there compromising their principals – not setting boundaries and ending up in abusive relationships.
Originally, Baisden said the name of his book was to be called Whatever Works.
“Experience life for yourself and find out what works for you. I’m not disagreeing with your objective; it may not be mine,” he said.
Philosophy on success
Baisden said he wrote the book to engage people in conversation.
“I don’t want to tell people what to do. I give you my perspective and give you the perspective of people I’ve encountered all of my life. Don’t take anybody’s word as absolute,” he declared.
“There are closed minds because we live in a box. We don’t get outside of our communities. We don’t read books that take us outside of our country. We are easily manipulated when people tell us they got the answer,” he said.
Baisden said the only person that was in his way of being successful was himself. And his advice to others who may have thought like him is to open their minds.
“You have more control than you think. A lot of people are afraid to make the right choices. Afraid to be alone. You’ve got to be okay with upsetting people. People want to be approved by everybody. You have to be willing to make people hate you. People are going to hate you when you are successful. Name me a successful person that is not hated on.”
Special to the NNPA from the Florida Courier
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