How to Get Out of Your Own Way
Page 23
Acknowledgments
There are so many inspiring people who have impacted my life and been an extension of my backbone and a part of making me who I am today. I wanted to shout out a few people who helped me with this project:
Bishop Kenneth C. Ulmer: It’s because of you that I feel closer to God and have grown closer to him and his word. You are the most articulate and passionate man of God I have ever been in the presence of. I can’t put everything you mean to me into words. People can only hope that they come across a man that represents for the kingdom of God the way you do, so that they can be inspired to further their walk with God. Bishop, thank you from the bottom of my heart. I love you. You never know—one day I may just step up to that podium, and it will be all your fault for sure…
John Hope Bryant: A mentor isn’t a mentor if what they speak falls on deaf ears… John, I love you and want you to know that after more than ten years not only am I still listening but I’m moving on what you make me aware of. I truly appreciate you and thank you for always being there.
Will Smith: One word comes to mind when I think of you: selfless. Being around your passion for life, knowledge, awareness, and heart has made me a better man all across the board. I feel not only lucky but honored to consider you a friend and more importantly a mentor who I know genuinely believes in me and wants the very best for me. I’ve said this to you before: After putting so much of myself out there it makes me uncomfortable at times to have it come back my way in the form of you having my best interest at heart. I can only say thank you.
Rev Run: Where do I start? You are a fearless man of God, a family man, and true friend of substance. You’re an honest, sincere, and honorable man. I want to thank you not only for myself but for all of your millions of Twitter followers who are inspired by your daily messages. You have brought integrity and family values back to television and reminded us that “family” still exists in the world. I think it’s great news for all of you, fans around the world, that Rev Run and I are penning our first book together, Manology. It’s going to shake up the world!
Jerome Martin: From the beginning you have always been there and that story hasn’t changed. You have became at this point more of a therapist and ear when I’m going through any and everything that life throws at me. You are a star. I love you and thank you for enduring this ride with me throughout all these years, first representing me at Ford Modeling agency and now as my personal A-List Hollywood agent… My life has been transformed—pun intended! Thank you, Jerome.
Isabella Castro, my “Queen of Execution”: Everyone you interact with will agree that you are a force of nature. Your plate is so full—how is it possible for one woman to handle so much detail with such grace? I am screaming thank you and the people of the world echo that same feeling! There is so much more to do, so stay sharp! Love you!
Mike Le: Ten years and counting. What more can I say but that I love you and think you’re the greatest! K-Town! E! Network, baby! What??? You are a true game changer.
Charles Austin aka Charlie Mack: It’s rare to meet a man so consistent and grounded and real. Of all the people you know and love and who equally love you, I am very honored that you chose me to believe in and befriend. You have watched me grow like your own son and I believe we can both agree we have both made changes for the better. Thank you for always being the best version of you for the world. My hero!
Omar Shamout: Man, I can’t wait to hit the road to announce to the world how all this got started. I thank you for being there from the embryo stage of this book. I know like me you’re proud of where this started and how it turned out. You were there from the absolute beginning of the book and I can only thank you for believing!
Frank Weimann: My man Keenan Towns and I had a conversation about my passion to put out a book with all of my thoughts and inspiration and the first name he mentioned was yours. And now here we are with a book—wow! I want to thank you for believing and being a part of what the world is now going to experience.
Karen Thomas: You were our first stop in New York when we made our rounds to book publishers and the look in your eyes and your calming spirit while we were talking made me feel like Grand Central Publishing was my book’s home. Thank you for being patient and fighting from the inside and staying on top of all things! Love you!
Gayle Atkins: Gayle, I love you. I just want to remind you that my career and everything is all your fault. Thank you for taking my call when I was only fourteen and believing in me and riding with me through it all. I love you forever!
Greg Parks: GPeeezy! Your name should be “Loyal for Life” because that’s what you are. I got your back forever and that will never change.
Gerald Jackson: You are one of my best friends and have held me down for ten yeaaars! As my head of security you have a clean record—the only thing you didn’t catch was that woman’s high heel and I will forever hold a grudge… LMAO!! Love you man!
Reggie Andrews: I don’t know where to start. I never knew what a father figure was till I met you. Every morning when I walked in that music class at Locke High School my life felt different because I was evolving and learning something new and you made it fun to learn. I only wish there was a class on “How to be the greatest teacher of all time” because you would for sure be the star of it! Mr. A, you are a brilliant man of integrity and I will forever love you. Blessings!
To my team of agents, lawyers, managers, and staff: It’s damn near impossible to get to another level without having an incredible team in place and I can only thank you for everything you do from day to day. Let’s keep plowing because the top is near. May God continue to bless my team.
Joelle Yudin: You are just too much to explain in words. Patient, patient, I repeat, patient. Only God knows how you were able to keep me focused to get this book done. You are a star writer, teacher, editor, and friend. Can you believe there are people around the world reading this? Surreal, right? Thank you Joelle. What a blessing it was to have you in my life to be apart of this process. We did it, baby! Cheers!
And to my daughter Shayla Gibson, my lovely, powerful, smart, and beautiful little girl: When you get older you’re going to read and understand this. I always play a confidence game with you.
I ask you, Who is the greatest? Your response is Shayla! I say, Who is the most powerful little girl in the world? You say, Shayla! I ask, Who is the smartest and most incredible little girl ever? And you scream, Shayla! You are the best of me and your mother and I love you both with all my heart. Forever! I am so proud to be your father!
Every person on this list has in some way, shape, or form made me into the man that I am today. In this world one can only hope to come across someone who can help him along the way and have a genuine support system of powerful and inspirational people. I send my love to all of you. Even if you don’t see your name on this list, know that you have contributed to my life and journey. I love you, too!
Akon, Lala and Carmelo Anthony, Avi Arad, Babyface, Anita Baker, Baker Winokur Ryder, Lorrie Barlett, T’shaun Barrett, Michael Bay, Michael Bento, Barris Bolton, AJ Brandenstein, Bill Braunstein, Ian Bryce, Kim Burrell, Lisa Callif, Dan Cardinali, Mike Case, Steve Cibulskis, Cheryl Coleman, Sean “Diddy” Combs, Communities in School (CIS) staff and students, Curtains, Karen Curry and family, Mayor Daley, Lee Daniels, George Daniels, Erick Dawkins, Julius Denem, Lorenzo Di Bonaventura, Vin Diesel, Tony Dixon, Josh Duhamel, Salendra Durham, Jason Edmonds, Tracy Edmonds, Derek Fisher, Herman Flores, Alan Foster, Darrell Foster, Brad Furman, Bill Furtkevic, Savon Gibson, Shonta Gibson, Tyrone Gibson Sr., Tyrone Gibson Jr., F. Gary Gray, Lyndsey Green, Shannon Hefferon, Taraji P. Henson, Deena Holland, Howard University staff, Image Comics, International Creative Management, TD Jakes, Jeff Johnson, Andrew Jones, Quincy Jones, Juanita Jordan, Michael Jordan, Thuy-An Julien, Mark Kaplan, Todd Keith, R. Kelly, Gayle King, Robert Kirkman, David “GX” Kirkwood, Robert Kondrk, Karen Kosztolnyik, Kurupt, Shia LaBeouf, Linda Lau, Don Lee, Jacquie Lee, Jim Lee, El
va LeMasters, Daouda Leonard, Raymond Lewkow, Justin Lin, James Llewelyn, Nina Lugo, Ben Lyons, Anthony Mandler, Jillian Manus, Marcel Melanson, Harvey Mason, Brett Mayo, Kenny Meiselas, Jane Mentzinger, Todd McFarlene, Kate McGregor, Priscilla Murray, Brandy Norwood, President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama, Robert Offer, Linda Orel, Will Packer, Vicki Palmer, the Party City Team, Nicole Perna, Teddy Pendergrass—rest in heaven, Pendergrass family, Joe Puleio, Adriana and Omar Rambert, Brian Relyea, Dr. Sidney A. Ribeau, Garret Rittenberg, Gerry Rittenberg, Jeff Robinson, Kendra Robinson, Nancy Ryder, my dear Maya Saif, Brandon Salaam, Jill Scott, Ed Shapiro, Afeni Shakur, John Singleton, Richard Sledge, Snoop, Clinton Sparks, Steven Spielberg, T-Neal and the Core DJ Family, Tim Story, Joanetta Stowers, Jazmin Sullivan, Dwayne Swan, Brad Swart, Mark Tabb, Shakir Thomas, Darrell Thompson, Leon Timbo, Keenan Towns, Donald Trump, Iyanla Vanzant, Ron Waldman, Paul Walker, Tom Walper, Denzel Washington, David Webber, Marcus “Siege Monstrosity” White, Joanne Wiles, Oprah Winfrey, Elaine Wynn, Jordan Zimmerman, Zimmerman Agency, Robert Zuckerman. And to all my nieces, nephews, cousins, and extended family—I love you all.
Acclaim for
How to Get Out of Your Own Way
“So heartfelt and inspirational it will likely leave readers with a new dedication to following their bliss.”
—Publishers Weekly
“The author was obviously born with wisdom many others aren’t fortunate enough to possess… Part memoir, part life manual, an uplifting and inspirational guide to regaining control of your life.”
—Kirkus Reviews
“An inspirational read!… Gibson encourages readers with a revealing, self-reflecting journey.”
—Upscale Magazine
“A candid and honest tome, filled with Gibson’s life experiences, interspersed with lessons learned and inspirational messages.”
—Examiner.com
“You will all love this book and will want to grab copies to give as gifts to your friends and family members. It’s about time someone uses their position to inspire the masses.”
—Zimbio.com
“I’ve watched Tyrese for many years—I’ve watched him succeed; I’ve watched him fail; I’ve seen him as a beneficiary of serendipity; and I’ve watched him suffer at his own hand. And in the recent years, as we’ve become friends, I’ve witnessed Tyrese Gibson learn how to get out of his own way as he wrestled his destiny from the fickle hands of fate.”
—Will Smith
Contents
Welcome
Author’s Note
A Prayer Before We Begin
Foreword
A Message to Our Youth
Chapter 1. Child-Hood
Chapter 2. How Much Do You Love Yourself?
Chapter 3. Are You the Master of Your Environment?
Chapter 4. Who Are Your Five People?
Chapter 5. Why Do Men (and Some Women) Cheat?
Chapter 6. Do I Love You More Than I Know You?
Chapter 7. What Is Your Purpose?
Chapter 8. Are You Ready for the Next Level?
Listening to God’s Message
Acknowledgments
Acclaim for How to Get Out of Your Own Way
Copyright
Copyright
Copyright © 2011 by Tyrese Gibson
All rights reserved. In accordance with the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, the scanning, uploading, and electronic sharing of any part of this book without the permission of the publisher is unlawful piracy and theft of the author’s intellectual property. If you would like to use material from the book (other than for review purposes), prior written permission must be obtained by contacting the publisher at permissions@hbgusa.com. Thank you for your support of the author’s rights.
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Second e-book edition: May 2012
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ISBN 978-0-446-58554-5