When I tell you I study Shawn Carter like a living and breathing case study — I mean it. Hov epitomizes what it means to have a mogul mentality, influence the culture, and lift as you climb. Granted I’ve never had an in-depth discussion with my mentors but I attribute a large fraction of their success to their “inner circles.”

If someone asked you, “What do you do?” How long would it take you to answer the question? 30 Seconds? 60 seconds? If you are anything like how I used to be, this may be a struggle but if you are in the pursuit of building a business or brand — it better not look (or sound) like one!

Let’s face it, you either really love networking or you pretty much hate it, it’s seldom that you find those that are in-between. As someone who networks often (read: practically 24/7), I’ve realized to be effective you’ve got to treat networking like a hustle- it’s all about strategy, genuity, and opportunity.

Nas made it clear, he’s a one of one, and there’s no one that can produce his value quite like him. The same goes for you! It’s your personal brand that communicates your value to the world. It outlines your purpose and the impact that you are trying to make.

I know once I get my foot in the door I have what it takes to make the magic happen to close a deal, but getting my foot in the door is not always an easy task. Through working with my nonprofit, The Black Burdell, and lifestyle website, The Scheme Team, I’ve started to define and refine the art of “Shooting My Shot.”