We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Hajji Blackstone. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Hajji below.
Hi Hajji , thanks for sharing your insights with our community today. Part of your success, no doubt, is due to your work ethic and so we’d love if you could open up about where you got your work ethic from?
One thing about hard work is you either got it or you don’t and it usually comes from inside . The first source I draw my inspiration from when it comes to work ethic would probably be my parents I would say . I have witnessed my mother and father work their entire life and this motivates me in my day to day .
My older brother and my sisters are also some of the hardest working people I know . I think the fact that I come from a background of hard workers it naturally trickled down to
Me . I think work gives you meaning and keeps you busy. If you don’t work you don’t eat . My peers and I like to use this saying that goes “if you don’t grind you don’t shine “, preety much you get in what you put out . I also like to listen to motivational speakers who preach about hard work , consistency and watch documentaries and read autobiographical content from people that inspire me. I repeat mantras like “hard work beats talent when talent refuses to work hard . You know cliche lines like that I like to remind myself in the back of my mind so whenever I need strength I have somewhere to pull energy from .
I grew up Muslim in a west African country known as senegal . In
My country there is a Muslim brotherhood called the mouride. They are other ones as well but this one is the majority group. Traditionally a lot of these people didn’t have the highest education they just had faith and hard work but through perseverance they were able to move mountains and even help bring down some of the ex colonial powers such as France for example who had tried to invade our country at one point in time .
One of the main Mouride principles are about hard work and how work can actually be a form of worship. Being deprived of work and freedom in the past has also made me value the importance of work and opportunity so I strive to work hard because that’s the only way to separate yourself is through work ethic . Some of my role models also stressed work ethic . Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant would
Go to the gym Hours before their competition and be the last ones to Leave hours after everyone Left the gym . It’s all
About how bad you want it . I believe Hard work and perseverance can combat any obstacle in the long run . It’s a religion .
Example of situations in my own life that helped me build work ethic :
The Navy and going on deployments
Being incarcerated and working for crumbs
Organized sports and competition
Having kids and being away from my family
The love of turning nothing into something
School and college
Remembering your why
Failure
Modeling other hard workers
Determination and hunger for more
Remembering your purpose and why you started
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I make music and I’m also involved in fashion . My artist name is hajji blackstone and I represent 2 brands Entrepronegro and Terangastyle. My music consists of a blend between hip hop reggae afrobeat . Entrepronegro is a company based out of Oakland california . The flag ship store is located in hayward . The owner and founder of Entrepronegro is Patchell windom . She s great and I’m forever thankful for her giving Me
The opportunity to always be a part of the Entrepronegro family. Entrepronegro focuses on pushing and creating young entrepreneurship in disenfranchised neighborhoods where people didn’t necessarily have the same opportunities and education to be exposed to ideas such as business ownership and financial literacy . Terangastyle is a brand that my cousin Birham Diawara created . The company uses west African fabrics and patterns and crosses it with urban styles . The idea is to export african fashion , culture and fabric. The end goal of it all is cultural exchange thru arts In order to bridge the gaps worldwide .
I enjoy exchanging with people from all walks of life and exchanging as well as learning from one another because we all have something to share wether it be s word , an experience anything . You never know what the next person is hearing thru you . I like to believe that Everyone is a vessel .
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Quality Always showing respect
Respect goes a long way
Being a self starter
Being self motivated
Skill
Communication skills
Knowing how to formulate exactly what you want and being first about it
Area of knowledge
Knowledge of self
Knowledge of god is most essential
The way to improve is to go back to the drawing board and assess yourself and be accountable and knowing how to set goals and measure one’s own progress . You just have to be real to yourself and true to your mission .
As we end our chat, is there a book you can leave people with that’s been meaningful to you and your development?
The 3 books that inspire me the most that I always go back to are the Quran, the four agreements and the warrior of light .
The Quran which the Islamic holy book .
The four agreements is another book
The four agreements are
always doing your best
Being impeccable with your word
Don’t take anything personally
Don’t make assumptions
These are principle that I try to abide by .
The warrior of the light is the third book . This a book by Paulo coelho . One of my all
Time favorites because it helps you make the separation between the spiritual world and the material world .It’s a guide in the journey of life to help you remind you of the deeper meaning behind human existence and our layover here on earth .
Contact Info:
- Website: Hajjiblackstone.com
- Instagram: Hajjiblackstone
- Youtube: Hajji Blackstone
- Other: Hajji Blackstone on all platforms
Image Credits
@lionblancphotography @entrepronegro856 @terangastyle
