In America, anything is possible. All naysayers should consider the life of Farrah Gray.
At the age of 14, Farrah Gray became a self-made millionaire, despite being raised in the impoverished South Side of Chicago. In less than a decade, his entrepreneurial talents have allowed him to oversee a $30 million asset management company, become a syndicated columnist with the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA), publish two best-selling books, and receive an Honorary Doctorate degree of Humane Letters from Allen University.
At the age of 21, Farrah Gray was named one of the most influential Black men in America by the National Urban League's Urban Influence Magazine. In March 2008, after a decade of entrepreneurial success, Farrah Gray was featured as a member of "O" - The Oprah Magazine's Dream Team of Financial Experts.
If Farrah Gray can succeed, why can't we?
On December 27, 2007, Farrah Gray published his second book, Get Real, Get Rich: Conquer the 7 Lies Blocking You from Success, under the Dutton imprint. Upon review of Get Real, Get Rich, Farrah Gray managed to squeeze some time out of his busy schedule and settle down for an interview with Clayton Perry— reflecting on life, race and, of course, entrepreneurship.
How did the Get Real, Get Rich philosophy originate?
I have about 150 speaking engagements a year. After each speech, I always take time to sit down and talk to members of the audience. Time and time again, I found that people held onto similar beliefs about what it takes to be successful. Get Real, Get Rich covers seven lies that block many people from success, like "It takes money to make money." That's not necessarily true. "When you work hard, you're guaranteed to be successful" – that's not true. The "born lucky" lie is also untrue – I'm sure you know a lot of people who were born into privilege and amounted to absolutely nothing. We all have greatness within us. So it is really important for everyone to figure out what God put us on Earth to do, and steer clear of the seven pervasive lies that often blindside people. I firmly believe that the two most important times in a person's life are when they are born and when they find out why they were born.
Of the seven lies that you present in Get Real, Get Rich, which do you find to be the most pervasive?
The "hard work" lie. People often say, "If you work hard, then you have the key to success." But let's keep it real. When your bill collectors call, can you tell them, "I work hard"? If you go to the bank and say, "I would like to make a hard work deposit," it's not going to work. They want a cash deposit. A person can work for 160 hours a month and maybe, as Oprah said, get a "thank you" upon retirement. Again, it's not about working hard. It's about finding what God put you here to do.
Article comments
1 - Joanne Huspek
Wow! What an interesting interview! I've never heard of this person before, but I am intrigued enough to read his book and find out more.
2 - Al Barger
Brother Perry - excellent work. This is actually worth the bother of reading.