The recent comment by a former drug dealer about Kenny Rushing led me to think. What skills do drug dealers have? Often times we are made aware of their deficits. However to do anything well requires the development of certain skills. What skills do drug dealers develop and how could those skills get them employed andi nwhat kind of employment? And how could those skills be used to overcome their deficits? I'm guessing that a good drug dealer has a certain degree of hustling. That could be used well in sales such as Kenny Rushing is doing.
I'm being serious so no snarky comments please.
I can't imagine there IS a valuable skill that any former drug dealer could possess. If we're talking about street level hustlers, the only skills the ones around here seem to have is bike riding, scurrying in the dark and quick hand to hand transactions. I think the skills are probably best left to the higher up drug suppliers.
ReplyDeleteThere is a big chapter in "Freakonomics" about a college-educated drug dealer in the chicago housing projects - he ran a huge drug ring, keeping meticulous books and records of his transactions. A sociologist at the U of Chicago did his PhD on the guy and was shocked by the dealers intelligence and attention to detail.
ReplyDeleteRegardless of talents and skills, if a person doesn't develop a sense of responsibility beyond their own needs, it doesn't matter what job they take or how good they are at it. I know people can change, but I still have to wonder...what happens to that little part of their conscious that told them it was ok to be a drug dealer in the first place.
ReplyDeleteNot in dispute, but quite the contrary, I often wonder similarly about illegal immigration. The very fact that it's illegal means the people that violate the laws have made a concious choice to do so. I know there will be an uproar about immoral or unethical laws, but the fact remains that the people who break the laws before they ever get here leads me to question where is the line that divides the laws by which to abide from those they choose to break. Going back to the original topic someone who had done just drug hustling and no more is one thing, but distributing for the Crips, that kind of criminal enterprise had to include violence and other pretty serious criminal acts, like you said, how does a person just grow a conciences that wasnt there when they made that choice earlier? Perhaps rehabilitation does occur in the criminal justice system, perhaps faith can turn a person around, but its pretty hard to not be skeptical. The "big pimpin" image of the Hummers and all don't help his cause too much either. Maybe some true charity work would help, maybe an education program to help folks find out for themselves what their property is really worth. "Dont let those other guys steal your house" but add "here are some resources where you can find out what your property might really be worth"
ReplyDeletePeople do change. It depends on the person.
ReplyDeleteMr. Rushing teaches former street- hustlers how to identify the skilss they have, and then how to apply those skills towards something legit. He is a master at doing this. Therefore, his students become very successful. My friend works with Mr. Rushing, and he is a totally change man. He cut off his dread locks, took out his gold teeth in his mouth, he rplaced his sagging jeans with a suit and tie and is operating a very successful business. You wouldn't even recognize Andre Joel from Investors Outlet if you knew him four years ago. Whatever Mr. Rushing is doing, it works. Andre Joel and so many other young guys in the hood are prime examples. I think the powers that be are threatened by this, if they stop selling drugs, no more prisons, less police, and far less journalist who don't tell the truth anyway. Mr. Rushing is what Mr. Timmons said in the St. Petersburg article, a black moses, and I have witness his miracles on hard core thugs like Andre, if he can change Andre's life, he must be a man of god, because Andre was hardcore to the bone.
ReplyDeleteso then how does that positive force move from the buying low and selling high of houses into other area that bring just as positive of a return - not the monetary kind?
ReplyDeleteThe great thing about real estate investing is that you can buy a home in distress condition, do some rehab work and sell it after you have forced appreciated the value upwards. Whenever you teach these guys how to buy/sell real estate that keeps one less drug dealer on the streets buying drugs low/ and selling drugs high for a profit to your daughter. I would perfer these guys be employed doing something positive than on the street corners of America poluting the hood with drugs. Wake up America, we have a drug problem, educate these guys so that we can help them- help themselves. The alternative to this is self- destruction of many of these kids, both white and black. You will never solve convince them to stop selling drugs, unless you can help them put some money in their pocket so that they can be comfortable, preaching the gospel to this lost generation is not working, just maybe this House Hustling Movement just might. Good luck Kenny Rushing. I support what you are trying to do.
ReplyDeleteI think we as a society need to weigh all options to rid the streets of drugs, if Kenny can convert them into legit businessmen I'm in support of that. I would prefer to see them selling houses, instead of selling drugs. I would like to go to his free bus tour. How do I get on the bus?
ReplyDeleteI think it's kind of ironic that there are all these anonymous posts! If you are going to comment on Kenny Rushing's character, you should at least meet him, don't you? I've known Kenny for almost 5 years and I can say that I've done business with him, as have many of my clients. I can't say anyone has been screwed over by him. Remember that there are a lot of people out there who do investing, present company included, so am I screwing people out of money? Anyone who fixes up a home in Seminole Heights or any other part of the city is being an investor and making money. It's a business. And this article is not completely true. Don't believe everything you read people!
ReplyDeleteYou got a point becky.
ReplyDeleteComing from someone who's flipped 12 houses here and is now off to pillage another market, your recommendation is so credible.
ReplyDeleteActually Annonymous 12: 38 am, you must NOT know me, because you would know I've flipped a lot more than 12 homes and helped numerous clients over the course of several years. Why don't you put your name and step up to the plate? I'd love to know who I'm speaking with!
ReplyDeletereagansmash you talk as if you know kenny or what he teaches. I guess you know the facts huh. Maybe you should get to know him first or better yet atten one of his seminars and them make a valid comment about him.
ReplyDeleteReagansmash, you talk as if you know Kenny and what he teaches. You cant believe everything you read in te paper unless your that narrow minded and really think everything you read is true. just like kenny, the newspaper is a business, their out to sell papers. They always slant stuff. Why dont you attend one of his free seminars and see first hand exactly what he teaches before you run off at the mouth, making yourself look stupid. Everyone that has done business with Kenny or know him, know the truth and what hes about. Get your facts straight first because to me you do sound jealous.
ReplyDeleteI agree. He does sound like he's jealous of Kenny Rushing.
ReplyDeleteThe have "street smarts". How about drafting them into military service, training them well, and sending them to Iraq or Afghanistan, to serve their country?
ReplyDeleteGood idea. I'm in agreeance with whatever can be done to get them off the streets. I just use real estate because that is what i know. Maybe we should all put our heards togehter to help them- help themselves.
ReplyDeleteKenny keep up the good work! The more they talk about you the more successful you will be. Keep in mind these haters are not successfull in business or in life. This is why they have so much time to spend saying and writing negative things about you.
ReplyDeletethe youre just jealous argument is almost as useless as saying your mama, it went out in junior high. kenny and all his supporters keep using making money as the center of all of this, yet he claims to be a man of god, wheres his charity, it sounds like the god he worships is green and made of paper.
ReplyDeleteyour momma
ReplyDeletecon man, hustler, drug dealer,
ReplyDeleteDONT LET THEM OTHER GUYS STEAL YOUR HOUSE, LET ME!
You just proved my point! But your rap should go a little something like this...Ignorant, Jealous and your sister is your wife...Ha Ha Ha!...Let's say you get a hustle like picking up where you left off on that 3rd grade education.
ReplyDeleteWow. What happened to David's request: "I'm being serious so no snarky comments please." Sometimes the level of commentary brings down the whole blog. This blog is better than that.
ReplyDeleteHow can he help the poor if he's one of them. His charity is investing in a lost generation by empowering and educating them, showing them another way, its their decision after that point to decide what path they will take. He supports and builds other business, especially black owned businesses (Support Black Business Campaign). His free monthly tours teaching people how to invest. Looks like charity to me. He is a man of God and a family man who loves his family and people. Get to know him and find out what he's really about and Im sure you'll support his cause too. I just found out about his past and I'm even more proud of him now than ever, to see someone with all odds against them succeed. I know many people that are inspired by his story and many who walked in the same shoes and also have a success story. Why not join him and help him help and educate one another.
ReplyDeleteThe problem is, a lot of people commit crimes and deal drugs because they don't know any other way to survive.
ReplyDeleteIf they hhad a GED or some skills that they could learn they would probably be off the streets.
Whenever I see someone who I know is a drug dealer I refer them to the CDC in Tampa.
They will help with the education and job training for felons.
It's sad because some felons just don't know any other way and some just want to be bad.
Those that want off the streets have taken my advice and gone to the CDC.
That is one organization that we all need to support.
One guy told me "There's nowhere I can work and make enough to support my kids with one felony on my record." He also said "If there was something else I could do, I would. I don't want to die on the streets."
If I had known that Kenny Rushing might be able to help get them employed, I would have sent them to him a long time ago.
Most drug dealers really don't want to deal drugs. A lot don't understand the consequences.
If Kenny can help make these neighborhoods better by remodeling houses, employing drug dealers, etc......GO FOR IT!!!!
I agree.
ReplyDeleteplease tell me how your bettering a community when you get equity out of it and then leave for some poor inexperienced investor or new homeowner? No your leaving them with less equity in there home. equals less for the community, neighborhood etc..... please people think about?
ReplyDeleteAnonymous 11:03
ReplyDeleteThat was the most stupid comment yet.
11:03
ReplyDeleteWOW...that must have been the dumest thing i've read yet on this blog. WOW!
I am proud of the house hustler. As a matter of fact I wish I could learn his technique.One thing I do know if he was still selling crack people would talk about him. Now he's doing something good for himself people are still talking about him. Keep doing what you're doing.Business is business nowhere have I read that he forced anyone to sell him there house.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you. This man should be a hero, but it is only the white media who is trying to persecute him. I have never read anything bad about Mr. rushing in any black newspaper, or magazine. Them white folks are just trying to make one of our successful black business leader look bad. To hell with them. Mr. Rushing keep your head up, and keep making money, the more you make the more they hate! They only wish they could do what you are doing. We in the black community know what you are about, and the hundreds of people who you help.
ReplyDeleteI know this is WAY off topic, but at least another major paper got the real story on Kenny Rushing's mission. House Hustling is now on the map, going national.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/headline/metro/4018642.html
Also check out www.househustling.com (still under concstruction)