My life has been a roller coaster, with many ups and downs and a constant struggle to bridge the gap from poverty to stability. A man whose curiosity had taken him down the wrong paths at times, but also taken him down the right paths. I have been judged for my curiosity, and and at times been punished. Despite the negativity, I somehow came out ahead. The combination of my curiosity, intertwined with my struggle has developed into something that I could never imagine, a true form of Hustle.

There were many signs of this Hustle at and early age. I can recall many instances where I was trying to get ahead without affecting my personal relationships with the kids on my block. Like the time when I traded a Kaybee Toy Store, Jose Canseco rookie card, for an O.J. Simpson rookie card. I had a buyer lined up and sold the card for $150 big ones. This was my first profitable Hustle and it occurred when I was only in the 5th grade. It’s not the profit that makes it a Hustle, its the fact that when the deal was finished we both felt like we got a good deal. We were still friends and future negotiations were to come as two consumers walked away satisfied.

The most important thing about a Hustle, is developing trust. It is important to remember that there is a fine line between profit and trust. If too much of one is accomplished the other one seems to fail. So one must balance his Hustle.

After accomplishing the art of Hustling, to move forward I had to create as many options as possible so the path that I create for myself is a positive one. The tough part about a Hustle is to completely legitify everything into something that is creative, fulfilling, and most importantly, long lasting. This is the part that takes the most time and can be viewed as a wall, a hurdle, or even an obstacle. My strategy is this blog, a place where I can brainstorm my past to create a new future for myself. A place where my Hustle can influence others in a positive way while creating an outlet for my creative works. A place where people can get inside the mind of a Hustler. To be continued…

Bill Hustle