If you can't wait, then you better create!

As?Juneteenth?approaches, I am reminded of the unbending faith and relentless tenacity of Frederick Douglass, and my ancestors who fought against, died, and dreamed waiting to be released from the horrible institution of enslavement.

I admired Douglass's unwavering quest of pursuing something bigger than himself and his spirited debates with President Abraham Lincoln. Despite being enslaved, he like many African Americans during that time did not wait for freedom (or to be legally emancipated) and placed their lives in peril by pursuing freedom via their strong legs in the face of unimaginable circumstances and possible death.

That is why Douglass's freedom quote resonates with me. Why? Because, its words are balanced with faith, and impatience, and accompanied by reality and action.

I too must confess, that I am inflicted with impatience and have written about my struggles with patience in my book, "Coffee With Cleo." Not being able to wait...continues to flow through my veins, like Frederick Douglass, my ancestors, and great, great grandparents George and Clara Lee, which is what this story. "If you can't wait, then you better create" is about.

Thank you,?Dwana Bradley, Editor - Urban Experience Magazine for publishing my story (pages 22 - 25) in your Juneteenth Special Edition...as I am honored. So, please enjoy this chapter for my new book "Coffee With Cleo - For Two", to be released later this year.

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"I prayed for freedom for twenty years and received no answer until I prayed with my legs." Frederick Douglass

The above-quoted words represent the unquenchable fire that roared brightly inside of one of America's most extraordinary self-made men: Frederick Douglass, an orator, abolitionist, and African-American leader.? Douglass was born during a time when one of our country's greatest sins (slavery) reigned, yet this did not deter him from his life purpose and pursuit of greatness.?

He was born into slavery in Maryland in 1818 and lived until 1895. Douglass accomplished a great deal during his lifetime despite witnessing the vile atrocities perpetrated on African-Americans. During Douglass's lifetime, not only did he become a free man, but he also fought tirelessly against the institution, policies, and structures that enslaved him and his? African American brothers and sisters.?

Douglass's exemplary life epitomizes this chapter’s title, "If you can't wait, then you better create" perfectly,? Obtaining an education during this period of American history was forbidden for the African American slave though many did so secretly, knowing this was a deadly pursuit. Yet, Douglas did not let this difficult circumstance affect him, as he privately taught himself how to read and write knowing if this pursuit came to light, it would have cost him his life. In 1838, Frederick escaped slavery (a criminal act) and fled north to pursue his freedom, and became one of our country’s greatest activists and effective abolitionists of his time.

For example, Douglass specifically targeted his anger and ire at those who advocated preserving the despicable and horrific practice of enslavement with his eloquent writings and powerful public speeches. His words painted a picture of the brutality and inhumanity of slavery, and his rage had no boundaries. Many of his public speeches and writings targeted President Abraham Lincoln.?

Frederick repeatedly criticized Lincoln for moving too slowly to free the slaves. At the same time, he rallied and recruited African American men to fight in the Union Army with his cry of? "Men of Color, To Arms." He also relentlessly petitioned and debated Lincoln on eliminating the Union's army's discriminatory practices of paying black soldiers half what white troops earned. Douglass also opposed the lack of recognition and promotions of black soldiers to officer ranks no matter how bravely they fought in battle and how honorably they served with distinction.

Now, let us pause for a moment and imagine any (well-spoken or not!) black man during this era directing his outrage towards a white man, the President of the United States nonetheless. These actions required tremendous confidence and courage or indicated a man looking to live a short life.?

I have always admired the tenaciousness, clarity of purpose, and fierceness of Frederick Douglass. I also admired his low tolerance and impatience for those unwilling to take a stance and act upon the things they believed in. Douglass was no simpleton for his times. This bold provocateur and firebrand was well ahead of his time. He knew his limitations, but he also understood the methods and tools of persuasion while pushing the buttons to stimulate action. He understood he could not wait and decisively induced others to join arms with him.?

Douglass also knew that sometimes you must be resolved to address your problems and not expect others to come to your rescue with their help. He understood that although I may be a victim of my times, I'll be damned if I will be victimized during the remainder of my time by not taking the initiative to help myself before asking others to help me!? So, in essence, if it is to be, then dammit, it is up to me to do my part and act now. Frederick was the personification of action like none other!

I can remember a moment of my youth perfectly when someone I admired also shared the same spirit and powerful adage embodied by my hero Frederick Douglass, but first, just a bit of context.

My grandmother Marie Franklin was the daughter of my great-grandmother, Repsie Moore. She was born on the 40 acres of land in Casscoe, Arkansas, that still resides in my family, acquired by Repsie's parents (my great-great-grandparents) George and Clara Lee.?

George and Clara Lee were like-minded and embraced that solid and determined resolve similar to Frederick Douglass. Maybe it was because they were born into the same era and generation of African American enslavement and shared a "seize the moment" spirit. My great-great-grandparents were born into slavery near Raliegh, North Carolina, and knew that dreams will never stop, sit, and wait for you. Dreams instead move on and will leave you behind if you wait too long. They believed that once the window of opportunity opens, it will not remain open; as each minute passes, the window becomes smaller and smaller and eventually closes.?

After serving in the U.S. 3rd U.S. Negro Heavy Artillery Divison in the Civil War, George did not wait to decide on his life and his family very long after the war. He envisioned a better life for himself and traversed westward from North Carolina towards a better future for himself and his wife Clara as they migrated to Arkansas.?

When they arrived, they each worked on a plantation and parlayed their money towards purchasing forty acres of land in Casscoe, Arkansas. I can imagine his pride in knowing his accomplishment in transitioning from being enslaved…to an army soldier, and now a freedman and landowner!.?

Words fail me, as I cannot comprehend or grasp the hazards, challenges, and countless hostile hurdles he had to deal with. I also know it took an unbending belief and a lifetime of faith-filled with prayer….yet, this did not prevent him from putting forth an unyielding to bring his dream to fruition.?

However, this extraordinary achievement was not given to him, nor was the result due to happenstance. Instead, George & Clara Lee's self-initiative and unbreakable gumption made this dream materialize, and this dream compelled them to travel across half the country and endure many obstacles along the way.

This brings me back to George and Clara's granddaughter Marie Franklin (my grandmother), as I remembered complaining to her one day about my younger brother Emory. He was annoying me and others in my family by making a spectacle of himself as his Godfather gave him some money as a gift for no reason at all. We would not have known this vital piece of information; however, Emory unsolicitedly made darn sure we all heard the news!?

Money received in my household was hard-earned and did not come to us easily (from my parent's hands to yours) or frequently. Any extra coinage received was not only an anomaly but one not to make any public declarations or celebrate. This behavior could result in unnecessary inquiries and unsolicited requests of "wealth distribution" from big brothers and sisters who also could strong-arm a nickel or quarter from you at will!

And to further exacerbate and compound my anger, my brother prattled about like a parrot incessantly around the house showcasing his prize, letting it known that he had something we had little (or none) of which we all coveted: cash!

Little did I know that my grandmother witnessed this personal assault on my pre-teen fragile ego as she saw my aggravation and fury growing. I remembered her calling out and saying, "Cleophus, come to my room, boy. I have something to talk to you about."?

So, as I sulked; she took me by the hand and said, "I heard your brother bragging about the little money that he got. He is excited about this, but I see that you are not sharing his feelings of excitement.? What I want you to know is what he has is his. Don't ever be angry or jealous about what others have. Instead, be happy for them and remember sometimes what you get is only for you and not for anyone else. Believe me, if you were the one celebrating, understand there may be others who are like you right now who would be jealous and want what you have too. But instead, Cleophus, I want you to think about how you can get what is yours, and sometimes you can't wait for it to happen to you. Sometimes you need to go out and get it because the Lord helps those who help themselves. So, here is what I want you to do and always remember. I want you to calm yourself down, get yourself together, and go to the store and get me everything I have written on this list".?

Now, I am still mad as a hornet, but still listening to my grandmother's voice, as what she said next caught my attention. "Cleophus, I will pay you the same amount of money your brother has for going to the store for me." But there was a catch as she said to me, "But understand, what I am giving you is not free money. I am giving you money to do a specific job.? But I also want you to never forget this lesson. In life, if you see something you want, work towards it, and don’t depend on or wait for somebody to give you something for free. There are no free lunches in life because life ain't free and you get what you earn. Now get on to the store and bring me back what I wrote on this list and earn your money."

"Well damn," I thought to myself as I smiled and tried hard to absorb my grandmother's indispensable wise life lesson. What was fresh on my mind, which made me feel good that I could now wave some well-earned cash in my brother's face with unabashed retaliation! However, something different was stirring inside me, and that was the purpose and pride injection my grandmother gave me. This money was earned and not a gift.

Yes, I grew a little taller that day, but little did I know the essence of her small lesson and the impact it would have on my life and career. It provided a construct of guidance to be diligent with not settling but to persist towards the things you are passionate about. Her lesson fueled my passion to not expect anything without working for it, but even more so, to go out and get after the things that mattered to me and not expect anyone to hand them to me.

I enjoyed my time working at John Deere. It was a place where I learned so many invaluable lessons, as I worked there for twenty-one years and helped launch my ascent to become an executive. My time working there spanned across four divisions (The Agriculture, Financial, Commercial, and Consumer Divisions), as I fast-tracked successfully with fourteen different positions with seven promotions during my tenure. I also relocated during this time (a record back then) for eleven of my twenty-one years and never asked for a job. My career ascent was not given to me, but earned…and in return, I gave my best and more in every position I was blessed to receive. ?

However, in 2009 I did the unthinkable. I left John Deere. One of the most admired companies in the world to work for, with a solid career and track record. Why did I leave? Because, like my ancestors, I found that I was at a pivotal point in my career when what I wanted was something different and beyond what was earned and provided to me. And the something I was looking for was a thing I would have to wait for, with no promises that it would ever arrive if I stayed with the company.?

But deep down in my heart, I could no longer wait for Deere to provide me with what I was looking for. It was time for me to go. When I issued my resignation, many internally and externally thought I had lost my mind. Most rational people would not consider leaving a reputable company like Deere after twenty-one years, with a solid career path of growth, good pay, and plenty of opportunities. John Deere is a place most would dream of spending thirty-plus of their working years filled with security many people hold onto like precious gold.

But, for me, this was different, and I too was (and continue to be) different. My career experience was thoroughly positive. However, my quest to become a game-changing and transformational executive required another struggle, filled with challenges and experiences that only a new opportunity in a new place could provide. So, I rolled the dice, bet on myself, departed from a great company, and never looked back. When I left, my career expanded globally to the executive ranks, and unique experiences and accomplishments were the gifts I knew would not have happened if I had waited.

In summary, there are times when we take a chance, with or without full knowledge of the risks before us. We know in our heart of heart we must pursue it. This makes me think of George Benard Shaw's quote, "Don't wait for the right opportunity. Create it." Yes, I always loved this quote and it still resonates with me.

That is why Frederick Douglass continues to be one of my heroes. During one of our country's greatest atrocities, Douglass prayed for freedom. But freedom never came through his door, which is why he decided to pursue freedom on his own “with his legs.” The life lesson I learned from Frederick Douglass is not always about what is given to you. It is more about what you do when the moment comes that you are given. Don’t get me wrong. I still admire those who wait, but when I can no longer wait, I’d rather do all I can to create.?

#juneteenth #donotwaittocreate?#alwaysbecreating?#coffeewithcleo