Make Money and Build Wealth With Ephren Taylor The Social Capitalist

2009 New Years Evolutions

Let me first start and say happy new year, because this is *THE* year.  Why would you say something like that Ephren, in the midst of war, chaos, market turmoil, layoffs, crime etc.  Well all those things were the same things we had last year, and the year before that, and the year before that, and so on.  The same thing goes for all the weight people planned to lose last year, 2007, 2006 etc.  See my point?

However, lets forget about the negative and move on to the positive.  It's 2009 and for many it's a new year, and new time.  Many people will make many of resolutions and set out on new tracks towards making themselves a better person.  In 2009 I wanted to take a different more simple approach to my news years plans.  I really am not a fan of resolutions because 9 times out of 10 they are supposed to be things you are doing anyway but simply procrastinating to do.  Honestly they just aren't big enough to warrant such fuss. 

So I came up with a new years EVOLUTION!  How do you like that one?  It is actually quite simple.  I have been extremely blessed during great times, and not so great times and have had the opportunity to develop relationships with a lot of people in my travels.  However, in my quest to save the world and communities all over the US, a few people close to me got left out of that change.  So this year I am making a NEW YEARS EVOLUTION !

My NEW Years EVOLUTION is very simple.  In 2009 I will go on a quest to drastically change the course of 12 individuals lives.  When I say drastic, I'm talking extreme life makeover. How I will do it, I am not exactly sure yet, but figure changing one person's life in a year can be a challenge, but doing one a month is more my speed :) ....

My theory is that by essentially paying it forward big time in 2009 will one day come back my way.

This year I encourage all of us to take some time and make one of our new years Resolutions/Evolutions/Revolutions or whatever you wanna call it a simple one.  Make a commitment to help just one person break a negative cycle in their lives or their family lives.  I figure if we all do this, then all those other problems going on maybe would go away.

 It may sound idealistic but according to history small groups of people with ideals seem to always change the world.  As a kid I used to dream about ruling the world and being King.  Now that I am grown up, a father, a husband with a different perspective on life.  I just simply want to change it for the better, and if I can't change the whole world, then I will settle for changing one life.

I encourage all to do the same ...

Happy New Year

A Day In The Life Of Ephren Taylor

Ever wondered why Ephren is always on the phone, on the email, etc etc?  I just wanted to make a quick posts of what my day looks like, so you know why.

8:00 AM - Rise & Shine
8:30 AM - Drink Power Shake
9:00 AM - Meeting In Midtown NY.  International air to water conversion firm raising $6 Million
10:00 AM - Check In with new sales team in North Carolina
11:00 AM - Conference call with national newspaper about a multi-million dollar new media venture, and national entertainment tour.
12:00 PM - Return Staff Phone Calls, While Eating Subway Sandwich
1:00 PM - Conference call with University about joint venture on Bio Fuels, and presenting a new partnership to the EPA
2:00 PM - Meeting to buy controlling stake in small international pharmaceutical firm
4:00 PM - Personal Grooming at BBraxton (www.BBraxton.com).  Tomorrow I am attending the movie premier for "The Express".  Gotta look fly for the red carpet.
6:00 PM - Team meeting about the launch of The Millionaire Lifestyle
7:30 PM - Conference call with City Officials, and non profit about saving a school on the national historic landmark list
9:00 PM - Hosting a tele-seminar mentoring a class of fellow millionaires
10:00 PM - Pack for flight tomorrow
11:00 PM - Late night work
12:00 PM - Bed

Somewhere between the gaps I still process over 100+ emails a day, and about 20-30 text messages!

Next Day...
6:00 AM - To the airport!

It gets crazy sometime, but this is everyday for me.

Ephren Taylor Is Checking Himself Into Rehab

Now I know what you were thinking, you saw the title and was like I can't believe it, Ephren is on drugs, no maybe sex rehab like the guy from X files, or some Britney Spears like celebrity rehab center, but actually the problem I have is much serious than all of the aforementioned combined!  As you know in my last post, I went on and on about how I needed to loose weight, and have been honestly thinking long and hard about the best course of action to deal with my dilemma.

As I did an inventory of my situation, I realized I needed to take an inventory on my life.  Now I could spend a "book" on my discoveries but I will summarize in this post.  I discovered in order to drop the pounds, I needed to start dropping some other weight in my life. I mean there are areas of my life that are beyond great, extremely blessed, but there are some other areas that need "REHAB".  I mean a complete renovation!  The same way my firm takes houses, and even companies and rehabilitates them, my life needs the same extreme makeover.

For instance see some of the areas that need overhaul in my life right now. 

Health : Well need I say more.  I am 50 pounds overweight!  There is an extreme lack of exercise and the diet on the road is lets say not the best.  One main reason is EVERYONE always wants to take you out to eat, or even worse they cook these large home cooked dinners and keep feeding you and feeding you!

I am going to do a health overhaul, and get a trainer asap, find an athletic hobby to get into to start getting far more active that I am now.

I rather live to fight another day, that die a tragic death from poor health habits.

Stress :  I am one that performs well under stress, but lately travel has been making me outright miserable.  I HATE "business" travel, I mean literally its an anxiety for me right now.  As we speak I am devising a plan to travel far less than I do now.  The last two years I have been away from 50-75% of the year.  I have an apartment in Manhattan, I have barely seen this year.  Not only that the travel time is consuming my productivity time, which is costing me $$$.  So something has to give.

If someone wants to meet me, they can fly to NYC, or whatever City Capital office I am at.  Also I am going to purge myself of stressful events, commitments, projects or whatever else may be unnecessary. 

Also I can't wait to start practicing saying "NO", or better yet "NO!".  Being overcommitment is the worst!

Family : Well that is a touchy subject.  I have a wife and two kids, and honestly I see other people more than them.  As must as I want to justify it, try to justify it, have their full support.  There is something odd about when you tell your two year old daughter your going to work, and she instantly replies "Your going on the airplane".  Even more tragic is getting committed to a contract that has you away on your child's birthday.  Right now, I am starting a notebook of innovative ways to reclaim my time, and actually pull in more wealth than before.  Stay tuned for that hat trick!

Spiritual:  I need to get back into an active local ministry.  We have been traveling for a while around the country helping other churches, but the ones closest to me have been suffering as I could be of much greater use back home.  Then the constant time constraints are cutting in what should be my number #1 priority being my walk with God.  What does it profit a man to gain the world, and lose his soul?

In all as you can see this is just the tip of the iceberg, hence the title of checking myself into self administered life rehab.  I also am going to tap a few friends over the next few weeks to assist in speeding up the process.  I plan to detox my life, and have a spiritual and physical renewal.

Now in order to do this life overhaul, it means walking away from some lucrative deals.  I know of one $250,000+ deal that is going to have to go, and be shut down as it will require too much of the time I value so much.  Rehabbing my life means tearing out some old systems and putting in new more efficient systems.  It may even removing a few people from my life, canceling a few business deals, selling off a few assets, and a lot less travel.  However, one thing I can see already is a more profitable life in all areas.  Probably will mean an even higher return from the clients when I am performing at 100% peak level, versus the 30%-40% I am at now.

To be continued...

PS: Pray for me.

Evidence Dance Company 5th Annual Benefit - Party In The Hamptons

Come join me for an exciting evening of exceptional entertainment with Evidence Dance Company during their 5th Annual Benefit, "On Our Toes" in the Hamptons this Saturday, August 23, 2008. This will be a remarkable evening to include a cocktail reception, a stunning performance and a post-performance party. We hope you will come out and support the amazing and incredibly talented Evidence dancers and graciously contribute to legacy of this dynamic dance company.

 

Be sure to join Evidence Dance Company as we journey into the African Diaspora through dance and storytelling, elegantly capturing the importance of community in the African American culture.

 

 

For additional details or to learn more about Evidence, please visit:

http://www.evidencedance.com/M6_specialevents.htm

Download Invitation Here
Download invite_postcard.pdf

Is Ephren Married?

This will probably be one of the shortest posts I ever write, but though it should be something to be posted.  Over the course of the last few months it has dawned on me, that the public isn't really sure of my relationship status, and the backbone of what makes Ephren tick.  This was a major wakeup call that maybe  I didn't talk about my family enough, then I pondered about the security issues of letting people know the intimate details about my family.

With that being said I did want to take the time for all the facebook, myspace, youtube, and any other social network friend sites I am on, to answer a common question.  The question of whether Ephren Taylor is married or not?

The truth is that I am happily married for over 5 years to Mrs. MeShelle Taylor, and I have two children.  So yes I am married, and off the market, and have a family as well. 

I am beginning to realize now that life gets crazy after you make national TV.  I never had so much attention in my life.  I mean for a guy that could never get a girls phone number, its amazing how many just show up in the email box now, with photos. This is a new world.  I'm kinda old school, and think the guy should ask for the number or date.  However it is 2008, and I think I saw a statistic out that 70% of African American women are single.

The relevance is that for any brother who has no kids, no criminal record, a career/company, and stable financial is "Filet Mignon" on the dating market right now. Unfortunately the supply is short and demand is so high, that some people have went to some interesting lengths to find a potential mate.  However I wanted to take the time to let the world know this steak, was ordered by a lovely lady 5 years ago.  She saw the potential of a nerd, whose shoes were tied to tight.  Now look at me!

Sorry ladies Ephren is off the market.  I do have two younger brothers though and they aren't married :) !

Danny Glover Was Telling The Truth! I Can't Catch A Cab!

Now that I am a new yorker I have come to face a hard reality as a young (black) man in NYC.  I can't catch a cab to save my life!  Since I have been here, cabbies question me on where I am going before they let me in the cab, which is illegal.  If I don't give the right answer or looked puzzled why I am being asked an illegal question they speed off before I can hop in!

Let's not even get started on trying to catch one at night.  If I am on a corner, I can be there for 10-15 minutes easy as cab after cab drives by.  I was told by a friend they probably think I am going to Harlem.  Granted I live on the upper east side but that is cold of a theory to have.  Then to make matters worst I always see white females taking my cab!  They probably figure a lesser threat.  Look at my photo, do I look threatening!

I even had a cab driver lock the doors in times square on me so I couldn't get into the cab.  What is the world coming to!  I mean most of these drivers would be insulted if I were to assume they were terrorist, or Muslim extremist, but then I guess when they see a black guy in a suit in midtown at 8:00 PM with his wife I am a terrorist as well.  Go figure!  Welcome to America!

I am contemplating seeing I can partner with a network or TV show and do an undercover investigation on cab driver discrimination. My daily life would be enough for a few documentaries.  Soon as I figure out how to get a video camera and these guys on tape it's on!  At the very least it could very good youtube.com material.

Well enough of the angry social activist.... some things just take a while to change..

I'm a New Yorker

The move is now official to New York City.  Life in the city is something that is taking some getting used to, but an experience for sure.  When they say New York is expensive, they mean it! As a social entrepreneur I am curious to see how the "average" person survives in NYC.  This is a place where groceries, fuel, and housing are off the scale in pricing.  I mean a can of Lysol here is $4!  Then again I do live in Manhattan, but even in other burroughs the prices are still crazy, yet cheaper.  I am still in price shock recovery, please pray for for me!

On another note NYC is a place full of hopeful, ambitious individuals all pursuing a dream.  So far I have been in the city for less than a week and have had dinner with an actor from the movie American Gangster, met the father of two big time Hollywood Directors, and my wife has talked with a few Broadway producers in getting into the dance scene in NYC.  However, I am looking forward to tackling the bigger money chips on wall street!

To Be Continued.....

No Meat For A Week

I am setting off a new journey to conquer the health aspect of my life, and this week I am kicking off a series of experiments to enhance my overall physical wellness.  So this week I am starting off by avoiding meat, so instead of a nice Hawaiian marinated ribeye steak it will be the Veggie Burger!  I am on a goal to drop about 40 pounds this year, so let the games begin.  I will keep everyone posted on what works, and what ends in disaster. 

Maybe next week I should try the Jared diet by going all out on Subway....

To Be Continued.....

Why I Hate Flying Commercial !

Last night I had one of my "more" interesting flights from Fresno, CA headed into Atlanta, GA.  I was headed from speaking at a business conference for the Fresno chamber of commerce with the former executive director of the world bank.  It was a great event, and was on my way to Atlanta to speak at a conference for Youth Entrepreneurs sponsored by Georgia Pacific. 

The entire trip seemed like it was doomed from the start.  When I was headed out to Fresno from Kansas City I got involuntarily bumped from my flight, and almost missed the reception I was supposed to be at.  Even though I got upgraded to Midwest Express, my connecting flight from LAX to Fresno was overbooked as well by four people!  The madness of the airlines. 

Then comes the new leg of the trip into Atlanta.  First out of Fresno we are on the super packed small jet, where even I at only 5'8 hit my head it seems on the roof.  Thanks UNITED AIRLINES for flying small planes that you love to overbook!  Then to make matters worst UNITED decides it is better to fly a regional jet all the way from Denver, CO to Atlanta, GA.  Another small and cramped JET again!  Fortunately I love what I do, and am dedicated to the cause but some days I tell you, personally I am put to the test!

Planes I can deal with, and schedule changes is just part of the business.  This night however was the last straw that broke me.  Fortunately I had a row to myself but that is where my good fortune ran out.  The guy sitting behind had a cold, and every time he sneezed I could FEEL it on the back of my neck!!  To make matters worse the guy in front of me had a hacking cough too!  Someone please pass me a mask and some airborne and some sanitizer quick!  Then comes the grand finale on this flight, it was a young lady who obviously at 11 O'clock at night couldn't stop talking or laughing.  Not only was she so loud in her speech that everyone on the place kept looking around at what was that obnoxious chatter.  Then to top it off she had the most annoying laugh.  So for two hours I was tortured by two sneezing, non mouth covering travelers and one non stop chatter box! 

I don't even have time or the space in this post to address the security, and traveling nightmare at the ATL airport!

Can someone please call Mr. Warren Buffet and sign me up for Net-Jets!  I'm going to get me a Jet, it's been long overdue!

I made the cover of Millionaire Blueprints

You know as a Kid you always dream of becoming famous, and one of those things is seeing your music and sports idols on the cover of magazines.  Now, I can share that same joy, as Millionaire Blueprints has featured me as the cover article for their March/April 2008 issue.

About Millionaire Blueprints Magazine

Millionaire Blueprints is written in an easy to follow question and answer format which allows people to follow the lead of a self-made millionaire. We really show readers exactly what the self-made millionaire did, every step of the way. Self-made millionaires share their defining moments with our readers so they can learn from them and apply techniques and strategies to their own businesses.

http://www.millionaireblueprints.com/