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I think we've all seen clips of the fabulous life whether it was shown on Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous or the cover of some extravagant magazine. The private jet in the background with the successful guy and a hot chic on his arm and the white gloved chauffeur standing in front of the leather appointed limousine. We can only imagine where they must be off to. Perhaps they're headed to NYC or Miami or some far away land to do something even more fabulous. Meanwhile we are feeling some derivation of contentment, some more -others less- with our own lives or maybe not. In fact, some are at school or work (or out of work) right now thinking how annoyed you are of this job, these co-workers, this career and if they only knew how badly you are fed up and want out. It is at these very moments that you are in full swing strategizing, planning, networking and doing everything you can to change your current situation. The what and how escapes you but you know that you know you want and deserve more. You look to the Heavens and declare Lord, Lord, why has Thou forsaken me as there has got to be more to life than this! This, my friends is called a Slide 68 moment and you are on Slide 68. Welcome to the party but what now?
I'll tell you what now! You're going to do something about it to get yourself out of the Slide 68 moment by 86'ing your current life and living the lifestyle you've been dreaming of or at least the one that I dreamt. While in China, a female tour guide named Johnny arbitrarily told me after I started writing this book that in Chinese, the number 6 means wealth and the number 8 means everything will go your way. Is that divine intervention or what? There isn't that much coincidence in the world for a perfect stranger half a world away to tell you something like that without you even asking and with all the numbers in the world she chose 6 and 8 in that order? Huàndēng piàn 68!
To vent my Slide 68 moment I wrote a book and started a movement called Slide 68 and ever since then I began living the lifestyle I've been dreaming of. From 7 stars to extravagant cars, I'm out here grinding and making it happen. Now I want to share this movement with two lucky people. The Investment Forum, sponsored by Marriott International has created the ultimate weekend getaway. Your weekend of luxury will begin Friday, July 15 2011 when you join us poolside for lunch at the Montage of Beverly Hills. From there we will stop in to say hello to our good friends at Stefano Ricci on Rodeo Drive. After that, it's on to the Tour of the Stars Homes where you'll see the abodes of some of television's most famous sitcoms such as Will Smith's Fresh Prince of Bel Air. After that, we'll head over to Burbank where we'll check into the Residence Inn by Marriott. We'll sleep in luxury and enjoy a scrumptious breakfast Saturday morning. You'll need your rest as upon checkout we'll board a private Learjet: destination Las Vegas.
After arriving on the tarmac, the lifestyles of the rich and infamous will perpetuate as the suicide doors swing open on the Rolls Royce Phantom. We'll be driven to one of Marriott's newest and most elite affiliates, the brand new multi-billion dollar Cosmopolitan hotel overlooking the Las Vegas strip. While this world renown strip offers more to do per square mile than arguably any other city under the sun, we will perpetuate elegance with Saturday evening tickets to the world famous Phantom of the Opera. On Sunday, we will cater to our sweetest sensations at the Jean-Philippe patisserie in the Italian inspired Bellagio before quenching our aquatic, inspirational and theatrical thirsts with the mystical waters of Cirque Du Soleil's O!
So really, why am I doing this? There are many reasons, but namely two. First and foremost it sickens me to my stomach to see people who have went on to enjoy great success and have the means to show someone else the way to the promise land and simply acted in a way that says, "No thanks! I've got mine now go get yours and figure it out yourself." We all know them or know of them and seriously, like it's really going to kill them to show someone else the way. They didn't get there on their own but swear through some advanced degree or sheer willpower that they did it all themselves. There is more than plenty to go around and most good people don't even want a handout. They just want a little guidance every now and then. Don't look down on a man unless you're helping him up.
Secondly, too many of us put ourselves in a box with negative thinking. You say to yourselves, I'll believe it when I see it but that's backwards thinking. You aren't going to see anything until you believe it. If you're in a box, open the door and get out. It's not locked and even if you think it is kick it off the hinges and lock it when you get out so you'll never wind up back in it. To get what you never had, you have to do things you've never done and that starts with changing your way of thinking and perhaps the crowd you keep. If you're hanging around with people who aren't going anywhere, then that's exactly where you are headed! Find a book store and read some empowering stories like the ones you'll find in Slide 68. Stop trying to get to that next level and get there.
Now then folks, are you fired up? Are you ready to go? Are you ready to give 2011 all you've got? You know all we do is win, win, win now who's wants the Learjet, the Rolls Royce, the Phantom of the Opera tickets, the Cosmopolitan, who wants in? Submit 1000 words or less on your Slide 68 moment or why you think you deserve to go and who you'd like to bring. It's as simple as that. Entries due by C.O.B. 5/30/2011. Thanks to Kevin Rudolf and Lil Wayne's, "Let it Rock!" for providing our get-a-way theme music. The winner will be announced this summer at the book release/awards reception. Date TBD.
I would like to give an extra special V.I.P thanks to David Byrd, former Deputy Chief Administrative Officer at Prince George's County, J.W. Marriott & Kathleen Matthews of Marriott International, Ray DeVeaux of Stefano Ricci Beverly Hills, the Washington power brokering of the Willoughby Sisters, Alan Schlaifer's tireless efforts with the Wharton Club's A List events and Roger Thomas for his unparalleled vision of interior design for transforming the Las Vegas strip. In addition, I have to thank The Investment Forum attendees and all those who agreed to share your stories in this milestone project. To all my people in the grind, keep grinding! I can't guarantee you that success is right around the corner, but its fleeting nature is around a corner and it needs you as bad as you need it. Don't disappoint success and success won't disappoint you.
Anthony "Von" Mickle
-from the mobile home to where moguls roam |
