LESSONS LEARNED

When I first started thinking about whether or not I could do this, one of the things that I thought was a definite was support from not only all my acquaintances, but also most definitely all the people who I had bent over backwards to help in the past. There was no question in my mind that they would be my base, and I could grow from there.

Well, let's just say that was the biggest lesson I've learned since I have been doing promotions. Ya see, it don't work like dat. I mean, there were about 10 of my close friends at my 1st two parties, so I am definitely grateful to them, but there were some people who really made an easygoing cat like me get sensitive. I mean really...I won't name any names cuz I'm not trying to put anybody out there like that, but there was this one girl who I had been friends with for about 2 yrs. Within those two years I had done all types of things for her like helping her move (even though I had to go to a dinner that evening and I still had my suit on) till 5 a.m. in the morning when I had to go to work the next day. I loaned her $900 to help her pay her rent a yr ago, which she still had not fully paid back. (She gave half of it back to me for my birthday. Before I loaned her the money, she used to always complain about when she would have to ask for her money back after loaning it, by the way). She called me on her boyfriend's birthday asking me how she can rent a boat, cuz she knew that I had done it before. I think she realized at the end of the conversation that she was cluing me in to the fact she was spending my money for this birthday gift. So she says at the end, "Oh yeah, what's your address again? I am gonna send you a check." Yeah, okay. Glad I didn't hold my breath on that one. That was like 4 months ago. I dunno about that, but I do know that at both events...no show! She didn't even call and say sorry I couldn't make it or anything.

Well anyway, the point is not that she just wasn't being a good friend in my opinion and there are other examples that I could go on and on about, but I think you get the picture. Lesson: You will have only a small amount of people that come to your party just because they are your friend. Remember who they are and above all, be there if they ever need you. The other people will come, but you bettah damn sure make sure it's a hot ass party. And don't get sensitive like I did. You don't want people coming out of guilt. You want people to have a good time.