Build the Damn Thing

want to give voice to the voiceless. That's why we have independent authors as well as top shelf best selling authors as well. We want to give a platform to amplify these unknown voices in spotlight, voices that have impacted our culture and community. Life is a body of books that makes your own personal bookshelves. Those bookshows are both in the mind and at home. So oftentimes when I'm inter viewing some of my guests, I want to know

what's on their bookshelf. I want to know what they're reading. Oftentimes I interview customers that come in to the store and I asked them, you know, what do you love about reading and why do you continue to visit and support Malik Books. So this podcast, you know, we want to keep it exciting, refreshing. We want to keep it lit,

lit for literature and lit for what's hot. We want to do book reviews, We want to invite guests on We want to be current in our affairs on subject matters that are current in the media or on the people's heart. You know, there's a lot of things going on in society. There's a lot of things that happened nationally, there's a lot of things that happened locally, and we want to sometimes spot like that there is a connection

between oftentimes what's happening currently and books. So Malik's Bookshelf it is outgrowth and extension of what we do here at Malik Books. I've been surrounded by books for so

many decades, you know. I've been serving the community with books for since n you know, and I consider myself a book activists and I believe books brings a whole world of opportunities of reinventing and imagining ideas, and I just think that they have a great impact on the direction of our culture, of our society and the country as a whole. H I love books, have a passion for books, and I have a passion for what I do.

So my podcast it's just an extension of me and my community and my culture and the support group that's around me. So I hope you enjoy my podcast, Malik's Bookshelf Bringing a world together with books, culture and community. This is episode seven, So enjoy you know when authors coming Malik books, I can't do nothing but trying to interview him. Why because I got the opportunity to talk to him about and this wonderful says that are usual

good with good all? Are us your good all? Got two books dating the Single Mom and the Single Mom Survival God, and I just want her to talk about her books. She's an independent authors sub published two books addressing this single minds giving him advice. How are you doing? Good? Good, good good. Welcome to Malik. This is Miliek's Bookshelf Bringing the world together with books, culture and community. This is

my podcast, and so I'm happy to interview you. Since you walked into LEI and you walked in my domain, I got to get your own record. Now appreciate that. I appreciate that. I appreciate you having my books and your store. Um. So yes, I am a two times author of a single Mom's Movement. So my first book I authored I actually published in two eighteen is Dating a Single Mom, and well, no, that's I'm sorry, that's the Single Mom's Survival Guide is the first one from

two thousand and eighteen. I went through a divorce, an ugly divorce with small children, and so I figured the experience that I had then wasn't for me. It was for another mother who lost hope or who doesn't feel like she has a voice and to believe in herself again that no matter what happens to you in life with children, you are able to come out on top.

And so I give her hope about finances, about loving herself, about healing, about forgiveness, and just dating again, which leads me to my book two years later, Dating a Single Mom. What men need to know and what women need to do. And so that's just teaching men that when you have high performing women that are others that you're dating, it's a deep dive. It's a deep dive, and it's a lot of like selfwell awareness because as myself, I did a lot of self work, inner work, inner self, inner child.

So that's just you know, educating our women that you know, don't lose hope and don't lose yourself and your children and don't settle for less because we are powerful as women raising children. Absolutely, don't settle for less. That's got to be the number one standard is don't down grade yourself. That's a very powerful first principle. Give me some more principles that women, single women should know in terms of dating. On what advice would you give men who dating? What

high performance women? You gotta define high before me. Now, I think I understand what that means, but I want you to tell the audience, Yes, high from performing women are for myself. I actually worked a job for like twenty years, raising kids and operating a business, and I wrote two books, and so you know, coming off of COVID,

you know, I got laid off. But because I had already established my business, which is a wellness and fitness business, I created um safe space for women, you know, to unleash self love and to embody self love through total total body fitness. Because what happens is is high performing women we get so indulged in our work and our children soccer mom, football mom, basketball mom, and we figured about ourselves and so a lot of times, you know, men they don't know how much we juggle, so they

they're expectations of us is way off the chart. And then also to always go into you know, have those tough conversations, you know, ask those questions, those elephant in the room questions, and let's see if the guy wiggles a little bit in his seat, if you don't want to answer the question, then there might be an issue there out when you when you know, when you know, I'm I'm like when you're getting your fifty ain't saying you in your fifties now? Still okay? Well, I'm saying

like I know that I'm in my fifties. And if I'm not sayingle but if I was dating the first one of the first questions, I'm saying, what is in your cabinet? What kind of medicine you got up in your absolutely because you know what like, because I'm in wellness and fitness, you know, like across the board, health and wellness as is at a state of emergency. You know what I'm saying, Your mental health supersedes everything else. Working out in nutrition is a bride product of your

mental health because everything is a mindset. And if you don't eat well and you don't talk to your mind, well you're not gonna treat the people around you well, you know, and so and that medication too in the cabinet impacts your mental health from what you're dealing with. Don't don't dig yourself in the hole in this relationship only to find out she ain't gonna be around for

a couple of years. Now. You need to know that upfront, right, And then I don't want to go to bed thinking that I might not wait up to you in the morning because of your health issues. You know, that's not a that's not a comfortable space to be in because a whole lot of people ain't take care of self. Health is wealth. Health is wealth, right, Absolutely, we know that living now. So also to not to get lost

in the sauce. Don't get lost in your children, you know, don't let them take over because we teach everybody, including our kids, how to treat us. And kids are sharp, they're sponges. So if they see that they can get away with ABC X y Z and that you just go for the oaky dog, they will run over you. Will. They will the boundaries setting, you know, boundaries for yourself, for your children, and for whomever you're dating. Yeah, it's

easy to get lost in yourself. Um. You know, I've known people at times I've you know, that was my safe haven. Um years ago when I was going through something, my solace was the kids and that was the only joy I had When they won't around, I was sad, you know. And I have friends that did the same thing. But um, you know, and you gotta find time for yourself. Oh yes, and that self love, you know, and self love is not selfish. That's what I teach. You know.

I actually have, you know, a campaign that I'm running for self love, and it's embodying self love total transformation. That's that's deveing into the deep parts of yourself, your inner child, you know, those traumas because these kind of things we pass on to our kids, but then we're

passing on into our relationships. And so if we're not tapping into that, then we're just taking this toxic you know, energy and such thing as going into a relationship when you get a certain age without baggage being part of it. Um No, because there's always work as long as we live, there's always work. Now, you can be healed, but then there's still work because look at what's coming at us daily.

You know what I'm saying, we have to constantly, constantly recalibrate, you know, our thinking, our words are energy, going to meditate, praying, you know what I'm saying, taking those long walks, working out whatever that is. You find that thing that's going to bring you joy and set your soul on fire by yourself first. First, by yourself first, because then your children are looking at you, and then they're gonna grow

up doing that, you know. So that's what I committed to, is changing the trajectory of you know, the way that our children are coming up. Yes, yes, well I definitely, I definitely um believe they all star wars. So that's why malikue book spends a lot of time um with outreach doing book fairs with kids at schools. Why because children are one we believe, and we believe we're gonna make this universal change and create a change for the future.

It starts with the youth, you know, so, and to teach them to love themselves and believe in themselves and know that they can achieve anything they want. But they gotta first belief, have confidence, and put their mind to it. But this has been a very very very great conversation about your book and the journey to you on and I'm glad you shared it with my audience on release

book show. And it's anything that you would like to leave the autists before we conclude, I thank you, thank you so much for allowing me to have my books here and I just want to leave this space for both men and women. Take care of you first before you start to get into any type of relationship. And if you have children, make sure they come first before

the person that you decide to be with. You know, marriage is good and great, but do we need companionship, No, we want it, but our companionship and our relationship is with self first, so that we can add value to our children, add value to our future. Made absolutely well. Thank you and for sharing your ideas about in your book, your wonderful book that is blessing to all of us. Thank you again and I hope to help you sell

a million of them. Let's go, thank you, Thank thank you today my guests, as a young lady that's near and dear to me, someone that special to me, someone that I know like the back of my hand, someone that actually has the relationship with me. Her name is Mecca Mohammed, my daughter, so I'm gonna ask her about a subject matter. This is all about what Malik's Bookshelf represents, which is books. Mecca, Welcome to Malik's Bookshelf. Thank you. I put it on the spot. I think sometimes that's

how you get the best interviews. You know, she was sitting here, sitting on the couch and reading. I said, you know what, I'm gonna come over here and interview Maca Mohammed and feature her on a segment on Malik's Bookshelf that brings a world together with books, culture and community. Mecca, why do you love reading? I like to read because it helps, It helps you learn about the world, and it gives you a great imagination. Absolutely, I think that's

so important to having an imagination. What would the world be like without imagining? You know, everything is? You know, did we imagine? We can bring forth? That's why creativity come from. And books they opened a whole new world of opportunity and so forth. And Mecca, what types of books do you like to read? I like to read fantasy and uh fantasy and kind of like manga and chapter books. Basically, Yeah, what's some of your favorite books you read? Um, Blood and Bone and Wrath and Ruin.

So and why would those why those books your favorite book? They're my favorite because I can understand them better than I can't understand can understand the rest of the Yeah, like they helped the fantasy book. Yeah, they're fantasy, and I it's closer to my age group. So it in order to what is your age group? Um, fourteen and around that? Okay, you know preteen? Well now, yeah that's an early teen right and about to start high school. So in the last year, how many books have you read?

Over a hundred? And doing your birthday you ended or special holiday? You always asked for books? Um, you've asked for what the Harry Potter series? Yeah, I have. Did you read the whole series? Yeah? Yeah, she did reduce there you know. Um what other series did you ask for us to get for your birthday or special occasion? Um? I've asks for Well, I don't always ask for series books. I asked for independent books also, like like oh a series I know Percy Jackson, I asked for that series.

You read the whole series? Correct, I read all of his authors. But the thing is that you go back and read it to three times again. Well, I like to reread it because you get something new each time you read it, and sometimes you might accidentally miss something, and if you reread it again, like I said, you understand it better. But here's the thing. You've read a hundred books within the last year. Yeah, that's amazing. Most

people don't read a book a month. When you think about that, Um, I think I'm doing it, doing extremely good. I'll say this, Um, I know one series, you read the whole series and you read it more than once. Is the I um number four is have to the name of the series? Yeah, yeah, I read that too, right right, right right? She learned about I'm number seven, I'm number six, And you know they all had special powers and abilities. They were aliens that caname the earth.

And you read the whole series and in between monks, you know that you know them in between books. Those are the books that they right in between a story. You know when they say book one, book two or just that has you know this is some things that

happened in between, like the tiny details. Yeah, mysteries and missions and stuff they have to go on in order to be who they are in the book, right and you I mean all these methyls like Percy all the methylogical and Greek and and you know meta thorns and all that stuff. You know that that could be some difficult reading. It's not difficult reading to you know. I'm kind of gotten used to it. Um, since I read

a lot of Rick Roordon's books. Um, I have every single I have every single right your bookshelves to right above your bid. We built them on the wall the house, all these books. On top of that, another series I think you read was have you read all the Twilight books too? Yeah? I have them. Some thick books too, like no acally, those are the ones that pull in. I don't read some, but no you don't. You don't. In fact um, Sometimes when I'm at the store and

people say, hey, can you recommend the books? I show him a book right here that's too thick. No, that's gonna run them away. Books don't run you away duty. No. Yeah, when it's a you know, it's a joy when you see you the read because you know everyone doesn't like to read, and it's just a wonderful joy when I see you know, our door to reading books. Um, you know, we don't have to twist the arm and we don't have to force her. Is something that she just does on her own all the time. And I have no

problem on any book you want. And my thing is, look, um, we want you to read the things you enjoy to read. Sometimes I might not have some books on the shelf that she liked to read, and we have to go out and by books that are you know, available on the market that went on necessarily have the store. So it doesn't matter to me. My thing is, you know, you need to read some enjoy what you're reading, and continue. You know, some youth they like you like graphic novel

because you mentioned manga. Yeah novels too, I like, Um, I read a little bit of both. Yes, well you kind of turned us onto this this crave, this new Manica, c these teams loving these graphic knowledge and mom with these Japanese books or whatever you ad um. You know, we eventually went out and as a result, my daughter

curvated Meca, curvated the Maka selection at Malite Books. Tell us about that, well, that's just because of all like, somebody introduced me to somebody introduced me to manga um and I started to take a liking to and I tell my parents about it, so they gave me my own area, and that's what I decided to do with it. Belie Bull. She's in charge of the manga. You know, I got enough John reason I'm dealing with. She is the one that supposed to stock the shells and order

the books for the Margat series and what happen. She knows what's hot and was not so Um that responsibility falls on Metha Mohammed. And but we do have some a few. We don't have a whole lot, but we have them at Meligue Books. And the kids, they and the teens they come in and they and they look for them, you know. They it's a big it's a big explosive genurey, these graphic novels, particularly manga. Um. I have a son, a zaire Um. He likes more graphic novels,

so I out and get him graphic. Now. You know, we want to upset books in front of the our children and our teens and our youth and our young adults. Did they want to read? You know, I can't. You know, I can force to read something, but the most important thing is that she reads something that she wants to, that she enjoys. That's my point. So is anything else you would like for all the young people out there who are struggling to read or who love to read.

You want to say anything of encouragement to them? UM, I just have to say, take your time. It takes time to find what you really like. UM, always try new things and you can do it. I love it, I love it. I love there you go, Mecca Mohammed, thank you for sharing with us my audience at Malie Bull shut your your thoughts about reading and uh and your story. Thank you. My book review for this segment for episode seven. It's a book I came across. It

was uncorrected, proof for limited distribution. But I was blown away because this is the kind of thing that I really think can impact change in our community. So I had to do a book review on this book. And the book entitle was called Build the D Thing. That's d a M. You know what I'm saying, Build the D Thing. You know, I don't think damn it is a bad word, but it's called build the damn Thing. I don't think damn it is a bad word, but

somebody think it is. But it's a book about how to start a successful business if you're not a rich white guy. That's right How to start a successful business. This book just blew me away. Build the Damn Thing is a hard one, battle tested guy for every entrepreneurs

who the establishment has left out. Um. Katherine Finney, an investor in Startup Champion, explains how to build a business from the ground up, beginning from developing a business plan to finding investors, growing the team, and reinforcing the products. Finney empowers entrepreneurs to take advantage of their unique networks and resources, arm readers with responses to investors who like your pitch but still does not want to invest in your product or your idea. Katherine Finney points out that

the level playing field is not the same. There is advantages and disadvantage depending on this group or that group. But the reality is this that you still can build the damn thing, that you still can overcome the obstacles of it in your way. So what the level playing field and the entitlements are in favor of a different group? So what build the damn Thing? Some of the contexts in the book Get Your Mind Right Your Personal Success Toolbox Squad goes how to build an amazing team and

get int the bag. How to get the money you need to grow your business. So these are some of the contest is in the book. It's a revolutionary did it just helps you to build and start your own business, your own successful business. Build the damn thing. How to Start a successful business if You're not a rich White guy by Katherine Finney. Pick up your copy. It's a great book. It's a timely book and no more excuses. Thanks for listening to Leak's Bookshow where topics on the show,

our books, culture and community. Be shore to subscribe and leave me a review. Check out my Instagram at Malik Books. See you next time.