The Mamba Mentality

a learning experience. And like anything in life, you learn on the job, you experience as the best teacher. And so I started and in my mind I said to myself, every week, I got to get better at this. Every week I need to learn more about this because that's just how life is. So we started on episode one. Eventually we found the format. What I like to talk about is books, culture and community, and I try to bring a collection of interviews about the community, interviews about

books and interviews about culture. Now, this episode number twelve my inspiration and that's what I realized I really wanted to add to my episodes is inspiration. So the inspiration for this episode it's called you are what you think? Now wise, inspiration important to me is because we we have to motivate each other. You know, human beings, we interrant and we feed on our energies. We help each other give me spirit is a receiving spirit. A lot of things I've had, I've gotten came because I gave

and then I received. And I just think that, you know, as a motivating force, that it's very important and passionate to me. So that's why I said I wanted to do at that inspirational part of my podcast, Melik's Bookshelf. Now this particular episode, it's already stated that my inspiration as you are what you think. Now my interview, my book interview for this episode is a young lady and

and here's the thing is that inspiration inspiration. You know, we have a lot of self published authors that come to Malik Books and their voice is not always magnified. And I always like to say, at Malak Books we give voice to the voiceless. So I got the feature a self published independent author Time of Faith, collaborated with sixteen other women to put a beautiful book out called Let the Women Speak. So I'm gonna be interviewing her.

Also on this episode is an interview I did with and general by the name of Robert Foster, who is the CFO of the American Tennis Association, and it was fascinating and I learned something from our interview in conversation. Also, my book review for this episode is Kobe Bryant The Mama Mentality. I know we're still suffering from and mourning from the loss of our legendary Kobe Bryant, but I thought that his book during this time of the year in February would be an excellent book to do a

book review. So stay tuned for episode twelve, The Mama Mentality. Robert Foster, your position at the American Association is once again the treasurer and chief and to law officer. And he just came into Malik Books and told me that which educated me that this is the oldest association Black associates, national sports organization in the United States. And if you want to know something more interesting, Howard University's first that what what a Dean of Women was by Lucy dick Slow.

Now they just put a street on the campus of Howard. They just dedicated street to her name. She was the first winner female winner of of of our our first tournament in in to the nineteen seventeen. Associations started in the six but the first tournament was in Druid Hill Park in Baltimore, and all of the various clubs around the country black clubs because we could not we couldn't play. The Nited States Lawn and Tennis Association at that time

didn't allow blacks. So you had some doctors, lawyers, plumbers put their money together, got this association to link all of these these these clubs around the country, these black clubs, and the forties they got to be about a hundred forty five clubs, National National Negroes. And by y'all becoming an association, working together collectively and unify, you open up

some doors. Not only that you open up doors, but you It is probably one of the few family recreational activities outside of golf that a full family can do the rest of your life. And that's the beautiful thing man, Because it talked about discipline, good will, sportsmanship. You don't go pushing somebody off in the chest when you when

you don't, you get a bad call. You have to realize what they call now emotional intelligence, what we used to call is manners Okay, okay, emotional intelligence that's what they're calling now, Matt. But it's in our arena, is at home, is manners, that's right, right, because of switch when your emotional telligent ain't right, And that's good character build, that's right, and that and that's the one good thing. And it's about problem solving out there on that court,

Yes it is. So you have to realize it's more than your skilled that's right. It's high intelligence involved in right. And so this is what we're trying to not only promote the game, but to build character and our kids. Well, thank you, thank you, thank you appreciate it. Thanks for giving me a little background on Merkan Tennis Association. Yeah, the American Block Tennis Association whatever, we were the first.

That's what community has all been about, the burst and inclusion even then because we were like anybody can come play with us. Yeah. Yeah, it was the term meritocracy. Whoever, whoever did the best, we don't care, Come and get our trophy, Come and get him. I appreciate I learned something today, and this is what community is all about. You know, you never know what doors and what who helped open up doors in this country that's right in sports.

Appreciate thank you, Okay, appreciate you. And you just heard some viable and important community information. This helped shape shift this country and lands, you know in a way to open up doors. From Robert Foster who walked into Maleak books and it gave me some tidbits that I can put on the Leek's bookshell. Thank you Robert. My book interview for this episode is an icon. Is a legend, is beloved not only here in Los Angeles, but world Why the name of the book Kobe Bryant The Mama

Mentality How Play. This book is about the mentality of Kobe Bryant, a legend, a beloved human being. Kobe Bryant had a strong mind and his game was a symbol of just how mentally how strong he was. Kobe Bryant is Black history. Kobe Blind is a legend. Kobe Bryant is one of the greatest basketball players of all time.

In this book, Kobe Bryant the Mamba mentality, How I Play is a reflection of his mind, of his game, of his soul, of his being and this is why he was great and he gives all types of insight in this book on how he played his game and how he played it against like a Michael Jordan's or many of the other top rated players in the NBA. So it has all a little tidbits in here about you know, the mindset of Kobe. This book is blutifully illustrated.

The pictures and photographs in this book was by Andrew Bernstein, a great photographer. The introduction in this book is by Phil Jackson, one of the greatest coaches of all time in the NBA. This is a beautifully illustrated book. You want to put this book on your coffee table. Talks about how he brais down players, how he plays against players, and how he developed his game based upon what team he's going against, what players he's going against, and he

talks about his defense, his offense. So he wanted to share his mentality in this book and as a big as a big piece of kobe soul and being. And he tragically he left us and we all mourned and we all suffered a great loss. But the year before he left, this book, Kobe Bryant, the Mamba mentality how

I played came out. Kobe Bryant is Black history. Kobe Bryant is Black history, and is Kobe Bryant is the type of human being in person that we need to learn from and we need to continue to honor because he gave us a lot of joy, and he gave us a standard of greatness that we all can pursue, because in life, you want to pursue your success and your greatness, and sometimes you have to model yourself after those who who came before you so you can learn.

He's a mentor, he's a father, he's a great basketball player, but most importantly, he was a great human being. And so if you want a part of Kobe Bryant, you need to get the Mama mentality. How I played by Kobe Bryant. So that's my book review for this episode. You got this wonderful new book, let the Woman speak by Time of Faith. Well, one thing I know about you always got that wonderful smile, You have that wonderful energy, and and I can't think of anything that this book

would be different. So let me tell my audience on the Leak's bookshelf, tell me what is this book on the bottom. So this is essentially about when, like pretty much wounds that have happened in our lives and turning them into wisdom for this generation to learn and how to use their wounds and to see, look, even though it happened, it happened for my good and how to turn everything around, how to turn everything? Absolutely? Okay, would inspired you write this one? Because see the first one

you wrote? What was the title of that book, sweet and Stupid? Yeah, that was a book of poetry, right, yes? And so is this a little different? This is completely different. Yeah, it's completely different. So this is actually an anthology, So it is a collection of different stories. I'm the youngest of twelve authors that all came together and we bring our own stories to the table and our different wounds and how we use those wounds for wisdom. Absolutely, And

so what's the common denominator between the twelve? A common denominator? Um would be taking our place. What does it look like now to be in two thousand and twenty two as a woman of faith and all of our experience is coming together and saying what makes me powerful? What makes me um unique? What makes my voice matter? And that is the common denominator? Okay, Other than in fact y'all twelve women? Yeah, I think twelve was a sacred number you know twelve. You know twelve hours didn't make

AM twelve hours to make PM. You know that twelve nights of the round Taylor right, twelve on o'clock. All right, So I think great number twelve of y'all coming together to create this masterpiece. Let the woman speak, So you are would you consider yourself that the editor and creator of the book be since it's eleven of the authors, so I am not the sole creator. Nikki Price actually came together and brought all the women together for this wonderful piece. I am a piece of the piece of

the whole. What a major piece. So when you put together this book signing, you're gonna involve twelve, you're all going to be there. They're all across the world everywhere, okay, but I want to say they We're actually having a conference in Florida in the summer, so it'll be that attempt to get everyone together. I definitely have plans. Why did y'all all connected met our author? Coach? Nicky Price actually worked on She actually worked on my last book

with me. She was my mother, my coach, and so she has different clients that have she's worked with them in their different endeavors with books and things like that. So she made a mass invite and all the ones that wanted to really become acome a part of this one that extra special tug. That's how she made that this So she was kind of the glue. They brought everybody together. And so in this book, um, the readers

can hear stories about all over the women. Yeah, and what you have experienced in your life and uh and your outlook on life. Yes, okay, And now I have one more question. Um, you know this is my podcast called Leek's Bookshow, bringing the world together with books, culture and community. But I want to know what is on your bookshop. I know what's on my bookshelw but I need to know what's on your bookshow. Yes, on my book self. Absolutely, it's gonna be the Bible. Yes, he

gives me saying to keep me home. That one, Um debt Free by Anthony O'Neil, that's my book. I actually just got emilic books alright, thank you? Yes, yes, and then Free Feeding the Soul is also on my bookshop. The y that's a blockbuster books she put out, you know, inspiring a lot of women, a lot of men. When you get sales and blow up like she done. You know I did a book review on her. Yeah, I think that was I think my very first episode. I did Feed in the Soul because it's my business. By

top of the Brown. That was my first book review. So thank you, thank you, timer appreciate and so a million of them. That's the thank you, thank you. This week's episode inspiration is you are what you think. You are what you think you know. It's a great book that was written years ago. I believe his name was James Island and the book, this book that was written

years ago was called as a Man Thinking Now. It's an easy read, it's a short read, but it's a very powerful book because as a man thinking, so is he. You are what you think. You are the sum total of all the decisions that you've made in your life. All we do as we live. We make decisions and judgments every day and that is the sum total of our life. But it's a reflection of how we think. If you know the thoughts of a person, you can actually predict their actions because you are what you think.

And if you want to change your projection or your direction, you have to change the way you You have to change debate that is on your hook, because that's what is. It is what you are attracting, and that's what you are trying to catch. And so here's the thing. Change your thoughts, change your life. Change your thoughts, change your life. You are what you think, and as simple as that, change your thinking. I'm not saying that is not a challenge.

I'm not saying that it comes not gonna come with hardship, because habits are real and we formed them in every aspect of our life. But in order to fight whatever it is in front of you just keeping you from your goal and your vision, you gotta change the way you think. If you don't like where you're at right now in your life, if you don't like the way things are going in here, like let me tell you something,

start with just changing the way you think. If you don't like the issues that's going on in your relationship, change the way you think. Thinking is human and we are thinking human beings. But the way we think is how we act. We are what we think, and so it the way you're thinking is what you're attracting, and it's how you're gonna live your life. And that's just the reality. And so if you want better, if you want different, and if you want to change, change your thoughts,

change the way you think. And so that's my inspiration for this segment this episode this week. You are what you think, so start there. Thanks for listening to me Leek's Bookshelf with topics on the shelf, our books, culture, and community. Be sure to subscribe and leave me a review. Check out my instagram at blik books. See you next time.