Louis Carr - Dirty Little Secrets

DIRTY LITTLE SECRETS

LOUIS CARR

Copyright 2016 by Louis Carr

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means, electric or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without permission in writing from the publisher, except by a reviewer, who may quote brief passages in a review. Published by Seraph Books, LLC.

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www.LouisCarrBook.com

www.LouisCarrFoundation.org

By permission. From Merriam-Websters Collegiate Dictionary, 11th Edition

2016 by Merriam-Webster, Inc. (www.Merriam-Webster.com).

ISBN Paperback: 978-1-941711-18-7

ISBN Hardcover: 978-1-941711-15-6

Library of Congress Control Number: 2016936639

PRINTED AND BOUND IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

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Cover design by Alyssa M. Curry

Copyediting by Alyssa M. Curry

Cover and author photos by Akintayo Adewole for Adewole Photography, www.adewole.com

For information regarding special discounts for bulk purchases of this book for educational, gift purposes, as a charitable donation, or to arrange a speaking event, please visit: www.seraphbooks.com

To my wife, Diane. Thank you so much for your love, patience, and support. What a ride it has been. I look forward to the next thirty years! I love you.

Information has value, which is the reason many people are disinclined to share. Instead, they selfishly protect their experiences and paths to success as though they are patented, dirty little secrets. In essence, they have no desire to offer you the advantage to achieve what they may or may not have.

CONTENTS

FOREWORD

There are great secrets in my longtime friend and former colleagues book Dirty Little Secrets, however certainly not dirty ones. What is in abundance in this book by BETs President of Media Sales, Louis Carr, is page after page of life-affirming wisdom and spiritual inspiration. Most of all, what you will gain from reading this book is an introduction of life lessons that Louis has learned and mastered based on his indomitable intellect, a personal character rooted in faith, and his emotional self-commitment to make peoples lives better.

You will be motivated and inspired by Louis life and his firm belief that the challenges we confront in work and life can be overcome by faith, perseverance, and the pursuit of perfection.

I hired Louis on August 11, 1986, to help me build and lead our advertising sales department at Black Entertainment Television (BET). Little did I know at the time that I had discovered a wunderkind who by his will, determination, and zeal to maximize his God-given talents, was destined to become the most significant contributor, then and now, to the financial success of BET.

This book, Dirty Little Secrets, is Louis way of paying forward enlightened and beneficial knowledge to all who choose to read and immerse themselves in the lessons in this bookand I hope that is everyone.

Louis can best be described as a businessmans humanitarian. After reading his book, you will be inspired and uplifted. I was so inspired, I chose this quote from one of my favorite books, which, for me, defines Louis message: What is a good man, but a bad mans teacher? What is a bad man, but a good mans job? If you dont understand this, you will get lost, however intelligent you are. It is the great secret. Louis Carr has discovered it for you. Please enjoy his wonderful book of secrets for life.

Bob Johnson, Founder

Black Entertainment Television and The RLJ Companies

INTRODUCTION

As we move forward on our individual journey through life, we will encounter numerous goals we want to achieve and then come to the realization that there are tasks we are meant to achieve. Our journey will introduce us to many types of individuals, some of whom will impact our life in the most profound way, selflessly pouring insights into us. These are the individuals who will teach us our most valuable lessons. Some of those lessons we may understand as they unfold, while others are certain to take time. However, when we pause to give reflection to our achievements, it will become transparent we gained the proper appreciation and wisdom during our journey.

I began my life never feeling there was anything special about me. I didnt believe I possessed any particular qualities to make me somewhat different from those around me. But for some reason, people who were close to me always perceived there to be something more in me than what I saw in myself. As time went on, others often acknowledged that same perspective; causing me to accept there was something worth cultivating that could prove them right. Believing that special something would become discernible when it was time, I had to be willing to take my journey with faith.

Although that revelation didnt occur until I was a sophomore in high school, Ive known for many years that where I am in life was always a part of my destiny. Once I accepted that I had something special, it began to manifest inside of me. There is something special waiting for you to acknowledge in your life so that you can take action. The only way you will reach your destiny is to stay the course, regardless of the challenges that may come.

Information has value, which is the reason many people are disinclined to share. Instead, they selfishly protect their experiences and paths to success as though they are patented, dirty little secrets. In essence, they have no desire to offer you the advantage to achieve what they may or may not have. Unfortunately, you will meet people who prefer that you encounter the same struggles theyve endured. However, it is my intent to share the lessons that have helped me excel in business and my personal life. Some are rarely spoken of, yet they are relatable and critical aspects that will assist in helping you understand and find the correct path to your destiny, just as I have done. I am not claiming it will be easy, but I am assuring you that with hard work, focus, and a willingness to learn, it can be done.

I consider Dirty Little Secrets as sort of a payment on the debt I owe to everyone who has helped me get here; and that list began when I was a child. It is comprised of parents, relatives, teachers, coaches, neighbors, professors, and anyone in my memory bank that contributed to my personal growth and success.

It was hard for me to understand how people believed I could be better than I thought I could be, but they did. When you are raised in a poor situation, you have the propensity to become a part of that environment, which makes it hard to envision much beyond those invisible barriers. Without vision, its difficult to imagine there is anything more or that you need anything else.