Be relentless in cultivating yourself

To the Editor:

As a young kid growing up on the Gulf Coast of Mobile, Alabama, where the Azalea bushes grow wild, oak trees grow enormous and life stands still during warm summer days, life was filled with hope, joy and childhood adventure. That being said, I truly love my city and want to see my fellow Mobilians thrive in business leadership, economically and professionally. The economy in Mobile has an unemployment rate of 6.2%. The U.S. average is 6.0%. Mobile has seen the job market increase by 1.5% over the last year. Future job growth over the next 10 years is predicted to be 27.2%, which is lower than the U.S. average of 33.5%. The average income of a Mobile resident is $23,509 a year. The U.S. average is $28,555 a year. The median household income of a Mobile resident is $39,241 a year. The U.S. average is $53,482 a year.  Mobile has the potential to be one of the most progressive, most secure and best places to live in the U.S., if you ask me. Let’s be relentless about making this happen.

I ask all of my fellow Mobilians to think about the possibilities if we all became relentless about the cultivation of ourselves. “What do you mean?” you may ask. To cultivate is “to nurture and help grow.” Farmers cultivate crops, fundraising professionals cultivate donors and celebrities cultivate their images. Ultimately, when you cultivate something, you develop it into something greater than it originally was. To be “relentless about the cultivation of you” is an intriguing approach and unique perspective to understanding some of the elements from our past and how they help to shape our personality, our core values and the development, implementation and pursuit of plans for our present and future. These elements are the road signs or markers along the path of our journey that often establish the route we take, and this understanding gives clarity to why several people pursuing the same goal may take distinctly different paths. Each individual path we take can guarantee the bright and healthy future of our beloved city Mobile. So let’s come together for the benefit of securing and guaranteeing our great city the brightest future it deserves.   

Most people, adult men and women, can relate to their hometown as being one of the most secure places in their lives. Why is it that we rejoice and remember those times? Is it that same peace we crave as an adult person? How can we obtain that peace again? Why do we need that peace? Let’s explore, and hopefully, we can gain a complete understanding of that peace we all seek and continue to make Mobile the absolute best and economically secure place to live.

Thaddeus J. Garrett
The Relentless Cultivation of You!
betherelentlessyou.com