13A – Reading Reflection No. 1

13A – Reading Reflection No. 1

I chose To Be Loved: The Music, The Magic, The Memories of Motown by Berry Gordy. I’m not sure what I was expecting from this autobiography. I think what surprised me the most was how raw it was. Mr. Gordy shared every detail with us. He didn’t hold back or try to paint himself in a better light. He shared the good, the bad and the ugly. Mr. Gordy admitted his mistakes such as financial mismanagement to infidelities. Nothing was left off the table in the autobiography. At first, I read it for the assignment; then, I began to read it out of enjoyment.

I admired his drive and motivation the most. When one door shut, Mr. Gordy wasn’t afraid to keep pursuing his dream. He wanted success and he pushed for it. He convinced those around him he was worth the time and effort. Everyone gravitated towards him because his drive and motivation were contagious.

I least admired his inability to remain committed to his second wife, Ray. She was a rock for him and his inability to see that drove them apart. He was infatuated with the idea of being wanted by Margaret, a woman who was toxic.

Mr. Gordy encountered adversity and failure all throughout his life. From his failed boxing career to his first failed record store. He lost artists, money and his family. Mr. Gordy was resilient through it all. He bounced back each time more determined for success.

I believe that Mr. Gordy was aware of his vision. Each time he encountered a failure he revised it and made it better. He was strong in his beliefs and desires to achieve success, not only for himself but for those around him.

I will say that the most confusing part of the reading was how it bounced back and forth between the past and the present. After a while, I was able to grasp when he was speaking of the past.

If I was able to ask Mr. Gordy two questions, I would ask where did he find his determination and how could he remain so resilient in the face of adversity. I would ask these two questions because no matter what the outcome was, he overcame. It’s important to know what fuels a person’s determination. As much as he encountered, I would desire to know what kept him going, how could he remain so resilient with so much going wrong.

I think Mr. Gordy’s opinion of hard work is even when the odds are stacked against you don’t give in to what’s easy or comfortable. I would say he’d say meet the challenge head on, work harder and think harder than anyone else. I do share this opinion. The best way to grow is to remain uncomfortable because comfort breeds complacency. You never want to be complacent. As an entrepreneur, you should constantly be refining your craft and challenging yourself.