Block Standard Network

As a consultant, I receive at least an email a week from a young hustler who says he (or she) wants to be successful but cant because they live in a rural town or a small city. I have one response: bounce. Leave. Pack up the stinkin Lincoln and head out. If you are over the age of 18, there is no reason why you cant change locations within 6 months – especially if you have nothing going on as far as school, relationships, or career. If you have become a big fish in a small pond, its mandatory that you get away. You will get dull, stale, unable to stretch your wings and strengthen your game.
In his book, Unlimited Power : The New Science Of Personal Achievement, the legendary Anthony Robbins says this about your environment:

This is where the cycle of success breeding success and failure breeding failure is played out in the most relentless fashion. The real horror of ghetto life is not the daily frustrations and deprivations. People can overcome those. The real nightmare is the effect the environment has on beliefs and dreams. If all you see is failure, if all you see is despair, its very hard for you to form the internal representations that will foster success.

Now, just because youre in a small town doesn’t mean you cant get your hustle on. While you are plotting your escape to a bigger city, you need to sharpen your skills up in the small town that you live in. If you are planning on “making it” in Atlanta, Dallas, or Los Angeles, then you should be tearing the back out of Appaloosa, Omaha, and Savannah. On the other hand, if you are having trouble building a circle of associates, networking, and making money in Mobile, Alabama, how can you expect to go to New York and survive, let alone succeed? Before you bounce, make sure you have perfected your ability to make your environment work for you.

Here are the top 5 cities in the U.S. for the up and comer:

1. Los Angeles -  The city of Angels, almost 10 million deep, is the home of Hollywood, international shipping, and is arguably the live music capital of the world. No matter who you are and what you get into, you can find a large and supportive community somewhere in the city.

2. Atlanta – I actually grew up in Atlanta, residing there from 1995 until 2005. In that 10 years, the entire city has gone from almost nothing to a black mecca. It is the New York of the south, with new cities within the city being built every so often (like Atlantic Station, which didnt exist a few short years ago). On account of this growth, theres alot of opportunity to be had in the city.

3. Chicago – Voted the Number 1 Best City to Live in, the home of The Players Ball, the birthplace of Avant, Bernie Mac, and Hugh Hefner, the third largest city in the U.S. If you cant ball here, throw in the towel.While youre off you can also check out  the Art Institute, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Chicago International Film Festival and the vibrant theater scene. Warning: Buy a heavy coat as soon as you touch down.

4. Dallas -70 Degree Temperatures year round, a booming underground music scene, and a robust economy means these Texans have money to spend. Never lived there, but everytime I visited, I had a good time.

5. Miami aka the “Magic City” – Home to the most beautiful beaches and women in the world, Miami has always been a great place to visit and live. For the past few decades, Miami has become home to headquarters of major national and international corporations. It’s generally easy to relocate management-level staff and recruit qualified employees, all while having access to national and international cities via the Miami International Airport — the third busiest airport for passengers in the United States.Just make sure you have contacts in the area, as certain parts of the city can be a little rough. You might also consider taking on a mamacita to teach you some basic Spanish!

New York isnt on this list because with so many people flocking to the city, its so much harder to scratch out a niche that you can dominate. A newcomer to certain areas would get picked apart by the armies of stick-up kids that roam the streets, and without contacts in the area, it would take months to get acclimated and oriented.

If you really got get a passport ($54 at the post office) and hit up one of these international power centers:

1. London, United Kingdom – Close enough to American culture to make you feel at home, but far enough from it to make you realize that youre not in Kansas anymore.

2. Tokyo, Japan – This is a city with a swagg all its own, and if you are a music, fashion, or culturally inclined entrepreneur then you will ball. Its clean, low crime, and the clubs in Kabukicho and Roppongi will make you think youre back in America. Club Gas Panic is open so late that they serve breakfast. Seriously.

3. Dakar, Senegal – Despite the fact that its in Senegal, Dakar is an international city. Plus, with Africa becoming a huge emerging Telecommunications economy, you could catch the entrepreneurial wave and cash in.  Warning: If youre not a soccer fan, you would be wise to pretend to be! Ive seen Raiders fans more civilized that people in Demba Diop stadium!

4. Bankok, Thailand – One American Dollar in Thailand is worth 33 of their dollars. You can get 3 course meals for $4. Luxury hotel suites can be had for $44 a night in Bangkok. Gold, textiles, and everything else that you can imagine is ridiculously cheap. Any entrepreneurial minded hustler can get out there, start an import/export business, and be a king.

5. Capetown, South Africa – I have never personally been to Capetown, but the city comes by recommendation from one of my Nigerian associates who has operated there before coming to America. Plus, Capetown was listed as the #27th Best Place to Live by Ask Men

If you you feel like you have outgrown your city, you need to step it up and strike out into the unknown. The education and experience you get from travel cant be found anywhere else, so take my advice -BOUNCE!