So, you think you’re a young boss and have what it takes to lead? You want to be self-sufficient, help change the world, or build a profitable empire?
From hip-hop mogul Jay Z to marketing entrepreneur Tina Wells to the nations top man President Barack Obama, leaders pave their own paths and offer unique skills, talents and perspectives to change circumstances, lives, and history.
Take our fun leadership quiz to find out if you fit the bill. Choose the answer that best fits you to find out your boss profile is. You can determine today how to maximize your talents to achieve ultimate success:
A.) I have a way with lyrics and am musically inclined.
B.) I inspire change on a nationwide and international scale.
C.) I have a strong, tell-it-like-it-is opinion; I’m candid whether people like it or not.
D.)Â I work well with siblings and love to be fashionably enterprising.
E.)Â I could someday take home an Olympic medal for my country.
F.)Â I use youth as an advantage in pursuing success.
A.) I have a hustle mentality and am always thinking of different ways to make money.
B.) I aspire to move and shake with who’s who of Capitol Hill.
C.) My leadership involves a spiritual calling and is more likely to have a spiritual aspect.
D.) I’m not afraid of the paparazzi lens, and reality TV could be a lucrative part of my brand.
E.) I’m a record breaker; I not only strive to be good but to top the best.
F.) I always know what’s hot among my young peers.
A.) I’m known for my street-smart business acumen.
B.) I love law and politics and can take political heat.
C.) I’m community focused, and much of my work is grassroots.
D.) Business savvy and creativity runs in my family, and I’m the next chapter.
E.) I like to push my mind and body to see ultimate results.
F.) Age ain’t nothing but a number when it comes to making boss moves.
A.) My brand can grow from artist to label head.
B.) I’m not afraid to make history as a first in my industry.
C.) I am the voice of the people; When there’s injustice, I’m the one to speak on it.
D.) I’m a young free spirit who works hard and plays hard.
E.) I’m most challenged and satisfied in physical or sports activities.
F.) I’ve been thinking and moving like a boss since my teenage years.
Mostly A’s: Savvy Hustler, You Are Jay Z
From the Brooklyn streets to the C-suite, Shawn “Jay Z” Carter took the hustle straight to the top of the ranks in the music business. The lyricist, songwriter, producer, and entrepreneur had a net worth of more than $45o million in 2011. Carter’s business portfolio stretches from entertainment to fashion: co-founder of Roc-A-Fella Records; co-creator of Rocawear clothing; founder of Web community Roc Nation; co-owner of 40/40 clubs in New York and Atlantic City, N.J.; and part-owner of the NBA’s Brooklyn Nets.
A savvy hustler like Shawn Carter thrives in environments where they can be creative. They are constantly thinking of ways to monetize what they offer the world. They know how to align their brand with all that encompasses the audience or consumer they cater to. They have the gift of gab and know how to network and mingle with others who can help advance their careers, whether it’s the average Joe or billionaire Warren Buffet. They incorporate both street smarts and business skills either learned in work practice or higher education. They’re constantly on the move and on to the next enterprise.
Mostly B’s: Political Powerhouse, You Are President Barack Obama
Talk about a game-changer. President Barack Obama took his grassroots efforts as a civil rights attorney in Chicago straight to a successful run for president, etching in stone his place in history. Under this Nobel Peace Prize laureate’s leadership, the U.S. saw many advancements including the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009; the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010 (in response to the late 2000s recession); the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Repeal Act of 2010; and the Budget Control Act of 2011. He made more history in May 2012, becoming the first sitting U.S. president to openly support legalizing same-sex marriage. And in another landmark accomplishment, his presidency facilitated an end to the Iraqi War and the death of Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.
A political powerhouse
like Obama can take pressure with authoritative calm. They don’t mind taking on immense responsibility and feel a strong obligation to help improve the lives of people in their communities. They are charismatic, know a thing or two about law and are family-oriented. They know the important of a team and protect their reputations and brands fiercely. They hold an active seat at the political table, whether it’s campaigning for local, government or federal positions. They can motivate teams and initiate positive change.
Mostly Cs: Radical Community Servant, You Are Al Sharpton
One can’t mention civil rights and activism without mentioning the Rev. Al Sharpton. With more than three decades working as a spiritual adviser, public speaker, protestor, media pundit, and community advocate, Sharpton has been the go-to guy for pushing for justice in many contemporary racially-charged tragedies. From pushing for a special prosecution in the case of three black men murdered in Howard Beach in 1986 to aiding to get public awareness and criminal investigation in the highly publicized police brutality cases of Amadou Diallo and Sean Bell, Sharpton has always served, while facing much criticism, as the voice of everyday people who find their cries for justice ignored. The host of his own show, MSNBC’s PoliticsNation, Sharpton has offered his passionate and engaging insights on politics, community issues and racial inequality on NBC, CNN and Fox News.
A radical community servant like Sharpton walks their own path and has a tell-it-like-it-is approach. They are not afraid to stand for what they believe in, even if it’s not majority opinion. They have a fierce passion for justice and protecting the underserved. They actively build relationships and make their presence known in communities, and may even be led by a “higher calling.” They are great orators and make moves to establish themselves as key social influencer.
Mostly Ds: Fab Fashionpreneur, You Are Angela Simmons
Angela Simmons knows a thing or two about hard work and leadership, having grown up as the daughter of Joseph “Rev. Run” Simmons of powerhouse hip-hop trio Run DMC and niece of music mogul Russell Simmons. Her father and his groupmates changed the landscape of music with their hip-hop hits and style, and her uncle put urban and hip-hop culture on the mainstream
map after co-founding Def Jam Records and fashion line Phat Farm. When Simmons took the baton, she went on to make her own mark on pop culture and fashion as co-founder of Pastry Footwear with her sister, turning one shoe line into a multi-million-dollar fashion brand and expanding her portfolio into reality TV and commercial endorsements with companies including Indique Hair.A fab fashionpreneur like Simmons knows how to tap into resources right in their backyard, gaining inspiration from family, friends and peers. They focus first on passions that are inbred and seek ways to make money from using those passions. They know that just because they come from success and wealth, they’re not guaranteed success of their own unless they do their own work and offer their own unique service to the market. They work hard and play hard, and use youth to their advantage, building their empires early, bit by bit and piece by piece. They recognize the importance of education, being on the scene (and highly active on social media) and using fame for positive advancement and strategic networking.
Mostly E’s: Sports Phenom, You Are Janet Cherobon-Bawcom
This Kenyan-born marathon runner has beat records, had eight NCAA All-American titles, three Division II national championship wins to her name, and has also won three U.S. national road championships. The humble athlete went from an unknown who ran marathons for fun to becoming a front-runner to watch on this year’s U.S. Olympics team.
In training her body and mind for the utmost in stamina, strength and endurance, Bawcom has earned a place in the top ranks of runners and will compete against the best of the best in July in London.
Sports phenoms like Cherobon-Bawcom are oftentimes determined, disciplined and strategic, pushing their bodies and minds to the limit to achieve their ultimate goals. They lead with patience and skill, can think fast under pressure and train their minds and bodies to sustain power, energy and fierceness in competitions that can be more about big-picture goals, not short-term wins. Oftentimes the road to success is not a sprint, but one that encompasses unyielding sacrifice and gradual progress. They lead healthy lifestyles that support strength in mind, body and spirit, and they make those things a top priority. They understand how those elements are directly linked to their holistic success.
Mostly F’s: Entrepreneurial Prodigy, You Are Tina Wells
This young innovator started her journey into entrepreneurship at age 16, writing product reviews for a newspaper. Her gift for being on the pulse of consumer trends and needs would soon be used to start her multi-million-dollar business, Buzz Marketing Group. Never thinking her skills for knowing what’s hot among her young peers would turn into an enterprise, Wells and her team expanded her company to serve fashion, media and entertainment industry clients including American Eagle, Reebok, Time Inc., and Nike, providing all they need to know about the youth consumer and what young generations consider attractive and in-demand.
She’s gone on to become a major influencer and expert on marketing and consumer trends, with widespread media exposure, awards and even serving as an instructor for BlackEnterprise.com’s Small Business University (SBU), a free online video course offering expert advice to entrepreneurs looking to start and grow profitable small businesses.
Entrepreneurial prodigies don’t let age hinder them from chasing their dreams and are go-getters practically from birth. They are not shy about their opinions, passions and skills, and they know how to gather support from mentors and investors who can contribute to their future success. They stay abreast of the latest news, issues and trends that affect Generation Y and they tap into their peers for support and career advancement. They are not afraid of change, nor are they afraid of failure. They build dream teams composed of other young leaders who will someday lead major companies — or companies of their own — into a new world of innovation and forward movement. They are not intimidated by senior professionals or seasoned businesspeople, however they recognize the value of wisdom and longevity and seek to learn from them.