40-Year-Old Retiree With $3.6M In Savings Says 3 Books Changed His Life
Robinson was able to retire in Dubai at age 40 after amassing a $3.6 million net worth.
Jamal Robinson is not your typical retiree. The 40-year-old has amassed a $3.6 million net worth.
Last year, Robinson decided to settle down in Dubai after leaving his job as a tech executive in generative AI. He told CNBC’s Make Itabout how he got to quit decades before hitting one’s typical retirement age. His millions remain spread out across savings, investments, and cash on-hand. Now, Robinson lives a debt-free lifestyle that he built on his own terms.
Three books, he said, changed his mindset to reach this goal. First, The Millionaire Next Door by Thomas Stanley, educated him about money management at an early age.
The book taught him that having money should not equate to reckless spending and that millionaires often keep their cash tight. That resolve led Robinson to save up to 90% of his earnings.
Die With Zero by Bill Perkins is helping Robinson heal his own relationship with money. While still viewing himself as a “minimum wage guy” despite his million-dollar net worth, this book has allowed Robinson to open his checkbook for something more meaningful.
His goals include only using 5% of his investment portfolio, totally to $185,000 a year. With these funds, he hopes to travel more and spend on things that further his wellness.
The last book that inspired his money mindset is The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel. It remains his top recommendation for anyone on a financial journey. Housel’s collection of short stories details how psychology influences people’s money habits.
Besides those three books, Robinson encourages people to havin more open conversations about finances to gain new perspectives.
“I would just always ask [financial] questions, and be really deliberate and take advantage of the opportunity of the minds that I had around me that had accomplished more and had been older,” he said.
Alabama’s Phillip Brown Makes History After Elected As 1st Black Chairman Of Jefferson County Republican Party
Brown said the appointment is a “long time coming” after serving for more than 10 years as the Alabama Minority GOP chairman.
ABC 33 40 News reports that the Republican Party of Jefferson County, Alabama, made Phillip Brown a part of history after electing him the first Black chairman.
During his acceptance speech, Brown, who served as the chairman of the Alabama Minority GOP for more than 10 years, said the appointment is a “long time coming” as he expressed optimism about the party’s future and what he would like to do as a leader. “It’s been a long time coming for this milestone in the party’s history. Jefferson County has a tremendous… Black community, and so, this really is a great opportunity for us as the Republican Party to be able to reach out to the Black community,” he said.
“I think a lot of the values and the policies that we support actually is something that not only supports the Black community but also is just good for human beings in general.”
As a leader in his community, Brown called out his party’s shortcomings compared to the Democratic Party, pressing for his colleagues to stand on its policies to make a difference. “The biggest shortcoming that we as a party have had is that we have failed to actively reach out to the Black community and counteract the message that the Democratic Party has labeled us with—the party of old white men,” the retired high school teacher said.
“If we engage people based on what we stand for and our policies, I think it makes a difference; we just got to do it.”
However, his thought process paints a seemingly different picture. In a state where President Donald Trump beat out former Vice President Kamala Harris by a landslide — receiving 64.8% of the vote to Harris’ 34.2% — according to the Birmingham Times, Brown said he wasn’t “surprised” and blamed it on blue party policies that allegedly damaged the Black community. “Our communities, our cities, and our schools are still in disarray after 75 years of supporting Democrats across the board,” he said.
“I think you’re overlooking the fact that there are some people in the Black community who are not just upset anymore—they’re angry.”
He went further into a theory as to why Trump secured some of the Black vote, blaming it on Harris’ record as a California prosecutor. Brown said she locked up “more Black folks than you can imagine,” which isn’t true, as a report from Mercury News found only 45 out of 1,956 marijuana convictions resulted in a state prison sentence.
Despite false rhetoric, Alabama Republican Party Chairman John Wahl praised Brown’s work within the conservative party, saying he is excited to see where things go in Jefferson County. “Phillip Brown’s election is a historic moment for the Jefferson County Republican Party, and it is well deserved. He is one of the hardest-working Republican leaders in our state, and I have no doubt he will bring fresh energy and determination to this role,” Wahl said.
“I look forward to working with him as we continue to advance Republican principles in Jefferson County.”
Former Chicago Bulls All-Star Reggie Theus Improves Basketball Program At Bethune-Cookman University
The two-time NBA all-star has a ton of coaching experience, including a stint as an NBA head coach.
Four years ago, former NBA player Reggie Theus was hired to take over the men’s basketball program for Bethune-Cookman University and has improved the team every year since then.
According to HBCU Gameday, Theus became coach and athletic director before the 2021-22 school year. He led the team to a 7-11 conference record in his first year in the SWAC (Southwestern Athletic Conference) before going 8-10 and 11-7 in the past two seasons.
Right now, the team is 11-5. The worst he can do in the conference is match last season’s win-loss record with two games left
Theus’, who played collegiately at UNLV, was selected in the first round by the Chicago Bulls in 1978. He also played for the Orlando Magic, the Kansas City/Sacramento Kings, the Atlanta Hawks, and the New Jersey Nets in a career that saw him make two All-Star teams and surpass 19,000 points.
He later served as the head coach of the Sacramento Kings and in several coaching roles while with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Theus was an assistant coach at the University of Louisville under Rick Pitino and led the New Mexico State Aggies as a head coach before he was named head coach of California State University, Northridge.
When he was brought on as head coach for Bethune-Cookman, he said, “I’ve had the great fortune of working in both professional and college sports most of my career and being presented the opportunity to lead B-CU’s athletic department is another dream being fulfilled. Becoming part of the family and culture of such a respected HBCU is the chance of a lifetime. I am eager to share my professional sports experiences to take the Wildcats even further. I look forward to every moment of this new role.”
Stephen Curry Gives NBA OG Allen Iverson His Flowers Before Warriors-76ers Game
'He's always been someone that shows so much love and gone out of his way to give me praise and admiration, the same way I had for watching him play,' Curry said.
Golden State Warriors superstar Stephen Curry paid homage to NBA Hall of Famer Allen Iverson (A.I.) before a recent basketball game when his team played against A.I.’s former NBA team, the Philadelphia 76ers.
According to Sports Illustrated, the three-point specialist wore a jacket that recognized the iconic Iverson, also called A.I., before artificial intelligence took over our recent lexicon. The outerwear was a blue varsity jacket with white sleeves, a big red letter ‘A’ where his nickname, “The Answer,” was displayed, and his uniform’s No. 3 on the sleeve.
Although his team lost the game by a score of 126-119, he scored 29 points, grabbed five rebounds, dished out 13 assists, and got one steal. He expressed to reporters his admiration for Iverson after the game. It was previously reported that the sharpshooter and another NBA legend, Shaquille O’Neal, are producing a documentary on Iverson for Prime Video, and he mentioned that while talking to reporters.
“He’s always been someone that shows so much love and gone out of his way to give me praise and admiration, the same way I had for watching him play,” Curry said to the press after the game. “I got to play with him a couple of times before he retired, which is crazy to think back on those experiences. I didn’t get to see him tonight, but being in Philly and all, the iconic career he had here, so showing some love back.”
Morgan State University’s Acrobatics & Tumbling Team Is First To Perform Advanced Move In Competition
The HBCU became the first school to complete the skill during a competition.
Morgan State University may already be known as the first HBCU to have a Division 1 acrobatics and tumbling team. However, the team just earned another first for performing an advanced skill in competition.
When the team’s coach, Regina Smith, first encouraged the athletes to try a two-feet split with a straddle hold, they called her “crazy,” according to The Baltimore Banner. However, members Rayla Buckner and Lauren Perkins decided to at least practice the skill never-before-completed at a competition. The routine features Perkins holding Buckner overhead, performing a handstand ahead of Perkins entering a split.
While it took a month of training, they felt comfortable enough to perform the skill during their Feb. 2 meet. The history-making move garnered attention from sports enthusiasts and onlookers alike. It has racked up over 1.2 million likes on TikTok after ESPN reposted the footage.
Smith, got the idea from another school’s submission. Believing her team could accomplish it, too, she consulted with strength and conditioning staff at the Baltimore HBCU about a potential duo on their roster. With Perkins and Buckner up for the task, the team knew they had a chance to make history.
“We knew that it was an opportunity to be the first ones to say they ever did it, and to have two Black girls do it, I mean, why not,” explained Smith to the news outlet.
“It’s not for me, it’s for Morgan State to have that under their name and for these young athletes to have that in the history books.”
Bucker and Perkins had to work on their flexibility and physical capability to ace the move safely. Buckner began more hip flexor strength exercises, while her partner included hamstring physical therapy. The dedication paid off, despite the women athletes making it look easy, according to some comments.
Smith added, “I hope people see that we are more than just that split, but we embody a whole other level of Black girl magic.”
Morgan State is only one of 13 schools to have a Division I acrobatics and tumbling team. The sport incorporates elements from both artistic gymnastics and competitive cheerleading.
The team is hoping for a winning season as well, in addition to more supporters at their meets. Their next meet is against Presbyterian College on Mar. 9.
Goodr Opens Another Free Grocery Store For Students At Metro Atlanta High School
Martin Luther King Jr. High School will host Dekalb County's first free grocery.
Goodr, a company focused on hunger relief and food sustainability, has opened a free grocery store for students and families at a Metro Atlanta High School.
Martin Luther King Jr. High School is now home to the first free grocery in Dekalb County. With 1,400 students enrolled, quite a few have seen the impacts of food insecurity at home.
“It’s actually a really sad thing to see,” shared an 11th Grader, Alex Pandy, to WSB-TV.
Known as the “Lion’s Den Grocery,” after the school’s mascot, the store will serve between 25 to 50 families. According to school administrators, they aim to grow that number in due time.
The store will not only stock packaged or canned goods typically found in a food pantry, but also fresh produce and meats for other meal options. The school and Goodr hosted an official grand opening for the Lion’s Den on the final day of Black History Month.
“Atlanta is more than just our hometown—it’s the heart of our mission,” wrote Goodr in the caption. ” Expanding our reach to more students and families in school districts across the city is at the core of everything we do. As Dr. King once said, ‘The time is always right to do what is right.'”
The caption added “Today, we honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and all of our Black history heroes by ensuring that no child has to struggle with hunger in yet another school. The Lion’s Den Grocery Store is officially open for business! #DoGoodr“
The idea came into fruition through a partnership with the local city of Stonecrest and Goodr.
They work with families to address these food-related needs and source the items, eliminating the financial stress of the typical grocery store. The city’s mayor, Jazzmin Cobble, believes that the partnership will allow students to focus on school.
“One thing we wanted to do to support our students was make sure the distractions in the classrooms are alleviated, one of which is hunger,” shared the city official.
Pandy also believes this store “bridges the gap” for students with academic potential that are suffering from food insecurity.
“They don’t have to worry about that anymore. It’s not a distraction, like, ‘Hey, I don’t know what I’m gonna eat tonight, or where,’” explained the student. “This bridges that gap.”
Students will be able to stock up on essential breakfast snacks, from granola bars to toaster strudel, as well as frozen meals like hot pocket sandwiches and chicken pot pies. The store also has premium options such as almond milk and impossible chicken nuggets, a plant-based alternative to the protein.
Mia Love, First Black Republican Congresswoman, Aggressive Brain Cancer Prognosis Worsens
Love was diagnosed with glioblastoma brain cancer, also known as GBM, in 2022.
Mia Love’s, the first Black Republican congresswoman, battle with brain cancer has just worsened.
Her daughter, Abigale Love, shared the sobering update to her mother’s X account. While focusing on enjoying their “remaining time” with the matriarch, Abigale also asked people to send any photos or memories of Love for a special archive. According to CNN, the 49-year-old was first diagnosed with glioblastoma brain cancer, also known as GBM, in 2022.
Hello Friends, I’m Mia’s daughter Abigale. Many of you are aware that Mom has been fighting GBM brain cancer. Sadly her cancer is no longer responding to treatment and the cancer is progressing. We have a shifted our focus from treatment to enjoying our remaining time with her. I… pic.twitter.com/xlJfSC3IX7
“Sadly her cancer is no longer responding to treatment and the cancer is progressing,” wrote Abigale in the post. “We have shifted our focus from treatment to enjoying our remaining time with her. I am building an archive of special memories with Mia. Please send your pictures, videos and memories to me at MiaLoveMemories@gmail.com.”
Love made history in 2015 by representing Utah’s 4th congressional district. After winning one re-election in 2016, she lost her bid for a third term in 2018. She then joined CNN as a political commentator and had an additional rotating guest role on ABC’s The View.”
Last May, Love spoke on CNN’s “The Lead with Jake Tapper” about her cancer journey. She opted to partake in a clinical trial at the Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center at Duke University. In the trial, she received immunotherapy treatment every three weeks since August 2023, relying on science and her Mormon faith to remedy her condition.
“I was looking for a cure in my faith and in science,” said the Republican politician. “Funny thing is, my patriarchal blessing said you will have a long and prosperous life, a rich and rewarding life, so long as you decide to remain in public service.”
The results of the trial were initially successful, helping her surpass her former prognosis of only 10-15 months to live. However, given the cancer’s aggressive form, her family has decided to cherish the time they have left with the former politician.
Her Utah community has given words of support upon the news of her cancer worsening, including Gov. Spencer Cox. Shortly after appearing on Tapper’s show, Love also shared about inspiring hope in others battling cancer or other health issues on social media.
“I recently shared details of my cancer journey with my friend Jake Tapper. It hasn’t been an easy journey, but I share it because I want my journey to give others hope,” she said.
“Whether you are facing a cancer diagnosis yourself or fighting a different battle, there is hope! For me, that hope comes from my faith and my family. Both have been a source of immeasurable strength, peace, love, and support. Every day, I thank God for my life and a family who give that life beauty and meaning.”
The order makes it the first time in U.S. history for an official national language. It pushes “new Americans to adopt a national language that opens doors to greater opportunities.” While the U.S. Census Bureau says close to 1 in 5 Americans spoke a second language outside of English at home in 2019, a White House fact sheet claims a national language “strengthens the fabric of our society” by promoting unity and civic engagement in addition to establishing “efficiency in government operations.”
The latest executive order also rescinds a directive from former President Bill Clinton in August 2000, requiring agencies and recipients of federal funds to provide language services for those who don’t speak English fluently.
Lawmakers in the past have unsuccessfully introduced legislation to designate English as the official language of the U.S.; however, under Trump’s new order, more than half of the states have passed laws labeling English as the official language, according to the Associated Press.
Advocacy groups, such as U.S. English, have been pushing for this move and have finally achieved what they have been working toward, but other demographics are confused about where it leaves them amid a new Trump era.
Hispanic advocacy groups said they were confused when, just hours after Trump was sworn in during his inauguration, the administration removed the Spanish-language version of the official White House website. Officials claim the site will soon be restored, but as of early March 2025, nothing has yet to reappear. Trump did the same thing during his first term in the Oval Office.
During Trump’s first term in office, he also removed the Spanish language version of the White House website. It was restored in 2021 under President Joe Biden.
Trump spent a lot of time during his campaign trail speaking with Latinos to hear their concerns in hopes of garnering their votes. CEO of LULAC, the largest and oldest civil rights organization for Latinx Americans, Juan Proaño, said Latino men, in particular, voted for the indicted businessman because of his focus “primarily on economic issues, inflation, wages and even support of immigration reform.”
After pushing for the “largest deportation efforts ever,” the 47th President also spent time pushing false narratives regarding the number of languages that are spoken in the United States, labeling language barriers as one reason behind heightened immigration. ”We have languages coming into our country … that nobody in this country has ever heard of,” he said during a Conservative Political Action Conference speech.
Notorious B.I.G.’s Music Catalog Reportedly Being Sold To Primary Wave
The deal is reportedly worth $100-$150 million
Shortly after the death of The Notorious B.I.G.’s mother, Violetta Wallace, there was an deal in the works to sell the deceased rapper’s music catalog.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, a suitor is looking to purchase the Brooklyn rapper’s catalog for a reported $100-150 million. Primary Wave is looking to buy songs recorded by The Notorious B.I.G. (Christopher Wallace) and possibly the master and publicity rights, as well as the name, image, likeness, and even voice of one of Brooklyn’s finest emcees.
Mark Pitts and Wayne Barrow, who co-founded Bystorm Entertainment, are involved in making the deal. Pitts initially managed the man known to the hip-hop world as Biggie, and both men have been instrumental in the careers of artists like Usher, Miguel, Chris Brown, J. Cole, and Changing Faces. Primary Wave’s founder, Larry Mestel, and his business partner, Steve Greener, are in talks with Pitts and Barrow.
Primary Wave was launched in 2006 as an independent music entity with a publishing and talent management division. On its roster are legendary deceased musicians Bob Marley, Luther Vandroess, Whitney Houston, Prince, James Brown, Donny Hathaway, Teddy Pendergrass, and Ray Charles, as well as current recording artists like Andre 3000, Smokey Robinson, and Ceelo Green.
The deal with Biggie’s estate would include 50% of both publishing and master rights and the right of publicity. The impeding agreement is expected to close within the next couple of weeks.
The news is being revealed almost two weeks after Biggie’s mother, Violetta, died from natural causes at the age of 72. She was receiving hospice care in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania. With Violetta’s guidance, Biggie’s estate grew from $10 million when he was killed in 1997 to a reported $160 million today.
Biggie left behind two children, T’yanna Wallace and his son, Christopher Wallace Jr.
Black-Owned Construction Firm Has North Star Strategy To Hit $1B In Revenue By 2029
Iconic Black construction firm aims to boost revenue by doing more business in growing markets.
H.J. Russell & Co. has bold aspirations to reach $1 billion in revenue by late 2029.
Calling it the Atlanta-based construction company’s “North Star,” CEO Michael B. Russell Sr. told BLACK ENTERPRISE in an interview that it is the big picture goal. If achieved, that would mark impressive growth for the Black-owned firm, which has current revenue around $300 million.
Russell expects a large share of the $700 million gain to come from the firm’s mission-critical work. In general, that business focuses on constructing facilities like data centers, healthcare facilities, and other infrastructure projects needed for the continuous operation of services.
Russell says his company’s work in that area will be constructing facilities for larger FORTUNE 100 companies to boost their capacity for housing technology and provide services to their customers. He said the facility’s needs have grown over the last three years, with artificial intelligence (AI) being a key driver of that demand.
He says H.J. Russell is actively working in that space, though he could not specifically name who because of the sensitive nature of the projects.
Some observers have projected a growing demand for mission-critical facilities, particularly data centers, fueled by higher reliance on digital infrastructure covering multiple sectors. “We believe as that market continues to grow, it will be a real accelerant for H.J. Russell in our growth.”
Simultaneously, H.J. Russell’s ambitious growth plans come as major companies have been steadily scaling back their diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) pledges recently. This has raised concerns about how diverse firms may be impacted by the pullback.
However, Russell is confident his firm can escape the retreat. He said H.J. Russell does projects for clients that mainly value the construction firm that can get the job done. “It’s about meeting a capacity need that these companies need to operate, not just a handout.”
Also, Russell wants his firm to reach a certain level before the end of 2026 so it can become the sole provider on mission-critical projects rather than partnering with other firms.
H.J. Russell Company has previously ranked regularly on BLACK ENTERPRISE’s BE 100s list of the nation’s largest black-owned businesses. Its resume contains many iconic projects, including Atlanta’s 191 Building, Georgia-Pacific headquarters, State Farm Arena, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, and the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture.
Moreover, Russell shared other areas he expects to help fuel overall future revenue growth. His firm’s core businesses now are construction and program management. Russell sees growth in construction coming from the firm’s offices outside of Atlanta, in Dallas and Boston. He projects that affordable housing projects in metro Atlanta will continue to be key revenue contributors.
Another market that Russell is optimistic about and wants to keep leveraging is aviation. In December 2024, H.J. Russell stated that it made aviation infrastructure history by being North America’s first firm to do modular builds from both the construction and program management sides.
Curtis Wilson, vice president of transportation and infrastructure at H.J. Russell & Co., emailed BLACK ENTERPRISE to inform us that the company is the 40% JV partner on the program management team for the $1.4 billion Concourse D widening projects at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the world’s largest and busiest airport.
It is part of the overall multi-billion-dollar ATLNEXT capital improvement program. Widening Concourse D, the airport’s oldest concourse, includes adding more gates, reducing the impact of gate closures, and improving revenue generation during construction. H.J. Russell initially started working on the project in 2023, and it is expected to be completed in 2029.
Widening Concourse D, the airport’s oldest concourse, includes adding more gates, reducing the impact of gate closures, and improving revenue generation during construction. H.J. Russell started working on the project in 2023 and is expected to complete it in 2029.
To date, 10 modular sections have been moved and established during two phases. Curtis says more sections will be constructed and moved to complete the concourse’s south side next year.
Trevor Lee, senior project manager at H. J. Russell, explained that an airport-based modular build related to a concourse widening or expansion project. He said it consists of having a section of the expansion built that includes the structural steel frame, poured concrete slab on metal decks, building skin components typically consisting of metal panels and curtainwall, all constructed more efficiently on a secondary site not far away from the complex location where the actual building expansion is occurring.
With the concourse’s widening, he said airport passengers will enjoy expanded passenger hold rooms at gates, larger restrooms, and increased concession spaces, among other amenities.
Curtis explained, “One of the biggest reasons to consider modular construction isn’t just speed; it’s about minimizing the impact on airport operations. By using modular construction, we’ve been able to cut total gate downtime by 46 months.” Curtis added, “That’s a huge deal because less downtime means airlines avoid approximately $400 million in lost revenue and passengers have a smoother travel experience”
The project at Hartfield-Jackson followed H.J. Russell’s completion of a modular construction project at the Dallas Fort Worth International Airport in 2022. H.J. Russell was the 10% JV partner on the $155 million project. The work included providing six new modular gates spanning 80,000 square feet to accommodate American Airlines’ domestic flights with narrow-body aircraft and regional jets.
Overall, Wilson reflected on how modular construction could play a major role in H.J. Russell’s future growth, both nationally and globally.
“From a business perspective, this isn’t just another project type. It’s a strategic growth area that opens doors to new markets and long-term partnerships with major airport authorities and airlines. Over the next several years, we expect this part of our business to generate significant revenue and help Russell expand into more large-scale aviation infrastructure projects nationwide.”
