The Million-Dollar Gameplan

"If I won the lottery, I would...."

A classic question the majority of us have pondered, including myself. Especially after the recent release of rapper/actor Bow Wow's movie "Lottery Ticket". But I wonder how many of us really think this through aside from all the hooplah around the idea of potentially winning millions of dollars in one day. The usual responses I see are centered around:

1. Traveling the world
2. Paying off bills
3. Quitting a job
4. Buying a new car

And this is just a small part of the list of usual answers. One of the many things we have to do is check our level of honesty in our answers and see if we actually mean what we say. Remember: There is always the danger of losing everything in less than one year or two, like many victims of the lottery craze in the past.

I do admit that I play it every now and then as a hobby, but honestly I could care less for it. I'm the type that would rather earn my millions (which I'm on the verge of doing) doing what I love to do, which is music and acting, as well as investing my money in lucrative business opportunities. Simply put, I like dealing with numbers and I sometimes play it out of excitement of the possibility of winning. So I actually took the time out to really think this classic question through and give my ten honest answers on what I would do if I won the lottery:


1. Financially help and retire my parents - they work at jobs that they would prefer not to be, plus it would give them the freedom to pursue their long-term wealth goals.

2. Tithe to my churches - I have three great churches I attend (two here in Georgia and one in Maryland) that have given me so much useful spiritual guidance in the past and even now that supporting their ministries is a must.

3. Give money to a random person - I like being nice to people and making them feel good, so randomly giving money to a complete stranger would be a thrill. You never know who may need the assistance.

4. Give to St. Jude Children's Hospital - My dad donates to them regularly and I plan on doing the same very soon. Giving them a huge donation would help further their research on cancer cures.

5. Start a non-profit organization centered around bringing music and art programs back into public schools - In my opinion, schools are suffering academically due to the lack of programs that were taken out. I'm a prime example of someone that benefitted academically due to my involvement in music and art.

6. Research and invest in companies working to cultivate and protect the environment - I want to invest in companies that actually care about the well-being of this planet that God placed us in.

7. Create a music scholarship program - I commend kids that passionately pursue the fields of composition, engineering and instrumentation (and do it well), so I want to start my own scholarship for them.

8. Sponsor community cleanups in Atlanta - So many of us complain about the condition of certain parts of Atlanta and are concerned about the well-being of our children, but how many of us are actually DOING something about it? Community cleanups are a great way to get the people AND children involved in making a difference and shedding a positive light on the city.

9. Travel with a mission to another country to minister to people - My music ministry is not limited to people here in the United States, so traveling with a mission to Africa, Europe, the Middle East, etc., would be one of many opportunities to reach out to people across the globe.

10. Donate towards food and clothing reliefs (America, Haiti, Middle East, etc.) - We all go through social and financial struggles, but let's be real: There are people in our neighborhood and around the world suffering worse than we are, and we need to do our part to help those in need. I intend to donate and make sure I'm helping those less fortunate than me. We all need to be doing that NOW.


It's not about the money. It's about what's being done with it that makes all the difference. So whether or not I ever win Powerball or Mega Millions is irrelevant; I plan on doing these things regardless. I'll work and pray towards my wealth no matter what. But if a lottery win were to ever happen (only if it's meant to be), you best believe I would be implenting these goals immediately.

You can ponder on these things while I go get my lottery ticket. LOL!


Bless,
LP