Troy Nalls

D Brown Photo Shoot with Eric Roberson

troynalls — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 19:53:43 +0000

Photographer D Brown is now for his photography of beautiful women. He is also a big fan of music. This is a short video from the album cover shoot for Eric Roberson’s album “Mr. Nice Guy.

Being Disabled Is Just Another Challenge

troynalls — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 18:19:12 +0000

Gary was born with a disease that has had him in a wheelchair his entire life. He views it as a challenge and we all have them!

JMarie Goes To New York City

troynalls — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 18:46:44 +0000

Last year my daughter was accepted to Teen Vogue Fashion Camp. We paid her tuition but told “You’d better call your rich uncle to pay your way and give you some spending money!” It was a good thing that I had just learned about “Crowd Source Funding” from Maxie Collier at the Urban Media Festival. Crowd Source Funding is a great way to leverage online connections to help finance a project. People who did not even know her signed on to help her get to New York City. The two major site for Crowd Source Funding are Indiegogo.com and Kickstarter.com. She decided to go with Indiegogo.com because she only had 10 days and the funds raised were available as soon as someone gave. Kickstarter.com only releases the money if you hit your fundraising goal. Here is a the recap of the trip that she will remember forever!

Real Life: Focus on What You Have

troynalls — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 11:53:21 +0000

Most new business people focus on what they don’t have. One should focus on what they do have if they want to be successful. There are countless examples of people who have done extraordinary things by using what they had available rather than dwelling on what they did not have

Real Life Lessons With Bob Kersee

troynalls — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 10:17:47 +0000

When I was a kid, I had the opportunity to hang out with Bob Kersee. Not just on a weekend but he actually lived with my parents while he was in college. I had a front row seat as his Olympic coaching career took off. I learned volumes from Bob. One day we were at Peck Park in San Pedro, California. I loved sports but I was scared of having a asthma attack. He told me I would beat asthma. He said there was no way asthma would hold me back. It was the first time someone told me that and I believed it. I ended up learning how to manage my asthma without all the inhalers and medicine. It all started when Bob led me to believe I could do it.

Your Childhood Dreams Are Still Possible

troynalls — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 20:20:04 +0000

Recently I spoke in Washington DC. The subject was centered on how to gain new clients for a business. For some reason the main take away from most of those in attendance was living your dream. Somewhere along the way adults lose touch with what it is that makes them tick. Those dreams you had as a kid are still possible.

Leave Those Youngs Girl Alone!

troynalls — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 19:18:10 +0000

I have seen too many young girls have their youth snatched away because they look older than they are. Older men take advantage of these young ladies. Even though their body is fully developed and they look GROWN, their minds have not caught up. I encourage young girls to leave older men alone. Do rush to grow up. Enjoy their youth because it does not last very long. Please forward this post and video to any young lady that you love!

My Family Reunion

troynalls — Sat, 13 Aug 2011 12:49:05 +0000

Every summer my father’s side of the family has a reunion in Fayette, Alabama. When I was a kid I hated going. It seemed there was only old folks and babies with little to do if you are between the ages of 13-40. The city is down twisting two lane roads 50 miles from Tuscaloosa. I still have a hard time understanding why people settled in this small, out of the way place.

Thank God, my father found his way to Southern California. Actually he did not find his way…he was ran out of town for sitting down at a “White’s Only” pharmacy while picking up a prescription for his Grandmother. I have heard about the racial bigotry of Alabama and the deep south but I never witnessed it myself. I am amazed that hatred so deep not only existed but was real during my father’s childhood. I am surprised he does not hate white people or did not pass his experiences on to me and my siblings. I could not imagine coming home and hearing that my son would have to be gone by sun down or he’d be lynched. I enjoy coming to the family get together now because it shows me how far we can come in one or two generations.

I’m not saying racism is dead as a few days ago a man in Mississippi was assaulted and ran over by the truck his attackers were in simply because he was a black man. The kids who killed the man, who was walking home from work had to learn that level of hate from somewhere. I believe it was from their grand parents and parents. I am glad my parents and grand parents taught me something different.

I must admit I get a little nervous and angry when I come back the back woods of Fayette, Alabama. We stay in a bed and breakfast that my father say he could not enter when he was young. He sees it as some sort of victory. For me, it is something that make me question the “Land of The Free” concept that was shoved down our throats as children. I mean can our Government really enforce human rights in places like Cuba and China during the 50s and 60’s while allowing the torture and animal like treatments of it’s own citizens?

Anyway I love seeing Aunt Ruth who is about 86 years young. She looks 25 years younger yet eats pork, smokes and drinks a little gin almost daily. My uncle Hollis who looks just like Red Foxx is getting a little slower. I ask him questions about my father, grand parents how they survived being treated like sub humans for so long. I asked him “How can you fellowship with people who as recently as 40 years ago wanted to kill you?” He summed it up in one word: Forgiveness. I wish I could understand. Maybe one day

Meet Ray

troynalls — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 15:45:22 +0000

This morning I was reminded of how I would collect cans as a child. I was unloading groceries from my car when I seen Ray with a BIG bag of aluminum cans heading to the processing center. I stopped him and asked a few questions. What I found was Ray would rather work than ask people for money. He said it took him about 2 hours to collect about 15 pounds of cans. At .75 per pound, he would leave the can redemption place with over $11 which was enough to cover the $8 per night fee at the shelter he was living at. He also said it was a good way to keep in shape. He was about 40 years old but he was very fit and muscular. He liked getting out early before the sun was all the way up. It has been over 100 degrees everyday for the last few weeks in Dallas. I asked him if I could donate to his cause and gave him a couple of dollars.

As he walked away, I noticed the shoes he was wearing were not built for walking. I asked him what size he wore. I usually keep 2-3 pairs of shoes in the trunk. I gave him a choice of shoes: Running shoes, boots or dress shoes. He chose the running shoes. After our 10 minute conversation, he grabbed his bag of cans and heading on his way but not before saying “God Bless You!”

I am continually amazed at how helping people makes me feel. I am even more impressed by the God they see without us talking religion. My challenge to all who read this is to help someone today. If you decide to give something, don’t make it from your “I can’t use this anymore” pile. When I opened my trunk, my Timberlands, Nikes and Aldos where available to Ray. Shoe I still wear but I knew they would mean more to him.

Real Life: My Homie The Foster Parent

troynalls — Sat, 30 Jul 2011 17:40:20 +0000

Back when I was in the Air Force I had a roommate name Troy Rainey. He was a super wild NYC dude. No matter how crazy things got, he alway had a heart for his kids…even though he only had one. He took on nieces, nephew, and any other kid who came in contact with him. I am not surprised he traded in the street life to be a Foster Parent