Principles of Success Mantra

"I am what I believe I am.  I can be anything I believe I can be.  Therefore, I choose to believe, that if I try my best in everything I do, I am going to have a successful and productive life."

Hello Readers,

It is my pleasure to share a few brief comments about our 2019 POS program. I am more excited than ever about the thirty-four young men who comprise our 2019 class. We had a great orientation session for parents and participants on May 18, 2019 wherein we shared an overview of the program including a program segment wherein each of our mentors shared motivational and inspirational comments. It was a powerful session and we received compliments from numerous parents.

As we begin the sixth year of this program, we are excited about the additions that we continue to make annually. Three years ago, we added a peer-mentoring component that allowed alumni participants to mentor first-year participants. This also allows the alumni to develop their leadership skills and experience the satisfaction of helping others.

In 2018, we added a parent workshop series that allows parents of participants to come together three times during the year to discuss challenges and opportunities they have in common as parents of young men. This program component is completely voluntary and has been very well received.  At the conclusion of our final 2018 parent workshop, attending parents requested that we add a fourth workshop, which we've done for 2019.  I am also proud to say that at the conclusion of this year's orientation session, a total of 22 parents signed up to participate in 2019 parent workshop series.

Beginning with our June 1, 2019 POS session, we began video recording major segments of each POS program session with the intention of making these recordings available to current and past participants. As the young men progress through their teengage years and into adulthood, we believe these recorded POS sessions can serve as a refresher for years to come.

Don Dyer

Executive Director
 

Roderick was not born into a life of privilege but from very humble beginnings and was the youngest of seven children. Being a young black boy from the 'hood', popular belief would be that he would either end up dead or in jail. However, at a very young age Roderick decided not to become a statistic. Instead he decided to be the best in all his endeavors. He left no stone unturned, he charted his course and didn’t stop until he achieved his goals. He was a man with intention.

Roderick graduated from Los Angeles High School in 1976. He attended California State University Long Beach where he received his B.S. In Professional Accounting.  To self-fund his way through college Roderick worked at Baskin Robbins. Rod sat for and passed the CPA Exam with honors on his first attempt, after which he started a career at the Department of Treasury/IRS. Then in 1986, Roderick joined Coopers & Lybrand as an Associate and furthered his education, receiving a master’s degree in Tax Accounting from the University of Southern California. In 1993 at the age of 35, Roderick was admitted into the partnership and was extremely proud to pave the way for future African American partners. In 2012, Roderick retired after 26 years with PricewaterhouseCoopers. In, January 2018, Roderick accepted a position as Adjunct Professor for the Leventhal School of Accounting at the Marshall School of Business (USC) where he taught Tax Accounting Methods. Roderick enjoyed the Trojan community and teaching again until his untimely death on February 12, 2018.

Talk about a man with INTENTION!!

How else can one explain Roderick becoming the first in his family to graduate from college? How can one explain him passing the CPA exam on his first attempt?  How can one explain him becoming a Tax Partner at the age of 35 at one of the largest accounting firms in the country? One might think luck or simply that he was smart.  I have a better explanation: DETERMINATION, SACRIFICE, HARD WORK, INTENTION and GOD'S GRACE.  

See God created Roderick and equipped him with every gift he needed in order to be successful. God equips us with gifts and then gives us the free will to act. Roderick spent long hours studying while in school. He sacrificed hanging out with friends.  In other words, he put in the time.   God gives us room to make mistakes or stumble and God promises to be there to pick us up.  But let me remind you the journey wasn’t easy. The path wasn’t smooth nor straight. Like a maze, his path had dead ends and wrong turns. Like a race that has hurdles and long miles. Like a roller coaster that has its ups and downs. Challenges he did encounter, obstacles he overcame and decisions he had to make. But he never gave up until he reached the finish line until he reached the top. GOD EQUIPS.  ROD BELIEVED AND HE ACHIEVED!

This is what the Principles of Success Motivational Program tries to impart in young men of color. It all starts with the mental state of believing in oneself and that belief begins to manifest into actions which ultimately will lead to success. It doesn’t matter how you start the race or how many times you stumble.  It matters how you finish. Roderick would want to be remembered as a man who, despite life’s challenges, never lost sight of his goals: To be the best! To leave no doubt!  Aman with INTENTION! Roderick was a partner, husband, father, mentor and friend who inspired many in life and continues to inspire even after his death.  

"Remember me not only for my ACHEIVEMENTS but please remember me as a man whose time was well SPENT."

Tracye L. Mayo

Words of Inspiration