As a kid I was never really good in math. My favorite subjects in school were always reading-based. Social Studies, African American History – these were the subjects where I excelled. Given my disdain for mathematics it’s odd that I ultimately became a numbers guy in my professionally. God has a funny way of doing things: I always considered subjects like Calculus to be torturous exercises and satanic. Growing up I endured mathematics because I had no choice. In reality, I actually did quite well with simple mathematics in spite of my disdain for the subject: Addition and multiplication were tolerable, however I never really cared for subtraction.

For me, there has always been a sense of sadness surrounding subtraction. The very exercise is rooted in taking something from another thing leaving that thing with less than it started with. The symbol for subtraction is a minus sign. You don’t have to be a genius to know that when you see a minus sign it symbolizes loss. No one likes to lose anything. Humans are by nature territorial and protective. From the things we possess to the people we love, our “things” become a part of us. Therefore, when we lose something it often hurts because it is as if we lost a part of ourselves. The world associates failure with loss: a failed marriage or being fired from a job for example. The loss of a loved one can create a feeling of loneliness and fear. Losing your home due to poor financial stewardship can create a feeling of shame. The world reinforces my sentiment and I’m challenged in my flesh to find circumstances where the process of losing something is not painful.

The things we see and touch are all temporal. Therefore, the situations that are associated with the pain we experience during a loss are temporary also. All things ultimately work together for our good. I believe that we must view our losses from a “higher” perspective. The experience of loss provides a teachable moment regarding God’s love and grace. Personal growth is crippled if you don’t lose the prison of familiarity. Would we fully appreciate love if we never experienced the loss of a loved one? How can we know what it means to heal if we have never been injured or hurt during the experience of loss?

Loss can subtracts from our personal joy temporarily, while adding to the resolve of our faith.

America has forced Blacks in our Country to face tough circumstance and answer some tough questions throughout the years. The lineage of our people has been full of pain and breakthroughs. Our journey is characterized by the truth that there is always purpose for our process. Slavery and Jim Crow were not horrific accidental events, but circumstances in time intended to prepare us for what our future. Our pain, difficulties and discouragement prepared us for lives of service and devotion.

Trials collectively endured as Black people, enable us to see past our current circumstances and look towards the promise of tomorrow. Our journey to the promise land at times feels like aimless wandering. In some ways we have prolonged our time in the wilderness with our own actions and lack of preparation. Some say that we are on the cusp of reaching the land of milk and honey, having elected our first Black President. If the land of milk and honey near, I simply ask “Where are our Moses and Joshuas?”

Moses was God’s chosen vessel to lead the people of Israel out of bondage in Egypt. It is noteworthy to point out that Moses was chosen for his appointed task. Today’s leaders within the Black community tend to be a byproduct of nepotism, popularity or, all too often, “recycling.” Many elections showcase accomplished Black politicians that have been on the political scene for decades. Noteworthy African American candidates either currently are serving in legislative positions or come out of political retirement to run.

Where and how are we cultivating viable candidates of color, Black, Latino, Asian and otherwise, to enter elected office? Is there a farm system for up and coming political Joshuas?

I’m keenly aware that all of the opportunities I’ve been afforded are Heavenly gifts. Generations of Blacks before me were the talented and sacrificial laborers that opened the doors through which my generation has passed. Access to higher education, freedom to live where I choose, the right to vote, higher paying jobs and the ability to own a business are all products of the sacrifice of my predecessors.

Many of us have taken advantage of the opportunities, and as a result, achieved a level of success. In spite of significant professional accomplishments, many of my generation’s Black Professionals, or BlaPros, as I sometimes call us, are disconnected from the true pulse of the needs of the broader Black community. We are accountable for the disconnection and our lack of assertiveness and sense of entitlement lowers the odds developing a servant leader philosophy, mentality or practice: The contributing to the leadership chasm referred to in Where Are Our Moses And Joshuas? Meaningful mentorship from our predecessors is glaringly absent – further perpetuating the leadership gap. The preceding generation seems to show little interest in teaching those of us called to lead the lessons from hard-fought battles for equal access and opportunity.

It certainly appears that the motive for today’s Black leader is less about service and more about acquiring power and maintaining status. Moses was reluctant and called to lead – but all too often, today’s Black legislators and community activists raise their hands shouting ooh, ooh, pick me, pick me! Volunteering is powerful when rooted in the spirit of service but destructive when drenched in pride, ego and selfishness.

True leadership acknowledges the importance of identifying and cultivating emerging leaders. Elder leaders must invest time in mentoring the next generation of Black leaders. This requires personal time spent and constructive opportunities for growth. Moses spent nearly four decades with Joshua before the leadership torch was passed. Grooming the next generation of leaders means granting them seats at the decision-making tables now.

Our collective future is enhanced by sincere, personal investment in cultivating emerging leaders. Wise leaders recognize that time inevitably forces everyone to leave their post. As a community we sharing space, information and decision-making with up and coming Black leaders; then pass the torch before being forced to do so.

The rapid rate of change within America does not afford us the luxury of passivity in the area of leadership development. In order for Blacks in America to reach the promise land of tomorrow we must begin cultivating leadership today.

The road to establishing a solid retirement lifestyle starts with a conversation, but will die without a strategy. Although the spirit may be willing the body needs nourishment. The nourishment in the area of retirement planning comes in the form of identifying practical steps that you can take to help you achieve success. A great first strategic step is participating in your employer’s retirement program .

No matter what type of employer sponsored plan that your employer offers the key is to participate. Your participation has several benefits starting with the ability to deduct your contributions on your taxes. The amount of your annual contributions can be deducted from your annual compensation potentially leading to tax savings for you. The ability to save money by reducing your tax liability is critical. As your financial wealth grows identifying tax reduction strategies allows you to keep more of your money.

Secondly, participation in your company’s retirement plans gives you the opportunity to earn interest on your investment. The compounding nature of interest over time can grow the amount of your initial investment. The key to taking advantage of this – is time. You have to participate in your employer’s retirement plan early and consistently. Early participation gives your money more time to grow and that’s important to reaching your retirement goal.

Finally, take advantage of any matching that your employer offers. Employers typically will match the contributions of an employee with a specified amount. The amount of the match will vary with each employer, but the salient point is take advantage of the free money. When an employer match is available you must make sure that you are making the maximum contribution in order to get all the free money that’s on the table.

No one plans to work forever. No matter how much we love what we do professionally we all dream of the day that we can start living a life of leisure and relaxation. How much money you have at the time of retirement is the biggest determining factor of one’s ability to stop working. The topic of retirement, specifically retirement income, has always been that 800 pound elephant in the room. Everyone knows it’s a subject that should be addressed, but most people ignore it or don’t know how to deal with it. For many the conversation is challenging because it involves both planning and an understanding of money. The planning process can be tedious because it requires time and strategic thinking. Effective planning mandates that you think about future needs and re-evaluate your plan periodically. Life’s fast pace and the unexpected challenges are not always conducive for strategic thinking time.

Conversations about money are always foreign in the beginning: The first time watching CNBC can leave you with the feeling that folks are speaking a different language. Lack of understanding breeds fear, and fear creates a barrier to understanding. Money is the key factor in the retirement equation. Money can be a phenomenal resource and can reduce the complexity of life if used properly.

Planning for your retirement starts with having the conversation. Begin to articulate what retirement looks like for you. Think about your retirement lifestyle and the income that you will need for that lifestyle. Evaluate how much money you are currently saving towards your retirement goal and be prepared to make adjustments if there is a shortfall. If you feel uncomfortable with the topic seek out a professional that can assist you with the process. Utilize their expertise and allow them to guide you in developing a retirement plan. Not having the retirement conversation is a form of neglect and that only leads to more damage. Eliminate the fear and gain understanding.