(Intro)
Meet Logan, a 24 year old athiest from the highlands of Detroit. As a straight A student in junior high, his parents gave him the best they could offer. However, while a senior in high school, his parents declared bankruptcy. With no trust funds, and only a $300 scholarship, Logan could not go to college. He was devastated. Two years later he decided to move away from his parents, still penny pushers, and try to make a new life for himself. His education left him very little job oppertunities, and as a result he found a job at a local book store called "Hazuse Readings". The owner Ghazuse Omar Demir was very kind to Logan. On Christmas eve Hazeus needed an employee to work the shift getting out at midnight. At $20 an hour, Logan could not pass up the oppertunity presented to him. However, this did mean working from 9 AM to midnight, but Logan knew the money would cure his fatigue. As he left for work, all he could think of was the $300 he was making that day, little did he know that this shift would change his life in an entirely different way.
Man, I've been here for 12 hours and only 4 customers have said,
Merry Christmas and happy holidays, many asleep in their beds.
While I sit here in this chair and watch this empty shop of tidings,
Breathing and sighing as I look at the darkened wood siding.
We haven't had a customer in hours, but $20 is too good to let go,
I guess I should pick up the phone to call Ghazuse and let him know,
But for $60 I can stand another three hours of boredom and bein alone.
I can't believe for two years I worked here and still gettin minimum wage,
Trying to scrape by is not how I imagined to be living at my age.
Maybe a book will take my mind off the boredom, then I see a page,
Apparently some kid ripped it out of the book, but I'm too tired for rage.
My eyes are sagging so I can barely read the gold print on the paper,
'8 Steps to Perfection' Great, just another way for me to feel dumber.
I guess the book would be in the career books, but I can't seem to find it,
I don't even know where to look my self esteem drops then I look behind it.
And I see a little inscription, GOD, oh so it's from his personal collection,
I go to the back and find 8 Steps to Wealth, Fame, and being a christian.
Then I see a dust covered book in gold lettering like the page I hold,
I take the book out so that I can get out of there, it is rather cold.
Then I realize I'm on the wrong page, I'm on page 7 and step 1 shows,
I figure why not, hell I'm just sitting her counting snow out the window.
So I turn on a light and see Ghazuse's desk and sit down for a read,
Wind howling outside while the snow went from falling to flurrying.
Step 1:
Be Happy
No matter what your conditions are remain a postive attitude,
Nobody want to talk to someone who isn't festive just rude.
Use manners accordingly and make sure the people know your name,
If they say it is a delight to have you then make your you say the same.
If you are depressive then why would people want to talk with you?
Being sarcastic never impresses, and mocking doesn't too.
It's true that a smile can shine light, be a candle in dampness of a room,
Because it is not something they will forget anytime soon.
Well, that's great. Step 1 and I'm already looking like a failure,
I look at my clothes, man, I wish I had a tailor.
My jeans have more holes then the clothe isn't faded or torn,
Well on to step 2, maybe I can offer it a little more.
Step 2:
Have a Positive Attitude
This goes along with being cheerful and one of the best things to be,
Would you rather talk to someones face or have them looking at their feet?
You meet people everyday and from them is something you should learn,
If they need some money, be positive towards them and show some concern.
Don't think the world doesn't love you, because inside you there burns,
A flame that yearns for a chance for your true to feelings to have a turn.
Optimism will show you the way to a successfull life, whether or not,
Times are always easy or hard, you still have to show what you've got.
Maybe it's right, I should look for the silver lining and work with a smile,
I don't have to be fake, but I should laugh at the joke of a child.
Still, I'm not amazing or enthusiastic, and I wish I could go home,
Is that something ringing? Oh it's just bells I thought it was the phone.
Step 3:
Dress in Clean Clothes
No one likes to smell a bum on the street and try to put them in a seat,
Of power so take a shower, get some nice clothes, and brush your teeth.
They don't need to be excecutive suits but just so people know,
You are proud of yourself and what you represent so let it show.
Don't talk to people looking like you've just been in a crash,
If you need patches on clothes that's fine, but holes belong in the trash,
The last thing you want is a smell that disgusts, deoderant is a must,
If they don't open up that's fine, just show them your a man they can trust.
Does this book just describe me or am I just a failure in life,
It's like I've been fighting for years on the frontline, but never earned a stripe.
Wait, I need to be positive, though I do smell a little nauseous,
I will just eat some cinnamon gum and no one will ever notice.
Step 4:
Do Not Take Shortcuts
The long way may have it’s ups and downs but don’t go around,
Cuz if you do then your are bound to run into a troubled town.
Shortcuts will only cut you short and you will never see potential,
You would be surprised at how smart you can be with a mind full.
If you cannot remember a phone number, do you blaim the number dialed?
No, that just makes you look immature and have the mentality of a child.
Never try to cut out the work, because you are destined to see,
A life full of disappointments, heartaches, stress, and misery.
Damn, it made a point maybe I should give this job my attention,
I’m not only rude to people and customers, but not to mention,
Ghezuse thinks I have potential so I should show him what I can do,
What time is it? Wow, it’s 11 and I hardly knew.
Step 5:
Be True to Others
Honestly is rarely acquired yet always desired,
If you want to be successful then it is definitely required.
No one likes a liar, no can one be trusted with lives on a wire,
Who would trust a lazy fireman to go and put out that blazing fire?
When things get tough and someone has to be fired,
Then everyone’s lying and avoiding the truth will expire.
Keep the truth close to your heart, and maybe you will see,
That helping the company may in turn benefit thee.
Guess I haven’t been too honest, I mean I steal books daily,
Which reminds me, that little fuck still owes me money.
It’s funny how these things are so true yet always overlooked,
I wonder what other things it says in this book.
Step 6:
Look Up to the Sky
No one likes someone who can’t believe in themselves……for example
You can’t do anything if you don’t believe you can stock bookshelves.
Keep your head high and look up into the sky and you will find,
Amazing treasures you never would see if you only saw the bottom of the sign.
A mind is a terrible thing to waste, but confidence can kill worse than metal,
You may have nothing to show for your work, or you may have a medal.
Whatever the situation is, do your best and be proud of the work you make,
Cuz good confidence is something that the strongest earthquake can never shake.
I guess that’s true, but I don’t know how to be confident or what to do,
I mean I have a bed to my name, oh and that shot I got for the flue.
People throw food away with meat that could still be worth eating,
I feel like I’m a dog the way I pick scraps up for my feeding.
Step 7:
Use Your Head and Self Motivation
Don’t be irrational, think things out before you make a decision,
Just because they don’t respond in a conversation doesn’t mean they don’t listen.
Best on the team never started that way but he never called it quits,
But they went through all the dieting, exercising and other bullshit.
They thought out their plan and followed through no matter what,
They would push themselves so that barely making it wasn’t enough.
Think before you speak, and think before you act,
Because once you make that decision, there is no turning back.
This makes sense, I mean, I usually just say what I want whenever I feel,
I thought that was a good thing though, because I was keeping it real.
Well only only one more step, time to read what else will make me perfect,
Probably the same old bullshit though, probably already heard it.
Step 8:
Believe
Simple as that, turn to God and he will show you the way to success,
Because he is the only perfect one so you can expect nothing less.
The best way to him is through the cross, which was hard for him,
But he thought out his plan, kept positive, and nothing was barred from him.
He kept his head to the sky, spoke the truth and now we are all saved,
All because of these success tips that God has made.
What? Wait..how is this possible? How could this possibly be?
That the last way to be perfect is for me to be,
A man who worships someone I can’t see and practice Christianity?
Then I felt my heart break apart, and something inside rumbled,
I fell on the floor crying as something inside me tumbled.
I cried out and then I felt something leave, and as I lie there I breathed.
I heard the grandfather clock bell ring twelve, and I made it my mission,
To go out and tell people about the book I read about perfection.
As I grabbed the book to put it back I realized the name was not right,
I had grabbed the wrong book in my hurry and lack of sight.
I had read the 8 Steps to a Successful Life, I gawked at the lesson,
That a mistake is what led me to the road of perfection.