Get in the Inner Circle

The mid-1990s Black Leadership Conference in Colonial Williamsburg — Samuel pushed through a packed hotel-lobby crowd to introduce himself to Rev. Jesse Jackson's security chief Carl Redding, exchanged phone and pager numbers, and months later got the call that led to a three-month process, a private-jet working interview across several states in a day, a signed contract, and relocation from Williamsburg to D.C. in two weeks (later living with Rev. and Mrs. Jackson in Chicago). Anchored on Proverbs 18:16 (KJV): a man's gift maketh room for him — relationships built before you need them, favor, and showing up prepared.

Music: Empire, produced by Tim Byrd