Lucky Me: A Memoir of Changing the Odds

I do not even know how many of these books I purchased for my family, students, and staff to read! The price is right, and it is one of the best books on the culture and life in many underserved Black communities! I grew up in one! I could not put the book down! When I did, it was because I did not want it to end, and also when I had to cry! Thank you Rich Paul for sharing your journey! It is absolutely amazing! I cannot say enough about this book! Well done! Thank God for the set up with meeting Lebron! Definitely ordained!! Wow! You are a powerful man, Mr. Paul. You were powerful as a child! There’s a reason for everything! Continue to walk in the greatness you worked hard for. It is so inspiring, and as a 14-year old boy said, “life-changing”! I will continue to purchase this book and share with young Black boys similar to the ones in this book! 🙏🏾🙌🏾✊🏾♥️♥️🖤💚😁☀️🌙🤴🏽

Great book. Very inspiring story. Happy to be brought into Rich's world, I can't wait for the next book. There's so much more to be told!

Rich described life in his neighborhood in great detail. Readers can see the orderly functioning of a dysfunctional community where respect is earned not given, and an unspoken hierarchy is “klutch”. Life in Rich’s neighborhood was sustained by slowly killing the addicts with a non-stop supply of illegal and legal (alcohol) substances to make the dealers money. Hopes are drained by hot tempers and quick trigger fingers. Such a clear view of the community helps readers to see how stacked the odds are against anyone breaking free of the expected outcomes (prison or death) that are inherent in such environments. Rich Paul’s life is a miracle and testifies that yes, there is a God and that He clearly had a plan for Rich’s life. Thankfully for Rich, his life today reflects his decision to follow God’s path. This is a great read for African American youth to see that you can be successful in life without a college degree or elite athletic giftedness.

Plainly written; easy to read. Rich Paul shows how he honed his craft, applied lessons of his father and shaped his own success. Recommend.

Paul, R. (2023). Lucky me: A memoir. Roc Lit 101.Rich Paul is an American sports agender and founder of Klutch Sports Group. Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, he is a long-time friend and agent for NBA player LeBron James.I was drawn to this book in part because I love an underdog story, I first heard about Rich Paul via the Rich Paul Rule, a policy instituted by the NCAA that required all agents must meet certain prerequisites–including having a bachelor's degree–to serve as an agent. It was named after Rich Paul because Rich, specifically, did not have a bachelor's degree. The backlash against the rule was swift. This book is Rich Paul's memoir of growing up in Cleveland, Ohio and the influence of this context and the people within it on his life, specifically his father, Rich who owned a corner store within the poverty-stricken Glenville neighborhood. 22 Chapters, each prefaced with a rule introduce the reader to the leadership and life philosophies that Rich Paul learned from his father and life within the context. Life rules included: Take care of your people, other people are your business, leave nothing to chance, iron your clothes, discipline your approach, build an ecosystem of empathy, study your craft, move with intention and be ready to improvise, understand the whole show, focus is everything, never submit to your surroundings, don't sleep in, choose the best of everything, find your purpose, neutralize your anger, learn the art of bearing down and letting up, cheating will get you killed, your worst experience can be your best credential, hang on until You're dealt a winning hand, be a star in your role, and have faith - you're built for more than you can see. From a serendipitous meeting of LeBron James while wearing a jersey that attracted his attention, Rich Paul saw his new future appear. The tone of the story has a sort of expectedness to possibility that somehow Rich Paul was able to maintain. So that as the new future that LeBron James and he co-created appeared, he was ready to step into it. Part memoir and part social commentary, one can learn a great deal about leadership and the lived experiences of the place through the eyes of a man who lived there.This would be an incredible memoir to explore leadership, leadership philosophy, and social contexts.

I had no intention of reading Rich Paul’s story. I knew he was the sports agent and in recent years was dating a famous singer. But on Sunday night I watched Sixty Minutes and his story and his charm, it’s definitely charm, the quick smiles and super cool demeanor but I saw his eyes, the light and the sadness…the conflict. I immediately preordered it and read it to today.The way he took us through his young life was so familiar. I’m the daughter of a single mother I knew parts of this story. My mom never did drugs but was addicted to alcohol and abusive men. I grew up for three years on the western front and those streets in Cleveland was the same though smaller.Him admitting he was a gambler, hustler and later drug dealer makes the story…you will understand when you read it.I gobbled it up, relishing every word and occasionally when Paul would repeat something or overstate it, I would think it’s okay to be vulnerable. I recommend this book to everyone. So honest, bold, real and needed.

I grew up in a very different part of the greater Cleveland area a little earlier than Rich, and I’m still a diehard CLE sports fan no matter where I’ve lived.The book was intriguing, surprising and educational. I read it in one sitting. I’ve lived in the UK and in various parts of the US but recently retired back here to NE Ohio, a mere 10-15 miles from where the majority of this story takes place.Lucky Me is a very good read indeed.

Great inspiring story, I enjoyed reading this book!

Book is packed with many gems you can apply in business, career and life. Very unique black experience from the streets to the boardrooms in the Sports World.

Page turning book. What a life. Would be a great film.

A well written and great story about life of a father and son teaching lesson.

A good read

I knew a little about him before but this story ended when he became successful. I wanted to hear about the transition to current day success and the challenges. Just seemed like a familiar story that we have seen before.