CandidSavvyShopper

Monday, October 8, 2012

Top 50 Largest New York Malls

3:23 PM NYC, Shopping, Things To Do, Westchester

Top 50 Largest New York Malls: http://www.mallsandoutlets.com/new-york-malls/

Roosevelt Field Mall
Garden City, NY - New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island MSA
Roosevelt Field Mall is located at Old Country Rd. and Meadowbrook, Garden City NY

Palisades Center
West Nyack, NY - New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island MSA
Palisades Center is located at NYS Thruway Exit 12 @ NY 303 and 59, West Nyack NY

Crossgates Mall
Albany, NY - Albany-Schenectady-Troy MSA
Crossgates Mall is located at I-87 and I-90, Albany NY

Green Acres Mall
Valley Stream, NY - New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island MSA
Green Acres Mall is located at Sunrise Hwy., Valley Stream NY

The Mall at Greece Ridge Center
Rochester, NY - Rochester MSA
The Mall at Greece Ridge Center is located at Ridge Rd. and Long Pond Rd., Rochester NY

Walden Galleria
Buffalo, NY - Buffalo-Niagara Falls MSA
Walden Galleria is located at I-90 and Walden Avenue, Buffalo NY

Carousel Center
Syracuse, NY - Syracuse MSA
Carousel Center is located at I-81 Exit 23, Syracuse NY

Broadway Mall
Hicksville, NY - New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island MSA
Broadway Mall is located at Broadway (Rts. 106 and 107), Hicksville NY

Eastview
Victor, NY - Rochester MSA
Eastview is located at Rt. 96 (Pittsford-Victor Rd.), Victor NY

10.

Midtown Plaza
Rochester, NY - Rochester MSA
Midtown Plaza is located at Broad Str. and Clinton Ave., Rochester NY

11.

Bay Plaza
Bronx, NY - New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island MSA
Bay Plaza is located at I-95 and Hutchinson River Pkwy., Bronx NY

12.

Poughkeepsie Galleria
Poughkeepsie, NY - Poughkeepsie-Newburgh-Middletown MSA
Poughkeepsie Galleria is located at Rt. 9 and South Rd., Poughkeepsie NY

13.

Staten Island Mall
Staten Island, NY - New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island MSA
Staten Island Mall is located at Richmond Ave., Staten Island NY

14.

Colonie Center
Albany, NY - Albany-Schenectady-Troy MSA
Colonie Center is located at Wolf Road and Central Avenue, Albany NY

15.

Galleria At Crystal Run
Middletown, NY - Poughkeepsie-Newburgh-Middletown MSA
Galleria At Crystal Run is located at I-84, I-86 and Rt. 17, Middletown NY

16.

Ridge Hill Village Center
Yonkers, NY - New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island MSA
Ridge Hill Village Center is located at Ridge Drive and I-87, Yonkers NY

17.

Westfield Sunrise
Massapequa, NY - New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island MSA
Westfield Sunrise is located at Carmans Rds. and Sunrise Hwy., Massapequa NY

18.

Cross County Shopping Center
Yonkers, NY - New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island MSA
Cross County Shopping Center is located at Cross County Pkwy., Central Ave., NY State Th, Yonkers NY

19.

The Marketplace
Rochester, NY - Rochester MSA
The Marketplace is located at W. Henrietta and Jefferson Rds., Rochester NY

20.

Westfield South Shore
Bayshore, NY - New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island MSA
Westfield South Shore is located at 1701 Sunrise Hwy. and Brook Ave., Bayshore NY

21.

Kings Plaza Shopping Center
Brooklyn, NY - New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island MSA
Kings Plaza Shopping Center is located at Flatbush Ave. and Ave. U, Brooklyn NY

22.

Smith Haven Mall
Lake Grove, NY - New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island MSA
Smith Haven Mall is located at Routes 25 and 347 - NE, Lake Grove NY

23.

Arnot Mall
Horseheads, NY - Elmira MSA
Arnot Mall is located at NY State Rt. 17 and Chambers Rd., Horseheads NY

24.

Walt Whitman Mall
Huntington Station, NY - New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island MSA
Walt Whitman Mall is located at Rt. 110 and Jericho Tpke., Huntington Station NY

25.

Gateway Center
Bronx, NY - New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island MSA
Gateway Center is located at Btwn E. 149th St.,River Ave. and Harlem River D, Bronx NY

26.

Shoppingtown Mall
Dewitt, NY - Syracuse MSA
Shoppingtown Mall is located at Erie Blvd. and E. Genesee St., Dewitt NY

27.

Shops at West Seneca
West Seneca, NY - Buffalo-Niagara Falls MSA
Shops at West Seneca is located at I-90 and Ridge Road, West Seneca NY

28.

Eastern Hills Mall
Williamsville, NY - Buffalo-Niagara Falls MSA
Eastern Hills Mall is located at Sheridan Dr. and SR 78 SE., Williamsville NY

29.

Oakdale Mall
Johnson City, NY - Binghamton MSA
Oakdale Mall is located at Harry L. Dr. and Reynolds Rd., Johnson City NY

30.

Queens Center
Elmhurst, NY - New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island MSA
Queens Center is located at Queens Blvd. @ Woodhaven Blvd and L.I.E., Elmhurst NY

31.

Nanuet Mall
Nanuet, NY - New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island MSA
Nanuet Mall is located at Middletown Rd. and Rte. 59, Nanuet NY

32.

Boulevard Mall
Amherst, NY - Buffalo-Niagara Falls MSA
Boulevard Mall is located at Maple Rd. and Niagra Falls Blvd., Amherst NY

33.

Orange Plaza
Middletown, NY - Poughkeepsie-Newburgh-Middletown MSA
Orange Plaza is located at Rts. 211 and 17, Middletown NY

34.

Great Northern Mall
Clay, NY - Syracuse MSA
Great Northern Mall is located at I-481 and Rt. 31, Clay NY

35.

Sangertown Square
New Hartford, NY - Utica-Rome MSA
Sangertown Square is located at Rts. 5 and 5A, New Hartford NY

36.

Galleria at White Plains
White Plains, NY - New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island MSA
Galleria at White Plains is located at Main and Grove Sts. - Martine and S. Lexington Ave, White Plains NY

37.

The Mall at Oyster Bay
Long Island, NY - New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island MSA
The Mall at Oyster Bay is located at NEC Long Island Expressway and Robbins Lane, Long Island NY

38.

Brookhaven Walk
Yaphank, NY - New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island MSA
Brookhaven Walk is located at NWC LIE and William Floyd Pkwy., Yaphank NY

39.

Woodbury Common Premium Outlets
Central Valley, NY - Poughkeepsie-Newburgh-Middletown MSA
Woodbury Common Premium Outlets is located at NYS Thruway (I-87) Exit 16 @ US 6, NY 17, 32, Central Valley NY

40.

The Westchester
White Plains, NY - New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island MSA
The Westchester is located at Westchester Ave. and Bloomingdale Rd., White Plains NY

41.

The Mall At Bay Plaza
Bronx, NY - New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island MSA
The Mall At Bay Plaza is located at I-95 and Hutchinson River Pkwy, Bronx NY

42.

Medley Centre
Rochester, NY - Rochester MSA
Medley Centre is located at Ridge Rd. East and Goodman St. (route 104, I590, Rochester NY

43.

McKinley Mall
Buffalo, NY - Buffalo-Niagara Falls MSA
McKinley Mall is located at Milestrip Rd. and McKinley Pkwy., Buffalo NY

44.

Cortlandt Town Center
Mohegan Lake, NY - New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island MSA
Cortlandt Town Center is located at Route 6 and East Main St., Mohegan Lake NY

45.

Hudson Valley Mall
Kingston, NY - Kingston MSA
Hudson Valley Mall is located at Ulster Ave. (Rt. 9W and 209), Kingston NY

46.

Hudson Valley Plaza
Kingston, NY - Kingston MSA
Hudson Valley Plaza is located at State Route 209 - 109 and 9W, Kingston NY

47.

Wilton Mall at Saratoga
Saratoga Springs, NY - Albany-Schenectady-Troy MSA
Wilton Mall at Saratoga is located at Weibel Ave. and Rt. 50, Saratoga Springs NY

48.

Town Square Mall
Vestal, NY - Binghamton MSA
Town Square Mall is located at Sycamore and African Rds., Vestal NY

49.

Tanger Outlet Center
Riverhead, NY - New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island MSA
Tanger Outlet Center is located at Long Island Expwy, Exits 72 and 73, Riverhead NY

50.

The Mall at The Source
Westbury, NY - New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island MSA
The Mall at The Source is located at Old Country Rd and Mechants Concourse, Westbury NY

Croup: WWW on medicine

10:40 AM

I had a cough for the last couple of days. My son won't fall asleep without laying next to me.

Saturday he had a slight cough. Yesterday his voice was gone and he had the cough.

This morning he had a fever and a strange cough.

Now this strange cough worried me. I googled "cough and lost voice toddler"
Found " Croup". It's a cough common between the ages of 6 months to 3 years old.

This article even has a voice recording of how the cough sounds.

We are now taking the baby to the doctor.

http://www.babycenter.com/0_croup_11421.bc

Free Museum Admission Oct 6 &7 for Bank of America Card Holders

6:30 AM

Bank of America’s Museums on Us is helping cardholders celebrate the start of fall by offering free admission to some of the most exciting cultural venues in the U.S. In Connecticut, participating museums include Bruce Museum, Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art and New Britain Museum of American Art.

For more information about Museums on Us, visit: http://museums.bankofamerica.com.

Blood Bar

2:51 AM Daily Deals, Elly Moments, Retail

One Charming Party

Another great inspiration by One Charming Party. I would have never thought of a Blood Bar.

Blood Vessel Drink Servers #halloween #bloodbar #vampires #twilight #blood

DIY CHOCOLATE CUPCAKE STAND

2:44 AM Birthday, DIY, Food

DIY CHOCOLATE CUPCAKE STAND

THIS IS A GREAT FIND FROM : ONE CHARMING PARTY

SHE MADE AN ENTIRE CUPCAKE STAND OUT OF CHOCOLATE. GO HERE TO READ ENTIRE POST.

C Wonder

2:29 AM Elly Moments, Shopping, Westchester

During fashion week, i opted out from the activities in NYC, and decided to stay local in Westchester.

Fashion Night out in Westchester was disappointing, expect for finding C Wonder in the Westchester mall.

I fell in love with colors, textures and styles.

Its a cross between all the brands that I love. I did feel like it has a strong influence by the Tory Burch Line.

I love their Totes!!!

About.com Article: Sample Sale Shopping Tips

12:41 AM NYC

	New York City Travel

Sample Sale Shopping Tips
http://gonyc.about.com/od/samplesales/tp/sample_sale_tip.htm?r=et

If you've never been to a New York City sample sale, you might be intimidated -- but there's no need to be scared! New York City's Sample Sales are a great way to get designer clothing at deeply discounted prices and with these tips and advice, you'll be an expert shopper in no time.

1. Know Where You're Going

Bring addresses for sample sales -- they are frequently held in office buildings and warehouses and there aren't always signs outside to indicate the sale is going on. Knowing that the sale is on 33rd between 5th and 6th Avenue is not enough -- you need to know the exact address and floor/suite where the sale is being held. Most Sample Sale Listings will include the necessary details. If you have a phone number, don't hesitate to call to see if you might need an appointment.

2. Plot Out a Path

Some time spent with a map designing a route for the best path to work your way through a series of sample sales will save you tons of time and make the most of your shopping stamina. But don't be so stuck to your plan that you don't take advantage of sales you may discover on flyers and billboards as you walk around.

3. Dress for Success

Successful Sample Sale shopping requires lots of energy and time on your feet. You'll be happiest if you wear comfortable shoes. Lots of the sales don't have changing rooms, so wear undergarments (or a leotard) that you won't mind other people seeing under clothing that is easy to change.

4. Few Sales Are Truly Private

Even though some samples sales require that you make an appointment or have your name added to the guest list, very sales are limited to a specific audience. If you know about the sale, as long as you make the call to get added to the list or make the necessary reservation, you should have no trouble getting in.

5. Shop Early for the Best Selection & Shop Late for the Best Prices

Early in the morning on the first day of a sale, you are most likely to have the best items to choose from -- and probably the best organization in the store. As the day goes on, items will be picked over and often the best bargains will be gone. Discounts increase as the last day of the sale approaches -- these sample sales are the way that manufacturers get rid of excess inventory and most don't want merchandise left over when the sale is over.

6. Closely Check Items Before Purchasing

All sales are final, so if you discover a hole after you've already paid, the item (and hole) are yours. You may be happy to replace buttons, fix hems and repair zippers, but it's best if you know what needs to be done before you buy.

7. Be Open-Minded, But Know What You Want

Finding a specific item can be a challenge at a sample sale -- you're more likely to find great deals if you keep an open mind about what you're seeking. Hit several different sales to maximize your chances of success. Being open-minded doesn't mean forgetting your budget -- most listings will give you an idea of prices to expect, so choose sales that meet your goals.

8. Just Because It's at a Sample Sale, Doesn't Mean It's a Deal

Sometimes, there's a good reason that an item didn't sell during the regular season -- whether it's a skirt that's not cut to fit well or an ugly purse, just because it's got a designer label doesn't mean you should buy it.

9. Bring Cash

While some designers and warehouses accept credit cards and checks, some will only take cash.

10. Avoid Lunch Hour Whenever Possible

From about 11:30 a.m. until 2 p.m. sample sales tend to be at their most crowded with New Yorkers on lunch break trying to find a deal. Try to get to most of your sample sale destinations early to avoid the crowds.r

Jay Z: Found this Great article

12:37 AM Elly Moments

Decoded: 17 Secrets to Jay-Z's Entrepreneurial Success

The record industry is known for chewing musicians up and spitting them out.

Apparently Jay-Z didn't get the memo.

In the last 20 years, Jay-Z (a.k.a. Shawn Carter) has amassed a personal worth of $450 million while turning the music business on its head. Sure, he's had hit records and sold out shows – but the real wealth comes from his businesses (Rocawear and Roc-A-Fella Records).

Keep reading to find out how Jay-Z became not just one of the greatest rappers of all time, but one of the greatest entrepreneurs of the 21^st century.

#1 Hustle

"Without the work, the magic won't come."

Jay-Z, from Decoded

Jay-Z was born Shawn Corey Carter in 1969. He grew up in Marcy, a housing project in Brooklyn, New York City. In 1982, Jay-Z's father left and his mother had to support her family alone. It was by following her example that Jay-Z got his unrelenting work ethic – his hustle.

"Look what I embody: the soul of a hustler."

Jay-Z, from 'What More Can I Say?'

There wasn't a lot of opportunity for ambitious Marcy kids like Shawn. Given the choice between applying for a job at McDonald's or becoming a drug dealer, he chose the latter. In Brooklyn, that was the definition of a hustler: somebody who hit the streets to sell drugs.

But Jay-Z fit another definition of the word hustler: an energetic go-getter. Even as he continued to work as a dealer, Jay-Z never lifted his eyes from the goal of becoming a great rapper. He and his friend Jaz would lock themselves in a room for hours on end, just working on their technique. It's that type of hustle that allowed Jay-Z to develop into one of the greatest rappers of all time.

"I'm far from being god, but I work god damn hard."

Jay-Z, from 'Breathe Easy'

Now Jay-Z runs legitimate businesses instead of selling illegal drugs, but he's still got the energy of hustler. More than anything else, that has been the engine behind his success.

#2 Don't Wait Until You Have Everything You Need

"It just got to a point where it was, like, 'Make this decision, because this is something you really love and you love to do. It's time to really focus on and then get serious about it, give it your all.' And once I did that, it was no looking back from there."

Jay-Z, Interview with Forbes

Jay-Z didn't have a drum kit or Pro Tools growing up, but that didn't stop him from making beats to rap over (he used his fist and a kitchen table).

Likewise, when Jay-Z first started Rock-A-Fella records the company office didn't have desks, computers, or air-conditioning, but the company still put out hit records and turned a profit.

If you want something badly enough, you can make it happen. Don't let imperfect circumstances prevent you from executing your goals.

#3 People Help People who Help Themselves

Young Jay-Z's pounding on the kitchen table annoyed his siblings, but his mom saw something else: a budding passion in her son. She bought her son a boom box for his birthday so that he could continue to grow as a rapper.

If Jay-Z hadn't shown his drive to improve as a rapper, then his mother never would have splurged on a boom box. Since he did, he received a powerful new gift on his artistic journey.

When people see that you are pursuing a goal, they'll want to help. But don't expect any gifts from others until you're doing everything you can to help yourself.

#4 Carry a Notebook with You

As a budding teenager rapper, Jay-Z always had a pencil and paper on him. He remembers, "If I was crossing a street with my friends and a rhyme came to me, I'd break out my binder, spread it on a mailbox or lamppost and write the rhyme before I crossed the street."

Whether you're a writer or an entrepreneur, you never know when inspiration will strike. Make sure you have a way to write it down or record it so you won't forget.

#5 Don't Run Your Mouth

Jay-Z was still struggling to break through into the music business when his collaborator, Jaz, got a big record deal from EMI. Jaz was going to London to record and he wanted Jay-Z to come along.

When Jay-Z told his crew about it, their response was less than enthusiastic. They felt like they were being deserted and told him that rappers were just being used by the music industry.

Of course, Jay-Z ignored their negativity, but he also learned a valuable lesson: sometimes it's best to keep your mouth shut about your aspirations. From then on, Jay-Z says he knew he wanted to get a record deal of his own, but that he "didn't go around talking about it to even [his] closest friends."

It's tempting to share your dreams and goals with people, but be careful not to talk too much. Sometimes even your closest friends and family members won't be able to see your vision and their response will be discouraging. Actions speak louder than words.

#6 Skills are Transferrable

Jay-Z never went to business school. But that hasn't stopped him founding $100 million companies and serving as a co-brand director for Budweiser Select.

While others were out getting their MBA, Jay-Z was learning real-life business skills on the streets. He learned sales, management, and promotion on the streets, so it's no surprise that he slipped comfortably into the many roles of an entrepreneur.

We all have a breadth of experience to draw from. Always keep a look out for how your skills in one field can be used in another.

#7 Know How to Handle Rejection

Jay-Z was turned down by every label in the industry. So did he give up on his dream of becoming a professional rapper? No. He started his own record label.

Jay-Z was offered a weak endorsement deal from Iceberg Apparel, even though Jay's shout-outs for the clothing company were boosting their sales through the roof. So did he accept their offer? No. He started a competing clothing line and sold it ten years later for $200 million.

Jay-Z has an amazing knack for bouncing back from rejection. We would all benefit from adopting this mindset.

#8 Make a Plan

When Jay-Z, Damon Dash, and Kareem Burke founded Roc-A-Fella Records in 1994, they drew up a business plan. Jay recalls, "We made short and long-term projections, we kept it realistic, but the key thing is that we wrote it down, which is as important as visualization in realizing success."

Sometimes we think we know how it's all going to play out in our head, but there's something powerful and clarifying about actually writing things out.

If you haven't already put together a short business plan, do it today. You don't have to follow it exactly (in fact, you probably shouldn't) but having made a plan and wrote it down is invaluable.

#9 Don't Take Your Eyes off the Prize

"You can want success all you want, but to get it, you can't falter. You can't slip. You can't sleep. One eye open, for real, and forever."

Jay-Z, Decoded

It's a common story in the entertainment industry: an up-and-coming artist gets a little taste of success and then everything comes crashing down when they get caught up in the lifestyle (i.e. parties, drugs, and alcohol).

The same thing happens to entrepreneurs. Letting a little bit of success coax you into laziness or over-indulgence is an easy way to run your fledgling business into the ground.

Jay-Z's music and business career took off at simultaneously but he managed to keep a level head. Even when he was selling drugs, he wasn't using them. Even though he rapped about champagne and margaritas, he was only a light drinker. Jay prefers to be sober so that he can, "stay focused on making money."

It's this ability to resist temptation that has allowed Jay-Z to turn his initial success into a business empire that will likely be around long after he's gone.

#10 Dream Enormous

"I'd rather die enormous than live dormant."

Jay-Z, from "Can I live"

As a poor kid growing up in a housing project, nobody ever told Jay-Z he could one day be worth $450 million or that he would pack Madison Square Garden.

But he did have a sixth-grade teacher named Miss Lowden who "must have seen something" in young Shawn Carter. That little show of support gave Jay-Z the confidence to imagine a life beyond the projects.

Accomplishing enormous goals starts with the ability to imagine them and the willingness to pursue them.

Jay-Z's Five Biggest Accomplishments

(1) 14-time Grammy Winner (1999-2012)

(2) Became President and CEO of Def Jam Records (2004)

(3) Jay-Z sold his portion of Rocawear for $204 million (2007)

(4) Most Number One Albums for a Solo Artist on the Billboard 200 (11)

(5) Two Albums ranked in Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time

#11 Art and Business Can (and Should) Co-Exist

The other part of "commercialization" is the idea that artists should only be thinking about their art, not about the business side of what we do… [but] when I committed to a career in rap, I wasn't taking a vow of poverty. I saw it as another hustle, one that happened to coincide with my natural talents and the culture I loved. I was an eager hustler and a reluctant artist. But the irony of it is that to make the hustle work, really work, over the long term, you have to be a true artist, too."

Jay-Z, from Decoded

There's a good reason people think of art and business as mortal enemies. When money starts to influence creative decisions, the art suffers.

But Jay-Z's proven that art and business can actually benefit one another when combined carefully.

#12 Demand Respect

"Either love me or leave me alone."

Jay-Z, from 'Public Service Announcement'

In 1999, Jay-Z won his first Grammy award: Best Rap Album for "Vol. 2… Hard Knock Life."

But he was nowhere to be found at the ceremony that night. Jay-Z had boycotted the Grammys because he "didn't think they gave the rightful respect to hip-hop." So even though attending the event would have been good for Jay's career, he passed it by.

"He who does not feel me is not real to me."

Jay-Z, from 'H to the Izzo'

It wasn't the first time Jay-Z made such a stand.

Since his first album, Jay-Z had been mentioning Cristal (a luxury brand of champagne). But when Frederic Rouzaud, the managing director of the company, disrespected the "bling lifestyle" in The Economist, Jay-Z drew a line in the sand: "That was it for me. I released a statement saying that I would never drink Cristal or promote it in any way or serve it at my clubs ever again."

Jay-Z clearly has zero tolerance for disrespect – and as a result he's very rarely disrespected.

#13 Accept Help from Mentors

Entrepreneurs and artists tend to be strong-minded individuals. Jay-Z is both, but that hasn't stopped him from seeking the guidance of a host of mentors through the years.

A good mentor has already been in your position. That means they can see what steps you need to take and what mistakes you must avoid – all while still giving you room to breathe and grow on your own. If you don't yet have a mentor on your entrepreneurial journey, get one.

Without the role models below, Jay-Z couldn't have become the entrepreneur, rapper, and championship-caliber performer that he is today.

Some of Jay-Z's Mentors:

Russell Simmons – Co-Founder of Def Jam Records

"He'd discovered a way to work in the legit world but to live the dream of the hustler: independence, wealth, and success outside of the mainstream's rule."

The Notorious B.I.G. – Rapper

"I loved that he described what a lot of hustlers were going through in the streets – dissed and feared by teachers and parents and neighbors and cops, broke, working a corner to try to get some bread for basic s*** – as more than some glamorous alternative to having a real job."

Michael Jordan – Six-time NBA Champion

"The thing that distinguished Jordan wasn't just his talent, but his discipline, his laser-like commitment to excellence. That's something I always respect, especially in people who have great natural talents already."

[Excerpts from Decoded]

#14 Ignore Trends

In 2009, the hot trend in hip-hop was auto-tune. T-Pain was scoring hit after hit with perfectly-pitched, synthetic vocals (see Flo Rida's "Low").

But Jay-Z didn't jump on the bandwagon. In fact, his big single that year was called "D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune)." The song was everything auto-tune wasn't: dissonant, noisy, and off-pitch.

Watch the video here.

"D.O.A." won a Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance. But more importantly, it made a statement and allowed Jay-Z to stay true to himself. As he wrote in Decoded, "You can't fake whatever the current trend is if it's not you, because it might work for a second, but it's a house of sand."

Following the latest fad isn't a good strategy for long-term success. You can make a more powerful statement by marching to the beat of your own drum, even if that means standing apart from the crowd.

#15 Start a Blog

In April 2011, Jay-Z dove into a new industry: blogging.

His site, Life + Times features articles on whatever's on Jay's mind: music, sports, technology, and fashion. It's worth checking out just for its sleek, tile-based design.

Why would a rap mogul worth $450 million start a blog?

Jay realized that blogging was more than just another way to speak his mind. Publishing content online allows him to expand his influence and grow a loyal audience – which will ultimately be good for his bottom line.

Note: If you're a regular Income Diary reader, you probably already have a website. If not, then here's a guide on how to get started.

#16 Entrepreneurship Empowers You to Change the World

Jay-Z's success has allowed him to help the world in ways that would never have been possible if he hadn't become an entrepreneur.

Along with P Diddy, Jay-Z donated one million dollars to aid the people of New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina struck in 2005. After meeting with United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan in 2006, Jay-Z pledged to help promote awareness of the global water shortage on his upcoming world tour.

In 2008, US presidential candidate Barack Obama asked Jay-Z to help support his campaign. Jay put on a series of concerts to get out the vote. Just like that, Jay-Z had helped elect the first black president in United States history.

If Jay-Z had stayed selling drugs, he would have kept making good money (though he likely would have been caught before long). But he never would have been able to make the positive impact on the world that he has an artist and entrepreneur.

#17 Have an "Empire State of Mind"

"I'm not a businessman. I'm a business, man."

Jay-Z, from 'Diamonds for Sierra Leone'

The reason Jay-Z is so much wealthier than other entertainers is because he's more than just an entertainer: he's an empire. He has owned night clubs, record labels, clothing lines, restaurants, and he's currently part-owner of the New Jersey Nets.

More than that, Jay-Z learned quickly what other entrepreneurs are just now learning: that business is more personal than ever. He has said, "My brands are an extension of me. They're close to me. It's not like running GM, where there's no emotional attachment."

Jay-Z is his business, he's selling his lifestyle – and we're buying.

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