I read the entirety of Rich Paul’s “Lucky Me” over two days.
It is raw, reflective, and really shows the tightrope many walk to make it out of systems that leave them with no good options.
After closing it, I sat for a while, thinking about the parts that hit me hardest, and created a set of discussion questions.
Have you picked this book up? Do you plan to?
Rich Paul highlights a thread of precision three times throughout the book.
First when describing his Grandma Johnnie Mae Paul’s schedule, then while explaining the quality of people he has an affinity for, and finally in reference to how he approached the undergraduate chapter of his life.
What’s a thread that has run through your experiences, and what are you doing to welcome more or alter its presence in your future?
When someone significant to Paul passes away, he briefly smiles before he begins to cry. Recall a time when a loss brought relief along with grief.
Paul took ten days to weigh, plan, and execute one of the most consequential decisions of his life. Describe your process to work through decision-making.
Paul asserts sometimes the largest hurdle people face in the hood is seeing beyond their current circumstances. He continues, “To envision a better life, your imagination had to be extraordinary. You had to chase something you never saw with your own eyes.”
What’s something with your name on it that you get to bring to fruition?
Two of my favorite points within the epilogue are:
“Society can accept that poor Black environments instill a hunger drive and savvy that produces great athletes. It’s long overdue for society to accept that we can produce just as many great executives, too.”
&
“I don’t want my legacy to be money, or fame, or my representation of sports superstars. I hope my legacy is that my type of journey becomes the norm.
Paul is clear about his hope for more people who share his background to thrive in spaces where they are rarely visible or welcome.
Were you ever made to feel you didn’t belong because of your uniqueness within a group? In what ways did you resist?
The NCAA created then quickly rescinded what’s been dubbed the Rich Paul Rule. It stated for agents to work with college athletes, they themselves needed to complete an undergraduate degree. In what ways does Rich Paul’s ascent to the highest rung of the sports world challenge the status quo?
