Burrel - ProfilesArchive

About Me

Born May 6th 1967, Burrel earned his stripes on Chicago's notoriously tough West Side. His father, an uncompromising and powerful man, ruled his son with a rod of iron. He drove Burrel hard, relentlessly drumming in the lessons of discipline, self-reliance and accountability. Burrel's mother Gloria, while facing her own personal challenges, provided unconditional love, and support for her eldest son of four children.
While still in his teens, Burrel had become unofficial "Emperor of Chicago" as gang chief of the Cicero Insane Vice Lords, a formidable street gang whose members numbered in the thousands.
And it was at 16 that he left all that behind him. Following his heart, his conscience and his soul, Burrel walked away from a way of life he could no longer be a part of.
Since then Burrel has stood strong in the world of business. He is a natural and gifted entrepreneur, building success by applying his Strategies for Millionaire Magnetismâ„¢ to his personal and professional life.
A gifted entrepreneur, over the years Burrel has owned a number of profitable ventures including a grocery store, luxury car and jewelry dealerships, entertainment and music interests (he still holds the record for Chicago's biggest hip-hop concert in '95), gas stations, and a high-end furniture store. For over sixteen years, he has been partner in Diamond Developments Inc., a new construction group, responsible for thousands of homes and commercial developments in the Chicago area.
Active in the community, Burrel has worked with non-profit group Ready-Set-Work, and in 2001 was featured on ABC Seven's long-running Harry Porterfield segment as "Someone You Should Know." He has been described by the Chicago Defender as a "man of vision, as well as a man of action." However, Burrel knows it's the tough lessons he learned when young--his "Soul's Tattoos" as he calls them--that are the foundation for how he lives his life today. Despite personal tragedy--his son Marshawn was killed in a mindless act of violence in 2002-- he is a man of boundless faith, passion, optimism and integrity.
Today Burrel Lee Wilks III lives between Los Angeles and Chicago, and works nationally, and internationally, as a Life Coach, motivator, and "voice of the inner city." He is a high-energy husband, father, and grandfather as well as passionate advocate for the "power of possibility." A believer that each of us has the power of transformation within ourselves, he promotes a life philosophy based on "acute self-awareness, self-reliance, and relentless resourcefulness."

My Interests

I'd like to meet:

Organizations and individuals who are interested in working with me, to make themselves and their companies, stronger, fitter and more successful. Youth groups and youth organizations, who recognize the power of my story of transformation, and want to bring the message, in a compelling way, to a broader youth audience.

For more info check out streetwisespeaking.com .

Music:

My brother Marcel (a.k.a Mr. Greenweedz), and Liquid Soul.

Movies:

Scarface, Crash, Goodfellas and any old Frank Sinatra movie!

Television:

NBA and good movies.

Books:

My new book, Success for Life, and my memoirs, Tattoos on My Soul!

Heroes:

Frank Sinatras my man--as well as my dad.

My Blog

Stay up with the latest!

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Posted by Burrel on Tue, 12 Feb 2008 07:33:00 PST

BLING RADIO

I had a great interview tonight with Miss Bling, on her Bling Radio show. I had a wonderful time - this sista from Westside Chicago got it goin' on! She's got the hook up for all the best fashio...
Posted by Burrel on Sat, 02 Feb 2008 07:18:00 PST

Clippers game!

My good friend Tara Reid and I went to at last night's LA Clippers game at Staples Center. Even though the regular season don't start until next week, the game was a thriller! The Clippers...
Posted by Burrel on Thu, 25 Oct 2007 11:14:00 PST

Knicks game and the BET Awards

Back in LA and what a weekend! I flew to New York Thursday to watch my man Zach Randolph play in a preseason game for the Knicks. Zach is going to blow up the Big Apple this year, jus...
Posted by Burrel on Tue, 16 Oct 2007 03:28:00 PST

Zuri asks "Is my man scamming me?"

Hey everybody, This is Burrel comin' atcha from Atlanta, where I'm getting ready for the BET Hip Hop Awards, which air next Wednesday night. I've got the hook up for all the poppin' parties this...
Posted by Burrel on Sat, 13 Oct 2007 05:20:00 PST

How do I cope with intensely painful jealousy?

Hello, all you beautiful Myspace people! A reader sent me an email recently, asking about the ol' green headed monster: jealousy. Man, I can't tell you how many people struggle with this one.&nb...
Posted by Burrel on Tue, 09 Oct 2007 03:57:00 PST

How Do I Handle A Cruel Mother-In-Law...

Well, I've sure covered some miles in the last couple of weeks: NY, Venice, Italy, London, Chicago and back to Miami...! I'll post some more photo's next week, but the European leg of the tour was par...
Posted by Burrel on Mon, 07 May 2007 08:37:00 PST

Spring is in the air!

L.A. weather may not have been as bright as it could be lately, but the town sure is! Talking of brightnessI had a brilliant night out with Michael K. Williams from HBO's, the Wire a couple of weeks ...
Posted by Burrel on Thu, 05 Apr 2007 11:26:00 PST

Whirlwind Weeks!

As usual as I sit down to update my blog I'm amazed, and yes, shocked, at how time is hurling by this year. March already! Since we last chatted I've been with clients in Miami at the Superbowl (where...
Posted by Burrel on Wed, 14 Mar 2007 07:08:00 PST

50 Romantic Strategies Guaranteed To Make Her (or Him) Fall In Love All Over Again

Hey, don't you go forgettin' Valentines Day on Wednesday! As I always say: "Fail to prepare--prepare to fail," so just in case you're short on ideas, here's a handy crib sheet for you. My '50 Romantic...
Posted by Burrel on Tue, 13 Feb 2007 04:53:00 PST