The Memo

True power in this world comes from economic independence, but too many people have too much month left at the end of their money. John Hope Bryant, founder and CEO of Operation HOPE, illuminates the path toward liberation that is hiding in plain sight. His message is simple: the supermajority of people who live in poverty, whom Bryant calls the invisible class, as well as millions in the struggling middle class, haven’t gotten “the memo”--until now. Building on his personal experience of rising up from economically disadvantaged circumstances and his work with Operation HOPE, Bryant teaches readers five rules that lay the foundation for achieving financial freedom. He emphasizes the inseparable connection between “inner capital” (mindset, relationships, knowledge, and spirit) and “outer capital” (financial wealth and property). “If you have inner capital,” Bryant writes, “you can never be truly poor. If you lack inner capital, all the money in the world cannot set you free.” Bryant gives readers tools for empowerment by covering everything from achieving basic financial literacy to investing in positive relationships and approaching wealth with a completely new attitude. He makes this bold and controversial claim: “Once you have satisfied your basic sustenance needs--food, water, health, and a roof over your head--poverty has more to do with your head than your wallet.” Bryant wants to restore readers’ “silver rights,” giving them the ability to succeed and prosper no matter what very real roadblocks society puts in their way. We have more power than we realize, if only we can recognize and claim it. “We are our first capital,” Bryant writes. “We are the CEOs of our own lives.”

ldquo;We regrettably live in a system of haves and have-nots, and I know nobody working harder than John Hope Bryant to deliver success and resources to those who feel left out. Our Creator intended each of us to share in the Earth’s bounty, and none of us should be without the means to achieve prosperity and wellness. This book explains how to claim your place at the table. “
*—Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu

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  “John Bryant gives us a new understanding of the world in which we live. Normally we approach the world through votes and politics, when ultimate power has always been with the money, and having been ambassador, mayor, congressman, and civil rights leader, I must confess I am still struggling to make sense of the present global economy. Atlanta’s success was clearly that we ignored Washington and went to Wall Street. Washington has $20 trillion, the US government has $20 trillion and $18 trillion in debt. Wall Street has available in excess of $60–70 trillion. Atlanta made the shift to globalization, and our city has grown from about 1.7 million in 1982 to over 6 million presently, and the only explanation that I have is we were willing to reach beyond government debt and politics and engage with the money centers of the planet. The truth of it is, the press and the Congress and the Senate and even the FBI are thinking nationally, but the major decisions of the world are a part of the global economy. Dr. King’s efforts to redeem the soul of America from the triple evils of racism, war, and poverty was right on target, but his vision was stalled by a single bullet. They may have killed a dreamer, but John Bryant continues to pursue the dream that all God’s children are endowed with inalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. The Memo gives suggestions on how we might help ourselves and each other through earning, investing, and managing money.”
  *—Ambassador Andrew Young, Chairman, Andrew J. Young Foundation, and Global Spokesman, Operation HOPE
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  “John captures how our world, with its amazing technological advances, has no space for those who procrastinate. To reimagine what is possible, people need more than just access to financial tools and services. The sense of urgency and ownership he describes can help us to put those tools to work to benefit ourselves and ensure that we won’t have the Internet of Everything without the Inclusion of Everyone.”
  *—Ajay Banga, President and CEO, MasterCard
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  “The Memo is what so many in America need to truly realize their full potential. My life is testimony to just about everything that John has placed in the bindings of this book. I grew up on the rough side of Chicago but found my Identity Project standing next to the playing side of a piano in Seattle. Just that one thing changed the trajectory of my life. And relationship capital—well, next to having talent, of course—this has proven to be everything in my life. I am now a global citizen, with business and partners around the world. I ‘got the memo.’ I have known John Hope Bryant for a long time and can say he has been fighting tirelessly to bridge the gap between the haves and the have-nots. You should read this book. It made my soul smile.”
  *—Quincy Jones, entertainment icon and CEO, Quincy Jones Productions
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  “John Hope Bryant makes a clear and compelling case for taking control of your future by managing your ‘inner capital.’ With The Memo, he shows how to tap into your wisdom, creativity, and intuition to lead a successful, thriving life.”
  *—Arianna Huffington, cofounder and former Editor-in-Chief, The Huffington Post

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  “At a time in our history when it becomes crystal clear that finding untapped hope, discovering untapped opportunity, and believing in people is a core strength in any society—or a company like Delta for that matter—John Hope Bryant shares The Memo. John and I both value ‘relationship capital’—it’s how we met. The Memo is a sort of ‘StrengthsFinder’ for the reader (to quote our friends at Gallup).”
  *—Ed Bastian, CEO, Delta Air Lines

• “John Hope Bryant brings both insight and inspiration to the quest for financial independence. His experience and vision combine to help people help one another and themselves, building a more inclusive economy and a brighter world.” 
  *—Bill Rogers, Chairman and CEO, SunTrust Banks, Inc.
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  "Amid the overabundance of financial advice today, *The Memo *stands apart with its straightforward, five-step guide to leveraging one’s inner strengths toward sustainable economic independence. John Hope Bryant has dedicated his life to educating the poor in financial responsibility, and his simple solutions for navigating a complex landscape are an absolute must-read."
  *—Andrea Jung, CEO, Grameen America, and former Chairman and CEO, Avon Products
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  “Our future is indentured so long as so many of our students and families are in debt. John Hope Bryant is leading the charge to help each of us free ourselves from this burden. We all will be better off if we get The Memo!”
  *—Benjamin Jealous, Partner, Kapor Capital, and former President and CEO, NAACP
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  “*The Memo *is a clear and compelling course in self-reliance and self-sufficiency . . . prescribing a new world order where opportunities are ubiquitous and may be accessed without the burden of economic encumbrance.”
  —Lisa Borders, President, Women’s National Basketball Association

“John Hope Bryant offers a simple message for personal success and a better world: respect and believe in yourself, build something that inspires you and helps others, live within your means, keep your promises, and invest in a home for your family. These…