Welcome and Overcoming Limiting Beliefs
Taryell Simmons: Welcome ladies and gentlemen to another episode of Rise Urban Nation. I am your host Taryell Simmons, and I have an amazing guest in the building, Dr. Herbert Harris. How are you this great evening, fine sir?
Dr. Herbert Harris: Incredibly great, Taryell, and I appreciate what you are doing.
Taryell Simmons: Thank you. Dr. Harris reached out to me on Instagram spreading knowledge, and I am honored to share this platform with you. We were discussing how I speak at schools where many young people hold limiting beliefs about what they can achieve. We discussed the need for a paradigm shift, and I would love for you to share your perspective on that as we begin today's podcast.
Dr. Herbert Harris: Our school system has programmed our young people with low expectations. In The Autobiography of Malcolm X, Malcolm shared that when he expressed a desire to be a lawyer, his teacher told him that his kind could not be lawyers and that he should work with his hands. In the public school system, our children are often given a limited paradigm suggesting that unless they play sports or entertain, there is no place for them. As the saying goes, when you know better, you do better, but if that is all you see, you believe that is all there is.
Taryell Simmons: That is a major reason we exist, because you cannot be what you cannot see. Adults also carry limiting beliefs from their upbringing and pass them on to children. You have built an extraordinary career and earned your doctorate. How were you able to break out of that paradigm and achieve where you are today?
Segregated Education and High Expectations
Dr. Herbert Harris: I come from segregated schools in the South. In those days, Black students did not take standard college boards; we took a separate merit scholarship exam. I became the first student from my high school to attend an Ivy League university. We were educated in all-Black schools with Black teachers and principals, and I never had a meaningful conversation with a white person until I was sixteen years old. It was an environment of immense love where teachers held high expectations and assured us that we would achieve greatness. With that strong foundation, I went to Columbia University and eventually became an attorney.
Family Mentorship and Music Industry Insights
Dr. Herbert Harris: My uncle was an attorney, and coming under his mentorship was profound. As people of color, we often see single-generation businesses, so having an experienced family mentor was invaluable. Later, I entered the music industry and published my first book, How to Make Money in Music. During the disco era, I performed at the Apollo Theatre, but artists back then were not capturing the primary profits. When hip-hop artists emerged, they operated underground until they established significant leverage, eventually securing million-dollar deals. While record prices have remained relatively steady over fifty years, rap artists demonstrated how to capture true commercial value.
The Law of Attraction and Teaching Achievement Motivation
Dr. Herbert Harris: One morning during meditation, the thought came to me to teach at the collegiate level. While jogging that very morning, I encountered Dr. Mattie Cook, president of Malcolm-King College in New York. I told her I wanted to teach, and the title Achievement Motivation instantly came to mind. She loved the concept and hired me on the spot.
Taryell Simmons: When you put a thought out into the universe and take action, you begin to attract what you seek.
Dr. Herbert Harris: Thought is energy. According to Einstein's formula E=mc², energy equals mass or manifestation. Whatever you recognize in your mind, you energize in your heart, and whatever you energize in your heart, you realize in your life.
The Twelve Universal Laws of Success
Taryell Simmons: For those who may not know you, how would you introduce Dr. Herbert Harris to the world?
Dr. Herbert Harris: Most people know me from my book, The Twelve Universal Laws of Success, which has sold hundreds of thousands of copies and been translated into nine languages. I initially chose not to include my photograph on the cover because books by Black authors were frequently placed exclusively in the African American section rather than in broader business or self-help sections. When a New York publisher republished it as The Golden Twelve Universal Rules for Achieving Success featuring my picture and a blurb by Dr. George Fraser, it did not reach the same expansive audience. That core book has defined my journey as a transformational teacher rather than merely a motivational speaker.
Taryell Simmons: How did you develop the concept and title for the book?
Dr. Herbert Harris: Twelve represents a spiritual number of completion. It began as ten laws inspired by the Ten Commandments, but higher consciousness guided me to expand it to twelve. The topics originated from the curriculum I developed for non-traditional students at Malcolm-King College. Classic personal development texts like Napoleon Hill's Think and Grow Rich were often overly complex, so I created practical guidelines focusing on how thoughts translate into real-world results, starting with self-identity.
Reclaiming African History and True Heritage
Dr. Herbert Harris: In my book Solving the Race Issue in America, I examine the manipulation of historical education. I had the privilege of studying in Egypt with renowned Black egyptologist Dr. Josef Ben-Jochannan. Egypt is in North Africa, and the Nile originates deep in the heart of the continent. Ancient Black civilizations constructed the pyramids, governed expansive empires, and maintained detailed historical records for thousands of years. Greek scholars such as Herodotus studied in Egypt. In the Cairo Museum, ancient artifacts from central Africa demonstrating early writing, metallurgy, and regal crowns were displayed without dates because acknowledging their antiquity proves advanced African civilizations existed long before European antiquity. We must reclaim this rich heritage and understand that our history extends far beyond enslavement.
Taryell Simmons: Knowledge is empowering because understanding your authentic history makes it impossible to remain trapped in narrow societal stereotypes.
Mission of Transformation and Weekly Mentorship
Taryell Simmons: What is your personal mission in life, and how are you carrying it out?
Dr. Herbert Harris: My mission is to empower over a million people to discover their true identity, recognize their inner powers, and master the practical skills necessary to use those powers for good. For over six years, I have hosted a weekly Saturday morning Success Mentorship class on Zoom, Instagram, and Facebook. We break down practical life planning, goal setting, and daily execution as detailed in Chapter Seven of my book. Once you teach people how to fly, they will never settle for walking.
Key Mentors and the Power of Action Over Fear
Taryell Simmons: Who are three influential figures you look up to and admire?
Dr. Herbert Harris: First is Dr. George Fraser, a trusted friend of nearly forty years whose enduring impact is remarkable. Second is Reverend Ike, a pioneer televangelist who filled massive venues and taught prosperity consciousness before modern media ministries emerged. Third is my uncle Benjamin Sneed, an esteemed attorney who represented icons like Wilt Chamberlain and Jackie Robinson. My uncle taught me how to operate effectively in spite of fear rather than allowing fear to paralyze action.
Family Foundation, Excellence, and Continuous Growth
Dr. Herbert Harris: My mother and my Aunt Lavinia were the foundational rocks of my life. My aunt was a dedicated educator who placed books, pens, and paper in my hands from early childhood. She taught us to value education and pursue excellence in all endeavors. Whatever your profession, perform your work to the absolute best of your ability.
Taryell Simmons: How do you view failure along the path to excellence?
Dr. Herbert Harris: In life, you either win or you learn. Failure is simply a dress rehearsal for success; you fail your way forward. When Thomas Edison was questioned about failing thousands of times before inventing the light bulb filament, he stated that he had successfully identified thousands of methods that did not work. Failure represents proof of effort. As you ascend a mountain, you realize another mountain lies ahead. Continuous growth is essential.
The Fundamental Skill of Learning
Taryell Simmons: What is the single most important skill everyone should cultivate?
Dr. Herbert Harris: The most essential skill is the skill of learning. Through the Life Skill Institute, we teach the SQ3R study system: Survey the entire material, formulate Questions, Read carefully, Review the core concepts, and Recite the knowledge aloud. Once you master the skill of learning, you can acquire any capability and achieve any goal.
Guarding Against Ignorance and Media Deception
Dr. Herbert Harris: My greatest concern for the future is the proliferation of ignorance, deception, and darkness. Just as weeds naturally sprout in untended fertile soil, misinformation flourishes if truth is not actively cultivated. Throughout history, authoritarian regimes have burned books to monopolize information. We must train young minds to analyze information critically, consult multiple sources, and discern objective truth.
Career Transitions, Financial Planning, and Closing Wisdom
Taryell Simmons: What advice do you have for individuals seeking to transition into speaking, writing, or entrepreneurship?
Dr. Herbert Harris: First, clearly define your destination and cost out your transition. When starting a business, recognize that results take time to mature, much like planting corn that requires sixty days before harvest. Establish a financial reserve of six to twelve months so that you can navigate the startup phase without financial desperation. Surround yourself with people who celebrate your presence, maintain a positive attitude, and keep growing.
Taryell Simmons: Where can our audience connect with your work and resources?
Dr. Herbert Harris: All of our books, including The Twelve Universal Laws of Success and Solving the Race Issue in America, as well as our New You Success Bundle and personal consultation bookings, are available at https://herbertharris.com. My final words of wisdom are to be doers of the word, keep growing, and always know that the best is yet to come.
