Vendor Profile ALBERT BLAND By Madeline Egerton he ability to T turn limited resources into opportunity, persevere through challenges, and plan ahead are the defi ning characteristics of a good hustler. Albert Bland, a Denver VOICE vendor since 2005, has learned the skills and hardships of hustling since he began working in early childhood. Experiences both positive and negative have helped him become successful, and well respected in his community. “What transformed me into that way of thinking was turning nothing into something, in a respectable manner though,” Bland said. “Without, you know, doing the wrong thing, such as stealing, shoplifting.” Bland has long understood the importance of having money. He was 5 years old when he started working – raking leaves for a neighbor in Detroit – in 1975. “When I did my fi rst job on my own independently, I enjoyed it. The customer that I worked for, he was tired for me,” Bland recalled, laughing. “I had the energy just to keep going until the job was done right.” That work earned him $5 — just over $30 today calculating for infl ation. After spending a sweltering afternoon cleaning the unkempt yard and accompanied by his neighbor’s praise, Bland discovered his desire and talent for hard work. Through his teen years into adulthood, Bland struggled to avoid the illegal means of hustling that give the term its negative associations. He realized the inconsistent income wasn’t sustainable, so he got a job selling newspapers for the Detroit Free Press. It was diffi cult making ends meet, so Bland 4 returned to hustling, and it wasn’t always positive. “I’m not saying that hustling bad is wrong, but there’s consequences,” Bland said. “I was falling back into that trap again.” The hustle eventually landed Bland in prison: a time he doesn’t like to talk about and he’s put behind him. Then, in 1999, he was transferred to a Colorado penitentiary to serve the remainder of a 12-year prison sentence, and was soon discharged. Now living in a new state, Bland relied on his hustling skills to earn an income. “If you know you can do it, don’t think, don’t talk. Do it. Don’t talk it, walk it,” Bland said. Bland learned about the Denver VOICE in the early 2000s, seeing the paper in newsstands next to Westword and The Onion. “They were in these blue boxes at the old Blake Street bus station. I’ll never forget it,” Bland said. With previous newspaper-selling experience, he became a vendor for the Denver VOICE. This time, he was in control of his own income and how much he could earn. “I’m selling papers with The VOICE,” Bland said. “I was like, ‘Man, you are good at selling papers!’ I’m thinking to myself, ‘All you need is transportation.’” Bland did the math, and if he could sell 100 papers a day, over the course of 50 days, he’d have $5,000 for a used truck. “I knew 50 days was a little extreme, so I gave myself three months,” Bland said. “50 out of 90 days, you should have $5,000, there’s no excuse.” With realistic goals and a strategy to achieve them, Bland was already becoming a small COMMUNITY PROFILE business owner. It was his initial goal to get back to his roots and start a landscaping business. The Denver VOICE was his means of accomplishing it. “The beautiful thing, [why] I’m so grateful for The VOICE, The VOICE has always been here. And I have always been able to fall back on it,” he said. Since joining the Vendor Program more than 20 years ago, Albert has been a top salesman. He earns an income for himself, while drawing attention and donations to the Denver VOICE. Bland’s landscaping business has prospered and he takes pride in his work and client rapport. “[If someone] wants to throw a party at their house and they want their yard taken care of right instantly, they know they can count on me,” Bland said. “I’m at a point in my life now, I gained so much prestige throughout this metro area.” For Bland, hustling has led to responsibilities, including taking care of others. “If I lose responsibility, I lose everything,” Bland said. “You start touching people, and I touched a lot of good people. They rely on me now. Because I’m a good hustler. I hustle for the right reasons.” Bland knew life would offer him nothing if he wasn’t willing to work for it. When wallowing, there’s already a good picture of what’s in store, he says. But he never gave up on himself and understands a good mindset is critical for success. “People [have] to realize that everywhere you go, no matter what you do, you always gotta take you with you,” Bland said. “Every day ain’t gonna be peaches ‘n’ cream. Everyday is not perfect. You gotta take the bitter with the sweet.”
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