Momentum, Consistency, and Selling Books in the Streets at 60
By Relentless Aaron
In 2008, I left New York behind. I left the concrete stages of Harlem, the hustle of Times Square, and the corner where my name rang out louder than the bootleggers and preachers. I traded that concrete jungle for Georgia’s greener pastures. But I never traded my purpose, my drive or my grit.
I’ve been in Georgia nearly two decades now, building, evolving, and still writing. There are some other skills on the table like credit repair, like comic book creation and animated short films. But I’m clear that the streets of New York made me. That grind, that ritual of hand-to-hand book sales—it got me on TV, on the radio, in the New York Times, Time Magazine, Ebony, shit, even NPR, Good Day New York. and some Canadian news company sent a crew for a feature. My hustle and my rocket-ride made the news because it was newsworthy. And I was different than the rest. “Relentless is what we call an outlier” said the legendary film actor and director, Bill Duke before an audience of my 2 dozen friends.
However, this week, I came back. Another internationally recognized news organization flew me in to interview me. And once that was done I found myself drawn back to Times Square. Back to the concrete I once danced on consistently with momentum, with rhythm and purpose. So, sure I came for the major interview—but I brought books too. Because the habit don’t die. The purpose don’t sleep.
But let me be real: the streets ain’t the same. And I’m not 40 anymore. That old momentum, that everyday muscle of selling, that don’t just pop back like muscle memory. Nah, you gotta warm it up. You gotta earn your own respect all over again. That took a whole 24 hours!
And the rejection hit different. The fatigue was real. But then, came the spark. A $30 bundle sale. Then $40. Then $50. Then a woman stopped me and said, “Relentless, I remember you from Clubhouse. I follow you and your queen on Instagram.” Another sale. WHAT???!!!
Another woman on TikTok pulled me into her livestream—her live viewers told her, “If you see Relentless in Times Square, say something.” Another cat did the same. Then a judge walked up and said, “I admired you for years in Harlem. I never forgot how you encouraged others.” She blessed me with $20 on the spot. She didn’t even want a book! “Just wanna support you,” she said.
Then a professor from Atlanta—ATL!—bought a bundle for her two book clubs.
And just like that, momentum was back. Not just money, not just connections—but purpose. That same energy that got me into the New York Times, MTV, Good Day NY, ABC World News, NPR… it lives in me. But only if I keep showing up.
Let this be your reminder: if life’s pushing you, push back. If you’ve fallen off your momentum, get it back. Whether you’re 20 or 60, your purpose doesn’t retire. Your gift doesn’t vanish. Your muscle just needs warming up.
Stay muscled up. Stay moving. Stay Relentless.
