1 00:00:01,240 --> 00:00:05,040 Speaker 1: I'm with Lucas and this is Black Tech, Green Money. 2 00:00:05,360 --> 00:00:08,920 Speaker 1: Justin Grant is a corporate executive and author of Company Men, 3 00:00:09,320 --> 00:00:12,000 Speaker 1: A Wellness Guy for Black Men in Corporate America, which 4 00:00:12,039 --> 00:00:15,600 Speaker 1: is out now. In this conversation, we explore how black 5 00:00:15,600 --> 00:00:18,680 Speaker 1: men and women for that matter, can leverage their corporate 6 00:00:18,680 --> 00:00:22,320 Speaker 1: careers to build generational wealth in how mandates like return 7 00:00:22,400 --> 00:00:26,119 Speaker 1: to office policies impact black professionals. I'm really interested in 8 00:00:26,160 --> 00:00:28,800 Speaker 1: your take on this because we often talk about in 9 00:00:28,840 --> 00:00:31,920 Speaker 1: our community how I've heard women's had a lot that 10 00:00:31,960 --> 00:00:33,640 Speaker 1: they may have hit a glass ceiling and they couldn't 11 00:00:33,680 --> 00:00:35,959 Speaker 1: go any further and they may not even have known it. 12 00:00:36,440 --> 00:00:39,279 Speaker 1: How do you know, if you're a black professional, that 13 00:00:39,360 --> 00:00:41,159 Speaker 1: you've hit a glass ceiling. 14 00:00:42,920 --> 00:00:45,760 Speaker 2: That's a very good question, and you know, it's one 15 00:00:45,800 --> 00:00:49,839 Speaker 2: that I think about from time to time. You know, 16 00:00:49,920 --> 00:00:53,960 Speaker 2: it can be a point of continued frustration when you're 17 00:00:54,000 --> 00:00:57,400 Speaker 2: trying to climb the ladder. You're trying to attain a 18 00:00:57,440 --> 00:01:00,319 Speaker 2: certain type of position. You know, you see that you 19 00:01:00,360 --> 00:01:04,000 Speaker 2: have the qualifications, you see that you meet the criteria, 20 00:01:04,040 --> 00:01:06,640 Speaker 2: that you have the connections and the expertise, but for 21 00:01:06,680 --> 00:01:10,959 Speaker 2: whatever reason, you're not getting those opportunities to climb to 22 00:01:11,000 --> 00:01:13,640 Speaker 2: the next level, and that it really all boils down 23 00:01:13,680 --> 00:01:17,840 Speaker 2: to just getting the opportunity. Because one of the things 24 00:01:17,840 --> 00:01:20,600 Speaker 2: that I have realized in my career, and you know, 25 00:01:20,640 --> 00:01:24,399 Speaker 2: I've been blessed to have served as an advisor to 26 00:01:24,640 --> 00:01:29,720 Speaker 2: CEOs at major corporations, I've held senior level roles, and 27 00:01:29,840 --> 00:01:33,120 Speaker 2: you realize that the people that are across from you 28 00:01:33,360 --> 00:01:37,559 Speaker 2: or above you on the corporate ladder are not more 29 00:01:37,640 --> 00:01:41,480 Speaker 2: extraordinary than you. They were just given an opportunity. And 30 00:01:42,280 --> 00:01:44,280 Speaker 2: I think that's what it all boils down to. But 31 00:01:44,400 --> 00:01:48,080 Speaker 2: to recognize, you know, whether or not you've hit that ceiling. 32 00:01:48,240 --> 00:01:52,320 Speaker 2: I mean, have you been passed over for an opportunity? 33 00:01:52,360 --> 00:01:54,680 Speaker 2: Have you raised your hand for something that you believe 34 00:01:54,760 --> 00:01:58,600 Speaker 2: could help expand your career and you weren't given an opportunity. 35 00:02:00,240 --> 00:02:03,640 Speaker 2: Do you find yourself in positions where you're not being 36 00:02:03,680 --> 00:02:07,480 Speaker 2: given an opportunity to stretch beyond what your capabilities are, 37 00:02:07,640 --> 00:02:10,679 Speaker 2: because that's how you grow in being put in those 38 00:02:10,720 --> 00:02:16,240 Speaker 2: positions where you're challenged to work beyond what it was 39 00:02:16,280 --> 00:02:19,959 Speaker 2: that you were capable of. You know, you don't You're 40 00:02:19,960 --> 00:02:21,680 Speaker 2: not going to be able to achieve greatness if you 41 00:02:21,680 --> 00:02:25,160 Speaker 2: don't get the chance to attempt greatness and so but 42 00:02:25,320 --> 00:02:29,400 Speaker 2: recognizing if I've been passed over for jobs and I've gone. 43 00:02:29,120 --> 00:02:31,240 Speaker 3: Through this in my career, where you know, an. 44 00:02:31,160 --> 00:02:34,560 Speaker 2: Opportunity opens up, maybe a senior leader leaves a role 45 00:02:34,600 --> 00:02:36,839 Speaker 2: and the leader that you reported into, and you're like, hey, 46 00:02:36,880 --> 00:02:39,040 Speaker 2: wait a second, you know, I know how this is done. 47 00:02:39,280 --> 00:02:43,720 Speaker 2: I basically built this particular program, put me in coach, 48 00:02:43,800 --> 00:02:45,519 Speaker 2: let me, let me get the opportunity. 49 00:02:45,520 --> 00:02:47,280 Speaker 3: I'm ready to be Mike. I don't want to be 50 00:02:47,320 --> 00:02:48,200 Speaker 3: Scotty anymore. 51 00:02:48,360 --> 00:02:51,720 Speaker 2: And if you get passed over, then you know, recognize 52 00:02:51,760 --> 00:02:54,280 Speaker 2: that you might have hit a ceiling in that current 53 00:02:55,360 --> 00:02:58,720 Speaker 2: corporate environment. It might be time to find a new team. 54 00:02:59,200 --> 00:03:01,119 Speaker 1: I like what you said about, you know, sometimes being 55 00:03:01,200 --> 00:03:04,119 Speaker 1: challenged to and I think about it in the way, 56 00:03:04,160 --> 00:03:07,400 Speaker 1: like you know, to use your sports analogy. They're like, 57 00:03:07,440 --> 00:03:10,800 Speaker 1: if you if your coach is not on you, like 58 00:03:11,040 --> 00:03:13,880 Speaker 1: you know, pushing down, like he may have just or 59 00:03:13,919 --> 00:03:16,000 Speaker 1: she may have just like dismissed, like Okay, that kid's 60 00:03:16,040 --> 00:03:19,360 Speaker 1: not going anywhere. But if your coach is like on you, 61 00:03:19,520 --> 00:03:24,480 Speaker 1: like yo, will yo justin I need more out of you, 62 00:03:24,880 --> 00:03:28,000 Speaker 1: they probably see something that has yet to been you know, 63 00:03:28,320 --> 00:03:29,840 Speaker 1: brought to the surface. 64 00:03:30,080 --> 00:03:32,079 Speaker 3: What would you say to that, I. 65 00:03:32,040 --> 00:03:35,480 Speaker 2: Mean absolutely, you know, I think if a leader is 66 00:03:36,200 --> 00:03:38,440 Speaker 2: you know, challenging you in that way, I would say, 67 00:03:38,560 --> 00:03:42,000 Speaker 2: You're blessed to be reporting into a good leader. You're 68 00:03:42,000 --> 00:03:46,080 Speaker 2: blessed to be reporting into somebody who cares about developing talent. 69 00:03:47,120 --> 00:03:51,240 Speaker 2: You know, not everybody who winds up in that managerial 70 00:03:51,400 --> 00:03:56,320 Speaker 2: seat is necessarily a good manager, because a good manager 71 00:03:56,640 --> 00:04:01,840 Speaker 2: is focused on helping the talent that reports into them 72 00:04:02,880 --> 00:04:08,920 Speaker 2: maximize their career. They're focused on helping that talent expand 73 00:04:09,000 --> 00:04:11,640 Speaker 2: their capabilities so that you, as a leader, can even 74 00:04:11,720 --> 00:04:14,160 Speaker 2: grow out of your job and do other big things. 75 00:04:14,280 --> 00:04:14,520 Speaker 3: Right. 76 00:04:14,920 --> 00:04:18,000 Speaker 2: So, folks that are really good at leadership in a 77 00:04:18,040 --> 00:04:24,760 Speaker 2: corporate setting are those that are willing to and excited about, 78 00:04:25,120 --> 00:04:27,920 Speaker 2: you know, giving talent an opportunity to grow and develop. 79 00:04:27,960 --> 00:04:31,360 Speaker 2: And I manage you know, VP level talent. I've managed 80 00:04:31,440 --> 00:04:35,279 Speaker 2: VP level talent in my career, and you know, it's 81 00:04:35,400 --> 00:04:39,480 Speaker 2: it's been rewarding for me to be able to give 82 00:04:39,560 --> 00:04:43,000 Speaker 2: somebody a blank canvas so that they can grow and 83 00:04:43,080 --> 00:04:45,840 Speaker 2: they can develop. It actually makes my life easier, right, 84 00:04:45,880 --> 00:04:48,279 Speaker 2: I don't want to manage somebody who I have to 85 00:04:48,360 --> 00:04:51,240 Speaker 2: tell them ABC and D, this is how the job 86 00:04:51,320 --> 00:04:51,800 Speaker 2: is done. 87 00:04:51,960 --> 00:04:54,520 Speaker 3: Like, I'd like to be able to give folks room 88 00:04:54,600 --> 00:04:56,760 Speaker 3: to be creative. And the reality is. 89 00:04:56,720 --> 00:04:59,560 Speaker 2: That's the height of this human existence, right when we 90 00:04:59,600 --> 00:05:05,040 Speaker 2: get that opportunity to create and to tap into things 91 00:05:05,080 --> 00:05:07,240 Speaker 2: that we didn't know that you know. 92 00:05:07,720 --> 00:05:09,359 Speaker 3: Were possible for us. 93 00:05:09,440 --> 00:05:12,200 Speaker 2: So, when you're working for a manager that allows you 94 00:05:12,240 --> 00:05:15,000 Speaker 2: to do that, I think you're in a very good spot. 95 00:05:15,400 --> 00:05:18,919 Speaker 3: And if you're dealing with somebody who does not care. 96 00:05:18,720 --> 00:05:21,440 Speaker 2: About developing your talent, you know, you have to seek 97 00:05:21,480 --> 00:05:24,320 Speaker 2: out those opportunities yourself. You know, you have to seek 98 00:05:24,320 --> 00:05:28,080 Speaker 2: out professional development opportunities. You might have to seek out 99 00:05:28,160 --> 00:05:30,599 Speaker 2: opportunities to. 100 00:05:29,880 --> 00:05:32,160 Speaker 3: Take on volunteer or stretch assignments. 101 00:05:32,320 --> 00:05:34,400 Speaker 2: You have to get creative in your career if you 102 00:05:34,480 --> 00:05:37,680 Speaker 2: find yourself in a place where you're reporting into somebody 103 00:05:37,680 --> 00:05:41,599 Speaker 2: that doesn't care about developing your talent, because ultimately, you 104 00:05:41,680 --> 00:05:43,560 Speaker 2: got to be the CEO of your own career. 105 00:05:43,800 --> 00:05:47,680 Speaker 1: Yeah, that's right. Why is it critical to have both 106 00:05:47,720 --> 00:05:50,120 Speaker 1: a mentor and a sponsor? Actually talk about what the 107 00:05:50,160 --> 00:05:52,560 Speaker 1: difference between a mentor and a sponsor is, and then 108 00:05:52,640 --> 00:05:55,359 Speaker 1: like why is it critical crucial to have both? 109 00:05:56,040 --> 00:05:59,880 Speaker 2: I love that distinction, because an executive sponsor is not 110 00:06:00,040 --> 00:06:00,520 Speaker 2: a mentor. 111 00:06:00,600 --> 00:06:05,320 Speaker 3: Those are two entirely different roles. So a mentor, you know, 112 00:06:05,320 --> 00:06:07,440 Speaker 3: And I think back to when I was early on 113 00:06:07,480 --> 00:06:10,040 Speaker 3: in my career, my first job. 114 00:06:10,279 --> 00:06:13,920 Speaker 2: I was working for major international news organization, and I'd 115 00:06:14,040 --> 00:06:17,800 Speaker 2: literally gone from being the editor of a college newspaper 116 00:06:17,839 --> 00:06:21,880 Speaker 2: to now covering financial markets for you know, a major 117 00:06:21,920 --> 00:06:25,960 Speaker 2: wire service. And I needed somebody in that newsroom who 118 00:06:26,000 --> 00:06:30,000 Speaker 2: could help me to understand how to do the job well. 119 00:06:30,680 --> 00:06:32,919 Speaker 2: I needed somebody who I could figure out how do 120 00:06:32,960 --> 00:06:35,800 Speaker 2: I pattern, like, pattern my game after this person a 121 00:06:35,839 --> 00:06:39,719 Speaker 2: little bit and learn the nuances of what it took 122 00:06:39,800 --> 00:06:44,359 Speaker 2: to be successful in that particular line of work. You know, 123 00:06:44,360 --> 00:06:48,200 Speaker 2: we all need somebody to model ourselves after, you know, 124 00:06:48,320 --> 00:06:50,560 Speaker 2: That's that's how we learn. A lot of times you 125 00:06:50,600 --> 00:06:53,119 Speaker 2: see somebody and then you attempt. 126 00:06:52,839 --> 00:06:54,080 Speaker 3: What it is that they're doing. 127 00:06:54,279 --> 00:06:58,159 Speaker 2: And so this was a gentleman that you know, he 128 00:06:58,200 --> 00:07:02,200 Speaker 2: allowed me. I was stuck covering a particular beat around 129 00:07:02,200 --> 00:07:06,200 Speaker 2: the initial public offering market. I didn't know anything about IPOs, 130 00:07:06,240 --> 00:07:08,880 Speaker 2: and if you're not familiar with what an IPO is, 131 00:07:08,920 --> 00:07:11,480 Speaker 2: that's when a company decides to go public, they sell 132 00:07:11,520 --> 00:07:14,600 Speaker 2: shares in themselves so that they can raise money. And 133 00:07:14,640 --> 00:07:17,520 Speaker 2: I had to write about, you know, the hot IPOs. 134 00:07:17,560 --> 00:07:20,760 Speaker 2: I didn't know anything about this, so I cultivated the 135 00:07:20,840 --> 00:07:23,920 Speaker 2: guy who previously had that job to kind of teach 136 00:07:23,960 --> 00:07:25,800 Speaker 2: me the ins and outs of that role. 137 00:07:25,880 --> 00:07:28,760 Speaker 3: I studied his file, he let me bounce ideas off 138 00:07:28,760 --> 00:07:29,040 Speaker 3: of him. 139 00:07:29,040 --> 00:07:32,960 Speaker 2: He became a mentor for me in that room, and 140 00:07:34,080 --> 00:07:35,520 Speaker 2: as a black man, I also. 141 00:07:35,320 --> 00:07:37,160 Speaker 3: Have to bring up this distinction as well. 142 00:07:37,880 --> 00:07:40,440 Speaker 2: There was another brother who worked at that company I need, 143 00:07:40,480 --> 00:07:42,160 Speaker 2: so that was the professional mentor. 144 00:07:42,240 --> 00:07:44,720 Speaker 3: But I was trying to find my comfort. 145 00:07:44,440 --> 00:07:49,160 Speaker 2: Zone as a black male in that predominantly white newsroom. 146 00:07:49,320 --> 00:07:52,000 Speaker 2: And you know, when you're young and inexperienced, you know, 147 00:07:52,000 --> 00:07:54,600 Speaker 2: those nuances socially can be a little bit challenging. 148 00:07:55,160 --> 00:07:57,280 Speaker 3: And I found an older brother at that firm. 149 00:07:57,320 --> 00:08:00,880 Speaker 2: He was part of our black business resource group, and 150 00:08:00,960 --> 00:08:03,840 Speaker 2: he helped me to just feel comfortable from a social 151 00:08:04,080 --> 00:08:08,080 Speaker 2: standpoint in the firm, because you cannot do your best 152 00:08:08,120 --> 00:08:12,440 Speaker 2: work if you don't feel psychologically safe, and if you 153 00:08:12,480 --> 00:08:15,680 Speaker 2: don't feel psychologically safe, you're not really gonna last. And 154 00:08:15,760 --> 00:08:18,640 Speaker 2: somebody who can help you to cultivate that can be 155 00:08:18,640 --> 00:08:21,240 Speaker 2: a big help. So those are the types of mentors 156 00:08:21,240 --> 00:08:23,160 Speaker 2: I've had, and I've gone on to have other types 157 00:08:23,200 --> 00:08:25,360 Speaker 2: of mentors. I think when you start a new job, 158 00:08:25,440 --> 00:08:28,320 Speaker 2: it's important to have somebody in there that can mentor 159 00:08:28,360 --> 00:08:31,840 Speaker 2: you in the ways of that particular company. But I 160 00:08:31,880 --> 00:08:35,600 Speaker 2: love that you brought up the question and the distinction 161 00:08:35,720 --> 00:08:41,760 Speaker 2: of mentorship versus sponsorship, because the only way you're gonna 162 00:08:41,760 --> 00:08:45,360 Speaker 2: get those promotions, the only way you're gonna climb the ladder, 163 00:08:45,600 --> 00:08:48,880 Speaker 2: is if you have an executive sponsor who has your back. 164 00:08:49,280 --> 00:08:53,040 Speaker 2: An executive sponsor is somebody who they're in a senior 165 00:08:53,120 --> 00:08:57,600 Speaker 2: level seat. They have political capital within their company, and 166 00:08:58,320 --> 00:09:01,800 Speaker 2: folks that are at that level they're incentivized to try 167 00:09:01,960 --> 00:09:04,520 Speaker 2: and you know, develop some. 168 00:09:04,440 --> 00:09:05,839 Speaker 3: Proteges, right. 169 00:09:06,120 --> 00:09:10,079 Speaker 2: You know, it helps their political capital if they identify 170 00:09:10,440 --> 00:09:15,000 Speaker 2: the next hot shot that can come in and kill it, right, 171 00:09:15,080 --> 00:09:17,679 Speaker 2: That lets that leader be seen as somebody that should 172 00:09:17,679 --> 00:09:19,480 Speaker 2: be doing even bigger things in the company. 173 00:09:19,840 --> 00:09:21,760 Speaker 1: You're just doing this because they care. 174 00:09:22,000 --> 00:09:24,680 Speaker 3: No, it's not just out of the goodness of their heart. 175 00:09:24,960 --> 00:09:28,199 Speaker 2: You know, if you're if you're an executive and you 176 00:09:28,280 --> 00:09:32,400 Speaker 2: sponsor the wrong person that could diminish you, like you 177 00:09:32,480 --> 00:09:35,680 Speaker 2: put this person on, are you kidding me, you know, 178 00:09:35,880 --> 00:09:40,319 Speaker 2: and so definitely there's an incentive now there are nuances 179 00:09:40,320 --> 00:09:41,160 Speaker 2: for black talent. 180 00:09:42,280 --> 00:09:44,280 Speaker 3: I've had three executive. 181 00:09:43,720 --> 00:09:46,800 Speaker 2: Sponsors in my career will all three were white men, 182 00:09:47,240 --> 00:09:50,000 Speaker 2: and I will always be grateful to them. And this 183 00:09:50,040 --> 00:09:52,079 Speaker 2: is the other challenge, you know, and doing research for 184 00:09:52,200 --> 00:09:55,120 Speaker 2: my book, one of the most unfortunate things that I 185 00:09:55,240 --> 00:10:00,640 Speaker 2: discovered is that sometimes black executive don't want to sponsor 186 00:10:00,720 --> 00:10:04,840 Speaker 2: black talent out of fear of seeming like they're just trying. 187 00:10:04,520 --> 00:10:06,280 Speaker 3: To, you know, put other black people on. 188 00:10:07,280 --> 00:10:09,439 Speaker 2: That's a challenge and so you know, I'm issuing a 189 00:10:09,559 --> 00:10:13,400 Speaker 2: challenge to leaders out there, particularly in this environment, you know, 190 00:10:13,520 --> 00:10:16,119 Speaker 2: where we seem to be going the other way. 191 00:10:16,000 --> 00:10:18,719 Speaker 3: On inclusion, Like, you know, don't be. 192 00:10:18,720 --> 00:10:22,880 Speaker 2: Shy about sponsoring somebody that is a person from a 193 00:10:23,000 --> 00:10:27,600 Speaker 2: marginalized population, you know. But to cultivate that, you have 194 00:10:27,679 --> 00:10:29,920 Speaker 2: to be a superstar at your job. And I don't 195 00:10:29,920 --> 00:10:31,640 Speaker 2: care what your race is, I don't care what your 196 00:10:31,679 --> 00:10:34,600 Speaker 2: gender is. If you want an executive sponsor, you got 197 00:10:34,600 --> 00:10:37,199 Speaker 2: to be good at what you do. The other thing 198 00:10:37,200 --> 00:10:40,160 Speaker 2: that you have to do is you have to cultivate relationships. 199 00:10:40,960 --> 00:10:44,959 Speaker 2: You have to make friends in high places, and you 200 00:10:45,040 --> 00:10:47,680 Speaker 2: got to be bold about this, right, Squeaky wheel gets 201 00:10:47,720 --> 00:10:51,840 Speaker 2: the oil. You know, don't be afraid to grab coffee 202 00:10:51,840 --> 00:10:55,160 Speaker 2: with people, don't be afraid to ask people out to 203 00:10:55,240 --> 00:10:58,760 Speaker 2: lunch and see what the vibe is with the particular leader. 204 00:10:58,760 --> 00:11:01,520 Speaker 2: And if the vibe is there, you know, then you 205 00:11:01,559 --> 00:11:03,719 Speaker 2: start to cultivate that relationship. 206 00:11:03,720 --> 00:11:06,400 Speaker 3: And if the vibe is not, you keep it moving. 207 00:11:06,440 --> 00:11:09,679 Speaker 2: But you're never gonna get ahead without an executive sponsor. 208 00:11:09,720 --> 00:11:12,600 Speaker 2: And my challenge to people of color who work in 209 00:11:12,640 --> 00:11:16,240 Speaker 2: these environments is, you know, you can't just sit back 210 00:11:16,240 --> 00:11:17,000 Speaker 2: and expect that. 211 00:11:17,000 --> 00:11:17,880 Speaker 3: To fall in your lap. 212 00:11:17,960 --> 00:11:21,440 Speaker 2: Sometimes environments sometimes you fall on good soil and sometimes 213 00:11:21,440 --> 00:11:21,839 Speaker 2: you don't. 214 00:11:21,880 --> 00:11:22,959 Speaker 3: And I get it, and. 215 00:11:22,920 --> 00:11:26,120 Speaker 2: Maybe you're in an environment where it's not possible. But 216 00:11:26,240 --> 00:11:28,240 Speaker 2: if you're in a place that you feel comfortable, I 217 00:11:28,240 --> 00:11:33,040 Speaker 2: think it's important to cultivate sponsorship. And the other thing, too, 218 00:11:33,520 --> 00:11:37,280 Speaker 2: Will is there's three types of friends I think everyone 219 00:11:37,360 --> 00:11:40,680 Speaker 2: needs to have in corporate America. 220 00:11:40,840 --> 00:11:43,080 Speaker 3: So you definitely need to have friends. 221 00:11:43,080 --> 00:11:45,559 Speaker 2: And I'm using the word for and intentionally, but this 222 00:11:45,640 --> 00:11:47,720 Speaker 2: is really about networking. And I have a whole chapter 223 00:11:47,760 --> 00:11:50,760 Speaker 2: on the secrets to networking the right way, but you 224 00:11:50,840 --> 00:11:52,440 Speaker 2: got to have three types of friends. 225 00:11:52,440 --> 00:11:55,880 Speaker 3: It's part of that network, right, You got to network 226 00:11:56,080 --> 00:12:01,920 Speaker 3: with people on your level, your peers. Iron sharpens iron. Right, 227 00:12:02,040 --> 00:12:04,000 Speaker 3: You're always you're always. 228 00:12:03,679 --> 00:12:06,320 Speaker 2: Competing with folks at your level, whether you know it 229 00:12:06,400 --> 00:12:10,680 Speaker 2: or not. In corporate America, they might be your friend, 230 00:12:11,320 --> 00:12:15,080 Speaker 2: but you're at the same level. This competition for the 231 00:12:15,160 --> 00:12:19,440 Speaker 2: select few promotions that are gonna go out or bonus 232 00:12:19,480 --> 00:12:21,200 Speaker 2: pool money and they deciding. 233 00:12:20,880 --> 00:12:22,040 Speaker 3: Who gets the biggest share. 234 00:12:22,520 --> 00:12:25,280 Speaker 2: There's always competition, but definitely you want to have friends 235 00:12:25,280 --> 00:12:28,320 Speaker 2: within that network that's at your level. The second type 236 00:12:28,320 --> 00:12:30,480 Speaker 2: of friend that you got to have is you got 237 00:12:30,480 --> 00:12:32,720 Speaker 2: to mentor. You gotta be a mentor to somebody else. 238 00:12:33,559 --> 00:12:35,800 Speaker 2: Even if you're an entry level employee, you need to 239 00:12:35,800 --> 00:12:38,679 Speaker 2: be mentoring somebody that's about to graduate and going to 240 00:12:38,720 --> 00:12:39,400 Speaker 2: corporate America. 241 00:12:39,400 --> 00:12:41,680 Speaker 3: Because when you serve as a mentor. 242 00:12:41,360 --> 00:12:46,440 Speaker 2: To somebody, it's another way of holding yourself accountable. I'm 243 00:12:46,480 --> 00:12:48,920 Speaker 2: not gonna be worthy of being seen as a mentor 244 00:12:49,000 --> 00:12:52,200 Speaker 2: by somebody if I don't have my thing together, if 245 00:12:52,240 --> 00:12:54,480 Speaker 2: I'm not worthy of being their mentor. 246 00:12:54,520 --> 00:12:56,360 Speaker 3: So it's a way of keeping yourself sharp. 247 00:12:56,800 --> 00:12:59,520 Speaker 2: That person that you're mentoring is going to hold you 248 00:12:59,559 --> 00:13:02,720 Speaker 2: account and then the third type of friend. It gets 249 00:13:02,760 --> 00:13:06,600 Speaker 2: back to your question around sponsorship. The third type of 250 00:13:06,640 --> 00:13:09,360 Speaker 2: friend you want to have when you work in corporate America. 251 00:13:09,520 --> 00:13:13,439 Speaker 2: You want your boss's peers in other departments to know 252 00:13:13,480 --> 00:13:16,200 Speaker 2: who you are and to be in your network and 253 00:13:16,240 --> 00:13:19,120 Speaker 2: to be folks that will when your name comes up 254 00:13:20,080 --> 00:13:24,360 Speaker 2: when they're deciding who to promote or who to you know, 255 00:13:24,559 --> 00:13:25,720 Speaker 2: give the bigger bonus to. 256 00:13:25,920 --> 00:13:28,640 Speaker 3: Yeah, I know that I know that person. Yeah, I 257 00:13:28,720 --> 00:13:31,679 Speaker 3: vouch for them. So you know, I think that's the distinction. 258 00:13:32,000 --> 00:13:35,200 Speaker 3: And it's not easy. I don't think it's easy for anybody, 259 00:13:35,440 --> 00:13:37,880 Speaker 3: whether you're black, white, or whatever. But there's a nuance 260 00:13:37,960 --> 00:13:39,640 Speaker 3: to it for black talent. 261 00:13:39,760 --> 00:13:44,240 Speaker 2: And that's how I think about that distinction between mentorship 262 00:13:44,360 --> 00:13:45,640 Speaker 2: and sponsorship. 263 00:13:46,440 --> 00:13:48,280 Speaker 1: How do you know when it's time to leave a 264 00:13:48,360 --> 00:13:50,000 Speaker 1: job versus when they just stay and fight? 265 00:13:51,679 --> 00:13:53,960 Speaker 3: So I love that question as well, man. 266 00:13:54,840 --> 00:13:56,520 Speaker 2: And it's almost like you read the book, because I 267 00:13:56,520 --> 00:13:58,760 Speaker 2: have a whole chapter called knowing when to stand on 268 00:13:58,800 --> 00:14:04,320 Speaker 2: your convictions and know when uh to leave, when to 269 00:14:04,360 --> 00:14:06,920 Speaker 2: when to let go? And in terms of you know, 270 00:14:07,080 --> 00:14:10,240 Speaker 2: leaving a job, first of all, if you've been at 271 00:14:10,240 --> 00:14:15,760 Speaker 2: the same level for three years, you're underpaid, like if 272 00:14:15,760 --> 00:14:18,200 Speaker 2: you've been doing that same job for three years and 273 00:14:18,240 --> 00:14:20,320 Speaker 2: you you're you're under even if you've been getting the 274 00:14:20,720 --> 00:14:24,760 Speaker 2: regular standard you know, raises three percent of whatever it is, 275 00:14:25,240 --> 00:14:28,560 Speaker 2: you're probably underpaid. You got to test your market value 276 00:14:29,360 --> 00:14:32,040 Speaker 2: and whether that's internal external, whether. 277 00:14:31,800 --> 00:14:33,840 Speaker 3: You work at a large firm. So you know, in 278 00:14:33,920 --> 00:14:36,080 Speaker 3: the NBA, I'm a die hard NBA fan. 279 00:14:36,200 --> 00:14:39,000 Speaker 2: They the contracts are up every three or four years, 280 00:14:39,040 --> 00:14:41,160 Speaker 2: they become a free agent, they move on to get 281 00:14:41,160 --> 00:14:44,320 Speaker 2: the payday. You gotta think of yourself like that. You gotta, 282 00:14:44,480 --> 00:14:47,120 Speaker 2: you know, don't be shy about testing your market value. 283 00:14:47,360 --> 00:14:50,240 Speaker 2: Don't be shy about interviewing as well, to just keep 284 00:14:50,280 --> 00:14:54,200 Speaker 2: your ear to the street, to to sharpen your ability 285 00:14:54,240 --> 00:14:56,960 Speaker 2: to tell your story about who you are in your career. 286 00:14:58,080 --> 00:15:01,520 Speaker 2: So so definitely, you know, around three years if you're not, 287 00:15:02,800 --> 00:15:05,200 Speaker 2: I think three years is you know, a long enough 288 00:15:05,240 --> 00:15:08,520 Speaker 2: time around knowing whether or not you should leave a job. 289 00:15:08,560 --> 00:15:10,200 Speaker 2: The other thing that you got to be careful of 290 00:15:10,440 --> 00:15:13,680 Speaker 2: if you sit in a job too long is obsolescence. 291 00:15:13,720 --> 00:15:17,080 Speaker 3: Brother, you don't want to obsolete yourself. 292 00:15:17,840 --> 00:15:20,320 Speaker 2: You have to you know, we have these these phones, 293 00:15:20,400 --> 00:15:23,520 Speaker 2: these devices, and they're continually making. 294 00:15:23,240 --> 00:15:25,800 Speaker 3: You download the new software periodically. 295 00:15:26,120 --> 00:15:28,840 Speaker 2: We got to be downloaded, right, We need new knowledge, 296 00:15:28,880 --> 00:15:32,720 Speaker 2: and you know you learn by putting yourself in positions 297 00:15:32,760 --> 00:15:35,120 Speaker 2: where you're going to be challenged. You know, after I've 298 00:15:35,160 --> 00:15:37,160 Speaker 2: been in a job for about three years, I'm saying 299 00:15:37,160 --> 00:15:40,360 Speaker 2: to myself, how else can I make a contribution? And 300 00:15:40,440 --> 00:15:42,640 Speaker 2: even if you stay in the same company, how else 301 00:15:42,640 --> 00:15:46,240 Speaker 2: can you make a contribution to that particular company. 302 00:15:46,320 --> 00:15:48,240 Speaker 3: You know, you don't want to type cast yourself. And 303 00:15:48,360 --> 00:15:50,440 Speaker 3: the other piece, too, will is life. 304 00:15:50,240 --> 00:15:54,280 Speaker 2: Is too long to sit there and just do the 305 00:15:54,440 --> 00:15:57,720 Speaker 2: same job over and over again. The years of folks, 306 00:15:58,200 --> 00:16:00,920 Speaker 2: you know, working for a company for twenty five years 307 00:16:01,800 --> 00:16:02,800 Speaker 2: doing the same job. 308 00:16:03,840 --> 00:16:04,840 Speaker 3: That's over man. 309 00:16:05,120 --> 00:16:07,560 Speaker 2: You know, companies, whether you realize it or not, the 310 00:16:07,640 --> 00:16:11,320 Speaker 2: ground is always shifting beneath our feet, and you know 311 00:16:11,440 --> 00:16:14,239 Speaker 2: you put yourself at risk. There's always got to be reorcs, 312 00:16:14,880 --> 00:16:18,800 Speaker 2: this mass layoffs, and you know you can't be too comfortable. 313 00:16:18,880 --> 00:16:22,240 Speaker 2: I think the comfort zone could be a very dangerous place. 314 00:16:22,240 --> 00:16:22,520 Speaker 3: Brother. 315 00:16:23,480 --> 00:16:26,200 Speaker 1: You know, there's I'm sure you might have seen the 316 00:16:26,480 --> 00:16:29,240 Speaker 1: Jamie Diamond talks about getting back into office, you know, 317 00:16:29,400 --> 00:16:32,400 Speaker 1: the whole rant he went on about. You know, folks 318 00:16:32,400 --> 00:16:34,600 Speaker 1: at JP Morgan Chase, need to get back in the office, 319 00:16:34,600 --> 00:16:35,280 Speaker 1: et cetera, et cetera. 320 00:16:35,360 --> 00:16:35,560 Speaker 3: Center. 321 00:16:35,600 --> 00:16:37,960 Speaker 1: So I'm interested in your take on this because I 322 00:16:38,000 --> 00:16:43,120 Speaker 1: was talking to some very prominent black entrepreneurs and vcs 323 00:16:43,320 --> 00:16:47,240 Speaker 1: recently and they were talking about why we do need 324 00:16:47,240 --> 00:16:49,240 Speaker 1: to go back to the office, and it was because 325 00:16:49,560 --> 00:16:54,480 Speaker 1: from their perspective, particularly Black people need that face time. 326 00:16:54,600 --> 00:16:58,120 Speaker 1: Is when you're on Zoom or you're on WebEx or 327 00:16:58,120 --> 00:17:01,120 Speaker 1: whatever you're using, like, you missed opportunity to build those 328 00:17:01,120 --> 00:17:03,600 Speaker 1: relationships that you trip over when you're in the office, 329 00:17:04,240 --> 00:17:07,040 Speaker 1: and so so many folks on the other side of 330 00:17:07,040 --> 00:17:10,439 Speaker 1: the like, but there's other parts of my life that 331 00:17:10,560 --> 00:17:13,280 Speaker 1: make me able to do this job because I'm either 332 00:17:13,400 --> 00:17:15,560 Speaker 1: hybrid or I don't even live in the same place 333 00:17:15,600 --> 00:17:18,480 Speaker 1: that my employer is, you know, located or whatever. So 334 00:17:18,520 --> 00:17:23,439 Speaker 1: I'm just interested in your take on this, this wave 335 00:17:23,600 --> 00:17:27,080 Speaker 1: going back to return to office. There's some people still 336 00:17:27,119 --> 00:17:30,760 Speaker 1: holding on to, you know, this hybrid or remote work foundation. 337 00:17:31,200 --> 00:17:33,440 Speaker 1: But I'm interested in how you see this playing out 338 00:17:33,800 --> 00:17:37,040 Speaker 1: for us, particularly black entrepreneurs creatives. 339 00:17:37,320 --> 00:17:43,120 Speaker 2: So, on the one hand, I have seen commentaries around 340 00:17:43,640 --> 00:17:46,960 Speaker 2: how black people benefited in some respects from being able 341 00:17:47,000 --> 00:17:50,040 Speaker 2: to work remotely, because you know, there was a sense 342 00:17:50,080 --> 00:17:53,240 Speaker 2: of all right, I'm not dealing with microaggressions or you know, 343 00:17:53,359 --> 00:17:57,960 Speaker 2: I'm not dealing with some of the uncomfortable social aspects 344 00:17:58,000 --> 00:18:01,119 Speaker 2: that can happen to a person of color, you know, 345 00:18:01,320 --> 00:18:08,439 Speaker 2: working in an office setting. But but honestly, man, I 346 00:18:08,440 --> 00:18:11,320 Speaker 2: think we got to put fear aside, right, you know, 347 00:18:11,359 --> 00:18:13,960 Speaker 2: there's certain aspects of life. We're just going We've been 348 00:18:14,040 --> 00:18:16,800 Speaker 2: dealt certain cards, and we have to play those. 349 00:18:16,680 --> 00:18:19,200 Speaker 3: Cards, you know, as best we can. 350 00:18:19,359 --> 00:18:23,160 Speaker 2: And you know, my perspective is, and I'm a creative guy, right, 351 00:18:24,280 --> 00:18:27,399 Speaker 2: I get energy off of being able to connect with 352 00:18:27,480 --> 00:18:29,720 Speaker 2: other people and bounce ideas off. 353 00:18:29,600 --> 00:18:30,399 Speaker 3: Of other people. 354 00:18:30,600 --> 00:18:33,160 Speaker 2: You know, I've done some of my best work from 355 00:18:33,200 --> 00:18:36,160 Speaker 2: a creative standpoint when I've been when I've been able 356 00:18:36,200 --> 00:18:36,880 Speaker 2: to be in a room. 357 00:18:37,000 --> 00:18:38,680 Speaker 3: You see me in front of a white boar. You know, 358 00:18:38,760 --> 00:18:39,960 Speaker 3: let's go in there, let's white boar. 359 00:18:40,040 --> 00:18:44,000 Speaker 2: Let's you know, so I understand the logic behind let's 360 00:18:44,040 --> 00:18:46,159 Speaker 2: get people back in the office and let's you know, 361 00:18:47,320 --> 00:18:51,440 Speaker 2: get to work. I think people like flexibility in their lives, 362 00:18:51,720 --> 00:18:53,359 Speaker 2: you know. I think, you know, we've a lot of 363 00:18:53,400 --> 00:18:55,720 Speaker 2: people have been working a certain way over a five 364 00:18:55,800 --> 00:18:56,480 Speaker 2: year period. 365 00:18:56,520 --> 00:18:59,280 Speaker 3: But I'm not mad at the idea that you know, 366 00:18:59,359 --> 00:19:00,360 Speaker 3: people need to. 367 00:19:00,119 --> 00:19:03,520 Speaker 2: Be together, right, human beings, we are social animals, right, 368 00:19:03,560 --> 00:19:05,639 Speaker 2: We're made to be together. 369 00:19:05,680 --> 00:19:07,280 Speaker 3: That's what a magic happens, right. 370 00:19:07,920 --> 00:19:11,720 Speaker 2: You know, I struggle with sitting on zooms all day, 371 00:19:12,000 --> 00:19:15,080 Speaker 2: you know, being I remember that year when the pandemic happened. 372 00:19:15,119 --> 00:19:17,560 Speaker 2: I was It felt like I was chained to my computer, 373 00:19:18,520 --> 00:19:20,680 Speaker 2: like your house was a prison. Because you wake up 374 00:19:21,000 --> 00:19:24,280 Speaker 2: and it's the minute you open that laptop, you're at work, 375 00:19:24,280 --> 00:19:26,040 Speaker 2: and then you close it. It's just like you're always 376 00:19:26,080 --> 00:19:29,560 Speaker 2: at work, you know, working like that. And you know, 377 00:19:29,600 --> 00:19:31,560 Speaker 2: I'm a big fan of getting out of. 378 00:19:31,480 --> 00:19:34,240 Speaker 3: The house, putting on some nice clothes. You need a 379 00:19:34,280 --> 00:19:34,920 Speaker 3: reason to shave. 380 00:19:35,040 --> 00:19:36,720 Speaker 2: I'm going to the barb to get the spirit ass 381 00:19:36,800 --> 00:19:39,159 Speaker 2: up tomorrow because I got more in office meetings, you know, 382 00:19:39,200 --> 00:19:44,480 Speaker 2: I like that interaction for people who work remote, I'm 383 00:19:44,520 --> 00:19:47,640 Speaker 2: a big proponent of you know, have you ever been 384 00:19:47,640 --> 00:19:50,480 Speaker 2: to the industrious co working space? You know, this is 385 00:19:50,600 --> 00:19:53,639 Speaker 2: like free advertising for them, but I think it's a 386 00:19:53,680 --> 00:19:57,439 Speaker 2: wonderful space because even if you don't work with other people, 387 00:19:57,480 --> 00:20:01,719 Speaker 2: you're around other human beings. Is an energy that's flowing, 388 00:20:01,760 --> 00:20:05,160 Speaker 2: and I think that from a creative standpoint, we suffer 389 00:20:05,400 --> 00:20:08,880 Speaker 2: when you know, folks are not in settings together. That's 390 00:20:08,920 --> 00:20:12,479 Speaker 2: that's my perspective. I think people don't like feeling forced 391 00:20:12,480 --> 00:20:13,240 Speaker 2: into things. 392 00:20:13,440 --> 00:20:17,800 Speaker 3: You know, I don't. I don't think people like to. 393 00:20:17,840 --> 00:20:21,440 Speaker 2: Feel as if, you know, there's some overseer that's controlling 394 00:20:21,520 --> 00:20:25,560 Speaker 2: their lives. So I get, you know, uh, where folks 395 00:20:25,560 --> 00:20:29,119 Speaker 2: that are the detractors are coming from. But definitely I 396 00:20:29,240 --> 00:20:31,719 Speaker 2: understand what those creatives are saying. I understand what the 397 00:20:31,760 --> 00:20:35,480 Speaker 2: CEOs are saying that, you know, human beings, we benefit 398 00:20:35,520 --> 00:20:37,560 Speaker 2: from being around each other. And then the other piece 399 00:20:37,600 --> 00:20:40,119 Speaker 2: will is our economy benefits from folks being out of 400 00:20:40,119 --> 00:20:42,480 Speaker 2: the out of the house, right. You know, we we've 401 00:20:42,480 --> 00:20:45,840 Speaker 2: been in a big commercial real estate drought for a 402 00:20:45,840 --> 00:20:49,000 Speaker 2: long time now. You know, I'm in the New York 403 00:20:49,080 --> 00:20:52,080 Speaker 2: metropolitan area. A lot of businesses have suffered. I used 404 00:20:52,080 --> 00:20:54,120 Speaker 2: to love Roast Kitchen. That's where I went to grab 405 00:20:54,160 --> 00:20:56,160 Speaker 2: lunch from time to time. They went out of business, 406 00:20:56,640 --> 00:20:59,399 Speaker 2: So businesses have suffered. You know, I think it's better that, 407 00:21:00,119 --> 00:21:02,639 Speaker 2: you know, we get up and we get out and 408 00:21:03,000 --> 00:21:03,919 Speaker 2: get together again. 409 00:21:04,760 --> 00:21:06,520 Speaker 1: You know, I want to talk a little bit about 410 00:21:06,560 --> 00:21:10,359 Speaker 1: like how we manage ourselves from you know, that's the 411 00:21:10,440 --> 00:21:16,040 Speaker 1: foundational levels like sleep, diet, exercise, and being corporate athletes 412 00:21:16,240 --> 00:21:20,000 Speaker 1: in a way, how do we manage how do you 413 00:21:20,119 --> 00:21:22,439 Speaker 1: recommend we manage ourselves so that we can bring that 414 00:21:22,520 --> 00:21:23,000 Speaker 1: a game. 415 00:21:23,520 --> 00:21:24,080 Speaker 3: Yeah. 416 00:21:24,119 --> 00:21:28,760 Speaker 2: So the best investment that we can ever make, the 417 00:21:28,800 --> 00:21:35,720 Speaker 2: best investment that we will ever make, it's in ourselves, and. 418 00:21:34,840 --> 00:21:36,159 Speaker 3: That starts with our body. 419 00:21:36,280 --> 00:21:40,000 Speaker 2: We are a body, you know, and you know in 420 00:21:40,040 --> 00:21:44,320 Speaker 2: my book I talk about black men in particular, we 421 00:21:44,400 --> 00:21:48,359 Speaker 2: have the second lost life expectancy of any demographic in 422 00:21:48,359 --> 00:21:50,639 Speaker 2: this country. The only people who are living shorter lives 423 00:21:50,680 --> 00:21:56,439 Speaker 2: are are brothers from the Alaska Native American population. And 424 00:21:56,560 --> 00:21:59,960 Speaker 2: you know a lot of us we hit the gym, 425 00:22:00,160 --> 00:22:03,320 Speaker 2: we work out, but we don't go to the doctor. 426 00:22:04,520 --> 00:22:09,800 Speaker 2: You know, the stresses of corporate life. Because we are 427 00:22:09,840 --> 00:22:12,239 Speaker 2: black men, they might hit our bodies a little bit 428 00:22:12,280 --> 00:22:15,360 Speaker 2: differently than they hit other people's bodies. You know, we're 429 00:22:15,400 --> 00:22:18,840 Speaker 2: more likely to have hypertension and you know, heart disease 430 00:22:18,920 --> 00:22:22,399 Speaker 2: and certain types of ailments. I think it all starts 431 00:22:22,440 --> 00:22:27,160 Speaker 2: with you got to go to the doctor. And I'm employing. 432 00:22:26,760 --> 00:22:28,000 Speaker 3: Brothers, you know, to go. 433 00:22:28,040 --> 00:22:33,600 Speaker 2: I've lost a couple of industry colleagues. The brother that 434 00:22:33,640 --> 00:22:35,760 Speaker 2: I worked with, he died at the age of forty 435 00:22:35,800 --> 00:22:39,720 Speaker 2: five of a heart ailment this past January. Another brother 436 00:22:39,800 --> 00:22:42,119 Speaker 2: that I work for, he works that I know, He 437 00:22:42,200 --> 00:22:47,080 Speaker 2: works for an NBA team and suffered a massive stroke. 438 00:22:47,119 --> 00:22:49,520 Speaker 3: He's not even forty years old yet. You know. 439 00:22:49,920 --> 00:22:53,920 Speaker 2: In my book Company Men, I interview brothers who they 440 00:22:53,960 --> 00:22:57,119 Speaker 2: talk about the effects of stress on their bodies. And 441 00:22:57,680 --> 00:23:00,359 Speaker 2: you know, one brother I interviewed, he was working on 442 00:23:00,400 --> 00:23:03,080 Speaker 2: a campaign and it didn't go well, and it. 443 00:23:03,119 --> 00:23:05,600 Speaker 3: Caused his company to lose a billion dollars in sales. 444 00:23:06,040 --> 00:23:08,359 Speaker 2: He goes to the doctor, you know, during that time, 445 00:23:08,400 --> 00:23:10,800 Speaker 2: and the doctor says, brother, you can't live with your 446 00:23:10,800 --> 00:23:12,520 Speaker 2: blood pressure is high. 447 00:23:12,560 --> 00:23:14,040 Speaker 3: And then he gets fired from the job. 448 00:23:14,080 --> 00:23:16,680 Speaker 2: And then his blood pressure normalizes, you know, right after 449 00:23:16,720 --> 00:23:17,359 Speaker 2: he gets fired. 450 00:23:17,440 --> 00:23:20,640 Speaker 3: So we have to recognize that there is. 451 00:23:20,600 --> 00:23:23,560 Speaker 2: A certain level of stress that comes from working in 452 00:23:23,600 --> 00:23:25,800 Speaker 2: corporate America. But we got to stay on top of 453 00:23:25,840 --> 00:23:28,919 Speaker 2: our bodies. Step number one is going to the doctor. 454 00:23:29,000 --> 00:23:31,880 Speaker 2: Step number two is the type of food that we're 455 00:23:31,920 --> 00:23:32,920 Speaker 2: putting in our bodies. 456 00:23:33,200 --> 00:23:35,920 Speaker 3: There's a lot of garbage out there. There's a lot of. 457 00:23:37,359 --> 00:23:40,000 Speaker 2: Easy to get, it's cheap, there's ads that are trying 458 00:23:40,040 --> 00:23:42,879 Speaker 2: to brainwash us to eat a lot of this garbage. 459 00:23:43,320 --> 00:23:45,680 Speaker 2: It feels good to eat some junk food after you've 460 00:23:45,680 --> 00:23:49,399 Speaker 2: had a stressful day, but you know, it's garbage in 461 00:23:49,480 --> 00:23:52,600 Speaker 2: and garbage out, and longevity for me has definitely become 462 00:23:52,640 --> 00:23:55,360 Speaker 2: a focus for black men because when we die at 463 00:23:55,440 --> 00:23:59,040 Speaker 2: our peak earning years, that's lost wealth that contributes to 464 00:23:59,080 --> 00:24:02,080 Speaker 2: the racial wealth. Get yeah, and I loved you brought 465 00:24:02,119 --> 00:24:04,800 Speaker 2: up that analogy. We have to train for this, like athletes, 466 00:24:05,280 --> 00:24:07,560 Speaker 2: you want that, you want that c sweet job, you 467 00:24:07,600 --> 00:24:09,840 Speaker 2: want to break through the glass ceiling, You're not going to. 468 00:24:09,840 --> 00:24:13,640 Speaker 3: Get there if you're sick. You know, they gonna give it. 469 00:24:13,600 --> 00:24:16,040 Speaker 2: To the healthy people. So we got to take care 470 00:24:16,080 --> 00:24:18,600 Speaker 2: of ourselves and I will. I'm seeing too many brothers 471 00:24:19,119 --> 00:24:22,080 Speaker 2: between the ages like thirty five and fifty that are 472 00:24:22,160 --> 00:24:28,400 Speaker 2: suffering from stress related ailments that I think lifestyle choices 473 00:24:28,800 --> 00:24:31,680 Speaker 2: can help fix. And then we got to figure out 474 00:24:32,000 --> 00:24:35,800 Speaker 2: better mechanisms for dealing with stress as black men. 475 00:24:37,080 --> 00:24:38,960 Speaker 1: You know, often when I talk to. 476 00:24:40,440 --> 00:24:42,400 Speaker 3: Corporate people or people who have. 477 00:24:42,359 --> 00:24:46,040 Speaker 1: Been in the corporate part of this versus entrepreneurs or investors, 478 00:24:47,040 --> 00:24:50,480 Speaker 1: I want to ask this question about generational wealth because 479 00:24:50,560 --> 00:24:53,480 Speaker 1: it is assumed that you can't build it with a job. 480 00:24:54,200 --> 00:24:56,800 Speaker 1: And I'd like you to touch on your view and 481 00:24:56,920 --> 00:25:00,760 Speaker 1: how because this podcast is for people whether they're in technology, 482 00:25:00,760 --> 00:25:06,840 Speaker 1: building technology, leveraging technology, and interested in wealth, how. 483 00:25:06,600 --> 00:25:08,159 Speaker 3: Do you build it with? 484 00:25:08,680 --> 00:25:11,199 Speaker 1: You know the proverbial nine to five or you know, 485 00:25:11,480 --> 00:25:14,560 Speaker 1: when you're checking in and you're not the CEO, you're 486 00:25:14,600 --> 00:25:16,200 Speaker 1: not the owner, you're not the president. 487 00:25:16,720 --> 00:25:22,119 Speaker 2: Yeah time, brother, right, you work in corporate America. You 488 00:25:22,160 --> 00:25:25,720 Speaker 2: can become a millionaire and you do it. 489 00:25:25,720 --> 00:25:29,280 Speaker 3: It's four letters. It's not the most glamorous thing. Four 490 00:25:29,400 --> 00:25:35,120 Speaker 3: O one K. You know, and I have friends they trade, 491 00:25:35,240 --> 00:25:39,000 Speaker 3: and I all respect to that. But you always have. 492 00:25:38,920 --> 00:25:41,760 Speaker 2: To be buying into the stock market every two weeks, 493 00:25:42,480 --> 00:25:44,000 Speaker 2: buying into that stock market. 494 00:25:44,119 --> 00:25:44,320 Speaker 3: You know. 495 00:25:44,800 --> 00:25:47,919 Speaker 2: Number one, you got to build a budget. Understand what 496 00:25:47,960 --> 00:25:50,520 Speaker 2: you're spending on housing and some of the food and 497 00:25:50,520 --> 00:25:51,639 Speaker 2: the day to day expenses. 498 00:25:51,720 --> 00:25:54,080 Speaker 3: Build a budget. But you know, max out that four 499 00:25:54,080 --> 00:25:54,560 Speaker 3: to one k. 500 00:25:55,480 --> 00:25:57,720 Speaker 2: And you know, one of the things that I stress 501 00:25:58,320 --> 00:26:02,159 Speaker 2: is set it and forget it, Set it and forget it. 502 00:26:02,520 --> 00:26:04,960 Speaker 2: Max that sucker out. And as you grow in your 503 00:26:05,000 --> 00:26:08,280 Speaker 2: career and you're making those six figure salaries, brother, you 504 00:26:08,359 --> 00:26:11,080 Speaker 2: can be in your forties and already a millionaire or 505 00:26:11,119 --> 00:26:14,480 Speaker 2: close to it if you're just disciplined about setting it 506 00:26:14,680 --> 00:26:17,200 Speaker 2: and forgetting it. And then also if you change jobs, 507 00:26:17,400 --> 00:26:20,240 Speaker 2: don't cast that thing out because there's major tax penalties 508 00:26:20,240 --> 00:26:22,920 Speaker 2: with that. Roll it into an IRA. So that's step 509 00:26:23,000 --> 00:26:25,800 Speaker 2: number one is build your four one K. Step number two, 510 00:26:26,600 --> 00:26:30,440 Speaker 2: if you're able to do this, build a solid cushion 511 00:26:30,440 --> 00:26:32,400 Speaker 2: of savings. And I'm talking like a year or two 512 00:26:32,440 --> 00:26:37,639 Speaker 2: of savings, like build a solid foundation of cash. And 513 00:26:37,640 --> 00:26:40,639 Speaker 2: then once you have cash now you can start to 514 00:26:40,680 --> 00:26:44,199 Speaker 2: get creative and start thinking about diversified income streams and 515 00:26:44,240 --> 00:26:45,840 Speaker 2: private equity and things like that. 516 00:26:45,920 --> 00:26:49,840 Speaker 3: But for me, the baseline is you get that four 517 00:26:49,880 --> 00:26:50,320 Speaker 3: to one. 518 00:26:50,280 --> 00:26:56,359 Speaker 2: K right, you manage your credit strategically, you know, all 519 00:26:56,440 --> 00:26:59,160 Speaker 2: right to live a little right like life is meant 520 00:26:59,200 --> 00:27:01,640 Speaker 2: to be enjoy. I want you to enjoy the gravy, 521 00:27:02,640 --> 00:27:07,280 Speaker 2: right that matters. But definitely you can build generational wealth. 522 00:27:07,560 --> 00:27:11,480 Speaker 2: You can build a multimillion dollar portfolio doing everything that 523 00:27:11,560 --> 00:27:12,200 Speaker 2: I just said. 524 00:27:12,680 --> 00:27:15,440 Speaker 3: And also I'm a big proponent of get you some 525 00:27:15,600 --> 00:27:16,200 Speaker 3: real estate. 526 00:27:16,240 --> 00:27:18,760 Speaker 2: If you're able to do that, I know we're in 527 00:27:18,800 --> 00:27:22,040 Speaker 2: the midst of an affordability crisis in our country, and 528 00:27:22,119 --> 00:27:25,240 Speaker 2: maybe you can't afford a house in your market, but 529 00:27:25,320 --> 00:27:28,480 Speaker 2: maybe you can buy an investment property somewhere else and 530 00:27:28,880 --> 00:27:31,080 Speaker 2: put some tenets in that and have them build an 531 00:27:31,119 --> 00:27:33,840 Speaker 2: equity for you. Every time they make that mortgage payment. 532 00:27:34,040 --> 00:27:36,200 Speaker 2: You can build a little bit of cash flow for yourself. 533 00:27:36,560 --> 00:27:40,560 Speaker 2: I'm a big proponent of house hacking as well. You 534 00:27:40,640 --> 00:27:44,120 Speaker 2: might buy a multifamily, you live in one, you ran 535 00:27:44,200 --> 00:27:47,639 Speaker 2: out the others, and those people are giving you cash flow, 536 00:27:47,760 --> 00:27:49,280 Speaker 2: and you're building. 537 00:27:48,960 --> 00:27:52,280 Speaker 3: Wealth through that equity. So that's how I tend to 538 00:27:52,280 --> 00:27:52,760 Speaker 3: think about it. 539 00:27:52,800 --> 00:27:55,240 Speaker 2: You can be a corporate dude. It's not glamorous. You 540 00:27:55,240 --> 00:27:57,560 Speaker 2: don't have to be the CEO. You don't have to 541 00:27:57,600 --> 00:28:01,840 Speaker 2: be an entrepreneur. God bless odds. Everybody ain't built like that, 542 00:28:01,880 --> 00:28:05,600 Speaker 2: and that's okay. But you can get to millionaire status 543 00:28:05,720 --> 00:28:07,280 Speaker 2: doing everything I just talked about. 544 00:28:08,240 --> 00:28:11,840 Speaker 1: You know, there's this push not every corporation, but there's 545 00:28:11,920 --> 00:28:16,600 Speaker 1: many corporations following suit with you know, this administration's pushed 546 00:28:16,640 --> 00:28:21,959 Speaker 1: towards removing DEI, dismantling those programs, and pressuring you know, 547 00:28:22,160 --> 00:28:26,000 Speaker 1: those many corporations to follow suit. How do you see 548 00:28:26,080 --> 00:28:31,000 Speaker 1: that impacting black folks ability to continue to climb the ladder. 549 00:28:31,760 --> 00:28:36,040 Speaker 3: So I love that you asked this question. And I've 550 00:28:36,080 --> 00:28:37,200 Speaker 3: been reflecting a lot. 551 00:28:37,359 --> 00:28:40,800 Speaker 2: We're still in Black History Month, and I've been reflecting 552 00:28:40,840 --> 00:28:46,400 Speaker 2: a lot on something Frederick Douglas said after emancipation. And 553 00:28:46,440 --> 00:28:48,960 Speaker 2: I'm gonna paraphrase because I don't remember the whole quote, 554 00:28:48,960 --> 00:28:49,280 Speaker 2: but I'm. 555 00:28:49,160 --> 00:28:52,400 Speaker 3: Gonna give me the spirit of what Frederick Douglas said. 556 00:28:52,760 --> 00:28:57,440 Speaker 2: They basically asked him, mister Douglas, you know black people 557 00:28:57,480 --> 00:29:01,040 Speaker 2: have been emancipated. What should the government do with them? 558 00:29:01,120 --> 00:29:04,120 Speaker 2: What should the government do for them? And his response 559 00:29:04,320 --> 00:29:07,520 Speaker 2: was nothing, y'all have done enough. 560 00:29:08,240 --> 00:29:12,360 Speaker 3: Okay, we leave us to ourselves. Leave us be, let's 561 00:29:12,360 --> 00:29:16,400 Speaker 3: build ourselves up. And at this moment in time, you know, 562 00:29:16,440 --> 00:29:16,880 Speaker 3: we're in a. 563 00:29:16,880 --> 00:29:23,480 Speaker 2: Very volatile moment from a political standpoint globally right, and 564 00:29:23,600 --> 00:29:27,520 Speaker 2: you know, institutions are influx. And I think at this moment, 565 00:29:27,560 --> 00:29:29,960 Speaker 2: when all of our institutions are in flux and they're 566 00:29:29,960 --> 00:29:32,120 Speaker 2: figuring out how they want to deal with certain types 567 00:29:32,120 --> 00:29:34,600 Speaker 2: of things, I think now is the time for us 568 00:29:34,640 --> 00:29:37,680 Speaker 2: to just look inward. I think now's the time for 569 00:29:37,800 --> 00:29:40,360 Speaker 2: us to come together. You know, I'm going to be. 570 00:29:40,320 --> 00:29:43,040 Speaker 3: Building a company men community, and we're going to create 571 00:29:43,080 --> 00:29:44,520 Speaker 3: an open form on Zoom. 572 00:29:44,560 --> 00:29:48,120 Speaker 2: We're gonna just bring brothers on, sisters, whoever, and we're 573 00:29:48,160 --> 00:29:50,560 Speaker 2: going to talk about these issues and we're going to 574 00:29:50,640 --> 00:29:54,240 Speaker 2: lift each other up. But right now, while all of that's, 575 00:29:54,320 --> 00:29:57,280 Speaker 2: you know, being debated, I think we got to look inward, 576 00:29:57,680 --> 00:29:59,520 Speaker 2: you know what I'm saying. And the other thing too 577 00:29:59,640 --> 00:30:04,440 Speaker 2: is John O'Brien. He said something very interesting. He was 578 00:30:04,480 --> 00:30:06,320 Speaker 2: on a podcast. I saw a clip the other day, 579 00:30:06,320 --> 00:30:09,120 Speaker 2: I don't remember which podcast. It was Cam Newton's podcast, 580 00:30:09,840 --> 00:30:14,560 Speaker 2: and asked him about Di and John O'Brien. He basically said, look, 581 00:30:14,640 --> 00:30:17,240 Speaker 2: you know, we're going to be a majority minority country 582 00:30:17,320 --> 00:30:23,160 Speaker 2: by twenty forty five. You look at black Hispanic Latino populations. 583 00:30:23,480 --> 00:30:28,040 Speaker 2: That's four point six trillion dollars in consumer spending alone, right, 584 00:30:28,680 --> 00:30:32,560 Speaker 2: And any company that wants to capture. 585 00:30:32,120 --> 00:30:35,920 Speaker 3: That share, you know, right, four point six trillion. 586 00:30:35,920 --> 00:30:39,080 Speaker 2: Brother, that's bigger than the UK's economy, that's bigger than 587 00:30:39,120 --> 00:30:41,280 Speaker 2: Germany's economy, that's bigger than France. 588 00:30:41,320 --> 00:30:43,320 Speaker 3: I mean, that's power. 589 00:30:43,880 --> 00:30:46,160 Speaker 2: And I don't think any company in their right mind 590 00:30:46,240 --> 00:30:48,800 Speaker 2: wants to alienate those consumers. 591 00:30:48,840 --> 00:30:51,640 Speaker 3: And I think, you know, if you want to capture 592 00:30:51,680 --> 00:30:54,720 Speaker 3: that dollar, you recognize that you. 593 00:30:54,720 --> 00:30:56,960 Speaker 2: Got to be able to market to those populations. And 594 00:30:57,000 --> 00:30:59,600 Speaker 2: you can't market to those populations if you don't understand 595 00:30:59,600 --> 00:31:03,520 Speaker 2: those relationships. You can't understand those populations if you don't 596 00:31:03,520 --> 00:31:07,400 Speaker 2: have the right level of representation in your company. So, 597 00:31:08,080 --> 00:31:10,320 Speaker 2: in spite of all of the rhetoric, you know, I'm 598 00:31:10,360 --> 00:31:13,800 Speaker 2: just looking at the numbers. You know, I live in data. 599 00:31:14,040 --> 00:31:17,080 Speaker 2: I've spent my career in financial services. What story is 600 00:31:17,120 --> 00:31:20,760 Speaker 2: the data telling us? And let's just follow what it says. 601 00:31:20,800 --> 00:31:24,160 Speaker 2: And it's a numbers game. And anybody who's against that, 602 00:31:24,840 --> 00:31:27,000 Speaker 2: we don't believe you. You need more people, you know. 603 00:31:26,960 --> 00:31:27,480 Speaker 3: What I'm saying. 604 00:31:28,480 --> 00:31:30,560 Speaker 1: Tell us about the book, Jess, where can we get it? 605 00:31:31,200 --> 00:31:32,360 Speaker 1: Is it out all of that? 606 00:31:33,080 --> 00:31:33,360 Speaker 3: Yeah? 607 00:31:33,400 --> 00:31:36,320 Speaker 2: So, Company Men, A Wellness Guide for Black Men in 608 00:31:36,360 --> 00:31:41,480 Speaker 2: Corporate America is available at all major retailers, Amazon, Barnes, 609 00:31:41,520 --> 00:31:43,680 Speaker 2: and Noble, just to name two off the top of 610 00:31:43,760 --> 00:31:47,560 Speaker 2: my head. The audiobook is coming out on March eighteenth. 611 00:31:48,040 --> 00:31:52,360 Speaker 2: And you know the book I analyze. I interviewed dozens 612 00:31:52,360 --> 00:31:54,280 Speaker 2: of black men who work in corporate America, and I 613 00:31:54,360 --> 00:31:55,120 Speaker 2: chose One. 614 00:31:54,960 --> 00:31:56,600 Speaker 3: Of my little cousins said, just why are you to 615 00:31:56,640 --> 00:31:57,640 Speaker 3: talk about the ladies? 616 00:31:58,040 --> 00:32:01,920 Speaker 2: And I said, listen, I chose to focus on men 617 00:32:02,040 --> 00:32:05,720 Speaker 2: because this book is in large part autobiographical. It's also 618 00:32:05,840 --> 00:32:09,000 Speaker 2: dedicated to my uncle, the late Great Jan Simpson. 619 00:32:09,120 --> 00:32:11,680 Speaker 3: He was forty eight when he died. 620 00:32:11,760 --> 00:32:15,200 Speaker 2: He was the CFO for ethicn Endo Surgery, Inc. That 621 00:32:15,400 --> 00:32:19,280 Speaker 2: is one of Johnson and Johnson's surgical device makers. 622 00:32:19,440 --> 00:32:22,600 Speaker 3: And you know, he was fit, he was the champion. 623 00:32:22,680 --> 00:32:24,760 Speaker 2: And his death, you know, I've spent the last twenty 624 00:32:24,840 --> 00:32:27,440 Speaker 2: years trying to understand what was it that he was 625 00:32:27,480 --> 00:32:29,800 Speaker 2: going through as he climbed that ladder, because you know, 626 00:32:29,920 --> 00:32:32,640 Speaker 2: when he passed in two thousand and two, Corporate America 627 00:32:33,120 --> 00:32:36,320 Speaker 2: and the level he was at was even less diverse. 628 00:32:36,520 --> 00:32:37,480 Speaker 3: Than it is now. 629 00:32:37,800 --> 00:32:42,040 Speaker 2: And you know, I've dealt with the physical effects of 630 00:32:42,080 --> 00:32:42,760 Speaker 2: the stress. 631 00:32:42,920 --> 00:32:45,880 Speaker 3: You know, before I learned healthy mechanisms for dealing with that, 632 00:32:45,960 --> 00:32:47,640 Speaker 3: I interviewed other brothers on. 633 00:32:47,480 --> 00:32:51,480 Speaker 2: That, and then I realized, also the physical piece is 634 00:32:51,480 --> 00:32:54,160 Speaker 2: one thing, but like, what are the stressors that are 635 00:32:54,240 --> 00:32:58,680 Speaker 2: leading to you know, those stress related ailments. And so 636 00:32:58,720 --> 00:33:01,360 Speaker 2: I talk about, you know, how we have to repress 637 00:33:01,720 --> 00:33:04,719 Speaker 2: negative emotions and anger, and I get into the history 638 00:33:04,760 --> 00:33:07,920 Speaker 2: of the angry black man stereotype and why we feel 639 00:33:07,960 --> 00:33:11,520 Speaker 2: a need to charm and put people at ease because 640 00:33:11,600 --> 00:33:15,640 Speaker 2: society they see us as larger and more aggressive and. 641 00:33:18,080 --> 00:33:19,160 Speaker 3: Hyper masculine. 642 00:33:19,720 --> 00:33:23,360 Speaker 2: Like these stereotypes, you know, they started in the Antebellum 643 00:33:23,400 --> 00:33:26,840 Speaker 2: period and they've infiltrated the American psyche and they affect 644 00:33:26,920 --> 00:33:29,440 Speaker 2: us today. They put our lives in danger when we're 645 00:33:29,440 --> 00:33:32,920 Speaker 2: dealing with police. Right, these issues still remain. So I 646 00:33:32,960 --> 00:33:35,960 Speaker 2: get into that piece. I talk about how do you 647 00:33:35,960 --> 00:33:37,520 Speaker 2: fit into corporate culture? 648 00:33:38,360 --> 00:33:38,560 Speaker 3: Right? 649 00:33:38,640 --> 00:33:44,520 Speaker 2: Because corporate culture is not about race, right, but everybody has. 650 00:33:44,360 --> 00:33:45,640 Speaker 3: To assimilate into a company. 651 00:33:45,640 --> 00:33:48,560 Speaker 2: But then there are some nuances to that that are 652 00:33:48,720 --> 00:33:52,320 Speaker 2: race specifics. So I get into the nuances of fitting 653 00:33:52,400 --> 00:33:54,480 Speaker 2: into corporate culture, and then a lot of the stuff 654 00:33:54,520 --> 00:33:56,920 Speaker 2: I talk about is universal. How do you deal with 655 00:33:57,000 --> 00:34:00,480 Speaker 2: layoffs and riorcs? How do you turn your wages into wealth? 656 00:34:00,840 --> 00:34:03,320 Speaker 3: I do talk about, you know, in my. 657 00:34:03,360 --> 00:34:06,040 Speaker 2: Money chapter, not just how to grow wealth, but also 658 00:34:06,200 --> 00:34:08,640 Speaker 2: how do you negotiate salary. 659 00:34:08,760 --> 00:34:11,280 Speaker 3: There is a racial pay gap in this country. 660 00:34:11,360 --> 00:34:14,240 Speaker 2: But part of the reason for that is black talent 661 00:34:14,360 --> 00:34:18,960 Speaker 2: has lower expectations than their peers on what they should 662 00:34:19,000 --> 00:34:22,200 Speaker 2: be earning. And there are historical reasons for that. You know, 663 00:34:22,239 --> 00:34:25,120 Speaker 2: we've been shut out of certain rooms, we're shut out 664 00:34:25,120 --> 00:34:26,120 Speaker 2: of certain networks. 665 00:34:26,120 --> 00:34:28,279 Speaker 3: But the only way to understand your worth is to 666 00:34:28,280 --> 00:34:31,400 Speaker 3: have your ear of the street and do that canvassing, 667 00:34:31,560 --> 00:34:34,160 Speaker 3: and so I do get into a lot of that. 668 00:34:34,320 --> 00:34:36,960 Speaker 3: Also thrivers guilt. How do you deal with family? 669 00:34:37,000 --> 00:34:39,919 Speaker 2: They think you're balling, They asking for money, You're trying 670 00:34:39,960 --> 00:34:40,880 Speaker 2: to build a life. 671 00:34:41,200 --> 00:34:43,000 Speaker 3: So all that stuff is in there, man. 672 00:34:43,080 --> 00:34:45,759 Speaker 1: All of that justin Grahant, I appreciate you spending some 673 00:34:45,800 --> 00:34:48,520 Speaker 1: time with me. Go get the book company man so 674 00:34:48,520 --> 00:34:51,960 Speaker 1: ound now. Black Tech Green Money is a production of Blavity, 675 00:34:52,000 --> 00:34:55,360 Speaker 1: Afro Tech, The Black Effect podcast Networking Night Hire Media. 676 00:34:55,480 --> 00:34:58,640 Speaker 1: It's produced by Morgan Debonne and me Well Lucas. The 677 00:34:58,800 --> 00:35:01,759 Speaker 1: additional production support or by Kate McDonald s Ergan and 678 00:35:01,880 --> 00:35:04,560 Speaker 1: Jainia McGee. Special thank you to Michael Davis in Love 679 00:35:04,600 --> 00:35:06,600 Speaker 1: Beach to learn more about my guessing Other Tech the 680 00:35:06,640 --> 00:35:10,120 Speaker 1: stuff that's an Innovator's at afrotech dot com. Video version 681 00:35:10,200 --> 00:35:12,760 Speaker 1: this episode will drop to Black Tech Green Money on YouTube. 682 00:35:12,840 --> 00:35:13,560 Speaker 3: So'll tap in. 683 00:35:14,280 --> 00:35:15,440 Speaker 1: Enjoy your Black Tech Green. 684 00:35:15,280 --> 00:35:17,920 Speaker 3: Money, share us with somebody, Go. 685 00:35:17,920 --> 00:35:18,600 Speaker 1: Get your money. 686 00:35:19,200 --> 00:35:19,839 Speaker 3: Peace in Love