1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:03,880 Speaker 1: My guess is the oldest minority woman owned professional design 2 00:00:03,920 --> 00:00:08,400 Speaker 1: and construction firm in the United States. The family's fingerprints 3 00:00:08,440 --> 00:00:11,480 Speaker 1: have been left all across the United States, spanning from 4 00:00:11,520 --> 00:00:16,600 Speaker 1: reconstruction to contemporary times through projects like the Barclays Center, 5 00:00:17,000 --> 00:00:20,680 Speaker 1: the Billy Jean King National Tennis Center, the new terminal 6 00:00:20,720 --> 00:00:25,959 Speaker 1: one at JFK International Airport in Philadelphia's Lincoln Financial Field. 7 00:00:26,000 --> 00:00:28,480 Speaker 2: That's just to name a few. We still be talking, 8 00:00:28,680 --> 00:00:30,920 Speaker 2: but I want to interview her, revealed in. 9 00:00:31,040 --> 00:00:36,200 Speaker 1: Cheryl mckisse's daniels new book, The Black Family Who Built America. 10 00:00:36,320 --> 00:00:41,040 Speaker 1: Please welcome to Money Making Conversations Masterclass, Cheryl McKissick Daniels. 11 00:00:41,080 --> 00:00:41,720 Speaker 2: How you doing. 12 00:00:42,000 --> 00:00:44,240 Speaker 3: I'm great, Rashaan, so nice to be here with you. 13 00:00:44,560 --> 00:00:45,520 Speaker 2: First of all, it was a lot. 14 00:00:46,080 --> 00:00:46,680 Speaker 3: That was a lot. 15 00:00:46,800 --> 00:00:49,559 Speaker 2: There's a lot when I sit here. 16 00:00:49,840 --> 00:00:53,360 Speaker 1: First of all, I don't want to undermine the greatness 17 00:00:53,400 --> 00:00:57,800 Speaker 1: of your family, but also it's the buck stops with you. 18 00:00:59,040 --> 00:01:02,920 Speaker 2: How do you make that level of expectation and also 19 00:01:03,000 --> 00:01:04,319 Speaker 2: that history, Cheryl. 20 00:01:05,040 --> 00:01:09,400 Speaker 4: Uh, Well, you know, I have leaned into my family 21 00:01:09,520 --> 00:01:14,319 Speaker 4: legacy and I understand what it represents, and I understand 22 00:01:14,360 --> 00:01:17,959 Speaker 4: the foundation that my forefathers. 23 00:01:17,160 --> 00:01:17,959 Speaker 3: Have laid for me. 24 00:01:18,760 --> 00:01:18,960 Speaker 4: Uh. 25 00:01:19,000 --> 00:01:20,480 Speaker 3: We go all the way back. 26 00:01:20,319 --> 00:01:24,920 Speaker 4: To Moses the first and with each generation, uh, the 27 00:01:25,000 --> 00:01:26,760 Speaker 4: foundation just increased. 28 00:01:26,800 --> 00:01:27,920 Speaker 3: It was, it became. 29 00:01:27,880 --> 00:01:31,679 Speaker 4: Deeper and wider, right, And so I stand on the 30 00:01:31,720 --> 00:01:35,600 Speaker 4: shoulders of these individuals everywhere I go, and I remind 31 00:01:35,680 --> 00:01:38,880 Speaker 4: myself of that, and that's what I'm representing. 32 00:01:39,800 --> 00:01:41,600 Speaker 3: And so that's how I manage. 33 00:01:42,840 --> 00:01:47,400 Speaker 4: You know, I walk into a room to sell new business, right, 34 00:01:47,640 --> 00:01:51,440 Speaker 4: and I know I have four generations of ancestors right 35 00:01:51,480 --> 00:01:52,120 Speaker 4: there with me. 36 00:01:52,840 --> 00:01:54,720 Speaker 3: Uh, you know, cheering me on. 37 00:01:55,640 --> 00:01:55,880 Speaker 4: Uh. 38 00:01:57,480 --> 00:01:59,120 Speaker 2: I look at you, and there's a lot of hard 39 00:01:59,160 --> 00:02:01,720 Speaker 2: on this. You know. I'm listening to you, and. 40 00:02:01,680 --> 00:02:03,680 Speaker 1: I'm just trying to build my little resume of my 41 00:02:03,720 --> 00:02:06,000 Speaker 1: little companies I can qualify for an R and P, 42 00:02:06,560 --> 00:02:09,639 Speaker 1: which is in some company to give me a shot. 43 00:02:10,160 --> 00:02:10,600 Speaker 2: You have. 44 00:02:12,360 --> 00:02:17,480 Speaker 3: Centuries, centuries and thirty years to be exactly. 45 00:02:18,160 --> 00:02:22,680 Speaker 2: Of a resume. That's impressive because I don't want to. 46 00:02:23,040 --> 00:02:24,600 Speaker 1: You know, I read your book, you know, The Black 47 00:02:24,639 --> 00:02:28,960 Speaker 1: Family of Built America, a really amazing read for me 48 00:02:29,400 --> 00:02:30,840 Speaker 1: because my last name is McDonald. 49 00:02:30,960 --> 00:02:31,400 Speaker 2: I don't know. 50 00:02:31,840 --> 00:02:36,600 Speaker 1: McDonald's doesn't mean anything to me. The kiss X that 51 00:02:36,880 --> 00:02:41,239 Speaker 1: means something, starting with the slave owner, that the name 52 00:02:41,360 --> 00:02:45,080 Speaker 1: you guys are caring today that is now tied to 53 00:02:45,680 --> 00:02:49,560 Speaker 1: which was a burden, which was a sense of tragedy 54 00:02:50,040 --> 00:02:56,160 Speaker 1: when your relative was brought over by force and enslave. 55 00:02:56,639 --> 00:03:04,520 Speaker 1: But now it's recognized as a uplifting, motivational, powerful name. 56 00:03:05,040 --> 00:03:06,000 Speaker 2: Talk to us about that. 57 00:03:06,320 --> 00:03:09,360 Speaker 4: Yeah, that is kind of interesting that we've taken on 58 00:03:09,440 --> 00:03:13,480 Speaker 4: the slave master's name and it's now become our name 59 00:03:13,520 --> 00:03:17,079 Speaker 4: and our brands, right, and so you know, it's kind 60 00:03:17,080 --> 00:03:18,280 Speaker 4: of like reverse discrimination. 61 00:03:18,560 --> 00:03:22,680 Speaker 3: I mean, it's something in there that I'm reading the book. 62 00:03:22,720 --> 00:03:25,120 Speaker 3: I kept trying to wrap my head around this. I go, 63 00:03:25,560 --> 00:03:26,360 Speaker 3: but that's a good thing. 64 00:03:26,520 --> 00:03:30,799 Speaker 2: Rashond, this is a good thing, right, mckissics in mcissicks right. 65 00:03:30,800 --> 00:03:32,600 Speaker 1: But then when you read the book, you realize that 66 00:03:32,919 --> 00:03:36,360 Speaker 1: William McKissick, which is the slave owner in North Carolina 67 00:03:36,880 --> 00:03:42,920 Speaker 1: and gave a great great great grandfather the name Moses, 68 00:03:43,040 --> 00:03:45,160 Speaker 1: that would name his name, right, And they come from 69 00:03:45,200 --> 00:03:48,800 Speaker 1: a Chante, which is this powerful African tribe on West Africa, 70 00:03:49,320 --> 00:03:51,720 Speaker 1: And you guys in the book are trying to figure out, well, 71 00:03:51,720 --> 00:03:54,120 Speaker 1: if he comes from a powerful African tribe, how did 72 00:03:54,120 --> 00:03:54,760 Speaker 1: he get caught? 73 00:03:54,800 --> 00:03:55,840 Speaker 2: How did he get his slave? 74 00:03:56,400 --> 00:03:59,840 Speaker 1: So there's a journey that I've only experienced in my 75 00:03:59,880 --> 00:04:04,160 Speaker 1: life life through roots, Okay, the roots, and so this 76 00:04:04,240 --> 00:04:07,040 Speaker 1: book is kind of like a modern version of Roots 77 00:04:07,120 --> 00:04:11,360 Speaker 1: to me, but with a much more powerful and enduring 78 00:04:11,760 --> 00:04:12,880 Speaker 1: and growing legacy. 79 00:04:13,400 --> 00:04:15,360 Speaker 3: Well, I totally agree with you. 80 00:04:15,360 --> 00:04:22,440 Speaker 4: You know, it takes roots and then overlaps business and 81 00:04:22,480 --> 00:04:28,839 Speaker 4: the ability to overcome slavery and Jim Crow and all 82 00:04:28,920 --> 00:04:32,800 Speaker 4: of the racism that took place in the South. And 83 00:04:32,920 --> 00:04:37,120 Speaker 4: how can you overcome all of that and still build 84 00:04:37,160 --> 00:04:40,960 Speaker 4: a business that lasts today? I mean, you know, one 85 00:04:41,000 --> 00:04:44,240 Speaker 4: out of five businesses failed the first year, right, okay, 86 00:04:44,560 --> 00:04:48,600 Speaker 4: Only forty percent make it to the second generation, eighteen 87 00:04:48,720 --> 00:04:51,480 Speaker 4: to the third, and three percent. 88 00:04:51,279 --> 00:04:51,920 Speaker 3: To the fourth. 89 00:04:51,920 --> 00:04:54,760 Speaker 4: And here we are the fifth generation, and we're black 90 00:04:54,800 --> 00:04:56,480 Speaker 4: in America. 91 00:04:56,560 --> 00:04:57,080 Speaker 2: The name of the. 92 00:04:57,080 --> 00:05:01,159 Speaker 1: Book again, the black family who built a arca the 93 00:05:01,240 --> 00:05:05,440 Speaker 1: mckissics two centuries of Daren Pioneer, Pioneer. It was written 94 00:05:05,440 --> 00:05:08,880 Speaker 1: by you and Nick Choell Childs Childsick Childs pulla ter 95 00:05:08,960 --> 00:05:12,760 Speaker 1: winning Yeah right, okay, yeah, Now, you know, when I'm 96 00:05:12,760 --> 00:05:19,120 Speaker 1: reading this book, you know, I always admire the journey 97 00:05:19,160 --> 00:05:23,880 Speaker 1: of everybody Martin Luther King who experiences racism to those 98 00:05:23,920 --> 00:05:26,320 Speaker 1: of the prominent names. But then when I look at 99 00:05:26,800 --> 00:05:29,720 Speaker 1: Moses and his brother who were licensed I think in 100 00:05:29,800 --> 00:05:33,480 Speaker 1: nineteen twenty two sports tartified in the state of Tennessee, 101 00:05:34,960 --> 00:05:36,039 Speaker 1: I go how. 102 00:05:39,120 --> 00:05:40,720 Speaker 3: And so that's very interesting. 103 00:05:40,880 --> 00:05:46,320 Speaker 4: It was Moses mckiswic the third in Calvin incorporated US 104 00:05:46,360 --> 00:05:49,880 Speaker 4: in nineteen oh five. But that was the second mckisic business, 105 00:05:49,880 --> 00:05:53,040 Speaker 4: because the first one was with Moses mckiswick. The second 106 00:05:53,360 --> 00:05:57,440 Speaker 4: right after emancipation. But in nineteen oh five, the state 107 00:05:57,480 --> 00:06:01,560 Speaker 4: of Tennessee didn't have architectural license lows that adn't come 108 00:06:01,600 --> 00:06:05,279 Speaker 4: into effect until the twenties, and so for them to 109 00:06:05,400 --> 00:06:08,560 Speaker 4: even stay in business, they had to have these licensees. 110 00:06:09,080 --> 00:06:10,120 Speaker 3: So first they had. 111 00:06:09,960 --> 00:06:13,760 Speaker 4: To go to the school through correspondence and receive their degrees, 112 00:06:14,200 --> 00:06:17,360 Speaker 4: and then you know, go apply to take the exam. 113 00:06:18,279 --> 00:06:21,720 Speaker 4: And of course the entire board was white and they 114 00:06:21,760 --> 00:06:25,440 Speaker 4: did not want my grandfather and my great uncle to 115 00:06:25,520 --> 00:06:26,920 Speaker 4: take this exam. 116 00:06:27,760 --> 00:06:31,640 Speaker 3: But they were able to lobby the board. And when you're. 117 00:06:31,480 --> 00:06:35,440 Speaker 4: Talking about business, think about the fact that they had 118 00:06:35,800 --> 00:06:39,120 Speaker 4: this characteristic that they could lobby the board and get one, 119 00:06:39,520 --> 00:06:43,120 Speaker 4: just one board member to say, okay, we should not 120 00:06:43,200 --> 00:06:46,960 Speaker 4: prevent these two gentlemen from taking this exam, and he 121 00:06:47,080 --> 00:06:50,120 Speaker 4: had to use the excuse they're not going to pass anyway, 122 00:06:52,000 --> 00:06:56,200 Speaker 4: and so they took the exam they passed the first time, 123 00:06:57,240 --> 00:06:59,200 Speaker 4: and you know then the board's like, well, we don't 124 00:06:59,200 --> 00:07:02,680 Speaker 4: really want to get these Now we're stuck, like what 125 00:07:02,720 --> 00:07:03,320 Speaker 4: do we do? 126 00:07:03,720 --> 00:07:06,039 Speaker 3: But the same board member went back and so I 127 00:07:06,040 --> 00:07:06,799 Speaker 3: don't know who. 128 00:07:06,680 --> 00:07:09,560 Speaker 4: Was the most clever in this, the mcusics or the 129 00:07:09,600 --> 00:07:12,880 Speaker 4: board member where they working together. I mean to have 130 00:07:12,960 --> 00:07:15,680 Speaker 4: this strategy that they use for the mcasics to get 131 00:07:15,680 --> 00:07:18,080 Speaker 4: their license, but they had to give it to them. 132 00:07:18,520 --> 00:07:21,480 Speaker 4: And then they became the first black license architects in 133 00:07:21,520 --> 00:07:25,000 Speaker 4: America with license one seventeen and one eighteen. And because 134 00:07:25,040 --> 00:07:28,760 Speaker 4: of that, the Tennessee Licensing Board now gets all this 135 00:07:28,920 --> 00:07:33,000 Speaker 4: notoriety because they have licensed the first black men in 136 00:07:33,040 --> 00:07:37,040 Speaker 4: America and as a result of that, they have a 137 00:07:37,360 --> 00:07:41,520 Speaker 4: reversal in their stands on whether they should be licensed 138 00:07:41,600 --> 00:07:45,000 Speaker 4: or not, and they decide they should be licensed and 139 00:07:45,080 --> 00:07:48,400 Speaker 4: help them to get licensed in twenty two other states. 140 00:07:49,160 --> 00:07:50,680 Speaker 2: Wow, you know what it? 141 00:07:51,600 --> 00:07:54,440 Speaker 1: Ye, I'm gonna stutter a little bit because I'm like, 142 00:07:55,720 --> 00:07:57,680 Speaker 1: because what I do? I read the books the day 143 00:07:57,760 --> 00:08:00,320 Speaker 1: of the interview, so all this stuff is framed in 144 00:08:00,360 --> 00:08:04,040 Speaker 1: my mind, and so I react and I'm like, people, go, man, 145 00:08:04,080 --> 00:08:05,840 Speaker 1: you know a lot us because I read the book 146 00:08:05,880 --> 00:08:09,640 Speaker 1: today up and so you know we're talking Pulaski, Tennessee. 147 00:08:09,840 --> 00:08:12,680 Speaker 2: Okay. And then you guys moved to Nashville. Okay. When 148 00:08:12,680 --> 00:08:14,440 Speaker 2: I say you guys, but that. 149 00:08:14,520 --> 00:08:18,680 Speaker 1: Story right there so reminded me of your situation when 150 00:08:18,680 --> 00:08:22,960 Speaker 1: it came to the Barclay Center. Okay, it felt so parallel. 151 00:08:23,320 --> 00:08:27,520 Speaker 1: And because you were lobbying, you were hustling. I'm use 152 00:08:27,560 --> 00:08:30,240 Speaker 1: the word hustling because you had to go here, go 153 00:08:30,280 --> 00:08:32,439 Speaker 1: here to you know, I do it, I do it 154 00:08:32,520 --> 00:08:35,880 Speaker 1: raising your hand. You know, the gistics are doing giftics 155 00:08:35,880 --> 00:08:39,760 Speaker 1: are doing it right like on the front row of 156 00:08:39,840 --> 00:08:40,440 Speaker 1: high school. 157 00:08:40,480 --> 00:08:42,720 Speaker 2: You know, I always want that attention. That's what you were, Seki. 158 00:08:43,200 --> 00:08:45,120 Speaker 1: And when I go back in the twenties and I 159 00:08:45,200 --> 00:08:46,960 Speaker 1: look at that story, that's all they were trying to do. 160 00:08:47,360 --> 00:08:49,400 Speaker 1: They kept raising their hands and they could do it 161 00:08:49,520 --> 00:08:54,360 Speaker 1: no matter what. But they had to show they were qualified. 162 00:08:54,360 --> 00:08:57,760 Speaker 1: They had to keep telling everybody they can do the job, 163 00:08:58,240 --> 00:09:00,840 Speaker 1: just give us a shot. So with me sending the 164 00:09:00,960 --> 00:09:04,720 Speaker 1: tone Sheryl, you so if it was written based on 165 00:09:04,760 --> 00:09:08,440 Speaker 1: that parallel. Talk about that experience that you just talked 166 00:09:08,440 --> 00:09:13,439 Speaker 1: about with Moses and Calvin getting certified in the state 167 00:09:13,480 --> 00:09:18,280 Speaker 1: of Tennessee way back in the twenties, even though they 168 00:09:18,320 --> 00:09:22,280 Speaker 1: have been doing businesses in nineteen oh five to today 169 00:09:23,120 --> 00:09:27,120 Speaker 1: when the opportunity of the Nets coming to town want 170 00:09:27,120 --> 00:09:29,439 Speaker 1: to build a new arena, and the things. 171 00:09:29,200 --> 00:09:31,319 Speaker 2: You had to do were not giving away too much of. 172 00:09:31,240 --> 00:09:34,800 Speaker 3: The book, Okay, you know it's very interested. 173 00:09:34,960 --> 00:09:39,800 Speaker 4: I did not know I was reliving exactly what they relived. 174 00:09:40,320 --> 00:09:43,080 Speaker 4: And I love that you're bringing up this parallel because 175 00:09:43,080 --> 00:09:45,440 Speaker 4: it's true because I talk about it all the time 176 00:09:45,520 --> 00:09:48,280 Speaker 4: that we still have the people with the same mindset 177 00:09:48,400 --> 00:09:52,079 Speaker 4: that they had in nineteen twenty two today in twenty 178 00:09:52,200 --> 00:09:56,679 Speaker 4: twenty five. But like them, I knew that I needed 179 00:09:56,720 --> 00:09:59,520 Speaker 4: to get to the right people to make sure that 180 00:09:59,600 --> 00:10:01,920 Speaker 4: MkIS it was a part of this now. Just think 181 00:10:02,000 --> 00:10:06,640 Speaker 4: I'm looking at TV. I seen Bruce Brady by the 182 00:10:06,760 --> 00:10:10,240 Speaker 4: Nets and he ain't even bottom yet. But I knew 183 00:10:10,280 --> 00:10:11,920 Speaker 4: a new arena was coming with it. 184 00:10:12,480 --> 00:10:15,120 Speaker 2: As I'm talking about the hustling. 185 00:10:17,240 --> 00:10:19,319 Speaker 3: And so you know, like, how am I going to 186 00:10:19,400 --> 00:10:20,319 Speaker 3: be a part of it? 187 00:10:21,360 --> 00:10:24,480 Speaker 4: And so you know, I begin to think, Okay, a 188 00:10:24,640 --> 00:10:28,280 Speaker 4: third of the population in Brooklyn, at least the third is. 189 00:10:28,360 --> 00:10:29,600 Speaker 3: Black, you know. 190 00:10:29,640 --> 00:10:33,560 Speaker 4: But it's it's a diaspora absolutely, because it's gone all 191 00:10:33,600 --> 00:10:33,800 Speaker 4: you know. 192 00:10:34,400 --> 00:10:37,240 Speaker 3: It's Caribbean black, okay. 193 00:10:37,080 --> 00:10:40,280 Speaker 4: Mixed in with blacks from the South like me, and 194 00:10:40,320 --> 00:10:41,000 Speaker 4: getting us. 195 00:10:40,880 --> 00:10:45,000 Speaker 3: All rowing together is not easy. But I made sure 196 00:10:45,600 --> 00:10:46,360 Speaker 3: that I made. 197 00:10:46,200 --> 00:10:50,080 Speaker 4: A list of all the black organizations, all the black 198 00:10:50,160 --> 00:10:53,240 Speaker 4: influencers and political people, and I went to see them, 199 00:10:53,800 --> 00:10:55,959 Speaker 4: and I went and told them my story, and I 200 00:10:56,000 --> 00:10:58,319 Speaker 4: appealed to whatever they needed to hear. 201 00:11:00,400 --> 00:11:08,080 Speaker 3: Or whatever they need. But this is amazing because she's. 202 00:11:07,960 --> 00:11:09,959 Speaker 1: Gonna give away the book, and I want you to 203 00:11:10,040 --> 00:11:13,200 Speaker 1: buy this book because of the fact that it's like 204 00:11:14,360 --> 00:11:17,840 Speaker 1: she sees something on TV, she sees an opportunity. She 205 00:11:18,000 --> 00:11:21,080 Speaker 1: is just going, oh, that'll never be my opportunity. She 206 00:11:21,200 --> 00:11:23,320 Speaker 1: figured out a way to how do I get in 207 00:11:23,360 --> 00:11:25,640 Speaker 1: front of it? How do I not only get in 208 00:11:25,679 --> 00:11:29,240 Speaker 1: front of it, become a recognized participant of it. And 209 00:11:29,280 --> 00:11:34,160 Speaker 1: as African Americans, we so often say I can't take it. 210 00:11:34,800 --> 00:11:36,320 Speaker 3: That's not me, it's not gonna happen. 211 00:11:36,520 --> 00:11:37,440 Speaker 2: It's not going to happen to me. 212 00:11:37,520 --> 00:11:40,840 Speaker 1: That's the exact rights that we used absolutely, And that's 213 00:11:40,840 --> 00:11:43,160 Speaker 1: why I was important that I bring that up, because 214 00:11:43,480 --> 00:11:47,880 Speaker 1: if I go back to Moses and Calvin, black people 215 00:11:48,000 --> 00:11:50,840 Speaker 1: saying that back then, that didn't never happen for you guys. 216 00:11:50,720 --> 00:11:53,000 Speaker 4: And that's not true. You know, you have to say 217 00:11:53,040 --> 00:11:56,800 Speaker 4: the opposite to yourself, and you have to put one 218 00:11:56,840 --> 00:11:59,240 Speaker 4: foot in front of the other and do what's on 219 00:11:59,360 --> 00:12:03,280 Speaker 4: your mind and whatever your do list strategy is today. 220 00:12:03,720 --> 00:12:06,440 Speaker 4: And I believe in God's economy, nothing goes to waste, 221 00:12:06,720 --> 00:12:09,079 Speaker 4: and if you put the energy in, it's going to 222 00:12:09,160 --> 00:12:12,120 Speaker 4: come back to you. And so I knew that if 223 00:12:12,240 --> 00:12:15,480 Speaker 4: I could just go out and meet all these various people, 224 00:12:15,840 --> 00:12:18,680 Speaker 4: that it was going to come together. Now when I 225 00:12:18,720 --> 00:12:21,719 Speaker 4: began to study Calvin and Moses, Moses, you know, they 226 00:12:21,800 --> 00:12:27,120 Speaker 4: had persistence, they were prepared, as you talked about, you know, 227 00:12:27,679 --> 00:12:31,760 Speaker 4: they persevered, yes, and they were on purpose right, and 228 00:12:31,800 --> 00:12:35,080 Speaker 4: even fearless and they were feelings, well, yes, they were fearless. 229 00:12:35,120 --> 00:12:36,320 Speaker 3: I'm telling you they. 230 00:12:36,000 --> 00:12:38,960 Speaker 2: Had fearless And I'm telling you, I'm Cheryl, You're fearless. 231 00:12:39,760 --> 00:12:41,880 Speaker 1: I tell you you feel I read the you know, 232 00:12:42,160 --> 00:12:44,640 Speaker 1: I interviewed Cheryl back in twenty seventeen, but you know, 233 00:12:44,679 --> 00:12:46,640 Speaker 1: I was just starting money making conversations. 234 00:12:46,640 --> 00:12:49,360 Speaker 2: She was gracious to allow me to interview her. 235 00:12:49,480 --> 00:12:52,000 Speaker 5: Now, I like to believe that I've risen up a 236 00:12:52,000 --> 00:12:56,080 Speaker 5: little bit and becoming there are great. 237 00:12:56,120 --> 00:12:58,760 Speaker 2: But you know that for the and I was interesting. 238 00:12:59,559 --> 00:13:00,720 Speaker 2: And let me just tell you a little bit. 239 00:13:00,840 --> 00:13:03,240 Speaker 1: Let me ratle off some of some things about her brand, 240 00:13:03,679 --> 00:13:10,120 Speaker 1: the mckissics and mckissicks firm, AMTRAKT Atlanta Yard Atlantic Yards 241 00:13:10,120 --> 00:13:16,079 Speaker 1: Central Terminal building replacements at LaGuardia Airport, JFK International Airport 242 00:13:16,200 --> 00:13:18,640 Speaker 1: at Terminal want. I said that in the intro m 243 00:13:18,720 --> 00:13:25,559 Speaker 1: t A New Penn Station, New Jersey Transit, US Airways 244 00:13:25,600 --> 00:13:31,480 Speaker 1: Commuter Terminal, alf US air Raids International Terminal, you need 245 00:13:31,520 --> 00:13:31,920 Speaker 1: to stop. 246 00:13:32,000 --> 00:13:40,000 Speaker 2: Girl. You a hustler with like ste arch. That's correct. 247 00:13:40,040 --> 00:13:43,520 Speaker 5: Congratulations, but then you're not gonna stop though, No. 248 00:13:43,800 --> 00:13:45,560 Speaker 3: I mean, thank you so much for that. 249 00:13:46,280 --> 00:13:46,520 Speaker 4: You know. 250 00:13:47,120 --> 00:13:47,760 Speaker 3: I think I. 251 00:13:47,720 --> 00:13:52,720 Speaker 4: Learned in Philadelphia that there's always a technical buyer and 252 00:13:52,840 --> 00:13:54,560 Speaker 4: there is a political buyer. 253 00:13:54,720 --> 00:13:54,880 Speaker 1: Right. 254 00:13:55,200 --> 00:13:58,200 Speaker 4: I feel in Philadelphia I got baptized by fire where 255 00:13:58,240 --> 00:14:01,720 Speaker 4: I came to politics, and so I think it's important 256 00:14:01,880 --> 00:14:06,080 Speaker 4: when you're looking at any type of pursuit to understand 257 00:14:06,200 --> 00:14:09,960 Speaker 4: that you know the technical buyer is. 258 00:14:09,880 --> 00:14:12,199 Speaker 3: Going to look at you know, four or five. 259 00:14:12,080 --> 00:14:15,520 Speaker 4: Dissent firms and see if they can check all of 260 00:14:15,559 --> 00:14:16,520 Speaker 4: the experience. 261 00:14:16,760 --> 00:14:17,920 Speaker 3: And you know, you know. 262 00:14:17,880 --> 00:14:20,640 Speaker 4: The knowledge and the type of staff that you're putting 263 00:14:20,640 --> 00:14:23,480 Speaker 4: on the job, but the political buyer is very different. 264 00:14:23,920 --> 00:14:26,880 Speaker 1: But that's the game that you've learned to understand is 265 00:14:27,160 --> 00:14:34,480 Speaker 1: equally as important as your academia, your resume, and the relationship. 266 00:14:35,240 --> 00:14:37,680 Speaker 3: You better have that relationship before you need it. 267 00:14:37,920 --> 00:14:41,680 Speaker 1: Okay, absolutely, it's some questions I want to bring up 268 00:14:41,680 --> 00:14:44,960 Speaker 1: because I want you to drop some gems on my audience, 269 00:14:45,080 --> 00:14:47,920 Speaker 1: Like the five p's of family resilience. 270 00:14:48,040 --> 00:14:49,120 Speaker 2: Can you talk about that? 271 00:14:49,280 --> 00:14:51,400 Speaker 4: Well, those are the five p's I gave you earlier. 272 00:14:52,160 --> 00:14:58,320 Speaker 4: It's perseverance, persistence, preparedness. You've got to be prepared to 273 00:14:58,440 --> 00:15:03,000 Speaker 4: deliver quality work, and then you got to be on purpose. 274 00:15:03,440 --> 00:15:06,120 Speaker 4: Now the fifth pi ad it and that's prayer. Because 275 00:15:06,160 --> 00:15:08,760 Speaker 4: sometimes you do get up in the morning and you say, 276 00:15:09,280 --> 00:15:11,120 Speaker 4: it's not for me. I'm not going to make it, 277 00:15:11,200 --> 00:15:13,160 Speaker 4: I'm not going to get there. It's just not for me. 278 00:15:13,280 --> 00:15:16,160 Speaker 4: You cannot ever let that enter your mind. You have 279 00:15:16,240 --> 00:15:20,000 Speaker 4: to come back and meditate on the fact that you're 280 00:15:20,000 --> 00:15:20,440 Speaker 4: a winner. 281 00:15:21,200 --> 00:15:22,200 Speaker 2: Don't go anywhere. 282 00:15:22,440 --> 00:15:25,080 Speaker 1: We will be right back with more insights from Money 283 00:15:25,120 --> 00:15:32,720 Speaker 1: Making Conversation mastic Class. Welcome back to Money Making Conversation 284 00:15:32,800 --> 00:15:36,800 Speaker 1: mastic Lass with me, Rashaun McDonald. Why is it important 285 00:15:36,800 --> 00:15:39,640 Speaker 1: that you write this book now, Cheryl Oh? 286 00:15:40,120 --> 00:15:40,880 Speaker 3: Good question. 287 00:15:41,880 --> 00:15:46,320 Speaker 4: This is the time that this book should be out because. 288 00:15:45,880 --> 00:15:48,520 Speaker 3: They are trying to do away with our history. 289 00:15:50,680 --> 00:15:54,200 Speaker 4: I'm so happy to get rid of the Smithsonian Institute. 290 00:15:54,920 --> 00:15:59,200 Speaker 4: On Sunday in the Times, New York Times, they're talking 291 00:15:59,240 --> 00:16:03,720 Speaker 4: about the President trying to embrace anything around slavery. 292 00:16:03,680 --> 00:16:06,359 Speaker 3: Yes, d E and I programs, which. 293 00:16:06,120 --> 00:16:08,560 Speaker 4: You know, I built my business on D E and 294 00:16:08,680 --> 00:16:09,800 Speaker 4: I programs. 295 00:16:09,880 --> 00:16:13,240 Speaker 3: When I first arrived in New York with a. 296 00:16:13,200 --> 00:16:17,960 Speaker 4: Company with almost two hundred years of experience, right I 297 00:16:18,000 --> 00:16:21,320 Speaker 4: still needed a DEI program. 298 00:16:21,360 --> 00:16:22,320 Speaker 3: And so this. 299 00:16:22,440 --> 00:16:25,560 Speaker 4: Book right here is a receipt to say we are around, 300 00:16:26,280 --> 00:16:30,240 Speaker 4: we have a foundation. We're not going anywhere. You may 301 00:16:30,280 --> 00:16:32,880 Speaker 4: not have known about black excellence, you just ignored it. 302 00:16:32,920 --> 00:16:36,400 Speaker 3: But we exist. And that is why this book is 303 00:16:36,440 --> 00:16:37,680 Speaker 3: important right now. 304 00:16:37,720 --> 00:16:40,840 Speaker 1: This book, this book, this book, I'm saying the name again, 305 00:16:41,120 --> 00:16:44,680 Speaker 1: keep saying that for audio purposes and visual purposes. If 306 00:16:44,680 --> 00:16:47,040 Speaker 1: you get to see this on YouTube on the television 307 00:16:47,080 --> 00:16:52,200 Speaker 1: show The Black Family Who Built America? When I read that, 308 00:16:52,360 --> 00:16:55,280 Speaker 1: now went the Black Family Who. Why did you say 309 00:16:55,320 --> 00:16:57,960 Speaker 1: that like that? Why did you say that like that show? 310 00:16:58,000 --> 00:17:00,760 Speaker 3: Well, we did know that's the reason. 311 00:17:01,120 --> 00:17:04,960 Speaker 4: How you think now, Yes, it has a lot of 312 00:17:05,480 --> 00:17:08,280 Speaker 4: connotations behind it. First of all, we did want to 313 00:17:08,320 --> 00:17:14,640 Speaker 4: capture people's attention. But black people built America. And that's 314 00:17:14,680 --> 00:17:16,400 Speaker 4: the point we're making here, right. 315 00:17:16,520 --> 00:17:19,639 Speaker 1: That's why it's so timely, Yes, because of the fact 316 00:17:19,680 --> 00:17:23,000 Speaker 1: that we need to tell our stories and our roles, 317 00:17:23,000 --> 00:17:29,720 Speaker 1: because so often black people are a stereotyped as needing 318 00:17:29,760 --> 00:17:32,840 Speaker 1: a help in hand, or always wanting something and not 319 00:17:32,960 --> 00:17:33,760 Speaker 1: giving something. 320 00:17:34,080 --> 00:17:37,040 Speaker 2: And we have a black family that is at the 321 00:17:37,080 --> 00:17:38,240 Speaker 2: forefront of. 322 00:17:38,640 --> 00:17:44,960 Speaker 1: High level construction, yes, decision making and rewriting the infrastructure 323 00:17:45,080 --> 00:17:49,080 Speaker 1: of our daily lives. I would tell my staff CHERYLD, 324 00:17:50,040 --> 00:17:54,400 Speaker 1: I tell them that we impact somebody's life every day. 325 00:17:55,119 --> 00:17:57,600 Speaker 1: I tell them that, and I say that that's why 326 00:17:57,640 --> 00:18:03,800 Speaker 1: I'm always talking about control. Now I'm just in the 327 00:18:03,880 --> 00:18:09,280 Speaker 1: audio game. You in the building game, Cheryl. I mean 328 00:18:10,080 --> 00:18:15,600 Speaker 1: if a brick's not right, cheap ce met or talk 329 00:18:15,680 --> 00:18:20,320 Speaker 1: about that amount of responsibility because people are walking in 330 00:18:20,400 --> 00:18:23,720 Speaker 1: these buildings, people are living in these buildings, people are 331 00:18:23,760 --> 00:18:25,320 Speaker 1: flying into these buildings. 332 00:18:25,560 --> 00:18:27,400 Speaker 2: There's a lot of pressure, Cheryl. 333 00:18:27,760 --> 00:18:31,080 Speaker 4: Yeah, it is, and but we've been doing it for 334 00:18:31,080 --> 00:18:35,160 Speaker 4: so long. You know, it's in our wheelhouse. And you know, 335 00:18:35,640 --> 00:18:38,359 Speaker 4: I would have to say, the business you're in is 336 00:18:38,480 --> 00:18:41,600 Speaker 4: one that we need to concentrate on because it's the 337 00:18:41,760 --> 00:18:46,440 Speaker 4: images that we show people that create their perception. 338 00:18:46,560 --> 00:18:47,520 Speaker 3: Of who we are. 339 00:18:48,000 --> 00:18:51,719 Speaker 4: You know, in my book, we talk about Birth of 340 00:18:51,760 --> 00:18:55,600 Speaker 4: a Nation, the film that came out in nineteen fifteen, 341 00:18:56,280 --> 00:19:01,359 Speaker 4: right when black people were beginning to thrive outside of 342 00:19:01,680 --> 00:19:05,360 Speaker 4: you know, right after emancipation, and they had a lot 343 00:19:05,400 --> 00:19:09,280 Speaker 4: of white patriots, you know, but when this movie came 344 00:19:09,320 --> 00:19:14,560 Speaker 4: out and it was a black blustered success. Okay, the 345 00:19:14,600 --> 00:19:15,960 Speaker 4: President showed. 346 00:19:15,600 --> 00:19:16,359 Speaker 3: It in his. 347 00:19:18,080 --> 00:19:21,840 Speaker 4: In the White House, but it depicted black people as 348 00:19:23,320 --> 00:19:28,480 Speaker 4: as killers, as sexual molesters, I mean, as thieves, and 349 00:19:28,640 --> 00:19:34,359 Speaker 4: sub human and it also scolded white people who wanted 350 00:19:34,359 --> 00:19:38,760 Speaker 4: to actually patronize and embrace us and bring us into 351 00:19:38,800 --> 00:19:42,200 Speaker 4: the fold. That movie showed them, no, you do not 352 00:19:42,400 --> 00:19:44,280 Speaker 4: need to do that. That would be a big mistake. 353 00:19:44,359 --> 00:19:46,959 Speaker 4: And of course the ones who wanted who hated us, 354 00:19:46,960 --> 00:19:48,879 Speaker 4: who wanted to kill us, it gave them license to 355 00:19:48,960 --> 00:19:53,040 Speaker 4: kill right, and that is the importance of image. So 356 00:19:53,119 --> 00:19:57,120 Speaker 4: I was justin Martha's Vineyard at the Black Film Fest and. 357 00:19:58,240 --> 00:19:58,800 Speaker 3: That was my. 358 00:20:00,520 --> 00:20:04,240 Speaker 4: They came from a book tour, and this is exactly 359 00:20:04,280 --> 00:20:06,640 Speaker 4: what I talked about, because where are we now one 360 00:20:06,680 --> 00:20:11,520 Speaker 4: hundred years later? Black people are showing us on film. 361 00:20:11,760 --> 00:20:15,760 Speaker 4: But it's not sanitized, it's not censored, right, It's who 362 00:20:15,800 --> 00:20:18,600 Speaker 4: we are, who really are, and you know. 363 00:20:18,600 --> 00:20:20,639 Speaker 3: I hope that we continue to do that. 364 00:20:21,680 --> 00:20:25,479 Speaker 1: My guess is the oldest minority woman owned professional design 365 00:20:25,520 --> 00:20:30,040 Speaker 1: and construction firm in the United States. The family's fingerprints 366 00:20:30,040 --> 00:20:33,080 Speaker 1: have been left all across the United States, spanning from 367 00:20:33,119 --> 00:20:39,280 Speaker 1: reconstruction to contemporary times through projects like the Morris Memorial Building, 368 00:20:39,720 --> 00:20:45,600 Speaker 1: kper CM Church, John F. Kennedy International Airport in Philadelphia's 369 00:20:45,600 --> 00:20:50,520 Speaker 1: Lincoln Financial Fiel your book, Gerild, I keep bringing up 370 00:20:50,600 --> 00:20:53,800 Speaker 1: the black family who built America. Now let's talk about you, 371 00:20:54,000 --> 00:20:56,359 Speaker 1: because you talk about yourself in this book a little bit. 372 00:20:57,520 --> 00:20:59,440 Speaker 2: Getting my life right, you know what, I'm saying a 373 00:20:59,440 --> 00:21:04,400 Speaker 2: little drink to me claiming myself. 374 00:21:04,600 --> 00:21:07,480 Speaker 1: And I'm laughing at that because I think that sometimes 375 00:21:07,800 --> 00:21:10,399 Speaker 1: because I always talk about this about my show about 376 00:21:10,760 --> 00:21:14,439 Speaker 1: finding yourself, and I always say that between the ages 377 00:21:14,480 --> 00:21:20,240 Speaker 1: of eighteen and twenty two, we as individuals are unstoppable, 378 00:21:20,440 --> 00:21:22,640 Speaker 1: and sometimes when we get out of that twenty two, 379 00:21:22,680 --> 00:21:26,359 Speaker 1: we change, or either marriage can take in their direction 380 00:21:26,480 --> 00:21:30,479 Speaker 1: of lifestyle or children can take in that direction. And 381 00:21:30,560 --> 00:21:34,320 Speaker 1: in this book, you changed, but you had to get 382 00:21:34,359 --> 00:21:38,960 Speaker 1: yourself back. And it's discussing this book and that's why 383 00:21:39,000 --> 00:21:43,440 Speaker 1: it's important that you tell my listeners or viewers why 384 00:21:43,920 --> 00:21:48,240 Speaker 1: it's important to sustain who you are despite many level 385 00:21:48,240 --> 00:21:50,520 Speaker 1: of success or being in a relationship. 386 00:21:51,000 --> 00:21:56,040 Speaker 4: Yeah, it's important that you are true to yourself, but 387 00:21:56,080 --> 00:21:59,640 Speaker 4: there are situations in life that will take you out 388 00:21:59,640 --> 00:22:02,760 Speaker 4: of that, and sometimes you might need to go down 389 00:22:02,800 --> 00:22:06,240 Speaker 4: that path just so you can understand how detrimental it 390 00:22:06,320 --> 00:22:09,399 Speaker 4: is not to be yourself. And you know, I do 391 00:22:09,600 --> 00:22:12,159 Speaker 4: talk about that in my book. For me, it happened 392 00:22:12,160 --> 00:22:15,760 Speaker 4: to be a marriage that really took me out of 393 00:22:15,880 --> 00:22:20,199 Speaker 4: who I am and finding my way back was a 394 00:22:20,240 --> 00:22:20,800 Speaker 4: lot of fun. 395 00:22:20,840 --> 00:22:27,920 Speaker 5: Though, keep going, continue because I don't keep cracking, because 396 00:22:27,920 --> 00:22:30,080 Speaker 5: I've read this book as fresh in my mind and 397 00:22:30,119 --> 00:22:32,639 Speaker 5: we'll be laughing and you go, what need. 398 00:22:32,520 --> 00:22:35,680 Speaker 2: To be about you stayed, continue your process. 399 00:22:36,359 --> 00:22:39,000 Speaker 4: I just had no idea that I was so far 400 00:22:39,160 --> 00:22:44,200 Speaker 4: off course, And you know mine was my relationship with alcohol. 401 00:22:45,720 --> 00:22:49,320 Speaker 3: And you know, growing up early. 402 00:22:49,160 --> 00:22:51,439 Speaker 4: On, I tell the story about the first time my 403 00:22:51,560 --> 00:22:53,760 Speaker 4: father said, Okay, you all are going to have a 404 00:22:53,840 --> 00:22:56,680 Speaker 4: drink today and I'm going to be the first man 405 00:22:56,760 --> 00:22:57,680 Speaker 4: to get you drunk. 406 00:22:58,200 --> 00:22:59,040 Speaker 3: And were sent. 407 00:22:58,960 --> 00:23:01,480 Speaker 4: At his bar and he hoard us these big glasses 408 00:23:01,480 --> 00:23:04,439 Speaker 4: of Jack daniels. My twin sister and I both drinking 409 00:23:05,000 --> 00:23:07,960 Speaker 4: and our mother comes around the corner right when we 410 00:23:08,000 --> 00:23:09,880 Speaker 4: are finishing and about to fall out the. 411 00:23:09,880 --> 00:23:10,399 Speaker 2: Chair, right. 412 00:23:10,960 --> 00:23:14,719 Speaker 4: So, you know, our family grew up where you know, 413 00:23:14,760 --> 00:23:17,760 Speaker 4: we'd have wine for dinner and all that kind of stuff. 414 00:23:17,800 --> 00:23:19,760 Speaker 4: And then I meet this man who doesn't want me 415 00:23:19,800 --> 00:23:24,080 Speaker 4: to drink anymore, and I completely cut it off. But 416 00:23:24,920 --> 00:23:28,320 Speaker 4: it just it made me not who I really was, 417 00:23:28,800 --> 00:23:33,320 Speaker 4: and I ended up, you know, at my doctor's office, stressed, 418 00:23:33,600 --> 00:23:39,680 Speaker 4: stressed out completely, young kids not understanding you know why 419 00:23:39,760 --> 00:23:43,520 Speaker 4: I could not get settled. And I'm not saying alcohol 420 00:23:43,720 --> 00:23:46,240 Speaker 4: truly settles you, but being yourself well. 421 00:23:46,080 --> 00:23:49,000 Speaker 1: Bisions is what we were talking about, right, And guess 422 00:23:49,040 --> 00:23:52,280 Speaker 1: what the word stress was introduced to you now? Everybody 423 00:23:52,320 --> 00:23:55,000 Speaker 1: talk about stress nowadays, you know, mental health is a 424 00:23:55,040 --> 00:23:59,280 Speaker 1: part of everybody's conversation, and black people don't even want 425 00:23:59,280 --> 00:24:01,560 Speaker 1: to talk about it, even though it's still popular or 426 00:24:01,680 --> 00:24:04,399 Speaker 1: it's popularized that you should realize that there are issues 427 00:24:04,440 --> 00:24:06,359 Speaker 1: that you have to deal with on a daily and 428 00:24:06,400 --> 00:24:09,360 Speaker 1: ongoing basis. Now, when it was being brought to you 429 00:24:10,160 --> 00:24:12,560 Speaker 1: about stress, how did you deal with that and how 430 00:24:12,560 --> 00:24:16,000 Speaker 1: did you comprehend that was something or reality that you 431 00:24:16,080 --> 00:24:16,800 Speaker 1: were living. 432 00:24:17,480 --> 00:24:20,639 Speaker 4: Yeah, I mean the stress would grow over time because 433 00:24:20,720 --> 00:24:25,480 Speaker 4: when you are building a business, you know, you're the 434 00:24:25,640 --> 00:24:26,800 Speaker 4: chief bottle. 435 00:24:26,600 --> 00:24:30,040 Speaker 3: Washer, cook and everything else. There's a period of time 436 00:24:30,119 --> 00:24:30,320 Speaker 3: of that. 437 00:24:30,720 --> 00:24:33,000 Speaker 4: There's a period of time of just going out into 438 00:24:33,040 --> 00:24:36,760 Speaker 4: the world and trying to you know, bring in new 439 00:24:36,800 --> 00:24:41,120 Speaker 4: business and increase your revenues, and so all of that 440 00:24:41,440 --> 00:24:42,199 Speaker 4: creates stress. 441 00:24:42,320 --> 00:24:43,920 Speaker 3: And you're working around the clock. 442 00:24:44,160 --> 00:24:47,959 Speaker 4: I remember catching you know, six o'clock trains out of 443 00:24:48,240 --> 00:24:51,359 Speaker 4: Penn Station to go to Philly and then come back 444 00:24:51,359 --> 00:24:54,840 Speaker 4: home and get back to New York at like ten 445 00:24:54,880 --> 00:24:56,359 Speaker 4: o'clock at night and still having to. 446 00:24:56,440 --> 00:25:01,080 Speaker 3: Drive back home. You know, all of that create stress. 447 00:25:01,320 --> 00:25:06,120 Speaker 4: You know, you're meeting people at events at night, you're 448 00:25:06,160 --> 00:25:08,000 Speaker 4: having a dinner in an event, and it. 449 00:25:08,040 --> 00:25:09,359 Speaker 3: Just it never ends. 450 00:25:09,480 --> 00:25:14,399 Speaker 4: And so that along with personal stress you can begin 451 00:25:14,600 --> 00:25:19,879 Speaker 4: to lose who you are. And so I deal with 452 00:25:19,920 --> 00:25:24,320 Speaker 4: stress very differently today. First of all, I recognize it. 453 00:25:24,720 --> 00:25:28,879 Speaker 4: I recognize that I am currently feeling stressed out. So 454 00:25:28,960 --> 00:25:31,480 Speaker 4: what do I need to do? And I usually will 455 00:25:31,480 --> 00:25:34,880 Speaker 4: go meditate. We have a meditation room in our office 456 00:25:35,440 --> 00:25:37,560 Speaker 4: and I can barely get in there most days because 457 00:25:37,600 --> 00:25:41,640 Speaker 4: everybody's in there right right. 458 00:25:40,760 --> 00:25:42,840 Speaker 3: And I'm like knocking on the door, It's my turn. 459 00:25:46,119 --> 00:25:49,600 Speaker 4: But there is something about calming yourself and being in 460 00:25:49,640 --> 00:25:52,800 Speaker 4: the moment. I did that this morning in this beautiful 461 00:25:53,359 --> 00:25:57,000 Speaker 4: airbnb we have here in Atlanta, with the trees around, 462 00:25:57,080 --> 00:26:01,000 Speaker 4: and I said, no cell phone, just sit here, just try. 463 00:26:01,320 --> 00:26:04,520 Speaker 4: You know, ten fifteen minutes of this, I swear it'll 464 00:26:04,560 --> 00:26:05,399 Speaker 4: change your world. 465 00:26:05,960 --> 00:26:07,120 Speaker 3: But not only that. 466 00:26:07,720 --> 00:26:11,119 Speaker 4: You begin to get all these thoughts, all these creative, 467 00:26:11,240 --> 00:26:15,240 Speaker 4: innovative thoughts that give you your next steps to take 468 00:26:15,320 --> 00:26:16,639 Speaker 4: the stress off of you. 469 00:26:17,680 --> 00:26:20,840 Speaker 1: It's important that in your book I bring up your 470 00:26:20,840 --> 00:26:21,800 Speaker 1: mom opes. 471 00:26:21,880 --> 00:26:23,280 Speaker 3: I love her, you. 472 00:26:23,200 --> 00:26:27,119 Speaker 1: Know, because of the fact that again as a black woman, 473 00:26:27,240 --> 00:26:31,040 Speaker 1: a woman of African American descent, you know, stay of 474 00:26:31,119 --> 00:26:37,120 Speaker 1: Tennessee your father, talk about her and her resilience, talk 475 00:26:37,160 --> 00:26:40,160 Speaker 1: about some of the things she had to overcome when 476 00:26:41,520 --> 00:26:44,840 Speaker 1: it continue the legacy that you're driving forth. 477 00:26:44,880 --> 00:26:52,120 Speaker 4: Now, Yeah, Mom is a dynamo, you know. She had 478 00:26:52,160 --> 00:26:55,320 Speaker 4: been supporting my father for many, many years and she's. 479 00:26:55,200 --> 00:26:55,919 Speaker 2: Still in Nashville. 480 00:26:56,080 --> 00:26:57,280 Speaker 3: And she's still in Nashville. 481 00:26:57,320 --> 00:27:03,000 Speaker 4: She turned ninety five in July, and so she was 482 00:27:03,000 --> 00:27:06,400 Speaker 4: on the periphery of the company because she would tell 483 00:27:06,440 --> 00:27:09,879 Speaker 4: my father, well, instead of taking your clients out to dinner, 484 00:27:09,920 --> 00:27:13,639 Speaker 4: bring them home. And she would have these lavish meals 485 00:27:13,680 --> 00:27:18,960 Speaker 4: with the best china and wine and appetizers, entrede dessert 486 00:27:19,400 --> 00:27:21,480 Speaker 4: and she would make all of that. But she's sitting 487 00:27:21,480 --> 00:27:25,919 Speaker 4: there listening as well. So when my father had his 488 00:27:26,200 --> 00:27:28,960 Speaker 4: massive stroke and she had to step in and take 489 00:27:29,000 --> 00:27:33,199 Speaker 4: over the business, she only knew the telephone number to 490 00:27:33,240 --> 00:27:37,800 Speaker 4: the office at that time, but she knew deep inside 491 00:27:38,080 --> 00:27:40,960 Speaker 4: that she wanted to hold on for the fifth generation. 492 00:27:42,640 --> 00:27:47,000 Speaker 4: The city of Nashville. Other architectural firms and construction firms 493 00:27:47,040 --> 00:27:50,919 Speaker 4: at the time approached her and told her, you're a woman, 494 00:27:51,640 --> 00:27:54,480 Speaker 4: you can't run this business. You're not an architect, you're 495 00:27:54,520 --> 00:27:58,520 Speaker 4: not an engineer. Can we just buy your firm? And 496 00:27:58,600 --> 00:28:00,880 Speaker 4: it would have been easy for her just to sell, 497 00:28:01,600 --> 00:28:05,479 Speaker 4: but she's like, no, I am going to keep this 498 00:28:05,560 --> 00:28:09,440 Speaker 4: firm alive for my three daughters, just in case one 499 00:28:09,480 --> 00:28:13,119 Speaker 4: of them wants to come back and join it. She 500 00:28:13,280 --> 00:28:16,680 Speaker 4: had a master's degree in psychology. She's a teacher, right, 501 00:28:16,800 --> 00:28:20,760 Speaker 4: She was a teacher, a very good teacher. I've met 502 00:28:20,760 --> 00:28:24,560 Speaker 4: a lot of her students over the years, and we 503 00:28:24,800 --> 00:28:27,000 Speaker 4: like to say, at least I like to say that 504 00:28:27,080 --> 00:28:30,560 Speaker 4: her masters agree in psychology helped her to deal with 505 00:28:30,600 --> 00:28:33,560 Speaker 4: the manias and phobias of men who couldn't understand a 506 00:28:33,560 --> 00:28:36,600 Speaker 4: woman could run a business. So this is the eighties. 507 00:28:37,200 --> 00:28:41,640 Speaker 4: She could not borrow money. Women period could not borrow money. 508 00:28:42,040 --> 00:28:45,080 Speaker 4: Their sons, their uncles, everybody else could if you were 509 00:28:45,080 --> 00:28:48,520 Speaker 4: a man. It wasn't until nineteen ninety at the Women's 510 00:28:48,560 --> 00:28:51,200 Speaker 4: Business Act that was passed by Congress that she could 511 00:28:51,720 --> 00:28:55,640 Speaker 4: begin to borrow money. So she had to overcome that obstacle, 512 00:28:56,920 --> 00:29:02,680 Speaker 4: but she was masterful at it at selling business. We 513 00:29:02,760 --> 00:29:07,640 Speaker 4: went to Tuskegee University. We met with doctor Peyton and 514 00:29:07,720 --> 00:29:12,240 Speaker 4: she was opening up a new building that we had designed. 515 00:29:12,960 --> 00:29:15,320 Speaker 4: And doctor Peyton came over to her and it's like, 516 00:29:15,440 --> 00:29:18,880 Speaker 4: you know, Lee, when I've told you from the very beginning, 517 00:29:19,440 --> 00:29:21,240 Speaker 4: this is the South, it gets hot down here. I 518 00:29:21,320 --> 00:29:28,320 Speaker 4: need operable windows and Mom said they're not operable. He said, 519 00:29:28,440 --> 00:29:34,560 Speaker 4: not one she's she said, okay, She's like, you know what, 520 00:29:35,640 --> 00:29:38,440 Speaker 4: I'm going to change out every window and I'm going 521 00:29:38,520 --> 00:29:39,240 Speaker 4: to pay for it. 522 00:29:39,440 --> 00:29:40,000 Speaker 2: Wow. 523 00:29:41,000 --> 00:29:44,280 Speaker 4: So now we're walking through the campus and she looks 524 00:29:44,320 --> 00:29:48,800 Speaker 4: over and she sees this old, dilapidated building. They're literally 525 00:29:49,040 --> 00:29:52,960 Speaker 4: storing lawn equipment there. She says to doctor Peyton, I 526 00:29:53,040 --> 00:29:56,160 Speaker 4: see you living there. And I'm thinking to myself, is 527 00:29:56,280 --> 00:30:00,400 Speaker 4: mom has she lost? And he's taking the same thing. 528 00:30:00,480 --> 00:30:03,800 Speaker 4: She said, no, let's go over there. It's this beautiful, 529 00:30:03,880 --> 00:30:09,000 Speaker 4: stately building that was just in disrepair. Beautiful couple at 530 00:30:09,040 --> 00:30:14,280 Speaker 4: the top. He commissioned her to redesign that building and 531 00:30:14,320 --> 00:30:16,000 Speaker 4: renovate it and make it his home. 532 00:30:16,440 --> 00:30:16,920 Speaker 2: Wow. 533 00:30:17,040 --> 00:30:20,320 Speaker 4: And it's called Great Columns and it's still standing on 534 00:30:20,560 --> 00:30:25,640 Speaker 4: Tusky US campus. So she fixed one problem and got another. 535 00:30:30,240 --> 00:30:36,760 Speaker 1: A hustle from mom and daughter. Come on, now, you 536 00:30:36,840 --> 00:30:41,680 Speaker 1: know it's such a beautiful story. And again reading your book, geryld, 537 00:30:42,160 --> 00:30:45,680 Speaker 1: I know you keep going. He did read it. 538 00:30:48,240 --> 00:30:50,440 Speaker 3: You know you didn't read it. You didn't read it. 539 00:30:50,520 --> 00:30:54,600 Speaker 1: Yes, he's a you know hidden figures really popular movies. 540 00:30:55,000 --> 00:30:58,800 Speaker 1: Uh to Rogi p Henson started in it, and oftentimes 541 00:31:00,560 --> 00:31:03,720 Speaker 1: your family legacy has been tied to like the hidden 542 00:31:03,800 --> 00:31:05,240 Speaker 1: figures of construction. 543 00:31:05,800 --> 00:31:06,400 Speaker 2: Talk about that. 544 00:31:06,960 --> 00:31:10,720 Speaker 4: Yeah, you know, it's very interesting that people walk in 545 00:31:10,800 --> 00:31:12,920 Speaker 4: the structures all day long. 546 00:31:13,600 --> 00:31:14,880 Speaker 3: I don't care if. 547 00:31:14,680 --> 00:31:18,719 Speaker 4: It's their grocery store, their school, their hospital, you know, 548 00:31:18,880 --> 00:31:25,080 Speaker 4: the airport, train station. They're walking into some establishment every day. 549 00:31:25,160 --> 00:31:28,560 Speaker 4: But they never think of who built this, right, And 550 00:31:28,840 --> 00:31:33,480 Speaker 4: you know, so we're trying to elevate this profession and 551 00:31:33,920 --> 00:31:37,240 Speaker 4: to brand it as a profession that can build wealth. 552 00:31:37,920 --> 00:31:41,680 Speaker 4: And you know, it's another alternative for our young people 553 00:31:41,800 --> 00:31:45,800 Speaker 4: to consider when they think about a career. And so 554 00:31:46,480 --> 00:31:49,720 Speaker 4: when you think about the hidden figures of the world, 555 00:31:49,840 --> 00:31:53,360 Speaker 4: you know, it wasn't until we heard that story did 556 00:31:53,360 --> 00:31:58,600 Speaker 4: we even know there were computer people acting as computers. 557 00:31:59,080 --> 00:32:00,600 Speaker 3: But they were black women. 558 00:32:01,560 --> 00:32:03,880 Speaker 4: And it's the same with our story. You never think 559 00:32:03,920 --> 00:32:07,400 Speaker 4: about who's building something. But then when you look further 560 00:32:07,480 --> 00:32:10,520 Speaker 4: and deeper into it, not only are the people who 561 00:32:10,520 --> 00:32:15,840 Speaker 4: are building it, you know, majority or whatever, they're black people, right, 562 00:32:16,240 --> 00:32:19,120 Speaker 4: And so that's how to me, you know, that is 563 00:32:19,160 --> 00:32:24,440 Speaker 4: the corel that's why they correlate between those two examples 564 00:32:24,480 --> 00:32:25,720 Speaker 4: that you just gave. 565 00:32:25,600 --> 00:32:28,160 Speaker 1: Well, you know the amazing thing. First of all, thank 566 00:32:28,200 --> 00:32:30,000 Speaker 1: you for giving me the time to talk to you 567 00:32:30,240 --> 00:32:35,720 Speaker 1: in this forum. Cheryl. You know, the book is about 568 00:32:35,800 --> 00:32:43,000 Speaker 1: history repeat itself. It's about motivation, resiliency, overcoming the odds, 569 00:32:43,200 --> 00:32:48,719 Speaker 1: uplift relationships. That because I'm talking to small business owners, 570 00:32:48,720 --> 00:32:52,760 Speaker 1: I'm talking to nonprofits, I'm talking about entrepreneurs. And this 571 00:32:52,880 --> 00:32:58,160 Speaker 1: book is really a must read in my eyes, yes, 572 00:32:58,200 --> 00:33:01,000 Speaker 1: because it's so many lessons to be learned and to 573 00:33:01,040 --> 00:33:05,200 Speaker 1: be told. As we close out this interview, we've discussed 574 00:33:05,240 --> 00:33:07,960 Speaker 1: a lot of amazing stories that are coming out of 575 00:33:08,000 --> 00:33:10,959 Speaker 1: this book. Just a small part of your legacy that 576 00:33:11,040 --> 00:33:14,680 Speaker 1: you continue today with your super hustle. 577 00:33:17,280 --> 00:33:19,200 Speaker 2: Super Hustle that's a nickname. 578 00:33:21,840 --> 00:33:26,400 Speaker 1: Because your family super hustles back then Moses and Calvin, 579 00:33:26,560 --> 00:33:28,880 Speaker 1: back in the day Moses when he's giving the first 580 00:33:28,960 --> 00:33:32,200 Speaker 1: opportunity and they were being allowed to travel in the 581 00:33:32,440 --> 00:33:34,959 Speaker 1: state of North Carolina with notes. That's the only way 582 00:33:35,040 --> 00:33:36,880 Speaker 1: slaves could get around. They would have to get a 583 00:33:37,000 --> 00:33:39,080 Speaker 1: note to travel from place to place to. 584 00:33:40,880 --> 00:33:48,120 Speaker 2: Justify the read it and so but that, But the. 585 00:33:48,240 --> 00:33:53,560 Speaker 1: Legacy of Meckissic and mckissic was William mckissicks was a 586 00:33:53,680 --> 00:33:57,680 Speaker 1: slave owner who purchased Moses when he was eleven years old, 587 00:33:58,360 --> 00:34:01,200 Speaker 1: and that started the legacy that were and today your 588 00:34:01,280 --> 00:34:02,280 Speaker 1: final thoughts. 589 00:34:03,560 --> 00:34:09,200 Speaker 4: My final thoughts, especially for the small businesses, the nonprofits 590 00:34:09,560 --> 00:34:13,680 Speaker 4: and all of that. Like this book does talk about entrepreneurship, 591 00:34:13,880 --> 00:34:19,279 Speaker 4: and that's the beginning, but let's talk about sustainability. How 592 00:34:19,360 --> 00:34:25,239 Speaker 4: to keep it sustainable in perpetuity, you know, posterity. 593 00:34:25,320 --> 00:34:28,000 Speaker 3: Let's talk about what do you need to do for that? 594 00:34:28,760 --> 00:34:33,239 Speaker 4: And you know I always tell business owners you got 595 00:34:33,360 --> 00:34:34,680 Speaker 4: to think about your exit. 596 00:34:34,840 --> 00:34:38,160 Speaker 3: You got to think about your end game, because it's coming, 597 00:34:38,239 --> 00:34:39,600 Speaker 3: whether you're wanted to or not. 598 00:34:39,840 --> 00:34:44,680 Speaker 4: Succession is important, yes, and so I just want to 599 00:34:44,719 --> 00:34:48,840 Speaker 4: make sure people are really understanding that they need to 600 00:34:49,280 --> 00:34:52,960 Speaker 4: plan a succession and don't think you can do it 601 00:34:53,160 --> 00:34:56,000 Speaker 4: like the last two years that you want to work before. 602 00:34:55,800 --> 00:34:59,240 Speaker 3: You retire, but this is something that takes ten years 603 00:34:59,800 --> 00:35:00,319 Speaker 3: to plan. 604 00:35:01,080 --> 00:35:04,520 Speaker 4: In our world, we're creating and have created a very 605 00:35:04,600 --> 00:35:09,400 Speaker 4: strong management team. So the company now can run with 606 00:35:09,600 --> 00:35:14,920 Speaker 4: more than just me managing and telling everyone what to do. 607 00:35:15,120 --> 00:35:18,840 Speaker 4: Matter of fact, it runs without me right now. And 608 00:35:19,080 --> 00:35:23,120 Speaker 4: I don't plan to retire or step back until twenty thirty. 609 00:35:23,640 --> 00:35:28,200 Speaker 4: So I'm giving my plan many years to work out 610 00:35:28,400 --> 00:35:32,320 Speaker 4: all the kinks while I'm still around, and that is 611 00:35:32,400 --> 00:35:34,920 Speaker 4: what I want to say. Also want to tell people 612 00:35:35,239 --> 00:35:39,040 Speaker 4: to start doing a family tree, to start writing down 613 00:35:39,239 --> 00:35:41,280 Speaker 4: what they do know about their families. 614 00:35:41,800 --> 00:35:45,120 Speaker 3: You know, you have to know at least two generations 615 00:35:48,360 --> 00:35:49,000 Speaker 3: at least too. 616 00:35:49,440 --> 00:35:52,439 Speaker 2: You stop that I thought to go back to street 617 00:35:52,440 --> 00:35:54,040 Speaker 2: Port Louis pun stuff like that. 618 00:35:55,480 --> 00:35:56,480 Speaker 3: You'd be surprised. 619 00:35:57,000 --> 00:36:00,879 Speaker 1: I know, I'm I'm not surprised is the person I'm 620 00:36:00,920 --> 00:36:05,239 Speaker 1: talking to today. I am so proud of you, and 621 00:36:05,360 --> 00:36:08,560 Speaker 1: I say that with great sincerity. I'm so proud when 622 00:36:08,600 --> 00:36:12,720 Speaker 1: I'm able to talk to I like to believe living legends. 623 00:36:13,040 --> 00:36:13,719 Speaker 3: Oh thank you. 624 00:36:14,040 --> 00:36:18,840 Speaker 1: You've established a legacy with your family and you're not stopping, 625 00:36:19,480 --> 00:36:21,399 Speaker 1: and your kids are not going to stop. You won't 626 00:36:21,440 --> 00:36:25,080 Speaker 1: let them stop because you know there's history and it's 627 00:36:25,160 --> 00:36:27,800 Speaker 1: not going to die on the vine while you're alive. 628 00:36:28,600 --> 00:36:31,120 Speaker 2: And so twenty thirty is coming, But that doesn't mean 629 00:36:31,160 --> 00:36:33,000 Speaker 2: twenty thirty one. You don't have nothing to say. 630 00:36:34,560 --> 00:36:35,520 Speaker 3: That's right, You've got. 631 00:36:37,560 --> 00:36:39,360 Speaker 2: What you're doing working on. 632 00:36:43,000 --> 00:36:43,680 Speaker 3: See my mother. 633 00:36:45,160 --> 00:36:48,160 Speaker 6: Yes, you amazing, Thank you sir for coming to my 634 00:36:48,239 --> 00:36:51,120 Speaker 6: show in your book, My Black Family Who Built America, 635 00:36:51,480 --> 00:36:56,200 Speaker 6: The Mechistics Two Centuries of Daring pioneer Sarah mckistics Daniel 636 00:36:56,280 --> 00:36:57,240 Speaker 6: with Nick Childs. 637 00:36:57,640 --> 00:37:01,200 Speaker 2: Yes, thank you for coming on Money Making Conversation, My Pleasure. 638 00:37:02,920 --> 00:37:06,759 Speaker 1: This has been another edition of Money Making Conversations Masterclass 639 00:37:07,080 --> 00:37:10,800 Speaker 1: hosted by me Rashaan McDonald. Thank you to our guests 640 00:37:10,800 --> 00:37:14,520 Speaker 1: on the show today and thank you our listening audience. Now, 641 00:37:14,800 --> 00:37:17,239 Speaker 1: if you want to listen to any episode I want 642 00:37:17,320 --> 00:37:19,919 Speaker 1: to register to be a guest on my show, visit 643 00:37:20,320 --> 00:37:26,040 Speaker 1: Moneymakingconversations dot com. Our social media handle is money Making Conversations. 644 00:37:26,440 --> 00:37:29,400 Speaker 2: Join us next week and remember to always leave with 645 00:37:29,480 --> 00:37:30,840 Speaker 2: your gifts. Keep winning