1 00:00:05,120 --> 00:00:06,040 Speaker 1: Welcome to the show. 2 00:00:06,200 --> 00:00:10,240 Speaker 2: I am Rashwan McDonald, the host of Money Making Conversations Masterclass, 3 00:00:10,440 --> 00:00:13,280 Speaker 2: where we encourage people to stop reading other people's success 4 00:00:13,360 --> 00:00:17,159 Speaker 2: stories and start planning their own. Listen up as I 5 00:00:17,239 --> 00:00:21,000 Speaker 2: interview entrepreneurs from around the country, talk to celebrities and 6 00:00:21,120 --> 00:00:23,880 Speaker 2: ask them how they are running their companies, and speak 7 00:00:23,960 --> 00:00:26,440 Speaker 2: with dog profits who are making a difference in their 8 00:00:26,480 --> 00:00:29,800 Speaker 2: local communities. Now, sit back and listen as we unlock 9 00:00:29,840 --> 00:00:34,159 Speaker 2: the secrets to their success on Money Making Conversations Masterclass. 10 00:00:34,240 --> 00:00:37,199 Speaker 1: Hi is Rashon McDonald. Welcome back to Money Making Conversation 11 00:00:37,320 --> 00:00:40,800 Speaker 1: Master Class. I am your host. This weekly show is 12 00:00:40,840 --> 00:00:43,360 Speaker 1: called Money Making Conversation Master Class. Y'all know that a 13 00:00:43,400 --> 00:00:45,280 Speaker 1: lot of people walking to go when it's coming on. 14 00:00:45,360 --> 00:00:48,199 Speaker 1: It's coming on when you listen. The interviews and information 15 00:00:48,280 --> 00:00:51,080 Speaker 1: that this show provides are for everyone. It's time to 16 00:00:51,080 --> 00:00:54,920 Speaker 1: stop reading other people's success story and really and start 17 00:00:54,960 --> 00:00:57,160 Speaker 1: living your own. I'm here to help you reach your 18 00:00:57,160 --> 00:00:59,600 Speaker 1: American dream. I want you to be If you want 19 00:00:59,640 --> 00:01:02,360 Speaker 1: to be a guest to my show, please visit my 20 00:01:02,440 --> 00:01:05,240 Speaker 1: site money Making Conversation master Class and click to be 21 00:01:05,319 --> 00:01:08,160 Speaker 1: a guest button, and then you can be on my 22 00:01:08,240 --> 00:01:12,080 Speaker 1: show my guests, I mean, she was cool. My guest 23 00:01:12,160 --> 00:01:15,560 Speaker 1: is founded or founded the Boss Network. It's an online 24 00:01:15,560 --> 00:01:19,200 Speaker 1: community of professional and entrepreneurial women who support each other 25 00:01:19,280 --> 00:01:24,039 Speaker 1: through digital content programs and event based networking. The mission 26 00:01:24,040 --> 00:01:25,759 Speaker 1: of the Boss Network. This is the second time I've 27 00:01:25,760 --> 00:01:27,240 Speaker 1: had on the show. The first time she was on 28 00:01:27,240 --> 00:01:30,480 Speaker 1: the show, she blew me away. Stands for bringing out 29 00:01:30,560 --> 00:01:34,560 Speaker 1: successful sisters. That's what Boss means is to promote and 30 00:01:34,680 --> 00:01:38,679 Speaker 1: encourage the small business spirit and career development of women 31 00:01:38,760 --> 00:01:42,920 Speaker 1: of color. This year, the Boss Network is celebrating the 32 00:01:43,120 --> 00:01:46,320 Speaker 1: fifteenth year anniverse. It's fifteen years she's been in the game. Now, 33 00:01:46,720 --> 00:01:49,440 Speaker 1: please welcome the Money Making Conversation master Class the one 34 00:01:49,440 --> 00:01:53,280 Speaker 1: and only Doctor Kamika Smith. Doctor Smith, welcome back. 35 00:01:54,400 --> 00:01:57,440 Speaker 3: Listen, mister McDonald. It's a pleasure to be back. 36 00:01:57,720 --> 00:01:59,200 Speaker 1: You know, it's so fun. I was, I was in 37 00:01:59,280 --> 00:02:01,880 Speaker 1: my office and I was just I said, you know something, 38 00:02:02,000 --> 00:02:04,720 Speaker 1: because the first time, before I get into that story, 39 00:02:04,920 --> 00:02:07,600 Speaker 1: let everybody know about the Boss Network. Please tell everybody 40 00:02:07,600 --> 00:02:10,120 Speaker 1: what the Boss Network is in your words. I know 41 00:02:10,200 --> 00:02:12,799 Speaker 1: they celebrating their fifteen year. That's why you're in here. 42 00:02:12,840 --> 00:02:15,840 Speaker 1: So we talk about the November sixteenth, eight it's coming up, 43 00:02:16,120 --> 00:02:18,760 Speaker 1: but let's talk about the Boss Network so other people 44 00:02:19,120 --> 00:02:22,880 Speaker 1: can grow that brand and find out the value of 45 00:02:23,040 --> 00:02:24,760 Speaker 1: what you're doing for women of color. 46 00:02:26,160 --> 00:02:29,760 Speaker 3: Absolutely, Rashan, So to the Money Making Conversation listeners. I'm 47 00:02:29,800 --> 00:02:32,040 Speaker 3: just excited to be here because again, you know, we 48 00:02:32,080 --> 00:02:34,560 Speaker 3: are celebrating our fifteen year anniversary with the Boss Network. 49 00:02:34,600 --> 00:02:37,000 Speaker 3: I founded this organization back in two thousand and nine 50 00:02:37,639 --> 00:02:39,040 Speaker 3: when I was laid off, and I know a lot 51 00:02:39,080 --> 00:02:40,840 Speaker 3: of people can relate to that, being laid off work 52 00:02:40,880 --> 00:02:43,480 Speaker 3: and trying to figure out what's next. I was always 53 00:02:43,480 --> 00:02:45,959 Speaker 3: an entrepreneur at heart, and so I just told myself, 54 00:02:46,000 --> 00:02:47,280 Speaker 3: you know what, I'm going to take a year off 55 00:02:47,680 --> 00:02:50,239 Speaker 3: and figure out this entrepreneurial thing. That already had started 56 00:02:50,280 --> 00:02:53,200 Speaker 3: an event marketing company here in Chicago, and so I 57 00:02:53,240 --> 00:02:55,680 Speaker 3: wanted to kind of build on that business. But I 58 00:02:55,760 --> 00:02:58,400 Speaker 3: realized very quickly that a side hustle and a full 59 00:02:58,440 --> 00:03:02,880 Speaker 3: time entrepreneurship journey is two different things, and so I 60 00:03:02,960 --> 00:03:05,480 Speaker 3: really had to kind of find my community. And at 61 00:03:05,480 --> 00:03:07,440 Speaker 3: the time I'm talking about fifteen years ago, it was 62 00:03:07,520 --> 00:03:10,320 Speaker 3: not what you see now, where everybody supporting black businesses, 63 00:03:10,600 --> 00:03:14,360 Speaker 3: everybody supporting entrepreneurship and tech. It really wasn't that, and 64 00:03:14,400 --> 00:03:16,560 Speaker 3: so I have to really kind of build what I 65 00:03:16,680 --> 00:03:19,680 Speaker 3: wanted and that's how the Boss Network came about. And 66 00:03:19,720 --> 00:03:21,800 Speaker 3: so we started off doing evince here in Chicago because 67 00:03:21,800 --> 00:03:23,440 Speaker 3: I really wanted to bring together black women to talk 68 00:03:23,480 --> 00:03:25,800 Speaker 3: about how do we grow as business owners? How do 69 00:03:25,840 --> 00:03:28,720 Speaker 3: we climb the corporate ladder? And through those conversations, we 70 00:03:28,720 --> 00:03:31,360 Speaker 3: were able to build our community the bossntwor dot org. 71 00:03:31,639 --> 00:03:34,160 Speaker 3: And so today we reached over two hundred thousand Black 72 00:03:34,200 --> 00:03:37,640 Speaker 3: women across the country. We've invested in one hundred black 73 00:03:37,640 --> 00:03:40,800 Speaker 3: female founders, We've trained over fifty thousand black women on 74 00:03:40,840 --> 00:03:43,840 Speaker 3: success strategies, and we've coached about ten thousand women on 75 00:03:43,880 --> 00:03:45,560 Speaker 3: how to start their businesses. And so it's been an 76 00:03:45,560 --> 00:03:49,240 Speaker 3: amazing journey. And yeah, we're here today fifteen years later, 77 00:03:49,400 --> 00:03:50,080 Speaker 3: still doing. 78 00:03:49,920 --> 00:03:53,600 Speaker 1: The work now, Dizum two thousand and nine, that's fifteen 79 00:03:53,680 --> 00:03:56,080 Speaker 1: years ago. Got laid off. What was the state of 80 00:03:56,200 --> 00:04:01,400 Speaker 1: line of Kamika. This shoudn't say, come Comica got laid off. 81 00:04:01,480 --> 00:04:04,600 Speaker 1: I'm talking to doctor Kamiki Smith today. Back then, Comica 82 00:04:04,680 --> 00:04:05,200 Speaker 1: got laid off. 83 00:04:05,640 --> 00:04:06,680 Speaker 3: Comika got laid off. 84 00:04:08,560 --> 00:04:10,800 Speaker 1: So what was the thing of Comica back then? In 85 00:04:10,840 --> 00:04:11,600 Speaker 1: two thousand and ninck. 86 00:04:11,840 --> 00:04:14,320 Speaker 3: Yeah, absolutely, Reshine. So this is the thing, you know, 87 00:04:14,880 --> 00:04:17,200 Speaker 3: if you all remember, two thousand and nine was a recession, 88 00:04:17,240 --> 00:04:19,279 Speaker 3: so you know, it wasn't just Comika, it was you know, 89 00:04:19,440 --> 00:04:21,760 Speaker 3: a lot of the country. So I worked with Chicago 90 00:04:21,760 --> 00:04:24,400 Speaker 3: Public Schools at the time, and so about fifteen hundred 91 00:04:24,600 --> 00:04:27,120 Speaker 3: or two thousand people at our district had got laid off, 92 00:04:27,160 --> 00:04:29,240 Speaker 3: and so I knew it was coming. It wasn't a surprise. 93 00:04:29,680 --> 00:04:32,200 Speaker 3: And so by me being already an entrepreneur, I was 94 00:04:32,240 --> 00:04:34,200 Speaker 3: just like, Okay, you know what, I've been working since 95 00:04:34,200 --> 00:04:37,320 Speaker 3: I was probably twelve years old. You know, I started, 96 00:04:37,360 --> 00:04:39,280 Speaker 3: you know, passing out flyers for a pizza company when 97 00:04:39,279 --> 00:04:42,200 Speaker 3: I was twelve years old in my neighborhood. And I 98 00:04:42,320 --> 00:04:44,440 Speaker 3: worked every since, and so went to college, got the 99 00:04:44,520 --> 00:04:47,279 Speaker 3: master's degree, all the things, and I realized, like, you 100 00:04:47,279 --> 00:04:49,039 Speaker 3: know what, I want a break, and so I was 101 00:04:49,160 --> 00:04:51,599 Speaker 3: happy to take a year off, get my unemployment, and 102 00:04:51,600 --> 00:04:53,440 Speaker 3: figure out how to start a business full time. And 103 00:04:53,480 --> 00:04:55,480 Speaker 3: so I was happy, I'm not gonna lie. I was 104 00:04:55,520 --> 00:04:58,719 Speaker 3: like looking forward to that break. And some times that 105 00:04:58,880 --> 00:05:01,520 Speaker 3: you know, our counterpart, you know, they get to go backpacking, 106 00:05:01,560 --> 00:05:03,040 Speaker 3: you up and all the things and we don't get 107 00:05:03,040 --> 00:05:05,039 Speaker 3: to do that, you know. And so I was like, 108 00:05:05,120 --> 00:05:06,680 Speaker 3: you know what, this is my moment to really take 109 00:05:06,720 --> 00:05:08,719 Speaker 3: a break and figure out what I want to do. 110 00:05:08,760 --> 00:05:11,960 Speaker 3: Because for me, it was like I was promised, you know, 111 00:05:12,360 --> 00:05:14,560 Speaker 3: the career, the go watch. 112 00:05:14,600 --> 00:05:14,760 Speaker 4: You know. 113 00:05:14,839 --> 00:05:16,000 Speaker 3: I know a lot of people that work to Trabel, 114 00:05:16,000 --> 00:05:18,480 Speaker 3: but schools have been there for thirty forty fifty years, 115 00:05:18,760 --> 00:05:20,360 Speaker 3: and to be laid off, I was like, Wow, this 116 00:05:20,400 --> 00:05:21,880 Speaker 3: is not what I signed up for. So if this 117 00:05:21,960 --> 00:05:24,599 Speaker 3: is what it's going to be like in corporate America, 118 00:05:24,680 --> 00:05:26,279 Speaker 3: I'm gonna just you know what, I'm gonna focus on 119 00:05:26,320 --> 00:05:28,200 Speaker 3: building my own brand and that way, nobody could ever 120 00:05:28,240 --> 00:05:30,560 Speaker 3: fire me or lay me off. And that's why I 121 00:05:30,560 --> 00:05:32,520 Speaker 3: built the Boss Network, to be honest. So I was 122 00:05:32,520 --> 00:05:36,440 Speaker 3: in a place of excitement of you know, looking forward 123 00:05:36,480 --> 00:05:38,839 Speaker 3: to what was next, and a lot of people probably 124 00:05:38,839 --> 00:05:41,640 Speaker 3: found it to be scary. But I've always been a planner, 125 00:05:41,880 --> 00:05:43,479 Speaker 3: and so I have saved a lot of money. I 126 00:05:43,520 --> 00:05:45,400 Speaker 3: have friends who are like, Okay, you're single, you don't 127 00:05:45,400 --> 00:05:47,760 Speaker 3: have children, put some extra money in your four or 128 00:05:47,760 --> 00:05:49,880 Speaker 3: three V save up, and so I was able to 129 00:05:49,960 --> 00:05:52,599 Speaker 3: use that money to invest in my business. So yeah, 130 00:05:52,720 --> 00:05:53,920 Speaker 3: I was I was ready to go. 131 00:05:54,760 --> 00:05:56,599 Speaker 1: Now, you run a bunch of nervous people, you know, 132 00:05:56,839 --> 00:05:59,320 Speaker 1: you know, people are always nervous when you're not doing 133 00:05:59,360 --> 00:06:03,200 Speaker 1: something that's normal, because normal is forty hour week jobs. 134 00:06:03,200 --> 00:06:05,200 Speaker 1: You know, because they go understand getting up, go work 135 00:06:05,240 --> 00:06:09,920 Speaker 1: for somebody, get a check, health benefits, vacation, sick days. See, 136 00:06:09,960 --> 00:06:11,720 Speaker 1: a lot of people are I want to use the 137 00:06:11,760 --> 00:06:13,840 Speaker 1: work brainwas because that's not it. I did that job. 138 00:06:14,160 --> 00:06:18,000 Speaker 1: But the entrepreneur thinks different. It's fear, and that fear 139 00:06:18,160 --> 00:06:20,359 Speaker 1: is like and let me tell you difference between the entpreneur, 140 00:06:20,360 --> 00:06:23,480 Speaker 1: an entrepreneur and a forty hour week person. An entrepreneur 141 00:06:24,000 --> 00:06:26,839 Speaker 1: don't want to work forty hours, but as an entrepreneur, 142 00:06:26,960 --> 00:06:29,599 Speaker 1: they will work eighty hours. So that's the difference. See, 143 00:06:29,680 --> 00:06:32,200 Speaker 1: they work eighty hours for themselves, but don't want to 144 00:06:32,200 --> 00:06:34,640 Speaker 1: work forty hours for somebody else. That is the difference 145 00:06:34,640 --> 00:06:37,640 Speaker 1: between an entrepreneur and a person who works forty hours 146 00:06:37,640 --> 00:06:41,320 Speaker 1: a week. Now that fear that she brought out, I 147 00:06:41,360 --> 00:06:44,599 Speaker 1: can tell you this. I am afraid. I'm not gonna joke. 148 00:06:44,720 --> 00:06:47,760 Speaker 1: I am afraid, but I plan, And that's what she 149 00:06:47,800 --> 00:06:50,680 Speaker 1: was talking about. She spent that year off planning she 150 00:06:50,720 --> 00:06:55,080 Speaker 1: had already saved money. She wasn't like jumping off the 151 00:06:55,080 --> 00:06:58,040 Speaker 1: cliff without a parachute. She was thinking about the process 152 00:06:58,320 --> 00:07:00,440 Speaker 1: she knew. She didn't say she was shot. She was 153 00:07:00,480 --> 00:07:03,720 Speaker 1: disappointed it happened, but she wasn't shocked when she got 154 00:07:03,839 --> 00:07:06,280 Speaker 1: laid off. Now, the sad part about it, a lot 155 00:07:06,320 --> 00:07:10,400 Speaker 1: of people was shocked they got laid off because even 156 00:07:10,440 --> 00:07:12,880 Speaker 1: though they were telling you it's going to happen, a 157 00:07:12,880 --> 00:07:15,880 Speaker 1: lot of people didn't prepare for that. Now, the Boss. 158 00:07:15,600 --> 00:07:18,960 Speaker 3: Network, whatever sho I WASNA said one quick thing I think. 159 00:07:19,160 --> 00:07:22,720 Speaker 3: You know, for entrepreneurs, you can be just like anything, 160 00:07:22,760 --> 00:07:25,280 Speaker 3: you can be taught, but sometimes it's innately in you. 161 00:07:25,520 --> 00:07:27,120 Speaker 3: And I, to be honest, I feel like I was 162 00:07:27,240 --> 00:07:29,520 Speaker 3: born to be an entrepreneur. I was born to create 163 00:07:29,520 --> 00:07:31,880 Speaker 3: the Boss Network. My mother told me when I first 164 00:07:31,920 --> 00:07:34,040 Speaker 3: got out of college and I started my career, you know, 165 00:07:34,200 --> 00:07:36,560 Speaker 3: I you know, I wasn't really feeling a lot of 166 00:07:36,560 --> 00:07:38,720 Speaker 3: the leadership and how things were going. She said, you 167 00:07:38,760 --> 00:07:40,640 Speaker 3: know what can be done until you become your own boss. 168 00:07:40,760 --> 00:07:42,800 Speaker 3: You gotta respect authority, You got to follow the rules. 169 00:07:42,800 --> 00:07:45,880 Speaker 3: It's a game. And so that honestly is why I 170 00:07:45,880 --> 00:07:47,800 Speaker 3: built the Boss Network. Because she said, until you become 171 00:07:47,800 --> 00:07:51,120 Speaker 3: your own boss, you got to follow the rules. And 172 00:07:51,160 --> 00:07:53,400 Speaker 3: I wanted to create my own rules. And so, you know, 173 00:07:53,480 --> 00:07:55,760 Speaker 3: it was already in me. She nurtured that thing in me. 174 00:07:55,880 --> 00:07:57,960 Speaker 3: She believed in me from day one, and that's what 175 00:07:58,000 --> 00:07:59,400 Speaker 3: gave me the confidence to push forward. 176 00:08:00,000 --> 00:08:01,400 Speaker 1: There are two things that they're doing that I want 177 00:08:01,440 --> 00:08:02,720 Speaker 1: to talk about in a minute. But let me just 178 00:08:03,200 --> 00:08:05,040 Speaker 1: back up and let everybody know who I'm talking to. 179 00:08:05,360 --> 00:08:07,800 Speaker 1: I'm talking to doctor Kamika Smith. She founded the Boss 180 00:08:07,880 --> 00:08:11,520 Speaker 1: Network and changing the ways enterprising women are viewed among 181 00:08:11,640 --> 00:08:15,000 Speaker 1: the masses and becoming a resource for companies seeking female 182 00:08:15,000 --> 00:08:19,000 Speaker 1: minority influencers as their target market. It has supported the 183 00:08:19,080 --> 00:08:21,800 Speaker 1: careers listen to this, it has supporting The Boss Network 184 00:08:22,000 --> 00:08:24,720 Speaker 1: has supported the careers in small business development of more 185 00:08:24,760 --> 00:08:28,880 Speaker 1: than two hundred thousand women of color nationwide through initiative 186 00:08:29,200 --> 00:08:33,520 Speaker 1: such as Boss Business University, a digital platform that provides 187 00:08:33,600 --> 00:08:38,880 Speaker 1: comprehensive mentorship programming through industry business experts. Now, you have 188 00:08:38,920 --> 00:08:41,079 Speaker 1: two things that we want to talk about. The invest 189 00:08:41,240 --> 00:08:45,080 Speaker 1: in Progress Grant and the Boss Impact Fund. Started to 190 00:08:45,120 --> 00:08:46,560 Speaker 1: invest in Progress Grant. 191 00:08:48,720 --> 00:08:53,280 Speaker 3: Well, you know, it really started doing COVID my business 192 00:08:53,440 --> 00:08:56,400 Speaker 3: before COVID was probably thuvy five percent conferences and events 193 00:08:56,440 --> 00:09:01,080 Speaker 3: and in marketing, working with brands like Credentials, Jacie Park, 194 00:09:01,080 --> 00:09:05,679 Speaker 3: and Chase Stage PepsiCo and really using their resources that 195 00:09:05,880 --> 00:09:09,520 Speaker 3: you know, they wanted to target African American consumers to 196 00:09:09,520 --> 00:09:12,360 Speaker 3: promote their brand. And so I worked with those brands 197 00:09:12,440 --> 00:09:15,840 Speaker 3: on a lot of different projects to support small business owners. 198 00:09:15,920 --> 00:09:19,080 Speaker 3: And you know, when COVID happened, it was literally shut down. 199 00:09:19,120 --> 00:09:21,320 Speaker 3: There was no events, there were no travels, you know 200 00:09:21,360 --> 00:09:25,360 Speaker 3: how it was. And so I decided, okay, what's next? 201 00:09:25,400 --> 00:09:29,000 Speaker 3: Right that everybody was in that season of pivoting and shifting, 202 00:09:29,360 --> 00:09:31,400 Speaker 3: and so you know me, I'm always trying to be 203 00:09:31,440 --> 00:09:33,880 Speaker 3: ahead of what's happening. My brand had always been a 204 00:09:33,920 --> 00:09:36,679 Speaker 3: digital brand because I knew the power of social media 205 00:09:36,880 --> 00:09:38,880 Speaker 3: very early. I knew that I didn't want to be 206 00:09:38,960 --> 00:09:40,960 Speaker 3: a working mortar business. I knew I wanted to have 207 00:09:41,000 --> 00:09:43,240 Speaker 3: a space digitally so that I could reach as many 208 00:09:43,320 --> 00:09:45,920 Speaker 3: people as possible. And so when COVID happened, all I 209 00:09:45,920 --> 00:09:48,680 Speaker 3: did was just shift that seventy five percent of the 210 00:09:48,679 --> 00:09:52,000 Speaker 3: traveling business to digital business. And we just used zooms 211 00:09:52,040 --> 00:09:54,360 Speaker 3: to do our conferences in our events, and it worked 212 00:09:54,360 --> 00:09:57,520 Speaker 3: out because we were able to save probably threty percent 213 00:09:57,559 --> 00:10:00,960 Speaker 3: of our revenue that we spent on events into the business. 214 00:10:01,280 --> 00:10:02,959 Speaker 3: But the problem was a lot of our community was 215 00:10:02,960 --> 00:10:06,360 Speaker 3: struggling with their businesses and just educating them wasn't enough, 216 00:10:06,559 --> 00:10:07,679 Speaker 3: and so I had to figure out a way to 217 00:10:07,720 --> 00:10:11,839 Speaker 3: provide some support financially because, if you know, less than 218 00:10:12,360 --> 00:10:14,800 Speaker 3: one percent of black women get VC funding for their 219 00:10:14,840 --> 00:10:19,120 Speaker 3: small businesses. And so during COVID, you know the bailouts 220 00:10:19,120 --> 00:10:21,319 Speaker 3: that was given, the PvP loans, we weren't not getting 221 00:10:21,320 --> 00:10:22,800 Speaker 3: access to those things in the beginning, and so it 222 00:10:22,840 --> 00:10:24,720 Speaker 3: was a real big struggle. And so I said, you know, 223 00:10:24,800 --> 00:10:27,320 Speaker 3: as a leader, what I can do is actually pitch 224 00:10:27,360 --> 00:10:29,400 Speaker 3: some of these companies that I'm working with and start 225 00:10:29,440 --> 00:10:31,720 Speaker 3: my own fund and have them support that. And so 226 00:10:31,800 --> 00:10:34,640 Speaker 3: we launched the Boss Impact Fund in twenty twenty to 227 00:10:35,320 --> 00:10:37,880 Speaker 3: two thousand, sorry twenty and twenty one, and it was 228 00:10:37,920 --> 00:10:40,400 Speaker 3: a three year project and we've invested so far on 229 00:10:40,400 --> 00:10:43,199 Speaker 3: one hundred black female founders. They each recent recent to 230 00:10:43,200 --> 00:10:45,120 Speaker 3: ten thousand dollars grant and a four year scholarship to 231 00:10:45,200 --> 00:10:48,200 Speaker 3: our bosses and university. And so the Boss Impact Fund, 232 00:10:48,240 --> 00:10:51,600 Speaker 3: the Investment Progress Grant, the bosses and university. All that 233 00:10:51,760 --> 00:10:55,960 Speaker 3: was paired together to provide our entrepreneurs with not just money, 234 00:10:56,400 --> 00:10:58,440 Speaker 3: but marketing and mentorship. 235 00:11:00,120 --> 00:11:03,000 Speaker 1: Now that key mentorship, because so many people get out here, 236 00:11:03,559 --> 00:11:05,400 Speaker 1: you know, don't even they want to be in business, 237 00:11:05,480 --> 00:11:08,559 Speaker 1: don't have a business plan. Can you tell just talking 238 00:11:08,559 --> 00:11:11,679 Speaker 1: to young entrepreneurs male and female, because they need to 239 00:11:11,720 --> 00:11:13,960 Speaker 1: hear the true both sides because what you're about to 240 00:11:13,960 --> 00:11:16,840 Speaker 1: say impacts men and women who want to be entrepreneurs, 241 00:11:16,880 --> 00:11:18,600 Speaker 1: who want to get out in the small business space. 242 00:11:18,920 --> 00:11:21,640 Speaker 1: What are the top three mistakes you see and just 243 00:11:21,640 --> 00:11:24,240 Speaker 1: think about it for a minute that young entrepreneurs make 244 00:11:24,440 --> 00:11:28,559 Speaker 1: when they jump out there on faith only or just jump. 245 00:11:29,640 --> 00:11:32,960 Speaker 3: Yeah, yeah, no, that's a good goodness question, Rashan. And 246 00:11:33,160 --> 00:11:35,200 Speaker 3: like you said, this is for women and men. You know, 247 00:11:35,559 --> 00:11:37,560 Speaker 3: the tools are for everybody because the color is green, 248 00:11:37,760 --> 00:11:40,520 Speaker 3: right right. But one of the things that I would 249 00:11:40,559 --> 00:11:43,319 Speaker 3: say for me is doing your research. You know, I 250 00:11:43,320 --> 00:11:44,760 Speaker 3: think a lot of the times we look at other 251 00:11:44,880 --> 00:11:47,640 Speaker 3: entrepreneurs online and that's how we get our motivation and 252 00:11:47,640 --> 00:11:49,000 Speaker 3: we see what they're doing and we're like, oh, I 253 00:11:49,000 --> 00:11:51,160 Speaker 3: could do that, but we don't really know the ends 254 00:11:51,160 --> 00:11:54,440 Speaker 3: and out of that particular industry and what it takes 255 00:11:54,440 --> 00:11:56,280 Speaker 3: for that grand to be successful. Because all you're saying 256 00:11:56,320 --> 00:11:58,199 Speaker 3: is the highlight reels. You're just saying what they post 257 00:11:58,280 --> 00:12:01,320 Speaker 3: on social media, and it might look easy, but trust me, 258 00:12:01,720 --> 00:12:05,040 Speaker 3: what goes on behind the business is a whole other beast. 259 00:12:05,120 --> 00:12:06,920 Speaker 3: And so I always thought entrepreneurs, the first thing you 260 00:12:06,960 --> 00:12:11,199 Speaker 3: want to do is research. Research the industry, research their competitors, 261 00:12:11,480 --> 00:12:14,440 Speaker 3: research the marketplace to see if you're even up for 262 00:12:14,520 --> 00:12:17,440 Speaker 3: the challenge. Because I had so many people wanted to 263 00:12:17,480 --> 00:12:20,480 Speaker 3: create communities right the BOSS Network, and they did, and 264 00:12:20,520 --> 00:12:23,559 Speaker 3: I will be honest, none of them exists anymore. I 265 00:12:23,559 --> 00:12:25,480 Speaker 3: think the BOSS I worked at probably these one of 266 00:12:25,520 --> 00:12:28,960 Speaker 3: the very few black communities still standing. Because it's a 267 00:12:29,000 --> 00:12:33,439 Speaker 3: lot of work, and it's a lot of work without rewards, 268 00:12:33,480 --> 00:12:34,559 Speaker 3: you know, and so you've got to be in it 269 00:12:34,640 --> 00:12:36,800 Speaker 3: for the love of it until you see that reward. 270 00:12:36,920 --> 00:12:39,120 Speaker 3: And so my heart was always in it for the people, 271 00:12:39,520 --> 00:12:41,640 Speaker 3: and so I waited a long time before I saw 272 00:12:41,679 --> 00:12:44,720 Speaker 3: the reward that I felt like I deserved. But I 273 00:12:44,760 --> 00:12:46,760 Speaker 3: believed in it. And just like anything, they say, if 274 00:12:46,800 --> 00:12:48,400 Speaker 3: you love it, you do it for free. And I 275 00:12:48,440 --> 00:12:51,400 Speaker 3: did you know the blessing was, you know, God kept 276 00:12:51,400 --> 00:12:53,240 Speaker 3: me along the way financially, and I had a partner 277 00:12:53,320 --> 00:12:56,439 Speaker 3: who supported me. But the reality was I gave a 278 00:12:56,480 --> 00:12:59,960 Speaker 3: lot of to my community without receiving anything in return 279 00:13:00,040 --> 00:13:03,280 Speaker 3: in the beginning as I was building, but I used 280 00:13:03,280 --> 00:13:05,679 Speaker 3: that time to research and figure out how do I 281 00:13:05,720 --> 00:13:08,599 Speaker 3: monetize this business? And so all that paid off in 282 00:13:08,679 --> 00:13:13,280 Speaker 3: the end, and I knew for me there was a 283 00:13:13,320 --> 00:13:16,360 Speaker 3: twofold component to my business, the B to B business, 284 00:13:16,360 --> 00:13:18,600 Speaker 3: which was business of business that way I can get 285 00:13:18,800 --> 00:13:22,080 Speaker 3: big clients and get six figure checks, and then the 286 00:13:22,120 --> 00:13:24,960 Speaker 3: B two C business, which is way more consistent business 287 00:13:25,000 --> 00:13:26,960 Speaker 3: right because corporations can pull the plug on you at 288 00:13:26,960 --> 00:13:30,160 Speaker 3: any time, but if you have loyal customers and consumers, 289 00:13:30,360 --> 00:13:32,560 Speaker 3: they'll grow with you. And so I created a model 290 00:13:32,600 --> 00:13:35,680 Speaker 3: that included both of those revenue models. So research for 291 00:13:35,760 --> 00:13:36,840 Speaker 3: me is a top. 292 00:13:37,080 --> 00:13:38,960 Speaker 1: You know, I'm gon give you an example of me 293 00:13:39,360 --> 00:13:42,280 Speaker 1: not doing my research. I remember when I my company 294 00:13:42,360 --> 00:13:45,320 Speaker 1: is thirty and fifteen Media, and I was no longer 295 00:13:45,600 --> 00:13:48,200 Speaker 1: managing Steve Harvey in twenty sixteen, launched the company in 296 00:13:48,200 --> 00:13:51,480 Speaker 1: twenty seventeen, and it was a marketing agency, and I 297 00:13:51,480 --> 00:13:53,400 Speaker 1: had a lot of great ideas and I will sit 298 00:13:53,480 --> 00:13:56,960 Speaker 1: down with these fortune five hundred companies and pitched my 299 00:13:57,000 --> 00:13:58,960 Speaker 1: ideas and they loved it, and then they will go 300 00:13:59,280 --> 00:14:02,040 Speaker 1: talk to my age you see it, oh agency. When 301 00:14:02,080 --> 00:14:04,679 Speaker 1: I got the idea, and then I go to the agencies, well, 302 00:14:04,679 --> 00:14:08,160 Speaker 1: you know, Rashan, you've about to do our job because 303 00:14:08,160 --> 00:14:11,240 Speaker 1: we can actually do what you're pitching. So if we 304 00:14:11,600 --> 00:14:13,760 Speaker 1: let you do that, then what we gonna do and 305 00:14:13,920 --> 00:14:15,719 Speaker 1: that's not doing your reach you. 306 00:14:15,720 --> 00:14:17,480 Speaker 3: I'm gonna give you some advice on that rushaurant whenever 307 00:14:17,480 --> 00:14:17,880 Speaker 3: you ready. 308 00:14:18,160 --> 00:14:20,040 Speaker 1: Okay, give me some advice now. 309 00:14:20,240 --> 00:14:23,280 Speaker 3: Okay, Oh listen, we're we're we're in the same boat, 310 00:14:23,320 --> 00:14:25,160 Speaker 3: right because again, think about it, if I also work 311 00:14:25,200 --> 00:14:27,560 Speaker 3: as much as as a community for black women, I'm 312 00:14:27,600 --> 00:14:31,760 Speaker 3: also a resource for brands, right, So the same agencies 313 00:14:31,760 --> 00:14:33,520 Speaker 3: you're talking about. You know, I was one to those 314 00:14:33,560 --> 00:14:37,560 Speaker 3: agencies too, and the recommendation of the brands that I 315 00:14:37,600 --> 00:14:39,720 Speaker 3: was working with. But what I realized very quickly was 316 00:14:40,160 --> 00:14:42,480 Speaker 3: the agencies wanted to give me pennies on the dollar, 317 00:14:42,920 --> 00:14:46,080 Speaker 3: you know, to do big, big, big work, to do 318 00:14:46,120 --> 00:14:48,360 Speaker 3: most of the work right. And so what I realized 319 00:14:48,400 --> 00:14:50,280 Speaker 3: is I need to become the agency. So I just 320 00:14:50,320 --> 00:14:53,800 Speaker 3: basically built my own marketing agency within the BOSS network, 321 00:14:53,800 --> 00:14:56,640 Speaker 3: and I just decided to go directly to the brands 322 00:14:56,760 --> 00:14:59,640 Speaker 3: and work with with their marketing department because it's about 323 00:14:59,640 --> 00:15:02,840 Speaker 3: relationship and that's a big thing. If you have a 324 00:15:02,920 --> 00:15:07,440 Speaker 3: relationship directly with the person, then you can bypass the agency. 325 00:15:07,480 --> 00:15:08,840 Speaker 3: But if you don't have those relationship, they're going to 326 00:15:08,880 --> 00:15:11,960 Speaker 3: send you right to the agency, and most fib you 327 00:15:12,000 --> 00:15:13,360 Speaker 3: know it comes out of ten, they're not going to 328 00:15:13,400 --> 00:15:17,120 Speaker 3: do business with you, right, And so I'll be honest, 329 00:15:17,320 --> 00:15:19,760 Speaker 3: I only work with corporate brands. I don't work with 330 00:15:19,800 --> 00:15:23,080 Speaker 3: any agency because I realized very quickly that I don't 331 00:15:23,080 --> 00:15:25,040 Speaker 3: want twenty five hundred dollars. I want two hundred and 332 00:15:25,040 --> 00:15:29,320 Speaker 3: fifty thousand dollarsand so I need to make those relationships happen. 333 00:15:29,360 --> 00:15:31,600 Speaker 3: But the reality is the relationship take time, and so 334 00:15:31,640 --> 00:15:34,200 Speaker 3: I have to be patient and build out my consumer 335 00:15:34,320 --> 00:15:36,320 Speaker 3: business revenue models so that I can take the time 336 00:15:36,360 --> 00:15:39,240 Speaker 3: to build those relationships with those brands that I wanted 337 00:15:39,240 --> 00:15:40,840 Speaker 3: to invest in me. And that's how I was able 338 00:15:40,840 --> 00:15:43,600 Speaker 3: to get a one point five million dollars investment from Stage. 339 00:15:43,920 --> 00:15:45,640 Speaker 3: I haven't working with them for ten years. 340 00:15:45,640 --> 00:15:48,800 Speaker 4: Please don't go anywhere, we'll be right back with more 341 00:15:48,880 --> 00:16:00,520 Speaker 4: money Making Conversations Masterclass. Welcome back to the Money Making 342 00:16:00,560 --> 00:16:06,280 Speaker 4: Conversations Masterclass, hosted by Rashaan McDonald. Money Making Conversations Masterclass 343 00:16:06,320 --> 00:16:10,920 Speaker 4: continues online at Moneymakingconversations dot com and follow money Making 344 00:16:10,960 --> 00:16:15,240 Speaker 4: Conversations Masterclass on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. 345 00:16:15,280 --> 00:16:17,280 Speaker 3: You know, but I found the right time, in the 346 00:16:17,360 --> 00:16:20,440 Speaker 3: right moment to make that big ass And sometimes it's 347 00:16:20,480 --> 00:16:22,600 Speaker 3: about the time, you know. But we gotta be living 348 00:16:22,640 --> 00:16:24,000 Speaker 3: up from the time. But you know, you're still gonna 349 00:16:24,000 --> 00:16:26,280 Speaker 3: pay the bills. But you gotta have other ways to 350 00:16:26,360 --> 00:16:28,480 Speaker 3: make money. So as an entrepreneur, you've gotta be you 351 00:16:28,560 --> 00:16:37,920 Speaker 3: gotta be crafty. You gotta be crafty because juggle. You 352 00:16:38,000 --> 00:16:40,000 Speaker 3: gotta be smart, you know. And I thank God that 353 00:16:40,080 --> 00:16:42,320 Speaker 3: I tell people all the time, I might not be 354 00:16:42,360 --> 00:16:44,800 Speaker 3: the smartest person in the room, but nobody can outwork me. 355 00:16:44,880 --> 00:16:47,360 Speaker 3: Like I'm a God gave me this gift of just 356 00:16:47,600 --> 00:16:50,760 Speaker 3: understanding how to make things happen. And so I don't 357 00:16:50,800 --> 00:16:54,760 Speaker 3: get easily moved by fear. I don't get easily moved 358 00:16:54,760 --> 00:16:58,000 Speaker 3: by the word no. I'm just like, Okay, what do 359 00:16:58,000 --> 00:17:00,280 Speaker 3: I need to do? And I will be honest. That 360 00:17:00,320 --> 00:17:02,680 Speaker 3: came from my mentors. I didn't just have I mean 361 00:17:02,720 --> 00:17:04,760 Speaker 3: I had a lot of the confidences. My mother just 362 00:17:04,840 --> 00:17:07,040 Speaker 3: instilled that in me. But a lot of it was 363 00:17:07,080 --> 00:17:10,480 Speaker 3: because I got confirmation from mentors to say, Okay, do 364 00:17:10,560 --> 00:17:13,040 Speaker 3: it this way, do it that way. And they helped 365 00:17:13,080 --> 00:17:15,080 Speaker 3: me because I've always been a young ladies type of 366 00:17:15,080 --> 00:17:17,280 Speaker 3: person who I want to learn from others mistakes. I 367 00:17:17,320 --> 00:17:19,679 Speaker 3: don't want to make mistakes. What can I do? You know? 368 00:17:19,720 --> 00:17:21,760 Speaker 3: And my messrs always told me, we love you because 369 00:17:21,800 --> 00:17:25,280 Speaker 3: you listen, activates and I'm a person of action. 370 00:17:25,800 --> 00:17:29,680 Speaker 1: Unique marketing is what she's talking about. She developed uniqueness 371 00:17:29,920 --> 00:17:32,360 Speaker 1: and these companies came to her because they couldn't get 372 00:17:32,359 --> 00:17:33,919 Speaker 1: it from their agency. I'm going to tell you how 373 00:17:33,960 --> 00:17:37,520 Speaker 1: I developed my unique marketing. So now companies are coming 374 00:17:37,520 --> 00:17:39,760 Speaker 1: to me because they know I have an audience that 375 00:17:39,880 --> 00:17:42,240 Speaker 1: only I can deliver. That's what the Boss network is 376 00:17:42,280 --> 00:17:45,120 Speaker 1: for her. She is an audience that she now has 377 00:17:45,119 --> 00:17:48,120 Speaker 1: a loyal base to, has demographics. She can tell her 378 00:17:48,119 --> 00:17:52,440 Speaker 1: exactly who she's talking to, age, where they live, what 379 00:17:52,640 --> 00:17:55,720 Speaker 1: their expenses, are they married, are they single? That's what 380 00:17:55,760 --> 00:17:57,480 Speaker 1: you have to do if you want to be able 381 00:17:57,520 --> 00:18:00,240 Speaker 1: to do your research and walk past and that work 382 00:18:00,440 --> 00:18:04,000 Speaker 1: into the corporations. They want unique marketing opportunities. You know, 383 00:18:04,359 --> 00:18:06,960 Speaker 1: I'm slowing down because I'm talking to doctor Kimika Smith. 384 00:18:07,160 --> 00:18:09,679 Speaker 1: Her energy is so out there. She has speed up 385 00:18:09,720 --> 00:18:12,159 Speaker 1: your talk, Kimmicky tar and Lord knows, I should not 386 00:18:12,240 --> 00:18:14,560 Speaker 1: be trying to talk fast with this country tone. I am. 387 00:18:14,960 --> 00:18:17,719 Speaker 1: But the mission of the Boss Network stands for bringing 388 00:18:17,800 --> 00:18:22,480 Speaker 1: out successful sisters. It's promoting courage, a small business spirit, 389 00:18:22,840 --> 00:18:25,879 Speaker 1: and career development of women of color. The Boss Never 390 00:18:25,920 --> 00:18:29,280 Speaker 1: has had a long standing commitment to women entrepreneurs. The 391 00:18:29,359 --> 00:18:32,439 Speaker 1: mission is now fifteen years old. Now you have a 392 00:18:32,440 --> 00:18:36,080 Speaker 1: big event coming up November sixteenth, I believe correct. 393 00:18:35,880 --> 00:18:40,399 Speaker 3: Kamika, listen, Rashan, I have two big events coming up. 394 00:18:40,480 --> 00:18:43,080 Speaker 3: I just announced that I'm going to be the executive 395 00:18:43,080 --> 00:18:46,159 Speaker 3: one of the executive producers for ACCU Honors. It's happening 396 00:18:46,240 --> 00:18:48,040 Speaker 3: in DC. That's right, That's right. 397 00:18:48,160 --> 00:18:50,720 Speaker 1: My girl's doing that. It's hosted by Kim Whitley. I 398 00:18:50,760 --> 00:18:51,199 Speaker 1: believe right. 399 00:18:52,160 --> 00:18:55,159 Speaker 3: It's hosted by Kim's hosted by Kim Whitley. It's going 400 00:18:55,200 --> 00:18:58,840 Speaker 3: to be honoring Will Packer. Hezekia Walker is performing. I 401 00:18:58,880 --> 00:19:03,320 Speaker 3: think Fred Hammond. It's gonna be amazing events in DC 402 00:19:03,600 --> 00:19:06,240 Speaker 3: on November fourteenth, area. 403 00:19:05,960 --> 00:19:09,560 Speaker 1: On bbt BT got it, Yes. 404 00:19:09,440 --> 00:19:11,920 Speaker 3: Yes, yes, yes, And so we're going to be in 405 00:19:12,080 --> 00:19:15,000 Speaker 3: DC next week filming the show. I'm excited to be 406 00:19:15,000 --> 00:19:16,879 Speaker 3: a part of it, you know. Shout out to my girls, 407 00:19:16,880 --> 00:19:20,920 Speaker 3: Michelle Bailey, Michelle Thornton, the RNA Walker, the entire team 408 00:19:20,920 --> 00:19:24,960 Speaker 3: at AHCU Honors, I am presenting a scholarship that day, 409 00:19:25,080 --> 00:19:28,120 Speaker 3: and of course celebrating our fifteen years with the Boss Network. 410 00:19:28,400 --> 00:19:31,439 Speaker 3: And then we're going to end the culminating celebration this 411 00:19:31,600 --> 00:19:34,720 Speaker 3: year on November sixteenth with our Ladies that Lead conference 412 00:19:34,680 --> 00:19:37,520 Speaker 3: sponsored by Stage and that information is that Ladies that 413 00:19:37,640 --> 00:19:39,879 Speaker 3: Lead Tour dot com. So it's going to be an 414 00:19:39,920 --> 00:19:43,760 Speaker 3: exciting week next week. So I'm excited for both of 415 00:19:43,800 --> 00:19:44,480 Speaker 3: those events. 416 00:19:44,520 --> 00:19:47,119 Speaker 1: Well, it was important that people understand that it started 417 00:19:47,119 --> 00:19:49,280 Speaker 1: with a drink, It started with an idea, It started 418 00:19:49,280 --> 00:19:52,879 Speaker 1: with a person not being afraid fear. We kind of 419 00:19:52,920 --> 00:19:56,280 Speaker 1: mentioned it early in our interview, how people are working 420 00:19:56,440 --> 00:19:59,639 Speaker 1: jobs afraid to leave, and they have relationships they're afraid 421 00:19:59,680 --> 00:20:03,720 Speaker 1: to end because the unknown is the part of the conversation. 422 00:20:03,840 --> 00:20:06,080 Speaker 1: I can't tell you you're going to be successful. That's 423 00:20:06,119 --> 00:20:09,080 Speaker 1: not automatic. And you learn in life that you can 424 00:20:09,119 --> 00:20:10,760 Speaker 1: go to a job that you've been there for twenty 425 00:20:10,800 --> 00:20:12,880 Speaker 1: years doesn't mean it's going to be there twenty one 426 00:20:12,960 --> 00:20:18,200 Speaker 1: years more. And so you can control. And plus age 427 00:20:18,920 --> 00:20:21,480 Speaker 1: makes people fearful too. They get forty, they get fifty, 428 00:20:21,560 --> 00:20:25,479 Speaker 1: they get sixty, they start worrying about change. Am I 429 00:20:25,520 --> 00:20:27,760 Speaker 1: too old to making an adjustment? And am I too 430 00:20:27,800 --> 00:20:31,160 Speaker 1: old to have a dream? And with the Boss Network, 431 00:20:31,640 --> 00:20:37,800 Speaker 1: that's that's not The motto is believe, plan and win. 432 00:20:38,119 --> 00:20:40,680 Speaker 1: And that's what I've always gotten from you the very 433 00:20:40,720 --> 00:20:43,639 Speaker 1: first time I've interviewed with you, and you know is 434 00:20:43,680 --> 00:20:47,160 Speaker 1: that you are a and it's a positive statement. You're 435 00:20:47,160 --> 00:20:48,800 Speaker 1: a beast, doctor Kamiki Smith. 436 00:20:50,119 --> 00:20:53,040 Speaker 3: I receive it. I receive it. You know. I think 437 00:20:53,080 --> 00:20:56,199 Speaker 3: that with all of us, just as human beings, what 438 00:20:56,359 --> 00:20:59,400 Speaker 3: makes us beast, what makes us believers, what makes us 439 00:20:59,440 --> 00:21:02,560 Speaker 3: you know, in ourselves is the people we surround ourselves with. 440 00:21:02,920 --> 00:21:05,399 Speaker 3: You know, I will tell you Rashan, it's nothing that 441 00:21:05,440 --> 00:21:07,879 Speaker 3: you can do without community. You know, my community, the 442 00:21:07,920 --> 00:21:10,159 Speaker 3: Boss Network, the women that I serve, they pour into me, 443 00:21:10,200 --> 00:21:12,200 Speaker 3: They believe in me. They give me the confidence to 444 00:21:12,240 --> 00:21:14,040 Speaker 3: wake up every day and do what I do. The 445 00:21:14,040 --> 00:21:16,879 Speaker 3: brands that invest in me, the sponsors that believe in 446 00:21:16,960 --> 00:21:19,800 Speaker 3: me and spend their money with me. They get me 447 00:21:19,840 --> 00:21:21,400 Speaker 3: up in the morning to be able to go hard 448 00:21:21,400 --> 00:21:23,520 Speaker 3: for what I do. And then you know the people 449 00:21:23,600 --> 00:21:25,800 Speaker 3: I surround myself with, my family and friends, you know, 450 00:21:26,160 --> 00:21:28,159 Speaker 3: they support me. And I'll be honest. You know, it 451 00:21:28,720 --> 00:21:31,120 Speaker 3: has not been an easy journey. You know, the year 452 00:21:31,240 --> 00:21:34,199 Speaker 3: my business got, you know, at multimillion dollar investment, my 453 00:21:34,280 --> 00:21:37,720 Speaker 3: mother passed away. You know, so that's life, right, Life 454 00:21:37,760 --> 00:21:39,560 Speaker 3: will life, and you have to be able to pick 455 00:21:39,600 --> 00:21:42,520 Speaker 3: yourself up and keep it moving. And so what I've 456 00:21:42,640 --> 00:21:46,040 Speaker 3: learned through this entire journey is that what is meant 457 00:21:46,040 --> 00:21:47,760 Speaker 3: for you is for you. You got to just do 458 00:21:47,800 --> 00:21:50,320 Speaker 3: the work. And one of my favorite quotes is those 459 00:21:50,359 --> 00:21:52,680 Speaker 3: that show up go up. You got to just keep 460 00:21:52,680 --> 00:21:55,480 Speaker 3: showing up for yourself every single day. And I believe 461 00:21:55,520 --> 00:21:57,720 Speaker 3: that God would not burst anything inside of you, that 462 00:21:57,840 --> 00:22:00,600 Speaker 3: he will not give you the tools to deliver. And 463 00:22:00,680 --> 00:22:03,280 Speaker 3: so I know that He gave me this brand because 464 00:22:03,320 --> 00:22:05,760 Speaker 3: he wanted me to impact people, because it's not about me, 465 00:22:06,160 --> 00:22:10,720 Speaker 3: and because of that, He's going to always send me people, investors, support, 466 00:22:11,200 --> 00:22:13,760 Speaker 3: And you know, I remember from my fifteen anniversary. I 467 00:22:13,800 --> 00:22:15,320 Speaker 3: was thinking like, Wow, I want to do something amazing, 468 00:22:15,359 --> 00:22:17,879 Speaker 3: something big, and then I got the opportunity to partner 469 00:22:17,880 --> 00:22:20,960 Speaker 3: and being a producer for ABCU Honors. You know, I 470 00:22:21,040 --> 00:22:22,719 Speaker 3: put that out in the universe and then it just 471 00:22:22,760 --> 00:22:25,280 Speaker 3: came to me. So that is what it's about, believing 472 00:22:25,280 --> 00:22:27,520 Speaker 3: in yourself to the point where you manifest these things 473 00:22:27,560 --> 00:22:28,200 Speaker 3: through your faith. 474 00:22:29,240 --> 00:22:33,480 Speaker 1: Wow, genius lover energy, don't you understand that there's a belief? 475 00:22:34,840 --> 00:22:40,119 Speaker 1: Fifteen year Virtual Celebration Anniversary Virtual Celebration. This year's virtual 476 00:22:40,160 --> 00:22:43,960 Speaker 1: conference be held on Saturday, November sixteenth from eleven am 477 00:22:44,040 --> 00:22:47,080 Speaker 1: to two pm. Dr Smith and the BAFF Network. If 478 00:22:47,080 --> 00:22:49,680 Speaker 1: you want to know more about it, where should they visit? 479 00:22:49,800 --> 00:22:51,879 Speaker 1: What website should they visit? Dtor Smith? 480 00:22:53,480 --> 00:22:58,040 Speaker 3: They should visit ww dot ladies that Lead Tour dot com, 481 00:22:58,160 --> 00:23:01,960 Speaker 3: orthebossnetwork dot org. All of the information about both ACCU 482 00:23:02,000 --> 00:23:04,360 Speaker 3: Honors and our ladies at lead Conference. 483 00:23:05,080 --> 00:23:08,800 Speaker 1: Now, when I want to make sure I've I said, 484 00:23:08,800 --> 00:23:10,560 Speaker 1: when I come back from break, I won't tell everybody 485 00:23:10,560 --> 00:23:14,160 Speaker 1: about how my unique marketing I would look came because 486 00:23:14,200 --> 00:23:16,440 Speaker 1: I'm gonna tell you I was out there getting bumped 487 00:23:16,480 --> 00:23:20,200 Speaker 1: upside the head, the doors and my business were getting smaller. 488 00:23:20,240 --> 00:23:22,199 Speaker 1: You know, when you get doors get smaller, means you 489 00:23:22,200 --> 00:23:24,080 Speaker 1: can't even get in it no more. You know, you 490 00:23:24,080 --> 00:23:27,400 Speaker 1: you're crawling through the door, you know. And because that's 491 00:23:27,440 --> 00:23:29,399 Speaker 1: that's when the opportunities get less and less, That's what 492 00:23:29,440 --> 00:23:31,840 Speaker 1: it feels like. And so I just sit back and 493 00:23:31,920 --> 00:23:34,920 Speaker 1: realize that I can't compete with them, but I can 494 00:23:35,359 --> 00:23:39,760 Speaker 1: develop my brand. So my newsletter sixty three thousand fan 495 00:23:39,880 --> 00:23:43,640 Speaker 1: club members, my social media followers one million. These are 496 00:23:43,920 --> 00:23:46,040 Speaker 1: my followers. You know what you mean said you can't 497 00:23:46,080 --> 00:23:49,240 Speaker 1: access these followers. You know, when I sit down here 498 00:23:49,920 --> 00:23:54,600 Speaker 1: on my show Money Making Conversations Massacolize, I interview doctor 499 00:23:54,640 --> 00:23:57,280 Speaker 1: Kamika Smith. She's on here because I want her own 500 00:23:57,359 --> 00:24:01,760 Speaker 1: this show. So I'm controlling my ways and this content 501 00:24:01,880 --> 00:24:06,960 Speaker 1: is set to twenty HBCUs nationwide. That's called unique marketing. 502 00:24:07,080 --> 00:24:10,919 Speaker 1: That means I'm talking to individuals within my sphere that 503 00:24:11,000 --> 00:24:14,040 Speaker 1: you can't just make Rashwan say something that he don't 504 00:24:14,080 --> 00:24:17,520 Speaker 1: want to say, or endorse something or or promote something 505 00:24:17,560 --> 00:24:21,080 Speaker 1: unless Rashaan wants to. And then my podcast, you know, 506 00:24:21,160 --> 00:24:29,040 Speaker 1: which is in partnership with iHeartMedia one point four million monthly. 507 00:24:29,640 --> 00:24:32,919 Speaker 1: That unique marketing is what what allow companies now to 508 00:24:32,960 --> 00:24:35,200 Speaker 1: come to me and say, Rishawn, can you voice this? Rashaan, 509 00:24:35,280 --> 00:24:37,480 Speaker 1: can you endorse this? And that's what she's done with 510 00:24:37,520 --> 00:24:41,679 Speaker 1: the Boss Network. When I say two hundred thousand, okay, 511 00:24:41,760 --> 00:24:43,639 Speaker 1: that's not a number to you know, two hundred thousand, 512 00:24:44,040 --> 00:24:46,800 Speaker 1: you know. And I love Doux Smith because she's just 513 00:24:46,960 --> 00:24:49,960 Speaker 1: she moving so fast this sometimes I just got a 514 00:24:50,000 --> 00:24:51,879 Speaker 1: call and go we just slow down and realize how 515 00:24:51,920 --> 00:24:53,840 Speaker 1: great you are. And that's why I told her she's 516 00:24:53,840 --> 00:24:57,240 Speaker 1: a beast because of the fact that you're doing things 517 00:24:57,280 --> 00:25:01,720 Speaker 1: that in two thousand and nine, we're fifteen years later. 518 00:25:02,240 --> 00:25:04,920 Speaker 1: You've had setbacks where I've had set back. We've had 519 00:25:04,960 --> 00:25:07,440 Speaker 1: ups and down that makes us tougher, but didn't lose 520 00:25:07,440 --> 00:25:10,600 Speaker 1: the faith, didn't lose the focus and the people around 521 00:25:10,640 --> 00:25:13,520 Speaker 1: us we understand. That's why we're successful. As we close 522 00:25:13,560 --> 00:25:16,119 Speaker 1: out this interview here, Dr Smith, anything you want to 523 00:25:16,160 --> 00:25:17,320 Speaker 1: say to my audience. 524 00:25:18,440 --> 00:25:21,400 Speaker 3: Well, you know what you asked me about three things. 525 00:25:21,960 --> 00:25:24,600 Speaker 3: I think I mentioned one with the research and so 526 00:25:24,680 --> 00:25:27,280 Speaker 3: the last two I'll give them is making sure that 527 00:25:27,359 --> 00:25:29,840 Speaker 3: they understand revenue. You know, if you have a business, 528 00:25:29,840 --> 00:25:32,200 Speaker 3: then you don't have you know, money, you've got a hobby, 529 00:25:32,240 --> 00:25:34,159 Speaker 3: and so you've got to figure out how to monetize 530 00:25:34,240 --> 00:25:36,560 Speaker 3: your business. You know, yes, we were in it to 531 00:25:36,600 --> 00:25:40,280 Speaker 3: impact people, but you cannot do things not with longevity 532 00:25:40,320 --> 00:25:42,080 Speaker 3: if you're not making money. And so that is the 533 00:25:42,240 --> 00:25:45,080 Speaker 3: second thing. And then the third thing I would say 534 00:25:45,359 --> 00:25:49,239 Speaker 3: is relationships. Relationships are your key to success. You know, 535 00:25:49,320 --> 00:25:51,639 Speaker 3: my relationship with Rashan. With Rashan gets me on this 536 00:25:51,680 --> 00:25:53,879 Speaker 3: show to be able to talk about my brand. You know, 537 00:25:54,119 --> 00:25:57,119 Speaker 3: my relationship with my community is helping me to continue 538 00:25:57,160 --> 00:25:59,199 Speaker 3: to grow and expand it. Like you said, that is 539 00:25:59,240 --> 00:26:01,720 Speaker 3: my market value. Nobody can take that away from me 540 00:26:01,720 --> 00:26:03,639 Speaker 3: because at the end of the day, when social media 541 00:26:03,680 --> 00:26:06,199 Speaker 3: goes away, when the brands go away, I always have 542 00:26:06,280 --> 00:26:08,919 Speaker 3: my audience that I can pitch something to and that 543 00:26:09,080 --> 00:26:09,760 Speaker 3: is where you win. 544 00:26:10,440 --> 00:26:12,600 Speaker 1: Wow again, thank you for taking the time to come 545 00:26:12,640 --> 00:26:13,960 Speaker 1: on the show. I know I called you out of 546 00:26:14,000 --> 00:26:16,120 Speaker 1: the blue and she signed up and got the team 547 00:26:16,480 --> 00:26:18,520 Speaker 1: and on the show to promote you, my friend, I'm 548 00:26:18,560 --> 00:26:20,520 Speaker 1: promoting you the Queen of the. 549 00:26:20,480 --> 00:26:23,400 Speaker 3: Boss Networks always and you keep winning. 550 00:26:23,440 --> 00:26:25,440 Speaker 1: Thank you for coming on Money Making Conversations Muster Click, 551 00:26:25,720 --> 00:26:29,000 Speaker 1: bye bye. This has been another edition of Money Making 552 00:26:29,000 --> 00:26:32,479 Speaker 1: Conversations Master Class hosted by me Rashaan McDonald. Thank you 553 00:26:32,480 --> 00:26:34,320 Speaker 1: to our guests on the show today and thank you 554 00:26:34,760 --> 00:26:37,200 Speaker 1: our listening audience now. If you want to listen to 555 00:26:37,240 --> 00:26:39,400 Speaker 1: any episode or want to be a guest on the show, 556 00:26:39,520 --> 00:26:44,600 Speaker 1: visit Moneymakingconversations dot com. Our social media handles money Making Conversations. 557 00:26:44,840 --> 00:26:47,239 Speaker 1: Joined us next week and remember to always lead with 558 00:26:47,320 --> 00:26:51,080 Speaker 1: your gifts, keep winning. The American Dream is available to you, 559 00:26:51,280 --> 00:26:52,240 Speaker 1: just keep listening. 560 00:26:52,800 --> 00:26:56,080 Speaker 2: This has been another edition of Money Making Conversation Masterclass 561 00:26:56,119 --> 00:26:59,200 Speaker 2: hosted by me Rashawn McDonald. Thank you to our guests 562 00:26:59,280 --> 00:27:01,840 Speaker 2: on the show today and thank you for listening to 563 00:27:01,840 --> 00:27:03,840 Speaker 2: the audience now. If you want to listen to any 564 00:27:03,880 --> 00:27:05,879 Speaker 2: episode I want to be a guest on the show, 565 00:27:06,160 --> 00:27:10,600 Speaker 2: visit Moneymakingconversations dot com. Our social media handle is money 566 00:27:10,640 --> 00:27:13,919 Speaker 2: Making Conversation. Join us next week and remember to always 567 00:27:14,000 --> 00:27:14,919 Speaker 2: leave with your gifts. 568 00:27:15,240 --> 00:27:15,840 Speaker 1: Keep winning.