1 00:00:01,400 --> 00:00:04,360 Speaker 1: I'm with Lucas and this is Black Tach Green Money. 2 00:00:05,800 --> 00:00:09,560 Speaker 1: Black Tatt is an artist, entertainer, entrepreneur, and founder of 3 00:00:09,640 --> 00:00:13,560 Speaker 1: Black Smoke, the world's number one leader and no nicotine, 4 00:00:13,600 --> 00:00:15,760 Speaker 1: no tobacco hooka products. 5 00:00:15,400 --> 00:00:17,080 Speaker 2: That are actually made from fruit. 6 00:00:18,120 --> 00:00:20,600 Speaker 1: In recent months, he's had more than a couple million 7 00:00:20,680 --> 00:00:23,759 Speaker 1: dollar days where his products have generated more than one 8 00:00:23,760 --> 00:00:27,520 Speaker 1: million dollars in sales and completely selling out online within 9 00:00:27,600 --> 00:00:31,600 Speaker 1: twenty four hours. As Black about the growth and whoka 10 00:00:31,680 --> 00:00:34,400 Speaker 1: and vaping in our community and why his approach with 11 00:00:34,560 --> 00:00:37,680 Speaker 1: no nicotine or tobacco involved is so important. 12 00:00:37,800 --> 00:00:40,040 Speaker 2: We all have alls with the pleasures in different ways. 13 00:00:40,080 --> 00:00:43,159 Speaker 3: So I mean, even when it comes as simple as 14 00:00:43,200 --> 00:00:45,560 Speaker 3: eating food, like we probably shouldn't be eating for chops, 15 00:00:45,560 --> 00:00:46,080 Speaker 3: we shouldn't be. 16 00:00:46,080 --> 00:00:48,519 Speaker 2: Eating fried chicken, but we're going to do it, you 17 00:00:48,520 --> 00:00:49,120 Speaker 2: know what I'm saying. 18 00:00:49,120 --> 00:00:51,200 Speaker 3: And sometimes when you feel like I should be eating 19 00:00:51,200 --> 00:00:54,040 Speaker 3: that bad fried chicken instead, I'm going to salteed and 20 00:00:54,160 --> 00:00:56,080 Speaker 3: skill it with some butter, and maybe that's a little 21 00:00:56,080 --> 00:00:58,520 Speaker 3: healthier than you know, eating. 22 00:00:58,280 --> 00:00:58,920 Speaker 2: The fried chicken. 23 00:00:58,960 --> 00:01:01,840 Speaker 3: So the same thing I wanted to do a hoh 24 00:01:02,000 --> 00:01:05,560 Speaker 3: hookahs becoming such a big thing in our community. I 25 00:01:05,600 --> 00:01:07,880 Speaker 3: found myself a victim of it as well, Like you know, 26 00:01:08,000 --> 00:01:10,399 Speaker 3: want to be down on the ecstatic, on the vibe, 27 00:01:10,440 --> 00:01:12,680 Speaker 3: going out with friends and you get the drink when 28 00:01:12,720 --> 00:01:15,080 Speaker 3: you're sitting there. It's almost like we all are hooked 29 00:01:15,120 --> 00:01:17,920 Speaker 3: on this oral fixation. We just need to be doing something. 30 00:01:18,680 --> 00:01:19,480 Speaker 2: And I never. 31 00:01:19,360 --> 00:01:22,440 Speaker 3: Smoked before in my life. I had never smoked a cigarette. 32 00:01:22,480 --> 00:01:25,640 Speaker 3: I had never smoked marijuana, nothing like that of that sort. 33 00:01:25,720 --> 00:01:28,800 Speaker 3: But I found myself smoking hookah and realize I was smoking. 34 00:01:29,360 --> 00:01:32,040 Speaker 3: I was exposing myself to so much nicotine and tobacco. 35 00:01:32,120 --> 00:01:34,520 Speaker 3: It was just like I was just the same person 36 00:01:34,560 --> 00:01:37,000 Speaker 3: that I was condemning from smoking packs of cigarettes. 37 00:01:37,040 --> 00:01:37,600 Speaker 2: I became that. 38 00:01:38,000 --> 00:01:40,039 Speaker 3: So I wanted to figure out a way that not 39 00:01:40,120 --> 00:01:41,600 Speaker 3: only for myself, but for other people. 40 00:01:41,600 --> 00:01:43,480 Speaker 2: How could we, you know, have our guilty. 41 00:01:43,240 --> 00:01:44,880 Speaker 3: Pleasures, do the things that we love to do, but 42 00:01:44,920 --> 00:01:48,920 Speaker 3: expose ourselves to less harm less toxins, less chemicals. Found 43 00:01:48,920 --> 00:01:52,200 Speaker 3: myself getting headaches, stomach aches, feeling nauseous because I was 44 00:01:52,200 --> 00:01:54,080 Speaker 3: smoking so much nicotine and tobacco. 45 00:01:54,320 --> 00:01:56,880 Speaker 2: And that's when I realized it's a way that I 46 00:01:56,920 --> 00:01:58,200 Speaker 2: could continue doing. 47 00:01:57,960 --> 00:02:00,320 Speaker 3: This, but just not doing it in such a worst 48 00:02:00,360 --> 00:02:03,160 Speaker 3: way possible, And That's when I feel like my importance 49 00:02:03,200 --> 00:02:06,040 Speaker 3: to the community of offering something that literally didn't exist, 50 00:02:06,080 --> 00:02:08,160 Speaker 3: something that we couldn't get anywhere else. I knew it 51 00:02:08,200 --> 00:02:12,840 Speaker 3: was away, like everything was not here before. Everything had 52 00:02:12,880 --> 00:02:14,560 Speaker 3: to be like innovative, you know what I'm saying. So 53 00:02:14,960 --> 00:02:16,760 Speaker 3: even though I had got so many no's and so 54 00:02:16,800 --> 00:02:19,040 Speaker 3: many people felt like it was so crazy. What you 55 00:02:19,080 --> 00:02:21,920 Speaker 3: mean fruit or a hookah, That's not possible. But you 56 00:02:22,040 --> 00:02:25,720 Speaker 3: also use fruit to put your nicotine in tobaccos, cheat 57 00:02:25,760 --> 00:02:29,200 Speaker 3: you inside of people stuff it with grapefruit, with oranges, 58 00:02:29,520 --> 00:02:32,520 Speaker 3: with pineapples, and they still put the far on in 59 00:02:32,560 --> 00:02:34,880 Speaker 3: the still put the codes on top. So I feel 60 00:02:34,880 --> 00:02:37,880 Speaker 3: like fruit was already incorporated and you still burning the 61 00:02:37,960 --> 00:02:39,800 Speaker 3: fruit some kind of way. So I knew it was 62 00:02:39,840 --> 00:02:42,240 Speaker 3: a way to intercept the two and do it in 63 00:02:42,280 --> 00:02:43,600 Speaker 3: a better perspective. 64 00:02:44,000 --> 00:02:46,480 Speaker 1: So you mentioned a couple other things in our community 65 00:02:46,480 --> 00:02:48,640 Speaker 1: that may not be the best for us, but you 66 00:02:48,880 --> 00:02:52,520 Speaker 1: saw hookah as a business opportunity for you. Why hookah 67 00:02:52,600 --> 00:02:54,720 Speaker 1: versus any of the other things that you could have done. 68 00:02:55,080 --> 00:02:56,720 Speaker 3: The reason why it is hookah, because I said this 69 00:02:56,800 --> 00:03:00,440 Speaker 3: to all entrepreneurs was important. It's best to do something 70 00:03:00,480 --> 00:03:03,720 Speaker 3: that you already loved to do. That's where that passion 71 00:03:03,760 --> 00:03:06,840 Speaker 3: comes from. Because when if you chase something just because 72 00:03:06,840 --> 00:03:09,799 Speaker 3: of the money, yes it be good, yes it feels good, but. 73 00:03:09,800 --> 00:03:11,120 Speaker 2: It doesn't last long term. 74 00:03:11,440 --> 00:03:14,080 Speaker 3: I had never created no other business because I was 75 00:03:14,200 --> 00:03:16,919 Speaker 3: very selective of what I wanted to do. Because whatever 76 00:03:16,919 --> 00:03:19,040 Speaker 3: I wanted to do and whatever I started doing, I 77 00:03:19,080 --> 00:03:20,400 Speaker 3: wanted to be do it from the. 78 00:03:20,440 --> 00:03:22,600 Speaker 2: Start to finish, know the ends, and I was about 79 00:03:22,639 --> 00:03:24,720 Speaker 2: it and really be passionate about it. Because when the 80 00:03:24,760 --> 00:03:26,040 Speaker 2: money comes, it feels good. 81 00:03:26,080 --> 00:03:28,600 Speaker 3: But when the money stoles down at a stop, would 82 00:03:28,639 --> 00:03:30,760 Speaker 3: you still care about doing this particular thing or you 83 00:03:30,800 --> 00:03:33,120 Speaker 3: would you try to hop on next wagon with the 84 00:03:33,160 --> 00:03:34,240 Speaker 3: next dollar attached to it. 85 00:03:34,280 --> 00:03:35,880 Speaker 2: And that was never mean. I didn't want it to 86 00:03:35,880 --> 00:03:36,120 Speaker 2: be me. 87 00:03:36,440 --> 00:03:38,480 Speaker 3: So huku was something I did every day, all day. 88 00:03:38,480 --> 00:03:40,600 Speaker 3: It was part of my regular life anyway, with my 89 00:03:40,640 --> 00:03:42,760 Speaker 3: friends and with my holis. It was things I had 90 00:03:42,800 --> 00:03:45,520 Speaker 3: knowledge about that I know what I was looking for. 91 00:03:45,560 --> 00:03:47,240 Speaker 3: I knew what tastes good, I know how it made 92 00:03:47,280 --> 00:03:49,720 Speaker 3: me feel. I knew another alternative I was looking for 93 00:03:49,760 --> 00:03:52,800 Speaker 3: when I was affected by the original you know, nigotine 94 00:03:52,800 --> 00:03:55,320 Speaker 3: and tobacco. So it was all things that I also 95 00:03:55,760 --> 00:03:58,920 Speaker 3: as an entrepreneur, was also able to eliminate myself as 96 00:03:58,960 --> 00:04:01,720 Speaker 3: an entrepreneur and all so see the different faces of 97 00:04:01,760 --> 00:04:03,840 Speaker 3: it as a consumer, so I knew the ends and 98 00:04:03,840 --> 00:04:05,560 Speaker 3: I was about so that's why it made the most. 99 00:04:05,360 --> 00:04:05,840 Speaker 2: Sense for me. 100 00:04:06,520 --> 00:04:09,520 Speaker 1: And so you mentioned this or fixation. So sometimes it's 101 00:04:09,560 --> 00:04:12,800 Speaker 1: just the action of smoking that satisfies the desire to 102 00:04:12,840 --> 00:04:15,720 Speaker 1: smoke in it's because yours doesn't have nicotine. You know, 103 00:04:15,800 --> 00:04:17,599 Speaker 1: there's there's more to it. So can you talk about 104 00:04:17,600 --> 00:04:18,160 Speaker 1: what that is? 105 00:04:19,120 --> 00:04:21,960 Speaker 3: Yes, it don't have nicotine, it don't have tobacco, tobacco, 106 00:04:22,040 --> 00:04:24,240 Speaker 3: So it's really more so like that artifixation. A lot 107 00:04:24,279 --> 00:04:28,680 Speaker 3: of people just thinking that they so addicted to that cigarette, 108 00:04:28,720 --> 00:04:32,200 Speaker 3: is so addicted to that hookah, that that nicotine, that tobacco, 109 00:04:32,240 --> 00:04:34,680 Speaker 3: because they tell themselves or I need that. 110 00:04:35,200 --> 00:04:37,080 Speaker 2: What do what do black smoke do for you? I'm 111 00:04:37,080 --> 00:04:38,760 Speaker 2: not gonna feel none're not gonna get high older, I 112 00:04:38,800 --> 00:04:40,760 Speaker 2: can't smoke that. I need my nicotine, my tobacco. 113 00:04:41,160 --> 00:04:44,039 Speaker 3: It's not the nicotine and tobacco that that got you 114 00:04:44,240 --> 00:04:46,279 Speaker 3: hooked to that at at the beginning. It was that 115 00:04:46,480 --> 00:04:49,880 Speaker 3: or fixation, and when you got so accustomed to the artifixation. 116 00:04:50,360 --> 00:04:53,359 Speaker 3: Now you have probably became addicted to that nicotine, that 117 00:04:53,400 --> 00:04:57,040 Speaker 3: tobacco from trying to, you know, fix that urage of 118 00:04:57,120 --> 00:05:00,000 Speaker 3: that artifixation. So much so when you really think about it, 119 00:05:00,160 --> 00:05:03,000 Speaker 3: like it's literally the organization with which plays apart. That's 120 00:05:03,040 --> 00:05:05,920 Speaker 3: why when people will literally say, oh, my nerves bad, 121 00:05:06,160 --> 00:05:08,440 Speaker 3: they got in the argument that somebody being upset, I 122 00:05:08,480 --> 00:05:10,719 Speaker 3: need a cigarette right now because my nerves bad. It's 123 00:05:10,760 --> 00:05:13,320 Speaker 3: not the niggatior tobagg of calm you down least your mind, 124 00:05:13,360 --> 00:05:16,600 Speaker 3: making you feel like that organization something that is happening, 125 00:05:16,640 --> 00:05:17,920 Speaker 3: but nothing is really happening. 126 00:05:20,000 --> 00:05:24,800 Speaker 1: It's so oftentimes the solutions of problems are all around us, 127 00:05:24,800 --> 00:05:26,560 Speaker 1: and so we just have to reframe the way we 128 00:05:26,600 --> 00:05:29,359 Speaker 1: look at things. And opportunities can be all around you. 129 00:05:29,480 --> 00:05:31,880 Speaker 1: And so if I think of problems as opportunities and 130 00:05:31,880 --> 00:05:34,240 Speaker 1: so if you just open your eyes, there's business opportunities 131 00:05:34,279 --> 00:05:37,159 Speaker 1: all around you. The smoking is, to your point, is 132 00:05:37,200 --> 00:05:41,000 Speaker 1: often is correlated to the relaxation, and you found a 133 00:05:41,040 --> 00:05:42,279 Speaker 1: way to do it with fruit. 134 00:05:42,600 --> 00:05:43,920 Speaker 2: Can you talk about how we. 135 00:05:43,960 --> 00:05:48,400 Speaker 1: Can reframe ourselves for problems solving by working to with 136 00:05:48,480 --> 00:05:50,640 Speaker 1: a different lens on the world around us. 137 00:05:51,960 --> 00:05:55,760 Speaker 3: Yeah, like pretty much when you're really thinking about it, 138 00:05:55,880 --> 00:05:59,680 Speaker 3: everything that you see around you, everything that you probably 139 00:05:59,720 --> 00:06:03,719 Speaker 3: think of your regular day to day life that probably 140 00:06:03,720 --> 00:06:04,040 Speaker 3: be so. 141 00:06:04,120 --> 00:06:07,400 Speaker 2: Normal to you. It always feels from something. 142 00:06:07,560 --> 00:06:11,440 Speaker 3: It always comes from something, So there is always an opportunity. 143 00:06:11,480 --> 00:06:14,599 Speaker 3: There is always a business venture, a business idea that 144 00:06:14,640 --> 00:06:16,920 Speaker 3: can come from anything. Like, for instance, you could sit 145 00:06:16,960 --> 00:06:20,400 Speaker 3: there and be having a regular day and just go 146 00:06:20,480 --> 00:06:25,360 Speaker 3: outside and stop stop stepping mud on your shoe, and 147 00:06:25,400 --> 00:06:27,560 Speaker 3: by the time you came home, your shoe is hard. 148 00:06:27,560 --> 00:06:28,560 Speaker 3: It's hard to get the ball. 149 00:06:28,440 --> 00:06:29,040 Speaker 2: To the mud up. 150 00:06:29,960 --> 00:06:32,320 Speaker 3: Brin brom Broom. Literally you could come up with a 151 00:06:32,320 --> 00:06:34,800 Speaker 3: shoe cleaning that's literally just for mud saying. It's like 152 00:06:35,080 --> 00:06:38,680 Speaker 3: it's so easy to just do with everything that's around you. Like, uh, 153 00:06:40,520 --> 00:06:43,719 Speaker 3: I've had a cousin that's not not too long ago, 154 00:06:43,880 --> 00:06:46,840 Speaker 3: was telling me about how he came to my refrigerator 155 00:06:46,920 --> 00:06:49,279 Speaker 3: and literally try to make a drink and by me 156 00:06:49,360 --> 00:06:51,400 Speaker 3: not using my ice and my ice maker, the ice 157 00:06:51,480 --> 00:06:52,839 Speaker 3: is kind of me when. 158 00:06:52,640 --> 00:06:54,760 Speaker 2: It comes to get the ice out. If it was 159 00:06:54,839 --> 00:06:56,040 Speaker 2: all hard and stuff together. 160 00:06:57,240 --> 00:06:59,400 Speaker 3: He was like, you need to do something, You need 161 00:06:59,400 --> 00:07:02,159 Speaker 3: to something with the individual ice cues and it. 162 00:07:02,200 --> 00:07:04,559 Speaker 2: Come out like like sonic ice like the small cues. 163 00:07:04,600 --> 00:07:07,000 Speaker 3: I said, why don't you create a fielter, create a 164 00:07:07,080 --> 00:07:08,640 Speaker 3: frigerator that has ice. 165 00:07:08,560 --> 00:07:10,760 Speaker 2: Come out like that? He said, nobody got no sonic. 166 00:07:10,520 --> 00:07:12,960 Speaker 3: Refrigerator And I said, no, not against the only one 167 00:07:12,960 --> 00:07:15,240 Speaker 3: brings in the ice. How about to bread refrigerator? And 168 00:07:15,280 --> 00:07:17,000 Speaker 3: you too looking at me like I was crazy. 169 00:07:17,000 --> 00:07:18,640 Speaker 2: I see. I guess my idea is a way too 170 00:07:18,880 --> 00:07:20,680 Speaker 2: to advance with you right now. You're not day, You're 171 00:07:20,680 --> 00:07:24,280 Speaker 2: not ready. I love that, But you're right. 172 00:07:24,440 --> 00:07:27,160 Speaker 1: The problems are all around us there for opportunities are 173 00:07:27,200 --> 00:07:29,520 Speaker 1: all around us if we just take a different look 174 00:07:29,560 --> 00:07:32,360 Speaker 1: at the things that are around us. So, your products 175 00:07:32,360 --> 00:07:35,720 Speaker 1: have been extremely viral on social media, and I want 176 00:07:35,760 --> 00:07:38,000 Speaker 1: to know how you're able to achieve, Like what tactics 177 00:07:38,000 --> 00:07:41,760 Speaker 1: have you used to ensure that your posts go viral? 178 00:07:43,000 --> 00:07:45,800 Speaker 3: Yeah, so this is my thing. That's why I tell 179 00:07:45,880 --> 00:07:48,480 Speaker 3: people like I understand. Please don't get me wrong. 180 00:07:48,520 --> 00:07:48,920 Speaker 2: Well I'm not. 181 00:07:48,960 --> 00:07:51,800 Speaker 3: I'm not acting like money isn't important, Like it's our 182 00:07:51,800 --> 00:07:53,440 Speaker 3: weblive it, it's our well of surviving. 183 00:07:53,520 --> 00:07:56,560 Speaker 2: Money is as important. I give it our lovelihood. 184 00:07:56,680 --> 00:08:00,320 Speaker 3: But the biggest thing is to create an artist, build 185 00:08:00,320 --> 00:08:04,440 Speaker 3: a structure, build a foundation and build a family, like 186 00:08:04,440 --> 00:08:08,239 Speaker 3: like be able to connect with your audience, build, build, 187 00:08:08,360 --> 00:08:12,080 Speaker 3: build this magnitude of this understanding with them. So then 188 00:08:12,120 --> 00:08:14,240 Speaker 3: when you have that, when you have that connection first 189 00:08:14,280 --> 00:08:17,680 Speaker 3: and these people that's that's looking to you, admire you, 190 00:08:18,040 --> 00:08:21,120 Speaker 3: like inspire by you, connect with you like you talk back, 191 00:08:21,160 --> 00:08:24,960 Speaker 3: you respond back, you you you. You always include them 192 00:08:25,000 --> 00:08:26,840 Speaker 3: and let them know the importance of who they are 193 00:08:27,280 --> 00:08:30,880 Speaker 3: to you. That feeds they soul. What also feeds your business. 194 00:08:31,200 --> 00:08:32,679 Speaker 3: A lot of people just get on here and don't 195 00:08:32,679 --> 00:08:34,800 Speaker 3: connect with their audience and but take their business and 196 00:08:34,880 --> 00:08:36,400 Speaker 3: just post a flyer up post to. 197 00:08:36,440 --> 00:08:38,800 Speaker 2: Self like restocking this friud to restock. 198 00:08:39,360 --> 00:08:41,640 Speaker 3: Nobody wants to feel like they're just looked at as 199 00:08:41,679 --> 00:08:44,360 Speaker 3: a dollar. Nobody wants to feel like That's just like 200 00:08:44,400 --> 00:08:47,000 Speaker 3: if you was in a relationship with your spots, only 201 00:08:47,040 --> 00:08:49,040 Speaker 3: come to you when they have a problem. Okay, other 202 00:08:49,080 --> 00:08:51,560 Speaker 3: than when I solve your problem financially, What else do 203 00:08:51,600 --> 00:08:52,160 Speaker 3: you think of me? 204 00:08:52,280 --> 00:08:53,839 Speaker 2: What else do we have in common? Like I'm not 205 00:08:53,920 --> 00:08:56,120 Speaker 2: a shit of daddy. You know, you're not my Pam. 206 00:08:56,400 --> 00:08:58,280 Speaker 2: So it's the same thing with your consumers. 207 00:08:58,600 --> 00:09:00,880 Speaker 3: It's okay that you have people that's poetry is okay 208 00:09:00,920 --> 00:09:02,800 Speaker 3: that you value that is support you by outside of 209 00:09:02,800 --> 00:09:04,439 Speaker 3: them support you, supporting you. 210 00:09:04,400 --> 00:09:07,040 Speaker 2: And buying from you. What else is there? Y'all share? 211 00:09:07,160 --> 00:09:09,280 Speaker 3: So I share more of a connection with my audists. 212 00:09:09,320 --> 00:09:12,280 Speaker 3: I share more of relatable things us talking about us 213 00:09:12,360 --> 00:09:14,080 Speaker 3: really getting to know each other. Like they really feel 214 00:09:14,160 --> 00:09:16,840 Speaker 3: like they have watched me elevate and they feel like 215 00:09:16,840 --> 00:09:19,040 Speaker 3: they played a big part in my success, which they have. 216 00:09:19,400 --> 00:09:21,360 Speaker 3: They feel like they have watched my kids grow up. 217 00:09:21,360 --> 00:09:24,200 Speaker 3: They call them their nephew and you know, they sons 218 00:09:24,200 --> 00:09:27,440 Speaker 3: and stuff like that. So when you build that structure, first, 219 00:09:27,640 --> 00:09:29,200 Speaker 3: the money is going to flow. But when you just 220 00:09:29,280 --> 00:09:31,760 Speaker 3: chasing the money, you limit to yourself the access of 221 00:09:31,960 --> 00:09:33,000 Speaker 3: what all comes with it. 222 00:09:32,960 --> 00:09:33,200 Speaker 2: You know. 223 00:09:33,400 --> 00:09:35,480 Speaker 1: So what I hear you saying is, you know, social 224 00:09:35,559 --> 00:09:38,040 Speaker 1: media can't be used as a one way conversation, like 225 00:09:38,080 --> 00:09:40,479 Speaker 1: you just post and you have to engage in the comments, 226 00:09:40,880 --> 00:09:43,480 Speaker 1: you know, and engage on other people's posts and et cetera. 227 00:09:43,960 --> 00:09:48,480 Speaker 3: Yes, yes you have to, because like it's such a 228 00:09:48,600 --> 00:09:52,400 Speaker 3: worldwide thing, like everybody is totally different, Like it's not 229 00:09:52,480 --> 00:09:55,360 Speaker 3: one world, it's not one community. You can't post one 230 00:09:55,400 --> 00:09:58,760 Speaker 3: thing and touch everybody, like everybody has a different way 231 00:09:58,760 --> 00:10:01,120 Speaker 3: of life or different way of things. It's something that 232 00:10:01,160 --> 00:10:05,000 Speaker 3: I post that may have flurred two hundred thousand people 233 00:10:05,200 --> 00:10:08,560 Speaker 3: probably have made fifty thousand people like I don't like 234 00:10:08,600 --> 00:10:11,160 Speaker 3: that or that's weird. So you have to touch things 235 00:10:11,200 --> 00:10:13,720 Speaker 3: that that can relate to as everybody. You probably would 236 00:10:13,760 --> 00:10:16,079 Speaker 3: never relate to everybody, but at least try to relate 237 00:10:16,120 --> 00:10:18,520 Speaker 3: to as many people as you can. And you can't 238 00:10:18,520 --> 00:10:20,840 Speaker 3: post the social media just from your legs because not 239 00:10:20,920 --> 00:10:24,680 Speaker 3: everybody also think like you. Now everybody understands your perspective, 240 00:10:24,800 --> 00:10:27,320 Speaker 3: so you gotta sometimes take yourself out of the box, 241 00:10:27,440 --> 00:10:29,640 Speaker 3: like I wouldn't normally like this, but somebody out here 242 00:10:30,040 --> 00:10:32,719 Speaker 3: may you know, may do, so you really can't think 243 00:10:32,720 --> 00:10:35,320 Speaker 3: about it that. I was also telling a person like 244 00:10:35,400 --> 00:10:37,960 Speaker 3: that about a business mention that they was working on. 245 00:10:38,040 --> 00:10:39,760 Speaker 3: It was getting my opinion on it, and they was 246 00:10:39,800 --> 00:10:43,280 Speaker 3: talking about different flavors and stuff like that of this 247 00:10:43,520 --> 00:10:46,120 Speaker 3: alcohol beverage and it was like, no, because I hate blueberry, 248 00:10:46,320 --> 00:10:46,960 Speaker 3: No because I don't. 249 00:10:46,960 --> 00:10:49,480 Speaker 2: I don't like pineapple. I said, that's what you hate, 250 00:10:49,480 --> 00:10:51,000 Speaker 2: that's what you like with that. 251 00:10:51,440 --> 00:10:53,920 Speaker 3: Millions of people in the world that love blueberry, that 252 00:10:54,120 --> 00:10:57,080 Speaker 3: love pineapple, So are you going to be the one 253 00:10:57,320 --> 00:11:01,800 Speaker 3: buying all exactly you're consumers. It was matters if the 254 00:11:01,840 --> 00:11:04,000 Speaker 3: people that's buying for you, that you expected to support. 255 00:11:04,080 --> 00:11:06,200 Speaker 3: You see, this is my favorite flavor, You're gonna not 256 00:11:06,280 --> 00:11:07,760 Speaker 3: sell it because you see I don't like it. 257 00:11:08,480 --> 00:11:09,640 Speaker 2: That doesn't make any sense. 258 00:11:10,320 --> 00:11:15,160 Speaker 1: You know, when you sell humongous things like you've had 259 00:11:15,280 --> 00:11:18,720 Speaker 1: one million dollar a day, two million dollar days, you're 260 00:11:18,720 --> 00:11:21,480 Speaker 1: not always stocked I imagine with a million dollars worth of 261 00:11:21,520 --> 00:11:23,240 Speaker 1: product in the warehouse or two million dollars worth a 262 00:11:23,240 --> 00:11:25,240 Speaker 1: product in the warehouse, I imagine, especially when you do 263 00:11:25,280 --> 00:11:28,960 Speaker 1: it early. How do you manage to coordinate sales with 264 00:11:29,120 --> 00:11:32,439 Speaker 1: inventory so that you can get through that product fast enough. 265 00:11:33,200 --> 00:11:35,600 Speaker 2: This is the thing I have never done pre autist before. 266 00:11:35,640 --> 00:11:38,720 Speaker 3: I only and I preached this all the time, only 267 00:11:38,880 --> 00:11:40,600 Speaker 3: sell with inside of your warehouse. 268 00:11:40,800 --> 00:11:42,560 Speaker 2: Which is why I had to get I know, if 269 00:11:42,559 --> 00:11:43,680 Speaker 2: you see when I just. 270 00:11:43,760 --> 00:11:47,080 Speaker 1: Purchased a human hate beautiful, man, it's beautiful, Thank you 271 00:11:47,160 --> 00:11:47,679 Speaker 1: so much. 272 00:11:47,880 --> 00:11:50,199 Speaker 3: And that's because the reason why I was selling out 273 00:11:50,240 --> 00:11:52,280 Speaker 3: because I was only able to go as far as 274 00:11:52,320 --> 00:11:54,800 Speaker 3: my invatory allowed me to. So when I had those 275 00:11:54,840 --> 00:11:56,959 Speaker 3: one million dollar days, I was completely sold out. 276 00:11:57,080 --> 00:11:59,280 Speaker 2: So I've always was mad at myself. Everybody else is 277 00:11:59,320 --> 00:12:00,080 Speaker 2: around me, car I. 278 00:12:00,160 --> 00:12:02,800 Speaker 4: Was like, whoa, you made a million dollars in a 279 00:12:02,840 --> 00:12:05,280 Speaker 4: couple of hours, And I'm mad at myself with my 280 00:12:05,320 --> 00:12:07,880 Speaker 4: head done because if I made million dollars in such 281 00:12:07,880 --> 00:12:09,920 Speaker 4: and such hours and it stopped on it because my 282 00:12:09,960 --> 00:12:10,720 Speaker 4: inventory ran. 283 00:12:10,679 --> 00:12:12,840 Speaker 2: Now, I was so lowed. I could have made three 284 00:12:12,840 --> 00:12:14,319 Speaker 2: million dollars in twelve hours. 285 00:12:14,320 --> 00:12:16,360 Speaker 3: I could have made five million dollars and twenty four hours, 286 00:12:16,400 --> 00:12:17,600 Speaker 3: but I limited to myself. 287 00:12:17,640 --> 00:12:19,760 Speaker 2: So I'm never okay with selling out. 288 00:12:20,080 --> 00:12:22,200 Speaker 3: It all sounds good and it all looks pretty, but if 289 00:12:22,240 --> 00:12:24,840 Speaker 3: you were literally a business person that you focus on 290 00:12:24,880 --> 00:12:27,439 Speaker 3: the growth of your business, you're hitting your growth every 291 00:12:27,559 --> 00:12:28,240 Speaker 3: single time. 292 00:12:28,440 --> 00:12:30,880 Speaker 2: So selling out is not the goal. The goal is 293 00:12:30,920 --> 00:12:31,840 Speaker 2: constantly making. 294 00:12:31,600 --> 00:12:34,200 Speaker 3: More money, more money and been having enough inlatory to 295 00:12:34,240 --> 00:12:37,439 Speaker 3: sustain the amount of magnitude of your consumers, but still 296 00:12:37,720 --> 00:12:38,360 Speaker 3: not selling out. 297 00:12:38,400 --> 00:12:41,120 Speaker 2: Always got to supply for somebody else. Because also, you. 298 00:12:41,120 --> 00:12:43,720 Speaker 3: Can't get so like cocky and level headed to the 299 00:12:43,720 --> 00:12:46,559 Speaker 3: point where you feel like, oh yeah, it's so lowed 300 00:12:46,600 --> 00:12:48,880 Speaker 3: when I restart then come back. You gotta always have 301 00:12:48,960 --> 00:12:51,000 Speaker 3: this humble mindset that when I don't have it, they 302 00:12:51,080 --> 00:12:52,640 Speaker 3: we're going to get the next best things from the 303 00:12:52,679 --> 00:12:53,440 Speaker 3: next best person. 304 00:12:53,520 --> 00:12:56,280 Speaker 1: That's right, and so so how do you think about 305 00:12:56,320 --> 00:12:59,560 Speaker 1: because you know you're selling out so quickly, what is 306 00:12:59,600 --> 00:13:02,080 Speaker 1: the think on the balance of or if it's selling 307 00:13:02,080 --> 00:13:04,800 Speaker 1: outs so fast at this price, maybe it's priced it 308 00:13:04,840 --> 00:13:06,839 Speaker 1: could go higher. How do you think about that? 309 00:13:08,040 --> 00:13:10,520 Speaker 3: So that's that's the thing. I feel like, if it 310 00:13:10,559 --> 00:13:15,120 Speaker 3: ain't broke, don't fix it. When with everything's setting out 311 00:13:15,160 --> 00:13:17,480 Speaker 3: so fast and the price is what it is, like 312 00:13:17,800 --> 00:13:22,520 Speaker 3: before I released it, I like evaluated everything and find 313 00:13:22,520 --> 00:13:24,520 Speaker 3: out my price and points and what work for me 314 00:13:24,720 --> 00:13:27,120 Speaker 3: and what will be most suitable for me. How could 315 00:13:27,120 --> 00:13:30,080 Speaker 3: I manage my business be fair to the consumers but 316 00:13:30,200 --> 00:13:33,040 Speaker 3: also make sure I'm getting my profit and able to 317 00:13:33,080 --> 00:13:34,880 Speaker 3: suspend my lifestyle and everything like that. 318 00:13:34,960 --> 00:13:36,680 Speaker 2: When I came up with that price, I did that. 319 00:13:36,800 --> 00:13:39,600 Speaker 3: So just because I'm being supported to this magnitude, I 320 00:13:39,640 --> 00:13:42,160 Speaker 3: feel like it will be unfair to the consumer and 321 00:13:42,320 --> 00:13:45,880 Speaker 3: very selfish to raise the prices, you know, and fluctuate 322 00:13:45,960 --> 00:13:48,319 Speaker 3: the prices just to make my life a little better 323 00:13:48,360 --> 00:13:50,959 Speaker 3: and make my my properly little higher, but actually taking 324 00:13:50,960 --> 00:13:52,960 Speaker 3: more out they pocket. These are the people that support me. 325 00:13:53,200 --> 00:13:56,000 Speaker 3: I need them to feel more comfortable than me, you know. 326 00:13:56,160 --> 00:13:59,400 Speaker 3: So when they work hard and get dey tech every week, 327 00:13:59,440 --> 00:14:01,600 Speaker 3: I need them to like buy for me and I 328 00:14:01,640 --> 00:14:03,520 Speaker 3: have regrets after it. I need them to love the 329 00:14:03,559 --> 00:14:05,199 Speaker 3: product when they receive it, and I need them not 330 00:14:05,280 --> 00:14:07,880 Speaker 3: have a regret when they see that price come out 331 00:14:07,880 --> 00:14:09,520 Speaker 3: of their bank account. Because at the end of the day, 332 00:14:09,720 --> 00:14:12,200 Speaker 3: if we constantly see something that's costing us too much money, 333 00:14:12,240 --> 00:14:13,680 Speaker 3: and we add up at the end of the month, 334 00:14:13,760 --> 00:14:15,640 Speaker 3: end of the week and saying this is too high, 335 00:14:15,960 --> 00:14:17,719 Speaker 3: nine times out of ten we go not going to 336 00:14:17,880 --> 00:14:19,160 Speaker 3: go back and continue doing that. 337 00:14:20,080 --> 00:14:20,320 Speaker 2: D that. 338 00:14:21,080 --> 00:14:23,480 Speaker 1: So I was reading this interview and this is a 339 00:14:23,560 --> 00:14:25,480 Speaker 1: quote from you, and you said I wanted to offer 340 00:14:25,520 --> 00:14:28,440 Speaker 1: a healthier alternative. I wanted to create a vaping product 341 00:14:28,600 --> 00:14:30,720 Speaker 1: that could be made with vegetables and water. But no 342 00:14:30,800 --> 00:14:33,440 Speaker 1: one wants to smoke vegetables and water. I was left 343 00:14:33,560 --> 00:14:35,760 Speaker 1: with that truth, but felt there had to be a 344 00:14:35,800 --> 00:14:39,320 Speaker 1: way possible to incorporate fruit into hookah smoking. I tried 345 00:14:39,320 --> 00:14:42,400 Speaker 1: many things and received a great deal of feedback. People 346 00:14:42,400 --> 00:14:45,840 Speaker 1: told me it was not possible. It was so discouraging, 347 00:14:45,880 --> 00:14:47,600 Speaker 1: it was not gonna happen, It was not gonna work. 348 00:14:47,640 --> 00:14:51,120 Speaker 1: And that fruit would burn. How do you go about 349 00:14:51,160 --> 00:14:55,560 Speaker 1: then testing sampling products before you go into mass production, 350 00:14:55,720 --> 00:14:57,160 Speaker 1: into mania manufacturing. 351 00:14:58,160 --> 00:15:00,360 Speaker 2: Oh my god, Dad was a lot that was. 352 00:15:00,400 --> 00:15:02,920 Speaker 3: That's the part that I was, I'll say a discourageing 353 00:15:03,000 --> 00:15:06,120 Speaker 3: because before I even got to the point of getting tested, 354 00:15:06,200 --> 00:15:09,320 Speaker 3: so many people wouldn't even entertain the idea to test it. 355 00:15:09,360 --> 00:15:11,080 Speaker 3: It was like, I can tell you right now, that's 356 00:15:11,160 --> 00:15:13,320 Speaker 3: that's not gonna work. I tell you right now, that's 357 00:15:13,360 --> 00:15:14,920 Speaker 3: not possible. I can tell you right now, you know 358 00:15:15,280 --> 00:15:17,760 Speaker 3: it's so. And also allow those nose and a lot 359 00:15:17,760 --> 00:15:20,520 Speaker 3: of that feedback also worked better for me because they 360 00:15:20,720 --> 00:15:23,280 Speaker 3: allowed me to also go back to the drawing board 361 00:15:23,520 --> 00:15:27,600 Speaker 3: and constantly reinvent, constantly like re educate myself more and 362 00:15:27,640 --> 00:15:28,080 Speaker 3: more and more. 363 00:15:28,400 --> 00:15:30,560 Speaker 2: What could I add? I, what could I do? 364 00:15:30,600 --> 00:15:33,520 Speaker 3: What could I subtract to make sure it's possible to Also, 365 00:15:34,320 --> 00:15:37,160 Speaker 3: I was trying to work so hard to convince people 366 00:15:37,200 --> 00:15:40,160 Speaker 3: to understand the logic from the person from the beginning, 367 00:15:40,200 --> 00:15:42,080 Speaker 3: so that I wouldn't even get a no. To the 368 00:15:42,120 --> 00:15:44,440 Speaker 3: fact that it made me getting myself down to the 369 00:15:44,480 --> 00:15:46,800 Speaker 3: tea so perfect that I couldn't get a nod no more. 370 00:15:46,800 --> 00:15:48,760 Speaker 3: And not only did I get a yes, the yes 371 00:15:48,840 --> 00:15:51,240 Speaker 3: that I got was just so you know, it was 372 00:15:51,280 --> 00:15:54,240 Speaker 3: so like above and beyond because I did all the work. 373 00:15:54,640 --> 00:15:56,680 Speaker 3: If I don't got yes from the beginning, I probably 374 00:15:56,680 --> 00:15:58,920 Speaker 3: would have stopped there. I wouldn't researched more, I wouldn't 375 00:15:58,920 --> 00:16:01,600 Speaker 3: added more, I wouldn't see what I what could be used, 376 00:16:01,600 --> 00:16:02,400 Speaker 3: what can be used. 377 00:16:02,440 --> 00:16:04,000 Speaker 2: So I just feel like that was the best thing 378 00:16:04,040 --> 00:16:05,640 Speaker 2: that can happen to me. I literally got. 379 00:16:05,680 --> 00:16:11,680 Speaker 3: I think it was like seventeen denials, wow, twenty one or. 380 00:16:11,640 --> 00:16:12,720 Speaker 2: Something of that nature. 381 00:16:13,080 --> 00:16:17,120 Speaker 3: That's very discouraging, especially since at the same time, I'm 382 00:16:17,400 --> 00:16:21,440 Speaker 3: fronting everything. I'm paying for these mixtures, I'm paying for 383 00:16:21,480 --> 00:16:23,320 Speaker 3: these formulasts, I'm paying for these testing. 384 00:16:23,800 --> 00:16:26,920 Speaker 2: I'm also trying to live my life. 385 00:16:26,720 --> 00:16:30,080 Speaker 3: As an entrepreneur already and doing things on Instagram. I 386 00:16:30,080 --> 00:16:32,320 Speaker 3: don't have that much money right now, so all these 387 00:16:32,320 --> 00:16:35,760 Speaker 3: things are costing. It's discouraging, especially when you already got 388 00:16:35,760 --> 00:16:37,960 Speaker 3: a conference zone. I was doing things right right now 389 00:16:38,000 --> 00:16:40,960 Speaker 3: with we TV networks and stuff like that, making a 390 00:16:41,040 --> 00:16:41,640 Speaker 3: lot of money. 391 00:16:41,720 --> 00:16:44,440 Speaker 2: With those two It's like, why even entertained something. 392 00:16:44,480 --> 00:16:46,920 Speaker 3: I'm getting those from and making zero dollars from and 393 00:16:46,960 --> 00:16:48,440 Speaker 3: I'm spending all the money I'm making here. 394 00:16:48,600 --> 00:16:49,640 Speaker 2: That's very discouraging. 395 00:16:49,760 --> 00:16:52,120 Speaker 3: You're might as well say forget that I'm a goo 396 00:16:52,240 --> 00:16:54,640 Speaker 3: where I know it's for sure, but I was adamant. 397 00:16:54,680 --> 00:16:56,520 Speaker 2: And when I put my mind to something, I'm going 398 00:16:56,560 --> 00:16:56,920 Speaker 2: to do it. 399 00:16:56,960 --> 00:16:59,120 Speaker 3: And I feel like my vision is my vision for 400 00:16:59,120 --> 00:17:01,280 Speaker 3: a reason because I see things that other people can see. 401 00:17:01,280 --> 00:17:03,320 Speaker 2: So I'm not going to let their response dictate what 402 00:17:03,440 --> 00:17:05,040 Speaker 2: I continue to do. From that point. I'm going to 403 00:17:05,119 --> 00:17:08,280 Speaker 2: prove you wrong. And I did that. I love it. 404 00:17:08,359 --> 00:17:08,880 Speaker 2: I love that. 405 00:17:09,600 --> 00:17:12,560 Speaker 1: Other than other than your online strategy, which you can 406 00:17:12,640 --> 00:17:14,800 Speaker 1: you know, direct b to see business to consumer, you 407 00:17:14,800 --> 00:17:17,560 Speaker 1: can sell directly to your customers, how did you work 408 00:17:17,600 --> 00:17:22,240 Speaker 1: out your business to get distributions into other people's stores, 409 00:17:22,280 --> 00:17:24,720 Speaker 1: other people's vape shops, and other people's hook luages so 410 00:17:24,840 --> 00:17:26,240 Speaker 1: that they can sell your products. 411 00:17:26,760 --> 00:17:28,440 Speaker 2: So that's the thing we have. 412 00:17:29,040 --> 00:17:32,760 Speaker 3: Like tens of thousands of emails and requests about that. 413 00:17:32,920 --> 00:17:34,320 Speaker 2: I have never done that yet. 414 00:17:34,480 --> 00:17:36,959 Speaker 3: I haven't allowed them to do that yet because I 415 00:17:37,040 --> 00:17:38,520 Speaker 3: feel like I'm still a new business. 416 00:17:38,560 --> 00:17:42,359 Speaker 2: I'm, like, what, less than two years in the game, So. 417 00:17:42,800 --> 00:17:46,480 Speaker 3: I still have my freshness, I still have my exclusativity, 418 00:17:46,520 --> 00:17:49,040 Speaker 3: and I love that about me. Like I'm an online business. 419 00:17:49,080 --> 00:17:52,159 Speaker 3: I'm doing so great online and everything like that. So 420 00:17:52,200 --> 00:17:56,960 Speaker 3: I feel like before at least let me like exude 421 00:17:57,320 --> 00:18:01,639 Speaker 3: in a success and all of you know, the highs 422 00:18:01,680 --> 00:18:04,240 Speaker 3: and lows and experience all my lessons on behalf of 423 00:18:04,280 --> 00:18:06,359 Speaker 3: myself before I include others before. 424 00:18:06,080 --> 00:18:07,680 Speaker 2: I even get to their route, Like I. 425 00:18:07,640 --> 00:18:10,760 Speaker 3: Will want more experience as a you know, an individual, 426 00:18:10,920 --> 00:18:14,800 Speaker 3: independent entrepreneur of it before I include like. 427 00:18:14,720 --> 00:18:16,640 Speaker 2: A through Z. Right now, I'm not ready for. 428 00:18:16,640 --> 00:18:20,800 Speaker 3: That that yet, And I understand one day that's definitely 429 00:18:20,800 --> 00:18:23,400 Speaker 3: you know, supposed to happen, and that's going to happen, 430 00:18:23,440 --> 00:18:25,320 Speaker 3: but I just feel like, right now, it's not the 431 00:18:25,400 --> 00:18:28,560 Speaker 3: right time, especially if I'm having so much success on 432 00:18:28,600 --> 00:18:31,040 Speaker 3: my own by not being so exclusive. 433 00:18:31,680 --> 00:18:33,480 Speaker 2: I feel like that plays a big part that people 434 00:18:33,560 --> 00:18:34,399 Speaker 2: want to come get. 435 00:18:34,280 --> 00:18:37,080 Speaker 3: It because it's not easy accessible and when they sell out, 436 00:18:37,080 --> 00:18:39,320 Speaker 3: there reading for the restock. So I feel like I'll 437 00:18:39,359 --> 00:18:42,000 Speaker 3: be working against myself while I'm at the highest part 438 00:18:42,080 --> 00:18:43,400 Speaker 3: of my career at this point. 439 00:18:43,480 --> 00:18:46,119 Speaker 1: You know, how did you get celebrities to back you 440 00:18:46,160 --> 00:18:49,080 Speaker 1: on using their showing media platforms or was that just 441 00:18:49,320 --> 00:18:51,360 Speaker 1: they saw organically and. 442 00:18:51,160 --> 00:18:55,000 Speaker 3: Like organically that's what that's the thing about me, like 443 00:18:55,080 --> 00:18:57,040 Speaker 3: I thought, it was so hard for these celebrities. 444 00:18:57,119 --> 00:18:59,879 Speaker 2: I always admire these celebrities. You know, I'm human like 445 00:19:00,040 --> 00:19:00,720 Speaker 2: everybody else. 446 00:19:00,560 --> 00:19:02,400 Speaker 3: And I was like, one day I wish I could 447 00:19:02,680 --> 00:19:04,440 Speaker 3: One day, I wish I could get this person, get 448 00:19:04,440 --> 00:19:04,960 Speaker 3: that person. 449 00:19:05,000 --> 00:19:06,840 Speaker 2: But they are human just like us. 450 00:19:06,880 --> 00:19:08,640 Speaker 3: They like to do the same things that we do, 451 00:19:08,720 --> 00:19:11,080 Speaker 3: and they like to be a part of. 452 00:19:10,600 --> 00:19:12,920 Speaker 2: The trends and everything else like everybody else. 453 00:19:12,960 --> 00:19:16,600 Speaker 3: So I guess seeing my business everywhere, seeing everybody going 454 00:19:16,600 --> 00:19:19,640 Speaker 3: crazy about it, seeing that everybody don't have access access 455 00:19:19,640 --> 00:19:21,760 Speaker 3: to it, what it made them want to do is 456 00:19:21,880 --> 00:19:24,760 Speaker 3: use their celebrity card that just slide in the DM and. 457 00:19:24,720 --> 00:19:26,399 Speaker 2: Be like, yes, I know it's so loud. I know 458 00:19:26,440 --> 00:19:28,199 Speaker 2: they can't get it, but I want to try it. 459 00:19:28,280 --> 00:19:30,640 Speaker 2: Can I get it? And that's where it started at. 460 00:19:30,680 --> 00:19:32,600 Speaker 3: So it got to the point that they started sliding 461 00:19:32,720 --> 00:19:35,879 Speaker 3: DM or get my number from fellow friend X and try. 462 00:19:35,960 --> 00:19:37,920 Speaker 2: I send it to them. Hopefully one day we could 463 00:19:37,960 --> 00:19:38,399 Speaker 2: do business. 464 00:19:38,400 --> 00:19:40,440 Speaker 3: And before I know it, when they get the delivery, 465 00:19:40,440 --> 00:19:42,680 Speaker 3: they making a video just like everybody else. 466 00:19:42,920 --> 00:19:44,600 Speaker 2: And they literally used to brag and be like, well, 467 00:19:44,680 --> 00:19:46,280 Speaker 2: y'all can't get this. I know it's so long but 468 00:19:46,320 --> 00:19:48,680 Speaker 2: I got mine, so it became a trend. Like it's 469 00:19:48,720 --> 00:19:50,760 Speaker 2: like a who's who's who got the black smoke? You know? 470 00:19:52,280 --> 00:19:52,800 Speaker 2: That's fine. 471 00:19:53,440 --> 00:19:56,240 Speaker 1: When I think about when you create an innovative products, 472 00:19:56,280 --> 00:19:58,040 Speaker 1: I want you go level deeper there on. You know, 473 00:19:58,280 --> 00:20:00,280 Speaker 1: how how you keep away compy casts or or have 474 00:20:00,320 --> 00:20:02,280 Speaker 1: a brand strong enough that they can do whatever and 475 00:20:02,440 --> 00:20:04,439 Speaker 1: do we gonna do what we're gonna do anyway, And 476 00:20:04,520 --> 00:20:07,040 Speaker 1: so how do you think about your brand being so 477 00:20:07,119 --> 00:20:09,480 Speaker 1: strong and how do you ensure that it's so embedded 478 00:20:09,480 --> 00:20:11,800 Speaker 1: in the minds of your consumer that you know, ten 479 00:20:11,880 --> 00:20:14,120 Speaker 1: other people can go and do their fruit thing, We're 480 00:20:14,119 --> 00:20:15,359 Speaker 1: still going to lead this market. 481 00:20:16,359 --> 00:20:19,080 Speaker 3: Yeah, And that's my biggest point, Like I feel like 482 00:20:19,640 --> 00:20:21,000 Speaker 3: people remember. 483 00:20:22,280 --> 00:20:24,480 Speaker 2: People remember you in a way that you present yourself. 484 00:20:24,560 --> 00:20:26,720 Speaker 3: So if I would have just came out and say, hey, 485 00:20:26,720 --> 00:20:31,200 Speaker 3: hooker from fruit instead of explaining that this couldn't be done, 486 00:20:31,520 --> 00:20:33,320 Speaker 3: I was the first one to do it. Whatever the 487 00:20:33,359 --> 00:20:35,080 Speaker 3: kids can be. So that's why people hopped on the 488 00:20:35,080 --> 00:20:37,560 Speaker 3: wave because and they want to try regarding because it's 489 00:20:37,600 --> 00:20:39,800 Speaker 3: like this is impressive, this is interesting. 490 00:20:40,119 --> 00:20:41,920 Speaker 2: I want to try something that I never tried. 491 00:20:41,960 --> 00:20:43,760 Speaker 3: I want to see what this is like, see what 492 00:20:43,760 --> 00:20:46,080 Speaker 3: this tastes like so I feel like now we are 493 00:20:46,160 --> 00:20:49,280 Speaker 3: stamped as the number one hooker brand, not only the 494 00:20:49,320 --> 00:20:50,120 Speaker 3: number one hookul brand. 495 00:20:50,160 --> 00:20:51,399 Speaker 2: That's the first to ever do it. 496 00:20:51,480 --> 00:20:54,000 Speaker 3: So not even if somebody else was to do it 497 00:20:54,080 --> 00:20:57,679 Speaker 3: or try to do it, that's cool, but it always 498 00:20:57,680 --> 00:21:00,639 Speaker 3: would be like, oh, you're doing with black smoke, and 499 00:21:01,720 --> 00:21:03,840 Speaker 3: you know, I feel like there's nowhere around it. You know, 500 00:21:04,000 --> 00:21:08,359 Speaker 3: it's never going to be somebody come like take my spot. 501 00:21:08,920 --> 00:21:11,480 Speaker 3: I'll do me because you cannot erase history and I 502 00:21:11,480 --> 00:21:12,360 Speaker 3: have made history. 503 00:21:12,480 --> 00:21:12,639 Speaker 2: You know. 504 00:21:12,960 --> 00:21:16,320 Speaker 1: I love that this is an entrepreneur I follow. His 505 00:21:16,359 --> 00:21:18,719 Speaker 1: name is Paul Judge, and I'm a paraphrase a quote 506 00:21:18,880 --> 00:21:21,359 Speaker 1: that he says because it makes me think of you, 507 00:21:21,400 --> 00:21:23,919 Speaker 1: and it says, the easiest way to get smart people 508 00:21:24,000 --> 00:21:26,240 Speaker 1: to want to work with you is to have big ideas. 509 00:21:26,400 --> 00:21:29,200 Speaker 1: Smart people want to work on big ideas, not small ones. 510 00:21:29,720 --> 00:21:33,239 Speaker 1: And you're creating something out of nothing. And talk to 511 00:21:33,280 --> 00:21:35,400 Speaker 1: me about some of the most critical roles on your 512 00:21:35,440 --> 00:21:38,440 Speaker 1: team from the start that were important to you get 513 00:21:38,440 --> 00:21:40,639 Speaker 1: into the scale that you're at because they could have 514 00:21:40,640 --> 00:21:42,240 Speaker 1: done a lot of other things. 515 00:21:43,200 --> 00:21:49,320 Speaker 3: Yes, absolutely, just like having a vision is one thing, 516 00:21:49,359 --> 00:21:52,040 Speaker 3: but having your vision unfolding in front of you, like 517 00:21:52,080 --> 00:21:54,199 Speaker 3: I can promise you, I can tell you firsthand, like 518 00:21:54,600 --> 00:21:57,720 Speaker 3: it's not as beautiful and as peachy and cream as 519 00:21:57,720 --> 00:22:01,080 Speaker 3: it may sound like, because you only believe as far 520 00:22:01,080 --> 00:22:03,040 Speaker 3: as you can think, and you only can think as 521 00:22:03,040 --> 00:22:05,720 Speaker 3: far as what you're capable of. So I had this vision, 522 00:22:05,800 --> 00:22:08,919 Speaker 3: this idea, and this magnitude and of this idea of 523 00:22:08,960 --> 00:22:11,080 Speaker 3: how big I wanted it to be and how great 524 00:22:11,119 --> 00:22:12,119 Speaker 3: I wanted it to become. 525 00:22:12,520 --> 00:22:15,560 Speaker 2: But me as a person, I was not prepared. I 526 00:22:15,640 --> 00:22:17,119 Speaker 2: was not ready to deal with that. 527 00:22:17,240 --> 00:22:20,320 Speaker 3: Like I wasn't I didn't have the proper knowledge and 528 00:22:20,400 --> 00:22:23,440 Speaker 3: understand understand it because I feel like I was gonna 529 00:22:23,480 --> 00:22:26,400 Speaker 3: learn as I go. What I have accomplished this far 530 00:22:26,760 --> 00:22:29,600 Speaker 3: probably would have been my twenty years span. So I thought, 531 00:22:29,680 --> 00:22:31,639 Speaker 3: as I grow on, I was going to have time to, 532 00:22:31,720 --> 00:22:34,320 Speaker 3: you know, educate myself and learn more and be able 533 00:22:34,320 --> 00:22:37,800 Speaker 3: to put things in different perspectives. But my success almost 534 00:22:37,840 --> 00:22:41,159 Speaker 3: happened overnight. So it's like you're making the money, you 535 00:22:41,200 --> 00:22:43,520 Speaker 3: gotta deal with the product. You gotta deal with inventory, 536 00:22:43,560 --> 00:22:45,000 Speaker 3: you gotta deal with the help, you gotta deal with 537 00:22:45,040 --> 00:22:45,679 Speaker 3: the consumers. 538 00:22:45,720 --> 00:22:47,320 Speaker 2: You gotta deal with the growth. You gotta deal with 539 00:22:47,359 --> 00:22:47,800 Speaker 2: the brand. 540 00:22:47,880 --> 00:22:50,240 Speaker 3: Like all that is a lot with one person, especially 541 00:22:50,280 --> 00:22:51,680 Speaker 3: when not starting off as a team. 542 00:22:51,920 --> 00:22:53,160 Speaker 2: You're not starting off with a team. 543 00:22:53,240 --> 00:22:56,119 Speaker 3: So the roles of the people that I do have 544 00:22:56,240 --> 00:22:58,400 Speaker 3: closest to me, Thank God for them. They played such 545 00:22:58,400 --> 00:23:03,080 Speaker 3: an important role, like working the late nights, early mornings. 546 00:23:03,119 --> 00:23:05,840 Speaker 2: I'm talking about getting off at four a m. 547 00:23:06,480 --> 00:23:10,160 Speaker 3: Coming back to work at eight am. Like I cannot 548 00:23:10,240 --> 00:23:12,719 Speaker 3: take all the credit. It's times where they tell me 549 00:23:13,119 --> 00:23:15,760 Speaker 3: you rest, you go home, you go get you some sleep, 550 00:23:15,800 --> 00:23:17,280 Speaker 3: and they was running it, you know. 551 00:23:17,400 --> 00:23:20,439 Speaker 2: So I'm at a point right now like I just 552 00:23:21,600 --> 00:23:22,320 Speaker 2: cherish the people. 553 00:23:22,359 --> 00:23:25,120 Speaker 3: It's like I cannot tell my story without including them 554 00:23:25,119 --> 00:23:26,960 Speaker 3: in it because they've done this with me. 555 00:23:27,080 --> 00:23:29,880 Speaker 2: Like it's all written and it has. 556 00:23:29,760 --> 00:23:31,879 Speaker 3: People on my team that I can promise you it 557 00:23:31,960 --> 00:23:33,000 Speaker 3: canna be fifty it is from now. 558 00:23:33,040 --> 00:23:33,720 Speaker 2: I can promise you. 559 00:23:33,760 --> 00:23:36,640 Speaker 3: There's nothing that can make them not be a part 560 00:23:36,640 --> 00:23:38,879 Speaker 3: of this team. There's nothing that can make me fire 561 00:23:38,920 --> 00:23:40,959 Speaker 3: them or get rid of them. It's just like without 562 00:23:41,160 --> 00:23:43,720 Speaker 3: without them is no me, and without me is no them. 563 00:23:43,760 --> 00:23:46,000 Speaker 3: And we have that understanding and I would never break 564 00:23:46,000 --> 00:23:46,600 Speaker 3: that long to me. 565 00:23:47,560 --> 00:23:50,560 Speaker 1: I've heard you, Well, there's other people who would not 566 00:23:50,720 --> 00:23:54,320 Speaker 1: embrace being called an overnight success, but I've heard you 567 00:23:54,359 --> 00:23:54,959 Speaker 1: embrace it. 568 00:23:55,320 --> 00:23:56,720 Speaker 2: Can you talk about why you've. 569 00:23:56,600 --> 00:23:58,840 Speaker 1: Embraced that concept of being an overnight success. 570 00:23:59,320 --> 00:24:00,679 Speaker 2: Let me tell you why I embraced it. 571 00:24:00,720 --> 00:24:05,679 Speaker 3: Because although my journey itself wasn't overnight, because I was 572 00:24:06,040 --> 00:24:09,800 Speaker 3: creating myself as Black Tadded, already an entrepreneur, working hard, 573 00:24:09,880 --> 00:24:12,600 Speaker 3: working with these brands and doing little things. However, the 574 00:24:12,640 --> 00:24:16,240 Speaker 3: Black Smoke success was overnight. Despite that I used my 575 00:24:16,320 --> 00:24:18,480 Speaker 3: platform that I had worked on for so many years, 576 00:24:18,720 --> 00:24:21,359 Speaker 3: that doesn't make a difference. When I released my brand, 577 00:24:21,480 --> 00:24:23,840 Speaker 3: it was an overnight success. And the reason why I'm 578 00:24:23,840 --> 00:24:27,560 Speaker 3: not against the overnight success because I feel like that's 579 00:24:27,640 --> 00:24:31,720 Speaker 3: ultimately the goal that everybody should want. Nobody want to 580 00:24:32,359 --> 00:24:34,359 Speaker 3: want to have the option to say, hey, you're gonna 581 00:24:34,359 --> 00:24:37,080 Speaker 3: make a million dollars tomorrow, and they gonna say, hey, no, 582 00:24:37,320 --> 00:24:39,440 Speaker 3: I'd rather do it in seven years. 583 00:24:39,840 --> 00:24:43,480 Speaker 2: No. So you don't really hear about the overnight success 584 00:24:43,520 --> 00:24:44,080 Speaker 2: too often. 585 00:24:44,160 --> 00:24:46,960 Speaker 3: So I feel like, when it happened, it's a great thing, 586 00:24:46,960 --> 00:24:48,560 Speaker 3: and I want to give other people hope that you 587 00:24:48,800 --> 00:24:51,280 Speaker 3: can have that one week or that one day or 588 00:24:51,320 --> 00:24:53,359 Speaker 3: that one month that can really change your life. 589 00:24:53,520 --> 00:24:55,919 Speaker 2: Not everything's gonna take five to sevent ten years. So 590 00:24:55,920 --> 00:24:58,720 Speaker 2: that's why even I feel like that gives you the push. 591 00:24:58,520 --> 00:25:00,800 Speaker 3: That you need even when things doesn't go the way 592 00:25:00,840 --> 00:25:02,600 Speaker 3: that you expect them or want them to go. 593 00:25:03,000 --> 00:25:06,119 Speaker 2: You know, this one day it a probably pop. So 594 00:25:06,400 --> 00:25:08,480 Speaker 2: I feel like that's giving people inspiration. 595 00:25:08,160 --> 00:25:10,520 Speaker 3: And hope to not give up and keep going because 596 00:25:10,760 --> 00:25:12,639 Speaker 3: it just may be your day and it just may 597 00:25:12,680 --> 00:25:13,240 Speaker 3: be your week. 598 00:25:14,119 --> 00:25:15,560 Speaker 1: And so I want to go a little bit into 599 00:25:15,600 --> 00:25:19,000 Speaker 1: your who black title was before being CEO of this 600 00:25:19,040 --> 00:25:22,080 Speaker 1: big company. Now you're a social media influencer, like you 601 00:25:22,160 --> 00:25:24,600 Speaker 1: had people You're funny, comedy and things. 602 00:25:24,680 --> 00:25:27,080 Speaker 2: Yes, And there. 603 00:25:26,640 --> 00:25:28,280 Speaker 1: Was a quote I found for you where you said 604 00:25:28,320 --> 00:25:30,440 Speaker 1: I was because you have brand deals, people were paying 605 00:25:30,480 --> 00:25:33,119 Speaker 1: you to post about their stuff, and you said I 606 00:25:33,200 --> 00:25:36,080 Speaker 1: was okay with giving everybody else business, but it never 607 00:25:36,160 --> 00:25:38,560 Speaker 1: hit me that I was truly sleeping on myself. That's 608 00:25:38,560 --> 00:25:42,000 Speaker 1: a quote from you. And so what is the difference though, 609 00:25:42,040 --> 00:25:45,719 Speaker 1: between an influencer who can create a big following and 610 00:25:45,760 --> 00:25:49,800 Speaker 1: can sell things versus an influencer who can't seem to 611 00:25:49,840 --> 00:25:52,720 Speaker 1: make anybody pull out their wallet because that happens. 612 00:25:52,760 --> 00:25:56,960 Speaker 3: Yes, yes, that's the difference because also what people got 613 00:25:56,960 --> 00:26:02,040 Speaker 3: to understand, like having followers, it's not like equivalent to 614 00:26:02,200 --> 00:26:04,320 Speaker 3: having influence. 615 00:26:04,880 --> 00:26:07,280 Speaker 2: It can have people with a lot of followers. 616 00:26:06,840 --> 00:26:09,520 Speaker 3: And they can literally be a comedian that makes gets 617 00:26:09,800 --> 00:26:12,960 Speaker 3: with a wig ones per see, and it has people 618 00:26:13,000 --> 00:26:16,360 Speaker 3: that follow them simply because of that that reason, all 619 00:26:16,359 --> 00:26:18,720 Speaker 3: they want to see from you is that video of 620 00:26:18,840 --> 00:26:20,840 Speaker 3: this character that you put that makes me laugh. 621 00:26:20,920 --> 00:26:21,400 Speaker 2: That's it. 622 00:26:21,640 --> 00:26:23,280 Speaker 3: But when you but it's a difference when you have 623 00:26:23,320 --> 00:26:26,960 Speaker 3: a person what follows, what influence that pretty much have 624 00:26:27,640 --> 00:26:30,480 Speaker 3: they word is bond and have built a lawyer following, 625 00:26:30,520 --> 00:26:32,600 Speaker 3: and people know that they don't just put their name 626 00:26:32,680 --> 00:26:35,160 Speaker 3: and their mouth and they stamp on everything. That's why 627 00:26:35,200 --> 00:26:37,440 Speaker 3: it was very important to me that just because something 628 00:26:37,560 --> 00:26:40,040 Speaker 3: sounded good and just because something was presented to me, 629 00:26:40,240 --> 00:26:42,280 Speaker 3: just because they massed the dollar amount which I ask 630 00:26:42,400 --> 00:26:45,159 Speaker 3: for or maybe have succeeded while you're asking for this 631 00:26:45,200 --> 00:26:46,919 Speaker 3: and you say no, so I'll give you this instead. 632 00:26:47,240 --> 00:26:48,840 Speaker 2: It was never about the money for me. 633 00:26:49,119 --> 00:26:52,240 Speaker 3: It was always about like my influence, always about my 634 00:26:52,280 --> 00:26:52,840 Speaker 3: word of mouth. 635 00:26:52,880 --> 00:26:55,000 Speaker 2: Because if I'm going to tell my followers. 636 00:26:54,600 --> 00:26:56,959 Speaker 3: To go get this, when they're gonna get it, I 637 00:26:57,000 --> 00:26:59,320 Speaker 3: needed to actually work because if they go get it 638 00:26:59,359 --> 00:27:01,480 Speaker 3: and it doesn't work. That's gonna only hurt me in 639 00:27:01,480 --> 00:27:03,080 Speaker 3: the long run. When I say it, go get something. 640 00:27:03,200 --> 00:27:06,000 Speaker 3: I really need them to go get So if I don't. 641 00:27:05,840 --> 00:27:07,920 Speaker 2: Believe in it, I'm not gonna post about it. I don't. 642 00:27:08,000 --> 00:27:09,800 Speaker 3: If I wouldn't use it, I'm not gonna tell them too. 643 00:27:09,800 --> 00:27:11,359 Speaker 3: If I wouldn't buy it, I'm not going to convince 644 00:27:11,359 --> 00:27:13,359 Speaker 3: them boy it. Because you can't do things with just 645 00:27:13,359 --> 00:27:16,760 Speaker 3: a dollar. That's a temporary fix. That's a long term disaster. 646 00:27:17,640 --> 00:27:21,560 Speaker 1: So how do you encourage people who or teach people 647 00:27:21,880 --> 00:27:24,960 Speaker 1: who have watched your story? You know, come from you know, 648 00:27:24,960 --> 00:27:26,480 Speaker 1: I don't want to say the bottom, but come from 649 00:27:26,560 --> 00:27:30,040 Speaker 1: not a lot and have achieved what you've achieved and 650 00:27:30,160 --> 00:27:32,200 Speaker 1: look at you and say, you know, well there's something 651 00:27:32,280 --> 00:27:34,800 Speaker 1: that's got to be something more to it. Then this's 652 00:27:34,840 --> 00:27:37,159 Speaker 1: a regular guy. That's not possible for me. 653 00:27:37,280 --> 00:27:37,880 Speaker 2: How do you. 654 00:27:37,880 --> 00:27:40,680 Speaker 1: Relate to people so that they can be inspired by 655 00:27:40,720 --> 00:27:42,919 Speaker 1: your story and take nuggets from your story so that 656 00:27:42,920 --> 00:27:44,560 Speaker 1: they can apply those things to their lives. 657 00:27:45,440 --> 00:27:48,040 Speaker 3: Yeah, that's why. And yes I do come from the bottom. 658 00:27:48,080 --> 00:27:49,919 Speaker 3: Like I was not born to silver s fool, like 659 00:27:49,960 --> 00:27:52,520 Speaker 3: I lived in the ghetto. I live in the hood, 660 00:27:52,640 --> 00:27:55,960 Speaker 3: like I have literally witnessed murders happening in front of me, 661 00:27:56,040 --> 00:28:00,360 Speaker 3: and that's just my truth. So I feel like that's 662 00:28:00,359 --> 00:28:05,600 Speaker 3: why I don't just only like talk about the great 663 00:28:05,880 --> 00:28:08,480 Speaker 3: I don't just highlight Oh, everything is perfect to me. 664 00:28:08,600 --> 00:28:11,119 Speaker 3: Like I let them know, like the things that discouraged me. 665 00:28:11,400 --> 00:28:13,639 Speaker 3: I let them know, like the things that that I 666 00:28:13,680 --> 00:28:15,600 Speaker 3: still haven't figured out. I let them know that this 667 00:28:15,640 --> 00:28:17,840 Speaker 3: thing has grown so much bigger than me that I 668 00:28:18,359 --> 00:28:21,280 Speaker 3: really at one point didn't have no idea what I'm doing, 669 00:28:21,520 --> 00:28:23,560 Speaker 3: what I was doing. I just had a dream and 670 00:28:23,600 --> 00:28:26,360 Speaker 3: that's just what happened. And also I just need them 671 00:28:26,359 --> 00:28:30,280 Speaker 3: to understand, like it's not about where you come from. Yes, 672 00:28:30,320 --> 00:28:33,280 Speaker 3: that plays a big part on you know, of the 673 00:28:33,320 --> 00:28:37,080 Speaker 3: opportunities sometimes that we have and also the resource. But 674 00:28:37,200 --> 00:28:39,920 Speaker 3: also you do not have to be a product of 675 00:28:39,960 --> 00:28:40,760 Speaker 3: your environment. 676 00:28:41,080 --> 00:28:43,120 Speaker 2: It's up to you to change that narrative. You don't 677 00:28:43,120 --> 00:28:44,600 Speaker 2: have to want only what you see. 678 00:28:45,120 --> 00:28:47,040 Speaker 3: I came from where I came from, and I've seen 679 00:28:47,120 --> 00:28:50,360 Speaker 3: everything around me, but I see the way it affected 680 00:28:50,400 --> 00:28:53,440 Speaker 3: everything and everybody around me. So all I didn't know 681 00:28:53,480 --> 00:28:55,360 Speaker 3: exactly what I wanted to do or what I wanted 682 00:28:55,360 --> 00:28:57,520 Speaker 3: to be wanted to be, but I know I wanted 683 00:28:57,560 --> 00:29:00,200 Speaker 3: it to be opposite. So you literally got to bin 684 00:29:00,280 --> 00:29:03,040 Speaker 3: yourself to thank for to train yourself to believe. And 685 00:29:03,080 --> 00:29:05,240 Speaker 3: I know it sounds so cliche, but when you put 686 00:29:05,280 --> 00:29:07,400 Speaker 3: your mind to it, you can actually do it. 687 00:29:07,480 --> 00:29:10,240 Speaker 2: Like where you come from does not determine where you're going. 688 00:29:23,760 --> 00:29:26,560 Speaker 1: Black Tech Green Money is a production of Blavity, Afro Tech, 689 00:29:27,080 --> 00:29:29,840 Speaker 1: Black and Fat Podcast Network and I Hire Media. It's 690 00:29:29,880 --> 00:29:33,080 Speaker 1: produced by Morgan de Bond and me Well Lucas, with 691 00:29:33,160 --> 00:29:36,240 Speaker 1: the addition of production support by Said and Rose McLucas. 692 00:29:37,200 --> 00:29:40,120 Speaker 1: Special thanking to Michael Davis, Vanessa Surroundo or Maya Multru. 693 00:29:40,840 --> 00:29:42,680 Speaker 1: Learn more about my guests and other tech this weepons 694 00:29:42,720 --> 00:29:45,760 Speaker 1: and innovators at afrotech dot com. Enjoy your Black Tech 695 00:29:45,760 --> 00:29:49,840 Speaker 1: Green Money shit is with Somebody could get your money. 696 00:29:50,720 --> 00:29:51,320 Speaker 2: Need some love