1 00:00:00,040 --> 00:00:03,120 Speaker 1: Hi. I'm Rashan McDonald hosts this weekly Money Making Conversation 2 00:00:03,240 --> 00:00:06,800 Speaker 1: Masterclass show. The interviews and information that this show provides 3 00:00:06,920 --> 00:00:09,640 Speaker 1: are for everyone. It's time to stop reading other people's 4 00:00:09,680 --> 00:00:12,400 Speaker 1: success stories and start living you on. If you want 5 00:00:12,440 --> 00:00:15,760 Speaker 1: to be a guest on my show, Money Making Conversation Masterclass, 6 00:00:15,880 --> 00:00:19,680 Speaker 1: please visit our website, Moneymakingconversation dot com and click the 7 00:00:19,760 --> 00:00:23,440 Speaker 1: b a guest button. If you're a small business owner, entrepreneur, 8 00:00:23,560 --> 00:00:28,320 Speaker 1: motivational speaker, influencer, or nonprofit now let's get this interview started. 9 00:00:28,840 --> 00:00:33,040 Speaker 1: My guest is the founding CEO of the nonprofit Guru LLC. 10 00:00:33,800 --> 00:00:37,800 Speaker 1: She partners was small to mid sized nonprofits to strengthen fundraising, 11 00:00:38,479 --> 00:00:44,199 Speaker 1: board development, and entrepreneur organizational strategy. Over the last decade, 12 00:00:44,479 --> 00:00:49,159 Speaker 1: she trained coaches and set up and equipped through workshops, 13 00:00:49,240 --> 00:00:54,240 Speaker 1: courses and tailor consulting and helping to transform their ideas 14 00:00:54,320 --> 00:00:58,800 Speaker 1: into sustainable impact. Please welcome the Money Making Conversation Masterclass. 15 00:00:59,160 --> 00:01:00,400 Speaker 1: Erica Gwynn, How are you doing? 16 00:01:00,840 --> 00:01:01,520 Speaker 2: I'm wonderful. 17 00:01:01,560 --> 00:01:03,320 Speaker 1: How are you where you based at? Erica? 18 00:01:03,680 --> 00:01:06,840 Speaker 3: I have a Montessori school in Lawrenceville, Georgia, and then 19 00:01:06,920 --> 00:01:08,560 Speaker 3: our nonprofit Guru. 20 00:01:08,680 --> 00:01:11,880 Speaker 1: I do that virtually the nonprofit gurul Let's talk about 21 00:01:11,880 --> 00:01:14,880 Speaker 1: that first nonprofit GURULLC. 22 00:01:15,160 --> 00:01:18,640 Speaker 2: Yes, why that? Well, I had a cousin that told me. 23 00:01:18,880 --> 00:01:21,680 Speaker 3: He gave me that nickname the nonprofit Guru, because I 24 00:01:21,760 --> 00:01:26,960 Speaker 3: knew nonprofits in my sleep. It's what I've done professional right, 25 00:01:27,840 --> 00:01:30,880 Speaker 3: It can be tedious. It's like being a lawyer reading 26 00:01:30,880 --> 00:01:34,600 Speaker 3: a lot of contracts, think grant writing. It's about I 27 00:01:34,640 --> 00:01:37,279 Speaker 3: have a big mission, and it is about the mission, 28 00:01:37,360 --> 00:01:39,800 Speaker 3: but you have to be able to document it and 29 00:01:39,840 --> 00:01:42,960 Speaker 3: show so that it can be fundable. So I did 30 00:01:43,000 --> 00:01:45,440 Speaker 3: that for colleges I worked for. I don't know if 31 00:01:45,440 --> 00:01:47,480 Speaker 3: I should say all the names, but I work them. 32 00:01:47,800 --> 00:01:51,400 Speaker 3: SPELM in college, I managed a bioinformatics grant where I 33 00:01:51,480 --> 00:01:55,600 Speaker 3: recruited students to do federal trainings across the country. I 34 00:01:55,640 --> 00:01:59,240 Speaker 3: have worked for after school programs in my local community. 35 00:01:59,360 --> 00:02:03,400 Speaker 3: I have been in kind donations consultant for Habitat for Humanity. 36 00:02:04,000 --> 00:02:05,000 Speaker 2: So I got to see that. 37 00:02:04,800 --> 00:02:07,000 Speaker 1: Should buy it. When you come on money Making Conversation 38 00:02:07,120 --> 00:02:10,799 Speaker 1: Massacre Life, I'm exposing you to individuals who may need 39 00:02:10,840 --> 00:02:13,240 Speaker 1: your services. Okay, So the more you can tell us 40 00:02:13,280 --> 00:02:16,520 Speaker 1: about you, the more credibility we have to what you 41 00:02:16,560 --> 00:02:19,639 Speaker 1: say you do, okay, so feel free to drop names. 42 00:02:19,639 --> 00:02:22,160 Speaker 1: Of course, people can google you and google your brand 43 00:02:22,240 --> 00:02:24,880 Speaker 1: and do their own research, but it's important that we 44 00:02:25,320 --> 00:02:28,800 Speaker 1: convey a level of authenticity and honesty to the listeners. 45 00:02:29,000 --> 00:02:30,120 Speaker 2: That's helpful, Thank you. 46 00:02:31,120 --> 00:02:34,440 Speaker 3: So I've worked at Spelman College as a grants manager. 47 00:02:34,960 --> 00:02:37,840 Speaker 3: I banished a two point five million dollar initiative that 48 00:02:37,960 --> 00:02:41,280 Speaker 3: helped college students to get placement in their careers as 49 00:02:41,400 --> 00:02:46,200 Speaker 3: doctors and veterinarians and physicians future doctors. And that experience 50 00:02:46,280 --> 00:02:50,120 Speaker 3: allowed me to see that there was a federal pipeline 51 00:02:50,840 --> 00:02:53,320 Speaker 3: to funding that could help folks at the local level. 52 00:02:54,160 --> 00:02:57,480 Speaker 3: I also have done things with Habitat for Humanity, where 53 00:02:57,600 --> 00:03:00,520 Speaker 3: where you build these beautiful houses, would ask for these 54 00:03:00,600 --> 00:03:04,000 Speaker 3: donations from corporations to help us build it in partnership. 55 00:03:04,440 --> 00:03:08,960 Speaker 1: So here and all these wonderful things you've done, when 56 00:03:09,000 --> 00:03:13,160 Speaker 1: someone contacts you, how do you vet them and what 57 00:03:13,200 --> 00:03:14,919 Speaker 1: are they asking you for? In general? 58 00:03:15,200 --> 00:03:19,280 Speaker 3: Absolutely, so, I do expect that at a very basic 59 00:03:19,400 --> 00:03:21,880 Speaker 3: level they have at least three hundred thousand in revenue, 60 00:03:22,080 --> 00:03:24,360 Speaker 3: because that shows me that at least they have started 61 00:03:24,360 --> 00:03:27,200 Speaker 3: the process, They have a brand, they have something that 62 00:03:27,320 --> 00:03:31,160 Speaker 3: is giving back to the community. I then also look 63 00:03:31,240 --> 00:03:33,520 Speaker 3: to see do they have an existing board of directors 64 00:03:34,480 --> 00:03:36,600 Speaker 3: and if that board of directors is in need of 65 00:03:36,760 --> 00:03:39,600 Speaker 3: training and compliance because a lot of what we do 66 00:03:39,680 --> 00:03:42,640 Speaker 3: in this space is about knowing the law and knowing 67 00:03:42,720 --> 00:03:46,360 Speaker 3: what's fundable and what's not. So I use that as 68 00:03:46,400 --> 00:03:49,360 Speaker 3: my template to see is there an existing board of 69 00:03:49,400 --> 00:03:51,880 Speaker 3: directors and do they have at least three hundred thousand 70 00:03:51,920 --> 00:03:53,640 Speaker 3: in revenue that can help them scale. 71 00:03:54,120 --> 00:03:56,200 Speaker 1: Let's talk about that. A lot of people are start 72 00:03:56,200 --> 00:03:58,880 Speaker 1: a nonprofit that this idea want to help out the community. 73 00:04:00,080 --> 00:04:04,200 Speaker 1: Some of the mistakes people make in starting nonprofits because 74 00:04:04,320 --> 00:04:07,600 Speaker 1: you already said a shall three hundred thous dollars, A 75 00:04:07,640 --> 00:04:09,440 Speaker 1: lot of people just stop listening to this interview. 76 00:04:10,560 --> 00:04:13,160 Speaker 2: Yes, prist out, which is. 77 00:04:13,160 --> 00:04:15,360 Speaker 1: Right because the fact that you know what your skill 78 00:04:15,440 --> 00:04:17,200 Speaker 1: level and what you're trying to do business with people, 79 00:04:17,240 --> 00:04:19,960 Speaker 1: you're not trying to do startups, which can be unfortunate. 80 00:04:19,960 --> 00:04:22,560 Speaker 1: I'm used to work ahead ache can't create a lot 81 00:04:22,560 --> 00:04:27,200 Speaker 1: of drama because there's so many pitfalls that can come 82 00:04:27,440 --> 00:04:29,880 Speaker 1: in doing a nonprofit. Even though your heart is in 83 00:04:29,920 --> 00:04:32,679 Speaker 1: the right place, is your paoplework in the right place. 84 00:04:32,960 --> 00:04:34,559 Speaker 1: So some of the mistakes, Erica. 85 00:04:34,800 --> 00:04:37,800 Speaker 3: Some of the mistakes I see is first people have 86 00:04:37,920 --> 00:04:40,720 Speaker 3: their family on their board of directors of people that 87 00:04:40,760 --> 00:04:43,279 Speaker 3: they didn't vet for the skill set. They did it 88 00:04:43,320 --> 00:04:45,680 Speaker 3: because someone said they'll help them. And it's great to 89 00:04:45,720 --> 00:04:48,040 Speaker 3: bring a community of people who will help you, but 90 00:04:48,240 --> 00:04:51,120 Speaker 3: vet them and make sure that they understand their role 91 00:04:51,560 --> 00:04:54,159 Speaker 3: and that they understand their primary job is to be 92 00:04:54,240 --> 00:04:58,279 Speaker 3: a fundraiser. A lot of people don't like to fundraise 93 00:04:58,320 --> 00:04:59,600 Speaker 3: to get scared and nervous. 94 00:05:00,240 --> 00:05:02,800 Speaker 1: So who should you have on your board if you 95 00:05:02,839 --> 00:05:05,279 Speaker 1: can't have your family members, Because it's like it's about 96 00:05:05,279 --> 00:05:07,680 Speaker 1: people you are on your board that you trust, but 97 00:05:07,720 --> 00:05:09,640 Speaker 1: they have to have a certain skill set that you 98 00:05:09,720 --> 00:05:13,000 Speaker 1: believe that when you are trying to solicit people for 99 00:05:13,120 --> 00:05:14,920 Speaker 1: the board of your nonprofit. 100 00:05:14,640 --> 00:05:15,280 Speaker 2: Great question. 101 00:05:15,560 --> 00:05:18,839 Speaker 3: I always start with going to organizations that train you 102 00:05:18,920 --> 00:05:21,560 Speaker 3: to be on a board. So for example, United Way 103 00:05:21,640 --> 00:05:24,440 Speaker 3: of Great Atlanta, they have a VIP program where they 104 00:05:24,480 --> 00:05:26,840 Speaker 3: will train people to be on the board and then 105 00:05:26,880 --> 00:05:29,000 Speaker 3: you can go to them as a nonprofit to tell 106 00:05:29,040 --> 00:05:32,359 Speaker 3: them I'm seeking this type of board member. Legal you 107 00:05:32,400 --> 00:05:35,960 Speaker 3: always want someone who's got a legal ego background, someone 108 00:05:35,960 --> 00:05:40,000 Speaker 3: who has accounting as the background, someone with the mission 109 00:05:40,040 --> 00:05:43,360 Speaker 3: and vision skill, so maybe they have experience working in 110 00:05:43,400 --> 00:05:45,600 Speaker 3: domestic violence or homelessness. 111 00:05:45,640 --> 00:05:48,320 Speaker 2: They can help you with your program design right. 112 00:05:48,360 --> 00:05:51,679 Speaker 3: And then a volunteer coordinator, someone who's experience with working 113 00:05:51,720 --> 00:05:55,279 Speaker 3: with volunteers, because your volunteers are your gateway to everything 114 00:05:55,360 --> 00:05:55,960 Speaker 3: opening up. 115 00:05:56,440 --> 00:05:59,839 Speaker 1: So this is what you do. I'm impressed because of 116 00:05:59,839 --> 00:06:04,640 Speaker 1: the fact that you know, I have represented a lot 117 00:06:04,680 --> 00:06:09,119 Speaker 1: of celebrities, and I've represented celebrities who've had nonprofits, and 118 00:06:09,360 --> 00:06:12,200 Speaker 1: that board was always an issue. What did that board 119 00:06:12,440 --> 00:06:17,680 Speaker 1: consist of? And how do I select the members for 120 00:06:17,760 --> 00:06:20,840 Speaker 1: the board? And how many members should be. 121 00:06:20,839 --> 00:06:22,320 Speaker 2: On the board very key. 122 00:06:22,600 --> 00:06:25,800 Speaker 3: I always go with odd numbers five to seven in 123 00:06:25,839 --> 00:06:29,239 Speaker 3: a startup because you don't want decisions to get locked 124 00:06:29,240 --> 00:06:32,200 Speaker 3: into an even split vote, so an odd number really 125 00:06:32,240 --> 00:06:36,719 Speaker 3: helps you with that. I also look for board members 126 00:06:36,760 --> 00:06:39,560 Speaker 3: who want to work. I tell them up front you 127 00:06:39,600 --> 00:06:42,640 Speaker 3: should be prepared to commit twenty hours a month and 128 00:06:42,680 --> 00:06:45,760 Speaker 3: not just on paper. And that sometimes holds back a 129 00:06:45,839 --> 00:06:50,279 Speaker 3: great or good to great nonprofit because the board doesn't 130 00:06:50,320 --> 00:06:52,240 Speaker 3: really want to put on the work of it. They 131 00:06:52,279 --> 00:06:55,640 Speaker 3: just want to, perhaps in their lack of understanding, just 132 00:06:55,680 --> 00:06:56,960 Speaker 3: want to go out and meet people. 133 00:06:57,120 --> 00:07:00,719 Speaker 1: This resume business resume building look cool. My guess is 134 00:07:00,760 --> 00:07:04,279 Speaker 1: the founder and CEO of the nonprofit guru LLC. She 135 00:07:04,400 --> 00:07:07,600 Speaker 1: partners was small to mid sized non profits, the strength 136 00:07:07,640 --> 00:07:11,600 Speaker 1: and fundraising, board development, and organizational strategy. That's what we're 137 00:07:11,600 --> 00:07:14,080 Speaker 1: talking about. Now. We're gonna get back to your schools 138 00:07:14,080 --> 00:07:16,040 Speaker 1: in a minute, because I thought it was important that 139 00:07:16,080 --> 00:07:19,600 Speaker 1: we separate your skill set and your skill set at 140 00:07:19,640 --> 00:07:27,040 Speaker 1: this point is helping people through your nonprofit guru LLC. Now, 141 00:07:27,080 --> 00:07:32,040 Speaker 1: grant writing, Lord a mercy. How many people tap me 142 00:07:32,080 --> 00:07:34,720 Speaker 1: on the shoulder about grant writing and you have that 143 00:07:34,800 --> 00:07:37,440 Speaker 1: skill set at your company, at your nonprofit. 144 00:07:37,600 --> 00:07:41,240 Speaker 3: Yes, we get random solicitations all the time, even if 145 00:07:41,280 --> 00:07:44,320 Speaker 3: I'm not marketing. Someone knows that this is what I do. 146 00:07:44,440 --> 00:07:46,360 Speaker 3: And I get a call and I have a big 147 00:07:46,360 --> 00:07:48,720 Speaker 3: heart and a big heart. 148 00:07:48,520 --> 00:07:50,480 Speaker 1: But they got to pay for that heart to keep. 149 00:07:50,360 --> 00:07:52,920 Speaker 3: Beating, right, I do, I do it, I do and 150 00:07:52,960 --> 00:07:54,280 Speaker 3: I've learned that now, thank. 151 00:07:54,120 --> 00:07:57,000 Speaker 1: You very much. Yes, Money Making Conversation Master Class Night. 152 00:07:57,040 --> 00:08:01,960 Speaker 1: Absolutely charge these people because that's a skills set just 153 00:08:02,000 --> 00:08:05,360 Speaker 1: like RFP. You know RFPs. You know people can't fill 154 00:08:05,360 --> 00:08:09,000 Speaker 1: out RFPs. That's a skill set you've developed. Grad writing especially, 155 00:08:09,200 --> 00:08:12,240 Speaker 1: so many especially in this era where you know the 156 00:08:12,280 --> 00:08:16,320 Speaker 1: government has cut back on a lot of federal funding 157 00:08:16,760 --> 00:08:20,520 Speaker 1: and so a lot of organizations, whether they are HBCUs, 158 00:08:22,680 --> 00:08:24,800 Speaker 1: public radio, are looking for grant writers. 159 00:08:24,960 --> 00:08:28,200 Speaker 3: Absolutely, A lot of what I try to do is 160 00:08:28,280 --> 00:08:30,440 Speaker 3: teach my clients how to look at what's happening at 161 00:08:30,480 --> 00:08:34,319 Speaker 3: a federal level and to pivot their programming, not necessarily 162 00:08:34,440 --> 00:08:37,400 Speaker 3: chase the dollar, but make sure it aligns or no 163 00:08:37,520 --> 00:08:41,200 Speaker 3: if it doesn't, to have several fundraising strategies so that 164 00:08:41,240 --> 00:08:45,080 Speaker 3: you can align with your mission with the right audience. 165 00:08:45,640 --> 00:08:48,800 Speaker 3: So that is another area I do see failures that 166 00:08:49,040 --> 00:08:52,040 Speaker 3: nonprofits put all of their focus on a grant and 167 00:08:52,080 --> 00:08:56,719 Speaker 3: not looking at individual giving, a state, planning in kind donations, 168 00:08:57,200 --> 00:09:01,960 Speaker 3: individual giving. Those all matter to make the entire system work. 169 00:09:02,720 --> 00:09:09,040 Speaker 1: You've described yourself as a faith driven entrepreneur. What is that? 170 00:09:09,040 --> 00:09:13,560 Speaker 3: That is someone who understands that you're walking in your 171 00:09:13,600 --> 00:09:16,440 Speaker 3: purpose and that is a gift and don't take it 172 00:09:16,440 --> 00:09:19,640 Speaker 3: for granted. I have been in a foster home as 173 00:09:19,679 --> 00:09:22,600 Speaker 3: a child, I have experienced a lot of trauma, and 174 00:09:22,640 --> 00:09:25,600 Speaker 3: I know my community. We all have our various ways 175 00:09:25,640 --> 00:09:29,199 Speaker 3: of experiencing it, but mine turn into a leadership skill 176 00:09:29,280 --> 00:09:33,360 Speaker 3: that I muscle. I continue to exercise that muscle so 177 00:09:33,440 --> 00:09:36,280 Speaker 3: that I could heal myself, and in doing so, I 178 00:09:36,320 --> 00:09:37,240 Speaker 3: was helping others too. 179 00:09:38,400 --> 00:09:42,760 Speaker 1: Now you know foster care, You know what exactly is that. 180 00:09:43,960 --> 00:09:47,320 Speaker 3: It is a temporary It can be temporary to long 181 00:09:47,400 --> 00:09:52,120 Speaker 3: term placement for a child that is displaced from their home, 182 00:09:52,679 --> 00:09:57,040 Speaker 3: whether it's with their grandparents. Grandparents can be foster parents, 183 00:09:57,640 --> 00:10:00,520 Speaker 3: or it can be with a non relative, someone who's 184 00:10:00,520 --> 00:10:03,160 Speaker 3: getting paid as a career to take care of children 185 00:10:03,200 --> 00:10:06,400 Speaker 3: who are not with their biological parents. 186 00:10:06,600 --> 00:10:09,440 Speaker 1: I'm measure this because see I'm looking at the person 187 00:10:09,520 --> 00:10:12,920 Speaker 1: because you when you talk, I just see a happiness 188 00:10:13,320 --> 00:10:15,720 Speaker 1: about you. And I say that because it means you're 189 00:10:15,760 --> 00:10:18,320 Speaker 1: doing what you want to do. You were, like you said, 190 00:10:18,360 --> 00:10:21,440 Speaker 1: your purpose. You are just telling me about your purpose 191 00:10:21,840 --> 00:10:28,040 Speaker 1: and it's all tired to helping individuals or nonprofits to 192 00:10:28,080 --> 00:10:32,680 Speaker 1: make people's lives or individuals' lives better. That wraps itself 193 00:10:32,720 --> 00:10:36,040 Speaker 1: into community. What does community mean to you? 194 00:10:36,600 --> 00:10:40,240 Speaker 3: Erica Gwyn, Oh, community, I love these questions, thank you. 195 00:10:41,480 --> 00:10:47,040 Speaker 3: Community means to me a system of it varies. Every 196 00:10:47,040 --> 00:10:51,079 Speaker 3: community has a personality. So to me, community means accepting 197 00:10:51,120 --> 00:10:55,600 Speaker 3: and respecting the people and the organizations, whether that's schools, businesses, 198 00:10:55,880 --> 00:10:59,880 Speaker 3: the families, the children, the churches, all of them working 199 00:11:00,000 --> 00:11:03,560 Speaker 3: together in an ecosystem for something that will move the 200 00:11:03,600 --> 00:11:08,200 Speaker 3: needle forward. Community can look different in College Park to 201 00:11:08,320 --> 00:11:11,640 Speaker 3: what the community is in Lilburn. It just is a 202 00:11:11,679 --> 00:11:13,120 Speaker 3: matter of connecting dots. 203 00:11:13,200 --> 00:11:13,800 Speaker 2: Community. 204 00:11:13,960 --> 00:11:18,080 Speaker 3: That's how I envision community is helping everybody not operate 205 00:11:18,120 --> 00:11:21,800 Speaker 3: in isolation, but we all working as a partnership to 206 00:11:21,920 --> 00:11:24,600 Speaker 3: make something better for a future we won't see. 207 00:11:25,280 --> 00:11:27,640 Speaker 1: It is an interesting question. You know there are people 208 00:11:27,679 --> 00:11:31,000 Speaker 1: between the ages of eighteen and twenty two. You know, 209 00:11:31,120 --> 00:11:34,959 Speaker 1: that's when you really are a dreamer. You're fascinating. You 210 00:11:35,720 --> 00:11:39,760 Speaker 1: may think different than your parents' vision or your friend's vision, 211 00:11:40,120 --> 00:11:43,160 Speaker 1: and somehow that twenty two you can get off track, 212 00:11:43,400 --> 00:11:46,839 Speaker 1: get married, have kids, or you follow the path people 213 00:11:46,920 --> 00:11:50,360 Speaker 1: tell you you should go. And when did you find 214 00:11:50,360 --> 00:11:53,560 Speaker 1: out your dream and then you locked into it? 215 00:11:54,840 --> 00:12:00,440 Speaker 3: When I was nineteen, I was a single mom and college. 216 00:12:00,800 --> 00:12:04,760 Speaker 3: I had my oldest son, Cameron, and that next summer 217 00:12:04,760 --> 00:12:07,400 Speaker 3: his father passed away. Wow, and I had a big 218 00:12:07,440 --> 00:12:10,080 Speaker 3: decision to make. Was I gonna keep staying in school. 219 00:12:10,120 --> 00:12:12,600 Speaker 3: I had no parents, My parents were deceased by then, 220 00:12:13,200 --> 00:12:15,160 Speaker 3: and I had to look inward for some type of 221 00:12:15,200 --> 00:12:19,760 Speaker 3: fuel and passion for bigger than me. And that really 222 00:12:19,760 --> 00:12:22,800 Speaker 3: happened when I was nineteen years old. I just decided 223 00:12:22,800 --> 00:12:25,720 Speaker 3: that I wasn't going backwards, and I was gonna pull 224 00:12:25,760 --> 00:12:29,160 Speaker 3: myself up by my bootstraps. And I started giving back. 225 00:12:29,200 --> 00:12:30,880 Speaker 3: I just I didn't know what else to do. I 226 00:12:30,920 --> 00:12:33,760 Speaker 3: was hurting myself, and I just said, this doesn't feel 227 00:12:33,800 --> 00:12:36,480 Speaker 3: good to just sit here and wallow in my own tears, right, 228 00:12:36,760 --> 00:12:38,840 Speaker 3: And I just started giving back to others. And I 229 00:12:38,880 --> 00:12:41,680 Speaker 3: loved it. And I just have never known how to 230 00:12:41,679 --> 00:12:42,240 Speaker 3: turn it off. 231 00:12:42,760 --> 00:12:45,160 Speaker 1: And this was happening all at the University of Georgia. 232 00:12:45,240 --> 00:12:47,040 Speaker 3: It happened while I was at the University of Georgia. 233 00:12:47,040 --> 00:12:49,960 Speaker 3: I actually did all of the good things that I 234 00:12:50,000 --> 00:12:53,040 Speaker 3: did at Georgia after I had my son. Prior to 235 00:12:53,280 --> 00:12:57,400 Speaker 3: I was definitely living a fashion a fast freshman life. 236 00:12:57,800 --> 00:12:59,920 Speaker 1: Don't feel bad. It took me seven years to graduate 237 00:13:00,040 --> 00:13:02,400 Speaker 1: from college. There was a lot of fans in those 238 00:13:02,400 --> 00:13:05,360 Speaker 1: four years before I got it right. Okay, so you 239 00:13:05,360 --> 00:13:09,160 Speaker 1: you you snapped in place cler than your boy. Okay, 240 00:13:09,400 --> 00:13:11,040 Speaker 1: so don't feel bad. Year. 241 00:13:11,160 --> 00:13:14,440 Speaker 2: My son is the reason I did faster than. 242 00:13:14,720 --> 00:13:19,480 Speaker 1: A blessed, blessing, some stabilized. She changed my life. Yes, 243 00:13:20,040 --> 00:13:24,080 Speaker 1: you know when we talk about giving back, because like 244 00:13:24,160 --> 00:13:27,800 Speaker 1: I said, I'm talking Erica Gwyn you know, non prophet, 245 00:13:27,880 --> 00:13:30,560 Speaker 1: the non profitt guru. She said, her brother called you 246 00:13:30,600 --> 00:13:32,640 Speaker 1: the non profit gurul. Why did he say that, I 247 00:13:32,640 --> 00:13:34,400 Speaker 1: want to go back to that because something you were 248 00:13:34,440 --> 00:13:37,800 Speaker 1: doing that he just went girl, And then you took 249 00:13:37,840 --> 00:13:38,880 Speaker 1: it to your business name. 250 00:13:39,200 --> 00:13:42,559 Speaker 3: Well, my cousin is an attorney, was known in Atlanta, 251 00:13:43,160 --> 00:13:43,760 Speaker 3: and I. 252 00:13:43,920 --> 00:13:45,800 Speaker 2: Was Miss Phillips. 253 00:13:45,920 --> 00:13:47,960 Speaker 1: He is he a billboard. 254 00:13:49,440 --> 00:13:53,240 Speaker 3: Harrington and Phillips and South Fulton, Okay. And I was 255 00:13:53,480 --> 00:13:56,200 Speaker 3: clerking as a summer intern. And I thought I wanted 256 00:13:56,200 --> 00:14:00,040 Speaker 3: to follow in his footsteps as an attorney. And he 257 00:14:00,080 --> 00:14:02,680 Speaker 3: knew that I had been doing this nonprofit thing, and 258 00:14:02,760 --> 00:14:05,600 Speaker 3: he just one day told me, like, you're the nonprofit guru. 259 00:14:06,080 --> 00:14:07,320 Speaker 2: You're not going to be a lawyer. 260 00:14:07,840 --> 00:14:09,440 Speaker 3: And he didn't say it quite that way, but he 261 00:14:09,520 --> 00:14:12,280 Speaker 3: definitely told me I was the nonprofit guru. So when 262 00:14:12,320 --> 00:14:15,199 Speaker 3: it was time, after doing this a while helping my community, 263 00:14:15,240 --> 00:14:16,680 Speaker 3: I said, I think I should ll. 264 00:14:16,760 --> 00:14:19,000 Speaker 2: S that there you go and the rest is history. 265 00:14:19,080 --> 00:14:22,479 Speaker 1: Rest. So with that being said, before we transition transition 266 00:14:22,640 --> 00:14:25,880 Speaker 1: to the schools all your school? How were we get 267 00:14:25,880 --> 00:14:28,920 Speaker 1: in touch in regard to the nonprofit. 268 00:14:28,280 --> 00:14:31,760 Speaker 3: Gurul Absolutely, you can email me at I have two 269 00:14:32,080 --> 00:14:36,520 Speaker 3: Hello at the nonprofit guru dot com or the nonprofit 270 00:14:36,520 --> 00:14:38,200 Speaker 3: guru at gmail dot com. 271 00:14:39,280 --> 00:14:40,040 Speaker 1: What's the first one? 272 00:14:40,240 --> 00:14:43,360 Speaker 2: Hello at the nonprofit guru dot com. 273 00:14:43,400 --> 00:14:47,640 Speaker 1: Okay, cool, let's stick with that. Okay, I know, don't 274 00:14:47,680 --> 00:14:52,560 Speaker 1: you ever say? Okay? You know, let's talk about what 275 00:14:52,760 --> 00:14:55,680 Speaker 1: really brought you in? You heard my show. My show 276 00:14:55,960 --> 00:14:59,640 Speaker 1: airs every Tuesday in Atlanta, Georgia, Well syndicates to twenty 277 00:14:59,720 --> 00:15:04,240 Speaker 1: HB to use nationwide, and my podcast what what invited 278 00:15:04,320 --> 00:15:07,640 Speaker 1: you or encouraged you to contact to be a guest 279 00:15:07,640 --> 00:15:08,080 Speaker 1: on my show? 280 00:15:08,160 --> 00:15:11,119 Speaker 3: Yes, sir, I listened to it for my own inspiration. 281 00:15:11,320 --> 00:15:13,560 Speaker 3: I'm a business owner, so I always like to hear 282 00:15:14,000 --> 00:15:15,480 Speaker 3: real stories. I don't watch TV. 283 00:15:15,920 --> 00:15:18,240 Speaker 2: I can't. I just can't. It bores me. 284 00:15:18,600 --> 00:15:22,360 Speaker 3: But when I hear real life people make an impact. 285 00:15:22,680 --> 00:15:24,760 Speaker 3: I mean I'm a I'm a nerve for learning. So 286 00:15:25,280 --> 00:15:29,240 Speaker 3: I learned from your show, and then I told myself 287 00:15:29,240 --> 00:15:31,360 Speaker 3: this year this was my year of Yes. 288 00:15:32,120 --> 00:15:33,360 Speaker 2: I know, I have a lot of. 289 00:15:33,280 --> 00:15:36,520 Speaker 3: Talent, and I hear you git it, and I decided 290 00:15:36,560 --> 00:15:39,479 Speaker 3: that I can't keep doing that, not in this administration. 291 00:15:39,960 --> 00:15:42,560 Speaker 1: Don't go anywhere. We will be right back with more 292 00:15:42,600 --> 00:15:49,840 Speaker 1: insights from Money Making Conversations master Class. Welcome back to 293 00:15:49,920 --> 00:15:53,120 Speaker 1: Money Making Conversation master Class with me Rashaun McDonald. 294 00:15:54,120 --> 00:15:55,280 Speaker 2: Somebody needs what I offer. 295 00:15:55,360 --> 00:15:57,440 Speaker 1: I would just stop you right there. You are going 296 00:15:57,480 --> 00:15:58,640 Speaker 1: to tell you a lot of people sit in this 297 00:15:58,760 --> 00:16:02,000 Speaker 1: chair still, people on the big screen, talk to a 298 00:16:02,000 --> 00:16:04,760 Speaker 1: lot of people on the phone. You have a glow 299 00:16:04,880 --> 00:16:10,280 Speaker 1: about you, an excitement about you that you should like. 300 00:16:10,320 --> 00:16:13,000 Speaker 1: You said whatever, whatever hits you on the head and 301 00:16:13,240 --> 00:16:16,520 Speaker 1: put you out that door and say it's time. But 302 00:16:16,560 --> 00:16:19,720 Speaker 1: don't feel bad. I didn't realize who I was. I 303 00:16:19,760 --> 00:16:22,440 Speaker 1: was in my forties. I was just going through life 304 00:16:23,440 --> 00:16:28,120 Speaker 1: doing very exceptional things and just taking it for granted. 305 00:16:28,720 --> 00:16:31,960 Speaker 1: What make it? Whatdn't make it new? Unique? My wife 306 00:16:31,960 --> 00:16:34,080 Speaker 1: she gets mad at me. All you know, you were special, 307 00:16:34,400 --> 00:16:38,080 Speaker 1: you know, but it still confuses me why people don't 308 00:16:38,120 --> 00:16:40,640 Speaker 1: get what I get. You know, And same thing with you, 309 00:16:41,400 --> 00:16:44,520 Speaker 1: and I have to remind you give right, that's a 310 00:16:44,520 --> 00:16:47,320 Speaker 1: special gift, okay. The fact that you are have the 311 00:16:47,480 --> 00:16:52,520 Speaker 1: patience and the for a tedious community. The way you 312 00:16:52,720 --> 00:16:57,400 Speaker 1: rattle off for board positioning was so comfortable that individuals 313 00:16:57,400 --> 00:16:59,080 Speaker 1: need to understand the value of it. 314 00:16:59,280 --> 00:17:02,640 Speaker 2: Do you have a websit so you're gonna beat me up? 315 00:17:02,840 --> 00:17:05,119 Speaker 3: I had a website for the nonprofit girl, and I 316 00:17:05,200 --> 00:17:07,120 Speaker 3: pulled it down so you can find me on LinkedIn. 317 00:17:07,359 --> 00:17:10,000 Speaker 1: Why I'm just as we're talking about more people to understand. 318 00:17:10,000 --> 00:17:11,160 Speaker 1: Why did you make that decision? 319 00:17:11,600 --> 00:17:13,760 Speaker 3: I didn't feel that people were ready to do the work. 320 00:17:14,080 --> 00:17:16,520 Speaker 3: I'm gonna make sure that I hold you accountable. And 321 00:17:16,560 --> 00:17:18,800 Speaker 3: if you want to meet goals, you need someone that's 322 00:17:18,840 --> 00:17:20,720 Speaker 3: going to be a coach that's not a yes man. 323 00:17:21,520 --> 00:17:23,800 Speaker 3: And I got tired of begging people to let me 324 00:17:23,880 --> 00:17:27,040 Speaker 3: show them the right way, because people can do it 325 00:17:27,160 --> 00:17:29,040 Speaker 3: their own way and then later come back and want 326 00:17:29,040 --> 00:17:31,399 Speaker 3: you to clean it up. And that's a lot more work, 327 00:17:31,720 --> 00:17:33,800 Speaker 3: and are not the best use of my time or 328 00:17:33,840 --> 00:17:36,320 Speaker 3: the money you need to spend for me to correct it. 329 00:17:37,040 --> 00:17:39,760 Speaker 3: So I paused and I pivoted to another skill that 330 00:17:39,800 --> 00:17:44,479 Speaker 3: I had, which was children talk about that. Yes, I 331 00:17:44,520 --> 00:17:47,480 Speaker 3: started a after school and a summer camp for math 332 00:17:47,520 --> 00:17:49,880 Speaker 3: and science. You know I have that son I told 333 00:17:49,920 --> 00:17:52,439 Speaker 3: you about that I had in college. I saw that 334 00:17:52,480 --> 00:17:55,600 Speaker 3: he wasn't being challenged with the out of school time 335 00:17:56,040 --> 00:17:58,200 Speaker 3: with some of the areas. And I started a math 336 00:17:58,240 --> 00:18:00,679 Speaker 3: and science summer camp really in his honor. 337 00:18:00,760 --> 00:18:04,320 Speaker 1: About the Greece of mathematics. So I feel good about this, okay. 338 00:18:04,840 --> 00:18:08,560 Speaker 3: And I wanted Cameron to be able to continue to 339 00:18:08,560 --> 00:18:11,280 Speaker 3: thrive because he's got a natural he's a brilliant mind. 340 00:18:11,320 --> 00:18:14,640 Speaker 3: He does media now for himself, and he also does 341 00:18:14,720 --> 00:18:18,440 Speaker 3: other things, but particularly at this age, he needed somebody 342 00:18:18,520 --> 00:18:21,119 Speaker 3: to really just help him understand math and science at 343 00:18:21,119 --> 00:18:25,080 Speaker 3: a rudimentary, basic level that also respected him as a 344 00:18:25,080 --> 00:18:27,280 Speaker 3: young black boy and not always just trying to write 345 00:18:27,359 --> 00:18:30,840 Speaker 3: him up for being in trouble. And some other parents 346 00:18:31,200 --> 00:18:33,439 Speaker 3: saw that and I put them in. They asked me 347 00:18:33,480 --> 00:18:36,000 Speaker 3: to do a math and science summer camp, and it 348 00:18:36,080 --> 00:18:39,880 Speaker 3: grew to three or four locations, and after a while 349 00:18:39,960 --> 00:18:41,800 Speaker 3: in the Atlanta. 350 00:18:41,400 --> 00:18:45,480 Speaker 1: Area, I just casually said, it grew, you missed a 351 00:18:45,520 --> 00:18:48,320 Speaker 1: lot of steps, grew park, you know that, right. 352 00:18:48,400 --> 00:18:50,720 Speaker 2: I did it just a parents, and then it grew, 353 00:18:50,840 --> 00:18:51,320 Speaker 2: it grew. 354 00:18:51,800 --> 00:18:55,320 Speaker 3: I had a demand that we bring it to other 355 00:18:55,359 --> 00:18:57,800 Speaker 3: parts of metro Atlanta, so we went to Grant Park 356 00:18:58,480 --> 00:19:01,840 Speaker 3: College Park and and then I got I had to 357 00:19:01,840 --> 00:19:04,320 Speaker 3: slow down because I started having more children with my husband. 358 00:19:04,440 --> 00:19:07,320 Speaker 1: Okay, okay, so you producer. 359 00:19:07,080 --> 00:19:09,520 Speaker 2: I did. I started making my own camp work. 360 00:19:10,880 --> 00:19:14,800 Speaker 3: And they actually were another model for me to see like, wow, 361 00:19:14,880 --> 00:19:18,680 Speaker 3: this world is continually evolved, and some of the evolution 362 00:19:18,920 --> 00:19:20,280 Speaker 3: was I needed a year round. 363 00:19:20,160 --> 00:19:23,280 Speaker 2: Initiative, okay, from the summer camp. From the summer camp. 364 00:19:23,400 --> 00:19:25,560 Speaker 1: And when you say the summer camp, do they still exist? 365 00:19:25,880 --> 00:19:28,399 Speaker 2: No? Because I then went to year round model with 366 00:19:28,440 --> 00:19:28,879 Speaker 2: the school. 367 00:19:28,920 --> 00:19:31,520 Speaker 1: Okay, Well you know you're interested, Okay, you got the 368 00:19:31,600 --> 00:19:35,040 Speaker 1: nonprofit guru, then you have to because I think there's 369 00:19:35,119 --> 00:19:37,919 Speaker 1: a need for the summer camp separately because a lot 370 00:19:37,960 --> 00:19:40,600 Speaker 1: of a lot of people can't do the you know, 371 00:19:40,800 --> 00:19:44,960 Speaker 1: the the year round. You know, I'm looking at the 372 00:19:44,960 --> 00:19:47,320 Speaker 1: business model because you said that you are a faith 373 00:19:47,520 --> 00:19:51,520 Speaker 1: driven entrepreneur. I have to remind you what I read 374 00:19:51,640 --> 00:19:55,320 Speaker 1: about you. Okay, So, and it's about business models and 375 00:19:56,080 --> 00:19:58,920 Speaker 1: if you're I always tell people if you're if you 376 00:19:58,960 --> 00:20:01,800 Speaker 1: are doing something you love era and you can generate 377 00:20:01,920 --> 00:20:05,640 Speaker 1: revenue based on it, then it's a blessing, yes, okay. 378 00:20:05,920 --> 00:20:10,600 Speaker 1: And so the blessing we're talking about is understanding all 379 00:20:10,680 --> 00:20:14,400 Speaker 1: the opportunities that you may be frustrated by or saying 380 00:20:14,440 --> 00:20:17,000 Speaker 1: I don't need to do that right now. Okay, we 381 00:20:17,080 --> 00:20:20,400 Speaker 1: know there's a profit opportunity. And because you already said 382 00:20:20,400 --> 00:20:23,480 Speaker 1: in this era and it's time, that means in your mind, 383 00:20:23,560 --> 00:20:26,000 Speaker 1: you know Grant writing. 384 00:20:26,119 --> 00:20:27,360 Speaker 2: Yes, I'm locked in. 385 00:20:27,440 --> 00:20:30,639 Speaker 1: You're locked in. Okay, Cool, We're not gonna use Gmail 386 00:20:30,680 --> 00:20:31,040 Speaker 1: no more. 387 00:20:31,359 --> 00:20:32,280 Speaker 2: I don't use it. 388 00:20:33,520 --> 00:20:35,000 Speaker 1: Kickstart that website back up. 389 00:20:35,080 --> 00:20:37,440 Speaker 2: Yes, today I'm calling my people. 390 00:20:37,520 --> 00:20:42,240 Speaker 1: There you go and uh, And I'm not talking to 391 00:20:42,480 --> 00:20:45,199 Speaker 1: a crazy person. I'm talking a person who's been frustrated. 392 00:20:45,720 --> 00:20:47,560 Speaker 1: But in making I would tell you. I would tell 393 00:20:47,560 --> 00:20:51,560 Speaker 1: people you're always gonna be frustrated making money. As you 394 00:20:51,560 --> 00:20:55,880 Speaker 1: can ask elon Musk, you can hassle the owner of Oracle. 395 00:20:56,320 --> 00:20:58,639 Speaker 1: All the folks are frustrating because they want to make money. 396 00:20:58,840 --> 00:21:02,280 Speaker 1: But money is never easy to be made, and it's 397 00:21:02,320 --> 00:21:06,239 Speaker 1: never easy to hold on to. Yes, okay, so know 398 00:21:06,320 --> 00:21:09,800 Speaker 1: that frustration that any levels are going to exist. Now, 399 00:21:10,119 --> 00:21:14,480 Speaker 1: let's talk about this summer school. Explain to me exactly 400 00:21:14,520 --> 00:21:15,320 Speaker 1: what that was. 401 00:21:15,880 --> 00:21:17,240 Speaker 2: Math and science summer camp. 402 00:21:17,280 --> 00:21:20,760 Speaker 1: Eight weeks, eight weeks, eight weeks, eight. 403 00:21:20,600 --> 00:21:23,560 Speaker 2: Weeks, and you stopped, and I stopped. 404 00:21:23,840 --> 00:21:26,639 Speaker 3: I mean, as a woman business owner, there's many hats 405 00:21:26,640 --> 00:21:29,440 Speaker 3: I wear and I also chose to spend time to 406 00:21:29,560 --> 00:21:35,280 Speaker 3: nurture my marriage, my children. That's my first job myself. Okay, right, 407 00:21:35,760 --> 00:21:36,760 Speaker 3: but the summer camp put. 408 00:21:36,760 --> 00:21:38,680 Speaker 1: You're a good multitasker though, I am. 409 00:21:38,880 --> 00:21:40,480 Speaker 2: Okay, I'm a great multitasker. 410 00:21:40,480 --> 00:21:41,760 Speaker 1: Eight weeks though, eight. 411 00:21:41,600 --> 00:21:43,280 Speaker 2: Weeks and every week a different thing. 412 00:21:43,680 --> 00:21:47,040 Speaker 1: And so that means that you have to broad your staff, 413 00:21:47,640 --> 00:21:51,280 Speaker 1: broad the people you charge, and also budget, yes, so 414 00:21:51,440 --> 00:21:54,679 Speaker 1: that you can pay them, pay yourself and keep the 415 00:21:54,720 --> 00:21:56,800 Speaker 1: program open. That's the business model. 416 00:21:56,920 --> 00:21:58,600 Speaker 2: Yes, and the irs. 417 00:21:59,200 --> 00:22:02,760 Speaker 1: They're all come from. Yes, that's why you have the 418 00:22:02,760 --> 00:22:05,879 Speaker 1: the ADPs like the paycheck so they can take the 419 00:22:05,920 --> 00:22:08,880 Speaker 1: money out pay them so you state of jail. 420 00:22:09,040 --> 00:22:09,480 Speaker 2: Yes. 421 00:22:09,920 --> 00:22:12,560 Speaker 1: So these are all business models that we're talking about. 422 00:22:12,720 --> 00:22:16,800 Speaker 1: So I'm just wanted in this interview, which is about you, 423 00:22:17,119 --> 00:22:20,879 Speaker 1: but it's also a discussion of scaling and also not 424 00:22:20,960 --> 00:22:24,200 Speaker 1: limited in your future because of the fact that your 425 00:22:24,200 --> 00:22:28,159 Speaker 1: son cameeron. Then you made some more camera and so 426 00:22:28,600 --> 00:22:32,200 Speaker 1: what is that legacy? Yes, and you're building a legacy 427 00:22:32,800 --> 00:22:36,240 Speaker 1: that they can walk into if you do it right. Okay, 428 00:22:36,480 --> 00:22:40,960 Speaker 1: Now I know you're building your brand and COVID hit. Yes, 429 00:22:41,000 --> 00:22:41,520 Speaker 1: what happened? 430 00:22:42,359 --> 00:22:44,320 Speaker 2: Well, I came in as the own. 431 00:22:44,440 --> 00:22:47,120 Speaker 3: I bought a preschool that was already existing, had been 432 00:22:47,119 --> 00:22:50,400 Speaker 3: there for thirty years in Gwennett County called Seven Oaks Academy. 433 00:22:51,200 --> 00:22:53,600 Speaker 3: And the school I saw was a diamond in a rough. 434 00:22:53,680 --> 00:22:55,200 Speaker 3: I know a diamond in a rough one I see 435 00:22:55,200 --> 00:22:57,520 Speaker 3: one because I seen them all the time, whether it 436 00:22:57,560 --> 00:23:00,800 Speaker 3: was my own school experiences. But I came to the 437 00:23:00,840 --> 00:23:03,520 Speaker 3: school and I knew that it needed something more that 438 00:23:03,640 --> 00:23:06,840 Speaker 3: summer camp model that I had. I saw twelve year 439 00:23:06,880 --> 00:23:09,080 Speaker 3: olds at a daycare with a six week old, and 440 00:23:09,119 --> 00:23:11,520 Speaker 3: I said, this is not right. These twelve year olds 441 00:23:11,560 --> 00:23:14,359 Speaker 3: need to be engaged differently. So one of the first 442 00:23:14,359 --> 00:23:17,199 Speaker 3: things I did is I really scaled down to what 443 00:23:17,240 --> 00:23:20,320 Speaker 3: were we known for, and that was preschool. So I 444 00:23:20,480 --> 00:23:23,879 Speaker 3: got rid of the older kids model and focused on 445 00:23:24,200 --> 00:23:28,560 Speaker 3: cradle to pre k Okay to me, if our school 446 00:23:28,640 --> 00:23:30,480 Speaker 3: was known for that, then we need to make sure 447 00:23:30,520 --> 00:23:32,960 Speaker 3: we make sure that these kids are ready for kindergarten 448 00:23:33,000 --> 00:23:34,120 Speaker 3: when they met my campus. 449 00:23:34,160 --> 00:23:34,440 Speaker 1: Wow. 450 00:23:35,280 --> 00:23:38,200 Speaker 3: And that has been our model since then, since twenty nineteen, 451 00:23:38,880 --> 00:23:41,440 Speaker 3: and now I'm in a season of bringing back those 452 00:23:41,480 --> 00:23:43,119 Speaker 3: bigger kids after school. 453 00:23:42,920 --> 00:23:43,840 Speaker 2: Is what we're starting with. 454 00:23:44,400 --> 00:23:46,240 Speaker 3: And I think someone is telling me that I need 455 00:23:46,280 --> 00:23:49,080 Speaker 3: to revisit that summer camp and bring it back as well. 456 00:23:49,760 --> 00:23:52,840 Speaker 1: You got to, You got to because of the one 457 00:23:52,840 --> 00:23:56,160 Speaker 1: thing is that that summertime is always a dangerous time 458 00:23:56,200 --> 00:23:59,159 Speaker 1: for camps. You know. I remember when I was growing up, 459 00:23:59,200 --> 00:24:01,480 Speaker 1: I had all those programs that they do the wrong 460 00:24:01,520 --> 00:24:04,400 Speaker 1: way and got rid of to see the program all 461 00:24:04,560 --> 00:24:07,679 Speaker 1: up with bound program, all these programs that kept me 462 00:24:07,760 --> 00:24:09,760 Speaker 1: out of game. You know, put a lawnmower in my 463 00:24:09,840 --> 00:24:13,240 Speaker 1: hand or something kept me busy, and then it kept 464 00:24:13,240 --> 00:24:17,400 Speaker 1: me structured and so. But also I didn't have academia 465 00:24:17,400 --> 00:24:20,680 Speaker 1: opportunities like you, because that's what there's a lot of. 466 00:24:20,760 --> 00:24:23,920 Speaker 1: It's a lot of our major companies around this business. 467 00:24:23,920 --> 00:24:27,520 Speaker 1: I remember my daughter when she damaged to her knee and 468 00:24:27,520 --> 00:24:29,920 Speaker 1: couldn't play professional tennis, she had to go to these 469 00:24:29,920 --> 00:24:33,000 Speaker 1: little tutoring locations. I won't mention their name, but I 470 00:24:33,040 --> 00:24:34,679 Speaker 1: don't need to mention their name. They make a lot 471 00:24:34,720 --> 00:24:37,359 Speaker 1: of money. And that's what you could be doing with 472 00:24:37,520 --> 00:24:41,200 Speaker 1: your with your camps. You know, these summer camps where 473 00:24:41,240 --> 00:24:45,840 Speaker 1: it become prep camps for SATs or acts or just 474 00:24:46,480 --> 00:24:53,439 Speaker 1: kids advancing the knowledge. I see nothing because see my 475 00:24:53,520 --> 00:24:55,879 Speaker 1: whole purpose, I always tell people, if I give you 476 00:24:55,880 --> 00:24:58,320 Speaker 1: an idea and you made a million dollars, then I've 477 00:24:58,320 --> 00:25:01,440 Speaker 1: done my dog because it's it's not my idea, it's 478 00:25:01,480 --> 00:25:04,199 Speaker 1: not my blessing. I can't do what you can do 479 00:25:04,400 --> 00:25:07,359 Speaker 1: your skills set that have been nurtured. It is within 480 00:25:07,440 --> 00:25:10,480 Speaker 1: you the ability to grow to the next level. Now 481 00:25:11,160 --> 00:25:15,040 Speaker 1: you have your students that what is the size of 482 00:25:15,080 --> 00:25:18,679 Speaker 1: a school and how many students are you nurturing right 483 00:25:18,720 --> 00:25:19,760 Speaker 1: now in your program? 484 00:25:19,880 --> 00:25:22,560 Speaker 3: Yes, so we're licensed for one hundred and twenty three 485 00:25:23,359 --> 00:25:26,240 Speaker 3: and I have learned though I have scaled my model 486 00:25:26,280 --> 00:25:29,640 Speaker 3: to boutique to go smaller. But it means that it's 487 00:25:29,680 --> 00:25:33,560 Speaker 3: more expensive too for your everyday family considering, but their 488 00:25:33,720 --> 00:25:35,800 Speaker 3: incentives to that for families that are looking for a 489 00:25:35,840 --> 00:25:40,080 Speaker 3: private school education for their little one Montessori right Montessori particularly, 490 00:25:40,680 --> 00:25:43,119 Speaker 3: you know, like, let's go back to our federal conversation. 491 00:25:43,640 --> 00:25:46,440 Speaker 3: You look at the trends federally, so I'm not necessarily 492 00:25:46,880 --> 00:25:49,320 Speaker 3: a fan of what's happening in the world, but I 493 00:25:49,359 --> 00:25:51,639 Speaker 3: looked at the big beautiful bill and I saw that 494 00:25:51,640 --> 00:25:53,880 Speaker 3: there was an opportunity for families to get a tax 495 00:25:54,000 --> 00:25:56,400 Speaker 3: right off when they invest in early learning education. 496 00:25:56,600 --> 00:25:59,080 Speaker 1: See, let me tell you something. See, you gonna be 497 00:25:59,080 --> 00:26:01,080 Speaker 1: one of my favorite gifts. Because see when she woke 498 00:26:01,119 --> 00:26:04,720 Speaker 1: out this building, money made conversations change your life. 499 00:26:04,880 --> 00:26:08,919 Speaker 2: Wow. And so we make sure that our family. 500 00:26:09,119 --> 00:26:13,480 Speaker 1: She went cussing the big she read. 501 00:26:11,880 --> 00:26:15,440 Speaker 3: The build and said, what can this do for my community? 502 00:26:15,560 --> 00:26:18,560 Speaker 3: My client that wants what I'm offering. And so our 503 00:26:18,960 --> 00:26:21,360 Speaker 3: rates are not what you would find at a daycare, 504 00:26:21,800 --> 00:26:24,640 Speaker 3: but it's an investment into your child's future that you 505 00:26:24,800 --> 00:26:26,959 Speaker 3: may not have to pay for college if you do 506 00:26:27,040 --> 00:26:29,520 Speaker 3: these things on the front end. And then I have 507 00:26:29,640 --> 00:26:32,080 Speaker 3: experience on the other side. So we do parent education 508 00:26:32,200 --> 00:26:34,600 Speaker 3: to show them how like when I worked at Spelman, 509 00:26:34,800 --> 00:26:37,520 Speaker 3: our Bonna scholars had a full ride in college for 510 00:26:38,040 --> 00:26:41,240 Speaker 3: a volunteering scholarship. Like when you volunteer in your community, 511 00:26:41,440 --> 00:26:43,280 Speaker 3: you turn that into dollars that could pay for your 512 00:26:43,320 --> 00:26:44,120 Speaker 3: child's education. 513 00:26:44,840 --> 00:26:46,080 Speaker 2: So my families. 514 00:26:45,680 --> 00:26:49,040 Speaker 3: Aren't just getting the preschool, they're getting a cradle to 515 00:26:49,119 --> 00:26:52,560 Speaker 3: college pipeline if they lock in and can be a 516 00:26:52,560 --> 00:26:53,600 Speaker 3: good learner themselves. 517 00:26:53,840 --> 00:26:56,120 Speaker 1: Now you have a website for this pro I do. Okay, 518 00:26:56,119 --> 00:26:56,720 Speaker 1: what's the name of. 519 00:26:56,640 --> 00:27:01,760 Speaker 3: This Sevenoaks Academy dot org. Okay, the words seven spelled. 520 00:27:01,400 --> 00:27:04,800 Speaker 1: Out right now. And here's a beautiful thing about on 521 00:27:04,840 --> 00:27:09,239 Speaker 1: your website. Yes, we're driving people to your website. We're 522 00:27:09,240 --> 00:27:12,200 Speaker 1: asking people to visit your website. What are they getting 523 00:27:12,200 --> 00:27:13,480 Speaker 1: when they go to your website? 524 00:27:13,800 --> 00:27:16,359 Speaker 3: They are getting well. We have some unique benefits that 525 00:27:16,400 --> 00:27:19,400 Speaker 3: we offer. We have an on site professional chef, so 526 00:27:19,440 --> 00:27:21,840 Speaker 3: you're getting great nutrition because what you put in is 527 00:27:21,840 --> 00:27:24,280 Speaker 3: what you're going to get out. We have a small 528 00:27:24,280 --> 00:27:29,120 Speaker 3: class website. Absolutely, you have a small class ratio so 529 00:27:29,119 --> 00:27:31,720 Speaker 3: that your child is seen as one of one. You're 530 00:27:31,720 --> 00:27:35,119 Speaker 3: going to see diversity in our school from the educators 531 00:27:35,119 --> 00:27:37,679 Speaker 3: to the team to the students. You're going to have 532 00:27:37,760 --> 00:27:42,800 Speaker 3: three natural, beautiful playgrounds where kids can explore, blossom and sear. 533 00:27:43,600 --> 00:27:46,760 Speaker 3: And more importantly, you get an amazing director and owner 534 00:27:47,000 --> 00:27:50,560 Speaker 3: who's passionate about children being ready for the next level 535 00:27:50,560 --> 00:27:52,040 Speaker 3: when they graduate from my program. 536 00:27:52,200 --> 00:27:52,880 Speaker 1: That's Erica Gwyn. 537 00:27:53,000 --> 00:27:54,400 Speaker 2: That's Erica Erica. 538 00:27:54,840 --> 00:27:58,920 Speaker 1: Okay are you are you are? Is it a waiting list? 539 00:27:59,280 --> 00:28:03,440 Speaker 3: We have a for our infant classroom, our toddler classroom 540 00:28:03,480 --> 00:28:06,080 Speaker 3: we still have we have a few spaces available, and 541 00:28:06,119 --> 00:28:08,879 Speaker 3: then we also just opened our primary classroom, which is 542 00:28:08,920 --> 00:28:12,080 Speaker 3: ages three to six, and we hired a reading specialist 543 00:28:12,080 --> 00:28:15,000 Speaker 3: for those students that may have dyslexia or learning disabilities, 544 00:28:15,280 --> 00:28:17,840 Speaker 3: I like to call them new or divergent, meaning a 545 00:28:17,920 --> 00:28:21,160 Speaker 3: diversity of ways that children learn, because there's no disability 546 00:28:21,320 --> 00:28:25,280 Speaker 3: that sounds like negative tone. Instead, we find children for 547 00:28:25,359 --> 00:28:28,040 Speaker 3: what their abilities are and we are teaching to that standard. 548 00:28:28,359 --> 00:28:30,520 Speaker 3: So I have a reading specialist that can also help 549 00:28:30,720 --> 00:28:33,200 Speaker 3: if you don't want to enroll or can't enroll full. 550 00:28:33,080 --> 00:28:41,720 Speaker 1: Time Seven Oaks Academy, Montresoril. Yes, nonprofit Guru LLLC. Now 551 00:28:41,760 --> 00:28:44,200 Speaker 1: I've never said this to a person or who's set 552 00:28:44,240 --> 00:28:47,400 Speaker 1: in that chair. What do your takeaway from this interview 553 00:28:47,400 --> 00:28:48,560 Speaker 1: where you walk out this store. 554 00:28:49,840 --> 00:28:51,000 Speaker 2: I have three takeaways. 555 00:28:51,600 --> 00:28:53,640 Speaker 3: One is to be an action taker, because if I 556 00:28:53,680 --> 00:28:56,640 Speaker 3: don't receive the message that's coming to me, then that's 557 00:28:56,680 --> 00:29:04,640 Speaker 3: shame on me. Two two is that I also am happy. 558 00:29:05,320 --> 00:29:08,280 Speaker 3: I don't necessarily know that outwardly that I show it, 559 00:29:08,320 --> 00:29:10,680 Speaker 3: but I am. I'm in a very good place with 560 00:29:10,960 --> 00:29:13,320 Speaker 3: where I'm in business, where I am in my family, 561 00:29:13,920 --> 00:29:16,480 Speaker 3: and where I am in my legacy. And then the 562 00:29:16,560 --> 00:29:20,520 Speaker 3: third thing is I would say making sure that I 563 00:29:20,560 --> 00:29:24,480 Speaker 3: market and advertise and brand myself accordingly so people can 564 00:29:24,480 --> 00:29:25,880 Speaker 3: find the things that I offer. 565 00:29:26,640 --> 00:29:30,400 Speaker 1: Branding is key because what I just saw that speech 566 00:29:30,440 --> 00:29:33,120 Speaker 1: you just gave me. If I had a kid, I'm 567 00:29:33,240 --> 00:29:36,880 Speaker 1: running them up over there fast because you said all 568 00:29:36,880 --> 00:29:39,920 Speaker 1: the things I want and I feared when I dropped 569 00:29:39,960 --> 00:29:42,640 Speaker 1: my child off. You know, I don't fear that. That 570 00:29:42,640 --> 00:29:45,760 Speaker 1: that's important, and I think that people want to hear that. 571 00:29:46,040 --> 00:29:49,440 Speaker 1: The diversity and the fact that you know, I always 572 00:29:49,440 --> 00:29:51,480 Speaker 1: tell people there are two sides of every coin. You know, 573 00:29:51,560 --> 00:29:55,000 Speaker 1: you can look at the president administration and throw your 574 00:29:55,000 --> 00:29:57,120 Speaker 1: fingers up or your one finger up and run out 575 00:29:57,120 --> 00:29:58,920 Speaker 1: of the room. All you can say, how can I 576 00:29:58,920 --> 00:29:59,360 Speaker 1: work with this? 577 00:29:59,600 --> 00:29:59,800 Speaker 2: Yes? 578 00:30:00,360 --> 00:30:02,280 Speaker 1: Is there planing for some other for us? They're a 579 00:30:02,320 --> 00:30:05,120 Speaker 1: plan for me? Or is there a financial opportunity I 580 00:30:05,120 --> 00:30:07,480 Speaker 1: can share with other people so they can see the benefit. 581 00:30:07,960 --> 00:30:10,240 Speaker 1: And that's what you did, and you didn't. You know, 582 00:30:10,640 --> 00:30:12,960 Speaker 1: we're always going to be frustrated. There's never going to 583 00:30:13,000 --> 00:30:16,680 Speaker 1: be a perfect lane for us to enjoy our life 584 00:30:16,680 --> 00:30:19,200 Speaker 1: the way we want to. We all have to figure 585 00:30:19,200 --> 00:30:22,080 Speaker 1: out how to enjoy life that's being presented to us. 586 00:30:22,520 --> 00:30:25,000 Speaker 1: As you wrap this conversation up, what is the future 587 00:30:25,040 --> 00:30:27,240 Speaker 1: of child care, especially with AI? 588 00:30:27,560 --> 00:30:32,400 Speaker 3: Yes, you know, with AI, I actually do integrate AI. 589 00:30:33,000 --> 00:30:37,040 Speaker 3: Montessori has some very high level materials that you have 590 00:30:37,120 --> 00:30:40,240 Speaker 3: to have a deep training on. With AI, I said, 591 00:30:40,280 --> 00:30:42,680 Speaker 3: I could cut two years of training, take a picture 592 00:30:42,720 --> 00:30:45,280 Speaker 3: of a child working with the material and explain it 593 00:30:45,320 --> 00:30:47,360 Speaker 3: to a parent so they can continue it at home 594 00:30:47,720 --> 00:30:50,600 Speaker 3: and continue that discipline that the child needs for being 595 00:30:50,640 --> 00:30:53,880 Speaker 3: a good student. AI also helps me with a lot 596 00:30:53,920 --> 00:30:56,360 Speaker 3: of things where I used to hire a lot of staff, 597 00:30:56,400 --> 00:30:59,920 Speaker 3: even in the Philippines, instead of hiring team in the Philippines, 598 00:31:00,000 --> 00:31:02,479 Speaker 3: I can hire one team member and execute through some 599 00:31:02,520 --> 00:31:05,000 Speaker 3: AI employees and a lot of the comments and repeat 600 00:31:05,040 --> 00:31:09,240 Speaker 3: deliverables that I think. So I find the technology technology 601 00:31:09,240 --> 00:31:11,400 Speaker 3: to be a friend in my business, and I'm not 602 00:31:11,440 --> 00:31:14,840 Speaker 3: afraid to keep learning. And I think that's what has 603 00:31:14,960 --> 00:31:16,640 Speaker 3: helped me to get to where we are. 604 00:31:17,120 --> 00:31:22,560 Speaker 1: Well. I think that you've helped me understand that what 605 00:31:22,640 --> 00:31:25,880 Speaker 1: I do has a purpose. You know, I don't know 606 00:31:26,200 --> 00:31:30,680 Speaker 1: what I do. Erica impacts anybody. I tell my staff 607 00:31:30,720 --> 00:31:34,120 Speaker 1: that I believe that every day we turn on the lights, 608 00:31:34,200 --> 00:31:37,080 Speaker 1: we're changing somebody's life to it. There's a certain level 609 00:31:37,080 --> 00:31:42,040 Speaker 1: of responsibility that we have to deliver quality, to control, consistency, 610 00:31:43,000 --> 00:31:47,680 Speaker 1: honest information, vetted information, as much as we can. I 611 00:31:47,720 --> 00:31:50,160 Speaker 1: always encourage anybody who to hear something to vett it 612 00:31:50,560 --> 00:31:56,000 Speaker 1: out themselves. But what I do get mostly is what 613 00:31:56,120 --> 00:31:59,920 Speaker 1: I'm seeing right here, a person who don't understand how 614 00:32:00,080 --> 00:32:03,080 Speaker 1: value but they are to this world. Wow, and you 615 00:32:03,160 --> 00:32:07,320 Speaker 1: are a super You are a superpower. Okay, sending the 616 00:32:07,520 --> 00:32:10,160 Speaker 1: sending this chair across from me, And don't you ever 617 00:32:10,240 --> 00:32:14,120 Speaker 1: forget that? And uh, one more time for that website, 618 00:32:14,240 --> 00:32:16,440 Speaker 1: Yes for both locations and how we can get touched. 619 00:32:16,600 --> 00:32:19,640 Speaker 3: Yes, for the nonprofit Guru LLC. You can find me 620 00:32:19,720 --> 00:32:24,920 Speaker 3: at Hello at the Nonprofitguru dot com. Seven Oaks Academy, Montssory, 621 00:32:24,960 --> 00:32:28,200 Speaker 3: you can find me at Sevenoaksacademy dot org. And that's 622 00:32:28,200 --> 00:32:31,160 Speaker 3: the word seven spelled out Oaks Academy dot org. 623 00:32:31,360 --> 00:32:33,360 Speaker 1: And one more time. When they go to that website, 624 00:32:33,440 --> 00:32:34,280 Speaker 1: what they gonna see. 625 00:32:34,400 --> 00:32:38,120 Speaker 3: You're gonna see a beautiful small class ratios where your 626 00:32:38,160 --> 00:32:40,640 Speaker 3: child is treated one of one. You're gonna have chef 627 00:32:40,680 --> 00:32:43,240 Speaker 3: prepared meals. I didn't talk about the therapy we offer 628 00:32:43,280 --> 00:32:46,360 Speaker 3: on site therapy, and I have cameras in the classroom 629 00:32:46,400 --> 00:32:48,320 Speaker 3: that parents can see in live, real action. 630 00:32:54,000 --> 00:32:55,200 Speaker 1: I'm through with you. 631 00:32:55,360 --> 00:32:56,600 Speaker 2: I would love this interview. 632 00:32:57,920 --> 00:33:01,120 Speaker 1: If you don't start telling the world how great you are, 633 00:33:01,440 --> 00:33:02,720 Speaker 1: I won't be mad at you. 634 00:33:02,720 --> 00:33:05,760 Speaker 2: You won't be mad. I'm taking action. I'm a fast learner. 635 00:33:06,600 --> 00:33:10,400 Speaker 1: Thank you for coming on Money Making Conversations Master Class. Quinn. 636 00:33:10,560 --> 00:33:17,280 Speaker 2: Yes, it's been my pleasure. Thank you. I'm sorry, Thank y'all. 637 00:33:17,880 --> 00:33:22,080 Speaker 1: This has been Money Making Conversations Masterclass with Rashawn McDonald 638 00:33:22,480 --> 00:33:26,880 Speaker 1: thanks to I guess and our audience. Visit Moneymakingconversations dot 639 00:33:26,920 --> 00:33:30,120 Speaker 1: com to listen and register to be a guest.