1 00:00:00,880 --> 00:00:04,920 Speaker 1: Afrotech Conference is back and return to Eightstown, Houston, Texas, 2 00:00:04,960 --> 00:00:07,880 Speaker 1: from October twenty seven through thirty first, twenty twenty five 3 00:00:08,119 --> 00:00:11,480 Speaker 1: at the George R. Brown Convention Center. For years, Afrotech 4 00:00:11,520 --> 00:00:15,400 Speaker 1: has been to go to experience for black tech innovators, founders, engineers, 5 00:00:15,520 --> 00:00:16,920 Speaker 1: creators and investors. 6 00:00:17,000 --> 00:00:18,000 Speaker 2: In twenty twenty. 7 00:00:17,720 --> 00:00:19,960 Speaker 1: Five is shaping up to be the biggest year yet though, 8 00:00:20,000 --> 00:00:23,080 Speaker 1: with forty thousand to tenees expected. This year's conference will 9 00:00:23,079 --> 00:00:26,680 Speaker 1: feature five days of dynamic programming across six curator stages 10 00:00:26,920 --> 00:00:30,000 Speaker 1: from discovery to executive leadership. Join us to hear from 11 00:00:30,000 --> 00:00:33,000 Speaker 1: industry leaders at the forefront of change, learn from top 12 00:00:33,040 --> 00:00:35,760 Speaker 1: ten engineers and designers, and connect with recruiters from nearly 13 00:00:35,760 --> 00:00:38,880 Speaker 1: two hundred companies. This year, we're digging deeper into what's 14 00:00:38,960 --> 00:00:42,520 Speaker 1: next with tracks exploring AI and machine learning, mad tech 15 00:00:42,560 --> 00:00:46,840 Speaker 1: and health equity, cybersecurity, climate tech, and much more. Whether 16 00:00:46,840 --> 00:00:49,440 Speaker 1: you're launching your first startup, pivoting into a new role, 17 00:00:49,680 --> 00:00:52,120 Speaker 1: or scaling as an execut there's something here for you. 18 00:00:52,400 --> 00:00:54,800 Speaker 1: Tickets are moving fast to keep your spot out at 19 00:00:54,840 --> 00:00:55,840 Speaker 1: Afrotech Conference. 20 00:00:55,880 --> 00:00:59,920 Speaker 3: Dot Com will lucas here at Black Tech Green Money. 21 00:01:00,160 --> 00:01:02,400 Speaker 3: So good to be with you guys today, and I've 22 00:01:02,440 --> 00:01:07,520 Speaker 3: got a special guest in the building, Divine Franklin. Mister 23 00:01:07,560 --> 00:01:10,400 Speaker 3: Devine Franklin is an award winning film and TV producer, 24 00:01:10,959 --> 00:01:14,520 Speaker 3: best selling author, and demand appreciate and spiritual success coach. 25 00:01:14,600 --> 00:01:18,920 Speaker 3: And he's got three major projects hitting the screens across 26 00:01:18,959 --> 00:01:22,400 Speaker 3: the country. A Soul on Fire, Ruth and Boaz, which 27 00:01:22,400 --> 00:01:26,880 Speaker 3: we'll talk about today, and Divorced Systems. Welcome to Vine. 28 00:01:27,640 --> 00:01:28,960 Speaker 2: Thanks man, it's good to see. 29 00:01:29,440 --> 00:01:32,160 Speaker 3: It's a pleasure to be with you today. And I 30 00:01:32,240 --> 00:01:38,520 Speaker 3: want to start off here. So you've balanced spirituality with 31 00:01:38,640 --> 00:01:42,600 Speaker 3: Hollywood pragmatism, and this is a this is someplace that 32 00:01:42,680 --> 00:01:44,800 Speaker 3: most people can't figure out how to do well. And 33 00:01:44,840 --> 00:01:47,880 Speaker 3: you've you've seen to seemingly have done this well. What 34 00:01:48,080 --> 00:01:52,440 Speaker 3: daily practices help keep, you know, you from pulling apart 35 00:01:52,600 --> 00:01:55,480 Speaker 3: when you have these two really strong, you know forces 36 00:01:55,520 --> 00:01:57,040 Speaker 3: that you've been able to navigate. 37 00:01:58,760 --> 00:02:03,240 Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah, you know. I don't really feel that kind 38 00:02:03,280 --> 00:02:08,120 Speaker 2: of tension per se, you know, I mean, just the 39 00:02:08,120 --> 00:02:12,160 Speaker 2: the demand of the work is probably the greatest tension 40 00:02:12,160 --> 00:02:14,200 Speaker 2: that I feel. Right Like, I don't really feel like 41 00:02:14,760 --> 00:02:17,959 Speaker 2: the push between sacred and secular, I don't feel that, 42 00:02:18,960 --> 00:02:22,119 Speaker 2: but just like all the things that I'm blessed to do. 43 00:02:22,800 --> 00:02:26,160 Speaker 2: You know, that requires you know, time management, and that 44 00:02:26,280 --> 00:02:32,360 Speaker 2: requires you know, prioritization, and that requires like really like 45 00:02:33,040 --> 00:02:34,960 Speaker 2: being in the moment to know, Okay, here's what I 46 00:02:34,960 --> 00:02:36,880 Speaker 2: can tackle right now, and then here's where I'll tackle 47 00:02:36,919 --> 00:02:39,200 Speaker 2: after I get done with this. But you know, like 48 00:02:39,360 --> 00:02:41,960 Speaker 2: in terms of just the push and pull between sacred 49 00:02:42,000 --> 00:02:43,760 Speaker 2: and secular, like, I don't know, it's because to me, 50 00:02:43,800 --> 00:02:47,239 Speaker 2: it's all one life, So I I just it's just incorporated. 51 00:02:47,800 --> 00:02:49,839 Speaker 2: But you know, I mean I definitely pray. I read 52 00:02:49,840 --> 00:02:53,840 Speaker 2: the word I you know, watch YouTube videos and you know, 53 00:02:54,520 --> 00:02:56,560 Speaker 2: motivational talks. I mean, you know, just try to do 54 00:02:56,680 --> 00:03:00,280 Speaker 2: things that keep my mind right and just keep my 55 00:03:00,280 --> 00:03:01,240 Speaker 2: my spirit aligned. 56 00:03:01,960 --> 00:03:05,000 Speaker 3: Yeah, you just touched on how you organize your priorities 57 00:03:05,040 --> 00:03:10,280 Speaker 3: and you've often balanced multiple roles producer, author, pre sure actor. 58 00:03:11,280 --> 00:03:14,000 Speaker 3: What's your mental framework for what you say yes to 59 00:03:14,200 --> 00:03:14,800 Speaker 3: and when. 60 00:03:16,360 --> 00:03:18,040 Speaker 2: You know, a lot of it has to do with 61 00:03:18,160 --> 00:03:21,240 Speaker 2: just like, okay, well, what's what am I what's the opportunity? 62 00:03:21,840 --> 00:03:23,959 Speaker 2: What's my you know, how do I first of all 63 00:03:23,960 --> 00:03:26,960 Speaker 2: feel about it? And and then you know, does it 64 00:03:27,000 --> 00:03:31,080 Speaker 2: align with my schedule? You know, what what is it 65 00:03:31,160 --> 00:03:33,960 Speaker 2: going to you know, what is the opportunity as it 66 00:03:34,000 --> 00:03:36,880 Speaker 2: relates to you know, my business or you know, so 67 00:03:36,920 --> 00:03:39,000 Speaker 2: it just really depends. I mean a lot of it 68 00:03:38,760 --> 00:03:40,920 Speaker 2: is on a case by case basis, but most of 69 00:03:40,920 --> 00:03:42,680 Speaker 2: it's a feeling. It's like Okay, well, yeah, I feel 70 00:03:42,720 --> 00:03:44,160 Speaker 2: like that's a good thing to do. I'm going to 71 00:03:44,240 --> 00:03:47,960 Speaker 2: do that, you know, or like nah, nah, I'm not 72 00:03:48,000 --> 00:03:49,880 Speaker 2: feeling that. You know, if I'm not feeling something, then 73 00:03:49,880 --> 00:03:53,040 Speaker 2: I'm definitely not gonna do it. It really just comes 74 00:03:53,080 --> 00:03:55,680 Speaker 2: down to that, like just really feeling it and then 75 00:03:55,720 --> 00:03:57,600 Speaker 2: assessing it if I have the bandwidth to do it. 76 00:03:58,040 --> 00:04:00,840 Speaker 3: Yeah, speaking of that, like when you're you know, I'm 77 00:04:00,880 --> 00:04:02,680 Speaker 3: being a man of faith. Also, it's like when you're 78 00:04:02,720 --> 00:04:07,920 Speaker 3: ready to make a move and you feel everything's ready 79 00:04:07,920 --> 00:04:11,200 Speaker 3: to rock, or at least internally you're ready to go, 80 00:04:11,440 --> 00:04:14,200 Speaker 3: and but for whatever reason, maybe the time he may 81 00:04:14,240 --> 00:04:16,200 Speaker 3: not be right. Maybe it's a feeling, maybe is the 82 00:04:16,279 --> 00:04:20,919 Speaker 3: external things are not aligned. How have you determined whether 83 00:04:21,120 --> 00:04:24,039 Speaker 3: to push to make the things line up? Or you know, 84 00:04:24,279 --> 00:04:29,720 Speaker 3: have some patience and let things, you know, exercise themselves. 85 00:04:30,400 --> 00:04:36,440 Speaker 2: You know, like I think, you know, anytime I'm find 86 00:04:36,480 --> 00:04:42,720 Speaker 2: myself pushing I try to catch myself because then I'm like, hmm, 87 00:04:42,760 --> 00:04:46,440 Speaker 2: if I'm trying to push this, maybe I'm trying to 88 00:04:46,480 --> 00:04:49,320 Speaker 2: exert too much energy, and maybe there's not a flow 89 00:04:49,760 --> 00:04:53,359 Speaker 2: or an alignment to what I'm trying to do. And so, 90 00:04:54,080 --> 00:04:56,120 Speaker 2: you know, most of the things that have happened for 91 00:04:56,240 --> 00:04:59,520 Speaker 2: me have been a flow. Like it's always it's happening. Now. 92 00:04:59,560 --> 00:05:02,039 Speaker 2: I still have to spend the energy to manage it 93 00:05:02,080 --> 00:05:05,320 Speaker 2: and do it well. But in the things that have 94 00:05:05,440 --> 00:05:07,880 Speaker 2: been the most successful in my life, there isn't necessarily 95 00:05:08,080 --> 00:05:13,479 Speaker 2: me pushing to make it happen. It's almost like the flow, 96 00:05:13,560 --> 00:05:16,080 Speaker 2: the current is flowing and I just have to, you know, 97 00:05:16,200 --> 00:05:19,159 Speaker 2: jump in the jumping the flow, jumping the current, you know, 98 00:05:19,200 --> 00:05:20,839 Speaker 2: to let it take me where I'm supposed to be. 99 00:05:21,360 --> 00:05:24,320 Speaker 2: But if I ever find myself pushing, then I say, 100 00:05:24,560 --> 00:05:26,680 Speaker 2: maybe I'm doing this in my strength and I need 101 00:05:26,720 --> 00:05:29,760 Speaker 2: to step back and say, Okay, God, like where are 102 00:05:29,800 --> 00:05:32,080 Speaker 2: you and all this and how do you want me 103 00:05:32,120 --> 00:05:32,520 Speaker 2: to move? 104 00:05:33,520 --> 00:05:36,719 Speaker 3: That's good, that's good talking, And I would I would 105 00:05:36,760 --> 00:05:38,400 Speaker 3: love if you answered a little bit of Ruth and 106 00:05:38,400 --> 00:05:39,560 Speaker 3: Boaz on this one. 107 00:05:39,760 --> 00:05:40,320 Speaker 2: Yeah. 108 00:05:40,360 --> 00:05:44,480 Speaker 3: I was talking to Roland Martin a couple of days ago, 109 00:05:44,760 --> 00:05:47,440 Speaker 3: and you know he was he was mentioning a story 110 00:05:47,480 --> 00:05:51,880 Speaker 3: and somebody talking to him about how his production or 111 00:05:51,960 --> 00:05:55,960 Speaker 3: black production might be inferior to you know, other sorts 112 00:05:55,960 --> 00:05:58,880 Speaker 3: of studios and news outlets and et cetera. And I 113 00:05:58,920 --> 00:06:01,719 Speaker 3: remember a day I'm sure you do also where faith 114 00:06:01,760 --> 00:06:04,400 Speaker 3: based programming didn't have the big budgets of Hollywood and 115 00:06:04,440 --> 00:06:07,760 Speaker 3: et cetera. And so I'm interested in your take on 116 00:06:08,360 --> 00:06:11,880 Speaker 3: what the future of faith based entertainment looks like and 117 00:06:11,920 --> 00:06:12,960 Speaker 3: why it's important. 118 00:06:15,120 --> 00:06:19,280 Speaker 2: Yeah, you know, well, I think that the future of 119 00:06:19,279 --> 00:06:24,480 Speaker 2: faith based entertainment is as a genre. You know, It's 120 00:06:24,480 --> 00:06:28,400 Speaker 2: like when you look at horror or comedy or superhero 121 00:06:28,520 --> 00:06:32,720 Speaker 2: movies or dramas, those genres Hollywood is accustomed to. So 122 00:06:32,760 --> 00:06:36,279 Speaker 2: you'll see movies and TV series that will be horror, 123 00:06:36,640 --> 00:06:39,279 Speaker 2: or they'll be comedy, or they'll be drama, you know. 124 00:06:39,360 --> 00:06:42,200 Speaker 2: But right now, with faith, you know, you get a movie, 125 00:06:42,440 --> 00:06:45,240 Speaker 2: you know, a movie or two every year, and so 126 00:06:45,360 --> 00:06:47,680 Speaker 2: I think that there's gonna be much more faith content 127 00:06:47,880 --> 00:06:50,440 Speaker 2: as the audience shows up like they've showed up for 128 00:06:50,520 --> 00:06:53,400 Speaker 2: Ruth and Boaz, as they show up for other movies 129 00:06:53,440 --> 00:06:56,080 Speaker 2: that I've been associated with, you know, and even movies 130 00:06:56,120 --> 00:06:58,200 Speaker 2: that you know, I didn't produce, but I was in 131 00:06:58,240 --> 00:07:01,080 Speaker 2: like a Jesus revolution. Like as the audience continues to 132 00:07:01,120 --> 00:07:03,599 Speaker 2: show up, you know, you're going to see more faith 133 00:07:03,600 --> 00:07:08,120 Speaker 2: based content as you know, just baked into the business 134 00:07:08,160 --> 00:07:10,840 Speaker 2: of Hollywood. And you know, there's a friend of mine 135 00:07:10,920 --> 00:07:13,280 Speaker 2: does the House of David Show on Prime Video, which 136 00:07:13,360 --> 00:07:15,760 Speaker 2: is great, and so I think you're going to see more. 137 00:07:15,800 --> 00:07:19,080 Speaker 2: You're going to see a proliferation of content because I 138 00:07:19,080 --> 00:07:22,520 Speaker 2: think the audience continues to demand more. Hollywood is paying 139 00:07:22,520 --> 00:07:26,040 Speaker 2: attention to, you know, what the audience wants, and you know, 140 00:07:26,160 --> 00:07:30,400 Speaker 2: in Hollywood, there are very few growth sectors left. And 141 00:07:30,800 --> 00:07:32,840 Speaker 2: I believe that the faith sector is still a growth 142 00:07:32,840 --> 00:07:35,800 Speaker 2: sector because we haven't even really scratched the surface of 143 00:07:35,840 --> 00:07:40,360 Speaker 2: what's possible from a mainstream standpoint. And so my thought 144 00:07:40,640 --> 00:07:43,920 Speaker 2: is that it will continue to grow and it will 145 00:07:43,960 --> 00:07:49,160 Speaker 2: continue to find legitimacy as a viable genre that is 146 00:07:49,840 --> 00:07:53,120 Speaker 2: capable of handling all different types of programming options, whether 147 00:07:53,120 --> 00:07:55,880 Speaker 2: it's an unscripted show, whether it's a live event, whether 148 00:07:55,920 --> 00:07:59,000 Speaker 2: it's a movie, whether it's a TV series. You know, 149 00:07:59,040 --> 00:08:01,720 Speaker 2: the faith space, I think is just beginning to scratch 150 00:08:01,760 --> 00:08:03,080 Speaker 2: the surface. Of what's possible. 151 00:08:03,880 --> 00:08:05,800 Speaker 3: You just said that, you know, the the audience has 152 00:08:05,800 --> 00:08:08,160 Speaker 3: been going to the movies, just not necessarily having the 153 00:08:08,200 --> 00:08:10,440 Speaker 3: opportunity to go to see these sorts of movies, but 154 00:08:10,520 --> 00:08:15,240 Speaker 3: that's an increasing category for us to be able to consume. 155 00:08:15,880 --> 00:08:20,520 Speaker 3: And I wonder your thoughts on how the industry looks 156 00:08:20,560 --> 00:08:23,960 Speaker 3: at LL has historically looked at you know what, we're 157 00:08:24,000 --> 00:08:25,840 Speaker 3: not we're not paying to that right now, or we'll 158 00:08:25,840 --> 00:08:27,840 Speaker 3: give it a little bit of a you know, budget 159 00:08:27,880 --> 00:08:31,920 Speaker 3: to be able to produce these things. And what happens 160 00:08:32,000 --> 00:08:36,520 Speaker 3: now that Ruth and Boaz says this this story, Okay, 161 00:08:36,520 --> 00:08:39,520 Speaker 3: we're behind this, Like, what is happening that that this 162 00:08:39,559 --> 00:08:42,400 Speaker 3: particular story and the stories other stories that you're telling 163 00:08:42,720 --> 00:08:46,080 Speaker 3: are getting those you know, opportunities to really make something happen. 164 00:08:47,360 --> 00:08:50,880 Speaker 2: Yeah, you know, I think it's you know one, I 165 00:08:50,880 --> 00:08:52,280 Speaker 2: think it has just a lot to do with me. 166 00:08:52,360 --> 00:08:55,600 Speaker 2: You know, I have specialized in this area for a 167 00:08:55,720 --> 00:08:58,520 Speaker 2: very long time. Uh you know, I mean I've been 168 00:08:58,559 --> 00:09:02,480 Speaker 2: in Hollywood for about thirty years, and I have specialized 169 00:09:02,559 --> 00:09:06,760 Speaker 2: in this area in terms of you know, uplifting inspirational 170 00:09:06,840 --> 00:09:12,160 Speaker 2: content for about almost twenty and so you know that 171 00:09:12,320 --> 00:09:16,760 Speaker 2: has given me a point of view that is trusted 172 00:09:17,520 --> 00:09:20,040 Speaker 2: and you know, my instinct on kind of the things 173 00:09:20,040 --> 00:09:21,880 Speaker 2: that I think will work. And I think the things 174 00:09:21,880 --> 00:09:25,000 Speaker 2: that I think will you know, be uplifting to an audience. 175 00:09:25,200 --> 00:09:27,640 Speaker 2: You know, because of the time that I put in 176 00:09:28,440 --> 00:09:32,240 Speaker 2: to being in Hollywood and staying the course and learning 177 00:09:32,280 --> 00:09:34,880 Speaker 2: and just growing in the business, you know, I now 178 00:09:34,920 --> 00:09:38,200 Speaker 2: have credibility. And so the success of Ruth and Boaz 179 00:09:38,800 --> 00:09:42,640 Speaker 2: continues to expand that credibility, which continues to I believe, 180 00:09:42,679 --> 00:09:45,920 Speaker 2: provide more opportunities for me to make, you know, more 181 00:09:46,000 --> 00:09:48,960 Speaker 2: content like this and and bring you know, stories like 182 00:09:49,000 --> 00:09:52,000 Speaker 2: this to the world. And I think it also will 183 00:09:52,080 --> 00:09:54,760 Speaker 2: open doors for other filmmakers who are like minded. 184 00:09:56,200 --> 00:10:01,679 Speaker 3: What's a recent moment where you're lens on faith and 185 00:10:01,760 --> 00:10:04,520 Speaker 3: your business. Lens might have given you two different answers, 186 00:10:04,840 --> 00:10:07,480 Speaker 3: and how how did you navigate that? 187 00:10:09,120 --> 00:10:15,160 Speaker 2: Hmm, that's a good question. I man, I really haven't 188 00:10:15,400 --> 00:10:20,000 Speaker 2: had that experience. If you did, I just yeah, I 189 00:10:20,080 --> 00:10:22,679 Speaker 2: just haven't had that experience. You know, I don't know. 190 00:10:22,760 --> 00:10:25,360 Speaker 2: I mean, it's it's yeah, it's it's I have not 191 00:10:25,400 --> 00:10:29,640 Speaker 2: had that experience. It's just yeah, it's not something you know, 192 00:10:29,679 --> 00:10:31,400 Speaker 2: in terms of like well, the business is the faith 193 00:10:31,440 --> 00:10:34,800 Speaker 2: is saying that. I don't know, maybe because I just 194 00:10:35,600 --> 00:10:39,840 Speaker 2: have organically always incorporated faith into who I am and 195 00:10:39,840 --> 00:10:45,000 Speaker 2: what I do in business. I don't know. It's like 196 00:10:45,040 --> 00:10:48,520 Speaker 2: those two seem to be very intertwined for me in 197 00:10:48,600 --> 00:10:54,000 Speaker 2: ways that are I guess unusual, you know, like uh, yeah, yeah, 198 00:10:54,000 --> 00:10:55,760 Speaker 2: I mean, I don't know. I mean, look at you know, 199 00:10:55,800 --> 00:11:00,959 Speaker 2: in the Bible, you know, Daniel Shadrack, me Shack of Bendigo, 200 00:11:01,040 --> 00:11:04,439 Speaker 2: you know, they were they were interns and then got 201 00:11:04,600 --> 00:11:09,480 Speaker 2: jobs in Babylon, you know. And it's interesting because in 202 00:11:09,480 --> 00:11:13,640 Speaker 2: that story, it's like outside of the moments when they 203 00:11:13,640 --> 00:11:17,480 Speaker 2: were asked to, you know, worship another God, which really weren't. 204 00:11:17,720 --> 00:11:20,920 Speaker 2: It really wasn't like a business thing. It was more about, hey, personally, 205 00:11:20,960 --> 00:11:22,360 Speaker 2: this is what you're going to do, and they were like, no, 206 00:11:22,400 --> 00:11:24,480 Speaker 2: we're not going to do that. You don't really see 207 00:11:24,720 --> 00:11:28,520 Speaker 2: any scripture talk about them wrestling with the sacred and secular, 208 00:11:29,440 --> 00:11:32,439 Speaker 2: you know, as it relates to being, you know, being 209 00:11:33,080 --> 00:11:35,480 Speaker 2: in power in Babylon. So I don't know, I look 210 00:11:35,520 --> 00:11:37,680 Speaker 2: at that and say, that's interesting, Like in my experience 211 00:11:37,679 --> 00:11:40,160 Speaker 2: in Hollywood, in my experience in business, I don't know 212 00:11:40,200 --> 00:11:43,800 Speaker 2: those two have really been symbiotic in a way that 213 00:11:43,880 --> 00:11:46,599 Speaker 2: I could I could understand is kind of unconditional, I 214 00:11:46,600 --> 00:11:50,000 Speaker 2: mean untraditional yeah yeah or non traditional. 215 00:11:50,200 --> 00:11:52,760 Speaker 3: Yeah, that's a fair, fair response. And number one if 216 00:11:53,320 --> 00:11:56,800 Speaker 3: having you yes, fear as fear, so it makes me think, 217 00:11:56,920 --> 00:11:59,720 Speaker 3: like you know, the are part of a group of 218 00:11:59,760 --> 00:12:03,400 Speaker 3: pop well, I think about who are like celebrity faith 219 00:12:03,480 --> 00:12:05,760 Speaker 3: leaders and not to do something that they're You know, 220 00:12:06,120 --> 00:12:08,600 Speaker 3: you're not the celebrity because of the faith or faithful 221 00:12:08,600 --> 00:12:10,880 Speaker 3: because of your celebrity, but like you, you are both 222 00:12:10,960 --> 00:12:14,600 Speaker 3: things and we are coming. We're in a day where 223 00:12:15,480 --> 00:12:21,439 Speaker 3: that's it's increasing. I'm seeing an increasing amount of celebrity 224 00:12:21,480 --> 00:12:25,440 Speaker 3: faith leaders. How do you manage that? And how have 225 00:12:25,520 --> 00:12:28,560 Speaker 3: you seen others manage that? You know, responsibility? 226 00:12:28,600 --> 00:12:35,320 Speaker 2: Well also sure, yeah, yeah, you know, I I think 227 00:12:35,360 --> 00:12:38,200 Speaker 2: I'd manage it just by being myself. You know, I don't. 228 00:12:38,760 --> 00:12:41,440 Speaker 2: I don't try to think of like myself as a 229 00:12:41,520 --> 00:12:44,880 Speaker 2: leader like because then I think sometimes what happens is 230 00:12:46,320 --> 00:12:50,080 Speaker 2: instead of living authentically, you know, you live by how 231 00:12:50,160 --> 00:12:53,760 Speaker 2: you anticipate others are going to perceive you or how 232 00:12:53,840 --> 00:12:56,600 Speaker 2: others are going to expect you to live. And I 233 00:12:56,640 --> 00:12:59,560 Speaker 2: think that kind of can put us on a very 234 00:12:59,679 --> 00:13:03,120 Speaker 2: in a authentic path versus like, hey, this is who 235 00:13:03,200 --> 00:13:05,360 Speaker 2: I am since who God called me to be. And 236 00:13:05,400 --> 00:13:07,960 Speaker 2: as I take those steps, I am aware of the 237 00:13:08,000 --> 00:13:10,400 Speaker 2: impact and the influence that God has allowed me to have. 238 00:13:11,000 --> 00:13:15,960 Speaker 2: And and my job as a leader is to first 239 00:13:16,080 --> 00:13:17,880 Speaker 2: leave myself and to do the things that I think 240 00:13:17,880 --> 00:13:20,800 Speaker 2: God is calling me to do. And and then I 241 00:13:20,960 --> 00:13:23,360 Speaker 2: certainly share, Okay, hey here's how I'm doing or here's 242 00:13:23,400 --> 00:13:26,000 Speaker 2: how I've done it. And if people find, you know, 243 00:13:26,160 --> 00:13:30,600 Speaker 2: something powerful or instructive about that, great, But I think 244 00:13:30,640 --> 00:13:34,600 Speaker 2: it's it's yeah, I don't really I don't really live 245 00:13:34,679 --> 00:13:37,319 Speaker 2: life thinking like when I'm when I go out like, oh, 246 00:13:37,320 --> 00:13:39,199 Speaker 2: I'm this leader and I need to do X, Y 247 00:13:39,320 --> 00:13:42,200 Speaker 2: or D. Like I think my lifestyle and my level 248 00:13:42,240 --> 00:13:44,280 Speaker 2: of success and just who I am as an individual 249 00:13:45,120 --> 00:13:50,520 Speaker 2: is probably leadership in and of itself, you know. And 250 00:13:50,559 --> 00:13:53,240 Speaker 2: I feel like when when you take on like the 251 00:13:53,320 --> 00:13:57,040 Speaker 2: idea like well I'm this leader, Well okay, then what 252 00:13:57,040 --> 00:13:59,360 Speaker 2: what what do you feel like you have to live 253 00:13:59,440 --> 00:14:03,480 Speaker 2: up to or down to or what level of you know? Well, 254 00:14:03,480 --> 00:14:05,400 Speaker 2: then I can't be my true self because people really 255 00:14:05,400 --> 00:14:07,440 Speaker 2: expect me to do this. But I'm really that, so 256 00:14:07,480 --> 00:14:09,680 Speaker 2: I'm going to present an image to do this and 257 00:14:09,679 --> 00:14:11,640 Speaker 2: and I don't know for me, I just I just don't. 258 00:14:11,720 --> 00:14:13,440 Speaker 2: I don't do that. You know. It's like what you 259 00:14:13,480 --> 00:14:16,280 Speaker 2: see in the public for the most part is really 260 00:14:16,480 --> 00:14:19,880 Speaker 2: you know who I am, uh, and I really try 261 00:14:19,920 --> 00:14:22,640 Speaker 2: to if I were to, you know, have a leadership thought, 262 00:14:22,640 --> 00:14:26,000 Speaker 2: it's just by example, you know, like I am about 263 00:14:26,000 --> 00:14:28,280 Speaker 2: what I say I'm about, and you know, try to 264 00:14:28,360 --> 00:14:31,040 Speaker 2: always do you know, good business, try to always be 265 00:14:31,160 --> 00:14:37,800 Speaker 2: mindful of you know, my my Christianity and and and 266 00:14:37,880 --> 00:14:40,920 Speaker 2: just live authentically, be live truthfully. I mean that's really 267 00:14:42,360 --> 00:14:44,000 Speaker 2: you know how it is. You know what I mean 268 00:14:44,040 --> 00:14:46,320 Speaker 2: and how I like to do it. So I really 269 00:14:46,600 --> 00:14:48,440 Speaker 2: but I don't try to like say, oh, I'm this 270 00:14:48,520 --> 00:14:49,920 Speaker 2: leader and this is how I'm gonna do this. You know. 271 00:14:50,000 --> 00:14:52,040 Speaker 2: I was like wait a minute, you know, like hold 272 00:14:52,080 --> 00:14:54,720 Speaker 2: on a second, Like it's cool that people look to 273 00:14:54,760 --> 00:14:56,680 Speaker 2: me and I will and I don't mind that, Like 274 00:14:56,720 --> 00:14:59,240 Speaker 2: that doesn't bother me at all. I love. I do 275 00:14:59,320 --> 00:15:01,440 Speaker 2: have advice. I do have a lot of success. I 276 00:15:01,480 --> 00:15:03,960 Speaker 2: do have a lot of insight, and I think that 277 00:15:04,040 --> 00:15:06,720 Speaker 2: what I could say to somebody will be helpful to them, 278 00:15:07,120 --> 00:15:09,120 Speaker 2: and I do it from a place of well, that's 279 00:15:09,240 --> 00:15:12,760 Speaker 2: that's authentic for me, not because I feel like I 280 00:15:12,800 --> 00:15:14,760 Speaker 2: gotta do it because this is what's expected. 281 00:15:15,000 --> 00:15:18,480 Speaker 3: If that makes sense, makes sense, makes sense when you're 282 00:15:19,120 --> 00:15:22,200 Speaker 3: somebody like you, when you are leading, and you are 283 00:15:22,280 --> 00:15:25,800 Speaker 3: leading in this way, it's like you are when you 284 00:15:25,840 --> 00:15:29,240 Speaker 3: are blessed to have an opportunity to do what you 285 00:15:29,320 --> 00:15:32,320 Speaker 3: do at a high level. And you know, again we 286 00:15:32,360 --> 00:15:35,320 Speaker 3: talked about like the budgets fifteen years ago for these 287 00:15:35,360 --> 00:15:37,760 Speaker 3: sorts of works, why not the budgets like they are now? 288 00:15:37,800 --> 00:15:41,520 Speaker 3: The quality are on par with every other you know, 289 00:15:41,680 --> 00:15:45,600 Speaker 3: movie that comes out now, And so a lot rides 290 00:15:45,680 --> 00:15:48,400 Speaker 3: on people like you to be successful so that the 291 00:15:48,440 --> 00:15:52,280 Speaker 3: next person can get the shot. I don't know if 292 00:15:52,280 --> 00:15:54,400 Speaker 3: you feel that at least when I look at you, 293 00:15:54,480 --> 00:15:58,080 Speaker 3: I'm like, Okay, if Devon is winning, they will look 294 00:15:58,120 --> 00:16:02,440 Speaker 3: for more Devons. And and you know, so I wonder 295 00:16:03,560 --> 00:16:05,920 Speaker 3: how do you feel that at all? Do you feel 296 00:16:07,520 --> 00:16:11,480 Speaker 3: a responsibility to I gotta make this thing as big 297 00:16:11,560 --> 00:16:14,680 Speaker 3: as it can be because a whole bunch of other 298 00:16:14,680 --> 00:16:17,120 Speaker 3: people's shot is riding on my successes? 299 00:16:17,160 --> 00:16:21,720 Speaker 2: Also, No, I don't think that way, And I'll tell 300 00:16:21,720 --> 00:16:28,160 Speaker 2: you why Because then what happens is like that's not 301 00:16:28,320 --> 00:16:32,880 Speaker 2: actually the goal, meaning, you know, Netflix gives me, you know, 302 00:16:33,000 --> 00:16:37,320 Speaker 2: millions of dollars to make Ruth and Boaz. They're giving 303 00:16:37,360 --> 00:16:40,920 Speaker 2: me this money to make this movie because they believe 304 00:16:40,920 --> 00:16:45,080 Speaker 2: in my ability to make a quality film. If I'm 305 00:16:45,120 --> 00:16:47,440 Speaker 2: thinking about, oh my goodness, I can't mess this up 306 00:16:47,480 --> 00:16:50,120 Speaker 2: because I got other producers coming behind me, then what 307 00:16:50,240 --> 00:16:52,480 Speaker 2: happens is I take my eye off of what it 308 00:16:52,520 --> 00:16:56,120 Speaker 2: should be on. My eye needs to be on making 309 00:16:56,160 --> 00:16:58,680 Speaker 2: a great film, doing the best I can to tell 310 00:16:58,720 --> 00:17:00,720 Speaker 2: a great story, doing the best I can to get 311 00:17:00,840 --> 00:17:05,719 Speaker 2: Netflix a return on their investment, because that's all that matters. 312 00:17:05,800 --> 00:17:07,840 Speaker 2: Because if I'm like trying to think like, oh my goodness, 313 00:17:07,840 --> 00:17:10,359 Speaker 2: I'm putting the pressure of like people that I don't 314 00:17:10,359 --> 00:17:12,639 Speaker 2: even know on my shoulders, then then I'm starting to 315 00:17:12,680 --> 00:17:14,560 Speaker 2: make decisions that might not even be good for the 316 00:17:14,600 --> 00:17:17,159 Speaker 2: movie but it's good, but I think it might be 317 00:17:17,200 --> 00:17:18,840 Speaker 2: good for like oh how I want to look or 318 00:17:18,840 --> 00:17:21,840 Speaker 2: what I think will happen. No, No, do what's best 319 00:17:22,080 --> 00:17:25,800 Speaker 2: for what you've been given. My job is to make 320 00:17:25,840 --> 00:17:28,159 Speaker 2: a great film, to go out there and publicize this 321 00:17:28,240 --> 00:17:30,000 Speaker 2: movie and let people know this movie is going to 322 00:17:30,080 --> 00:17:32,920 Speaker 2: be uplifting, It's going to be a great entertaining experience, 323 00:17:33,200 --> 00:17:36,199 Speaker 2: and then the success of that, the byproduct will be 324 00:17:36,359 --> 00:17:40,280 Speaker 2: opportunity for others. But if I try to take the 325 00:17:41,280 --> 00:17:43,520 Speaker 2: stress and the pressure of like, oh my goodness, if 326 00:17:43,520 --> 00:17:46,520 Speaker 2: this fails, then people behind me won't get a shot. 327 00:17:47,080 --> 00:17:49,679 Speaker 2: That's not really what the job is. You know. My 328 00:17:49,760 --> 00:17:51,640 Speaker 2: job is to make a great film, and I guarantee 329 00:17:51,680 --> 00:17:53,600 Speaker 2: that if I do that, there will be plenty of 330 00:17:53,640 --> 00:17:57,199 Speaker 2: opportunities that will get created. So not that it's not 331 00:17:57,320 --> 00:17:59,679 Speaker 2: important to me, because it certainly is, but it's not 332 00:17:59,760 --> 00:18:02,439 Speaker 2: part of my thought process. I don't even factor it in. 333 00:18:02,520 --> 00:18:04,560 Speaker 2: I'm like, nah, I gotta I gotta make a great movie. 334 00:18:04,640 --> 00:18:06,360 Speaker 2: This is where the money is. This is what I'm 335 00:18:06,359 --> 00:18:09,320 Speaker 2: being asked to do, and if I do it well, 336 00:18:09,960 --> 00:18:12,919 Speaker 2: then it's that's gonna speak for itself, you know. But 337 00:18:13,080 --> 00:18:16,520 Speaker 2: I think sometimes in an even in a noble way, 338 00:18:16,560 --> 00:18:19,080 Speaker 2: we can take our eye off of the ball, and 339 00:18:19,119 --> 00:18:20,639 Speaker 2: when we take our eye off of the ball, we 340 00:18:21,080 --> 00:18:24,359 Speaker 2: can miss what it is we're supposed to do. You know, 341 00:18:24,400 --> 00:18:26,280 Speaker 2: I don't think that Steph Curry when he goes out 342 00:18:26,320 --> 00:18:29,159 Speaker 2: to play, he's thinking, like, yo, I'm playing because I 343 00:18:29,200 --> 00:18:31,240 Speaker 2: want other players coming after me. And it's like, well, no, 344 00:18:31,400 --> 00:18:34,359 Speaker 2: that that'll be a byproduct of his success. But he's 345 00:18:34,359 --> 00:18:37,000 Speaker 2: his number one priority has to be what he does 346 00:18:37,040 --> 00:18:39,920 Speaker 2: on that court and the energy, effort and focus that 347 00:18:39,960 --> 00:18:42,600 Speaker 2: he puts into being the best basketball player that he 348 00:18:42,600 --> 00:18:45,480 Speaker 2: can be at any given moment. And then when he 349 00:18:45,560 --> 00:18:48,920 Speaker 2: does that, others will say, well, wait a minute, here's 350 00:18:48,920 --> 00:18:51,560 Speaker 2: a guy, you know, Steph Curry's height, who was able 351 00:18:51,600 --> 00:18:53,159 Speaker 2: to do this. Well, we're gonna give other people his 352 00:18:53,560 --> 00:18:57,040 Speaker 2: opportunities because of what he did with his So that 353 00:18:57,200 --> 00:18:58,760 Speaker 2: to me is how I look at it. It's like, Yo, 354 00:18:58,800 --> 00:19:00,920 Speaker 2: I got to do my best with the opportunity I've 355 00:19:00,960 --> 00:19:04,359 Speaker 2: been given, and if I do that, that in and 356 00:19:04,400 --> 00:19:06,400 Speaker 2: of itself will create other opportunities. 357 00:19:07,600 --> 00:19:10,800 Speaker 3: So I was reading this story about how you reconnected 358 00:19:10,840 --> 00:19:14,520 Speaker 3: with Babyface after twenty years or so. Yeah, and he 359 00:19:14,600 --> 00:19:18,040 Speaker 3: remembered you being a young executive and you were doing 360 00:19:18,080 --> 00:19:21,320 Speaker 3: good work and etc. And you said this quote that 361 00:19:21,359 --> 00:19:24,879 Speaker 3: I want to reposition here. You said, always plant seeds 362 00:19:24,880 --> 00:19:26,960 Speaker 3: of excellence. They never grow out of style. 363 00:19:27,720 --> 00:19:28,240 Speaker 2: That's right. 364 00:19:28,359 --> 00:19:32,760 Speaker 3: I want you to talk about that and how your 365 00:19:32,880 --> 00:19:37,040 Speaker 3: performance that twenty years ago provided an opportunity today. 366 00:19:39,119 --> 00:19:43,399 Speaker 2: Yeah, you know, twenty years ago, baby Face and his 367 00:19:43,480 --> 00:19:48,159 Speaker 2: then wife Tracy Edmonds had hired me as a junior 368 00:19:48,200 --> 00:19:51,480 Speaker 2: executive in the film department. And you know, I was 369 00:19:51,520 --> 00:19:54,119 Speaker 2: a huge fan of his and hers. I mean, you know, 370 00:19:54,119 --> 00:19:56,280 Speaker 2: if they had just produced a soul food movie and 371 00:19:56,680 --> 00:19:59,639 Speaker 2: that was pretty big at that time, and I was 372 00:19:59,720 --> 00:20:03,040 Speaker 2: excited by the opportunity to work at Edmund's Entertainment. It was, 373 00:20:03,480 --> 00:20:05,800 Speaker 2: you know, at the time, one of the you know, 374 00:20:05,960 --> 00:20:10,639 Speaker 2: premier entertainment companies in Hollywood, Black or otherwise. They had filmed, 375 00:20:10,680 --> 00:20:13,320 Speaker 2: they had television, they had music, they had music management, 376 00:20:13,720 --> 00:20:16,879 Speaker 2: they had record labels. I mean, they had casting. I 377 00:20:16,880 --> 00:20:20,520 Speaker 2: mean it was it was like nothing I've ever seen 378 00:20:20,880 --> 00:20:23,000 Speaker 2: to date. I mean it was pretty impressive. And so, 379 00:20:23,560 --> 00:20:25,760 Speaker 2: you know, as a young executive was something to prove. 380 00:20:26,400 --> 00:20:29,199 Speaker 2: Being given a chance to be a junior exec was 381 00:20:29,640 --> 00:20:32,240 Speaker 2: something that I didn't take lightly. So you know, I 382 00:20:32,280 --> 00:20:35,159 Speaker 2: would get in early, I would stay laid. I would 383 00:20:36,000 --> 00:20:37,920 Speaker 2: you know, anything the trace he needed me to do, 384 00:20:37,960 --> 00:20:40,280 Speaker 2: I would do it. You know, I would try to 385 00:20:40,320 --> 00:20:42,520 Speaker 2: do it with excellence. I was always looking to be 386 00:20:42,600 --> 00:20:46,600 Speaker 2: of service and I did not realize it at the 387 00:20:46,680 --> 00:20:50,080 Speaker 2: time that having that point of view and having that 388 00:20:50,200 --> 00:20:54,000 Speaker 2: disposition was making an impression on someone like Babyface. I 389 00:20:54,359 --> 00:20:56,920 Speaker 2: didn't know that. I was just showing up doing my job. 390 00:20:57,119 --> 00:20:59,000 Speaker 2: I was raising the church, and I was taught. I 391 00:20:59,080 --> 00:21:03,280 Speaker 2: was taught, you know, being of service and excellence is important. 392 00:21:04,080 --> 00:21:05,800 Speaker 2: And so I just kind of applied what I learned 393 00:21:05,840 --> 00:21:10,560 Speaker 2: in the church to how I approached this job. And 394 00:21:10,720 --> 00:21:12,840 Speaker 2: I did it because, for one, it was my job, 395 00:21:12,880 --> 00:21:15,439 Speaker 2: and then two, you know, I was hungry for opportunity, 396 00:21:15,560 --> 00:21:17,359 Speaker 2: you know, especially at that time. I was hungry to 397 00:21:17,359 --> 00:21:19,200 Speaker 2: make my market in the business. I was hungry to learn. 398 00:21:19,240 --> 00:21:22,280 Speaker 2: I was hungry to you know, move forward in my career. 399 00:21:22,520 --> 00:21:26,720 Speaker 2: And so that hunger showed up in my commitment to excellence, 400 00:21:26,800 --> 00:21:31,959 Speaker 2: my commitment to serve, my commitment to you know, being integral, 401 00:21:32,880 --> 00:21:35,800 Speaker 2: you know, being a good character, commitment to work hard, 402 00:21:36,160 --> 00:21:38,760 Speaker 2: and so you know, I did that for about a 403 00:21:38,840 --> 00:21:40,280 Speaker 2: year and a half and then I got a job 404 00:21:40,440 --> 00:21:43,600 Speaker 2: as a as an executive for MGM. And then while 405 00:21:43,640 --> 00:21:45,439 Speaker 2: I was at MGM, I worked on a few films 406 00:21:45,440 --> 00:21:47,480 Speaker 2: before MGM got sold to Sony and then I became 407 00:21:47,520 --> 00:21:51,159 Speaker 2: in I became an executive there. What I did not know, 408 00:21:51,800 --> 00:21:53,879 Speaker 2: and I don't think anyone knows this. It's like you know, 409 00:21:53,960 --> 00:21:57,399 Speaker 2: you may you know, you don't realize who's watching. You know, 410 00:21:57,840 --> 00:22:03,640 Speaker 2: you don't realize the impact of of your service and 411 00:22:03,720 --> 00:22:09,280 Speaker 2: what you can do in terms of showing up, being responsible, 412 00:22:09,760 --> 00:22:12,520 Speaker 2: you know, being fun and great to work with. You 413 00:22:12,520 --> 00:22:16,040 Speaker 2: don't realize like those are that's planting seeds. So I 414 00:22:16,040 --> 00:22:18,320 Speaker 2: feel like you know, on your job, either you're planting 415 00:22:18,359 --> 00:22:23,159 Speaker 2: seeds or you're rooting seeds, and every day is an 416 00:22:23,160 --> 00:22:26,760 Speaker 2: opportunity to plant seeds, even when situations aren't the way 417 00:22:26,800 --> 00:22:29,280 Speaker 2: you want them to be. Don't use that as an 418 00:22:29,320 --> 00:22:33,440 Speaker 2: excuse to give less service than you're capable of, because 419 00:22:33,440 --> 00:22:35,960 Speaker 2: at the end of the day, that level of service 420 00:22:36,000 --> 00:22:39,280 Speaker 2: and who you are, it only accrues back to you. 421 00:22:39,359 --> 00:22:41,320 Speaker 2: So even if you're at a job they don't get you, 422 00:22:41,359 --> 00:22:44,280 Speaker 2: they don't respect you, they don't value you. That's okay, 423 00:22:44,320 --> 00:22:47,800 Speaker 2: but you value you. So you work the way that 424 00:22:47,840 --> 00:22:50,439 Speaker 2: you need to work in order to retain the value 425 00:22:50,440 --> 00:22:54,200 Speaker 2: that you see in yourself. And those seeds that you plant, 426 00:22:54,280 --> 00:22:56,760 Speaker 2: whether or not they grow from the place you plant 427 00:22:56,760 --> 00:22:59,560 Speaker 2: it, it doesn't matter. Those seeds are planted and what you 428 00:22:59,640 --> 00:23:01,760 Speaker 2: sow you will reap. So if you so excellence, you're 429 00:23:01,760 --> 00:23:04,640 Speaker 2: going to reap it. I didn't realize that the way 430 00:23:04,680 --> 00:23:07,600 Speaker 2: I would reap the seeds of excellence that I planted 431 00:23:07,640 --> 00:23:10,240 Speaker 2: when I worked for Babyface twenty years ago, that I 432 00:23:10,240 --> 00:23:14,040 Speaker 2: would reap those seeds in my own movie that I produced. 433 00:23:14,800 --> 00:23:18,720 Speaker 2: That's a miracle. That's amazing that here I am starting 434 00:23:18,720 --> 00:23:21,560 Speaker 2: to produce a film and I'm like, oh wait, this 435 00:23:21,600 --> 00:23:24,480 Speaker 2: part would be perfect for Babyface. Oh hey, man, you 436 00:23:24,520 --> 00:23:28,080 Speaker 2: want to do it? Yeah, hey, of course I want 437 00:23:28,080 --> 00:23:30,080 Speaker 2: to do it. I'm proud of you, like this is great. 438 00:23:30,359 --> 00:23:33,600 Speaker 2: Look at the man you've become. So you know, I 439 00:23:33,680 --> 00:23:38,880 Speaker 2: just would encourage anyone to plant those seeds every day, 440 00:23:39,720 --> 00:23:42,880 Speaker 2: you know, plant those seeds, just keep showing up and again. 441 00:23:42,920 --> 00:23:45,600 Speaker 2: You might even change jobs. I've changed jobs multiple times 442 00:23:45,600 --> 00:23:47,840 Speaker 2: before I started running my company. It's not so much 443 00:23:47,840 --> 00:23:50,320 Speaker 2: about that. It's about the mindset and it's about how 444 00:23:50,520 --> 00:23:51,520 Speaker 2: it's about the work ethic. 445 00:23:53,080 --> 00:23:57,040 Speaker 3: If you were teaching wealth building one oh one for 446 00:23:57,520 --> 00:24:01,640 Speaker 3: black producers and black faith producers, because there's nuance there 447 00:24:01,680 --> 00:24:04,800 Speaker 3: in both those that matter, what would lesson one be? 448 00:24:07,960 --> 00:24:10,320 Speaker 2: What would lesson one be? If I was teaching you know, 449 00:24:10,400 --> 00:24:11,520 Speaker 2: faith black faith. 450 00:24:11,320 --> 00:24:15,440 Speaker 3: Producers wealth building one O one two black producers or 451 00:24:16,040 --> 00:24:17,760 Speaker 3: and or black faith producers. 452 00:24:21,080 --> 00:24:25,520 Speaker 2: Hmm. I would say, you know, you have to study 453 00:24:25,560 --> 00:24:29,960 Speaker 2: to show yourself approved, you know. And I think that 454 00:24:29,960 --> 00:24:36,080 Speaker 2: that when you're talking about wealth, the financial wealth that 455 00:24:36,160 --> 00:24:40,720 Speaker 2: you might ultimately want will start because you you have 456 00:24:40,760 --> 00:24:44,760 Speaker 2: a practice of wealth in every area of your life. Yes, 457 00:24:44,800 --> 00:24:47,399 Speaker 2: you know, you you you really, you know, have a 458 00:24:47,400 --> 00:24:51,639 Speaker 2: passion for a wealth of knowledge. You know, like, Okay, 459 00:24:51,800 --> 00:24:53,800 Speaker 2: no matter what I'm doing, like, I'm not just gonna 460 00:24:53,840 --> 00:24:57,000 Speaker 2: do it, I'm gonna learn. I mean even now I'm learning. 461 00:24:57,000 --> 00:24:58,919 Speaker 2: I'm learning how to make better movies. I'm learning how 462 00:24:58,920 --> 00:25:02,040 Speaker 2: to make better movies more efficiently. I'm learning, so I 463 00:25:02,080 --> 00:25:05,720 Speaker 2: continue to build my wealth of knowledge. Uh So, I 464 00:25:05,760 --> 00:25:08,439 Speaker 2: would say if anyone's looking to build wealth financially, you know, 465 00:25:08,560 --> 00:25:10,639 Speaker 2: make sure you're building wealth and air in the in 466 00:25:10,680 --> 00:25:12,760 Speaker 2: every area of your life. Wealth of love, wealth of 467 00:25:13,080 --> 00:25:16,800 Speaker 2: you know, health, wealth of of you know, emotional stability, 468 00:25:16,960 --> 00:25:20,480 Speaker 2: you know, wealth of information, wealth of spirituality, like all 469 00:25:20,520 --> 00:25:24,480 Speaker 2: of those things matter. And so often we only think 470 00:25:24,480 --> 00:25:28,360 Speaker 2: of wealth financially. But to me, you know, when you're 471 00:25:28,440 --> 00:25:32,280 Speaker 2: actually wealthy financially, it's because it is because you practice 472 00:25:32,359 --> 00:25:37,000 Speaker 2: wealth as a practice period you're you're wealthy period and 473 00:25:37,000 --> 00:25:39,280 Speaker 2: and a lot of times you're wealth when you practice 474 00:25:39,280 --> 00:25:46,880 Speaker 2: being wealthy emotionally and physically and spiritually and informationally. Then 475 00:25:46,960 --> 00:25:50,040 Speaker 2: when you become wealthy financially, it's just an extension of 476 00:25:50,080 --> 00:25:52,919 Speaker 2: what you've already been practicing. So I would encourage, you know, 477 00:25:53,160 --> 00:25:55,600 Speaker 2: or I would say to anyone trying to build wealth, 478 00:25:55,840 --> 00:25:58,720 Speaker 2: that's where it starts. You know. The wealth that I 479 00:25:58,840 --> 00:26:02,919 Speaker 2: have and the wealth that is growing, you know, financially 480 00:26:02,960 --> 00:26:07,000 Speaker 2: in my life is directly related to the practice of 481 00:26:07,080 --> 00:26:09,600 Speaker 2: wealth that I have in every other area of my life. 482 00:26:11,000 --> 00:26:14,000 Speaker 3: And I got a couple of phones for you. I 483 00:26:14,160 --> 00:26:19,320 Speaker 3: like to ask people, you know, what is so everybody carries, 484 00:26:19,480 --> 00:26:22,320 Speaker 3: you know, the obvious the phone, the wallet, the keys. 485 00:26:22,880 --> 00:26:25,480 Speaker 3: What are some non obvious things that are in your 486 00:26:25,520 --> 00:26:28,320 Speaker 3: everyday carry that you always keep on you? 487 00:26:28,840 --> 00:26:32,560 Speaker 2: My uh, my lip chap my chapstick, whatevery youone call 488 00:26:32,600 --> 00:26:34,879 Speaker 2: it my lipt therapy. I can't do nothing without this. 489 00:26:36,080 --> 00:26:38,959 Speaker 2: Got that. Gotta have it in my AirPods. Those are 490 00:26:38,960 --> 00:26:40,919 Speaker 2: the two things. And my wedding ring. Now those are 491 00:26:40,960 --> 00:26:41,560 Speaker 2: the three things. 492 00:26:41,880 --> 00:26:42,320 Speaker 3: Congrats. 493 00:26:42,440 --> 00:26:45,160 Speaker 2: I gotta have it period. Everywhere I go, I need 494 00:26:45,200 --> 00:26:47,520 Speaker 2: my AirPods. I need a lipt therapy and I got 495 00:26:47,640 --> 00:26:48,440 Speaker 2: to have my wedding ring. 496 00:26:48,880 --> 00:26:51,399 Speaker 3: I love it. I love it. Yeah, what's something you 497 00:26:51,560 --> 00:26:54,440 Speaker 3: bought that costs little but had a big impact? 498 00:26:57,080 --> 00:27:05,000 Speaker 2: Oh? Man, how that costs little but I had a 499 00:27:05,040 --> 00:27:06,040 Speaker 2: big impact. 500 00:27:07,760 --> 00:27:09,240 Speaker 3: Or you can do this one. Here's here's a here's 501 00:27:09,280 --> 00:27:11,359 Speaker 3: a beat to that is, what's the best five hundred 502 00:27:11,400 --> 00:27:14,280 Speaker 3: dollars you've ever spend on your career? So either one. 503 00:27:16,720 --> 00:27:20,400 Speaker 2: Shoot on five hundred dollars on life coaching. That's that's 504 00:27:20,440 --> 00:27:25,399 Speaker 2: the best. I mean yeah, just you know, again, like 505 00:27:26,440 --> 00:27:31,159 Speaker 2: the greatest asset that we have is our mind. And 506 00:27:31,200 --> 00:27:37,840 Speaker 2: the thing about our mind is we take it for granted. 507 00:27:37,920 --> 00:27:41,000 Speaker 2: We just you know, meaning like working on our self, 508 00:27:41,200 --> 00:27:45,040 Speaker 2: working on our mindset, working on uh you know, unblocking 509 00:27:45,040 --> 00:27:49,000 Speaker 2: ourselves in certain areas, doing that internal work that's the world. 510 00:27:49,720 --> 00:27:53,120 Speaker 2: And and sometimes we overlook the work because we think 511 00:27:53,160 --> 00:27:55,600 Speaker 2: that the work is just what we do professionally. And 512 00:27:55,640 --> 00:27:57,760 Speaker 2: don't get me wrong, that works important because that work, 513 00:27:58,080 --> 00:28:02,199 Speaker 2: you know, certainly pays the bills. However, I've gotten so 514 00:28:02,320 --> 00:28:04,560 Speaker 2: much value out of working on myself and so spending 515 00:28:04,560 --> 00:28:07,119 Speaker 2: that five hundred dollars you know, on life coaching and 516 00:28:07,160 --> 00:28:10,560 Speaker 2: doing sessions with my life coach really really pays off, 517 00:28:10,600 --> 00:28:15,040 Speaker 2: because the more that I trained my mind, then then 518 00:28:15,080 --> 00:28:18,640 Speaker 2: I'm able to I'm able to excel, I'm able to succeed. 519 00:28:18,720 --> 00:28:21,520 Speaker 2: I'm able to work at levels that otherwise couldn't work. 520 00:28:21,560 --> 00:28:24,320 Speaker 2: I mean even in a moment like this, you know, 521 00:28:24,440 --> 00:28:27,520 Speaker 2: being just released a film, the Ruth and Boas Movie 522 00:28:27,600 --> 00:28:30,679 Speaker 2: on Netflix. I'm in post production on a film that 523 00:28:30,720 --> 00:28:33,960 Speaker 2: I just did for Amazon Prime called Relationship Goals with 524 00:28:34,040 --> 00:28:37,080 Speaker 2: Kelly Rowland and Meta Man. I'm in pre production on 525 00:28:37,160 --> 00:28:40,520 Speaker 2: a film that I'm getting ready to do for Netflix. 526 00:28:41,160 --> 00:28:43,320 Speaker 2: Have an audiobook that's getting ready to come out that 527 00:28:43,400 --> 00:28:46,440 Speaker 2: I'm promoting. I'm in a film called Soul on Fire, 528 00:28:46,480 --> 00:28:50,320 Speaker 2: which is in theaters nationwide starting October tenth, that Sony 529 00:28:50,360 --> 00:28:54,600 Speaker 2: Pictures is releasing. And I'm also in Divorce Sisters, you know, 530 00:28:54,600 --> 00:28:57,200 Speaker 2: which is on BT Plus. So and all those things 531 00:28:57,240 --> 00:28:58,880 Speaker 2: are happening all at one time. 532 00:29:00,120 --> 00:29:00,280 Speaker 3: Now. 533 00:29:00,320 --> 00:29:05,360 Speaker 2: If I had not spent years working on my mind, coaching, 534 00:29:05,720 --> 00:29:08,120 Speaker 2: doing the work on the inside, I would never be 535 00:29:08,160 --> 00:29:11,320 Speaker 2: able to handle all these things. These things would just 536 00:29:11,400 --> 00:29:13,560 Speaker 2: they would just be they would they would be beyond 537 00:29:13,600 --> 00:29:17,520 Speaker 2: my capacity. But because I started increasing my mental capacity 538 00:29:18,160 --> 00:29:21,320 Speaker 2: years ago. I can be in this moment and I 539 00:29:21,360 --> 00:29:24,560 Speaker 2: can manage these things successfully and they don't crush me. 540 00:29:25,520 --> 00:29:28,440 Speaker 2: So that's that's where the five hundred dollars, which may 541 00:29:28,480 --> 00:29:30,640 Speaker 2: seem like a lot, you know, it's like, no, I'm 542 00:29:30,680 --> 00:29:32,120 Speaker 2: gonna put that money. I'm not gonna put it on 543 00:29:32,120 --> 00:29:33,600 Speaker 2: the suit. I'm not gonna put it on no shoes. 544 00:29:33,640 --> 00:29:36,240 Speaker 2: I'm not gonna put it, you know, on you know, 545 00:29:36,880 --> 00:29:38,920 Speaker 2: an accessory for the car. I'm gonna put it into 546 00:29:39,080 --> 00:29:43,080 Speaker 2: my mind. I'm gonna put it into my own personal development. 547 00:29:43,440 --> 00:29:46,320 Speaker 2: And that is money that is well spent. And I 548 00:29:46,320 --> 00:29:49,400 Speaker 2: would encourage anyone uh to do it because it really 549 00:29:49,400 --> 00:29:50,280 Speaker 2: makes a big difference. 550 00:29:51,360 --> 00:29:53,520 Speaker 3: There's another quote I found from you where you said, 551 00:29:53,640 --> 00:29:57,200 Speaker 3: who we think we are can actually work against us. 552 00:29:57,920 --> 00:30:00,760 Speaker 3: And you know, I think about ideenty the you know 553 00:30:00,800 --> 00:30:02,760 Speaker 3: that we put on ourselves and what other people think 554 00:30:02,800 --> 00:30:05,960 Speaker 3: about us can also work against us. Can you say 555 00:30:05,960 --> 00:30:08,960 Speaker 3: more about what you mean when you say that, and 556 00:30:09,040 --> 00:30:12,840 Speaker 3: how we can break free from you know, the limitations 557 00:30:12,960 --> 00:30:16,120 Speaker 3: or the expectations that we put on ourselves by what 558 00:30:16,160 --> 00:30:17,360 Speaker 3: we think about ourselves. 559 00:30:19,040 --> 00:30:25,719 Speaker 2: Yeah, what we think about ourselves is important. Yet I 560 00:30:25,720 --> 00:30:30,640 Speaker 2: would also just encourage anyone to remain curious about who 561 00:30:30,680 --> 00:30:36,360 Speaker 2: you are and what's possible for you, because sometimes, you know, 562 00:30:36,400 --> 00:30:39,560 Speaker 2: don't get me wrong, finding an identity that works in 563 00:30:39,600 --> 00:30:42,880 Speaker 2: the world is hard, you know, finding our purpose. And 564 00:30:42,920 --> 00:30:45,280 Speaker 2: what I mean by finding an identity, it's like, you know, 565 00:30:45,400 --> 00:30:49,640 Speaker 2: if somebody says, hey, you know, I'm gonna pursue being 566 00:30:49,640 --> 00:30:53,000 Speaker 2: a teacher, and they are able to pursue that, and 567 00:30:53,000 --> 00:30:55,920 Speaker 2: that's a passion of theirs and they get compensated, you know, 568 00:30:55,960 --> 00:30:57,720 Speaker 2: getting into that place where it's like, oh, wow, I 569 00:30:57,720 --> 00:31:00,360 Speaker 2: found something that I love. That's great, there's nothing wrong 570 00:31:00,400 --> 00:31:05,080 Speaker 2: with that. However, what if you're also an actor, What 571 00:31:05,120 --> 00:31:08,800 Speaker 2: if you're also an author, what if you're also a dancer. 572 00:31:10,480 --> 00:31:13,520 Speaker 2: So sometimes we get so locked into that one identity 573 00:31:13,520 --> 00:31:18,360 Speaker 2: that helps basically fund our survival that we latch onto 574 00:31:18,400 --> 00:31:22,360 Speaker 2: it so hard that we never stay curious enough about 575 00:31:22,400 --> 00:31:26,920 Speaker 2: who we are to then explore what else may be possible. 576 00:31:27,720 --> 00:31:31,320 Speaker 2: You know. So years ago, you know, I was a 577 00:31:31,320 --> 00:31:34,320 Speaker 2: studio executive. After I left MGM, I went to Sony 578 00:31:34,320 --> 00:31:37,120 Speaker 2: Pictures Entertainment and worked on Pursuit of Happiness and Seven 579 00:31:37,160 --> 00:31:40,880 Speaker 2: Pounds and Handcock and the Karate Kid remake and Jumping 580 00:31:40,920 --> 00:31:43,840 Speaker 2: the Broom, and Heaven Is for Real and so many 581 00:31:43,880 --> 00:31:48,160 Speaker 2: movies in between. Now, if I had locked my identity 582 00:31:48,240 --> 00:31:52,120 Speaker 2: into being an executive, then when it was time for 583 00:31:52,160 --> 00:31:53,560 Speaker 2: me to write my first book, I would have never 584 00:31:53,640 --> 00:31:56,040 Speaker 2: been able to write it. Why because I said, well, 585 00:31:56,080 --> 00:31:57,880 Speaker 2: I would have said, well, I'm not an I'm not 586 00:31:57,920 --> 00:32:01,280 Speaker 2: an author. But when the opportunity came to write the 587 00:32:01,320 --> 00:32:03,760 Speaker 2: first book, instead of saying I'm not, I said, well 588 00:32:03,800 --> 00:32:07,360 Speaker 2: maybe I am. Let me see, let me try. Oh 589 00:32:07,400 --> 00:32:09,840 Speaker 2: I tried that that actually works. So I'm not just 590 00:32:09,880 --> 00:32:12,920 Speaker 2: an executive. I'm also an author. And then the opportunity 591 00:32:13,000 --> 00:32:15,120 Speaker 2: came for me to, you know, start my production company. 592 00:32:15,560 --> 00:32:18,440 Speaker 2: If I only thought of myself as an executive or 593 00:32:18,720 --> 00:32:21,160 Speaker 2: just an author, I would have never then stepped into 594 00:32:21,360 --> 00:32:23,959 Speaker 2: running my own company and became a producer. But then 595 00:32:23,960 --> 00:32:25,680 Speaker 2: I had to say, well maybe I am, and let 596 00:32:25,680 --> 00:32:28,239 Speaker 2: me go see. So then I opened myself up to that, 597 00:32:28,280 --> 00:32:30,320 Speaker 2: and then you know, producer starts to work and then 598 00:32:30,360 --> 00:32:32,640 Speaker 2: it's like, okay, well maybe you know when opportunity came 599 00:32:32,640 --> 00:32:34,560 Speaker 2: for me to be a TV personality and be on 600 00:32:34,640 --> 00:32:36,880 Speaker 2: TV and be a regular on Doctor Oz, at that 601 00:32:36,960 --> 00:32:40,360 Speaker 2: time like well maybe I am. And then the opportunity 602 00:32:40,360 --> 00:32:42,680 Speaker 2: comes for me to act. You know, Tyler offers me 603 00:32:42,800 --> 00:32:45,040 Speaker 2: a show like, Hey, come do Divorce Sisters, then be 604 00:32:45,280 --> 00:32:47,080 Speaker 2: you know, one of the stars of the show. I've 605 00:32:47,080 --> 00:32:50,000 Speaker 2: never done a TV series like that, but maybe I 606 00:32:50,040 --> 00:32:53,280 Speaker 2: have the ability. So what I say is, sometimes the 607 00:32:53,360 --> 00:32:57,400 Speaker 2: knowledge of self is the greatest barrier to the understanding 608 00:32:57,440 --> 00:33:01,080 Speaker 2: of self because we think we know who we are. Well, 609 00:33:01,160 --> 00:33:05,680 Speaker 2: I know who I am today, but let me be open. 610 00:33:06,520 --> 00:33:09,440 Speaker 2: Let me be open, because maybe there's more that wants 611 00:33:09,440 --> 00:33:13,640 Speaker 2: to get revealed to me. Maybe God wants to show me, Hey, 612 00:33:13,840 --> 00:33:16,760 Speaker 2: you're even more than you think you are. But if 613 00:33:16,800 --> 00:33:20,720 Speaker 2: I lock in and say no, I'm just divine the producer, 614 00:33:21,360 --> 00:33:24,600 Speaker 2: then who I really am may never see the light 615 00:33:24,640 --> 00:33:27,640 Speaker 2: of day. So that's why I would encourage anyone to 616 00:33:27,760 --> 00:33:31,560 Speaker 2: just be curious about yourself. Oh well, can I do this? 617 00:33:31,720 --> 00:33:34,000 Speaker 2: Do I have this ability? I don't know? And guess what. 618 00:33:34,280 --> 00:33:37,160 Speaker 2: Don't be afraid to try. Hey, the worst thing that 619 00:33:37,240 --> 00:33:39,440 Speaker 2: happens is it doesn't work out the way you may 620 00:33:39,440 --> 00:33:41,480 Speaker 2: have wanted. But then you have the experience and you 621 00:33:41,560 --> 00:33:43,479 Speaker 2: can say, wow, that was crazy. I can't believe I 622 00:33:43,480 --> 00:33:46,600 Speaker 2: try that, you know, man versus like living in the 623 00:33:46,600 --> 00:33:48,840 Speaker 2: what if? Oh man, Well, what if I had done this? Well, No, 624 00:33:48,960 --> 00:33:51,240 Speaker 2: I want to live in the I did it. And 625 00:33:51,680 --> 00:33:53,680 Speaker 2: sometimes you get to that place and you do it 626 00:33:53,680 --> 00:33:57,040 Speaker 2: well and sometimes you don't, but you grow from it. 627 00:33:57,160 --> 00:33:59,560 Speaker 2: And so that's what I mean by that quote. That's 628 00:33:59,560 --> 00:33:59,960 Speaker 2: what I mean. 629 00:34:00,280 --> 00:34:01,000 Speaker 3: That's really good. 630 00:34:01,520 --> 00:34:01,680 Speaker 2: You know. 631 00:34:01,720 --> 00:34:05,160 Speaker 3: I think about all the positions you hold, things that 632 00:34:05,280 --> 00:34:07,200 Speaker 3: you've done. And I talked to so many people, and 633 00:34:07,240 --> 00:34:09,480 Speaker 3: I'm also a person who has like a lot of ideas. 634 00:34:09,520 --> 00:34:11,279 Speaker 3: I can do a lot of things, and I talked 635 00:34:11,280 --> 00:34:13,719 Speaker 3: to entrepreneurs who have a ton of ideas and want 636 00:34:13,719 --> 00:34:17,239 Speaker 3: to do a ton of things, and I how do 637 00:34:17,400 --> 00:34:20,480 Speaker 3: you first prioritize what you were going to when? Like, 638 00:34:20,520 --> 00:34:23,160 Speaker 3: how did you know, for instance, how did you know 639 00:34:23,400 --> 00:34:25,400 Speaker 3: right now was the time to do with Ruth and 640 00:34:25,440 --> 00:34:27,279 Speaker 3: bowl Ass, Because I'm sure you've got a ton of 641 00:34:27,320 --> 00:34:29,319 Speaker 3: ideas and movies, You've got a ton of scripts that 642 00:34:29,360 --> 00:34:32,399 Speaker 3: you could be producing. How did you know right now 643 00:34:32,600 --> 00:34:34,799 Speaker 3: was the time? And how did you how do you 644 00:34:34,840 --> 00:34:37,160 Speaker 3: prioritize what it should be working on right now? 645 00:34:38,160 --> 00:34:42,360 Speaker 2: Yeah? You know, and it's divine. By the way, I'm 646 00:34:42,400 --> 00:34:47,160 Speaker 2: sorry that took it. It's okay, it's okay. Yeah. With 647 00:34:47,280 --> 00:34:49,080 Speaker 2: Ruthor bow As, I just had a feeling, you know, 648 00:34:49,120 --> 00:34:50,560 Speaker 2: I felt it. I was like, oh, I think I 649 00:34:50,600 --> 00:34:53,160 Speaker 2: think this is what it is. And then I pitched 650 00:34:53,200 --> 00:34:55,719 Speaker 2: it to a writer friend of mine and he was like, 651 00:34:55,760 --> 00:34:57,480 Speaker 2: oh yeah, I like that. And then he and his 652 00:34:57,520 --> 00:35:01,080 Speaker 2: writing partner came up with the concept in about forty 653 00:35:01,120 --> 00:35:02,800 Speaker 2: eight hours. And then when they sent it back to me, 654 00:35:02,880 --> 00:35:04,960 Speaker 2: I said, oh, okay, yeah, I think there's something. There's 655 00:35:04,960 --> 00:35:06,920 Speaker 2: something here, and we started working on it. And then 656 00:35:06,960 --> 00:35:09,600 Speaker 2: when I told Tyler Perry about it, and he was like, oh, yeah, 657 00:35:09,680 --> 00:35:11,440 Speaker 2: that sounds really good. And then when I told Netflix 658 00:35:11,480 --> 00:35:13,799 Speaker 2: about it, They're like, yeah, that's that sounds cool. Then 659 00:35:13,840 --> 00:35:15,520 Speaker 2: we got the script and the script was good. I 660 00:35:15,560 --> 00:35:17,799 Speaker 2: was like, oh snap, the script is good. Like it 661 00:35:17,960 --> 00:35:20,400 Speaker 2: just it was a feeling, and then I just followed 662 00:35:20,400 --> 00:35:24,200 Speaker 2: the feeling. And either you get confirmation or you don't. 663 00:35:24,360 --> 00:35:27,040 Speaker 2: And so at every step with the development and the 664 00:35:27,040 --> 00:35:29,920 Speaker 2: production and the release of Ruth and Bos, it's just 665 00:35:29,960 --> 00:35:34,520 Speaker 2: been a rolling set of confirmations. And it just started 666 00:35:34,560 --> 00:35:36,440 Speaker 2: with the feeling. I just said, oh, I think this 667 00:35:36,480 --> 00:35:38,439 Speaker 2: is what I'm supposed to do. I think, yeah, really, 668 00:35:38,440 --> 00:35:41,360 Speaker 2: because I was connecting to the story, I felt like, 669 00:35:41,400 --> 00:35:42,840 Speaker 2: oh yeah, there hasn't been a love story in a 670 00:35:42,880 --> 00:35:46,000 Speaker 2: long time, and this movie really is good, and oh yeah, 671 00:35:46,080 --> 00:35:49,080 Speaker 2: let's just do it, let's try it, and it just 672 00:35:49,200 --> 00:35:51,600 Speaker 2: it just snowballed. I mean, so that part was pretty cool. 673 00:35:51,640 --> 00:35:53,799 Speaker 2: Like so usually it always starts with the feeling, like 674 00:35:53,800 --> 00:35:57,040 Speaker 2: what am I feeling? And then and then I follow 675 00:35:57,080 --> 00:36:00,040 Speaker 2: and sometimes I'm feeling something and then it's like, ooh no, 676 00:36:00,239 --> 00:36:02,680 Speaker 2: that's not it. I could I either I hit a 677 00:36:02,760 --> 00:36:06,200 Speaker 2: roadblock or I hit a certain level of resistance that 678 00:36:06,280 --> 00:36:08,960 Speaker 2: I'm like, again going back to that whole pushing idea, 679 00:36:09,160 --> 00:36:12,560 Speaker 2: Uh no, I don't need to push a door door 680 00:36:12,600 --> 00:36:16,440 Speaker 2: open that God has for me. I don't see. No, no, 681 00:36:16,520 --> 00:36:18,920 Speaker 2: if God hasn't for me, then that door is going 682 00:36:19,000 --> 00:36:21,320 Speaker 2: to open. You know, I just got to be in 683 00:36:21,360 --> 00:36:23,640 Speaker 2: position for when it does. And if I'm really trying 684 00:36:23,680 --> 00:36:26,480 Speaker 2: to open a door or change a situation to my 685 00:36:26,600 --> 00:36:29,239 Speaker 2: will and it's not already that I got to step 686 00:36:29,280 --> 00:36:31,960 Speaker 2: away from it. So you know, it's a process. It's 687 00:36:32,000 --> 00:36:37,080 Speaker 2: a fluid process of feeling, praying, stopping, looking, you know, 688 00:36:37,160 --> 00:36:40,640 Speaker 2: getting confirmation. Years ago, I went on a whitewater rafting 689 00:36:40,719 --> 00:36:45,600 Speaker 2: trip and the guide said, you know, when I say paddle, paddle, 690 00:36:45,640 --> 00:36:48,600 Speaker 2: when I say stop, stop because you're you know, and 691 00:36:48,640 --> 00:36:50,799 Speaker 2: that's how we get through the rapids successfully and not 692 00:36:51,280 --> 00:36:54,200 Speaker 2: get turned over. And so there would be times when 693 00:36:54,200 --> 00:36:57,759 Speaker 2: he would tell us to paddle, where when we look 694 00:36:57,800 --> 00:37:00,600 Speaker 2: at the rapids, we think we should we should be stopping, 695 00:37:01,360 --> 00:37:03,400 Speaker 2: And there were times he would tell us to stop, 696 00:37:03,440 --> 00:37:05,080 Speaker 2: and then we look at the rapids and we would 697 00:37:05,120 --> 00:37:07,960 Speaker 2: think that we would be rowing. But he knows the 698 00:37:08,000 --> 00:37:11,040 Speaker 2: water better than we did. So that's kind of like 699 00:37:11,080 --> 00:37:13,200 Speaker 2: how it is with God. God knows the water better 700 00:37:13,239 --> 00:37:17,319 Speaker 2: than we do. So I got a feeling I row. Okay, God, 701 00:37:17,400 --> 00:37:22,320 Speaker 2: stead stop. I got a feeling I row. God says stop. 702 00:37:22,880 --> 00:37:25,200 Speaker 2: And then you see the momentum. You know. Can you 703 00:37:25,239 --> 00:37:28,680 Speaker 2: imagine if I'm trying to to be in that that 704 00:37:28,680 --> 00:37:35,160 Speaker 2: that that the raft and trying to go upstream, It's impossible. 705 00:37:35,280 --> 00:37:39,359 Speaker 2: There's a flow. So that feeling is okay, God, show 706 00:37:39,360 --> 00:37:42,640 Speaker 2: me where you're flowing. And then I do my part 707 00:37:42,719 --> 00:37:46,719 Speaker 2: and I get confirmation. Oh, confirmation means I can row again. Okay, great, 708 00:37:46,760 --> 00:37:49,879 Speaker 2: I keep rowing. I stopped to get confirmation. Okay, let 709 00:37:49,880 --> 00:37:53,200 Speaker 2: me keep rolling. Okay. Cool. So that's the process. 710 00:37:53,960 --> 00:37:56,720 Speaker 3: I love it. Lastly, I want you to talk about 711 00:37:56,760 --> 00:38:00,799 Speaker 3: the movie and the still what can you give us 712 00:38:00,880 --> 00:38:03,759 Speaker 3: a synopsis of? Actually, I'm gonna I really want to 713 00:38:03,760 --> 00:38:05,640 Speaker 3: do two here, so forgive me. I want you to 714 00:38:05,640 --> 00:38:07,600 Speaker 3: talk about why people should watch this movie, like the 715 00:38:07,600 --> 00:38:09,680 Speaker 3: premise of Ruth and Boaz. I know the story of 716 00:38:09,760 --> 00:38:10,960 Speaker 3: you know, grew up in a church, so I know 717 00:38:11,000 --> 00:38:13,959 Speaker 3: this story. And then if you can leave our entrepreneurs 718 00:38:14,040 --> 00:38:17,000 Speaker 3: with a principle You've given us so much in so 719 00:38:17,080 --> 00:38:19,280 Speaker 3: many keys. I'm going to take notes from this interview 720 00:38:19,760 --> 00:38:22,839 Speaker 3: because there was so much here. Can you leave us 721 00:38:22,840 --> 00:38:27,359 Speaker 3: with some principles that we should be thinking about as 722 00:38:27,360 --> 00:38:29,960 Speaker 3: we're on our journey, maybe even from the story? 723 00:38:31,239 --> 00:38:32,759 Speaker 2: Yeah, you know, I mean the story of Ruth and 724 00:38:32,800 --> 00:38:35,440 Speaker 2: Boaz is the movie Ruth and Boaz, which is on 725 00:38:35,480 --> 00:38:39,520 Speaker 2: Netflix now and it's doing very well. You know, we 726 00:38:39,520 --> 00:38:41,880 Speaker 2: were like in the top ten and like over sixty 727 00:38:41,920 --> 00:38:45,360 Speaker 2: countries and we're number one, the number one movie in 728 00:38:45,360 --> 00:38:48,960 Speaker 2: almost ten countries, which is amazing. And that the story 729 00:38:49,040 --> 00:38:54,200 Speaker 2: is about, you know, a young woman who is on 730 00:38:54,239 --> 00:38:58,000 Speaker 2: a journey trying to figure out, you know, where God 731 00:38:58,040 --> 00:39:02,600 Speaker 2: wants her to go, and that leads her to move 732 00:39:02,600 --> 00:39:08,359 Speaker 2: from Atlanta to Pegriam, Tennessee. With the woman that was 733 00:39:08,520 --> 00:39:11,080 Speaker 2: the mother of the guy she was dating, and they 734 00:39:11,080 --> 00:39:14,160 Speaker 2: both went through a tragedy. She the woman ends up 735 00:39:14,200 --> 00:39:18,120 Speaker 2: going back to her hometown of Pegham, Tennessee our you know, 736 00:39:18,200 --> 00:39:22,080 Speaker 2: lead Ruth follows her and when she goes out to 737 00:39:22,120 --> 00:39:25,680 Speaker 2: find work, she doesn't realize she's also going out to 738 00:39:25,719 --> 00:39:28,400 Speaker 2: find love. And she finds love in the in the 739 00:39:28,440 --> 00:39:31,400 Speaker 2: form of Boaz, who owns the vineyard where she finds 740 00:39:31,400 --> 00:39:33,160 Speaker 2: a job. And then you get a chance to see 741 00:39:33,600 --> 00:39:37,880 Speaker 2: them come together. But she has to still reckon with 742 00:39:38,000 --> 00:39:41,240 Speaker 2: her past if she wants to have a future with Boaz. 743 00:39:41,680 --> 00:39:44,080 Speaker 2: And so that's you know, the story, and it's inspired 744 00:39:44,080 --> 00:39:46,400 Speaker 2: by the biblical story of the same name, you know, 745 00:39:46,400 --> 00:39:50,600 Speaker 2: from the Book of Ruth. And you know for entrepreneurs, 746 00:39:50,760 --> 00:39:53,200 Speaker 2: you know, I when I went to the University of 747 00:39:53,239 --> 00:39:55,879 Speaker 2: Southern California, I had a major in business and an 748 00:39:55,880 --> 00:40:01,880 Speaker 2: emphasis in entrepreneurship. And I as part of my senior thesis, 749 00:40:01,880 --> 00:40:04,120 Speaker 2: as not even part of as my senior thesis, I 750 00:40:04,160 --> 00:40:07,279 Speaker 2: did a business plan for the production company that one 751 00:40:07,360 --> 00:40:11,680 Speaker 2: day that I would start. And I had that business plan. 752 00:40:11,760 --> 00:40:14,000 Speaker 2: It was a it was almost a fifty page business plan. 753 00:40:14,320 --> 00:40:16,080 Speaker 2: I had that business plan when I was twenty two. 754 00:40:17,320 --> 00:40:20,680 Speaker 2: I did not get the opportunity to start the company 755 00:40:20,760 --> 00:40:24,680 Speaker 2: until I was thirty six. So I would, you know, 756 00:40:25,000 --> 00:40:31,840 Speaker 2: encourage any entrepreneur to have vision and really understand the 757 00:40:31,920 --> 00:40:34,719 Speaker 2: industry that you're called to and the business you want 758 00:40:34,760 --> 00:40:41,560 Speaker 2: to start, and resist the temptation to put a demand 759 00:40:42,280 --> 00:40:47,520 Speaker 2: on the timing of that vision. Have the vision, pursue 760 00:40:47,520 --> 00:40:50,160 Speaker 2: it if you get the funding, great, If you don't, 761 00:40:50,280 --> 00:40:53,640 Speaker 2: don't give up on the vision, but find what you 762 00:40:53,719 --> 00:40:56,960 Speaker 2: need to do until it's time for the vision to manifest. 763 00:40:57,320 --> 00:41:00,319 Speaker 2: And so for me as an entrepreneur, you know, if 764 00:41:00,360 --> 00:41:03,759 Speaker 2: I had demanded that at twenty two that's when I 765 00:41:04,040 --> 00:41:05,680 Speaker 2: need to I have a business plan and I need 766 00:41:05,719 --> 00:41:08,880 Speaker 2: to get it funded, then I would have missed it. 767 00:41:08,880 --> 00:41:11,600 Speaker 2: We would even be having this conversation. So I had 768 00:41:11,600 --> 00:41:13,200 Speaker 2: to hold onto the vision. But then I had to 769 00:41:13,200 --> 00:41:15,400 Speaker 2: get a job, I had to work, I had to 770 00:41:15,440 --> 00:41:18,920 Speaker 2: commit to learning Hollywood. I had to serve somebody else's 771 00:41:19,000 --> 00:41:22,160 Speaker 2: vision before I could be in a place to execute 772 00:41:22,160 --> 00:41:25,440 Speaker 2: my own. So I would encourage, you know, anyone you 773 00:41:25,440 --> 00:41:29,080 Speaker 2: know listening, any entrepreneur listening, don't be weary and well doing, 774 00:41:29,120 --> 00:41:33,440 Speaker 2: don't give up on your vision yet, don't also stress 775 00:41:33,480 --> 00:41:37,520 Speaker 2: yourself out because you're trying to get the timing of 776 00:41:37,560 --> 00:41:40,600 Speaker 2: the vision to manifest before it's time. You know, if 777 00:41:40,640 --> 00:41:43,120 Speaker 2: you plan a seed in the ground, it don't matter 778 00:41:43,160 --> 00:41:46,000 Speaker 2: what you do to that seed. Some seeds just take it. 779 00:41:46,120 --> 00:41:48,920 Speaker 2: They just there's a certain amount of time. And the 780 00:41:48,920 --> 00:41:51,760 Speaker 2: more you go over and keep watering it and uprooting 781 00:41:51,760 --> 00:41:53,799 Speaker 2: the soil, the only thing that happens you delay it 782 00:41:53,880 --> 00:41:56,440 Speaker 2: versus saying, hey, I planted this seed, I believe this 783 00:41:56,480 --> 00:41:58,399 Speaker 2: is what I'm supposed to do. I'm going to keep 784 00:41:58,440 --> 00:42:01,719 Speaker 2: working at it and guess what, I'm gonna work at 785 00:42:01,760 --> 00:42:06,200 Speaker 2: it with joy. The dream the vision is not meant 786 00:42:06,239 --> 00:42:11,400 Speaker 2: to depress us. We sometimes have self inflicted depression because 787 00:42:11,440 --> 00:42:14,160 Speaker 2: we put a timeline on it. Well, it needs to 788 00:42:14,200 --> 00:42:17,520 Speaker 2: happen by this, Well, no it doesn't. No, it doesn't. 789 00:42:17,719 --> 00:42:20,840 Speaker 2: Let it happen when it's going to happen, and until 790 00:42:20,920 --> 00:42:26,359 Speaker 2: it happens, keep learning, keep growing, keep researching, so when 791 00:42:26,400 --> 00:42:29,360 Speaker 2: it does happen, you're even you're even in a better 792 00:42:29,400 --> 00:42:32,799 Speaker 2: position to handle the success of whatever vision God has 793 00:42:32,840 --> 00:42:33,200 Speaker 2: given you. 794 00:42:34,200 --> 00:42:37,840 Speaker 1: Afrotech Conference is back when return to as Town, Houston, 795 00:42:37,920 --> 00:42:41,240 Speaker 1: Texas from October twenty seventh through thirty first, twenty twenty five, 796 00:42:41,560 --> 00:42:44,960 Speaker 1: the George R. Brown Convention Center. For years, Afrotech has 797 00:42:45,000 --> 00:42:50,239 Speaker 1: been to go to experience for black tech innovators, founders, engineers, creators, investors. 798 00:42:50,320 --> 00:42:52,040 Speaker 1: In twenty twenty five is shaping up to be the 799 00:42:52,040 --> 00:42:56,240 Speaker 1: biggest year yet. Thover forty attendees expected. This year's conference 800 00:42:56,280 --> 00:42:59,920 Speaker 1: will feature five days of dynamic programming across six curator stages, 801 00:43:00,239 --> 00:43:03,359 Speaker 1: from discovery to executive leadership. Join us to hear from 802 00:43:03,360 --> 00:43:06,359 Speaker 1: industry leaders at the forefront of change, learn from top 803 00:43:06,360 --> 00:43:09,080 Speaker 1: ten engineers and designers, and connect with recruiters from nearly 804 00:43:09,120 --> 00:43:12,200 Speaker 1: two hundred companies. This year, we're digging deeper into what's 805 00:43:12,280 --> 00:43:15,839 Speaker 1: next with tracks exploring AI and machine learning, mad tech 806 00:43:15,880 --> 00:43:20,200 Speaker 1: and health equity, cybersecurity, climate tech, and much more. Whether 807 00:43:20,200 --> 00:43:22,759 Speaker 1: you're launching your first startup, pivoting into a new role, 808 00:43:23,000 --> 00:43:25,480 Speaker 1: or scaling as an execu there's something here for you. 809 00:43:25,719 --> 00:43:28,040 Speaker 1: Take us and moving fast to keep your spot nowt 810 00:43:28,040 --> 00:43:31,560 Speaker 1: at Afrotech Conference dot com. Black Tech Green Money is 811 00:43:31,560 --> 00:43:34,280 Speaker 1: a production of Blavity afro Tech on the Black Effect 812 00:43:34,360 --> 00:43:37,520 Speaker 1: podcast Networking Night Hire Media. It's produced by Morgan Debaun 813 00:43:37,600 --> 00:43:40,880 Speaker 1: and me Well Lucas with the additional production support by 814 00:43:40,960 --> 00:43:44,120 Speaker 1: Kate McDonald, Sarah Ergan, and Jada McGee. Special thank you 815 00:43:44,160 --> 00:43:46,760 Speaker 1: to Michael Davis and Lovebeach. Learn more about my guessing 816 00:43:46,840 --> 00:43:49,839 Speaker 1: Other Tech the Shops an innovator. It's at afrotech dot com. 817 00:43:50,000 --> 00:43:52,239 Speaker 1: The video version of this episode will drop to Black 818 00:43:52,239 --> 00:43:55,239 Speaker 1: Tech Green Money on YouTube, so tap in enjoy your 819 00:43:55,280 --> 00:43:55,840 Speaker 1: black Tech. 820 00:43:55,719 --> 00:44:00,200 Speaker 3: Green money shit to somebody. Go get your money and 821 00:44:00,320 --> 00:44:00,480 Speaker 3: love