1 00:00:00,560 --> 00:00:02,880 Speaker 1: If you're about to make a change in your life 2 00:00:03,160 --> 00:00:06,280 Speaker 1: and you feel uncomfortable, that's the best feeling you can have. 3 00:00:08,080 --> 00:00:10,200 Speaker 2: Because for the first time in your life, you'll make 4 00:00:10,240 --> 00:00:12,920 Speaker 2: a new decision that's going to be best for you 5 00:00:13,560 --> 00:00:16,079 Speaker 2: and not for what somebody told you to do. And 6 00:00:16,120 --> 00:00:18,840 Speaker 2: that's when all bets are off. Welcome to Money Making 7 00:00:18,880 --> 00:00:21,880 Speaker 2: Conversation Masterclass. I'm your host, Rashan McDonald. 8 00:00:22,200 --> 00:00:24,720 Speaker 1: Our theme is there's no perfect time to start following 9 00:00:24,720 --> 00:00:27,920 Speaker 1: your dreams. I recognize that we all have different definitions 10 00:00:27,920 --> 00:00:30,440 Speaker 1: of success. For you and maybe decide to your HM, 11 00:00:30,880 --> 00:00:33,400 Speaker 1: it's time to stop reading other people's success stories to 12 00:00:33,440 --> 00:00:42,199 Speaker 1: start living your own keep winning. I'm Rashan McDonald. As 13 00:00:42,200 --> 00:00:45,040 Speaker 1: you know, I host this weekly Money Making Conversation Master 14 00:00:45,120 --> 00:00:48,280 Speaker 1: Class show. The interviews and information that this show provides 15 00:00:48,479 --> 00:00:51,280 Speaker 1: are for everyone. It's time to stop reading other people's 16 00:00:51,280 --> 00:00:54,320 Speaker 1: success stories, and you know what I say, start living 17 00:00:54,320 --> 00:00:57,040 Speaker 1: your own keep winning, folks, because if you keep winning 18 00:00:57,040 --> 00:00:59,440 Speaker 1: for yourself an eventually you're going to help other people 19 00:00:59,480 --> 00:01:02,840 Speaker 1: to win. It's kind of like, you know, motivation has 20 00:01:02,920 --> 00:01:06,280 Speaker 1: to have a core point. Once you develop that core point, 21 00:01:06,480 --> 00:01:08,960 Speaker 1: then you can spread They call it love. I call 22 00:01:09,040 --> 00:01:13,120 Speaker 1: it information. My guess. Next guest is full of information. 23 00:01:13,200 --> 00:01:16,920 Speaker 1: She's a founder and president of the Financial Literacy Institute, 24 00:01:17,200 --> 00:01:19,440 Speaker 1: and she will be discussing the one hundred and third 25 00:01:19,480 --> 00:01:23,120 Speaker 1: anniversary of the Tulsa massacre and the destruction of the 26 00:01:23,120 --> 00:01:25,880 Speaker 1: Black Wall Street in Oklahoma. Plus you'll be telling us 27 00:01:25,920 --> 00:01:29,200 Speaker 1: how we can participate. Please welcome the Money Making Conversation 28 00:01:29,319 --> 00:01:33,000 Speaker 1: Master Class. Jasmine Young. How you doing, Jasmine? 29 00:01:33,520 --> 00:01:34,280 Speaker 3: I'm doing well. 30 00:01:34,280 --> 00:01:36,720 Speaker 1: How are you pretty good? First of all, where are 31 00:01:36,720 --> 00:01:38,360 Speaker 1: you based? Just get that out the way. 32 00:01:39,319 --> 00:01:41,240 Speaker 3: Based out of Atlanta, Georgia? 33 00:01:41,319 --> 00:01:44,279 Speaker 1: Are you are you? Are you born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia? 34 00:01:44,319 --> 00:01:45,440 Speaker 1: Are you relocated? 35 00:01:46,240 --> 00:01:48,560 Speaker 3: Actually no, I'm not in an Atlanta native. I was 36 00:01:48,560 --> 00:01:51,800 Speaker 3: born in Jackson, Alabama and raised in Indian Reeds. It's 37 00:01:51,840 --> 00:01:54,600 Speaker 3: about an hour above Mobile, Alabama. 38 00:01:54,720 --> 00:01:58,960 Speaker 1: Now Jackson, Alabama. Now you know, I'm from a big city. Okay, 39 00:01:59,080 --> 00:02:02,000 Speaker 1: So I have a different point of view versus what 40 00:02:02,160 --> 00:02:05,160 Speaker 1: your might be. So tell us about life in Jackson, Alabama. 41 00:02:06,120 --> 00:02:11,680 Speaker 3: Oh, it's very small. Everybody knows everybody. It's just a 42 00:02:11,800 --> 00:02:15,959 Speaker 3: very close knit community. We had we do have a Walmart. 43 00:02:16,000 --> 00:02:19,880 Speaker 3: That's one of the things that everybody has. We do 44 00:02:20,040 --> 00:02:24,519 Speaker 3: have a Walmart. We do have traffic lights, but most most, 45 00:02:24,960 --> 00:02:28,760 Speaker 3: most of us grew up and lived on our own land. 46 00:02:28,960 --> 00:02:32,720 Speaker 3: Dirt roads, had farms, you know, things of that native 47 00:02:32,840 --> 00:02:34,760 Speaker 3: very very country, very country. 48 00:02:35,680 --> 00:02:38,680 Speaker 1: Now now, and how did you get out of Jackson? 49 00:02:38,919 --> 00:02:42,799 Speaker 1: Was it education and broachradick Jackson? Job opportunities? How did 50 00:02:42,840 --> 00:02:44,880 Speaker 1: you get out of Jackson? What motivated you get out 51 00:02:44,880 --> 00:02:45,400 Speaker 1: of Jackson? 52 00:02:45,919 --> 00:02:50,320 Speaker 3: It was definitely education. I left. I left my hometown 53 00:02:50,480 --> 00:02:55,359 Speaker 3: on a full scholarship to Alabama and m University in Huntsville, Alabama. 54 00:02:55,760 --> 00:02:58,720 Speaker 3: And I knew that I was going to leave and 55 00:02:58,840 --> 00:03:00,919 Speaker 3: actually go to college and be a c PA as 56 00:03:00,960 --> 00:03:04,280 Speaker 3: early as the eleventh grade. So I knew that I 57 00:03:04,360 --> 00:03:08,200 Speaker 3: was getting out and I was gonna use financial literacy 58 00:03:08,400 --> 00:03:10,520 Speaker 3: as a way to do it. And that's exactly what 59 00:03:10,600 --> 00:03:13,640 Speaker 3: I did. So I left Jackson, Alabama, and I haven't 60 00:03:13,639 --> 00:03:14,120 Speaker 3: looked back. 61 00:03:14,639 --> 00:03:17,079 Speaker 1: I love it. First of all, you still got that accent. 62 00:03:17,160 --> 00:03:19,560 Speaker 1: Now you're not getting rid of that accent. Now, You're 63 00:03:19,600 --> 00:03:21,359 Speaker 1: not going to go to New York and act like 64 00:03:21,440 --> 00:03:23,279 Speaker 1: you're in New Yorker, not with this accent. 65 00:03:23,280 --> 00:03:26,600 Speaker 3: Astely not. I am a country girl born and braided. 66 00:03:27,000 --> 00:03:28,080 Speaker 1: I love it. I love it. 67 00:03:28,120 --> 00:03:28,280 Speaker 3: Now. 68 00:03:28,280 --> 00:03:31,600 Speaker 1: You went to the HBCU, you know, Alabama, And did 69 00:03:31,639 --> 00:03:33,480 Speaker 1: that have an impact in your life? Tell us about 70 00:03:33,480 --> 00:03:37,320 Speaker 1: that black excellence that they're teaching academically, and Uh, these hbc. 71 00:03:37,120 --> 00:03:41,640 Speaker 3: Youths absolutely in a world where we are the minority, 72 00:03:42,200 --> 00:03:44,600 Speaker 3: going to a place where we were the majority and 73 00:03:44,640 --> 00:03:49,880 Speaker 3: we were treated as such really helped, I would say, 74 00:03:49,920 --> 00:03:53,000 Speaker 3: my self esteem. And it also helped how I looked 75 00:03:53,000 --> 00:03:56,280 Speaker 3: at myself when it when it came to a professional 76 00:03:56,360 --> 00:03:59,800 Speaker 3: in this big world outside of an HBCU, it kind 77 00:03:59,800 --> 00:04:03,200 Speaker 3: of it kind of built me for what was to come. 78 00:04:04,320 --> 00:04:08,520 Speaker 3: And especially with the teachers that were there, they prepared 79 00:04:08,600 --> 00:04:11,040 Speaker 3: us in a way that I feel like I would 80 00:04:11,080 --> 00:04:15,120 Speaker 3: not have been prepared had I not gone to an HBCU. 81 00:04:16,240 --> 00:04:18,240 Speaker 3: So there were things that were taught to us, like 82 00:04:18,320 --> 00:04:21,719 Speaker 3: survival skills that I don't think I would have gotten 83 00:04:22,760 --> 00:04:25,160 Speaker 3: had I went to a had I chosen a different school. 84 00:04:25,160 --> 00:04:28,000 Speaker 3: And when I say survival skills, I'm not just talking 85 00:04:28,040 --> 00:04:30,640 Speaker 3: about you know, how to provide for yourself for things 86 00:04:30,680 --> 00:04:33,360 Speaker 3: of that nature. No, they taught us how to operate 87 00:04:33,400 --> 00:04:36,880 Speaker 3: in a world where we aren't the majority, where systemic 88 00:04:37,000 --> 00:04:40,320 Speaker 3: racism still exists. They taught us how to, you know, 89 00:04:40,520 --> 00:04:45,680 Speaker 3: always be prepared to over deliver an underpromise so that 90 00:04:45,760 --> 00:04:50,880 Speaker 3: you're always on the mark or better. And it definitely shows. 91 00:04:50,960 --> 00:04:54,560 Speaker 3: I came out in twenty thirteen and to say, I'm 92 00:04:54,600 --> 00:04:57,520 Speaker 3: proud of my classmates and even those before me and 93 00:04:57,560 --> 00:05:01,880 Speaker 3: after me have done some amazing things coming from an HBCU. 94 00:05:02,200 --> 00:05:04,880 Speaker 3: Whereas when I expressed that I would be going to 95 00:05:04,960 --> 00:05:08,279 Speaker 3: an HBCU, I was met with comments such as, You're 96 00:05:08,320 --> 00:05:10,560 Speaker 3: so much better than that, Why would you go there? 97 00:05:10,760 --> 00:05:13,640 Speaker 3: Why would you limit yourself? When in actuality, going to 98 00:05:13,720 --> 00:05:15,760 Speaker 3: an hbc YOU was the best thing I ever did, 99 00:05:15,800 --> 00:05:19,040 Speaker 3: and it didn't limit me. It actually catapulted me into 100 00:05:20,320 --> 00:05:22,840 Speaker 3: my career and where I am today, and I wouldn't 101 00:05:22,920 --> 00:05:23,400 Speaker 3: change the thing. 102 00:05:23,920 --> 00:05:26,960 Speaker 1: Yeah, you are a motivator. I'm telling you. You know, they 103 00:05:27,000 --> 00:05:28,640 Speaker 1: need to put your on tape. You know, they need 104 00:05:28,680 --> 00:05:31,600 Speaker 1: to put you like on the billboard right outside of Alabama. 105 00:05:31,680 --> 00:05:32,200 Speaker 1: A and M. 106 00:05:32,880 --> 00:05:35,039 Speaker 3: Yes, sir, listen to jazz when young. 107 00:05:35,680 --> 00:05:37,640 Speaker 1: She will teach you right because you know a lot 108 00:05:37,680 --> 00:05:42,839 Speaker 1: of people stereotypes, you know, will stop you from being 109 00:05:43,480 --> 00:05:46,160 Speaker 1: reaching great heights. Because always that's why I always talk 110 00:05:46,200 --> 00:05:49,280 Speaker 1: about you know where you came from, because a lot 111 00:05:49,279 --> 00:05:52,880 Speaker 1: of people say, you know, they put people a certain 112 00:05:53,120 --> 00:05:56,360 Speaker 1: educational reach because it's the same thing small towns in 113 00:05:56,360 --> 00:05:58,719 Speaker 1: inner city because I came from in the city fifth Ward, 114 00:05:59,000 --> 00:06:01,000 Speaker 1: that's where I was born to raise, So people like 115 00:06:01,080 --> 00:06:04,200 Speaker 1: me weren't supposed to get out accord to them, you know, 116 00:06:04,440 --> 00:06:06,960 Speaker 1: people like me, you know. And when I met people 117 00:06:07,000 --> 00:06:09,159 Speaker 1: that go, oh you different, you know, I never knew 118 00:06:09,160 --> 00:06:11,400 Speaker 1: how to take that when they said that, oh you're different, 119 00:06:11,400 --> 00:06:14,640 Speaker 1: you know, because because you know, it was always like, 120 00:06:14,680 --> 00:06:17,359 Speaker 1: what do you mean different? You know, because my teachers 121 00:06:17,360 --> 00:06:20,400 Speaker 1: prepared me to be this way. They told me what 122 00:06:20,640 --> 00:06:23,360 Speaker 1: I could be in high school. Because if they didn't 123 00:06:23,400 --> 00:06:26,120 Speaker 1: tell me these things, like your teachers told you at 124 00:06:26,160 --> 00:06:28,440 Speaker 1: Alabama and m I'll tell you, I would not be 125 00:06:28,600 --> 00:06:31,760 Speaker 1: the person I am today. But they saw something in me, 126 00:06:32,520 --> 00:06:35,440 Speaker 1: Jazz Whine, that allowed me to be able to sit 127 00:06:35,520 --> 00:06:38,080 Speaker 1: on this microphone and talk to motivating people like you, 128 00:06:38,120 --> 00:06:40,520 Speaker 1: because that's the story that you want to be able 129 00:06:40,520 --> 00:06:43,479 Speaker 1: to put out there. And what inspired me to do 130 00:06:43,600 --> 00:06:47,560 Speaker 1: this interview was that your drive about financial literacy spread 131 00:06:47,600 --> 00:06:50,840 Speaker 1: financial literacy around the world. One family at the time 132 00:06:51,120 --> 00:06:52,080 Speaker 1: talk to us about. 133 00:06:51,839 --> 00:06:57,160 Speaker 3: That absolutely, So I learned early on that my passion 134 00:06:58,000 --> 00:07:02,440 Speaker 3: for financial literacy was actually was actually my purpose, and 135 00:07:02,480 --> 00:07:04,960 Speaker 3: I'm blessed that both my passion and my purpose aligned 136 00:07:05,000 --> 00:07:07,320 Speaker 3: because I had a knack for numbers growing up. I 137 00:07:07,440 --> 00:07:12,280 Speaker 3: counted everything, even my food particles, my steps. When I 138 00:07:12,280 --> 00:07:14,640 Speaker 3: would repeat things to myself, I had to say, I'm 139 00:07:14,680 --> 00:07:18,160 Speaker 3: a certain amount of times, just really really big on numbers. 140 00:07:18,200 --> 00:07:20,400 Speaker 3: I didn't know that I had a great uncle who 141 00:07:20,640 --> 00:07:24,560 Speaker 3: was a math Jeenius, and apparently it was it passed 142 00:07:24,600 --> 00:07:27,680 Speaker 3: down to me, so I knew. Back in high school 143 00:07:28,840 --> 00:07:31,200 Speaker 3: when I was met with the comment that everybody wasn't 144 00:07:31,200 --> 00:07:33,960 Speaker 3: fed with a silver spoone like me, it infuriated me. 145 00:07:34,040 --> 00:07:38,160 Speaker 3: But it infuriated me to make a difference because in 146 00:07:38,240 --> 00:07:40,560 Speaker 3: all actuality, I don't believe I was fed with a 147 00:07:40,600 --> 00:07:43,200 Speaker 3: silver spoone. My mom and dad they grew up poor. 148 00:07:43,440 --> 00:07:45,560 Speaker 3: I mean, we're already in the country, but my mom 149 00:07:45,640 --> 00:07:47,040 Speaker 3: was one of eight, my dad is the baby bo 150 00:07:47,040 --> 00:07:49,840 Speaker 3: was seventeen. They were poor and they didn't have a 151 00:07:49,840 --> 00:07:52,640 Speaker 3: lot growing up. But one thing, one thing they did 152 00:07:52,800 --> 00:07:56,200 Speaker 3: for my brother and I is they worked very very hard. 153 00:07:56,280 --> 00:07:58,680 Speaker 1: So they came from they came from eight to seventeen. 154 00:07:58,760 --> 00:07:59,960 Speaker 1: And is it that two cant. 155 00:08:01,760 --> 00:08:02,080 Speaker 3: That's it? 156 00:08:08,760 --> 00:08:11,520 Speaker 1: The baby continue to throw. I just had to stop 157 00:08:11,600 --> 00:08:15,120 Speaker 1: that when you said seventeen and then only just two 158 00:08:15,120 --> 00:08:17,080 Speaker 1: of y'all and they all on the farm. 159 00:08:18,080 --> 00:08:20,880 Speaker 3: But yeah, but we had a lot of cousins, and 160 00:08:20,920 --> 00:08:23,560 Speaker 3: we grew up on our own land. And I'll be honest, 161 00:08:23,600 --> 00:08:26,720 Speaker 3: back then, I was ashamed of where I came from 162 00:08:26,760 --> 00:08:28,600 Speaker 3: because I was. I lived on a dirt road, there 163 00:08:28,640 --> 00:08:31,800 Speaker 3: was no through traffic. Everybody knew everybody. It was farm 164 00:08:31,840 --> 00:08:36,320 Speaker 3: animals everywhere, trees, gullies, all types of things. And it 165 00:08:36,400 --> 00:08:39,440 Speaker 3: wasn't until I actually went to my HBCU and got 166 00:08:39,480 --> 00:08:42,800 Speaker 3: into my career that I realized that I really did, 167 00:08:43,480 --> 00:08:48,160 Speaker 3: I really did come from a rich heritage, not only 168 00:08:48,440 --> 00:08:51,880 Speaker 3: not only the place that I lived. It's called Indian Ridge, 169 00:08:51,880 --> 00:08:54,680 Speaker 3: but I'm an eighth Indian. I had no idea that 170 00:08:54,760 --> 00:08:59,480 Speaker 3: my grandparents were Cherokee Indians had no idea. So we 171 00:08:59,559 --> 00:09:02,719 Speaker 3: lived on on over seventy eight plus acres of our 172 00:09:02,760 --> 00:09:06,320 Speaker 3: own land. Back then, as a child, I didn't realize 173 00:09:06,720 --> 00:09:10,160 Speaker 3: that that was something to be proud of us. All 174 00:09:10,200 --> 00:09:12,839 Speaker 3: of these roads we walked the roads and ate from 175 00:09:12,920 --> 00:09:17,960 Speaker 3: eight from the fruit of the trees, plums, mustardized apples, pears, 176 00:09:18,040 --> 00:09:22,679 Speaker 3: pigs like we farmed, we had animals, pigs, horses, chickens, 177 00:09:22,720 --> 00:09:27,160 Speaker 3: like we had it. But from my standpoint, because I 178 00:09:27,200 --> 00:09:30,760 Speaker 3: had never left Jackson, Alabama before I went to college, 179 00:09:30,800 --> 00:09:32,760 Speaker 3: was this is country, Like, why can't we live in 180 00:09:32,760 --> 00:09:35,800 Speaker 3: the city we have, you know, a big house, we 181 00:09:35,880 --> 00:09:38,280 Speaker 3: don't have we don't have cable like, we don't have 182 00:09:38,360 --> 00:09:41,960 Speaker 3: a pool. You know, our rolls are dirt roads. But 183 00:09:42,040 --> 00:09:44,760 Speaker 3: I realized that what my parents gave my brother and 184 00:09:44,800 --> 00:09:47,840 Speaker 3: I was a basic foundation of how to be a 185 00:09:47,920 --> 00:09:53,280 Speaker 3: responsible financial adult. And they surrounded themselves with people that 186 00:09:53,400 --> 00:09:56,720 Speaker 3: had the financial education that they wanted to have, and 187 00:09:56,760 --> 00:09:59,360 Speaker 3: then they also held each other accountable for the finances 188 00:09:59,360 --> 00:10:01,320 Speaker 3: in the household, even down to me and my brother. 189 00:10:02,120 --> 00:10:04,280 Speaker 3: My dad would give us two people. My dad was 190 00:10:04,320 --> 00:10:06,360 Speaker 3: always gone before we got up to go to school 191 00:10:07,559 --> 00:10:09,319 Speaker 3: because he was already at work, but he would leave 192 00:10:09,360 --> 00:10:12,400 Speaker 3: two twenty dollars bills, two twenty dollars bills on the table, 193 00:10:12,920 --> 00:10:15,800 Speaker 3: and my brother and I knew that outside of any 194 00:10:15,840 --> 00:10:20,960 Speaker 3: school requirement, if we wanted to buy anything, whether it 195 00:10:21,000 --> 00:10:23,079 Speaker 3: was gas for the car, to get the band, practice, 196 00:10:23,120 --> 00:10:28,040 Speaker 3: basketball practice, softball practice, whatever snacks, anything, we had to 197 00:10:28,080 --> 00:10:30,160 Speaker 3: make that twenty dollars work. Because we weren't getting in 198 00:10:30,200 --> 00:10:33,920 Speaker 3: this and it was it was actually that budget that 199 00:10:34,000 --> 00:10:36,640 Speaker 3: my dad gave us. To this day, my parents have 200 00:10:36,800 --> 00:10:39,400 Speaker 3: never purchased a cell phone for me. Every minute I 201 00:10:39,480 --> 00:10:41,440 Speaker 3: had on my cell phone back then, and I'm dating 202 00:10:41,480 --> 00:10:44,040 Speaker 3: myself was a bit. But the minutes that I had 203 00:10:44,120 --> 00:10:47,320 Speaker 3: on my phone back then, I purchased them because my 204 00:10:47,400 --> 00:10:49,320 Speaker 3: dad taught me, hey, look, this is all you get. 205 00:10:49,400 --> 00:10:50,720 Speaker 3: You got to figure out how to make it work. 206 00:10:51,320 --> 00:10:54,760 Speaker 3: And it was that example that allowed us to be 207 00:10:54,920 --> 00:10:57,800 Speaker 3: able to have the things that we wanted to have. 208 00:10:58,000 --> 00:11:00,880 Speaker 3: And to my peers, because they weren't getting that, it 209 00:11:00,920 --> 00:11:03,079 Speaker 3: looked as if I was privileged or if I was 210 00:11:03,120 --> 00:11:06,400 Speaker 3: sped with a silver sponge, when in actuality, my parents 211 00:11:06,400 --> 00:11:10,400 Speaker 3: gave my brother an example and that was it, and 212 00:11:10,480 --> 00:11:13,719 Speaker 3: I realized that I wanted to That's that's actually when 213 00:11:13,720 --> 00:11:16,640 Speaker 3: I decided that I wasn't gonna gonna become a professional singer. 214 00:11:16,720 --> 00:11:19,360 Speaker 3: Mayor Michael Jackson. I was asked, it gonna be a CPA. 215 00:11:19,679 --> 00:11:22,400 Speaker 1: Okay, though, can you sing those jasmine? 216 00:11:23,920 --> 00:11:27,520 Speaker 3: You know I can hold the tune. You know all 217 00:11:27,559 --> 00:11:31,679 Speaker 3: those others will say different, but you know I've been 218 00:11:31,679 --> 00:11:33,720 Speaker 3: seeing since I was five years old, it's not something 219 00:11:33,720 --> 00:11:36,880 Speaker 3: that I do often anymore. I did sing a lot 220 00:11:36,880 --> 00:11:38,080 Speaker 3: in Hunt for You. 221 00:11:38,360 --> 00:11:40,679 Speaker 1: You know, you're a kid. They let you sing. As 222 00:11:40,720 --> 00:11:44,960 Speaker 1: you get older, they'll tell you the truth. Okay. 223 00:11:46,960 --> 00:11:49,160 Speaker 3: I sung, and I sung in college. And I also 224 00:11:49,240 --> 00:11:50,640 Speaker 3: sang on a praise team at my church. 225 00:11:51,480 --> 00:11:53,280 Speaker 1: Now, praise a lot of people now and there's a 226 00:11:53,320 --> 00:11:55,160 Speaker 1: lot of energy. Okay. 227 00:11:55,360 --> 00:11:58,200 Speaker 3: Yeah, but you know that's when I decided. And I 228 00:11:58,240 --> 00:12:01,040 Speaker 3: come from a music queen client familys Okay. 229 00:12:00,920 --> 00:12:03,319 Speaker 1: Now, they got the musical in class family and then 230 00:12:03,440 --> 00:12:06,280 Speaker 1: mathematically inclas family. And you one eighth with your one 231 00:12:06,320 --> 00:12:10,000 Speaker 1: age cherokee. Yes, sir, you're you're working it. You're working it. 232 00:12:10,000 --> 00:12:13,480 Speaker 1: First of all. First of all, Jasmin yo, this is 233 00:12:13,520 --> 00:12:18,120 Speaker 1: an incredible interview from an authentic tone, you know, because 234 00:12:18,120 --> 00:12:20,680 Speaker 1: of the fact that you were telling me who you are. 235 00:12:21,200 --> 00:12:25,000 Speaker 1: You're honestly breaking down with I think coming folk talk, 236 00:12:25,559 --> 00:12:29,440 Speaker 1: coming folks talk, because that's all I was offered, you know. 237 00:12:29,880 --> 00:12:32,360 Speaker 1: And I would complain. I would complain about the clothes 238 00:12:32,400 --> 00:12:35,400 Speaker 1: I wear. I would complain about everything, not realizing that 239 00:12:35,920 --> 00:12:39,520 Speaker 1: my parents did not allow anybody in our house to curse. 240 00:12:40,040 --> 00:12:43,080 Speaker 1: We couldn't curse. I didn't I tell people today. I 241 00:12:43,120 --> 00:12:45,640 Speaker 1: did not utter a curse word till I was nineteen 242 00:12:45,679 --> 00:12:50,200 Speaker 1: years old. Nineteen years old because my parents raised me 243 00:12:50,360 --> 00:12:53,600 Speaker 1: that way. But I thought, oh my god, this is 244 00:12:53,640 --> 00:12:56,800 Speaker 1: the worst. But in the process of raising me that way, 245 00:12:57,320 --> 00:13:00,160 Speaker 1: I had to speak correctly. I had this No, I 246 00:13:00,160 --> 00:13:02,840 Speaker 1: have to have a vernacular because I always tell people 247 00:13:02,960 --> 00:13:06,160 Speaker 1: you curse you use you like using five words with 248 00:13:06,200 --> 00:13:10,120 Speaker 1: a fireword, because it just shortcuts your your intellect and 249 00:13:10,160 --> 00:13:13,199 Speaker 1: shortcuts your ability to communicate. And so when I hear 250 00:13:13,240 --> 00:13:17,120 Speaker 1: your story, and I remember going because I'm from Houston, Texas, 251 00:13:17,120 --> 00:13:19,280 Speaker 1: and we'd go with to Bowisier and Shreetpoint, louis Ella 252 00:13:19,360 --> 00:13:21,720 Speaker 1: and we see black people on the farm and they 253 00:13:21,760 --> 00:13:25,680 Speaker 1: had little you know, the outhouses and the little pain 254 00:13:25,800 --> 00:13:28,240 Speaker 1: by the bed, and I would go, what the heck 255 00:13:28,400 --> 00:13:30,040 Speaker 1: is going on here? I can't get away from here. 256 00:13:30,080 --> 00:13:32,920 Speaker 1: But I realize now all my life I've been trying 257 00:13:32,920 --> 00:13:34,040 Speaker 1: to get back to that. 258 00:13:34,320 --> 00:13:38,920 Speaker 3: Jazmine, absolutely, yes, yes, And it's like now when I 259 00:13:38,960 --> 00:13:44,360 Speaker 3: go home, I get the best sleep. Is so peaceful there. Wow, 260 00:13:44,679 --> 00:13:45,920 Speaker 3: it's so peaceful. 261 00:13:45,559 --> 00:13:48,199 Speaker 1: There, Jasmin. I gotta go to break here. Don't go nowhere, 262 00:13:48,320 --> 00:13:49,880 Speaker 1: because you got a lot to talk about on the 263 00:13:49,880 --> 00:13:52,120 Speaker 1: other side because we want to talk about Black Wall Street, 264 00:13:52,120 --> 00:13:54,920 Speaker 1: want to talk about you because you motivated us to 265 00:13:54,960 --> 00:13:57,240 Speaker 1: stick around to hear the other side of the story 266 00:13:57,400 --> 00:14:02,319 Speaker 1: with jazzmin Yo Financial Literacy US at Financial Literacy Institute, 267 00:14:02,400 --> 00:14:04,040 Speaker 1: and she does a lot more than that, and she's 268 00:14:04,040 --> 00:14:06,120 Speaker 1: gonna tell you that because y'all can hear she got 269 00:14:06,120 --> 00:14:07,320 Speaker 1: that country twang down. 270 00:14:07,400 --> 00:14:07,600 Speaker 2: Pack. 271 00:14:07,960 --> 00:14:12,080 Speaker 1: Don't go nowhere. This Rashawn McDonald's Money Making Conversation Matter Class. 272 00:14:19,480 --> 00:14:23,080 Speaker 4: We'll be right back with more money Making Conversations Masterclass 273 00:14:23,120 --> 00:14:30,280 Speaker 4: with Rashawn McDonald. Welcome back to the Money Making Conversations 274 00:14:30,320 --> 00:14:35,800 Speaker 4: Masterclass hosted by Rashaan McDonald. Money Making Conversations Masterclass continues 275 00:14:35,840 --> 00:14:40,640 Speaker 4: online at Moneymakingconversations dot com and follow money Making Conversations 276 00:14:40,720 --> 00:14:44,040 Speaker 4: Masterclass on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. 277 00:14:44,520 --> 00:14:47,920 Speaker 1: This is Rashan mcdonald're listening to Money Making Conversation Masterclass 278 00:14:47,920 --> 00:14:52,920 Speaker 1: and I'm speaking to Jasmineyoung. Great story come from Jackson, 279 00:14:52,960 --> 00:14:56,400 Speaker 1: Alabama with the Alabama A and M. She knew in 280 00:14:56,440 --> 00:14:58,720 Speaker 1: the eleventh grade she was gonna be a CPA. She 281 00:14:58,880 --> 00:15:02,000 Speaker 1: just knew numbers talk numbers, talk to numbers game. And 282 00:15:02,000 --> 00:15:04,400 Speaker 1: I always admire that because when I came out of 283 00:15:04,480 --> 00:15:06,480 Speaker 1: high school. All I wanted to be was a truck 284 00:15:06,880 --> 00:15:08,920 Speaker 1: was a forklift driver. That's what I wanted to be. 285 00:15:09,560 --> 00:15:12,560 Speaker 1: I didn't have any aspiration to be nothing more than 286 00:15:12,600 --> 00:15:15,600 Speaker 1: a forklift driver. Well, she's taking that financial literacy to 287 00:15:15,680 --> 00:15:17,880 Speaker 1: the next level. She has events coming up that we 288 00:15:17,880 --> 00:15:21,040 Speaker 1: wanted to talk about. The event called the third annual 289 00:15:21,120 --> 00:15:24,520 Speaker 1: Black Wall Street Black Business Expo. Tell us what that 290 00:15:24,640 --> 00:15:26,600 Speaker 1: is all about, Miss Jasmine Young. 291 00:15:27,600 --> 00:15:31,480 Speaker 3: Absolutely so. The Black Wall Street Black Business Expo is 292 00:15:31,520 --> 00:15:36,440 Speaker 3: a twofold event. Of course, we want to honor the 293 00:15:36,720 --> 00:15:42,160 Speaker 3: excellence that existed in the Greenwood District commonly known as 294 00:15:42,240 --> 00:15:47,160 Speaker 3: Black Wall Street in Tulsa, Oklahoma, back in the nineteen hundred. Unfortunately, 295 00:15:47,320 --> 00:15:51,800 Speaker 3: due to racism, that community was burned down and in 296 00:15:51,880 --> 00:15:54,560 Speaker 3: Black Wall Street. In the time of Black Wall Street, 297 00:15:54,560 --> 00:16:00,760 Speaker 3: that was actually a time where African Americans exemplified exceptional 298 00:16:01,600 --> 00:16:06,280 Speaker 3: amounts of wealth. However, since then, the wealth gap has 299 00:16:06,320 --> 00:16:09,360 Speaker 3: increased due to the demise of Black Wall Street. So 300 00:16:09,440 --> 00:16:14,400 Speaker 3: our event pays homage to our ancestors who exemplify Black 301 00:16:14,440 --> 00:16:18,160 Speaker 3: excellence through entrepreneurship, but it also is a call to 302 00:16:18,280 --> 00:16:23,200 Speaker 3: action for today's entrepreneurs to use that spirit of Black 303 00:16:23,240 --> 00:16:28,800 Speaker 3: Wall Street, one to recreate the generational wealth that existed 304 00:16:28,880 --> 00:16:32,720 Speaker 3: back then, but also to create social change and use 305 00:16:32,760 --> 00:16:38,200 Speaker 3: the black dollar to actually get legislators to make bills 306 00:16:38,240 --> 00:16:42,480 Speaker 3: and laws that will allow us the equity and the 307 00:16:42,480 --> 00:16:47,160 Speaker 3: social justice that we are. So it's long overdue for 308 00:16:47,240 --> 00:16:49,880 Speaker 3: us to receive, so we're using this event. 309 00:16:50,000 --> 00:16:55,840 Speaker 1: Go ahead, Now, why aren't you running for public office? 310 00:16:56,600 --> 00:17:00,520 Speaker 1: I'm telling you, I'm just hearing you. You you're talking 311 00:17:00,520 --> 00:17:04,240 Speaker 1: about social change, nin you just mentioned politics. You out here, 312 00:17:03,880 --> 00:17:07,080 Speaker 1: you have a good sense, you have a very very 313 00:17:07,600 --> 00:17:13,760 Speaker 1: marketable personality. You have an engaging tone of how you are, 314 00:17:13,880 --> 00:17:16,280 Speaker 1: your background, and how you're gonna move the community for 315 00:17:16,600 --> 00:17:18,639 Speaker 1: Why aren't you running for public office? 316 00:17:19,640 --> 00:17:22,399 Speaker 3: Well, I'll be honest with you. Going through school, I 317 00:17:22,480 --> 00:17:26,960 Speaker 3: actually hated politics. I hated government, which doesn't make sense 318 00:17:27,000 --> 00:17:28,840 Speaker 3: because I spent eleven and a half years of my 319 00:17:28,960 --> 00:17:34,840 Speaker 3: life as a government employee. But I have come to 320 00:17:35,720 --> 00:17:39,880 Speaker 3: have a passion for social action and making a difference. 321 00:17:40,480 --> 00:17:46,840 Speaker 3: And I realized that for our community, the way for 322 00:17:47,040 --> 00:17:52,040 Speaker 3: us to make I guess you could say move the needle. 323 00:17:52,080 --> 00:17:54,760 Speaker 3: And where we need to be economically is we have 324 00:17:54,840 --> 00:17:58,560 Speaker 3: to be civically engaged. The two are are synonymous. You 325 00:17:58,600 --> 00:18:01,920 Speaker 3: cannot have one without the other. And it just goes 326 00:18:01,960 --> 00:18:04,520 Speaker 3: back to the Black Wall Street store, which was one 327 00:18:04,520 --> 00:18:08,399 Speaker 3: of my inspirations. And you know, I'm actually toying with 328 00:18:08,480 --> 00:18:11,080 Speaker 3: the idea of actually going to law school. I've ordered 329 00:18:11,080 --> 00:18:13,679 Speaker 3: my Lsat book and I'm thinking that's the way I 330 00:18:13,720 --> 00:18:16,760 Speaker 3: want to go. But I would do not. I don't 331 00:18:16,760 --> 00:18:18,560 Speaker 3: want to fit for the bar because it's literally like 332 00:18:18,640 --> 00:18:22,639 Speaker 3: Seeta for the CPA exam, of course without numbers. But 333 00:18:23,080 --> 00:18:24,920 Speaker 3: I do want to see us in a better place 334 00:18:24,960 --> 00:18:27,159 Speaker 3: than I believe as a community. We can be in 335 00:18:27,200 --> 00:18:30,119 Speaker 3: a better place because we've done it before and Black 336 00:18:30,119 --> 00:18:32,120 Speaker 3: Wall Street is an example of it. 337 00:18:32,840 --> 00:18:35,800 Speaker 1: Now, when you thought of this idea, what motive did 338 00:18:35,840 --> 00:18:37,920 Speaker 1: you have? A did you pitch it to somebody and 339 00:18:37,960 --> 00:18:40,160 Speaker 1: they go, what are you talking about? What did you think? 340 00:18:41,800 --> 00:18:44,440 Speaker 3: I did not. I'll tell you what. What sparked this. 341 00:18:45,400 --> 00:18:48,040 Speaker 3: I actually wanted to do the event in twenty twenty 342 00:18:48,720 --> 00:18:52,560 Speaker 3: but COVID hit right, so I killed the idea. I 343 00:18:52,680 --> 00:18:56,879 Speaker 3: tabled it, and then the murder of George Floyd happened 344 00:18:56,880 --> 00:19:02,720 Speaker 3: in twenty twenty one. Actually this past was the four 345 00:19:02,800 --> 00:19:05,520 Speaker 3: years ago when he was murdered, and I remember it 346 00:19:05,560 --> 00:19:07,800 Speaker 3: like it was yesterday, because this is what sparked me 347 00:19:08,040 --> 00:19:11,239 Speaker 3: wanting to do this event again, And what sparked it was, 348 00:19:11,640 --> 00:19:14,919 Speaker 3: you know, corporations start to state their claims whether they 349 00:19:14,960 --> 00:19:17,679 Speaker 3: back the blue or whether Black Lives matter, and for 350 00:19:17,720 --> 00:19:22,160 Speaker 3: those that said they backed the Blue, our community said, okay, well, 351 00:19:22,160 --> 00:19:24,040 Speaker 3: if you back the blue, we're not gonna support you. 352 00:19:24,680 --> 00:19:28,520 Speaker 3: And some of those corporations actually changed their stans because 353 00:19:28,560 --> 00:19:31,440 Speaker 3: we decided we weren't going to spend money with them. Now, 354 00:19:31,480 --> 00:19:35,359 Speaker 3: if you're familiar with the financial industry and the African 355 00:19:35,359 --> 00:19:38,760 Speaker 3: American buying power, we are the largest group of consumers 356 00:19:38,800 --> 00:19:42,439 Speaker 3: in the world. So for a corporation to decide, you 357 00:19:42,480 --> 00:19:44,199 Speaker 3: know what, if this group of people are not going 358 00:19:44,280 --> 00:19:48,439 Speaker 3: to support us because we don't support what their social justice, 359 00:19:48,880 --> 00:19:50,680 Speaker 3: we got to change our stans. And it was at 360 00:19:50,800 --> 00:19:53,439 Speaker 3: that moment that I knew this is the answer to 361 00:19:53,560 --> 00:19:58,359 Speaker 3: all our social injustice issues is recirculating the black dollar 362 00:19:58,440 --> 00:20:01,040 Speaker 3: in our community and making the those that want our 363 00:20:01,119 --> 00:20:04,560 Speaker 3: money play by our rules. And that's why I started 364 00:20:04,560 --> 00:20:05,320 Speaker 3: the Black Wall Street. 365 00:20:05,320 --> 00:20:12,160 Speaker 1: We at business expos Congratulations, Powerful, Powerful Outlook. Powerful Outlook. 366 00:20:12,520 --> 00:20:15,359 Speaker 1: Now tell us how we can find out more information 367 00:20:15,400 --> 00:20:17,520 Speaker 1: about this and also get in touch with you, and 368 00:20:17,520 --> 00:20:20,720 Speaker 1: I'm speaking to Jasmine Young absolutely. 369 00:20:20,800 --> 00:20:24,359 Speaker 3: So you can go to Blackwall Street Atlanta dot org 370 00:20:24,800 --> 00:20:26,840 Speaker 3: and if you want to buy tickets, if you want 371 00:20:26,880 --> 00:20:29,520 Speaker 3: to be a vendor, or if you want to participate 372 00:20:29,520 --> 00:20:31,960 Speaker 3: in the parade that's going to happen before the event, 373 00:20:32,040 --> 00:20:35,000 Speaker 3: you can sign up literally right there on the website. 374 00:20:35,160 --> 00:20:38,640 Speaker 3: We're going to be having mother Vola Ford Fletcher at 375 00:20:38,800 --> 00:20:41,720 Speaker 3: our special guest this year. For those that don't know her, 376 00:20:41,880 --> 00:20:43,919 Speaker 3: she is one hundred and ten years old. She just 377 00:20:43,960 --> 00:20:45,960 Speaker 3: turned one hundred and ten and they tent and she 378 00:20:46,119 --> 00:20:48,720 Speaker 3: is the oldest living survival of the Tulsa race Master 379 00:20:48,880 --> 00:20:52,040 Speaker 3: that destroyed black Wall Street. I was able to meet 380 00:20:52,080 --> 00:20:55,080 Speaker 3: her last year at form a relationship with relationship with 381 00:20:55,119 --> 00:20:57,800 Speaker 3: her and now I currently serve as her CPA and 382 00:20:57,800 --> 00:21:00,159 Speaker 3: I sit on the board of her foundation. So I'm 383 00:21:00,160 --> 00:21:02,320 Speaker 3: bringing her to the event this year, of course, to 384 00:21:02,359 --> 00:21:04,560 Speaker 3: pay Homas to her, to pay Homas to black Wall 385 00:21:04,600 --> 00:21:09,360 Speaker 3: Street and connect my inspiration with with a piece of 386 00:21:09,400 --> 00:21:11,520 Speaker 3: the actual Black Wall Street. So we're gonna be having 387 00:21:11,520 --> 00:21:15,120 Speaker 3: a parade for her this Saturday, June first, at eight 388 00:21:15,160 --> 00:21:18,920 Speaker 3: am down Main Street in College Park, where she's gonna 389 00:21:18,960 --> 00:21:20,800 Speaker 3: be the Grand Marshall, so you can come out to 390 00:21:20,840 --> 00:21:24,760 Speaker 3: the parade. You can be in the parade and help 391 00:21:24,880 --> 00:21:27,400 Speaker 3: us welcome her to the city of Atlanta. And then 392 00:21:27,440 --> 00:21:29,240 Speaker 3: you can come out to the expo that will be 393 00:21:29,280 --> 00:21:31,560 Speaker 3: at Essence Venue, which is at fifty four to thirty 394 00:21:31,600 --> 00:21:34,920 Speaker 3: nine Riverdale Road, Atlanta, Georgia, three zero three four nine 395 00:21:35,080 --> 00:21:38,480 Speaker 3: from twelve pm to five pm. You can be a vendor, 396 00:21:38,880 --> 00:21:42,600 Speaker 3: you can just attend. And also we're giving out three 397 00:21:42,640 --> 00:21:45,879 Speaker 3: thousand dollars in Krowger gift cards to feed children to 398 00:21:46,000 --> 00:21:48,520 Speaker 3: help fight food in security. You know, school is out 399 00:21:48,560 --> 00:21:51,959 Speaker 3: and kids turn their in school stomachs off once they 400 00:21:51,960 --> 00:21:54,280 Speaker 3: get out of school, so we want to help parents 401 00:21:54,280 --> 00:21:56,520 Speaker 3: feed the children. We're giving away three thousand dollars in 402 00:21:56,600 --> 00:21:58,919 Speaker 3: Krower gift cards to do that. And all you have 403 00:21:59,000 --> 00:22:01,320 Speaker 3: to do is show up. So all you have to 404 00:22:01,320 --> 00:22:04,080 Speaker 3: do is literally go to Black Wall Street, Atlanta dot org. 405 00:22:04,400 --> 00:22:06,199 Speaker 3: Whether you want to buy a ticket, be in the 406 00:22:06,280 --> 00:22:09,119 Speaker 3: even be in the parade, or be a vendor, you 407 00:22:09,160 --> 00:22:10,920 Speaker 3: can do all of that on the website. And then 408 00:22:10,920 --> 00:22:14,040 Speaker 3: of course if you're just interested in the Financial Literacy 409 00:22:14,119 --> 00:22:17,600 Speaker 3: Institute and the programming that we have, you can go 410 00:22:17,680 --> 00:22:20,960 Speaker 3: to TF l I inc dot org and you will 411 00:22:20,960 --> 00:22:23,200 Speaker 3: see all of the programming that we offer in order 412 00:22:23,280 --> 00:22:26,560 Speaker 3: to spread financial literacy into underserved and underprivileged communities. 413 00:22:26,880 --> 00:22:30,440 Speaker 1: Wow, you know, this is an amazing interview. I want 414 00:22:30,480 --> 00:22:33,479 Speaker 1: to tell you this. I'm a fan, just me. I 415 00:22:33,520 --> 00:22:37,760 Speaker 1: am a send I am sold on your personality, I'm 416 00:22:37,840 --> 00:22:41,160 Speaker 1: served on your vision, I am sold on I am 417 00:22:41,200 --> 00:22:45,200 Speaker 1: motivated to do more. So this is the third annual. 418 00:22:45,880 --> 00:22:48,520 Speaker 1: Please bring your bar on board early for the fourth 419 00:22:48,560 --> 00:22:52,200 Speaker 1: annual because anything I can do to be a part 420 00:22:52,280 --> 00:22:54,920 Speaker 1: of this, you know. Unfortunately, I'm flying out of town 421 00:22:55,320 --> 00:22:58,359 Speaker 1: this weekend and I won't be back in time. I 422 00:22:58,440 --> 00:23:00,440 Speaker 1: may be back in time. What do you say twelve 423 00:23:00,520 --> 00:23:00,800 Speaker 1: to win? 424 00:23:01,760 --> 00:23:03,600 Speaker 3: It's from twelve to five. I'm actually gonna fight. 425 00:23:03,600 --> 00:23:05,520 Speaker 1: You should come out, yep. I'm gonna see if I 426 00:23:05,520 --> 00:23:07,000 Speaker 1: can change my flight to get back a little bit 427 00:23:07,040 --> 00:23:09,520 Speaker 1: early because I would love to just meet you to 428 00:23:09,720 --> 00:23:12,719 Speaker 1: just let you know that the person you're talking to 429 00:23:12,960 --> 00:23:16,240 Speaker 1: is a person who speaks walks what he says he does. 430 00:23:16,680 --> 00:23:20,639 Speaker 1: And I'm telling you that Raushan McDonald is in your life, okay, 431 00:23:20,680 --> 00:23:23,240 Speaker 1: And I'm in your life for real because I can't 432 00:23:23,280 --> 00:23:27,320 Speaker 1: I cannot tell you in words, how inspiring you are 433 00:23:27,359 --> 00:23:30,520 Speaker 1: as an individual, and anything I can do to help 434 00:23:30,600 --> 00:23:33,119 Speaker 1: spread the word like I'm doing today right now, I 435 00:23:33,240 --> 00:23:35,960 Speaker 1: will continue and I will continue to tell people you 436 00:23:36,040 --> 00:23:38,000 Speaker 1: are a blessing. Thank you for coming on Money Making 437 00:23:38,040 --> 00:23:39,480 Speaker 1: Conversation master Class. 438 00:23:39,960 --> 00:23:42,280 Speaker 3: Thank you so much. I appreciate you. Looking forward to 439 00:23:42,280 --> 00:23:43,160 Speaker 3: connecting with you. 440 00:23:43,200 --> 00:23:46,359 Speaker 1: Oh, you will connect. She's she's the beast. She a beast. 441 00:23:46,520 --> 00:23:48,640 Speaker 1: Let's go and put it out there and tell everybody correctly. 442 00:23:48,800 --> 00:23:51,040 Speaker 1: She is the truth and the truth needs to be 443 00:23:51,080 --> 00:23:53,160 Speaker 1: told everybody. And thank you for coming on Money Making 444 00:23:53,160 --> 00:23:54,200 Speaker 1: Conversation Master Class. 445 00:23:54,200 --> 00:23:55,760 Speaker 3: Okay, thank you. 446 00:23:56,280 --> 00:23:58,720 Speaker 1: This has been another edition of Money Making Conversation Master 447 00:23:58,760 --> 00:24:02,159 Speaker 1: Class hosted by me McDonald. Thank you to all my 448 00:24:02,240 --> 00:24:05,840 Speaker 1: guests on the show today and thank you listening audience. 449 00:24:06,000 --> 00:24:09,159 Speaker 1: Join us next week. I remember to always lead with 450 00:24:09,200 --> 00:24:10,919 Speaker 1: your gifts and keep winning. 451 00:24:11,600 --> 00:24:13,960 Speaker 4: Thank you for joining us for this edition of Money 452 00:24:14,000 --> 00:24:19,640 Speaker 4: Making Conversations Masterclass. Money Making Conversations Masterclass with rough Shan 453 00:24:19,720 --> 00:24:22,840 Speaker 4: McDonald is produced by thirty eight to fifteen Media Inc. 454 00:24:23,160 --> 00:24:26,399 Speaker 4: More information about thirty eight to fifteen Media Inc. Is 455 00:24:26,480 --> 00:24:29,919 Speaker 4: available at thirty eight to fifteen media dot com. And 456 00:24:30,080 --> 00:24:32,560 Speaker 4: always remember to lead with your gifts.